Patent Publication Number: US-2023149755-A1

Title: Fixing device for firefighting pipe

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fixing device for a firefighting pipe, and more specifically, to a firefighting pipe fixing device for conveniently fixing an end portion of a firefighting pipe, on which a sprinkler is mounted, on a bar installed on the ceiling of a building. 
     Background Art 
     In case of fire, sprinklers are mounted at regular intervals to spray firewater from the ceiling of a building. An end portion of a firefighting pipe is connected to each sprinkler, and is fixed by using various structures pre-installed on the ceiling of the building. Of course, in a case in which there is no proper structure on which the firefighting pipe is installed, a separate frame can be constructed. Hereinafter, a structure installed on the ceiling of a building will be described. Such a structure may include a square pipe illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an installed state of a fixing device for fixing an end portion of a firefighting pipe  2  to a square pipe  1  installed on the ceiling. The fixing device includes: a bracket  100  having an upper plate  110 , a lower plate  120  and a side plate  130  by being bent in the form of a “ ” shape; round holes  111  respectively perforated in the upper plate  110  and the lower plate  120  so that a firefighting pipe  2  having a sprinkler  3  mounted at an end thereof can be inserted into the round holes  111 ; and two fixing screws  140  screw-coupled to the side plate  130  so as to press and fix the firefighting pipe  2  by the square pipe  1  inserted into a space between the upper plate  110  and the lower plate  120 . 
     In order to insert the firefighting pipe  2  into the round holes  111  of the upper plate  110  and the lower plate  120 , the firefighting pipe  2  must be at right angles to the upper plate  110  and the lower plate  120 , and the upper portion must secure a space in some degree. However, it is difficult to easily perform work since the firefighting pipe is installed in a limited space of the ceiling. Moreover, since the firefighting pipe  2  on which the sprinkler  3  is mounted is connected to a main pipe, it is difficult to freely control the firefighting pipe  2 , namely, it is inconvenient to fix the firefighting pipe  2  since it is not easy to exactly insert the firefighting pipe  2  into the round holes  111 . 
     PATENT LITERATURE 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Korean Patent Application No. 10-2001-0080731 
     Patent Document 2: Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0013336 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a firefighting pipe fixing device for fixing an end portion of a firefighting pipe, to which a sprinkler is connected, on a square pipe installed on the ceiling of a building. In more detail, an object of the present invention is to provide a firefighting pipe fixing device capable of minimizing movement of a firefighting pipe and conveniently fixing the firefighting pipe. 
     To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a firefighting pipe fixing device for vertically fixing a firefighting pipe to a square pipe horizontally fixed and mounted near the ceiling of a building, the firefighting pipe fixing device including: a holder having an upper plate, a lower plate and a side plate by being bent in the form of a “ ” shape, and a square pipe insertion path through which the square pipe passes; pipe seating parts formed in the upper plate and the lower plate in a “∩” shape so as to be open at one side and to have a width into which the firefighting pipe is inserted; a pipe pressing part inserted into the pipe seating parts for closely fixing the firefighting pipe, which perpendicularly passes through the upper plate and the lower plate, to the side surface of the square pipe inserted into the square pipe insertion path, wherein the pipe pressing part comprises: a cover plate fixed at end portions of the upper plate and the lower plate of the holder to be parallel with the side plate; a pressing plate inserted into the holder to be located between the firefighting pipe and the cover plate; and a fastening or fixing screw to be screw-coupled to the pressing plate so that the front end presses the side wall of the firefighting pipe. 
     According to another feature of the present invention, the pressing plate is inserted into the holder in a sliding manner and pressing plate guide pins are mounted between the upper plate and the lower plate in order to guide the direction that the pressing plate is inserted. 
     According to another feature of the present invention, the cover plate has a guide groove formed in the horizontal direction so that the fixing screw can move in a state in which the fixing screw is coupled to the pressing plate. 
     According to another feature of the present invention, the pressing plate has a stopper protruding at an end thereof to accurately locate the fastening screw at the center of the opening portions so as to limit the length that the pressing plate is inserted. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the firefighting pipe fixing device can conveniently and rapidly fix the end portion of the firefighting pipe, to which the sprinkler is connected, on the square pipe installed on the ceiling of a building. In more detail, a worker can fix the firefighting pipe just by slightly moving the firefighting pipe in the back-and-forth direction without moving it in the vertical direction, so that the end portion of the firefighting pipe on which the sprinkler is mounted can be easily fixed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view illustrating an installed state of a conventional firefighting pipe fixing device; 
         FIG.  2    is a partially exploded perspective view of a firefighting pipe fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating an installed state of the firefighting pipe fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of A-A of  FIG.  3   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS.  2  to  4   . 
     A firefighting pipe fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is to vertically fix a firefighting pipe  2  to a square pipe  1  horizontally fixed and installed near to the ceiling of a building. Especially, the firefighting pipe  2  may be an end portion of the firefighting pipe on which a sprinkler  3  is mounted. However, with respect to a specific use purpose, the end portion of the firefighting pipe is just an example, and the firefighting pipe fixing device according to the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     The firefighting pipe fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a holder  10 , a pipe seating part  14 , and a pipe pressing part. 
     The holder  10  having a square pipe insertion path is formed by bending a metal plate in the form of a “ ” shape. The holder  10  includes an upper plate  11 , a lower plate  12 , and a side plate  13 . The thickness of the holder  10  which corresponds to the height of the side plate  13  corresponds to the length of one side of the square pipe so that the square pipe can pass through. 
     The upper plate  11 , the lower plate  12  and the side plate  13  of the holder  10  respectively get in contact with three sides of the square pipe  1  having a square cross section. 
