Flash type sprinkler head
The present invention relates to a flash type sprinkler head. More particularly, it relates to a flash type sprinkler head for a building having a small exposed portion on the ceiling and having such a construction that a detachable member which fixes a valve for stopping water in the absence of fire and a material of relatively low melting temperature supporting the same, on the outbreak of fire, slide downward in the main body of the sprinkler head due to the melting of the material (hereinafter referred to as a fusible segment) so as to operate the valve and release the water. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the latest style of building, for the purpose of increasing efficiency of utilization of construction materials and efficiently utilizing the space in the room by making the ceiling as low as possible, there is a tendency to use a flash type sprinkler head which has fewer portions left open to view on the ceiling board. Since this flash type sprinkler head contains a setting portion having a smaller diameter than that of the head-setting hole provided on the ceiling board, it is advantageously possible to set the sprinkler head onto the sprinkler piping before boarding the ceiling, and therefore this type of sprinkler head has a great advantage, which does not exist in the other type of sprinkler head, that the work of mounting or setting the same to the sprinkler piping in each room in the building can be effected before and without being influenced by the process of boarding the ceiling. 
     As the conventional flash type sprinkler heads, there are shown some examples in Japanese Utility Model Publication (examined) Nos. 8239/1978 and 49636/1981 and Japanese Utility Model Publication (unexamined) No. 97565/1982, which are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing, respectively. 
     An explanation is now made of the fundamental construction and operation of a conventional flash type sprinkler head with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the sprinkler head comprises a main body 1, a valve member 7 which is installed on the tip opening portion of the main body 1, i.e., a drain opening portion, and a heat sensitive detachable member 15 which can sense the heat of flames to disassemble and scatter. The main body 1, which has a downwardly decreasing internal diameter, mainly comprises a connecting pipe portion and a straight pipe portion at the upper and lower halves thereof. The connecting pipe portion is provided, on its outer side, with male screw threads which connects to the sprinkler piping, and the straight pipe portion, has a drain opening portion on its lower end. On the outer periphery of the upper end of the straight pipe portion, there is formed a flange having a male screw member 1&#39; for connection to a cylindrical frame 2 to screw-fix the cylindrical frame 2 to the main body with the cylindrical frame 2 to the main body with the cyldrical frame hanging downward. On the outside of the straight pipe portion there is fixed a deflector ring 6, and a deflector 5 of the drain opening is connected through the connecting leg of the deflector ring 6. The portion of the deflector 5 provided on the lower portion of the drain opening contains the valve member 7 which closes the end surface of the drain opening and is held by the heat sensitive detachable member on the lower end of the frame. 
     The valve member 7 which comprises a gasket 3 made of copper packing, etc. and a valve cap 4 covered with the gasket is installed on the valve seat on the tip end of the drain opening. On the setting-up of the sprinkler head the tightening force of the frame 2 onto the flange is converted into a pressing force by which the valve cap 4 closes the end surface of the drain opening. 
     The heat sensitive detachable member 15 contains a pair of levers 10 which are hooked on an inwardly directed flange on the lower end of the frame 2, a setting plate 11 which is positioned on the upper portion of the levers and supported by the levers 10 which are inserted therethrough, a balancer 12 which is positioned at the lower portion of the levers 10, a heat sensitive cylinder 13 which is inserted through the setting plate 11 and held with the balancer 12, a heat sensitive (heat conductive) piston 14, a heat sensitive (heat conductive) plate 16 which contains said heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the heat sensitive piston 14 and is provided hanging on the lower end of the frame 2, and a fusible segment 17 formed of a material which melts when exposed to the heat of a fire, which is held between the heat sensitive cylinder 13 held to the balancer 12 against the tightening force of the frame 2 and the heat sensitive piston 14 screwed to the setting plate 11. 
