Flexible assembly for sprinklers

Abstract

An assembly for connecting a sprinkler to a branch line of a fire suppression system includes a flexible conduit having one end attached to the branch line. The opposite end is attached to the sprinkler. An adapter may be positioned between the conduit and the sprinkler, between the conduit and the branch line, or between the conduit and both the branch line and the sprinkler. The adapter contains a rotating joint which prevents torque from being applied to the conduit. The adapter between the conduit and the sprinkler is received within a bracket. The bracket also receives a cross beam for securing the sprinkler relatively to the branch line.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly for connecting a sprinkler to a branch line of a fire suppression system, said assembly comprising:
 a flexible conduit having a first end connectable to said branch line, and a second end connectable to said sprinkler, said conduit providing fluid communication between said branch line and said sprinkler; 
 a first adapter positioned between said sprinkler and said second end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said sprinkler to said conduit, said first adapter having a bore providing fluid communication between said sprinkler and said conduit, said first adapter having a first adapter portion attachable to said sprinkler and a second adapter portion attached to said second end of said conduit, said first and second adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another; 
 a bracket having an opening receiving said first adapter portion and a locking unit movably mounted on said bracket, said locking unit engaging and retaining said first adapter portion within said opening; 
 a cross beam received by said bracket for securing said bracket in relation to said branch line; and 
 said second adapter portion comprises a tube attached to said second end of said conduit, said tube being received within said bore of said adapter in said first adapter portion; 
 a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said tube and an inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said first and second adapter portions; 
 a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said tube and said inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said first and second adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said first and second adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said bore. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first adapter portion comprises a concave spherical surface positioned at an end thereof and surrounding said bore; 
 said second adapter portion comprises a convex spherical surface surrounding said bore and positioned at one end thereof, an opposite end of said second adapter portion being attached to said second end of said conduit, said convex spherical surface fitting within said concave spherical surface thereby permitting said first and second adapter portions to rotate relatively to one another; 
 a retainer having a concave spherical surface, said retainer surrounding said convex spherical surface of said second adapter portion and being attached to said first adapter portion, said second adapter portion being captured between said retainer and said first adapter portion. 
 
     
     
       3. The assembly according to  claim 2 , further comprising a first seal positioned between said second adapter portion and said retainer, and a second seal positioned between said retainer and said first adapter portion. 
     
     
       4. The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said first adapter portion. 
     
     
       5. The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising said sprinkler. 
     
     
       6. The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second adapter positioned between said branch line and said first end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said conduit to said branch line, said second adapter having a second bore providing fluid communication between said branch line and said conduit, said second adapter having a third adapter portion attachable to said branch line and a fourth adapter portion attached to said first end of said conduit, said third and fourth adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another. 
 
     
     
       7. The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said fourth adapter portion comprises a second tube attached to said first end of said conduit, said second tube being received within said bore of said second adapter in said third adapter portion; 
 a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said second tube and an inner surface of said bore in said third adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said third and fourth adapter portions; 
 a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said second tube and said inner surface of said bore in said third adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said second tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said bore in said third adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said third and fourth adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said third and fourth adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said second bore. 
 
     
     
       8. The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said third adapter portion comprises a concave spherical surface positioned at an end thereof and surrounding said bore in said third adapter portion; 
 said fourth adapter portion comprises a convex spherical surface surrounding said bore in said fourth adapter portion and positioned at one end thereof, an opposite end of said fourth adapter portion being attached to said first end of said conduit, said convex spherical surface of said fourth adapter portion fitting within said concave spherical surface of said third adapter portion thereby permitting said third and fourth adapter portions to rotate relatively to one another; 
 a second retainer having a concave spherical surface, said second retainer surrounding said convex spherical surface of said fourth adapter portion and being attached to said third adapter portion, said fourth adapter portion being captured between said second retainer and said third adapter portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a third seal positioned between said second retainer and said fourth adapter portion and a fourth seal positioned between said second retainer and said third adapter portion. 
     
     
       10. The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said second retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said third adapter portion. 
     
     
       11. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said bracket comprises a plurality of sidewalls attached to one another in spaced relation to define a U-shaped opening. 
     
     
       12. The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said locking unit comprises a wire bale pivotably attached to said bracket. 
     
     
       13. The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said locking unit comprises a finger pivotably attached to said bracket. 
     
