EP3359263B1 - Sprinkler for fire extinguisher systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sprinkler for fire extinguishing systems according to the preamble of claim 1.

Aforementioned sprinklers are generally known and are used both as high-pressure sprinklers and as low-pressure sprinklers. What these types of sprinklers have in common is that after their initial installation, they often remain dormant for very long periods of time. In the best case, such sprinklers are not used during their entire service life due to the absence of fire incidents. In the case of known sprinkler types, it has been found that, in extreme cases, the seals used in the sprinklers tend to stick to the sealing surface over time, making it difficult or even impossible to open the closure elements if the sprinklers are used in the event of a fire must. Furthermore, it has been found that the known seals partially or completely fall apart in extreme cases in those situations in which opening is made difficult but not prevented. Pieces of the sealing elements then move freely inside the sprinklers and can potentially clog the fluid outlets.

In the case of sealing elements that are compressed exclusively in the axial direction in the sprinkler to achieve the sealing effect, it has been observed in particular that the sealing element loses sealing force over longer periods of time due to the high level of precompression required to generate the sealing effect. Furthermore, it has been observed as a disadvantage that the necessary high pre-compression is built into the sprinkler thermal release element loaded in addition to the pressure load by the system pressure. Although the thermally activatable tripping elements normally have sufficient safety factors to withstand these pressures, the additional load resulting from the necessary pre-compression is felt to be disadvantageous.

In the case of exclusively radially compressed sealing elements from the prior art, a high stand-by pressure, generally of 20 bar or more, is necessary due to the adhesions and/or encrustations that form in order to achieve opening of the closure element. This is associated with high energy costs and an increased leakage rate of the pipe/sprinkler connection elements.

U.S. 2014/374126 A1 or U.S. 2014/367125 A1 relate to fire extinguishing sprinklers having a sprinkler housing within which a fluid passage is formed. A movable blocking element with a conical sealing surface is arranged in the fluid channel. The blocking element acts with its conical sealing surface on a sealing element arranged in a stationary manner in the sprinkler housing.

DE 299 22 674 U1 however, discloses a sprinkler having a nozzle body mounted to a sprinkler housing. On the outside, the sprinkler housing is surrounded by a sleeve part that can be moved in relation to the sprinkler housing. If the sprinkler is brought into its ready position by pressurization, the sleeve part moves along the sprinkler housing and pushes a protective cap covering the nozzle head off the sprinkler.

JP 2008264036 A shows a fire extinguishing head with a housing body on which a closure element is movably accommodated, which is held in the locked position via an activatable trigger element. A spring seal is arranged on the closure element and, in the blocked position, presses against an outlet opening with an expanding structure.

In view of these problems, the state of the art has hitherto dealt with the fact that the sealing elements have been provided with special adhesion-reducing coatings. However, this leads to significantly higher costs.

Furthermore, in the prior art, attempts have been made to provide very high surface qualities in order to minimize the adhesion that occurs on the sealing surfaces, which is also associated with significantly increased costs.

Accordingly, the invention was based on the object of specifying a sprinkler in which the disadvantages mentioned above are alleviated as far as possible. In particular, the invention was based on the object of specifying a sprinkler in which, despite a long service life, the error-free functioning is not impaired.

The invention solves the problem on which it is based in a sprinkler of the type described at the outset with the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements and developments can be found in the dependent claims and in the following statements of the description and the figures.

According to the invention, a sprinkler is proposed with a sprinkler housing, a fluid channel provided in the sprinkler housing with a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, a closure element which can be moved from a blocking position into a release position, the closure element closing the fluid channel in the blocking position and in the release position, a thermally activatable triggering element, which holds the closure element in the blocked position until thermal activation, and a sealing element, which is arranged between the sprinkler housing and the closure element and is set up to close the fluid channel in a fluid-tight manner in the blocked position, wherein the sealing element is radially and axially compressed in the blocking position to apply the sealing effect. Closing of the fluid channel is understood in this context to mean that a fluid-conducting connection from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is interrupted in the blocked position, while it exists in the released position. In the sprinkler according to the invention, the thermal release element is preferably designed in such a way that it is destroyed by thermal action or changes its structure. The thermally activatable triggering element is particularly preferably a sprinkler ampoule, in particular a fluid-filled glass ampoule. Alternatively, the thermally activatable tripping element is designed as a fusible link or metal element with memory properties, for example as a bimetal element

The invention is based on the finding that with known seals, due to the sometimes very high contact pressures (in particular when the sprinklers are operated as high-pressure sprinklers) Changes in the material properties of the sealing elements occur over time, which on the one hand lead to setting processes of the sealing elements on the surface structure of the adjacent sealing surfaces, and on the other hand lead to incrustations or embrittlement of the material itself.

If the sprinkler is then actuated, the adhesions, encrustations and the like offer increased resistance to the opening movement of the closure element. In addition, it has been recognized that in sprinklers that use known sealing elements, the sealing elements are always compressed either exclusively radially or exclusively axially to produce the sealing effect. Particularly in the case of radially compressed sealing elements, the sealing element has to be displaced a comparatively long distance in the release direction along the sealing surface in order to release the fluid channel. This exposes the sealing element to a high shearing load, which firstly results in increased resistance to movement and secondly the risk of partial or complete destruction of the sealing element, with the disadvantageous effect of releasing particles inside the sprinkler.

