U.S. patent application number 09/736518 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-21 for fire-protection sleeve for pipes, cables and the like.
Invention is credited to Andresen, Arndt, Milhes, Jean-Louis, Munzenberger, Herbert.
Application Number | 20010004023 09/736518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7932755 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010004023 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Munzenberger, Herbert ; et
al. |
June 21, 2001 |
Fire-protection sleeve for pipes, cables and the like
Abstract
A fire-protection sleeve (1) for a pipe, cable and the like (T)
comprises an axially extending tubular metal housing (2), which has
a radially outwardly projecting connecting flange (3) at one end.
An end section (6), at the one end of the housing (2), contains a
heat-intumescing composition (10), formed on the inner wall of the
housing (2) and surrounds the axis of an axially extending opening
(9) in the tubular housing (2) for the pipe, cable and the like
(T). At the end section (6) of the housing (2) having the
heat-intumescing composition (10), metallic lamellas (12) are
arranged, which extend radially inwardly into the opening (9) of
the housing (2) for the pipe, cable or the like (T) and are
flexible in the axial direction of the opening (9).
Inventors: |
Munzenberger, Herbert;
(Wiesbaden, DE) ; Andresen, Arndt;
(Landsberg/Lech, DE) ; Milhes, Jean-Louis;
(Feldkirch, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David Toren
BROWN & WOOD LLP
One World Trade Center
New York
NY
10048-0557
US
|
Family ID: |
7932755 |
Appl. No.: |
09/736518 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/77R |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/22 20130101; F16L
5/04 20130101; H02G 3/0412 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
174/77.00R |
International
Class: |
H02G 015/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 15, 1999 |
DE |
199 60 485.1 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fire-protection sleeve for a pipe, cable and the like,
comprises an axially extending tubular metal housing (2) with a
radially outwardly projecting connecting flange (3) at one end
section of said tubular housing (2), an axially extending opening
(9) is formed through said tubular housing and arranged to receive
the pipe, cable and the like (T), a heat-intumescing composition
(10) is located on an inner wall of said end section (6) of the
tubular housing (2) and encircles said opening (9), wherein an
annular arrangement of metallic lamellas (12) extend radially
inwardly into said opening (9) and are flexible in the axial
direction of said opening (9), and said lamellas are located in
said end section (6) of said tubular housing in the region of said
heat-intumescing composition (10).
2. A fire-protection sleeve, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
lamellas (12) are arranged in a rosette fashion at a distance from
one another in the circumferential direction around the axis of
said opening (9).
3. A fire-protection sleeve, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
lamellas (12) have a minimum spacing (m) in the circumferential
direction between adjacent lamellas (12) in the range of about 1 mm
to about 8 mm.
4. A fire-protection sleeve, as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3,
wherein the lamellas (12) are formed of a spring steel.
5. A fire-protection sleeve, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said
lamellas (12) have a wall thickness in the axial direction of the
opening (9) in the range of about 0.15 mm to about 0.4 mm.
6. A fire-protection sleeve, as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3,
wherein said lamellas (12) have the same length in the radially
inward direction with the radially inner ends thereof forming a
passageway with a diameter (O) at least 10% of the diameter (d) of
the opening (9).
7. A fire -protection sleeve, a set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3,
wherein said lamellas (12) are formed extending radially inwardly
from an annular metallic body (11) fitted into the opening (9) in
said tubular housing (2).
8. A fire-protection sleeve, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said
lamellas (12) are formed integrally with said annular body (11).
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a fire-protection sleeve for pipes,
cables and the like, formed of an axially extending tubular metal
housing with a radially outwardly extending flange at one end. A
heat-intumescing composition is located within the housing at the
one end and encircles an opening through the housing arranged to
receive a pipe, cable and the like..
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND PRIOR ART
[0002] Fire-protection sleeves are used as fire-protection elements
for holes through masonry walls, ceilings or floors of buildings.
In the case of combustible or fusible pipes, cables and the like of
plastics material, glass or aluminum, the sleeves are intended to
close off openings in masonry, in order to prevent penetration of
fire through the opening. Known fire-protection sleeves usually
have a tubular configuration and are used, for example, as space
holders in an early building phase. In these cases, they are
mounted on a form and cast into the concrete. In this way, the
concrete wall part is already provided with a masonry opening.
During the installation in a later building phase or during a
subsequent enlargement, fire-protection sleeves, as closing-off
sleeves, are inserted from one side into a previously produced
opening in the masonry. The known fire-protection sleeves have a
metal or plastics material housing, into which a sufficient amount
of a heat-intumescing composition is integrated, which expands in
the event of a fire and closes off the opening that results when
the part or cable burns or melts away.
