Abstract:
A standpipe assembly including a pair of elongated, side-by-side chambers each including a first end and a second end, a Y-valve including an inlet and two outlets, each outlet in fluid communication with a respective one of the first ends of the pair of chambers, a hose connection snoot in fluid communication with the second ends of the pair of chambers, and a valve handle operatively connected to the Y-valve, wherein the valve handle is positionable between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the valve handle is spaced apart from the pair of chambers by at least two inches, in the second position, the valve handle is spaced apart from the pair of chambers by less than two inches.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application incorporates by reference and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/000,641 filed May 20, 2014. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to a water valve and hose connection for fire protection standpipe hose systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to water valve and hose connection for fire protection standpipe hose systems that improves compliance with regulatory requirements by reducing the depth of the valve and connection assembly in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while remaining in compliance with standards and requirements for these types of valves and hose connections as established by various regulatory authorities. 
     Accessible building standards as described within, but not limited to, the United States Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), ANSI A117.1, and ICC A117.1, limit the protrusion of any object to four inches, if the bottom leading edge of the object is located in a range greater than twenty-seven inches and below eighty inches from the finished floor. The protruding object rule&#39;s primary purpose is to protect those who are blind and low vision, and those who use a cane to detect protruding objects within a path of travel. 
     Presently, the NFPA design guidelines, while using the present technology, are not compliant with the protrusion limits as described within the ADA and other accessibility codes. 
     National Fire Protection Association 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipes and Hose Systems, provides guidance on the placement and clearances required for standpipe hose connections. These dimensions are intended to make access to and use of the standpipe system easier for firefighters. According to NFPA 14:
         Hose connections and hose stations should be unobstructed and located not less than 3 feet (0.9 meter) or more than 5 feet (1.5 m) above the floor measured from the floor to the center of the hose station valve. This provides easy access to the hose station so firefighters do not have to overly stretch or bend to attach the hose and operate the outlet.   Hose connections should be located so there is at least 3 inches (76.2 millimeters) of clearance between any adjacent object and the handle of the valve when the valve is in any position ranging from fully open to fully closed.       

     Using the current art and technology, NFPA 14 compliant standpipe hose connections violate the Accessible Building Standards, namely the four inch protrusion limit for objects located between twenty-seven and eighty inches above the finished floor. Also within the current art, a detectable barrier is sometimes, yet rarely, installed beneath standpipe hose connections. 
     Protrusion limit violations, created by standpipe hose connections, commonly occur in retail stores, stairwell landings of mid-rise and high-rise buildings, Areas of Rescue Assistance (mostly, but not always, stairwell landings), and hotel corridors. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a standpipe valve system which allows both a standpipe valve and hose connection fitting to protrude less than four inches from the structural element to which the valve and/or hose connection fitting has been mounted to, as described herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a standpipe assembly which allows both a standpipe valve and hose connection fitting to protrude less than four inches from the surface of the wall, support, building column, or structural element to which the standpipe assembly has been mounted against or fastened to. 
     Presently, standpipe hose connection valves often exceed four inches when measured from the face of the handle to the back of the valve, therefore when installed they will always protrude greater than four inches from the wall, support, building column, or structural element to which they are mounted or embedded. 
     The present invention reduces the overall depth of the valve and hose connection fitting, as an assembly, to less than four inches while remaining in compliance with standards and requirements for these types of valves and hose connections as established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Factory Mutual (FM) and other regulatory authorities. 
     The present invention provides a new technology to allow full compliance with both the NFPA 14 Standards and Accessible Building Standards such as the ADA and ANSI A117.1, particularly in regards to the protrusion limit of 4 inches (100 mm). In addition to meeting the accessibility code requirements, it improves the art of architecture and interior design. Our design may be desired as more aesthetically pleasing than the current art, and ergonomically superior as well. The present invention reduces the hazard of impact and injury for people with satisfactory vision as well. Retailers, in particular, may find the invention helpful for reducing liability and injury claims cause by patrons walking into ordinary standpipe hose connections. 
     In an embodiment, the standpipe valve system may include a shallow profile pipe with an embedded self-retracting valve operator. The shallow profile pipe may be an aluminum pipe made by machine extrusion and may include embedded gear components of the valve operator. To permit sufficient water flow while maintaining a sufficiently shallow profile, the shallow profile pipe may include two or more internal cavities for water flow with diameters smaller than would be required for a single pipe cavity. A hose connection snoot may be provided at the base of the shallow profile pipe to permit the connection of water hoses. The shallow profile pipe may further include an embedded shaft to link the valve operator to the standpipe valve. 