The invention starts right here by providing an arrangement of the sealing element in which the sealing element is compressed both radially and axially. The combination of a radial and axial sealing effect creates two or more partial sealing surfaces on the sealing element, which are each smaller than a single sealing surface in sealing elements from the prior art. As a result, the formation of adhesions and incrustations, for example as a result of setting processes, is already significantly minimized.

In terms of their opening behavior, the sprinklers according to the invention designed in this way already show a significantly lower susceptibility to errors and a significantly lower risk of destruction of the sealing elements due to the lower tendency of the sealing elements to stick, which is associated with increased operational reliability of the sprinklers.

The thermally activatable triggering element is preferably set up to give up the resistance to moving the closure element out of the blocked position when a predefined temperature is exceeded, whereupon the closure element can move from the blocked position into the released position and the extinguishing fluid can flow out of the fluid outlets through the fluid channel can. In operation, the sprinkler is preferably attached to a pipeline carrying extinguishing fluid on the side of the fluid inlet, either directly or indirectly via an adapter.

According to the invention, in the blocking position, the sealing element is pressed against a sealing surface that widens in a release direction A. The release direction A is understood here as the direction of movement of the closure element from the blocked position into the released position. The sealing surface that widens in the release direction is understood to mean that the surface normal of the sealing surface has an angle that is not equal to 90° with respect to the release direction A. Furthermore, according to the invention, the widening sealing surface is formed on the sprinkler housing.

The widening sealing surface is preferably conical, at least in sections, and/or convexly curved and/or concavely curved. In this context, a convex curvature is understood to mean a progressive widening in the release direction, while a concave curvature is understood to mean a degressive widening in the release direction A. The common advantage of the different configurations of the expanding sealing surface is that the sealing element no longer touches the expanding sealing surface after an extremely short stroke from the blocked position. In contrast to the sealing elements known from the prior art, which are exclusively loaded radially, the sealing element no longer has to be pushed along the sealing surface over extensive distances in the axial direction (i.e. in the release direction A). On the one hand, this leads to a significantly reduced triggering resistance and, on the other hand, to a significantly reduced risk of the sealing element being destroyed when it is opened. Both contribute directly to the overall increased operational reliability of the sprinkler.

In a preferred embodiment, the first sealing element is formed from a list consisting of: O-ring, O-ring with support ring, quad ring, multi-lip sealing ring, in particular X-ring or V-ring, grooved ring, vulcanized sealing element, or as a combination of several of these sealing elements .

More preferably, the closure element has an axially extending sealing surface, against which the sealing element is pressed in the locked position.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the closure element has a radially extending sealing surface, against which the sealing element is pressed in the locked position.

The axial and/or radial sealing surfaces are in this case counter surfaces to the expanding sealing surface, with the primary sealing effect being produced on the expanding sealing surface, with the one or two further sealing surfaces primarily as a counter bearing, and secondarily as a sealing surface. However, they make an important contribution to minimizing the size of the primary sealing surface.

In the embodiment in which the widening sealing surface is conical at least in sections, the conical section preferably has a cone angle α1, which is in an angular range of 5° to 60°, preferably 10° to 40°, particularly preferably 20° to 30°.

In a further preferred embodiment, the sprinkler housing has a base body and a passage unit. The fluid inlet and/or the widening sealing surface are preferably formed on the passage unit. The passage unit is preferably reversibly detachably connected to the base body, for example by means of a screw connection. This enables the base body to be manufactured economically, for example as a cast part, and the passage unit to be manufactured by machining, which is also economical.

In preferred configurations, the passage unit is also provided with a screen for passage of the extinguishing fluid in the direction of the sealing surface or the closure element in the assembled state.

The base body preferably has a connection unit for attaching the sprinkler to an extinguishing fluid supply, i.e. the pipeline system carrying extinguishing fluid, in particular with a receiving channel for receiving the fluid inlet channel, as well as a nozzle head and a cage, with a distribution chamber being formed inside the nozzle head, from which the at least one fluid outlet extends.

The cage preferably defines a cage space for receiving the thermal trip element.

More preferably, an abutment for receiving and axially positioning the thermal release element in the sprinkler relative to the closure element is provided, in particular formed, on the cage.

In a further preferred embodiment of the sprinkler, the closure element has a second sealing surface that tapers in the release direction A, and the sprinkler housing, in particular the base body, has a second sealing surface in the release direction A tapered third sealing surface, wherein the second and third sealing surface are in the release position of the closure element, preferably fluid-tight, against each other.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second and third sealing surfaces, which taper in the release direction, form an elastomer-free seal.

It is preferred that the second and third tapered sealing surfaces have substantially corresponding surface contours. If the second and third tapered third surface are conical, for example, it is preferred if the cone angle of the two tapered sealing surfaces deviates from one another by only a few degrees, preferably in a range of less than 5° in absolute terms.

