Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-O1
- Page 2 -
PARALLEL-FED NONSTAGNANT INTEGRATED WATER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
FOR DOMESTIC WATER AND FIRE SPRINKLER APPLICATION
This invention generally relates to an integrated domestic
water system and interior fire sprinkler system. More
particularly it relates to an integrated residential domestic
water and fire sprinkler system.
l0
BACKGROUND
Dedicated sprinkler systems which are connected to large
diameter water supply mains are known in the prior art . These
water sprinkler systems may be characterized as "stagnant"
water systems, in that the water flows within the system only
when a sprinkler head is activated.
2o Also well known in the art are residential domestic water
distribution systems for supplying water to a variety of
plumbing fixtures within a dwelling. For a variety of reasons
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 3 -
(codes, regulations, etc.) domestic water systems cannot be
"stagnant" , that is, water contained within the system must be
capable of flowing under normal operating conditions. As a
result of this requirement for "nonstagnant" flow systems, for
typical building applications the fire sprinkler distribution
system and the domestic water distribution system are two
independent and separate systems. An obvious limitation in
having a separate domestic water distribution network and fire
sprinkler network is that each system must have their own
to conduits, supports, fittings, drains, valves, etc. This
duplicity of system components is both uneconomical
(additional materials, labour, etc.) and environmentally
disadvantageous (additional water requirements). To a large
extent the expense caused by the duplicity of system
components required by separate independent water distribution
networks has limited the acceptance of fire sprinkler networks
to commercial or multiuse residential applications. A further
limitation of present fire sprinkler systems is that they
require regular inspections of system operability as it is
2o critical that water under pressure be supplied to the various
sprinkler assemblies. Typically this requires that the
occupant occasionally inspect and verity valves, gauges, etc.
for operability.
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 4 -
It would be desirable and advantageous to implement a fire
sprinkler system which would be cost-effective so as to find
acceptance in the residential building industry. It would also
be desirable to have such a sprinkler system which would
s incorporate the domestic water distribution network into the
fire sprinkler distribution network. At the same time, and
most importantly, the combined system would be a "nonstagnant"
system to meet the approval of industry. By incorporating or
integrating the sprinkler network with the domestic water
1o network according to the present invention, a water flow is
established throughout generally the entire network each time
a plumbing fixture is accessed. It would also be desirable
that the combined system be "self-checking" to verify fire
sprinkler system operability. As a result, the integrated
15 water distribution system according to the present invention
is a "nonstagnant" water flow system which can meet the
requirements of various plumbing codes and regulations. The
use of the plurality of multiport fitting each having a
plurality of external nipples permits the use of small
2o flexible conduit which facilitates assembly and installation.
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-O1
- Page 5 -
SUN~lARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an integrated water
distribution system for supplying a building's domestic water
needs and fire sprinkler systems requirements without the
duplicity of having separate water distribution networks.
Importantly, a nonstagnant water distribution system can
provide water requirements for both domestic use and fire
sprinkler use. One aspect of the present invention provides a
multiport fitting for overhead securement and for use with a
heat sensitive sprinkler head for a fire sprinkler system.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a
"self-checking" fire sprinkler system with which the occupant
can easily verify sprinkler operability by accessing a
plumbing fixture for use, as pressurized water at any fixture
within the network ensures pressurized water at all the fire
sprinklers. Yet another aspect of the present invention
provides a mounting assembly for securing the multiport
fitting in its overhead position.
The integrated water distribution network includes a plurality
of multiport fittings, each fitting being interconnected using
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-O1
- Page 6 -
flexible plastic conduit with at least one other fitting. Each
fitting has a plurality of water conduits each leading to a
plurality of exterior nipples upon which the flexible plastic
conduit may be secured. Each water conduit, when connected as
described herein, allows fluid communication with integrated
network. There is thus a nonstagnant sprinkler water
distribution and domestic water distribution integrated
network having sprinkler head positions and domestic water
plumbing fixture positions as would be provided by a separate
1o and independent sprinkler network and an independent domestic
water distribution network.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions
hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying
detailed description which may be best understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in
2o each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers,
and where:
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 7 -
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated water
distribution network according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the water distribution
network under a use condition;
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the water
distribution network under a use condition;
1o FIG. 4 is yet another perspective view of the water
distribution network under a use condition;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a multiport fitting
according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the multiport fitting
of FIG. 5, taken along line 6 -6.
