Adjustable drop or riser nipple

Abstract

Abstract An adjustable drop or riser nipple for sprinkler systems and the like, characterized by few, simple parts and comprising short, telescoping inner and outer lengths of pipe having interposed between them a locking or drive ring which acts against an expansible, resilient sealing ring so as to lock the pipes in any of different adjusted axial positions as well as to seal the same to each other. The locking ring is part of an exposed nut threaded into the projecting end of the outer pipe. The outer pipe intermediate its ends has fixedly attached in it an abutment ring which engages one end of the resilient sealing ring in the pipe. The other end of the sealing ring is engaged by the locking ring in such a manner that when the latter is forcibly axially shifted by the act of tightening the nut, it radially expands or deforms the sealing ring, causing such ring to tightly grip both the inner and outer pipes whereby these are not only locked in an adjusted position but also sealed tightly to each other so as to prevent leakage of liquid. The inner end of the inner pipe carries a retainer ring of larger diameter than the abutment ring on the inner pipe, whereby the latter is held captive and cannot inadvertently drop from or be removed from the outer pipe. The exposed end of the inner pipe mounts the usual sprinkler head and heat-responsive valve normally provided on automatic fire-extinguishing sprinkler systems. The above telescopic arrangement enables adjustment of the nipple assemblage for length, so that it can be readily used where false or acoustic ceilings are being installed in existing factory or industrial structures. The adjustment and tightening of the nipple is readily effected from a location below the installed false or acoustic ceiling, by using a wrench on the exposed nut.

Inventors

• 👤 William C. Tifft

Bibliographic Details