In a second aspect, the sprinkler housing has a recess through which the closure element extends at least in the release position, a protective chamber being defined in the release position between the closure element and the recess, in which the sealing element is arranged. The most effective protective measure for the sealing element consists in removing it as far as possible from the main flow, which extends from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet(s), when it is triggered, ie when the closure element is in the release position. For this purpose, a protective chamber is created between the recess for accommodating the closure element and the sealing element, within which the sealing element is arranged. In other words, the sealing element is in the release position according to the invention within the recess for receiving the closure element in a flow-calmed area. Because it is let into this recess, the sealing element is subjected to less severe stresses from the fluid flow of the extinguishing fluid, and the risk of a partial but complete destruction of the sealing element is greatly reduced.

In one example, the sprinkler housing has a distribution chamber from which both the recess for accommodating the closure element and the at least one fluid outlet branch off, with the recess for accommodating the closure element extending in a first direction, preferably equal to the release direction A, and the at least a fluid outlet extends in a second direction different from the first direction. Due to the fact that the recess branches off from the distribution chamber, the sealing element is in the release position of the closure element de facto outside of the distribution chamber in a "side arm" which is already due to the fact that the main flow takes place in the direction of the fluid outlets, the flow is less intense. In addition, due to the differently aligned axes of the fluid outlet and the recess for receiving the closure element, turbulence forms in and around the recess around the recess for receiving the closure element, which further reduces the flow load on the sealing element.

The at least one fluid outlet is preferably located radially outside and/or in front of the recess for accommodating the closure element, viewed in release direction A. In particular, by "pulling" the fluid outlets against the release direction, a dead space is formed below the fluid outlets during operation, in which the flow moves primarily in a turbulent manner.

According to the invention, the closure element has a circumferential groove in which the sealing element is seated. The circumferential groove creates a depression for receiving the sealing element, which radially partially or completely receives it in the closure element, thereby creating a further shielding of the sealing element from the surrounding fluid flow.

The closure element preferably has a projection, counter to the release direction A, adjacent to the circumferential groove accommodating the sealing element, to protect the sealing element from the effects of flow in the release position. The projection forms the flank of the groove in the direction of the distribution chamber, starting from the groove and in which the sealing element is seated. The provision of such a projection has the effect that the protective chamber formed between the recess for receiving the closure element and the closure element itself is at least partially closed on its side opposite the release direction A, preferably facing the distribution chamber. This creates a particularly strong isolation of the sealing element from the flow conditions prevailing in the distributor chamber. This design solution is ideal for particularly high operating pressures, for example in the range above 100 bar.

In a further preferred embodiment, a flow deflector is formed on the projection. The flow deflector is preferably set up to serve as an impact element for the extinguishing fluid entering the distribution chamber and to generate turbulence.

The flow deflector preferably extends counter to the release direction A into the distribution chamber. More preferably, the flow deflector is set up to deflect extinguishing fluid flowing into the distribution chamber from the first direction in which the recess is aligned.

More preferably, the flow deflector is set up to deflect extinguishing fluid flowing into the distribution chamber toward the second direction in which the fluid outlet or outlets are aligned.

The projection preferably has a diameter of at least the sum of a base diameter of the groove, which accommodates the sealing element, and half the material thickness in the radial direction of the sealing element. This ensures good protection and at the same time a reliable seat of the sealing element in the groove.

The sprinkler housing is advantageously further developed in that the at least one fluid outlet is designed as a bore, or alternatively as a reversibly detachably coupled insert element which, in particularly preferred configurations, has a swirl body.

Due to the design as an insert element, a variety of fluid delivery patterns, for example spray cones, can be implemented.

In one example, the sprinkler housing includes a cage that defines a cage space for receiving the closure member in the release position and for receiving a thermally activatable trigger member in the locked position. In particular, this configuration enables the sprinkler housing to be used as an open extinguishing nozzle if the thermally activatable triggering element is not used. In this case, the closure element is permanently in the release position when the sprinkler housing is in the mounted installation position, which is not disadvantageous because the sealing element is arranged in the protective chamber.

Alternatively, this configuration allows the sprinkler housing to be used together with a thermally activatable trigger element inserted into the cage space in a sprinkler, in particular on a high-pressure sprinkler. Consequently, the invention also solves the problem on which it is based in the case of a sprinkler of the type described at the outset, in that a sprinkler housing is used on it, which is designed according to one of the preferred embodiments described above.

Furthermore, the invention solves the object on which it is based in the second aspect by using a sprinkler housing according to one of the preferred embodiments described above as an extinguishing nozzle, in particular as an extinguishing nozzle for operating pressures in the range above 16 bar.

The description proposes in a third aspect that the sprinkler housing has a fluid channel with a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, a distribution chamber from which the at least one fluid outlet branches off, and a cage that defines a cage space for accommodating a thermally activatable trigger element, wherein the distribution chamber and the cage are designed as a one-piece base body and an abutment for the axial and preferably radial positioning of the thermally activatable triggering element is formed on the cage. According to the invention, the cage with its cage space serves to accommodate the thermally activatable triggering element in a blocked position of the sprinkler housing, and after destruction of the thermally activatable triggering element, a closure element that is provided in the sprinkler housing and of a Blocking position can be moved into a release position, in which case the closure element closes the fluid channel in the blocking position and releases it in the release position.

