# US 2024/0198151 A1 · Fire protection systems and methods using fire protection devices installed in pipe fittings with an internally housed seal member

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- Number: US 2024/0198151 A1
- Document ID: US20240198151A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/514,577
- Filed: 2023-11-20
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-17
- Assignees: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
- Applicants: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
- Inventors: Shawn J. FEENSTRA; Gary William Pleyte; Derek John Scheffers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240198151A1

## CPC

- A62C 31/28: Accessories for delivery devices, e.g. supports
- A62C 31/02: Nozzles specially adapted for fire-extinguishing
- A62C 35/58: Pipe-line systems
- A62C 35/68: Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems (valves in general F16K)
- A62C 37/11: heat-sensitive
- F16L 15/003: {with sealing rings}
- 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)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Fire protection systems and methods having piping interconnections for connecting a fire protection device to a fluid source. The piping interconnections include a branch connector connected to a pipe header. The branch connector includes a tubular member and an internal annular seal member housed in an internal gasket chamber of the tubular member. The tubular member includes an internal stepless surface between a terminal end of the tubular member and the internal gasket chamber.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein placing the annular seal member in the unloaded condition includes supporting the annular seal member between two axially spaced restrictions of the gasket chamber and surrounding the annular seal member with an expansion volume between the annular seal member and a relief wall of the gasket chamber; and wherein placing the annular seal member in the loaded condition includes deforming the annular seal member radially into the expansion volume.

### Claim 22 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein placing the annular seal member in the loaded condition includes the deforming includes deforming an inner gasket diameter of the annular seal member to be greater than or equal to a minimum diameter of the stepless surface.

### Claim 23 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein placing the annular seal member in the loaded condition includes torquing the fire protection device by hand with a protective device disposed about the fire protection device.

### Claim 24

A method of providing a fire protection system comprising:
placing an annular seal member in an unloaded condition within an internal gasket chamber of a unitary tubular member formed along an internal surface extending along and circumscribed about a central axis, the gasket chamber being located between an internally straight threaded surface and an internal stepless surface of the internal surface, the internally straight threaded surface being between the internal gasket chamber and a terminal outlet end of the unitary tubular member, the internal stepless surface extending from the internal gasket chamber to a terminal inlet end of the unitary tubular member in a welded connection to a pipe header of a network of pipes; and
placing the annular seal member in a loaded condition within the internal gasket chamber with a fire protection device having a tapered thread in threaded engagement with the internally straight threaded surface and fluid communication with the pipe header;
wherein placing the annular seal member in the unloaded condition includes inserting and locating the annular seal member within the internal gasket chamber with a nozzle body and a plunger coaxially aligned with the terminal inlet and outlet ends of the tubular member by locating the annular seal member within a guidance channel of the nozzle body inserted in the terminal outlet end of the tubular member and displacing the plunger in a sliding engagement with the nozzle body over an operational length defined by an axial distance between a handle of the plunger and the tubular body that ranges from three to 2½ times a length from the terminal inlet end to the terminal outlet end of the tubular member so as to eject the annular seal member from the guidance channel and into the internal gasket chamber.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein the displacing includes depressing the handle so that the handle is brought into contact with the nozzle body.

### Claim at position 7

-46. (canceled)