Abstract
The present invention relates to a protection device for protecting a baffle and/or a sprinkler head of a fire sprinkler system, wherein the protection device comprises a mounting portion for mounting to the sprinkler system and a protection portion adapted to at least partially surround the baffle and/or the sprinkler head, so that a damage to the baffle or the sprinkler head by placing stored goods into store or removing them from store can be prevented.
Claims
1. A protection device for protecting a baffle or a sprinkler head of a fire sprinkler system, comprising: at least one pipe clamp configured to mount the protection device to a supply pipe to protect the baffle or sprinkler head; and a protection bar configured to surround the baffle or the sprinkler head, the protection bar including a first threaded portion which directly engages the pipe clamp, the first threaded portion being secured to the at least one pipe clamp by correspondingly threaded first fasteners; said protection device further comprising another pipe clamp which is configured to be directly connected to a second threaded portion of the protection bar and secured thereto by correspondingly threaded second fasteners, wherein the two pipe clamps are provided in a manner that one respective pipe clamp can be mounted at the supply pipe on each side downstream and upstream of the baffle or the sprinkler head.
2. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein each pipe clamp is formed of two half clamps.
3. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the protection bar comprises at least one hoop guard adapted to surround the baffle or the sprinkler head.
4. The protection device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hoop guard is formed in a U-shaped manner and is connected to a mounting portion, in particular the pipe clamps, by means of the free legs.
5. The protection device according to claim 4, wherein a connecting portion of the legs of the U-shaped hoop guard is formed in a straight manner and extends substantially parallel to the supply pipe in an installation situation.
6. The protection device according to claim 4, wherein two hoop guards are provided, each of which extends on one side of the baffle or the sprinkler head in the installation situation.
7. The protection device according to claim 6, wherein the two hoop guards are arranged in identical construction.
8. The protection device according to claim 6, wherein the two hoop guards are fixedly connected to each other.
9. The protection device according to claim 8, wherein the hoop guards are connected by means of a bar which particularly connects the two crests of the U-shaped hoop guards to each other or roughly connects the respective mid points of the straightly arranged portion which connects the legs.
10. The protection device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hoop guard extends from the first and second threaded portions to a position above the baffle.
11. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second threaded portions each interact with the respective pipe clamp whereby the protection bar can be individually adjusted in its height above the sprinkler.
12. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the protection bar comprises a circular guard ring which surrounds the baffle or the sprinkler head and which is arranged at a height of the lower edge of the baffle or below.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will now be described in more detail based on embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sprinkler with mounted protection device according to a first embodiment;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a view from below on the sprinkler with mounted protection device;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a further side view perpendicular to the side view in FIG. 1 on the sprinkler with mounted protection device;
(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the sprinkler with mounted protection device according to the first embodiment;
(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a sprinkler with mounted protection device according to the first embodiment;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a further perspective view of a sprinkler with mounted protection device and abutted stored goods;
(8) FIG. 7 shows a sprinkler with damaged baffle without protection device;
(9) FIG. 8 shows a sprinkler with affected sprinkler head without protection device;
(10) FIG. 9A shows a perspective view of a sprinkler with mounted protection device according to a second embodiment;
(11) FIG. 9B shows a perspective view of a sprinkler with mounted protection device according to a modification of the second embodiment;
(12) FIG. 10A shows a side view of the modified second embodiment with modified pipe clamp embodiment;
(13) FIG. 10B shows a side view of the modified second embodiment with further modification of the pipe clamp embodiment; and
(14) FIG. 10C shows a side view of the modified second embodiment rotated by 90 with respect to FIGS. 10A and 10B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(15) In the following, a description of an embodiment of a sprinkler protection device comprising symmetrical hoop guards and a cross bar which connects them.
(16) FIG. 1 shows a side view of the sprinkler protection device comprising two U-shaped hoop guards 52 mounted before and behind the sprinkler with sprinkler head 20 and baffle 30 at the string pipe or supply pipe 40 of the sprinkler system by means of a pipe clamp 10 with two half clamps. To this end, the respective ends of the hoop guards 52 comprise an external thread by which the pipe clamp 10 can be fixed via respective screw nuts. This provides a further advantage in that height or distance, respectively, of the hoop guard 52 with respect to the sprinkler head 20 is individually adjustable by the screw connection and that thereby the sprinkler protection device can be adapted in a simple manner to different sprinkler types and installation situation.
(17) Of course, other kinds or means for fixing the protection device to the supply pipe 40 or the ceiling of the stockroom or the shelves are possible as long as the hoop guard 52 at least partially surrounds the baffle 30 and the sprinkler head 20, so that a damage of these by placing or respectively removing the stored goods into/from stock, can be prevented. In FIG. 1, the flaring shape of the hoop guard 52 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the supply pipe 40 is clearly visible, whereby the baffle 30 is also well protected against external impacts when the stored goods are placed into or removed from stock.