According to the third aspect, the description makes use of the fact that the one-piece design of the distribution chamber and the cage as a base body, together with the abutment molded onto the cage, creates a component with a high degree of functional integration, which can be produced economically and at the same time due to largely dispensing with interfaces minimizes the risk of contamination entering the interior of the sprinkler housing. On the other hand, the success achieved with this approach is that the thermally activatable triggering element only needs to be inserted into the cage. The cage already contains a fixed abutment for the axial and preferably radial positioning of the thermally activatable triggering element, so that a separate adjustment of the axial position and the holding voltage of the thermally activatable triggering element relative to the sprinkler housing is no longer necessary. The closure element is preferably adapted to be held in the locked position when the thermally activatable trigger element is installed until it is triggered by means of the thermally activatable trigger element. In other words, the thermally activatable triggering element is held between the closure element and the abutment of the cage, so that the stress acting on the thermally activatable triggering element results exclusively from the dimensioning of the closure element and the fluid pressure present on the fluid channel on the inlet side. Both the fluid pressure and the dimensioning of the closure element can be predefined with a high level of reliability and adjusted during manufacture, so that the risk of incorrect assembly of the thermally activatable triggering element, which would result in its unwanted failure, can be largely ruled out.

In a further preferred embodiment, the sprinkler housing has a closure element which can be moved in a release direction A from a blocking position to a release position, the closure element closing the fluid channel in the blocking position and releasing it in the release position, the sprinkler housing, in particular the base body, has a recess through which the closure element extends at least in the release position in the direction of the cage, the closure element being adapted to be held in the blocked position until it is triggered when the thermally activatable trigger element is mounted.

For this purpose, the closure element preferably also has an abutment for axial positioning that faces the thermally activatable triggering element when it is in the installed state.

The recess for accommodating the closure element preferably branches off from the distribution chamber, with the recess for accommodating the closure element preferably extending in the release direction A. The invention is advantageously further developed and characterized in a separate aspect in that the base body consists of one of the following materials: copper alloy, preferably brass, in particular seawater-resistant brass, or bronze, in particular seawater-resistant bronze; unalloyed or alloyed, in particular stainless steel; cast iron material; Stainless steel; aluminum or aluminum alloy; die-cast zinc; titanium or titanium alloy; magnesium or magnesium alloy; sintered metal material; ceramic material; Plastic, in particular thermoplastic, duromer, liquid crystal polymer, the plastic preferably having a melting point above 190° C., more preferably above 400° C., particularly preferably above 600° C.; or composite material, in particular glass fiber reinforced plastic or carbon fiber reinforced plastic, preferably with the aforementioned melting points.

CuZn20Al2As, CuZn36Pb2As, CuZn21Si3P, CuZn38As, CuZn33Pb1AISiAs or CuZn33Pb1.5AlAs is preferably used as seawater-resistant brass.

Lead bronze, e.g. CuPb5Sn5Zn5, or aluminum bronze, e.g. CuAl10Fe3Mn2, CuAl10Ni5Fe4, CuAl10Ni5Fe5, CuAI11Fe6Ni6, CuAI5As, CuAl8, CuAl8Fe3, CuAl7Si2, CuAl9Ni, CuAl10Ni3Fe2, CuAl10Ni, CuAl10Fe5Ni5, is preferably used as seawater-resistant bronze , CuAl11Ni, CuAl11Fe6Ni6, CuAl10Fe, CuAl10Fe2, or CuAl8Mn used.

In a further preferred embodiment, the base body of the sprinkler housing has a metallic coating at least in the area of the at least one fluid outlet and/or the distribution chamber, and preferably completely.

The metallic coating preferably has a layer thickness in a range from 0.1 to 125 μm.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the base body is chemically metallized in the area described above or completely. Chemical nickel plating has proven to be a particularly preferred variant of chemical metallization. The chemical nickel coating is preferably applied according to DIN EN ISO 4527. Here, a nickel-phosphorus alloy coating is applied over the base material by means of electroless deposition, whereby the surface of the base body can be prepared either mechanically or by means of acid treatment (e.g. chloric acid treatment) in order to achieve better adhesion of the coating.

Surprisingly, it turned out that by combining one of the above-mentioned materials as the base material with chemical metallization, and particularly preferably with chemical nickel plating, a significantly improved resistance to clogging is achieved. As part of the approval test, it is essential for sprinklers and extinguishing nozzles that the flow rate does not change or only changes very little over the course of the service life. The risk of clogging by corrosion products is already largely reduced by selecting a sufficiently corrosion-resistant base material. A further problem, however, is that when using water that is not of pure quality but is contaminated with particles and the like, abrasion or erosion of the fluid outlets can occur at very high pressures, as a result of which their cross section widens. However, an increase in the fluid outlet cross-section can also lead to failure in a clogging test. As an example of a clogging test, reference is made to the guideline MSC/Circ.1165 of June 10, 2005, published by the IMO (International Maritime Organization, 4 Albert and Bankment, London SE7SR).

With the combination of base material and chemical metallization proposed above, a base body is obtained which can be successfully subjected to a clogging test without being damaged as a result of the abrasive test medium.

