Patent ID: 11872425
Assignee: MINIMAX VIKING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT GMBH
Field: Environmental technology (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC A  F | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A fire protection system including a network of pipes for connecting fire protection devices to a source of firefighting fluid, the network of pipes including branch lines comprising:
a pipe header having internal fluid passageway extending along a longitudinal axis, the pipe header having an opening formed therein radially about the longitudinal axis; and
a branch connector including an annular seal member; and a unitary tubular member having a first terminal end welded to the pipe header, and a second terminal end spaced from the first terminal end, the unitary tubular member including an internal surface extending from the first terminal end to the second terminal end and circumscribed about a central axis of the tubular member that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe header, the internal surface including a gasket chamber surface with the annular seal member housed and supported in the tubular member by the gasket chamber surface, an internally threaded surface between the gasket chamber surface and the second terminal end for engaging a fire protection device, and a stepless surface in fluid communication with the internal fluid passageway of the pipe header, the stepless surface extending from the first terminal end to the gasket chamber surface;
wherein the gasket chamber surface includes: a first restriction; a second restriction axially spaced from the first restriction, and a relief wall between the first restriction and the second restriction the second restriction, the first and second restriction engaging a peripheral surface of the annular seal member to support the annular member in the gasket chamber surface, the relief wall being radially spaced from the annular seal member to define a radial expansion volume therebetween.