AU690721B2

AU690721B2 - A fire sealing collar

Info

Publication number: AU690721B2
Application number: AU30326/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jonathon Wexler
Original assignee: FYREGUARD Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Promat Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-08-29
Filing date: 1995-08-28
Publication date: 1998-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-28
Also published as: AU3032695A

Description

44344 AWT:PFB P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: 9.

0 0 FYREGUARD PTY. LTD.

Name of inventor: JONATHON WEXLER Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: A FIRE SEALING COLLAR Details of Associated Provisional Application: PM7708 dated 29th August 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Name of Applicant: FYREGUARD PTY. LTD.

Name of inventor: JONATHON WEXLER Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: A FIRE SEALING COLLAR Details of Associated Provisional Application: PM7708 dated 29th August 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a collar adapted to be fitted around a pipe to enable fire sealing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Materials known as intumescent compounds are useful to close off an aperture in the case of a fire. Intumescent compounds expand rapidly when heat is applied to them so as to form a hard mass which will block off an aperture.

It is known to place a collar of intumescent material around a plastics material pipe so that if sufficient fire occurs to melt the pipe the intumescent compound will be heated up and expand and fill the space occupied by the pipe as it softens and/or melts. A problem, however, is how to fit the intumescent material around the pipe and retain it in an economic manner so that expansion of the intumescent material is directed inwardly.

Fire collars for protecting plastic pipe penetrations through walls and floors can take a variety of forms, some with splits for wrapping around preinstalled pipes and some unsplit for casting into floors or building into walls. The completed overall shape is usually essentially toroidal. The present invention is specifically directed to an improved type of split collar for retro-fitting to preinstalled plastic pipes penetrating fire rated walls and floors whilst also being suitable for building into walls at the time of construction and prior to installation of pipes.

When installed at a floor (soffit) or wall surface a retro-fit fire collar enciries the projecting pipe and attaches to the wall or floor with appropriate means.

The device, must include a toroidal shaped heat activated intumescent packing contained within a restraining shell which will direct expansion of the packing radially inwards under fire conditions, together with outward radial projections at one end of the shell to accommodate fixing bolts and anchors. In practice the intumescent packing material is generally made in sheet form curved to fit the outer shell interior and inserted in either single or multiple layers in one full ,S1 circle or two half circular pieces. The outer shell, for adequate fire resistance i i 3 purposes is conventionally constructed from mild or stainless steel of 0.6 to 1 mm thickness.

Existing forms of fire collar have the shell in the form of a curvable steel strip with one end punched in serrated form which folds to form an inward return and the other end punched to form outwardly bendable lugs for surface attachment.

These strip form shells have ends which tie together after curving around the pipe usually by threading projecting tongues through matching slots and reverse bending.

V,

10 Shells in the form of spun canisters are rigid in shape and have to be split longitudinally to open around the pipe. Prior art shells of such a form have V, been cut fully in two pieces and provided with two toggle clips, bolted lugs, sliding joiners or similar fixings at opposite diameters. Alternatively some models had a fastening at one side and an articulated hinge at the other 15 although these constructions involve relatively expensive materials, manufacturing processes and installation labour content.

*l It is the object of this invention to provide an arrangement to contain an intumescent material around a pipe which is easy to manufacture and easy to :.ii install or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form therefore the invention is said to reside in a fire sealing collar adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and containing an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire by expansion of the intumescent material, the collar being characterised by a body defined by a cylindrical casing and at least one end wall extending radially inwardly from the casing at one end thereof and the cylindrical casing and end wall together defining a recess having an open mouth opening radially inwardly, a single longitudinal separation in the body and means to releasably connect the casing across tne separation end a region of the body diametrically opposite the separation having the wall or walls of the body cut so that the body may be opened to allow fitting of the body over the pipe by flexing the cylindrical casing in that region.

In an alternative form the invention is said to reside in a fire sealing collar adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and containing an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire by expansion of the intumescent material, the collar being characterised by a body defined by a 10 cylindrical casing and at least one end wall extending radially inwardly from the casing at one end thereof and the cylindrical casing and end wall together *0 defining a recess having an open mouth opening radially inwardly, a single longitudinal separation in the body and means to releasably connect the casing across the separation and a region of the body diametrically opposite the separation having the wall or walls of the body cut so that the body may be ::..opened or moved radially to allow fitting of the body over the pipe and moved oaxially to interengage the means to releasably connect the respective portions of the casing across the joint by flexing the cylindrical casing in that region.

