Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A fitting for placement in a penetration in a fire rated barrier to maintain the integrity of the barrier before, during and subsequent to a fire and comprising in combination: a. first and second sealing materials disposed in said penetration which are compressible and intumescent, respectively, and which are in contiguous relationship; and with said first sealing material subject to dehydration, deterioration and volume reduction in response to a temperature above a threshold temperature and said second sealing material subject to the start of intumescence at, or below, said threshold temperature; and b. pressure control means applying pressure to said first and second sealing materials for causing said first sealing material to seal said penetration against the passage of gases through said penetration from one side of said barrier to the other and for confining the initial volume into which said second sealing material expands when it intumesces; whereby any reduced volume of said first sealing material resulting from deterioration thereof in response to reaching said threshold temperature is filled by the intumescence of said second sealing material for maintaining the seal of said penetration against the passage of gases through said penetration from one side of said barrier to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A fitting for placement in a penetration in a fire rated barrier to maintain the integrity of the barrier before, during and subsequent to a fire and comprising in combination: a. first and second sealing materials disposed in said penetration which are compressible and intumescent, respectively, and which are in contiguous relationship; and with said first sealing material subject to dehydration, deterioration and volume reduction in response to a temperature above a threshold temperature and said second sealing material subject to the start of intumescence at, or below, said threshold temperature; and b. pressure control means applying pressure to said first and second sealing materials for causing said first sealing material to seal said penetration against the passage of gases through said penetration from one side of said barrier to the other and for confining the initial volume into which said second sealing material expands when it intumesces; whereby any reduced volume of said first sealing material resulting from deterioration thereof in response to reaching said threshold temperature is filled by the intumescence of said second sealing material for maintaining the seal of said penetration against the passage of gases through said penetration from one side of said barrier to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pressure control means comprises first and second plates each having a configuration approximating that of said penetration in said barrier and between which said first and second sealing materials are initially confined.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and second plates are coupled by support means for controlling the separation therebetween and concomitantly the pressure on said first and second sealing materials.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein said penetration is traversed by a longitudinal element and said first and second sealing materials surround the part of said longitudinal element between said first and second plates and with said first sealing material in contact with said longitudinal element before said threshold temperature is reached.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein said compressible sealing material bears on said longitudinal element for inhibiting relative motion therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said intumescent sealing material bears on said longitudinal element for inhibiting relative motion therebetween when said intumescent sealing element intumesces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
A fitting for placement in a penetration in a fire rated barrier to maintain the integrity of the barrier before, during and after a fire and comprising in combination: a. a compressible sealing material disposed in said penetration and which is subject to dehydration, deterioration and volume reduction in response to a temperature rise above a threshold magnitude; b. pressure control means confining and deforming said compressible sealing material for causing it to respond to pressure and contact the limits of said penetration and maintain the integrity of said barrier to prevent the passage of gases from one side of the barrier to the other; and c. a second sealing material disposed in said penetration in contiguous relationship with said compressible sealing material and subjected to the same confinement and pressure as said compressible sealing material and which starts to intumesce in the presence of a temperature no greater than said threshold magnitude for maintaining said passageway sealed against the passage of gases from one side of the barrier to the other as said compressible sealing material deteriorates in response to said temperature rising to said threshold magnitude.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
188 words
A fitting for placement in a penetration in a fire rated barrier to maintain the integrity of the barrier before, during and after a fire and comprising in combination: a. a compressible sealing material disposed in said penetration and which is subject to dehydration, deterioration and volume reduction in response to a temperature rise above a threshold magnitude; b. pressure control means confining and deforming said compressible sealing material for causing it to respond to pressure and contact the limits of said penetration and maintain the integrity of said barrier to prevent the passage of gases from one side of the barrier to the other; and c. a second sealing material disposed in said penetration in contiguous relationship with said compressible sealing material and subjected to the same confinement and pressure as said compressible sealing material and which starts to intumesce in the presence of a temperature no greater than said threshold magnitude for maintaining said passageway sealed against the passage of gases from one side of the barrier to the other as said compressible sealing material deteriorates in response to said temperature rising to said threshold magnitude.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein said pressure control means includes means for selectively varying the pressure applied to said compressible sealing material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8, wherein said pressure control means includes pressure plates having exposed surfaces thereof covered with a film of heat responsive intumescent material for providing a thermal barrier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein said compressible sealing material and said second sealing material comprise a heterogeneous composition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second sealing material expands into any void between said pressure control means including that which results from degeneration of said compressible sealing material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fitting surrounds a longitudinal element extending through said penetration from one side of the barrier to the other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein said compressible sealing material bears on said longitudinal element extending through said penetration for inhibiting relative motion therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second sealing material bears on said longitudinal element extending through said penetration for inhibiting relative motion therebetween when said second sealing material intumesces.