     
       14. An assembly for connecting a sprinkler to a branch line of a fire suppression system, said assembly comprising:
 a flexible conduit having a first end connectable to said branch line, and a second end connectable to said sprinkler, said conduit providing fluid communication between said branch line and said sprinkler; 
 a first adapter having a first adapter portion attachable to said branch line and a second adapter portion attached to said first end of said conduit, said first and second adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another, said first adapter having a bore providing fluid communication between said branch line and said conduit; 
 a second adapter positioned between said sprinkler and said second end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said conduit to said sprinkler, said second adapter having a bore providing fluid communication between said sprinkler and said conduit; 
 a bracket having an opening receiving said second adapter and a locking unit movably mounted on said bracket, said locking unit engaging and retaining said second adapter within said opening; 
 a cross beam received by said bracket for securing said bracket in relation to said branch line; and 
 said second adapter portion comprises a tube attached to said first end of said conduit, said tube being received within said bore of said first adapter in said first adapter portion; 
 a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said tube and an inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said first and second adapter portions; 
 a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said tube and said inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said first and second adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said first and second adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said bore of said first adapter. 
 
     
     
       15. The assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising said sprinkler. 
     
     
       16. The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said first adapter portion comprises a concave spherical surface positioned at an end thereof and surrounding said bore of said first adapter in said first adapter portion; 
 said second adapter portion comprises a convex spherical surface surrounding said bore in said first adapter portion and positioned at one end thereof, an opposite end of said second adapter portion being attached to said first end of said conduit, said convex spherical surface fitting within said concave spherical surface thereby permitting said first and second adapter portions to rotate relatively to one another; 
 a retainer having a concave spherical surface, said retainer surrounding said convex spherical surface of said second adapter portion and being attached to said first adapter portion, said second adapter portion being captured between said retainer and said first adapter portion. 
 
     
     
       17. The assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising a first seal positioned between said second adapter portion and said retainer, and a second seal positioned between said retainer and said first adapter portion. 
     
     
       18. The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said first adapter portion. 
     
     
       19. The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said second adapter has a third adapter portion attachable to said sprinkler and a fourth adapter portion attached to said second end of said conduit, said third and fourth adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another, said third adapter portion being received within said bracket. 
     
     
       20. The assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said fourth adapter portion comprises a second tube attached to said second end of said conduit, said second tube being received within said bore of said second adapter in said third adapter portion; 
 a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said second tube and an inner surface of said bore in said third adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said third and fourth adapter portions; 
 a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said second tube and said inner surface of said bore of said third adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said second tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said bore in said third adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said third and fourth adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said third and fourth adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said bore of said second adapter. 
 
     
     
       21. The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 said third adapter portion comprises a concave spherical surface positioned at an end thereof and surrounding said bore in said third adapter portion; 
 said fourth adapter portion comprises a convex spherical surface surrounding said bore in said fourth adapter portion and positioned at one end thereof, an opposite end of said fourth adapter portion being attached to said second end of said conduit, said convex spherical surface of said fourth adapter portion fitting within said concave spherical surface of said third adapter portion thereby permitting said third and fourth adapter portions to rotate relatively to one another; 
 a second retainer having a concave spherical surface, said second retainer surrounding said convex spherical surface of said fourth adapter portion and being attached to said third adapter portion, said fourth adapter portion being captured between said second retainer and said third adapter portion. 
 
     
     
       22. The assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising a third seal positioned between said second retainer and said fourth adapter portion and a fourth seal positioned between said second retainer and said third adapter portion. 
     
     
       23. The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said second retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said third adapter portion. 
     
     
       24. The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said bracket comprises a plurality of sidewalls attached to one another in spaced relation to define a U-shaped opening. 
     
     
       25. The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said locking unit comprises a wire bale pivotably attached to said bracket. 
     
     
       26. The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said locking unit comprises a finger pivotably attached to said bracket. 
     
     
       27. A sprinkler assembly attachable to a pressurized source of a fire suppressing fluid, said sprinkler assembly comprising:
 a sprinkler for discharging said fire suppressing fluid; p 1  a flexible conduit having a first end attachable to said source of fire suppressing liquid and a second end connected to said sprinkler; wherein   said fire suppressing liquid is discharged from said discharge opening at a flow rate defined by a simpli-fied K-factor number which includes pressure losses from said flexible conduit and said sprinkler head, said simplified K-factor number defined as a ratio of said flow rate divided by a square root of a fluid pressure at said discharge opening.   
     
     
       28. The sprinkler assembly according to  claim 27 , further comprising an adapter positioned between said sprinkler and said second end of said conduit and connecting said sprinkler thereto, said adapter having a lore providing fluid communication between said sprinkler and said conduit. 
     
     
       29. The sprinkler assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein said flexible conduit comprises a corrugated hose. 
     
     
       30. The assembly according to claim 26, wherein said locking unit further comprises a pivoting wingnut assembly positioned at an end of said finger to affix set assembly to said cross beam.