The fire sealing collar according to the invention may further include a flange or set of tags extending from one side of the body radially outward and which is •o'i *adapted to enable the collar to be mouihted or fastened to or in a wall or floor about or in the aperture though which the pipe is to pass through the wall or floor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the means to releasably connect the respective portions of the casing across the separation may comprise a lug on one portion of the casing and a co-acting hook on the other portion of the casing, both of which may be fixed.

The lug may comprise a pressed out portion of the casing or may comprise a strap including a looped portion spot welded onto the casing. The hook may comprise a plate spot welded onto the casing and extending over the separation to the lug.

There may be further provided a flange extending from one side of the body radially outward to provide a mounting surface to go against a wall or floor, the flange may have a notch cut out adjacent the region on the wall or walls of the body so that the flange plate does not interfere with the flexing of the casing during opening to allow the collar to be spread over the pipe.

As discussed earlier the fire sealing collar according to this invention may be adapted to fit into or be cast into an aperture in a wall or floor around the pipe so that the fire sealing collar is enclosed within the wall.

~10 The casing and side wall may be constructed from a single sheet of metal by spinning into an annular shape.

There may further be included a flange extending radially outwardly from the S"casing which is also spun from the single sheet of metal.

a.

The action of the hook and lug fastener may comprise one portion of the casing o 15 having a fixed hook extending across the separation and another portion across the separation having a fixed lug. Axial or sideways movement of the one portion of the casing with respect to the other portion may provide enough movement to enable the hook to engage into the lug. Hence, neither the hook or the lug need be moveable with respect to its respective portion of the casing.

The overall constructibn may be one, therefore, which does not have any moving parts but which by bending of the material of the casing radially to open the collar to mount to a pipe and axially to enable engagement of the hook and lug installation can be achieved.

It will be noted that the spreading or opening of the collar to enable the fire sealing collar to be fitted around a pipe is according to this invention by flexing of the sheet metal material of the casing of the body of the collar. As this is usually done only once there is no likelihood of metal fatigue.

6 The invention may also include a method of installing a fire sealing collar of a type adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and containing an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire by expansion of the intumescent material as defined earlier comprising the steps of: moving the respective parts of the collar across the separation sideways to separate the means to releasably connect the casing across the separation, moving respective parts of the collar across the joint outwards to enable the collar to be placed on the pipe, moving the respective parts of the collar across 10 the joint inwards to mount the collar around the pipe, and moving the respective parts of the collar across the separation sideways together to enable the means to releasably connect the respective portions of the casing across the join to be interconnected, whereby to fit and fasten the collar to the pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS o 15 This then generally describes the invention but to assist with understanding of the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which S0 show preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: 0 0 FIG 1 shows a cross sectional view of a first embodiment fire sealing collar according to this invention, FIG 2 shows the fire sealing collar of FIG 1 mounted onto a pipe in a wall, FIG 3 shows alternative embodiment of fire sealing collar according to this invention mounted around a pipe and into a floor, FIGS 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show various views of an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, and M111 tVTO*~ T 0 I -I FIGS 11, 12 and 13 show a further embodiment of a fire sealing collar according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now looking more closely at the drawings and in particular the embodiment shown in FIGS 1 and 2, it will be seen that the fire sealing collar comprises a body 1 having a cylindrical casing 2 and end walls 3. The casing 2 and end Iwalls 3 together define an open mouth 4 facing radially inwardly. The casing .0 •has L-shaped brackets 6 including apertures 7 to provide mounting brackets.

AT one point around the annular body there is a separation 5 in the annular body and a clip arrangement (not shown in Figures 1 and 2) is provided to releasably connect the casing 2 across the separation. There is a region of weakness of the body (not shown in Figures 1 or 2) which is substantially diametrically opposite to the separation in the annular body which enables the 15 body to be spread or opened to place the fire collar around an existing pipe.

