US 12,029,929 B2
Flexible dry sprinkler
Buddy Clayton Shipman, Heath, TX (US)
Assigned to VICTAULIC COMPANY, Easton, PA (US)
Filed by VICTAULIC COMPANY, Easton, PA (US)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/014,275.
Application 17/014,275 is a continuation of application No. 15/151,847, filed on May 11, 2016, granted, now 10,799,737.
Application 15/151,847 is a continuation of application No. 13/176,834, filed on Jul. 6, 2011, granted, now 9,358,411, issued on Jun. 7, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/496,347, filed on Jun. 13, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/490,737, filed on May 27, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2020/0398091 A1, Dec. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. A62C 35/62 (2006.01); A62C 3/00 (2006.01); A62C 35/64 (2006.01); A62C 35/68 (2006.01); A62C 37/11 (2006.01); A62C 37/12 (2006.01); A62C 37/14 (2006.01); A62C 37/46 (2006.01); A62C 37/48 (2006.01)
CPC A62C 35/62 (2013.01) [A62C 3/004 (2013.01); A62C 35/645 (2013.01); A62C 35/68 (2013.01); A62C 37/11 (2013.01); A62C 37/12 (2013.01); A62C 37/14 (2013.01); A62C 37/46 (2013.01); A62C 37/48 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flexible dry fire protection sprinkler comprising:
(A) an inlet having an inlet orifice;
(B) an inlet seal assembly configured to seal the inlet orifice, and having a spring seal that compresses in response to a load;
(C) an inlet release unit configured to release the inlet seal assembly;
(D) a flexible tube having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;
(E) a flexible linkage extending through the flexible tube, and having an inlet end connected to the inlet release unit, and an outlet end;
(F) a bias member connected to the outlet end of the flexible linkage, and configured to displace the outlet end of the flexible linkage upon activation of the flexible dry fire protection sprinkler;
(G) a sprinkler body connected to the bias member, the sprinkler body having an outlet orifice; and
(H) an outlet seal assembly configured to seal the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body until ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature,
wherein, when the ambient temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the outlet seal assembly is released from the outlet orifice of the sprinkler body, and the bias member displaces the flexible linkage in an outlet direction from a first position to a second position, causing the inlet end of the flexible linkage to operate the inlet release unit, thereby releasing the inlet seal assembly from the inlet orifice of the inlet.