[0003] The larger the diameter of the opening that is to be closed
off and the higher the pressure resulting from the fire, the more
difficult it is to close off the opening, during a fire. In
addition, in the event of a fire, the fire-protection sleeves with
the heat-intumescing composition must be able to withstand the
pressure of the jet of extinguishing water, used by the
firefighters. For this purpose, systems are already known in the
state of the art, for which the intumescence of the composition
integrated into the fire-protection sleeves, is actively supported
by mechanical components, such as springs, flaps, fiberglass
fabric, and the like. The main function of these mechanical
components is to support the slight expansion force of the
heat-intumescing compositions or, since the latter are relatively
expensive, to reduce the amount of intumescing composition. The
known mechanical aides fulfill their function satisfactorily only
if the diameters of the openings are relatively small. In the case
of larger diameters, they are relatively unwieldy in use and make
the fire-protection sleeve unduly more expensive.
[0004] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,925 discloses a sleeve-like pipe
coupling, which is placed in an opening in masonry. The pipe
coupling has as a tubular inner housing of plastics material with
stops, which project into the interior, for the pipes, which are
pushed in and are to be coupled. At one longitudinal end, the
interior housing is surrounded by an annular metallic casing. The
annular space between the metal casing and the inner housing is
filled with a heat-intumescing composition. Metal brackets,
radially projecting from the casing to the tubular inner housing,
form the boundary of the annular space at the one longitudinal end
of the pipe coupling. The radially extending brackets are to
prevent the emergence of the intumescing composition from the
annular space and serve to improve the introduction of heat in the
event of a fire, so that the expansion of the heat-intumescing
composition is reliably initiated. In the event of a fire, the
tubular inner housing, together with the plastics material pipe
that has been pushed in, burn away and the expanding composition is
intended to seal the resulting opening. This effect functions
satisfactorily in the case of smaller diameters. However, in the
case of larger diameters, the known problems arise with the fire
pressure, which exists in the case of a fire, and, optionally, with
the water pressure caused by the jet of extinguishing water. This
known pipe coupling is suitable only for pipes with the necessary
nominal diameter. For pipes with smaller or larger diameters, a
different pipe coupling is required. In addition, these known pipe
couplings actually are not fire-protection sleeves, since the pipes
cannot be passed through the device. Rather, the pipe coupling only
joins together the longitudinal ends of individual pipes, which are
pushed in at opposite longitudinal ends.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention
to improve the fire-protection sleeve so that, in the event of a
fire, openings of a larger diameter can also be reliably closed
off. The seal should also withstand a higher fire pressure and the
pressure of the extinguishing water used by the firemen. The
fire-protection sleeve is suitable for pipes, cables and the like
of different diameters. Moreover, it is simple and inexpensive to
manufacture the fire-protection sleeve.
[0006] This object is accomplished by a fire-protection sleeve with
the following distinguishing features. Preferred variations and/or
further development of the invention are set forth in the dependent
claims. The fire-protection sleeve of the invention for a pipe,
cable and the like comprises an essentially tubular metal housing,
which has a radially outwardly protruding connecting flange at one
longitudinal end. An axial end section of the housing has a
heat-intumescing composition, which is disposed at the inner wall
of the housing and circularly surrounds an axially extending
opening for the pipe, cable and the like. At the axial end section
of the housing having the heat-intumescing composition, metallic
lamellas are disposed, which extend essentially radially inward
from the casing of the metal housing into the opening for the pipe,
cables and the like and are flexible in the axial direction.
[0007] Because of the flexibility of the metallic lamellas,
projecting into the opening, pipes, cables or the like can be
easily pushed through. The lamellas do not impede the pushing-in
process. There is great latitude with respect to the diameter of
the pipes, cables and the like, which can be pushed into the
fire-protection sleeve with a given diameter of the opening. The
axially flexible lamellas lie against the outer wall of the member
that has been pushed in and hold it in a quasi-centered position in
the fire-protection sleeve. In the event of a fire, during which
the member, which has been pushed in, usually burns or melts away,
the lamellas are surrounded by the intumescing composition. They do
not actively participate in sealing the opening through the
fire-protection sleeve. Instead, embedded in the expanding
composition, they form a reinforcement for the sealing plug formed
by the action of heat on the expanded intumescing composition. The
reinforcement provides greater mechanical strength to the expanding
composition in the event of a fire, so that the composition is
better able to withstand the fire pressure arising in the event of
a fire and, optionally, the pressure exerted by the directed
extinguishing.
[0008] Since the lamellas are disposed in a rosette fashion and are
at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction,
they are embedded even better during the expansion of the
intumescing composition. The expanding composition is deposited in
the cavity between the lamellas and is tied in even better. For the
intumescing compositions usually used, it proves to be advantageous
if the lamellas, in the circumferential direction, are at least at
a distance of about 1 mm to about 8 mm from one another.