(18) Furthermore, a bar-shaped cross stud 54 can be identified in FIG. 1, which has substantially the same diameter as the hoop guard 52 and which connects the two crests of the U-shaped hoop guard 52 to each other. In the present case, the cross stud 54 is located approximately in the middle of a straightly designed portion connecting the legs. Thereby, protection of the sprinkler head 20 from below is ensured as well and the whole protection device is stabilized in the lateral direction.
(19) FIG. 2 shows a view on the sprinkler with mounted protection device from below, wherein the protective effect of the cross stud 54 for the sprinkler head 20 is clearly visible. Also, the two pipe clamps 10 arranged before and behind the sprinkler in the direction of the supply pipe 40 are clearly visible here.
(20) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the protection device according to the embodiment lateral to the longitudinal direction of the supply pipe 40. Here, it is clearly visible that the hoop guards 52 comprise the external thread at both of their outer ends of the legs, which is used for fixation of both of the pipe clamps 10 and for individual height adjustment of the hoop guard 52. Thereby, a simple construction and a fast mounting and adaptation with few mounting parts can be achieved.
(21) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the sprinkler comprising the protection device, wherein the sprinkler head is covered by the baffle 30 and the supply pipe 40 here.
(22) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from an oblique angle from below on the supply pipe 40 comprising the protection device with hoop guards 52 and cross stud 45 mounted by two pipe clamps 10.
(23) Finally, FIG. 6 shows the same device from an oblique angle from above, wherein the stored goods (e.g. wooden pallets) are kept away from the sprinkler head and the baffle by the hoop guard 52 and the cross stud 54, so that a damage thereof can be prevented.
(24) FIG. 9A shows a sprinkler protection device according to a second embodiment comprising a circular implementation of the protection portion, which is thereby adapted to the sprinkler baffle. Here, the protection portion is formed by a circular guard ring 92 which surrounds the baffle and preferably is arranged approximately at the height of the lower edge of the baffle. Perpendicular to the plane of the guard ring 92 fixing struts 94 are arranged, which preferably comprise threaded ends, so that similar to the first embodiment corresponding pipe clamps can be screwed at the protection portion, so that a simple fixation at a variable height level can be achieved. Furthermore, lateral cross struts 96 and optionally also a diagonally arranged auxiliary strut 95 can be provided for stabilization and as additional guard.
(25) FIG. 9B shows a sprinkler protection device according to a modification of the second embodiment. Here, the protection portion is also formed by the circular guard ring 92 which is arranged approximately at the height of the lower edge of the baffle or somewhat below. Instead of the perpendicular fixing struts tilted fixing struts 99 are provided in the present modification, which are fixed to the fixing pipe clamps. Thus, a height adjustment of the protection device is no longer possible, as the distance between the guard ring 92 and the pipe clamps cannot be changed. Additionally, further cross studs 98 can be connected to the tilted fixing struts.
(26) FIGS. 10A to 10C show different side views of two alternative embodiments of the fixing pipe clamps. Instead of the screw connection at both ends of the pipe clamps, a clamp-kind of fixation by means of a combination of a hinge element 110 and 111, respectively, and a wedge element 114 can be provided. Thereby, the hinge element is provided at one end of the respective pipe clamp and a bolt 112 with wedge-shaped plug element 114 plugged into a slit formed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bolt 112, which thereby presses both clamp ends arranged above each other with progressive insertion, so that the pipe clamp is clamped to the sandwiched supply pipe to thereby fix the sprinkler protection device. As can be gathered from FIG. 10A and 10B, the hinge element can be formed as hinge element 110 with own legs fixed at the pipe clamp or as hinge element 111 without own legs.
(27) By means of the protection device according to the invention bending or damaging of the baffle as well as tearing, damaging or affecting the sprinkler head can be prevented by individual adaptivity to the insolation situation and the sprinkler implementation.
(28) Finally, it is to be noted that the above-described embodiment merely forms one of many implementation options of the protection device. Thus, the protection device may for example be implemented without the cross stud 54 and with only one hoop, to ensure at least a minimum protection. Also, the hoop construction with the cross stud can be replaced by a protection grill surrounding the sprinkler head 20 and the baffle 30, which can be fixed at the supply pipe 40 or the ceiling of the storeroom or the shelves or shelf bars, respectively. The pipe clamps 10 can be replaced by various other mechanical or chemical fixation means. Also, the shape of the hoop guard can be designed differently, circular or rectangular or elliptical, for example, as long as abutting of the stored goods to the sprinkler head 20 and/or the baffle 30 can be prevented. Instead of the cross stud 54 several cross studs or a grill can be provided at the lower side of the protection device.
