FIRE ISOLATION AND INSULATING APPARATUS

• US 3,678,634 A
• Filed: 08/04/1970
• Issued: 07/25/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eugene H. Wise, James J. Blumenkranz
• Original Assignee: Eugene H. Wise, James J. Blumenkranz
• Inventors: Wise, Eugene H., Blumenkranz, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott, Frank L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Application Number:
  US05/061,253
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 52/1,113,220,173 220/88R 160/5,235 248/5 137/356,357,77,75,68 83/320 251/326,147,203,299,300,7,9 49/5,428 138/94,94.3
• US Class Current: 52/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/18 Sliding dampers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1834 With external closing means

Abstract

Apparatus for closing off and insulating a plastic article such as a pipe section extending through a fire-resistant wall or floor to prevent the spread of fire by the progressive burning of the pipe section. The apparatus generally includes a slidably movable gate, preferably metal, which seals the walls of the plastic pipe section to interrupt it when it softens in the presence of fire and before it ignites, and baffle or screen the pipe section, thereby insuring against the spread of fire via the pipe section, such as from the hot side to the cold side of the fire-resistant wall or floor. Such apparatus may be installed on either or both sides of the wall or floor through which the plastic pipe section passes.

Claims

1. In combination, a normally-rigid thermoplastic pipe section and apparatus for preventing the progressive burning of the pipe section, said apparatus comprising:

a. a frame having an aperture through which the pipe section extends, b. a pair of gate members, each having a blunt edge thereon and movably mounted on said frame for movement from a first position exterior of the pipe section periphery to a second position in sealing engagement with the pipe section, and c. means for moving each of the gate members from said first position to said second position, whereby when the pipe section is softened in the presence of fire, said means causes each of the gate members to compress the walls of the pipe section and move to said second position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for moving each of the gate members comprises at least one spring connected to said gate member and urging it toward said second position.

3. The combination of claim 2 further comprisinG a fire-resistant enclosure mounted on said frame and covering said at least one spring.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein one apparatus for preventing the burning of the pipe section is located on each side of a wall or floor through which the pipe section passes.

5. The combination of claim 4 further comprising a fire-resistant enclosure mounted on said frame and covering said at least one spring.

6. The combination of claim 5 further comprising a connecting pipe attached to the back of each frame in alignment with the frame aperture, both of said connecting pipes extending into the wall or floor to form a cylindrical space through which the thermoplastic pipe section passes.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the edge of one gate member is offset with respect to the other gate member such that the one gate member rides over the edge of the other gate member as the gate members move to said second position, so that the softened pipe section is both compressed and deflected.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the edge of one gate member is offset with respect to the other gate member such that the one gate member rides over the edge of the other gate member as the gate members move to said second position, so that the softened pipe section is both compressed and deflected.

9. In combination, a normally-rigid thermoplastic pipe section and apparatus for preventing the progressive burning of the pipe section, said apparatus comprising:

a. a pair of frames, each frame having an aperture through which the pipe section extends, b. a pair of metal gate members, each gate member having a blade edge thereon, and being movably mounted on a respective one of said frames for movement from a first position exterior of the pipe section periphery to a second position covering said aperture, and c. means for moving each of said gate members from said first position to said second position, whereby when said pipe section is softened in the presence of fire, said means causes said gate member to cut through and sever said pipe section and move to said second position.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the means for moving each of the gate members comprises at least one spring connected to the gate member and urging it toward the second position.

11. The combination of claim 10 further comprising a fire-resistant enclosure mounted on each of said frames and covering the respective said at least one spring.

12. Apparatus for preventing the progressive burning of a pipe system formed of thermoplastic material comprising:

a. a pair of frames, each frame having an aperture through which a section of the pipe system can pass, b. a connecting pipe attached to each frame in alignment with the frame aperture and forming a cylindrical space through which the pipe section can pass, c. a pair of gate members, each gate member having a blade edge thereon, and being movably mounted on a respective one of said frames for movement from a first position exterior of the pipe section periphery to a second position covering said aperture, and d. means for moving each of said gate members from said first position to said second position, whereby when said pipe section is softened in the presence of fire, said means causes said gate member to cut through and sever said pipe section and move to said second position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for moving each of the gate members comprises at least one spring connected to the gate member and urging it toward the second position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a fire-resistant enclosure mounted on each of said frames and covering the respective said at least one spring.

15. Apparatus for preventing the progressive burning of a pipe system formed of thermoplastic material, comprising:

a. a frame having an aperture designed to receive a section of pipe, b. means, mounted on said frame for movement transversely across said aperture, for comprEssing the section of pipe when said section softens in the presence of fire, and c. at least one spring connected to said compressing means, said spring positioned to bias said compressing means against the pipe section such that the pipe section becomes compressed and closed, when it sufficiently softens in the presence of fire, by the transverse movement of the compressing means.

16. The combination of claim 15 further comprising a pipe-shaped member connected to said frame in alignment with said aperture, said pipe-shaped member extending outwardly from said frame and designed to receive said pipe section.

17. The combination of claim 16 further comprising a fire resistant enclosure mounted on said frame and covering said at least one spring.