The invention further relates to a method for forming a recess in a concrete ceiling and for using said recess to position a sprinkler head to be connected to a sprinkler pipeline in a concealed or visible position.
A concealed sprinkler arranged in a concrete ceiling is known from WO-A-2006/105758. In the area of the sprinkler, the concrete ceiling has a recess in which a pipe with a threaded connector ends, into which connector the sprinkler can be screwed.
US-A-2008/0060823 also refers to a concealed sprinkler assembly. To form a corresponding cavity required to accommodate a sprinkler head in a concrete ceiling, a cap can be screwed onto an elbow piece of a water supply pipe, which can be cast into a concrete ceiling, wherein a hollow cylindrical element with an angled, flange-type edge around its perimeter can be inserted into said cap and then used to connect the element to the concrete ceiling. Once the concrete ceiling has been cured, the threaded element can be removed and replaced by a sprinkler head.
The subject of DE-C-101 40 942 is a supply system for fire-extinguishing agent. In this case, a sprinkler projects outward from a flexible pipe that is cast into a concrete ceiling. To protect the flexible pipe and its sprinkler head coupling piece from exposure to undesirable forces during casting, fastening means are provided, via which the pipe connector for the sprinkler head is connected to a concrete formwork.
The object of the present invention is to provide a mounting kit and a method which will make it possible to install sprinklers in concrete ceilings in a concealed or a visible position, without costly steps for forming recesses in the concrete ceiling.
To attain this object, the invention provides essentially that the mounting kit comprises
According to the invention, a mounting kit is provided in the shape of a can having an inner cap and a sleeve encompassing said cap, with the cross-section of the sleeve in the area of the closed end surface of the cap being larger than the area distant from the end surface, wherein in the latter area the sleeve has an edge area that points toward the inside, with which the sleeve can be connected to the coupling piece. The edge area that points toward the inside is continuous and surrounds an opening, through which the threaded element extends, and which is covered on the interior by a flange of the threaded element. This creates a closed unit which concrete cannot penetrate.
The cap has at least one opening in its closed end surface, through which a fastening element, such as a threaded element, can be inserted and connected to the concrete formwork.
For assembly, first the cap, preferably in the shape of a can, is screwed using at least one screw onto the formwork of the concrete ceiling to be cast. Four, five or six openings, for example, and therefore four, five or six screws, are preferably provided for securing the cap. The sleeve is then screwed onto the coupling piece via the threaded element. The coupling piece is equipped with internal threading, into which the sprinkler head, with its external threading, can be screwed. In this case, customary threading is used, for example ½″, ¾″ or 1″ threading. The sleeve that is connected to the coupling piece is connected to the cap, i.e., pushed together. The coupling piece can then be connected, or may already be connected, directly to a pipe such as a downpipe, or via an elbow piece to a pipe via which fire-extinguishing water can be supplied when the sprinkler system is in operation. The elbow piece or pipe is connected to the reinforcement, for example via connectors, in the concrete ceiling that is to be cast, and is thereby fastened.
Once the concrete has been cast and cured, the formwork is removed in a known manner. Because both the sleeve with the coupling piece and the cap are connected to the formwork, when the formwork is removed the cap is removed along with it. The screw element is then removed, allowing the sleeve to be pulled out of the concrete ceiling. This also uncovers the threading of the coupling piece, so that the sprinkler can be mounted directly or optionally via an adapter fitting.
The invention further relates to a method for forming a recess in a concrete ceiling and for using said recess to position a sprinkler head to be connected to a sprinkler pipeline in a concealed or visible position.
To accurately and smoothly form a recess and to position a sprinkler head in a concealed or visible position in said recess or projecting out of said recess, the following process steps are proposed:
In this process, the sequence of process steps a) and b) may be reversed.
It is also possible to screw an adapter piece onto the coupling piece, and to then connect the sprinkler head to said adapter. This allows the sprinkler head to be installed in a visible position.
In particular, it is provided that a sleeve is used, the exterior of which is conical in shape, with its cross-section narrowing in the direction of the coupling piece.
The invention is further characterized in that a sleeve is used, which at its connecting end has an edge area that points toward the inside, at least in sections, via which area the sleeve can be connected to the coupling piece. In particular, it is provided that the edge area that points toward the inside extends between a flange of a threaded element and the coupling piece.
Cap and sleeve should be made of plastic.
Further details, benefits and characterizing features of the invention are specified not only in the claims, the characterizing features contained therein—alone and/or in combination—, but also in the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment presented in the set of drawings.
The drawings show:
To position sprinklers in a concealed or optionally visible arrangement in a concrete ceiling, the ceiling must be equipped with corresponding recesses at those points where sprinklers will be provided, with coupling pieces, which are cast into the concrete and are connected to pipes that supply water for extinguishing fire, ending in said recesses.
In
Of course, an adapter fitting, in other words an extender, can also be screwed into the coupling piece 14, i.e., its threading 18, with the sprinkler head then being screwed into said fitting, so that the head projects outward beyond the concrete ceiling 26.
To form a corresponding recess 28 for the sprinkler 20 in the concrete ceiling 26, a mounting kit 30 is cast into the concrete ceiling 26, and is removed once the ceiling is cured. The mounting kit 30 will be specified in greater detail in reference to
The mounting kit 30 comprises a cylindrical cap 32 with a closed end surface 34, in other words basically can-shaped, which is attached to a formwork 36 to be used in casting the concrete ceiling 26. To this end, the end surface 34 has openings 36, 38, as shown in
The mounting kit 30 also has a sleeve 40, the interior shape of which matches the outer shape of the cap 32. In the exemplary embodiment, a hollow cylindrical shape is chosen, to allow the cap 32 to be produced easily as an injection molded piece.
Externally, the sleeve 40 is conical in shape, with an end surface 42 that has an opening 44 and extends in the area of the cone that is smaller in diameter. The opposite end is open to allow the sleeve 40 to be placed on the cap 32.
A threaded element 46 is inserted through the opening 44 and can be screwed into the interior threading 18 of the insert 16 of the coupling piece 14. The threaded element 46 has a flange 48, the diameter of which is greater than that of the opening 44. As a result, when the threaded element 46 is screwed into the interior threading 18 of the insert 46, the sleeve 40 is also connected to the coupling piece 14. The interior threading 18 is configured to match the external threading of the sprinkler head 20.
Mounting then proceeds as follows:
First, the cap 32 is screwed onto the concrete formwork 36 at a desired location. Using the threaded element 46, the sleeve 40 is connected to the coupling piece 14, which is in turn connected to the elbow piece 12 and to the pipe 10. The unit formed in this manner is placed on the cap 32, so that the concrete ceiling 26 can be cast. Once the concrete ceiling 26 has cured, the formwork 36 is removed. Because the cap 32 is connected to the formwork 36, the cap 32 is pulled out of the sleeve 40 at the same time. The threaded element 46 is then removed, allowing the sleeve 40 to be pulled out of the concrete ceiling. The sprinkler head 20 is then screwed into the internal threading 18 of the insert 16 in the coupling piece 14.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2009 004 938.8 | Jun 2009 | DE | national |