The sprinkler housing according to this aspect and the sprinkler housing according to the above-mentioned integral aspect preferably have the same preferred embodiments and are preferred embodiments of each other.

In a further preferred embodiment, the base body is heat-treated at least in the area of the at least one fluid outlet and/or the distribution chamber. The surface hardness achieved by chemical metallization can be further increased with the help of heat treatment. This is particularly advantageous for those base materials that cannot be hardened per se, such as copper alloys.

During the heat treatment, the base body is preferably heat-treated at a temperature below the melting point of the material of the base body, preferably in a range from 190° C. to 600° C., depending on the material of the base body, and with a holding time of half an hour or more, more preferably in a range of one to twenty hours.

This means that base materials that inherently have a low melting point, such as polymer materials, are treated at a correspondingly lower temperature but with a longer holding time.

The invention solves the problem on which it is based with a sprinkler of the type described at the beginning, in particular with a high-pressure sprinkler (with an operating pressure above 16 bar), with a sprinkler housing according to one of the preferred embodiments described above, and a thermally activatable triggering element accommodated in the cage, which keeps the closure element in the locked position to activate it.

With regard to the advantages achieved and preferred embodiments, reference is made to the above statements.

The invention also achieves its underlying object according to the third aspect by specifying the use of the sprinkler housing as an extinguishing nozzle, in particular a sprinkler nozzle according to one of the preferred embodiments described above, the extinguishing nozzle being designed in particular for operating pressures in the range above 16 bar.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Sprinklers in einem ersten Betriebszustand,

Figur 2

eine Teilansicht des Sprinklers gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine weitere Teilansicht des Sprinklers gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 4

noch eine weitere Teilansicht des Sprinklers gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 5

eine schematische Ansicht des Sprinklers gemäß Figur 1 in einem zweiten Betriebszustand,

Figuren 6a,b

eine Teilansicht des Sprinklers gemäß den vorstehenden Figuren in dem ersten Betriebszustand sowie einem dritten Betriebszustand, und

Figuren 7a-f

verschiedene alternative Formgestaltungen eines Teils des Sprinklers gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 6.

The invention is described in more detail below using a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the attached figures. Here show:

figure 1

a schematic representation of a sprinkler in a first operating state,

figure 2

a partial view of the sprinkler according to FIG figure 1 ,

figure 3

another partial view of the sprinkler according to figure 1 ,

figure 4

yet another partial view of the sprinkler according to figure 1 ,

figure 5

a schematic view of the sprinkler according to FIG figure 1 in a second operating state,

Figures 6a,b

a partial view of the sprinkler according to the preceding figures in the first operating state and a third operating state, and

Figures 7a-f

various alternative shapes of a part of the sprinkler according to Figures 1 to 6 .

figure 1 shows a sprinkler 1 according to a preferred embodiment. The sprinkler 1 has a sprinkler housing 50 . The sprinkler housing 50 comprises a base body 2 , a passage unit 3 , and a fluid channel 12 which extends from a fluid inlet 10 to a plurality of fluid outlets 8 . A closure element 4 is arranged in a linearly movable manner inside the sprinkler housing 50 . The closure element 4 is in figure 1 shown in a blocking position, in which a sealing element 5 compressed radially and axially between the closure element 4 and the passage unit 3 closes the fluid channel 12 and thus prevents the fluid-conducting connection between the fluid inlet 10 and the fluid outlets 8 .

An orifice plate 11 for restricting the flow rate is preferably formed in the passage unit 3 .

The closure element 4 is activated by a thermally activatable trigger element 25 in the figure 1 held locked position shown. The thermally activatable triggering element 25 is held in a cage 27 which is integrally formed on the sprinkler housing 50, in particular on the base body 2. For this purpose, the cage 27 has a first abutment 28 for the axial and preferably radial positioning of the thermally activatable triggering element 25, while the closure element 4 preferably has a second abutment 29 for the axial and/or radial positioning of the thermally activatable triggering element 25 at its end thermally activatable trigger element 25 has. The thermally activatable release element 25 sits in a cage space 31 defined by the cage 27 and is inserted and held there without screwing. The voltage required to hold the thermally activatable tripping element 25 is determined solely by the dimensioning of the closure element 4 and the release direction A ( figure 5 ) acting compressive force of the extinguishing fluid (reference number 33) present above the sealing element 5 in the fluid channel 12 is determined.

In the sprinkler housing 50, a receiving channel 16 for receiving a screen unit 9 on the side of the fluid inlet 10, and a distribution chamber 15 are formed. The fluid outlets 8 and a recess 17 for receiving the closure element 4 branch off from the distributor chamber 15 .

The sprinkler housing 50 has a connection unit 38 with a coupling mechanism 26, preferably an external thread, with the connection unit 38 serving to connect the sprinkler 1 to a pipeline system carrying extinguishing fluid. The sprinkler 1 has a sealing element 6 for sealing the connection unit 38 . The outlet unit 3 is also sealed off from the base body 2 by means of a sealing element 7 .

The base body 2 has a nozzle head 39 adjacent to the section of the connection unit 38 . The distributor chamber 15 with the fluid outlets 8 is formed in the section of the nozzle head 39 . The cage 27 is molded onto the base body 2 axially adjacent to the section of the nozzle head 39 , so that the base body 2 together with the distribution chamber 15 and cage 27 is formed in one piece.