     As soon as the heat sensitive plate 16, the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the heat sensitive piston 14 sense the heat generated by fire and the fusible segment made of an alloy having low melting point is melted, the balance of the tightening force between the heat sensitive piston 14 and the heat sensitive cylinder 13 which support the fusible segment 17 and the frame 2 is broken, whereby the heat sensitive piston 14, the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the heat sensitive plate 16 are pushed upward by the levers 10 and the balancer 12. Then the levers 10 are rotated outward so as to disconnect both ends of the balancer 12 from the jointing hole portion of the levers 10, and thereby the setting plate 11 is also free from the levers 10. Thus, each element of the heat sensitive detachable member 15 falls down while disassembling and scattering. Accordingly, the valve member 7, the deflector 5 and the deflector ring 6, which are out of the supporting elements at the lower end, move downward inside the frame 2, and the deflector ring 6 is then set on the inwardly directed flange at the lower opening portion of the frame 2 so as to support the deflector 5 in a hanging disposition. As a result, the pressurized water in the sprinkler piping spouts out from the drain opening from which the valve member 7 is removed and dashes against the deflector 5, whereby the water scatters in all directions so as to extinguish the fire. This process from the sensing of heat to the drainage is almost instantaneously effected. 
     In the conventional sprinkler head having a construction as described above, the transmission of heat to the fusible segment from the other heat sensitive elements in the heat sensitive detachable member can afford the sprinkler head to sense the fire, and the fusible segment is melted to release the drain opening of the tip end of the sprinkler piping so as to scatter the pressurized water. In the thus constructed sprinkler head, however, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the heat sensitive plate 16 has no perforations on its lower surface, peripheral wall or connecting portion, it is impossible to observe the condition of the fusible segment 17, which is completely surrounded with the heat sensitive plate 16, without removing the heat sensitive plate 16. Accordingly, changing conditions of the fusible segment or the surroundings of the same with the lapse of time cannot be observed. Another disadvantage is as follows: since the fusible segment of said sprinkler head is compressed by the tightening and pressing force of the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the heat sensitive piston 14 which are supported by the levers 10 and the balancer 12, while maintaining the balance [12, while maintaining the balance] with the tightening force of the frame 2 against the flange 1&#39; of the main body, the sizes of the detachable member and the heat sensitive member is necessarily long in the vertical direction. Thus, there is a need for a smaller sprinkler. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a flash type sprinkler head in which the area of the exposed portion of the ceiling is made smaller than ever so that said exposed portion is unlikely to be hit by any external substances, and can be strengthened against an externally applied shock. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a flash type sprinkler head in which a small outlet for the fusible segment is provided on the heat sensitive member in order to permit visual observation of the condition of the fusible segment from the outside, whereby the lifetime of the sprinkler head can easily be observed. 
     For attaining the above objects, the size of the flash type sprinkler head of the invention is made smaller by providing a construction in which the balancer supporting the lever in the heat sensitive detachable member is usually pulled upward and, when it senses heat, it can move downward. Further, the area of the exposed portion of the sprinkler head on the ceiling board can be made smaller by providing the heat sensitive plate in close contact with the frame surrounding the valve member provided with the main body, whereby the strength of the sprinkler head against external shock can be increased. 
     Further, in the sprinkler head of the invention, the valve member and the guide pin supporting the same are inserted into the inner side of the drain opening portion of the straight pipe portion so as to prevent the valve member from slipping out of its place and prevent the leakage of the pressurized water. 
     Furthermore, the small outlet for the fusible segment to flow out is provided on the projecting portion of the sprinkler head on the ceiling board, and thereby it is possible to visually observe from the outside the occurrence of an unusual change in the fusible segment. 
     Furthermore, the present invention provides a protecting cap and a sealing plate which are suitable for the flash type sprinkler head of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are vertical sectional views showing the conventional sprinkler heads, respectively; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of the flash type sprinkler head according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment of the flash type sprinkler head in its essential part; 
     FIG. 6 is a side and partially vertical sectional view showing a cut-in hole portion provided on the heat sensitive plate in the sprinkler head of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the essential part of the separation-type heat sensitive piston; 
     FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are vertical sectional views of the heat sensitive member showing an error in tightening of the heat sensitive piston and the nut; 
     FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are vertical sectional views of the essential part of the sprinkler head of FIG. 4 having the separation-type heat sensitive piston, showing the fusible segment under pressure; 
     FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the essential part of the sprinkler head of FIG. 4 showing the condition of a protecting cap when set; 
     FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the essential part of the sprinkler head of FIG. 4 showing the condition of a sealing plate when set; 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 are vertical sectional views showing other embodiments of the sprinkler head using the heat sensitive element according to the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 14(a), 14(b) and 14(c) are vertical sectional views showing other embodiments of the heat sensitive element according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in FIG. 4 which shows one embodiment of the flash type sprinkler head of the present invention, the sprinkler head comprises a main body 1 for being connected with a sprinkler piping, a valve member surrounded by a frame 2 installed at the tip of said main body, and a heat sensitive element which is protected and covered with a heat sensitive (heat conductive) plate 16 fixed by contacting the upper end thereof with the lower opening portion of said frame 2. The main body 1 comprises a tubular case 1b having a drain opening portion 1a of downwardly decreasing diameter at its lower end, screw threads 1c for connecting with a sprinkler piping, provided on the outer wall of the tubular case 1b, and a brim portion 1e which is provided, on its inner periphery, with screw threads 1d for screw-fixing the frame 2. 