The region of weakness is provided by the end wall of the body being cut or 9 otherwise incomplete so that the casing can be flexed or substantially act as a hinge in that region.

0 It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the collar 1 is placed around a pipe 11 in a floor and cast into place. An intumescent fire sealing compound 12 is placed into the toroidal recess in the collar 1. In the case of a fire from below the floor of the plastic pipe will tend to soften and perhaps melt and the intumescent compound 12 will be heated and will expand and close off the aperture.

Essentially as discussed above the casing at one point acts as a hinge for spreading of the annular collar to enable it to be placed over an existing pipe.

While perhaps many flexures may tend to weaken the casing in that region it is envisaged that in a practical installation there may only be one or a limited number of flexings which will be insufficient to materially affect the strength of the collar.

8 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a pipe 20 passes through a wall 21 and a fire sealing collar 22 is placed around the pipe. Intumescent fire sealing compound 23 is placed within the channel section of the fire sealing collar. The toroidal body is defined by a casing portion 25 and a first end wall 26 as one component and a plate 27 defining the other end wall of the channel section and extending as a flange radially outwardly to enable the fire sealing collar tr be mounted to a wall by means of bolts 28. The plate 27 is spot welded to the casing 22 by a flange 29 extending from casing 22.

10 The fire sealing collar shown in FIGS. 4 to 10 comprises a flange plate divided :""into two components 30 and 31, the flange plates 30 and 31 together define an aperture 32 through which in use a pipe passes. A body 35, defined by a cylindrical casing 46 and an end wall 47 extending radially inwardly on one side of the casing 36 and an end wall 45 extending radially outwardly on the other 15 side of the casing 46, is mounted to the flange plates 30 and 31 and has an o aperture 36 aligned with the aperture 32 defined by the end walls. At one point on the body 35 there is a separation 37 which is aligned with the cut 34 S•between the flange plates 30 and 31. The body 35 and parts of the flange plates 30 and 31 together define a toroidal recess into which may be placed the intumescent compound.

The body 35 may be formed from a sheet of metal spun into the desired shape.

A clip arrangement comprising a fixed hook 38 and a fixed lug 39 is adapted to hold the cut 37 closed.

A cut 40 in the end wall 47, substantially diametrically opposed from the cut 37, and the join 33 between the plate portions 30 and 31 together define a region of weakening of the casing 46 of the body diametrically opposed to the cut 37. A notch 42 is defined by cut-outs in the casing plates 30 and 31 and in the side wall 45 enable the casing of the toroidal body 35 in the region between the cut and the apex 43 of the notch 42 to be flexed to enable the collar to be spread or opened up to fit it over an existing pipe. When the collar has been

I,

9 fitted over a pipe then axial or sideways flexing of the toroidal body about the cut 37 enables the catch defined by the fixed lug 39 and fixed hook 30 to be connected to hold the collar closed over the pipe. The fire sealing collar can then be mounted to a wall or floer about the pipe by means of fastenings through the apertures 44.

In FIGS 11, 12 and 13 ,4he toroidal body generally shown as 50 comprises a casing 51 and an inwardly xtending end wall 52 from the casing on one side only. The toroidal body may be formed by spinning and shaping of a sheet of 10 metal such as steel. A cut 53 is provided through the casing and side wall on *one side of the toroidal body and a cut 54 is provided on the other diametrically opposite side of the toroidal body only though the side wall 52. A hook and lug connection across the join defined by plate 59 which includes a fixed hook Soo.

and a lug 56 provides connection across the cut 53. The lug 56 is provided by a pressed out portion of the casing. L-shaped brackets or tags 57 are provided to enable surface mounting of the fire sealing collar.

