Patent Application
20230158350
The present invention relates generally to protection devices for piping of fire protection systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a protective device for protecting a connection fitting to maintain the integrity of an internal seal.
Fire protection devices, such as, for example, sprinklers and/or nozzles, and systems that employ the fire protection devices are used, for example, in the protection of storage commodities and occupancies. Fire protection systems include a network of pipes connected to a firefighting fluid supply and installed in relation to the storage commodity or occupancy. The piping network includes one or more branch lines coupled to a cross-main which is connected to the firefighting fluid supply by a vertical piping riser to supply the branch line(s) with the firefighting fluid. The fire protection devices are connected to the branch lines in an appropriate orientation and at an appropriate spacing. To connect the fire protection devices to the branch lines, the branch lines are configured as linear pipe headers with branch connectors extending from the header for receipt and threaded connection of a fire protection sprinkler. Known connectors have one inlet end configured for connection to the pipe header and an opposite outlet end with a tapered threaded end for connection of a fire protection device. In order to form a fluid tight seal between the threadedly engaged connector and the fire protection device, a sealing tape or putty is applied to the thread of the fire protection device.
There are also known branch connectors which eliminate either or both of the tapered thread connection or the need to apply a sealing tape or putty. For example, each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,297,663 and 10,744,527, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2019/0175968, show and describe connectors or adapters for connecting a fire protection device to a pipe header. Alternatively, PCT Patent Publication Number WO 2022/178179 shows and describes branch connectors for connecting a fire protection device in which the branch connectors are secured to a pipe header to provide a piping interconnection. Each of these known connectors use an internal straight thread at the outlet to connect the thread of the fire protection device, which allows the fire protection device to be placed in a desired rotational orientation without the interference of the thread engagement. Typically, the fire protection device includes a tapered thread; however, it may include a straight thread. To form a fluid tight seal between the connector and the fire protection device, each of the connectors employ an internal annular seal member. The fire protection device is then threaded into the connector and sufficiently torqued to form the fluid tight connection by compression of the internal annular sealing member. However, formation of the fluid tight seal between the connector and the fire protection device will be inhibited if the internal annular seal is omitted from the connector or improperly located within the connector, and/or the internal annular seal is damaged and/or covered with dirt and/or debris.
Thus, in order to form an effective fluid tight seal between the connector and the fire protection device, there is a need, prior to installation of the fire protection device, to have the capability to readily determine if the internal annular seal is properly located within the connector, to prevent damage to the internal annular seal, and/or to inhibit dirt and debris from entering the connector that could interfere with a sealing surface of the internal annular seal.
Preferred embodiments of a preferred protective device provide a protected branch connector assembly for a supply pipe of a fire protection device, such as, a fire protection sprinkler and/or nozzle. The protected branch connector assembly includes a tubular member having a first terminal end surface defining an inlet opening, a second terminal end surface defining an outlet opening, and an internal passageway extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening along a central longitudinal axis with an internal seal chamber. An annular seal member is disposed within the internal seal chamber and defines a seated orientation circumscribed about the central axis. The annular seal member has a first confronting surface confronting the inlet opening and a second confronting surface opposite the first confronting surface and confronting the outlet opening. A preferred protective device of the assembly includes a plug body having a first end and a second end coaxially spaced apart from one another along a central body axis. The plug body is coaxially inserted into the outlet opening of the tubular member with the second end, preferably, in surface contact with the second confronting surface of the seal member.