     The valve member, which comprises a gasket 3 and a valve cap 4, is supported with a deflector 5 and a deflector ring 6. The upper end of the valve member is inserted into the drain opening portion 1a with the use of a guide pin 7 screwed into the valve cap 4 and a guide post 8 provided with the guide pin 7, through a plate spring 9. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat sensitive element comprises two bending levers 10, a setting plate 11, a balancer 12, a heat sensitive (heat conductive) cylinder 13, a heat sensitive (heat conductive) piston 14, and a fusible segment 17. Each lever 10 has such rotation torque that the tightening force generated by the frame 2 being screwed into the screw threads 1d of brim 1e acts on the outer end of the bending portion 10c of the lever 10 to be pressed on the lower, inwardly directed step portion 2a of the frame 2 and thereby the lower end portion 10a of each lever 10 is rotated outward. The setting plate 11 is connected with the connecting portion 10b of each lever 10. The balancer 12 forcibly receives and counteracts the rotation torque of the lower end portion 10a of each lever 10, which is produced by the tightening force of the main body and the frame 2 and another force suppressing rotation with a spring 9 engaging the bending upper end surface of the bending portion 10c of each lever supported by the frame 2. The fusible segment 17 is pressed and sealed inside the heat sensitive cylinder 13 with the heat sensitive piston 14 and the nut 15. The connecting portion 10b of the lever 10 may have various shapes and constructions, and for example, a connecting hole as shown in FIG. 4 or connecting claw as shown in FIG. 5 may be used. Between the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the heat sensitive piston 14 is provided a gap 18, which is used as an outlet for the fusible segment, provided that, a part of the fusible segment 17 also flows out from a gap between the vertically extending rod hole in the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the vertical rod of the heat sensitive piston 14. 
     The thick bending portion 10c of each lever 10 presses against the spring 9, i.e., the guide pin 7 so as to press the gasket 3 and the valve cap 4 of the valve member in the upward direction. The tip end 7a of the guide pin 7 is inserted in the hole in the valve cap 4 to reach a position closer to the sprinkler piping than the valve seat 1f at the lower end of the opening portion 1a so as to strengthen the valve cap 4 in the upper direction. The lower end 10a of each lever is in a shape of a claw. On the balancer 12 is provided claw-shaped projections 12a, bending upward, which hold the claws of the lower ends 10a of the levers and are used for receiving the outward forces of the levers 10. The balancer 12 is set on the lower end of each lever 10 in such a manner that it can freely be set or removed. 
     The heat sensitive plate 16 has a closed edge surrounding and therefore defining an opening portion 16a, on its bottom portion, which has a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the heat sensitive cylinder 13. Onto the brim-shaped projection 13a of the opening side portion of the heat sensitive cylinder 13 is fixed the opening portion 16a, the surrounding closed edge of the opening portion 16a extending into a peripheral groove 13b in cylinder 13. As shown in FIG. 6, the heat sensitive plate 16 has a cut-in hole 16b on its side to be in close contact with the frame 2 or to be fixed thereto with a small gap. 
