Fire collar

Abstract

A fire collar is adapted to inhibit flame propagation through a partition and be supported to the partition and around a pipe extending through a hole in the partition. The fire collar includes a non-combustible sleeve having a pair of opposed, open ends. The fire collar further includes a layer of expandable material carried on the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve. The layer is adapted to be constrained by the sleeve to expand radially inwardly toward the pipe to collapse the pipe in the event the temperature of the material is raised above a predetermined temperature. The layer and the collapsed pipe together form a physical barrier across the sleeve to block the hole. The fire collar further includes a removable, elastic, interference member adapted to be disposed about the outer circumference of the pipe and between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and the pipe to create an interference fit therebetween to retain the sleeve relative to the pipe.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fire collar that is adapted to inhibit flame propagation through a partition and be supported around a pipe extending through a hole in the partition, said fire collar comprising: 
 a non-combustible, elongated sleeve having a pair of opposed, open ends; and    a layer of expandable material carried on the inner circumferential surface of said sleeve, said layer being adapted to be constrained by said sleeve to expand in volume radially inwardly toward the pipe to collapse the pipe in the event the temperature of the material is raised above a predetermined level, said layer and the collapsed pipe together forming a physical barrier across said sleeve to block the hole; and    a removable, elastic, interference member adapted to be disposed about the outer circumference of the pipe and between the inner circumferential surface of said sleeve and the pipe to create an interference fit therebetween to retain said sleeve relative to the pipe.    
     
     
         2 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has an annular bead disposed completely about and projecting outwardly from the general outer periphery of said sleeve such that the sides of said bead are disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to said sleeve.  
     
     
         3 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bead is disposed approximately one-quarter inch deep and one inch wide.  
     
     
         4 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined angle approximates 45°.  
     
     
         5 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bead is located longitudinally offset with respect to the axial length of said sleeve and closer to one end of said sleeve.  
     
     
         6 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said bead is disposed proximate the lower end of said sleeve and distal the upper end of said sleeve.  
     
     
         7 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said bead is disposed approximately three-quarters of an inch from the lower end of said sleeve.  
     
     
         8 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bead defines a space that is designed to be filled with said layer of expandable material.  
     
     
         9 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said layer of expandable material may be a composition strip one-quarter inch thick and one inch wide that is held in place to the inner circumference of said bead.  
     
     
         10 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is of a substantially right-cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         11 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is made of steel.  
     
     
         12 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a thickness sufficient to protect the pipe from damage from exterior said sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has a sufficient length such that the upper portion of said sleeve serves as a nail plate providing protection to the pipe through the partition.  
     
     
         14 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said interference member may be a member of a group consisting of a washer, an O-ring, and a rubber band.  
     
     
         15 . A fire collar that is adapted to inhibit flame propagation through a partition and be supported around a pipe extending through a hole in the partition, said fire collar comprising: 
 a non-combustible, elongated, substantially right-cylindrical sleeve having a pair of opposed, open ends, said sleeve having a thickness sufficient to protect the pipe from damage from exterior said sleeve and having a sufficient length such that the upper portion of said sleeve serves as a nail plate providing protection to the pipe through the partition;    an annular bead disposed completely about and projecting outwardly from the general outer periphery of said sleeve such that the sides of said bead are disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to said sleeve and define a space therebetween, said bead disposed longitudinally offset with respect to the axial length of said sleeve and closer to one end of said sleeve;    a layer of expandable material carried in said space, said layer being adapted to be constrained by said sleeve to expand in volume radially inwardly toward the pipe to collapse the pipe in the event the temperature of the material is raised above a predetermined level, said layer and the collapsed pipe together forming a physical barrier across said sleeve to block the hole; and    a removable, elastic, interference member adapted to be disposed about the outer circumference of the pipe and between the inner circumferential surface of said sleeve and the pipe to create an interference fit therebetween to retain said sleeve relative to the pipe.    
     
     
         16 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said bead is disposed approximately one-quarter inch deep and one inch wide.  
     
     
         17 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined angle approximates 45°.  
     
     
         18 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said bead is disposed proximate the lower end of said sleeve and distal the upper end of said sleeve.  
     
     
         19 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said bead is disposed approximately three-quarters of an inch from the lower end of said sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . A fire collar as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said layer of expandable material may be a composition strip one-quarter inch thick and one inch wide that is cemented in place within said space.