Preferred embodiments of the protected branch connector assembly locate the plug body, and, preferably the first end of the plug body as an indicator that defines at least one indicative relationship between the protective device and the tubular member to indicate that the annular seal member is within the internal chamber in the seated orientation. For example, the plug body of the protective device is configured such that when the plug body is inserted into the outlet opening of the tubular member, the first end of the plug body is aligned with, and preferably flush with, the second terminal end surface of the tubular body to provide at least one indicator that defines at least one indicative relationship between the protective device and the tubular member that indicates the annular seal member is within the internal seal chamber in the seated orientation. In addition, and/or alternatively, at least one indicator is preferably coupled, affixed or integrally formed with the first end of the plug body and axially spaced from the second terminal end surface of the tubular member to define a gap and spaced relationship therebetween that defines at least one indicative relationship between the protective device and the tubular member that indicates the annular seal member is within the internal chamber in the seated orientation. Alternatively, at least one indicator is preferably coupled, affixed or integrally formed with the first end of the plug body and is in contact and flush with the second terminal end surface of the tubular member to define at least one indicative relationship between the protective device and the tubular member that indicates the annular seal member is within the internal seal chamber in the seated orientation. Thus, the orientation of the first end of the plug body and the second terminal surface of the tubular body, and/or the gap or the contact between the at least one indicator and the second terminal end of the tubular member provides a readily discernably visual indicator that the annular seal member is within the internal seal chamber in the seated orientation.
A preferred method of protecting a fire protection pipe assembly includes, inserting a protective device into an outlet opening of a branch connector of the fire protection pipe assembly and indicating that an internal seal member is in a seated orientation within an internal seal chamber of the branch connector. The indicating is achieved by defining a dimensional relationship between the protective device and the branch connector. An alternate preferred method of protecting a fire protection pipe assembly includes, inserting a protective device into an outlet opening of a branch connector of the fire protection pipe assembly and indicating an internal seal member is missing from an internal seal chamber of the branch connector with an unretained engagement between the protective device and the branch connector. The indicating is also achieved by defining a dimensional relationship between the protective device and the branch connector.
A preferred protection device for use in the assembly and method includes a body with an insertion edge circumscribed about a central axis and a trailing edge circumscribed about the central axis. An indicator is preferably affixed, formed with or defined by the trailing edge. Preferred embodiments of the body include a base centered about the central axis defining the insertion edge with a peripheral wall circumscribed about the base and the central axis. The peripheral wall has an edge circumscribed about the central device axis defining the trailing edge that is spaced from the base to define an open end of the body.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and together, with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments are some examples of the invention as provided by the appended claims.
Shown in
In order to protect the branch connector(s) 200 and maintain the integrity of the seal 250 prior to installation of the sprinkler 10, a preferred embodiment of a protective device is inserted into the outlet opening of the branch connector 200. Installed, preferred embodiments of the protective device protect the header 300, branch connector 200 and/or seal member 250 by closing off the outlet opening of the branch connector and minimizing its exposure to dirt and debris during storage, transport, or installation of the pipe header 300 and/or when awaiting installation of a sprinkler 10. In particular, the protective device inhibits damage to the seal member 250 and, moreover, preferred embodiments of the protective device provide or define one or more visual indicators to indicate that the annular seal member 250 is installed within the branch connector and more preferably indicate that the seal member 250 is properly installed and oriented in the branch connector 200. Additionally, preferred embodiments of the protective device are configured to be removed, preferably by hand or hand tool, to expose the outlet opening of the branch connector 200 for receipt of a fire protection sprinkler 10.
Shown in
With specific reference to
The preferred protective device 100 is then subsequently inserted into the outlet opening 210. The device 100 forms a preferred frictional fit therein to remain within the opening 210 and the internal conduit 212 to prevent dirt or debris from entering the tubular member 202 of the branch connector 200. The frictional fit sufficiently retains and secures the device 100 within the outlet opening 210 against dislodgement from vibration or inadvertent impact. Moreover, the frictional fit preferably can be overcome by manually leveraging, pulling or prying the device 100 from the outlet 210 by hand or hand tool. In one preferred aspect, the outer surface of the inserted portion of the device is preferably 0.010-0.015 inch greater that the internal dimension of the outlet opening 210 provided by the internal threads 220 to form the desired frictional fit.
