Flexible Assembly for Sprinklers

Abstract

An assembly for connecting a sprinkler to a branch line of a fire suppression system includes a flexible conduit having one end attached to the branch line. The opposite end is attached to the sprinkler. An adapter may be positioned between the conduit and the sprinkler, between the conduit and the branch line, or between the conduit and both the branch line and the sprinkler. The adapter contains a rotating joint which prevents torque from being applied to the conduit. The joint may be a coaxial joint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for connecting a sprinkler to a branch line of a fire suppression system, said assembly comprising:
 a flexible conduit having a first end connectable to said branch line, and a second end connectable to said sprinkler, said conduit providing fluid communication between said branch line and said sprinkler;   an adapter positioned between said sprinkler and said second end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said sprinkler to said conduit, said adapter having a bore providing fluid communication between said sprinkler and said conduit, said adapter having a first adapter portion attachable to said sprinkler and a second adapter portion attached to said second end of said conduit, said first and second adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said second adapter portion comprises a tube attached to said second end of said conduit, said tube being received within said bore of said first adapter portion;   a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said tube and an inner surface of said bore of said first adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said first and second adapter portions;   a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said tube and said inner surface of said bore of said first adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said bore of said first adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said first and second adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said first and second adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said bore.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising said sprinkler. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second adapter positioned between said branch line and said first end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said conduit to said branch line, said second adapter having a second bore providing fluid communication between said branch line and said conduit, said second adapter having a third adapter portion attachable to said branch line and a fourth adapter portion attached to said first end of said conduit, said third and fourth adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said fourth adapter portion comprises a second tube attached to said first end of said conduit, said second tube being received within said second bore of said third adapter portion;   a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said second tube and an inner surface of said second bore for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said third and fourth adapter portions;   a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said second tube and said inner surface of said second bore, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said second tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said second bore, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said third and fourth adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said third and fourth adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said second bore.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , further comprising said sprinkler. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly for connecting a sprinkler to a branch line of a fire suppression system, said assembly comprising:
 a flexible conduit having a first end connectable to said branch line, and a second end connectable to said sprinkler, said conduit providing fluid communication between said branch line and said sprinkler;   an adapter positioned between said sprinkler and said first end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said conduit to said branch line, said adapter having a bore providing fluid communication between said branch line and said conduit, said adapter having a first adapter portion attachable to said branch line and a second adapter portion attached to said first end of said conduit, said first and second adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 said second adapter portion comprises a tube attached to said first end of said conduit, said tube being received within said bore of said first adapter portion;   a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said tube and an inner surface of said bore of said first adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said first and second adapter portions;   a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said tube and said inner surface of said bore of said first adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said bore of said first adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said first and second adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said first and second adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said bore.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising said sprinkler. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second adapter positioned between said sprinkler and said second end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said conduit to said sprinkler, said second adapter having a second bore providing fluid communication between said sprinkler and said conduit, said second adapter having a third adapter portion attachable to said sprinkler and a fourth adapter portion attached to said second end of said conduit, said third and fourth adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said fourth adapter portion comprises a second tube attached to said second end of said conduit, said second tube being received within said second bore of said third adapter portion;   a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said second tube and an inner surface of said second bore of said third adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said third and fourth adapter portions;   a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said second tube and said inner surface of said second bore of said third adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said second tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said second bore of said third adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said third and fourth adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said third and fourth adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said second bore.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , further comprising said sprinkler.