     In the above described flash type sprinkler head of the present invention, under the usual condition when it is responsive but not responding to fire, on the tip end 1f of the drain opening portion 1a of the main body 1 which is connected with the sprinkler piping, the gasket 3 and the valve cap 4 are pressed and strengthened with the guide pin 7, whereby the drainage of pressurized water is controlled. Since the fusible segment 17 in the heat sensitive member is always compressed by the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the heat sensitive piston 14, when the heat sensitive member senses the heat and the fusible segment is melted, the melted fusible segment flows out from the outlet 18. Then the heat sensitive cylinder and the heat sensitive plate 16 move downward, and according to this movement, the balancer 12 supported on the upper surface of the brim-shaped projection 13a of the heat sensitive cylinder 13 is free from the connection with the lower end portion 10a of each lever 10. As a result, each lever 10 is moved out of the frame 2 due to the rotation torque operating outward, and thereby the heat sensitive member is disassembled and scattered around. Then, the spring 9, the guide 8 and the guide pin 7 which have lost their support fall down with the levers 10. 
     Subsequently, the gasket 3 and the valve cap 4 which are hung down on the deflector ring 6 by the deflector are fixed on the tip end 1f of the sprinkler head by the action that the deflector ring 6 falls down and is fitted on the inner surface of the tip inner edge portion 2a of the frame 2. In this condition, the gasket and the valve cap receive and release the pressurized water discharged from the drain opening portion 1a,  and thereby the water is scattered in all directions to extinguish the fire. Further, in the absence of fire, when the fusible segment 17 experiences creep due to deterioration caused by the compressive force thereon, a change of the atmospheric temperature and the change with the lapse of time, a part of the fusible segment 17 gradually flows out from the outlet 18, whereby the time to exchange the sprinkler head, that is, the end of the useful lifetime of the sprinkler head, can be detected easily. 
     Further, the sprinkler head of the present invention has another advantage not seen in the conventional sprinkler head: the provision of the cut-in hold 16b on the side of the heat sensitive plate 16 can afford the heat sensitive cylinder 3 the ability to sense the heat around the same so that the sensitivity of the heat sensitive member can be elevated. Since the heat sensitive plate 16 is mounted on the tip inner edge portion 2a of the frame 2 in such a manner that it is tightly fixed thereto or it is in close contact therewith with a small gap, even if the heat sensitive plate 16 is externally hit with an object, it has a strong resistance to an externally applied shock, as it abuts frame edge portion 2a as shown in FIG. 7 and does not slide upward, and thereby the heat sensitive member can be fully protected. 
     The heat sensitive piston 14, as shown in FIG. 7, is divided into a piston plate 14a containing a tapered hole and a rod 14b having a head portion which is a spherical projection, so that the heat sensitive piston is adherent to or compressed against the inclined surface of the fusible segment 17, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b). Accordingly, there is not produced a space or a partial contact between the heat sensitive piston 14 and the fusible segment 17, which causes the occurrence of the creep on the fusible segment caused by, as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), or error in manufacturing the heat sensitive piston 14, the nut 15 and the fusible segment 17, or an error in tightening them (an incline shown by L 1  &lt;L 2 ). 
     The flash type sprinkler head of the present invention can be installed on the sprinkler piping before boarding of the ceiling. In this case, a protecting cap 19 is employed as shown in FIG. 10. The protecting cap 19 in a shape of an inverted bell has a ring-like claw 19a on the opening portion and a notch 19b on the peripheral wall of the opening portion. The protecting cap 19, which is made of elastic materials, is put on the frame by hooking the ring-like claw 19a on the circular, cut-in groove 2b of the upper portion of the frame 2, in order to prevent the protecting cap from falling. After the completion of boarding of the ceiling, the protecting cap is removed. 
     For the purpose of covering the slit between the sprinkler head-setting hole 23 on the ceiling board 22 and the outer wall of the frame 2 of the sprinkler head as shown in FIG. 11, there may be employed a sealing plate 20 in a shape of a trapezoidal disk. On the inner surface of the sealing plate 20 is provided an elastic ring 21 which is tightly fixed to the outer wall of the frame 2 and is press-fixed on the ceiling board in such a manner that the sealing plate 20 can move up and down. 