     In an embodiment, the standpipe valve can be located directly above the assembly, with the valve stem directly aligned with, and connected to, the manually rotated drive shaft. The valve may lie flush with the shallow profile pipe to create an aesthetically pleasing installation. The valve stem of the standpipe valve may be offset from the axis of the manually rotated vertical drive shaft, and connected by gears, chain, belt, or other common method of linkage. Upon actuation of the valve operator, the valve stem may open the valve seal to permit water flow into the shallow profile pipe. 
     Another variation of the invention&#39;s design is to use a presently available valve, but to install said standard valve and associated pipe at a height of greater than eighty inches. The stem of the standard valve could be connected to the drive shaft by sprockets and chain, or other common linkages such as pulleys and belt. Although potentially less aesthetically pleasing than a valve lying flush with the shallow profile pipe, such an installation would have the benefit of utilizing existing valves. 
     In an embodiment, a standpipe assembly includes a pair of elongated, side-by-side chambers each including a first end and a second end; a Y-valve including an inlet and two outlets, each outlet in fluid communication with a respective one of the first ends of the pair of chambers; a hose connection snoot in fluid communication with the second ends of the pair of chambers; and a valve handle operatively connected to the Y-valve, wherein the valve handle is positionable between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the valve handle is spaced apart from the pair of chambers by at least two inches, in the second position, the valve handle is spaced apart from the pair of chambers by less than two inches. 
     In some embodiments, the standpipe assembly further includes a back face and a front face, wherein the front face includes a front of the chambers and the valve handle, wherein, when the back face is mounted to a surface, the front face extends out less than four inches from the surface. 
     In some embodiments, the Y-valve includes a valve stem O-ring, wherein the valve handle is manipulatable to move the Y-valve from a closed state to an open state, wherein, when the Y-valve is in the open state, the valve handle is manipulatable to further expose the valve stem O-ring. 
     In some embodiments, the standpipe assembly further includes a valve stem coupling, wherein the valve stem coupling transmits a rotational force to the valve stem from a shaft driven by the valve handle, wherein the valve stem coupling is connected to one of the valve stem or the shaft, wherein the valve stem coupling includes a passageway for receiving one of the shaft or the valve stem to permit the valve stem and the shaft to move relative to each. And, in some embodiments, each of the chambers includes a diameter of less than three and one half inches. Further, in some embodiments, the outlet is a rotatable outlet. 
     An advantage of the invention is that it provides a standpipe hose valve having full compliance with both the NFPA 14 Standards and Accessible Building Standards such as the ADA and ANSI A117.1, particularly in regards to the protrusion limit of 4 inches (100 mm). 
     Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a standpipe hose valve that is aesthetically pleasing than the current art, and ergonomically superior as well. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of an example standpipe assembly with an aligned straight Y valve. 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the example standpipe assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is a front view of an example standpipe assembly with a chain driven angle valve. 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the example standpipe assembly of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional top view of the shallow profile pipe of  FIGS. 1A-2B . 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional front view of the straight Y valve of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional side view of the straight Y valve of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a front view of the standpipe assembly. 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of the standpipe assembly. 
         FIG. 5C  illustrates a top view of the standpipe assembly illustrating a top view of the straight Y valve. 
         FIG. 5D  illustrates a detailed cross-sectional side view of the straight Y valve. 
         FIG. 5E  illustrates a front view of the standpipe assembly including a pressure reducing valve rod. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a front view of an example snoot outlet assembly. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a bottom view of the snoot outlet assembly. 
         FIG. 6C  illustrates a top view of the snoot outlet assembly. 
         FIG. 6D  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the snoot outlet assembly. 
         FIG. 6E  illustrates a side view of the snoot outlet assembly illustrating the internal components in outline. 
         FIG. 6F  illustrates the details of the snoot outlet assembly illustrating the connection between the snoot outlet with the remainder of the snoot outlet assembly. 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a perspective view of a valve stem. 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a side view of the valve stem. 
         FIG. 7C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the valve stem. 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates a side view of a valve body insert of the straight Y valve. 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the valve body insert of the straight Y valve. 
         FIG. 8C  illustrates a top view of the valve body insert of the straight Y valve. 
         FIG. 9A  illustrates an example of a straight Y valve with the valve in a closed position. 
         FIG. 9B  illustrates the straight Y valve of  FIG. 9A  with the valve seal in an open position. 
         FIG. 9C  illustrates the straight Y valve of  FIG. 9B  with the valve stem in an extended position to expose the valve stem O-ring. 