     In order to guide the length to which the square pipe  1  is inserted, a square pipe guide pin  31  may be mounted. The square pipe guide pin  31  may be provided in a plural number in such a way that an upper end of the square pipe guide pin  31  is connected to the upper plate  11  and a lower end is connected to the lower plate  12 . 
     The pipe seating part  14  (see  FIG.  2   ) is provided such that the firefighting pipe  2  is seated and fit to the holder  10  to be in the perpendicular direction to the square pipe  1 . The pipe seating part  14  has opening portions  111  and  121  respectively formed in the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12  in a “∩” shape to be opened at one side and to have a width W into which the firefighting pipe  2  is inserted. A linear distance L ranging from the side plate  13  of the holder  10  to start points of the opening portions  111  and  121  is shorter than the length of one side of the square pipe  1 . 
     Through the above structure, the square pipe  1  can be inserted in parallel with the holder  10 , and the firefighting pipe  1  can be inserted in the perpendicular direction to the holder  10 . Especially, according to the present invention, the firefighting pipe  1  is moved in the perpendicular direction to the upper and lower plates  11  and  12  of the holder  10 , namely, in the arrow direction (D) of  FIG.  2   , so as to be seated on the holder  10 . 
     The pipe pressing part is a means for closely fixing the firefighting pipe  2  perpendicularly passing through the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12  to the side of the square pipe  1  inserted into the square pipe insertion path. 
     The pipe pressing part includes cover plates  20  and  20 ′, a pressing plate  40 , and a fastening screw  50 . The cover plates  20  and  20 ′ are fixed while surrounding end portions of the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12  of the holder  10  to be in parallel with the side plate  13 . Of course, the cover plates  20  and  20 ′ are mounted not to hide the opening portions  111  and  121 . The cover plates  20  and  20 ′ may be fixed by welding, and as occasion demands, may be provided integrally with the upper and lower plates  11  and  12 . 
     The pressing plate  40  is inserted into the holder  10  in such a way as to be interposed between the firefighting pipe  2  seated on the pipe seating part and the cover plates  20  and  20 ′ fixed at the end portions of the upper and lower plates  11  and  12 . The pressing plate  40  is inserted into the holder  10  in the same direction K as an extension direction of the square pipe  1 . 
     As illustrated in the drawings, the pressing plate  40  has a cross section formed in a “ ” shape in the longitudinal direction. The pressing plate  40  has a screw hole  41  for fastening the fastening screw  50 . 
     The fastening screw  50  is screw-coupled to the screw hole  41  of the pressing plate  40  so that the front end of the fastening screw  50  presses the side wall of the firefighting pipe  2  according to a coupling degree. 
     The pressing plate  40  is inserted into the holder  10  in a sliding manner. In order to guide the direction that the pressing plate  40  is inserted, pressing plate guide pins  30  are mounted between the upper plate  11  and the lower plate  12 . The pressing plate guide pins  30  serve to guide the pressing plate  40  and fix one of the cover plates to the upper and lower plates  11  and  12 . 
     According to the present invention, the cover plate  20  or  20 ′ has a guide groove  21  formed in the horizontal direction, namely, in a direction parallel to the upper and lower plates  11  and  12 , so that the fixing screw  50  can move in a state in which the fixing screw  50  is coupled to the pressing plate  40 . 
     Now, a using method of the fixing device for the firefighting pipe according to the present invention will be described. 
     The fixing device for the firefighting pipe according to the present invention is used in a state in which the fixing screw  50  is slightly coupled to the screw hole  41  after the pressing plate  40  is previously inserted into the holder  10 . A worker inserts the fixing screw  50  into the guide groove  21  so that the pressing plate  40  opens the opening portions  111  and  121  to seat the firefighting pipe  2  in the opening portions  111  and  121 . 
     Thereafter, when the worker removes the fastening screw  50  from the guide groove  21  after seating the firefighting pipe  2  on the pipe seating part, the pressing plate  40  closes the opening portions  111  and  121 . After that, the worker tightens the fastening screw  50  to fix the firefighting pipe  2 . 
     When the worker tightens the fastening screw  50 , as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the front end of the fastening screw  50  presses one side  2   a  of the firefighting pipe so that the other side  2   b  of the firefighting pipe presses one side  1   a  of the square pipe. Through the above action, the firefighting pipe  2 , the holder  10 , and the square pipe  1  can be fixed relatively. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressing plate  40  has a stopper  42  protruding at an end thereof to accurately locate the fastening screw  50  at the center of the opening portions  111  and  121  so as to limit the length that the pressing plate  40  is inserted. 
     When the worker pushes the pressing plate  40  in the direction as much as possible to close the opening portions  111  and  121  in the arrow K direction of  FIG.  2   , the fastening screw  50  is located at middle points of the opening portions  111  and  121 . Contrariwise, when the worker moves in the direction to open the opening portions  111  and  121  as much as possible, the opening portions  111  and  121  are opened enough to easily insert the firefighting pipe  2 . 
     The pressing plate  40  has an arc-shaped pipe seating surface  43  on which the firefighting pipe  2  is seated in such a way that the outer surface of the firefighting pipe gets in surface contact with the pipe seating surface  43 . According to another embodiment of the present invention, the firefighting pipe fixing device includes a pressing plate pressurizing part to pressurize the pressing plate  40  toward the firefighting pipe  2 . That is, not the fastening screw  50  but the pressing plate  40  presses the firefighting pipe  2  so that the firefighting pipe  2  can be supported and fixed to the square pipe. 
     While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the foregoing is just illustrative of the present invention, and it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and equivalents may be made without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance, it is to be understood that all embodiments described above may be implemented through free combination by those skilled in the art, and all combinations are intended to be embraced in the scope of the present invention.