How to continue figure 2 in synopsis with figure 4 clearly shows, the fluid outlets 8 extend in one or more second, deviating from the release direction A direction (s) B, B ', while the recess 17 in the Release direction A extends. The extinguishing fluid flowing into the distribution chamber 15 in the release direction A, indicated by reference numeral 33, first flows in the direction of the recess 17 and must be deflected out of this direction in order to exit from the fluid outlets. This is with reference to figure 5 in more detail.

on figure 2 lower end of the recess 17 is a tapered in the release direction A sealing surface 19 is formed. In the above embodiment, the tapered sealing surface 19 is conical with a cone angle α ₂ . This in figure 4 The closure element 4 shown in more detail has a sealing surface 32 which is also tapered in the release direction A in the installed state and which is conical in the above exemplary embodiment and has a cone angle α ₃ . Preferably, the cone angles α ₂ and α ₃ do not deviate from one another or differ only slightly, in particular in a range of <5°. The preferably correspondingly designed tapered sealing surfaces 19, 32 serve as a stop for the closure element in the release position according to FIG figure 5 . They preferably form an elastomer-free seal 35 .

Referring in particular to the Figures 3 , 4 and 6a,b the sealing function of the sealing element 5 will now be explained in more detail. A sealing surface 18 widened in the release direction A is formed on the passage unit 3 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the widening sealing surface 18 is conical in shape with a cone angle α ₁ . The diameter of the fluid channel 12 consequently increases continuously in the release direction A in the course of the widening sealing surface 18 . In the locked position according to figure 1 the sealing element 5 rests against the widening sealing surface 18 and is compressed both radially and axially relative to the release direction A due to the non-parallel course of the widening sealing surface 18 . This compression behavior is supported by the fact that the sealing element 5 is in the blocked position ( figure 1 ) is pressed against a radially extending sealing surface 30 and an axially extending sealing surface 36. The contact surfaces between the sealing element 5, the outlet unit 3 and the closure element 4 thus form partial sealing surfaces which are each smaller than a single sealing surface would be in a sprinkler with a sealing element known from the prior art.

Referring in particular to Figures 6a,b the compression behavior of the sealing element 5 will now be explained in more detail. In Figure 6a a first pressure P ₁ is applied to the sprinkler 1 on the inlet side. This pressure is also known as stand-by pressure, and can for example in a range of 10-13 bar, preferably <12.5 bar. In this installation situation, the sealing element 5 has a material thickness S. If the pressure increases to a value P ₂ , shown in Figure 6b , the sealing element 5 is initially further compressed and pressed more strongly in the direction of the widening sealing surface 18 and the radially extending sealing surface 30 . The effective area of the operating pressure on the closure element is increased in this way. The advantageous configuration of the sealing arrangement in stand-by mode is shown here in particular in accordance with FIG Figure 6a . If the triggering pressure, which is equal to or greater than the value P ₂ , is exceeded, for example in the range of 40 bar or more, the closure element 4 is moved out of the blocked position after the thermally activatable triggering element 25 has escaped figure 1 moved. The sealing element 5 immediately loses contact with the widening sealing surface 18 after just a few fractions of a millimeter and releases the fluid flow.

The passage unit 3, which accommodates the sealing surface 18 that widens in the release direction A, is preferably manufactured as a machined workpiece and has a groove 13 on its outer peripheral surface for accommodating the sealing element 7 ( figure 3 ).

Below is in particular the sealing element 5 in the release position according to figure 5 explained protection against wear and destruction design. For this purpose, reference is made in particular to the figures 4 and 5 .

in the in figure 5 shown release position of the sprinkler 1 pushes extinguishing fluid 33 in the release direction A into the distribution chamber 15 . The closure element 4 is located in the in figure 5 release position shown below. A protective chamber, in which the sealing element 5 is accommodated, is formed on the distribution chamber 15 between the closure element 4 and the branching recess 17 . The protective chamber 17 is located away from the main flow direction from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlets 8, because they extend in the direction B, B`, deviating from the release direction A (see Fig figure 2 ). Due to this remote arrangement of the sealing element 5, the sealing element 5 is in the release position of the closure element 4 in a flow-calmed area and is less exposed to wear due to the fast-flowing flow of the extinguishing fluid. This significantly reduces the susceptibility to destruction of the sealing element 5 and reliably prevents the fluid outlets 8 from becoming blocked with material of the sealing element 5 that has been sheared off or torn off.