         FIG. 9D  illustrates the straight Y valve of  FIG. 9C  with the valve stem coupling detached from the valve stem to enable a service person to access and change the valve stem O-ring. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an example of a standpipe assembly  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the standpipe assembly  10  includes a straight Y valve  30 , a shallow profile pipe  20 , and a snoot assembly  40 . The shallow profile pipe  20  is mounted on a surface  90  of a column, wall, etc. The straight Y valve  30  connects the shallow profile pipe  20  to pressurized fire sprinkler piping  120 . The shallow profile pipe  20  is connected, in turn, to a snoot assembly  40 . In use, a firefighter connects a fire hose to a hose connection snoot  80  of the snoot assembly  40  and turns on the flow of water using valve handle  70 . In an embodiment, the valve handle  70  is retractable to reduce the profile of the standpipe assembly  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the standpipe assembly  10  is configured to have a shallow profile.  FIG. 2B  is a side view that illustrates the depth  110  of the standpipe assembly  10 . The depth  110  is the dimension perpendicular to the surface  90  on which the standpipe assembly  10  is mounted. (As used herein, surface  90  includes any mounting column, wall, support, or other surface on which the standpipe hose station is mounted.) In an embodiment, to comply with regulations, the depth  110  of the standpipe assembly  10  does not exceed four inches. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B , the depth  110  of the standpipe assembly  10  does not exceed three and eighty-five hundredths inches. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate another example of a standpipe assembly  10  including a chain driven angle valve. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , in an embodiment, a standpipe assembly  10  includes a first Y fitting  42 , a second Y fitting  44 , and a shallow profile pipe  20 . The first Y fitting  42  is connected to the fire sprinkler piping  120  by a two-and-a half-inch valve  130 . The two-and-a half-inch valve  130  may be opened and closed by a sprocket and chain drive  140  connected to the valve handle  70 . The second Y fitting  44  may be installed at the base of the shallow profile pipe  20  for attachment of a fire hose. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional top view of the shallow profile pipe  20  of  FIGS. 1A-2B  illustrating the depth  110  of the shallow profile pipe  20  and the telescoping valve handle  70 . The shallow profile pipe  20  provides a pipe for the flow of water that meets the protrusion limit of 4 inches by distributing the water over a plurality of pipe chambers  200 . In an embodiment, the shallow profile pipe  20  includes two pipe chambers  200 . The pipe chambers  200  may have a diameter sufficient to ensure the flow of water (at least of one and four-fifths inches in diameter in this embodiment). In other embodiments, additional pipe chambers  200  may be included to permit alternate profiles of the shallow profile pipe  20 . 
     The valve handle  70  of the shallow profile pipe  20  may be connected to a telescoping shaft  150 . To maintain a shallow profile when not in use, the valve handle  70  and the telescoping shaft  150  may be biased towards a retracted profile by a retraction spring  190 . Rotational force on the valve handle  70  may be transmitted by the telescoping shaft  150  to a handle shaft gear  170 . The telescoping shaft  150  may slide freely through the handle shaft gear  170  to permit extension and retraction of the valve handle  70 . To ensure rotation of the handle shaft gear  170 , the telescoping shaft  150  may also include a cross sectional area that engages the handle shaft gear  170  when rotated, such as, a D-shaped cross-section, a square-shaped shaft, a key way, etc. The handle shaft gear  170  may mesh with a vertical shaft gear  180  to drive a drive shaft  185 . The drive shaft  185  may, in turn, drive the valve stem coupling  50  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the sprocket and chain drive  140  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , etc. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the straight Y valve  30  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The straight Y valve  30  controls and distributes the flow of water from a single input fire sprinkler pipe  120  to the pipe chambers  200  of the shallow profile pipe  20 . The straight Y valve  30  may include a valve seal  210  that, when in a closed position against the valve seat  215 , restricts the flow of water. A valve stem  230  ( FIG. 7A ) may control the positioning of the valve seal  210 . The valve stem  230  may be connected to the valve handle  70  via a valve stem coupling  50  to permit the user to open the valve seal  210  using the valve handle  70 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate another example of a standpipe assembly  10  including a snoot assembly  40  including a rotatable snoot outlet  260 .  FIG. 5A  illustrates a front view of the standpipe assembly  10  while  FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of the standpipe assembly  10 .  FIGS. 5C and 5D  illustrate a top view and cross-sectional view of the standpipe assembly  10 , respectively. As shown, the telescoping shaft  150  may extend beyond the rear face  22  of the shallow profile pipe  20 . Accordingly, the support surface  90  holding the standpipe assembly  10  may include an opening to permit the telescoping shaft  150  to retract into the closed position. A cap may be provided with the standpipe hose station to enclose the opening. 
