BACKGROUND

Installed automatic fire protection sprinklers are placed under fluid pressure from firefighting fluid supplied to the installed sprinkler. In order to replace, inspect or maintain an installed sprinkler, it is desirable to relieve fluid (liquid or gas) pressure before completely disconnecting the sprinkler from the fluid supply piping in order to avoid injury.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of a fire protection sprinkler and connection assembly are provided having a tubular connection fitting in which a fire protection sprinkler is coaxially inserted and coupled to form a fluid tight connection. In some embodiments, the external configuration of the sprinkler body and the internal configuration of the fitting cooperate with one another to facilitate coupling and retention of the components and a method of decoupling of the assembly components including removal of fluid pressure.

In some embodiments, a sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler assembly having a connection fitting including a tubular member with a first insertion end and a second insertion end with an internal conduit extending between the first and second insertion end along a longitudinal axis. The tubular member includes an exterior surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a sealing surface between the first and second insertion ends circumscribed about the longitudinal axis. The inner surface includes a gripping portion axially spaced from the sealing surface between the sealing surface and the second insertion end; and a fire protection sprinkler having a body defining an inlet and an outlet with a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet along the longitudinal axis. A deflector is supported by the body and spaced from the outlet, and the body has an outer encasing surface surrounding the longitudinal axis, the outer encasing surface including a leading portion and a trailing portion. The trailing portion is engaged with the gripping portion and has a first retention section and a second retention section different than the first retention section.

In some embodiments, a method of decoupling a fire protection sprinkler having a body with a leading portion and a trailing portion from a connection fitting having an internal sealing surface and a gripping portion is provided. The method includes withdrawing, extracting or pulling a first retention section from the gripper portion in a first direction in a first manner; and withdrawing, extracting or pulling a second retention section through the gripper portion in a second manner different than the first to decouple the fire protection sprinkler from the connection fitting. In some embodiments, the method includes withdrawing, extracting, pulling and, in some embodiments, unthreading a first retention thread from the gripper portion in a first direction; and unthreading a second retention thread through the gripper portion in a second direction opposite the first direction to decouple the fire protection sprinkler from the connection fitting.

The sprinkler assembly and its fitting connected to a fluid supply pipe and under fluid pressure, the sprinkler body can be rotated to begin to withdraw the sprinkler body from the fitting. Continued relative rotation can initially separate the sealed engagement between the sprinkler body thereby providing pressure relief, if necessary, before completely separating the sprinkler body and the fitting. Thus, the sprinkler assembly can provide a safety mechanism for replacing and maintaining an installed sprinkler.