Once inserted, the preferred protective device 100 defines one or more dimensional relationships with the branch connector 200 to provide one or more indicators as to whether or not the seal member 250 is installed and/or properly in a seated orientation. The device 100 is preferably formed from a polymer or plastic material such as, for example, polyethylene and formed by molding such as, for example, injection molding. Preferred embodiments of the device 100 include a plug body 102 having a first end 104 and a second end 106 coaxially spaced apart from one another along a central body axis. The plug body 102 is the portion of the device 100 coaxially inserted into the outlet opening 210 of the tubular member 202 with the second end 106 of the body 102 coming into surface contact engagement with the seal member 250. In preferred embodiments of the assembly 1000, the second end of the body 106 is brought into surface contact engagement with the second confronting surface 254 of the seal member 250. With the second end 106 in surface contact engagement with the seal member 250, the first end 104 of the plug body 102 is preferably flush with the outlet opening 210 of the tubular member 202 to define one preferred indicative relationship between the device 100 and the tubular member 202 indicating that the annular seal member 250 is within the internal chamber 214 in the desired seated orientation.
Alternatively to forming a frictional fit between the tubular member 202 and the protective device 100, an alternate embodiment of the assembly 1000 retains the protective device 100 within the tubular member 202 by the surface contact engagement between the second end 106 of the plug body 102 of the device 100 and the seal member 250. More particularly, the second end 106 of the plug body 102 forms a surface engagement contact with an inner surface of the annular seal member 250 between the confronting surfaces 252, 254, that is sufficient to retain and secure the protective device 100 within the tubular member 202 of the branch connector 200. In order to provide the surface engagement, the peripheral wall 108 is sized to be located within the seal member 250. The peripheral wall 108 is preferably a member with a uniform width so that the second end 106 of the plug body 102 is sized to engage one or more of the surfaces of the seal member 250. Alternatively, the peripheral wall 108 is provided with a varying width sized to engage one or more of the surfaces of the seal member 250. For example, the second end 106 of the plug body 102 has a width that is less than a width of the first end 104 of the plug body 102, and the peripheral wall 108 has one or more transition surfaces, preferably, perpendicular to the axis of the plug body 102, between the first end 104 and the second end 106. When the second end 106 of the plug body engages one or more surfaces of the seal member 250, the one or more transition surfaces can contact or be spaced from surfaces of the seal member 250. Additionally, the second end 104 of the plug body 102 can also have a configuration, such as, projections, prongs, barbs, and/or hooks, to enhance gription of the seal member 250. Thus, failure to retain the device 100 within the tubular member 202 preferably indicates the absence of the seal member 250 within the tubular member 202. Accordingly, if the assembly was oriented such that the protective device 100 releasably falls out of the tubular member under the force of gravity, such an occurrence could indicate the absence of the required annular seal member 250. To facilitate release of the protective device 100 and its indicative relationship with the tubular member 202, the body 102 would be preferably sized so as to be radially spaced inward of the inner conduit 212 of the tubular member 202.
The plug body 102 is preferably formed as a cup in which the second end 106 is a preferably closed or solid planar surface for blocking the internal conduit 212 of the branch connector 200 from dirt or debris. The first end 104 of the plug body 102 is preferably open ended centered about the device axis and axially spaced from the second end 106. In the preferred cup configuration of the plug body 102, a peripheral wall 108 extends between the ends 104, 106 and circumscribes the device axis. As described herein, the preferred embodiments of the protective device 100 are preferably removable from the branch connector 200 by hand or hand tool. The plug body 102 of the protective device can include a slit 105 as seen in the device 100 to provide some pliability or relief in installing or removing the plug body 102 from the outlet opening 210 of the tubular member 202. The slit 105 can also facilitate formation of the protective device 100 by providing a relief to assist removal from a mold when the device 100 is formed from a polymer or plastic material.