The fluid outlets 8 are located radially outside of the recesses 17. In the configuration shown, the closure element 4 has a circumferential groove, characterized by the axially extending sealing surface 36 as the groove base. The sealing element 5 is accommodated in this groove. By arranging the sealing element 5 on the closure element 4 so that it is at least partially sunk into the groove, exposure to the flow of extinguishing fluid forced in the direction of the fluid outlets 8 is further reduced. Contrary to the release direction A adjacent to the groove 36, a projection 21 is formed on the closure element, which protects the sealing element 5 against flow influences in the release position. A flow deflector 37 which extends counter to the release direction A is particularly preferably formed on the projection 21 . in the in figure 1 In the blocking position shown, the flow deflector 37 preferably extends far through the diaphragm into the fluid channel 12 in the direction of the fluid inlet 10. In the in figure 5 In the release position shown, the flow deflector 37 still extends, at least for the most part, through the distribution chamber 15 in the direction of the fluid inlet 10. Extinguishing fluid flowing into the distribution chamber 15 is at least decelerated by the flow deflector 37, as a result of which the dynamic pressure component of the extinguishing fluid decreases and the load on the sealing element 5 still increases further decreases or the sealing element 5 is shielded even more. The protected arrangement of the sealing element 5 shown here in the protective chamber between the recess 17 and the closure element 4 makes it possible to use the sprinkler housing 50 as an open extinguishing nozzle without first inserting a thermally activatable triggering element 25 .

This generates a considerable synergy in terms of manufacturing technology, because one and the same component, namely the sprinkler housing 50 together with the closure element 4 and the sealing element 5, can be used for several purposes without having to be converted. The sealing element 5 is significantly less likely to be damaged or destroyed on its protected arrangement, as a result of which an unintentional clogging of the fluid outlets 8 is prevented even more reliably.

The structure of the closure element is described in more detail below, first referring to FIG figure 4 .

The closure element 4 is preferably designed as a rotationally symmetrical body with a plurality of sections, four sections in the present example. A first section is the projection 21 with a diameter d1. A second section 22 has a diameter d2 and is set up to accommodate the sealing element 5 . In The axial sealing surface 36 and the radial sealing surface 30 are formed in this section. The radial sealing surface 30 is also the transition to a third section 23 with an outer diameter d3 and a section with the sealing surface 32 that tapers in the release direction A. There is a continuous decrease in diameter in the release direction A to the diameter d4, with a conical progression with Cone angle α 3 is formed. From there, a further section with a cylindrical course in the form of a receiving cylinder 24 extends. 1 ) to the release position ( figure 5 ) to penetrate.

The second abutment 29 is preferably formed in this receiving cylinder 24 . The diameters d1, d2, d3 and d4 are preferably in the following size relationship:
D1 is greater than d2, d2 is less than d3, and d3 is greater than d4. The length of the second region 22 with the diameter d2 is preferably adapted to the material thickness of the sealing element 5 . The difference d3-d2 is preferably greater than the material thickness of the sealing element 5 in the unloaded state. The diameter d3 is preferably larger than the outer diameter of the sealing element 5 in the unloaded state. The radially extending sealing surface 30, which is dimensioned with a diameter d3, thus serves as a stop surface for the closure element and, when the first sealing element 5 is pressed against the expanding sealing surface 18, also serves to prevent excessive deformation and shearing of the sealing element 5, or the sealing element 5 from slipping off to prevent it from slipping out of the groove during assembly.

Due to a diameter difference between d2 and d3, the groove characterized by the axially extending sealing surface 36 in the second region 22 is to be understood as an asymmetrical groove.

The diameter d2 is preferably in a range from 1.5 to 50 mm, particularly preferably in a range from 2 to 12 mm, further particularly preferably in a range from 12 mm to 30 mm.

In the following, with reference to the Figures 7a to 7f taken in addition to the structure of the closure element 4 position.

The different variants of the closure element 4 are in the Figures 7a to 7f shown. The basic structure of the closure element 4 is similar in all of these variants. The main exception is the shape of the projection 21 and the flow deflector 37 on it. While the exemplary embodiment according to the Figures 7a, b has no flow deflector 37, but differs essentially in terms of the design of the receiving cylinder 24 and the axial extent of the area between the sealing area 22 and the receiving cylinder 24, in which according to Figure 7a If a cylindrical intermediate section 23b and a slightly conically opposing section 23a are also formed, the closure element 4 has according to FIG Figure 7c on its projection 21 a flow deflector 37 in the form of a circumferential annular projection 37a on the end face 40. Conversely, the projection 37a can also be defined as a concave recess 41 in the end face 40 .

In the closure element 4 according to the Figure 7d a cone tip 37b is formed on the projection 21, which advantageously supports the deflection of the extinguishing fluid penetrating into the distribution chamber 15 radially outwards towards the fluid outlets 8.

According to Figure 7e a tip 37c with a concavely curved lateral surface 42 is formed on the projection 21 of the closure element 4 . The concave curvature supports the deflection of the fluid in the direction of the fluid outlets 8 and reduces the impact effect of the impinging fluid on the projection 21. In Figure 7f a variant of the closure element 4 is shown, in which a tip 37d with a concavely curved lateral surface 43 is also formed on the projection 21, the concavely curved lateral surface opening into a concave recess 44 on the end face 40, which deflects the on the projection 21 incident fluid against the release direction A supported.

The advantages of the one-piece design of the base body 2 together with the cage 27 and the advantageous effects of preferred material combinations are discussed below.

Because the sprinkler housing 50 has a base body 2 in which both the distribution chamber 15 with the fluid outlets 8 and the cage 27 with the cage space 31 are integrally formed, a thermally activatable triggering means 25 can be used and then only by mounting the closure element, preferably in the abutments 28,29, are held securely. An insertion and Bracing of the thermally activatable tripping element by means of threaded pins and similar means, as are known from the prior art, can be omitted here. Work steps are saved during assembly, and the risk of premature damage to the thermally activatable triggering element due to excessive clamping force is prevented.

