FIRE SPRINKLER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ADJUSTABLE DROP

• US 20200129797A1
• Filed: 12/27/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Anvil International Incorporated (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dafonseca, Odair, Beagen, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 11,433,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/68 Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/11 heat-sensitive
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/95 with markings, colours, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/182 for coaxial connections of two rods or tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 15/02 allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment by use of a long screw-threaded part
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/08 substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/133 and hanging from a pendant F16L3/14 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided herein are example aspects of a fire sprinkler assembly and a method for adjusting the height of an adjustable drop. In one aspect, the fire sprinkler assembly can comprise a bracket hub coupled to a bracket bar; a flexible conduit; an adjustable drop coupled to the bracket hub, the adjustable drop defining a lengthwise axis oriented transverse to the bracket bar, and the adjustable drop comprising: an inner casing, wherein the flexible conduit is directly coupled to the inner casing; and an outer casing surrounding the inner casing, the inner and outer casings including corresponding threading to permit rotation between the inner casing and the outer casing to adjust an axial height, along the lengthwise axis, of the inner casing; and a sprinkler head extending from the adjustable drop.

Claims

1. A fire sprinkler assembly comprising:

a bracket hub coupled to a bracket bar;

a flexible conduit;

an adjustable drop coupled to the bracket hub, the adjustable drop defining a lengthwise axis oriented transverse to the bracket bar, and the adjustable drop comprising;

an inner casing, wherein the flexible conduit is directly coupled to the inner casing; and

an outer casing surrounding the inner casing, the inner and outer casings including corresponding threading to permit rotation between the inner casing and the outer casing to adjust an axial height, along the lengthwise axis, of the inner casing; and

a sprinkler head extending from the adjustable drop.

2. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner casing comprises a bellow, the bellow comprising an expandable component disposed within an interior cavity of the outer casing.

3. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 2, wherein the outer casing comprises a side wall extending between first and second end walls.

4. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 3, the inner casing comprising:

a first tube coupled directly to the bracket hub; and

a second tube coupled to a sprinkler head, wherein the expandable component extends between the first and second tubes, and wherein the expandable component permits movement of the first tube relative to the second tube along the lengthwise axis.

5. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 4, wherein a distal end of the bellow includes a support ring at the intersection of the bellow and the second tube.

6. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 5, wherein the support ring is positioned directly adjacent an interior surface of the second end wall of the outer casing, and wherein the interior surface of the second end wall engages the support ring to move the second tube towards the first tube.

7. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 2, wherein the bellow comprises a metal material and defines a plurality of screw-shaped corrugations.

8. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 1, wherein the sprinkler head comprises a thermally responsive device and a deflector, the thermally responsive device configured to react to heat generated by a fire to allow water to flow to the deflector, the deflector configured to outwardly disperse the water.

9. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket hub comprises a bracket assembly, the bracket assembly comprising a primary support and a secondary support rotatably connected to the primary support.

10. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to selectively connect the primary support to the secondary support; and

an adjustment mechanism on the primary support configured to secure the adjustable drop within a hub opening of the bracket hub.

11. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible conduit comprises one of a corrugated tube, a hose, and a braided tube.

12. A fire sprinkler assembly comprising:

a bracket hub coupled to a bracket bar;

a flexible metal conduit; and

an adjustable drop coupled to the bracket hub and to the flexible metal conduit, wherein a lengthwise axis of the adjustable drop is oriented transverse to the bracket bar, and wherein the adjustable drop comprises;

an inner casing including threading, wherein the flexible metal conduit is directly coupled to the inner casing; and

an outer casing surrounding the inner casing, the outer casing including mating threading for engagement with the threading of the inner casing, wherein the threading and mating threading permit rotation between the inner casing and the outer casing to adjust an axial height, along the lengthwise axis, of a sprinkler head coupled to a distal end of the inner casing.

13. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 12, wherein the inner casing comprises a bellow disposed within an interior of the outer casing, the bellow permitting contraction or expansion of the inner casing along the lengthwise axis.

14. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 13, the bellow comprising:

a first tube coupled directly to the bracket hub;

a second tube coupled to the sprinkler head; and

an expandable central component extending between the first and second tubes.

15. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 14, wherein the outer casing comprises a side wall extending between a first end wall and a second end wall.

16. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 14, wherein a distal end of the bellow includes a support ring positioned directly adjacent an interior surface of the second end wall, wherein the interior surface of the second end wall engages the support ring as the outer casing moves towards the bracket bar.

17. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 13, wherein the bellow comprises a metal material and defines a plurality of screw-shaped corrugations.

18. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 12, further comprising a sprinkler head coupled to the inner casing.

19. The fire sprinkler assembly of claim 18, wherein the sprinkler head comprises a thermally responsive device and a deflector, the thermally responsive device configured to react to heat generated by a fire to allow water to flow to the deflector, the deflector configured to outwardly disperse the water.

20. A method for adjusting the height of an adjustable drop comprising:

providing the adjustable drop, the adjustable drop comprising an inner casing and an outer casing, the outer casing comprising a first end wall and a second end wall, the inner casing comprising a bellow, the bellow comprising a first tube and a support ring;

rotating the outer casing upward towards the first tube;

contacting the support ring with the second end wall; and

contracting the bellow.