Additionally, the device 100 includes at least one indicator 110, and more preferably more than one indicator 110, coupled, affixed to or formed with the first end 104. In the preferred connector branch connector assembly 1000 shown, the indicator 110 of the inserted device 100 is axially spaced from the second terminal end surface 208 of the tubular member 202 to define a gap G therebetween, as seen in
In another preferred aspect, the device 100 provides at least two-dimensional relationships between the protective device 100 and the tubular member 202 to indicate that the seal member 250 is in the desired seated orientation. Preferred embodiments of the protective device 100 includes the insertable plug body 102 in which the second end 106 defines an insertion edge circumscribed about the central device axis with the first end 104 defining a trailing edge circumscribed about the central axis with an indicator 110 affixed to and axially spaced from the trailing edge 104. Accordingly, in preferred embodiments of the device 100, the indicator 110 is formed axially spaced from the first end or trailing edge 104 of the plug body 102 by a distance preferably equal to the gap distance G. Thus, in the preferred protected assembly 1000 with the indicator 110 axially spaced from the second terminal end surface 208, the first end or trailing edge 104 of the plug body 102 is preferably flush with the outlet opening 210 of the tubular member 202 to define a second preferred indicative relationship between the indicator 110 and the tubular member 202 indicating that the annular seal member 250 is within the internal chamber 214 in the desired seated orientation. Accordingly, in one preferred aspect of the protective device 100, the plug body 102 has an axial distance between the first end 104 and the second end 106 that is preferably equal to the axial distance between the outlet opening 210 and the second confronting surface 254 of the seal member 250. The internal chamber 214 is preferably formed at the end of the internal thread 220 formed along the internal conduit 212 proximate the outlet opening 210. Therefore, in another preferred aspect of the plug body 102, the axial distance between the first end 104 and the second end 106 is preferably equal to the axial length of the internal thread 220 of the tubular member 202. Moreover, the width or diameter of the plug body 102 is preferably 0.010-0.015 inch greater the internal diameter of the thread dimension of the outlet opening 210 to form the desired frictional fit.
Shown in
Referring now to
In alternate embodiments of the assembly 1000 in which the radially extending segment forming the indicator 110 extends directly from the plug body 102, for example from the first end 104 of the body 102, the radially extending segment of the indicator 110 can come into contact with the tubular end surface 208. Such an indicator 110 in combination with the first end 104 flush with the outlet opening 210, could provide for an alternate indicative relationship indicating that the seal member 250 is in the proper seated orientation.
In all preferred embodiments of the protected assembly 1000 described herein, the protective device 100 is removable, preferably by hand, to expose the outlet opening 210 for receipt of a fire protection sprinkler 10. In preferred embodiments of the device 100, the indicator 110 provides for a lever that can be used to pull the protected device out of the tubular member 202. With reference again to
In the assembly 1000 of
With specific reference to
Referring now to the protected assembly 1000b shown in
It should be understood that the varying features of the protective devices 100, 100′, 100″ can be alternatively applied or implemented in the other embodiments. Moreover, depending upon the configuration of the sprinkler 10 to be used in the system installation, the header 300 is installed to orient the branch connectors 200 for appropriate receipt of a pendent, upright or a sidewall/horizontal sprinkler 10. In a sprinkler system installation, firefighting fluid fed into the inlet opening 206 flows through the annular seal member 250 out the outlet opening 210 to supply the installed sprinkler 10 for discharge and distribution in accordance with the performance specification of the sprinkler 10.
The internal seal member 250 is illustratively shown with its confronting surfaces 252, 254. The annular seal member 250 is preferably configured as the seal shown in U.S. Pat. No. 10,744,527 and PCT Publication Number WO 2022/178179, each of which hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, to provide a preferred leak-proof connection between the fire protection sprinkler 10 or an other fire protection device and the branch connector 200. Also, the branch connector 200 can be formed of any suitable material, such as, for example, metal, plastic, and/or combinations thereof. A preferred material for the seal member 250 is an EPDM material having a durometer hardness from 65 to 80, and preferably 70, to provide the desired sealing function and maintain sprinkler position. However, it should be understood that alternative configurations of the internal seal member can be provided and/or alternative configurations of the internal conduit of the branch connector can be provided, such as, shown and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,297,663 and 10,744,527 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2019/0175968, each of which are hereby incorporated by referenced in its entity, that can be utilized in the protected branch assembles and the methods of the preferred embodiments.