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 8 -
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
An integrated water distribution system 10 for a building 12,
such as a residential structure, is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.
The system 10 includes a plurality of multiport fittings 14
interconnected with a plurality of flexible plastic conduit
16, 18. The conduits include risers or water supply lines 16
which emanate from a supply manifold 20 which is connected to
the house main 50 and runners 18 which traverse between the
to various multiport fittings 14 and plumbing fixtures 22,24,26.
Plumbing fixtures 22, 24, 26 are individually served by a routed
flexible plastic conduit 30 and may include a water closet 22,
tub, vanity sink 24, or kitchen sink 26. Fire sprinkler heads
32 are coupled to each multiport fitting 14. Additional
plumbing connections or attachments such as valves, piping,
expansion tanks, pipe fittings (elbows, tees, etc.) are all
well known in the art of plumbing. Likewise, unidirectional
flow valves and temperature activated sprinkler heads are also
well known in the art of sprinkler system design and
2o installation. These additional components, which may be needed
to fully implement a functional water distribution system
according to the present invention, are well known to those
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 9 -
skilled in the art and are not shown in the exemplary
environment of FIGS. 1-4.
The construction of one embodiment of the multiport fitting 14
will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Multiport
sprinkler fitting 14 includes a body 34 having an interior
cavity 36 and a plurality of through-bores or ports 38. The
interior cavity 36 includes a threaded surface 39 for
threadedly receiving and securing a conventional sprinkler
to head 32. In this manner, sprinkler heads 32 may be
occasionally removed for maintenance or service. It is
intended that a variety of different sprinkler heads 32 may be
used to implement the system 10 of the present invention.
Selection of the specific sprinkler head 32 will be apparent
to one skilled in the art. Each multiport fitting 14 includes
a plurality of ports 38, each port 38 having an external
nipple portion 40. Nipple portions 40 are relatively smooth
bored and include an external profile (ribbing) 42 for
engaging the flexible conduit 16, 18 as will be described
2o hereinafter. Each multiport fitting 14 is provided a support
or hanging device 44 for attaching the multiport fitting 14 to
a support member within the ceiling (or walls) of the
structure 12 in which the system 10 is used. The support
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 10 -
device 44 may include a flange 46 having apertures 48 through
which fasteners 50 are used to secure the multiport fitting 14
to the structure 12. The multiport fitting 14 may include a
hexagonal-shaped body 34 having a plurality of radiating
nipple portions 40 which are offset to one side of the body
34. A flange 46 may be used to secure the multiport fitting 14
to a structural member (joist, wall, etc.) of the building 12
as illustrated in FIG. 5.
l0 Referring again to FIG. 1, the integrated water distribution
system 10 includes a plurality of interconnected multiport
fittings 14. Each multiport fitting 14 is secured by an
installer adjacent the ceiling with the support device 18. The
multiport fittings 14 are interconnected through flexible
conduits 16, 18 which may be cut to length at the site during
the installation process and which are flexible so as to allow
the conduits 16, 18 to be manipulated by the installer around
obstacles, etc. The connection between the multiport fitting
14 and the conduits 16, 18 are press-type or "slip"
2o connections, where the conduits 16, 18 are expanded by
manually pressing the conduits 16, 18 onto the nipples 40 of
the multiport fitting 14. This connection approach of the
flexible conduits 16, 18 with the multiport fittings 14 is
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-O1
- Page 11 -
inherently more time efficient than many other mechanical
connections, especially those of rigid pipings. A securement
ring (not shown) may be utilized to secure the conduit 16, 18
to the nipple 40 of the multiport fitting 14.
