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US-12623102-B2 - Torsion release mechanical control node for cable operated fire suppression systems

US12623102B2US 12623102 B2US12623102 B2US 12623102B2US-12623102-B2

Abstract

An activation system includes a housing and a pulley mounted to the housing. The pulley is rotatable about an axis. An activation member is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the pulley to selectively couple to the pulley. When the activation member and the pulley are coupled, rotation of the pulley about the axis is restricted. A first tension member is operably coupled to the activation member and a first tension of the first tension member maintains the activation member in engagement with the pulley. At least one second tension member is wrapped about at least one of the pulley and the activation member and has a second tension acting on the at least one of the pulley and the activation member.

Inventors

  • Thomas Kjellman

Assignees

  • KIDDE-FENWAL, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230512

Claims (10)

  1. 1 . An activation system comprising: a housing; a pulley mounted to the housing, the pulley being rotatable about a shaft defining an axis; an activation member disposed on the shaft and movable along the shaft between a first position where the activation member is coupled to the pulley and a second position wherein the activation member is free of the pulley, wherein when the activation member is in the first position and coupled to the pulley, a rotation of the pulley about the axis is restricted; a first cable operably coupled to the activation member, wherein a first tension of the first cable exerts a tension in a first direction to maintain the activation member in engagement with the pulley; a biasing member operably coupled to the activation member and configured to continuously urge the activation member to the second position, wherein the first tension opposes a biasing force of the biasing member; and a second cable wrapped about the pulley, the second cable having a second tension acting on the pulley; wherein a release of tension by the first cable allows the biasing member to move the activation member to the second position so as to be free of the pulley, allowing the second cable to rotate the pulley.
  2. 2 . The activation system of claim 1 , wherein the first cable is arranged at an angle to the second cable.
  3. 3 . The activation system of claim 2 , wherein the first cable is orthogonal to the second cable.
  4. 4 . The activation system of claim 1 , wherein a third cable is wrapped about an exterior of the activation member.
  5. 5 . The activation system of claim 1 , wherein the second cable is wrapped about an exterior of the pulley.
  6. 6 . The activation system of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is arranged within an interior of the shaft.
  7. 7 . The activation system of claim 1 , wherein the activation member further comprises a key and the pulley further comprises a keyway, the key being receivable within the keyway when the activation member is coupled to the pulley.
  8. 8 . The activation system of claim 7 , wherein the housing further comprises an opening axially aligned with the keyway, the key being receivable within the opening when the activation member is coupled to the pulley.
  9. 9 . The activation system of claim 1 , wherein the first cable is operably coupled to a detection device.
  10. 10 . The activation system of claim 1 , wherein the second cable is operably coupled to one of a control box and an actuator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 63/344,884, filed May 23, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. BACKGROUND Exemplary embodiments relate to a system and method for delivering a fire suppression agent to a cooking appliance in the event of a fire. Fire suppression systems, such as in commercial kitchens, commonly include a suppressant reservoir housing a fire suppressant. A valve retains the suppressant in the reservoir until fire is detected, at which point the valve is actuated to allow suppressant to issue from the reservoir and into the area protected by the fire suppression system. Actuation typically occurs by operation of a fusible detection link and cable, which connects the fusible link to the valve. Fire systems that operate in response to input tension at the detection links (e.g., at the control boxes) are required to work with the limited force and displacement allowed by the link configuration. There is no current mechanism that may be applied in-line and that can multiply the available displacement prior to arrival at the control panel, which, if available, could reduce the need for additional control boxes. Accordingly, there remains a need for a mechanism that may be applied in-line and that can multiply the available displacement prior to arrival at the control panel, reducing the need for additional control boxes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION According to an embodiment, an activation system includes a housing and a pulley mounted to the housing. The pulley is rotatable about an axis. An activation member is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the pulley to selectively couple to the pulley. When the activation member and the pulley are coupled, rotation of the pulley about the axis is restricted. A first tension member is operably coupled to the activation member and a first tension of the first tension member maintains the activation member in engagement with the pulley. At least one second tension member is wrapped about at least one of the pulley and the activation member and has a second tension acting on the at least one of the pulley and the activation member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the first tension member is arranged at an angle to the at least one second tension member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the first tension member is orthogonally to the at least one second tension member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one second tension member is wrapped about an exterior of the activation member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one second tension member is wrapped about an exterior of the pulley. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one second tension member includes a plurality of second tension members and one of the plurality of second tension members is wrapped about the pulley and another of the plurality of second tension member is wrapped about the activation member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the at least one second tension member includes a plurality of second tension members, wherein one of the plurality of second tension members is wrapped about the pulley and another of the plurality of second tension member is wrapped about the pulley. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments a wrap angle of the plurality of second tension members wrapped about the pulley varies. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments comprising a shaft, the pulley being mounted to the shaft and a biasing member operably coupled to the activation member, wherein the first tension opposes a biasing force of the biasing member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the biasing member is arranged within an interior of the shaft. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the activation member further comprises a key and the pulley further comprises a keyway, the key being receivable within the keyway when the activation member is coupled to the pulley. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, in further embodiments the housing further comprises an opening axially aligned with the keyway, the key being receivable within the opening when the activation member is coupled to the pulley. In addition