•o The material of construction of the fire sealing collar according to this invention may be of any suitable heat resistant material so that in the event of fire it can contain the expanding intumescent compound and in a preferred embodiment of the device may be made from sheet metal such as galvanised sheet steel or stainless steel.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise the words comprise and include in variation such as comprising and including will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A fire sealing collar adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and containing an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire by expansion of the intumescent material, the collar being characterised by a body defined by a cylindrical casing and at least one end wall extending radially inwardly from the casing at one end thereof and the cylindrical casing and end wall together defining a recess having an open mouth opening radially inwardly, a single longitudinal separation in the body i 10 and means to releasably connect the casing across the separation and a region of the body diametrically opposite the separation having the wall or walls of the S.body cut so that the body may be opened to allow fitting of the body over the pipe by flexing the cylindrical casing in that region. 15

2. A fire sealing collar adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and 15 containing an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire by expansion of the intumescent material, the collar being characterised by a body defined by a cylindrical casing and at least one end ,-all extending radially inwardly from the casing at one end thereof and the cylindrical casing and end wall together defining a recess having an open 20 mouth opening radially inwardly, a single longitudinal separation in the body and means to releasably connect the casing across the separation and a region of the body diametrically opposite the separation having the wall or walls of the body cut so that the body may be opened or moved radially to allow fitting of the body over the pipe and moved axially to interengage the means to releasably connect the respective portions of the casing across the joint by flexing the cylindrical casing in that region.

3. A fire sealing collar as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means to releasably connect the respective portions of the casing across the separation comprises a lug on one portion of the casing and a co-acting hook on the other portion of the casing. A/ I 11

4. A fire sealing collar as in Claim 3 wherein the lug comprises a pressed out portion of the casing.

A fire sealing collar as in Claim 3 wherein the lug comprises a strap including a looped portion spot welded onto the casing.

6. A fire sealing collar as in Claim 3 wherein the hook comprises a plate spot welded onto the casing and extending over the separation to the lug. e S

7. A fire sealing collar as in any one proceeding claim further including a C S Sflange extending from one side of the body radially outwardly to provide a mounting surface to go against a wall or floor, the flange having a notch cut out *~ajacent the region of the body diametrically opposite the separation that the flange does not interfere with the flexing of the casing during opening to allow the collar to be placed over the pipe.

8. A fire sealing collar as in any one proceeding claim further including a flange or set of tags extending from one side of the body radially outwardly and which is adapted to enable the collar to be mounted or fastened to or in a wall o or floor about or in the aperture through which the pipe is to pass through the •wall or floor.

9. A fire sealing collar as in any one proceeding claim wherein the collar is adapted to fit into or be cast into an aperture in the wall or floor around the pipe so that the fire sealing collar is enclosed within the wall.

A fire sealing collar as in any one proceeding claim wherein the casing and side wall are constructed from a single sheet of metal by spinning into a annular shape.

11. A fire sealing collar as in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the wall, the cylindrical casing and the flange are formed by spinning from a single sheet of metal into a top hat shape.

12. A fire sealing collar adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and adapted to contain an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 0

.13. A method of installing a fire sealing collar of a type adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and containing an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire by expansion of the intumescent material as defined in any one preceding claim comprising the steps of; moving the respective parts of the collar across the separation sideways to separate the meLls to releasably connect the casing across the separation, moving 15 respective parts of the collar across the separation outwards to enable the collar to be placed on the pipe, moving the respective parts of the collar across the joint inwards to mount the collar around the pipe, and moving the respective parts of the collar across the joint sideways together to enable the means to releasably connect the respective portions of the casing across the join to be S 20 interconnected, whereby to fit and fasten the collar to the pipe.

14. A method of installing a fire sealing collar of a type adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe and adapted to contain an intumescent compound to provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire as defined in any one of Claim 1 to 12 comprising the steps of; opening the collar across the joint outwards to enable the collar to be placed on the pipe, closing the collar across the joint inwards to mount the collar around the pipe, and connecting the means to releasably connect the casing across the joint, whereby to fit the collar to the pipe. Dated this 13th day of January 1998 FYREGUARD PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO. ABSTRACT A fire sealing collar adapted to fit around a plastics material pipe to contain an intumescent compound provide for sealing of the pipe in the event of fire. The collar has a toroidal body with a flange or brackets extending outwardly from the body to enable mounting of the collar to a wall or floor. One side of the body is cut with a releaseable joining means adapted to join across the cut and the other side has the side walls of the body cut so that the cylindrical casing of the body can be flexed to open the collar to mount it over a pipe. 0 I o e* a o *o S S0 0 *50 a 0 0 S 00 i