The length of the branch connector 200 is preferably defined between the second terminal end face 208 and a mid-point of the concave portion of the first terminal end surface 204. The overall length L of the branch connector 200 preferably ranges from 1 inch to 1½ inch. Moreover, the overall length L of the branch connector 200 preferably corresponds or varies with the outlet nominal diameter size. For example, for a nominal outlet diameter of 1 inch, the length L is preferably 1¼ inch, where the nominal outlet diameter is ¾ inch, the length L is preferably 1⅛ inch and where the nominal outlet diameter is ½ inch, the length L is preferably 1 1/16 inch.
In preferred embodiments of the branch connector 200, the portion of the branch connector having the internal threads 220 provides an internally threaded portion proximate the outlet opening 210 is preferably configured for coupling the sprinkler 10 by hand. The internally threaded portion is preferably configured for connection with a sprinkler 10 of a nominal size. Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the branch connector 200 at the outlet opening 210 define a nominal size or diameter ranging from ½ inch to 1½ inch and more particularly any one of ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch, 1¼ inch or 1½ inch. Moreover, the external thread of a fire protection sprinkler is typically of a tapered form, for example, NPT thread, for threaded connection to the branch connector 200. Use of the preferred straight internal threads permits preferred embodiments of the sprinkler 10 to be rotatable about the axis X-X within the branch connector 200, preferably by hand, in any desired position while forming a proper fluid tight seal. The internally threaded portion of the tubular member 202 preferably includes an internal straight thread for receipt of the tapered sprinkler thread of the sprinkler 10. The internal diameter ID of the internal straight thread can be defined by any one of the pitch diameter, minor diameter or major diameter of the internal thread provided the straight thread engages the tapered thread of the sprinkler 20. The internal straight threads can be for example, a 1-11.5 NPSH Thread; a ¾-14 NPSH Thread; or a ½-14 NPS Thread for mating with a correspondingly nominal 1 inch, ¾ inch or ½ inch fire protection sprinkler.
Fire protection sprinklers include a sprinkler frame body with an inlet connected to a pressurized supply of firefighting fluid, such as water, and some type of fluid deflection member spaced from an outlet of the frame body to distribute firefighting fluid discharged from the outlet in a defined spray distribution pattern over an area to be protected. In some fire protection sprinklers, the release of fluid discharge from the sprinkler body is controlled. For example, automatic fire protection sprinklers include a fusible or thermally responsive trigger assembly which secures a seal assembly over an internal central orifice formed proximate the outlet of the frame body. When the temperature surrounding the automatic sprinkler is elevated to a pre-selected value indicative of a fire, the trigger assembly operates, fractures or collapses to release the seal assembly and fluid flow is initiated through the sprinkler body and out the outlet to impact the fluid deflection member. In contrast to the passive operation of the fusible or thermally responsive trigger assembly and seal assembly of an automatic fire protection sprinkler, other types of fire protection sprinklers have a controlled operation trigger assembly and seal assembly. For example, in such controlled operations, the trigger assembly and seal assembly are actuated in response to a control signal, and, in such actuated sprinklers, the trigger assembly and/or seal assembly is operated or otherwise ejected by a mechanical, electrical or computer-controlled actuator. In addition to the automatic or controlled operation fire protection sprinklers, any suitable threaded fire protection device that distributes a fire protection fluid can be utilized in the preferred embodiments of the protected branch connector assembly 1000.
The sprinkler 10 shown in
While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it has the full scope defined by the language of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/281,443, filed on Nov. 19, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63281443 | Nov 2021 | US |