     As is apparent from the above descriptions, the flash type sprinkler head has the following advantages. Since the space between the frame and the heat sensitive plate is remarkably small and a shock or impulse from the outside is hardly transmitted inside, the sprinkler head is strongly resistant to outer shock; since the projected portion of the sprinkler head on the ceiling board is small, it has a beautiful appearance and is excellent in view of the protection it provides. Further, with such a construction that the guide pin 7 is inserted in the valve cap 4 so as to extend to an upper position above the drain opening portion 1a of the main body 1, that is, is inserted inside of the tube 1b so as to put the operating point of the valve-supporting force inside the tube 1b, the valve member is not out of the valve seat 15 on the lower end of the drain opening portion 1a and thereby the leakage of water can be prevented. 
     FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the flash type sprinkler head of the present invention in which the heat sensitive plate provided with the outlet having the other purpose is used. In the sprinkler head which comprises a main body 1 connected with a sprinkler piping, a valve member comprising a gasket 3 and a valve cap 4, and a heat sensitive element comprising a heat sensitive member including a heat sensitive cylinder 13 and a heat sensitive piston 14, a fusible segment 17 maintained with said heat sensitive member, and a heat sensitive plate 16 surrounding said heat sensitive member, on the portion where the heat sensitive member faces to the outer portion of the heat sensitive plate 16, there are provided one or several outlets 18 for the fusible segment 17. In the heat sensitive member, the fusible segment 17 fills the inside of the heat sensitive cylinder 13 fixed to the balancer 12, and the cylinder 13 is sealed with the heat sensitive piston 14 and compressed upward with a guide pin 7. In FIG. 12, although an outlet 18 is provided on the center of the bottom of the heat sensitive cylinder 13, there may also be provided an outlet 18 on the exposed portion of the heat sensitive member, that is, on the portion which can be seen from the outside. The position, shape and size of the outlet 18 may be any that are suitable. 
     FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the sprinkler head using the heat sensitive member of the present invention. In the heat sensitive member, the fusible segment 17 fills the inside of the heat sensitive cylinder 13. The fusible segment 17, the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the setting plate 11 are passed through with the heat sensitive piston 14 and tightened by a nut 15. Between the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the head portion of the heat sensitive piston 14, there is provided a gap, which is used as an outlet 18. The outlet 18 may be positioned in the inner part, i.e., in the upper part more than the one shown in FIG. 13, and it may only be seen from the outside. 
     FIGS. 14(a)-14(c) show other embodiments of the outlet 18 in a heat sensitive member similar to that shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 14(a) shows a heat sensitive member which is provided with a passing hole on the head portion of the heat sensitive piston 14, FIG. 14(b) shows a heat sensitive member which is provided a notch on the head portion of the heat sensitive piston 14 and FIG. 14(c) shows a heat sensitive member which is provided with a notch on the inner surface of the heat sensitive cylinder 13. 
     In the practical usage of the above-described sprinkler head, when a fire breaks out, the heat sensitive member becomes hot with an elevating temperature, and the fusible segment 17 in the heat sensitive cylinder 13 is melted with the heat of the heat sensitive member and flows out from the outlet 18. By the separation of the balancer 12 from the levers 10, due to the torque usually operating on the levers 10, the heat sensitive member falls down and scatters, and thereby the valve member is left open so as to exhaust the pressurized water in the sprinkler piping. The pressurized water discharged from the tip end of the main body 1 dashes against the deflector 5 held inside the frame 2, and uniformly scatters around, whereby the initial extinguishing of fire can be attained. At this time, a part of the melted fusible segment 17 also flows out from the slit 18&#39; between the heat sensitive cylinder 13 and the heat sensitive piston 14. 
     Further, since the fusible segment 17 is usually compressed, over a priod of time peculiar to the particular sprinkler head it leaks out in a slight amount from the outlet 18 due to the production of creep or deterioration of the fusible segment. 
     As mentioned above the sprinkler head of the present invention has the following advantages. The provision of the outlet 18 on the exposed portion of the heat sensitive element can afford the heat sensitive element to have excellent sensitivity when the heat sensitive element senses an elevating temperature in the atmosphere caused by a fire and the fusible segment 17 flows out from the outlet. Further, with the deterioration of the fusible segment, such as would be caused by creep, a part of the fusible segment 17 leaks out from said outlet 18. Accordingly, the condition of the fusible segment can visually be observed from the outside, as it is. Thus, the sprinkler head of the present invention is excellent in regard to the preservation of security.