The one-piece base body 2 is preferably formed from a seawater-resistant copper alloy such as seawater-resistant brass or one of the other materials mentioned above. However, the seawater-resistant copper alloy is particularly preferred. More preferably, the base body is chemically nickel-plated at least in the area of the fluid outlets, but preferably completely. In chemical nickel plating, a nickel-phosphorus coating is applied to the base material in an autocatalytic process. This coating is then preferably further cured by means of a heat treatment. The residence time and temperature of the heat treatment is preferably adapted to the melting point of the base material. If polymers are used as the base material, the heat treatment temperature is naturally lower than for metals such as brass. The coating created with chemical nickel plating has the particular advantage that it can be used to significantly increase the abrasion resistance of materials that cannot be hardened, such as brass. As a result, the advantages of different materials are favorably linked with one another by sprinkler systems.

The combination of the one-piece design with the above-mentioned material selection and heat treatment has the particular advantage that the sprinkler housing 50 as a whole is significantly less susceptible to clogging. As part of the approval test for sprinklers and extinguishing nozzles, it must be ensured that the fluid outlets do not change or only change very slightly in terms of their flow rates during operation. On the one hand, this applies to a reduction in the outlet cross section due to blockages (therefore clogging) but, on the other hand, to an increase in the outlet cross section due to abrasion. In particular, when technical water or seawater is used as the extinguishing fluid, that is to say simply water with particle loading or other impurities, the risk of an enlargement of the outlet cross sections is generally greater than a blockage. Due to the increased hardness in connection with the corrosion resistance of the base material and the coating, the invention creates surprisingly good properties in this respect in a one-piece base body.

Claims (10)

1. A sprinkler (1), comprising

   - a sprinkler housing,

   - a fluid channel (12) which is provided in the sprinkler housing and has a fluid inlet (10) and at least one fluid outlet (8),

   - a closure element (4) which is movable from a blocking position into a release position, wherein the closure element (4) closes the fluid channel in the blocking position and releases same in the release position,

   - a thermally activated triggering element (25) retaining the closure element (4) in the blocking position until thermally activated, and

   a sealing element (5) which is interposed between the sprinkler housing and the closure element (4) and is configured to close the fluid channel in a fluid-tight manner in the blocking position wherein the sealing element (5) is radially and axially compressed in the blocking position in order to apply the sealing effect,

   wherein in the blocking position, the sealing element (5) is pressed against a sealing surface (18) which expands in a release direction (A), and the expanding sealing surface (18) is formed on the sprinkler housing,

   characterized in that the closure element (4) has circumferential groove in which the sealing element (5) sits,

   the closure element (4) has a radially extending sealing surface (30) against which the sealing element (5) is pressed in the blocking position, and

   the sealing element (5) is configured to still be compressed further and be pressed more strongly in the direction of the expanding sealing surface (18) at the sprinkler housing and of the radially extending sealing surface (30) of the closure element (4) when the pressure on the inlet side of the sprinkler rises from a value P₁ to value P₂.
2. The sprinkler (1) as claimed in claim 1,
   characterized in that the expanding sealing surface (18) is at least partially tapered.
3. The sprinkler as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the expanding sealing surface (18) is at least partially curved convexly.
4. The sprinkler as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that the expanding sealing surface (18) is at least partially curved concavely.
5. The sprinkler (1) as claimed in claim 1,
   characterized in that the sealing element (5) is selected from the list consisting of: an O ring, quad ring, multi-lip sealing ring, in particular X ring or V ring, or a combination of a plurality of said sealing elements.
6. The sprinkler (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the closure element (4) has an axially extending sealing surface (36) which the sealing element (5) is pressed against in the blocking position.
7. The sprinkler (1) as claimed in claim 2,
   characterized in that the expanding sealing surface (18) which is at least partially tapered has a cone angle (α1) which lies within an angular range of 5° to 60°, preferably 10° to 40°, particularly preferred 20° to 30°.
8. The sprinkler (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the sprinkler housing has a main body (2) and a passage unit (3), wherein preferably, the fluid inlet (10) and/or the expanding sealing surface (18) are formed on the passage unit (3).
9. The sprinkler (1) as claimed in claim 8,

   characterized in that the main body (2) has a connection unit (38) for fastening the sprinkler (1) to an extinguishing fluid supply, in particular having a receiving channel (16) for receiving the fluid entry channel (10), a nozzle head (39), and a cage (27),

   wherein a distribution chamber (15) which the at least one fluid outlet (8) extends from is formed inside the nozzle head (39), and

   wherein the cage (27) defines a cage compartment (31) for receiving the thermal triggering element (25).
10. The sprinkler (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the closure element (4) has a second sealing surface (32) which is tapered in the release direction (A), and the sprinkler housing, in particular the main body (2), has a third sealing surface (19) which is tapered in the release direction (A), wherein the second and third sealing surfaces (19, 32) abut against each other in the release position of the closure element (4).

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