The network 10 includes a plurality of feeder lines or water
supply lines 16 which originate from a supply manifold 20,
which is shown beneath the structure 12, though only for
illustrative purposes . The manifold 20 in turn is connected to
the house main 50 in conventional manner. The number of feeder
to lines 16 is determined through analysis of the water flow and
pressure requirements of the system 10 as is appreciated by
one skilled in the art. The feeder lines 16 are illustrated as
being directly connected to the multiport fittings 14.
However, the feeder lines 16 may alternatively be connected
along the length of a conduit 18 (such as through a tee
fitting), if desired. A particularly novel aspect of the
present invention is that a plurality of feeder lines 16, each
connected to the manifold 20, are used to supply the network
of multiport fittings 14. In this manner and as described
below in operation, a "nonstagnant" water distribution system
10 is implemented. The plumbing fixtures of the systems are
illustrated as a water closet 22, a vanity sink 24, and a
kitchen sink 26.
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 12 -
Operation of the system 10 according to the present invention
may now be described with reference to FIGS. 2-4, where a
system 10 providing a distribution network for the domestic
water needs and fire sprinkler requirements is illustrated.
This system 10 provides a nonstagnant water distribution
system for supplying requirements for both the domestic and
fire sprinkler water fixture by establishing water flow within
essentially the entire system 10 during occupant use of a
1o plumbing fixture 22,24,26. Referring particularly to FIG. 2,
the integrated water distribution network 10 illustrates the
system flow during use of the kitchen sink 26. Water
requirements for the sink 26 are provided by the entire
network 10 through its associated multiport fittings 14, as
illustrated by the flow arrows. In this manner, the water
within the system 10 and between the multiport fittings 14 is
in motion. While the flow rates of individual conduits 16, 18
may not be equal (and may be in directions other than as
illustrated) there is some flow of water in the conduits 16,
18 between all of the multiport fittings during sink 26 use.
Furthermore, it is appreciated that water flows through each
feeder conduit 16 from the manifold 20 during sink use (though
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-O1
- Page 13 -
the flow rates may not be equal). As a result, a nonstagnant
flow system 10 is established.
Similarly, FIG. 3 illustrates the system 10 during occupant
use of the water closet 22. The flow arrows again depict the
direction of water flow within the conduits 18 between the
multiport fitting 14 and in the supply lines 16. The exact
flow rate and direction of flow within a particular conduit
16, 18 may be determined with additional information, if
necessary. Importantly, FIG. 3 again illustrates that the
water within the conduits 16,18 is nonstagnant (in motion)
during use of the Water closet 22.
FIG. 4 illustrates an additional benefit of invention
according to the present invention. A water sprinkler 32 is
illustrated as having been activated. Water flow requirements
for the sprinkler 32 are provided by the plurality of conduits
18 leading to the associated multiport fitting 14. In this
manner, rather than a single large diameter conduit supplying
2o water, a plurality of small diameter conduits 18 together
supply the sprinkler 32. The water supply for the fire
sprinklers 32 , which typically is plumbed using a single large
diameter piping, is now provided by a plurality of smaller
CA 02277317 2001-09-25
F&K 624-07-01
- Page 14 -
flexible conduits 16,18.
An important benefit provided by the present invention is a
"self-checking" fire sprinkler system 10 which allows the
occupant to verify the fire sprinkler system 10 operability by
simply using one of the variety of plumbing fixtures 22, 24, 26.
In this regard, the occupant is ensured that pressurized water
is available to the various fire sprinklers 32 if water is
output from any plumbing fixture 22,26,28 upon occupant
1o demand .
t The present invention and many of its attendant advantages
will be understood from the foregoing description and it will
be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,
15 construction and arrangement of the parts thereof including
the network design without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention or sacrificing all of its material
i
advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a
preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.
