US-12623107-B2 - Tool for installing fire sprinklers

Abstract

At least one aspect is directed to a device to configure a fire sprinkler. The device can have an elongated member. The elongated member can have an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending laterally therebetween. The open end can receive a portion of a fire sprinkler. The closed end can have a main aperture. The main aperture can receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive. The closed end can have at least one surrounding aperture. The surrounding aperture can be positioned apart from the main aperture to define a solid partition therebetween. The solid partition can have non-uniform thickness between the main aperture and the at least one surrounding aperture.

Inventors

• William K. Rucker
• Steven L. Shields
• Daniel Cross
• Jianhu Nie

Assignees

• TYCO FIRE PRODUCTS LP

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220323

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A device to configure a fire sprinkler, the device comprising: an elongated member, the elongated member having an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween; the open end to receive a portion of the fire sprinkler; the closed end having a main aperture to receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive and at least one surrounding aperture positioned apart from the main aperture so as to define a solid partition forming a continuous barrier therebetween; the solid partition extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a thinnest point and the second end defining a thickest point such that the solid partition includes a non-uniform thickness between the main aperture and the at least one surrounding aperture; and the at least one surrounding aperture having a fillet edge disposed at the thinnest point of the solid partition and having a rounded edge disposed at the thickest point.
2. 2 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: the solid partition to fracture responsive to torque above a threshold level applied in an installation direction.
3. 3 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: the solid partition to maintain structural integrity with torque applied in a removal direction.
4. 4 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: the solid partition configured to fracture at the thinnest point of the solid partition.
5. 5 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: the main aperture includes at least one of a square shape, a rectangular shape, or a triangular shape to receive the portion of the ratcheting socket wrench drive.
6. 6 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: at least one flute that extends longitudinally along an exterior portion of the elongated member.
7. 7 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: at least one drive pin that extends longitudinally along an interior portion of the elongated member, the drive pin to engage with the portion of the fire sprinkler.
8. 8 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: at least one visible element that extends laterally along an exterior portion of the elongated member, the element oriented to assist in aligning the fire sprinkler with installment.
9. 9 . The device of claim 1 , comprising: the fillet edge having a radius of 0.01 inches.
10. 10 . A device to configure a fire sprinkler, the device comprising: an elongated member, the elongated member having an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween; the open end to receive a portion of the fire sprinkler; the closed end having a main aperture to receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive and at least two additional apertures to define a spoke that extends from a portion of the closed end surrounding the main aperture to a portion of the closed end away from the main aperture; and the spoke having a non-uniform geometry defined by a first curved end extending along a first of the at least two additional apertures and a second curved end extending along a second of the at least two additional apertures, the first curved end and the second curved end curving in the same direction relative to the main aperture.
11. 11 . The device of claim 10 , comprising: the spoke to fracture responsive to torque above a threshold level applied in an installation direction.
12. 12 . The device of claim 10 , comprising: the spoke to maintain structural integrity with torque applied in a removal direction.
13. 13 . The device of claim 10 , comprising: at least one flute that extends longitudinally along an exterior portion of the elongated member.
14. 14 . The device of claim 10 , comprising: at least one drive pin that extends longitudinally along an interior portion of the elongated member, the drive pin to engage with the portion of the fire sprinkler.
15. 15 . The device of claim 10 , comprising: at least one visible element that extends laterally along an exterior portion of the elongated member, the element oriented to assist in aligning the fire sprinkler with installment.
16. 16 . A device to configure a fire sprinkler, the device comprising: an elongated member, the elongated member having an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween; the open end to receive a portion of the fire sprinkler; the closed end having a main aperture to receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive and at least one additional aperture; the at least one additional aperture having at least one section connected to the main aperture to define a channel therebetween; and at least one portion of the closed end to protrude into the channel to define a projection, the projection extending between the main aperture and the at least one additional aperture and defining a first end disposed at the channel and a second end disposed away from the channel, wherein a thickness of the first end is greater than a thickness of the second end.
17. 17 . The device of claim 16 , comprising: the projection to deform responsive to torque above a threshold level applied in an installation direction.
18. 18 . The device of claim 16 , comprising: the projection to maintain structural integrity with torque applied in a removal direction.
19. 19 . The device of claim 16 , comprising: at least one flute that extends longitudinally along an exterior portion of the elongated member.
20. 20 . The device of claim 16 , comprising: at least one drive pin that extends longitudinally along an interior portion of the elongated member, the drive pin to engage with the portion of the fire sprinkler.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/180,377, filed Apr. 27, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Buildings and other areas can include sprinklers to provide fire exposure protection. In the event of a fire, the sprinklers can dispense a fluid to suppress or extinguish the fire or to protect building elements from exposure to heat radiating from the fire. SUMMARY At least one aspect is directed to a device to configure a fire sprinkler. The device can have an elongated member. The elongated member can have an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween. The open end can receive a portion of a sprinkler. The closed end can have a main aperture. The main aperture can receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive. The closed end can have at least one surrounding aperture. The surrounding aperture can be positioned apart from the main aperture to define a solid partition therebetween. The solid partition can have non-uniform thickness between the main aperture and the at least one surrounding aperture. At least one aspect is directed to a device to configure a fire sprinkler. The device can have an elongated member. The elongated member can have an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween. The open end can receive a portion of a sprinkler. The closed end can have a main aperture. The main aperture can receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive. The closed end can have at least two additional apertures to define a spoke. The spoke can extend from a portion of the closed end surrounding the main aperture to a portion of the closed end away from the main aperture. The spoke can have non-uniform geometry. At least one aspect is directed to a device to configure a fire sprinkler. The device can have an elongated member. The member can have an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween. The open end can receive a portion of a sprinkler. The closed end can have a main aperture. The main aperture can receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive. The closed end can have at least one additional aperture. The additional aperture can have at least one portion connected to the main aperture to define a channel therebetween. At least one portion of the closed end can protrude into the channel to define a projection. At least one aspect is directed to a method of configuring a fire sprinkler. The method can include providing an elongated member. The elongated member can have an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween. The method can include receiving, via the open end of the elongated member, a portion of a sprinkler. The method can include receiving, via a main aperture of the closed end of the elongated member, a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive. At least one surrounding aperture can be positioned apart from the main aperture so as to define a solid partition therebetween. The solid partition can have a non-uniform thickness between the main aperture and at least one surrounding aperture. At least one aspect is directed to a method of configuring a fire sprinkler. The method can include providing an elongated member. The elongated member can have an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending longitudinally therebetween. The open end can receive a portion of a sprinkler. The closed end can have a main aperture. The main aperture can receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive. The closed end can have at least one surrounding aperture. The surrounding aperture can be positioned apart from the main aperture to define a solid partition therebetween. The solid partition can have non-uniform thickness between the main aperture and the at least one surrounding aperture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an example side view of a device configuring a fire sprinkler into a portion of a piping system, according to an example implementation. FIG. 2 is an example top perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, according to an example implementation. FIG. 3 is an example side view of the device of FIG. 1, according to an example implementation. FIG. 4 is an example top view of a closed end of the device of FIG. 1, according to an example implementation. FIG. 5 is an example bottom view of an open end of the device of FIG. 1, according to an example implementation. FIG. 6 is an example bottom perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, according to an example implementation. FIG. 7 is an example top view of a closed end of the device of FIG. 1, according to an example implementation. FIG. 8 is an example top view of a closed end of the device of FIG. 1, according to an example implementation. FIG. 9 is an example illustration of a process of configuring a