Fire protection sprinkler having gradient material components and methods of evaluating corrosive environment use
AssigneesViking Group, Inc., Minimax Viking Patent Management GmbH
InventorsScott T. Franson, James E. Golinveaux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fire protection sprinkler assemblies and methods of use in corrosive environments. The sprinkler assemblies include a corrosion resistant sprinkler frame made of a gradient material. The gradient material includes a polymeric layer interlocked about a corrosion-prone core in order to protect the frame structure from a corrosive environment. The interlock between the core and the protective polymer layers are defined by ionic bonding between the core and the outer polymer layer.
Claims7
A method of forming a gradient material frame for a corrosion resistant sprinkler that satisfies a gradient material corrosion testing protocol, the method comprising:
- providing a steel sprinkler frame having a body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet along a longitudinal sprinkler axis, the steel frame being made from a corrosion-prone iron alloy having any one of the following alloying elements nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), and chromium (Cr), each of the alloying elements at less than 5% by weight;
- and
- permanently bonding a polymer layer to the steel frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.