       FIG. 5E  illustrates a front view of the standpipe assembly including a pressure reducing valve rod  160 . The pressure reducing valve rod  160  permits the limiting of the pressure of the water in the manner of a pressure reducing/restricting valve. The pressure reducing valve rod  160  is a limiting device that limits water pressure by restricting the travel of the valve stem coupling  50  to limit the amount that the valve seal  215  may be opened. The pressure reducing valve rod  160  may sit within a hollow portion of the shallow profile pipe  20 . The shallow profile pipe  20  may include an L-shaped slot  165  in which a tab portion of the pressure reducing valve rod  160  sits. A user may move the tab portion from one end of the L-shaped slot  165  to the other to move the pressure reducing valve rod  160  into a limiting position or a non-limiting position. The pressure reducing valve rod  160  may include a second tab at the opposite end from the tab portion to permit the pressure reducing valve rod  160  to fully engage the valve stem coupling  50  when in the limiting position. 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate another example of the snoot assembly  40 . The snoot assembly  40  includes a rotatable snoot outlet  260 . One benefit of a rotatable snoot outlet  260  is that it may be rotated when it includes attachments in order to stay within the four-inch protrusion limit. For example, in some jurisdictions, fire departments may require that the snoot outlet include an installed reducer cap. Because the added reducer cap may protrude beyond the four-inch protrusion limit, the snoot outlet  260  may be rotated to move the reducer cap flush to the side. 
     The snoot assembly  40  may include a snoot outlet assembly upper body  270  and a snoot outlet assembly lower body  280 . The snoot outlet assembly upper body  270  may be formed from a single piece of extruded aluminum including input chambers  310 . A mixing chamber  320  may be drilled into the snoot outlet assembly upper body  270 . The mixing chamber  320  combines the flow from the chambers  200  back into a single stream for output. 
     In an embodiment, the snoot outlet lower body  280  secures and directs the water flow into the snoot outlet  260 . The snoot outlet lower body  280  may be attached to the snoot outlet assembly upper body  270  via retaining screws  285 . The snoot outlet lower body  280 , in turn, attaches the snoot outlet  260  to the snoot assembly  250 . The snoot outlet  260  may be attached to the snoot outlet lower body  280  by a metal retainer split flange  290 . A snoot O-ring  300  may seal the interface between the snoot outlet  260  and the snoot outlet. The snoot outlet  260  may also feature snoot external threading  330  for the attachment of hoses, piping, etc. to the snoot outlet  260 . 
       FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate an example of the valve stem  230 . Starting at the top, the valve stem  230  may include a threaded slot  350  for the attachment of the valve seal  240 . Below the threaded slot  350 , the valve stem  230  may include a threaded surface  360  that permits the valve stem  230  to be driven through the valve body insert  222  ( FIGS. 8A-8C ). And, below the threaded surface  360 , the valve stem  230  may include one or more O-ring slots  370 . 
       FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate a valve body insert  222  of the Y valve  30 . The valve body insert  222  provides a threaded passageway  400  for the valve stem  230  that converts the rotational motion of the valve stem  230  into linear motion to permit the opening and closing of the valve seal  210 . The valve body insert  222  is provided to permit the threaded passageway  400  to be separate from the Y valve  30  to permit ease of manufacture. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the threaded passageway  400  may be manufactured as a part of the Y valve  30 . The valve body insert  222  may include screw openings to permit the valve body insert  222  to be attached to the Y valve  30  using screws or other fasteners. 
       FIGS. 9A-9D  illustrate the process of opening the Y valve  30  and changing a valve stem O-ring  450 . Fire code regulations generally require that valve stem O-rings  450  be replaceable while the Y valve  30  is in an open position. Accordingly, in the embodiment shown, the straight Y valve  30  is adapted to permit the changing of the valve stem O-ring  450  while the valve seal  240  is in an open position. 
     Before changing the valve stem O-ring  450 , the valve seal  210  may be in a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 9A . To begin the process, a serviceperson opens the valve seal  240  by turning the valve handle  70  until the valve seal  210  is in the open position as shown in  FIG. 9B . Next, as shown in  FIG. 9C , the serviceperson removes a limiting set screw  420 . During normal operation, the limiting set screw  420  encounters the drive shaft  185  upon reaching a desired amount of linear travel to prevent damage to the valve stem  230  and unnecessary exposure of the valve stem O-ring  450 . As shown in  FIG. 9C , upon removal of the limiting set screw  420 , the valve stem  230  may be extended further by further turning of the valve handle  70  to expose the valve stem O-ring  450 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 9D , the retaining screw  460  may be removed to disconnect the valve stem coupling  50  from the valve stem  230 . The valve stem coupling  50  may then be moved to permit access to the valve stem O-ring  450  for replacement. 
     After replacement, the valve stem coupling  50  may be reattached with the retaining set screw  460 . The valve handle  70  may then be turned in the closed direction until the new valve stem O-ring  450  is in place. Next, the limiting set screw  420  may be replaced to prevent over travel during normal use. And, finally, the valve seal  210  may be returned to the closed position. 
     It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.