# US 10,478,650 B2 · Flexible assembly for sprinklers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,650 B2 - Document ID: US10478650B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/176,590 - Filed: 2016-06-08 - Published: 2016-09-29 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-11 - Assignees: Victaulic Company - Applicants: Victaulic Company - Inventors: John M. Stempo; Rudolf Szentimrey; Lawrence W. Thau, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478650B2 ## CPC - A62C 35/68: Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems (valves in general F16K) - E04B 9/068: {with double web} - F16L 3/16: with special provision allowing movement of the pipe (F16L3/01 takes precedence; supporting pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves F16L7/00) - F16L 27/047: held in place by a screwed member having an internal spherical surface - F16L 27/08: allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe - F16L 27/0808: {the joint elements extending coaxially for some distance from their point of separation} - F16L 37/088: by means of a split elastic ring - A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said first adapter portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said sprinkler. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said second retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said third adapter portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said locking unit comprises a wire bale pivotably attached to said bracket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said locking unit comprises a finger pivotably attached to said bracket. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly according to claim 14, further comprising said sprinkler. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said first adapter portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) 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. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The assembly according to claim 21, wherein said second retainer comprises a nut which threadedly engages said third adapter portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) 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. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said locking unit comprises a wire bale pivotably attached to said bracket. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said locking unit comprises a finger pivotably attached to said bracket.