Measuring and testing – Volume or rate of flow – By measuring thrust or drag forces
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-13
2003-01-28
Patel, Harshad (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Volume or rate of flow
By measuring thrust or drag forces
C200S08190M, C137S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06510748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Typically, commercial buildings and an increasing number of residential structures are provided with fire suppression systems which dispense a fire suppression medium in the event of a fire. These fire sprinkler systems typically have a central pipe conduit to which are attached a labyrinth of individual piping systems containing a fire suppression medium under pressure. In the event of a fire, sensors which are attached to the individual piping systems are activated, thereby releasing the pressurized fire suppression medium in the hopes of quenching the fire. In many instances, the sudden release of system pressure activates a silent and/or audible alarm which alerts both those persons who are on the premises and the local fire authority that a fire is in progress. One such sensor device, which.monitors the flow in the sprinkler system piping and is usually attached to the alarm system, is a flow switch.
Further, in plumbing fire-control sprinkler connections to a building water supply, the lower end of a riser pipe will be connected to a water supply pipe and the upper end will be connected to an outlet pipe to the sprinkler system, the riser pipe being typically stabilized in position by connecting it to the building structure, as by tying it to a beam. And certain useful components will be attached by porting to the riser pipe, usually the following: a flow switch to ascertain whether or not there is a flow in the riser pipe to the fire sprinkler system and to relay this information where needed, e.g., to fire departments; a test and drain valve to open the. riser pipe to a drain for the purposes of testing, bleeding, etc.; a pressure gauge to deliver a read-out of the water pressure in the riser pipe; and a relief valve to open the riser pipe to a drain in the event a certain water pressure is exceeded in the riser pipe.
Efficient riser port and component arrangements have not yet achieved their potentials in terms of improved structures and efficient connections. This is especially true in the areas of adapting plastics techniques in novel ways to such efficient riser, port, and component arrangements. Flow switches are normally manufactured for connection plumbing by way of pipe threads, usually tapered pipe threads; however, there are many inefficiencies in such a connection. Eliminating such inefficient connections would permit elimination of: an unnecessary joint which may be a point of current or future leakages; a large brass adapter fitting which is supplied with the flow switch for threaded pipe mounting; the use and need for thread sealing materials such as Teflon tape or pipe dope; the need for a large size wrench or pipe wrench (to tighten a 1″ N.P.T. tapered fitting requires a large amount of torque which, in turn, puts a great stress upon the entire manifold and pipe system; this stress could work loose the mounting brackets, screws, etc.); and the need to carefully orient the final positioning of the flow switch when rotating (tightening) the switch onto a threaded port for proper switch operation. Thus, a threaded attachment means: utilizing tapered pipe thread; a potential point of leakage; additional labor to assemble; unnecessary components; and added cost. There is a need in the industry for improved systems, methods and products for flow switch connection and for lower overall cost.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object and feature of the present invention is to fulfill the above-mentioned needs by the provision of a pipe connection system that would provide a non-threaded, quick pipe connection for connecting pipe in a pressurized system. A further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide a pipe connection system that would provide a non-threaded, quick pipe connection for connecting piping components to a fire sprinkler system riser port. And, a still further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide a pipe connection system that would provide a non-threaded, quick pipe connection for connecting a flow meter to a fire sprinkler system riser port. Yet a further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such a pipe connection system which is efficient and inexpensive, as well as overcoming the other above-mentioned problems. Other objects of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following invention descriptions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, this invention provides a pipe connection system for direct no-pipe-thread attachment, comprising: a first pipe portion, structured and arranged to contain a liquid under pressure, comprising an end portion having a longitudinal central axis; and a second pipe portion, structured and arranged to contain a liquid under pressure, comprising an end portion having a longitudinal central axis; wherein one such end portion of one such pipe portion comprises a male portion and the other such end portion of the other such pipe portion comprises a female portion structured and arranged to hold such male portion; wherein such male portion comprises at least one external groove lying in a plane perpendicular to such longitudinal central axis of such end portion of such one pipe portion; wherein such female portion comprises at least one slot passing through a wall of such female portion and lying in a plane perpendicular to such longitudinal central axis of such end portion of such other pipe portion; and wherein such slot and such groove are structured and arranged to be substantially in the same plane and substantially adjacent when such male and female portions are joined; and at least one seal structured and arranged to act to seal the pipe connection system when such male and female portions are joined; and at least one blocker structured and arranged to block disjoinder of such male and female portions, when joined, by entry of portions of such blocker into such slot and such groove; whereby, when such end portion of such first pipe portion and such end portion of such second pipe portion are co-axial and such male and female portions are joined, entry of such portions of such blocker into such slot and groove block disjoinder of such male and female portions, thereby securing a connection between such first pipe portion and such second pipe portion.
It also provides such a system wherein one such end portion comprises a flow switch. And it provides such a system further comprising a retainer structured and arranged to prevent inadvertent removal of such portions of such blocker from such entry. Further, it provides such a system wherein: such at least one slot comprises at least two respective parallel co-planar slots; and such at least one groove comprises at least two respective parallel co-planar grooves, each such respective groove being substantially adjacent each such respective slot. Also, it provides such a system wherein such blocker comprises at least two respective such portions of such blocker, such blocker being structured and arranged to provide entry of a first such respective portion of such blocker into a first such respective slot, and a first such respective groove concurrently with entry of a second such respective portion of such blocker into a second such respective slot-and a second such respective groove; and also, wherein such blocker comprises at least two substantially parallel legs, each such leg comprising a such blocker portion, and at least one blocker leg-connector portion.
Moreover, it provides such a system further comprising a retainer structured and arranged to prevent inadvertent removal of such portions of such blocker from such entry and wherein such retainer comprises such blocker leg-connector portion. And it provides such a system further comprising: a flow switch having a first face plate; wherein one such end portion of one such pipe portion comprises a flange having a first face and a second face; and wherein such first face of such flange is structured and arranged to connect with such first face plate. Also it
Patel Harshad
Stoneman Martin L.
LandOfFree
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