Patent attributes
A fast response, upright sprinkler head includes a body having a central orifice through which fire extinguishing fluid is expelled through an outlet end. A yoke, attached to the exterior surface of the sprinkler body, extends beyond the outlet end of the sprinkler body and is connected at its apex to a deflector. A fusible trigger assembly is coupled to the yoke and the outlet end of the sprinkler head. The deflector is formed with a planar member having a skirt depending therefrom and an annular ledge extending horizontally from the skirt. The skirt depends from the planar member in an outward direction at a pre-selected angle from the vertical, and is formed with a plurality of through-holes. The fast response upright sprinkler head is configured to have a K value of at least 13.5, while the fusible trigger assembly has a fusing temperature between approximately 155° F. and 175° F. to thereby provide a fast response sprinkler head capable of expelling a sufficient density of water during the early stages of fire development. The angle of the skirt, as well as the through holes formed therein, alter the trajectory of the water to thereby provide a hemispheric pattern of large water droplets capable of penetrating the fire plume and reaching the fire source in order to suppress or extinguish the same. In another aspect of the invention, the fast response upright sprinkler head is used in a fire extinguishing system and method wherein the upright sprinkler head is placed in proximity to a horizontal obstruction depending from, or otherwise supported, a preselected distance from the ceiling of an enclosure. The upright sprinkler system of the present invention develops an effective spray distribution pattern about the obstruction to thereby suppress a fire positioned directly below, or approximately below, the obstruction.