[0009] Preferably, the lamellas are formed of a spring steel. By
these means, it is ensured that individual lamellas are not broken
when pipes, cables and the like are passed through. When a member
is pushed in, the lamellas of spring steel are bent only reversibly
and lie under tension against the outer wall of the pushed-in
member. Whereby, on the one hand, excessive forces do not have to
be overcome while pushing in a member and, on the other, there is a
sufficiently stiff reinforcement for the intumescing composition in
the event of a fire, the lamellas of spring steel have a wall
thickness in the range of about 0.14 mm to about 0.4 mm. At these
wall thicknesses, there is adequate axial flexibility and, at the
same time, the danger that individual lamellas will break is
small.
[0010] The degree, to which the lamellas are deformed when a pipe,
cable and the like is inserted in the axial direction, depends on
the diameter of the pipe inserted, as well as on the diameter of
the opening, which is edged by the inner free ends of the lamellas.
Advantageously, the lamellas therefore all have the same length.
Moreover, they form the boundary of the opening, the diameter of
which is at least 10 percent of the diameter of the tubular housing
opening.
[0011] For manufacturing reasons, it is advantageous if the
lamellas are constructed on an annular metallic body, which can be
inserted into the housing. Preferably, the lamellas are formed in
one piece with the annular metallic body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] In the following, the invention is explained in greater
detail with reference to an example of a fire-protection sleeve,
shown in the Figures, some of which are diagrammatic and not to
scale.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of an
inventive fire-protection sleeve,
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view of the annular metallic body, with
integrally constructed lamellas, as shown in FIG. 1; and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fire-protection sleeve
of FIG. 1, through which a pipe has been passed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] A fire protection sleeve is shown in FIG. 1. It comprises an
axially extending tubular housing 2 formed of metal, at the left
axially extending end section 6 there is a connecting flange 3
which extends radially outwardly. The connecting flange 3 is
provided with connecting devices 4, such as boreholes or the like,
which enable the fire-protection sleeve 1 to be fastened to a
concrete form or to a wall. At the outside of the tubular housing
2, radially projecting ribs 5 are provided, which prevent rotation
of the fire-protection sleeve 1. At the axially extending end
section 6 of the tubular housing, a closing part 7 is connected
detachably with the housing 2. For this purpose, locking brackets 8
project radially outwardly from the periphery of the closing part
7, and engage corresponding recesses in the connecting flange 3 and
lock behind shoulders. In the axial end section 6 of the tubular
housing 2, a heat-intumescing composition 10 is provided. The
heat-intumescing composition 10 is disposed at the inner wall of
the tubular housing 2 and surrounds an axially extending opening 9
of the tubular housing 2 in annular fashion. The diameter d of the
opening 9, is measured across the inner wall of the housing 2. In
FIG. 1, the right end section of the tubular housing 2, opposite
the connecting flange 3, is shown closed off by a lid 14.
Optionally the lid 14 is detachable, for example, if the
fire-protection sleeve 1 is to be equipped with a pipe only in a
later phase of the building and if contamination of the opening 9
is to be prevented.
[0017] At the axially extending end section 6 of the tubular
housing 2 accommodating the intumescing composition 10, axially
flexible lamellas 12 are disposed, which extend in the radially
inward direction and project into the opening 9 for a pipe, cable
and the like.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows an annular body 11 with a number of lamellas
12, which are arranged in rosette fashion and project radially
inward from the circumference. The annular body 11 is formed of a
spring steel. The lamellas 12 are constructed integrally with the
annular body 11 and are flexible in the axial direction of the
opening 9. For this purpose, the lamellas 12 are connected over a
flector 13 with the circumference of the annular body 11. The wall
thickness of the lamellas 12 is about 0.15 mm to about 0.4 mm. The
lamellas 12 are at a minimum distance from one another, which
amounts to about 1 mm to about 8 mm. The lamellas 12 all have the
same radially extending length and leave free an opening
cross-section with a diameter O, which amounts at least to about
10% of the diameter d of the axially extending opening 9 (FIG. 1).
The annular body 11 with the axially flexible lamellas 12 is
mounted in the end section 6 of the tubular housing 2 and is fixed
by the closing part 7. It is in the immediate vicinity of the
heat-intumescing composition 10, which is also disposed in the end
section 6 of the housing 2 (FIG. 1).
[0019] FIG. 3 shows the inventive fire-protection sleeve 1 of FIG.
1 with an inserted pipe T, which may consist, for example, of
plastics material. The individual elements of the fire-protection
sleeve 1 have the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. The pipe T
is pushed in from the side opposite the end section 6 of the
housing 2. During this procedure, the flexible lamellas 12 are bent
corresponding to the diameter of the pipe T. The lamellas 12 press
against the outer surface of the pipe T and center the latter
within the fire-protection sleeve 1. In the event of a fire, the
pipe T burns or melts away and the intumescing composition 10,
which is disposed at the inner wall of the end section 6, expands.
The expanded composition 10 penetrates through and is deposited in
the spaces between the lamellas 12. With this embedment, the
lamellas 12 form a reinforcement for the expanding intumescing
composition 10, which closes off the axial opening 9 of the housing
2.
* * * * *