Patents Assigned to PNM, Inc.
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Publication number: 20120097406Abstract: A fire sprinkler support assembly includes a leg configured to extend transverse to each of a pair of adjacent parallel spaced beams. The leg includes levered clamp assemblies that are configured for connecting and supporting each end of the leg to a corresponding one of the beams. The levered clamp assemblies include a first plate and a second plate, each plate configured to straddle the beam. The levered clamp assemblies also include a lever assembly. The lever assembly includes a rod passing through corresponding rod openings in the first and second plates, and a lever pivotally connected to one end of the rod. The lever includes a cam surface disposed adjacent to the first plate. The lever assembly is configured to reduce spacing between the plates upon actuation of the lever, whereby the leg is secured to the beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Paul S.F. Silcox, Peter M. MacDonald, Norman J. MacDonald, III
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Publication number: 20110315409Abstract: An adaptor is provided that is configured to receive a support assembly for mounting a flexible fire sprinkler fitting in a ceiling support structure formed of parallel, spaced beams. The adaptor includes first and second long sides configured to be secured to each beam of an adjacent pair of beams, and first and second short sides configured to be secured to the support assembly. One end of each long side is joined by the first short side, and an opposed end of each long side is joined by the second short side such that the first and second long sides are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second short sides, whereby the adaptor is a generally elongated, hollow, rectangular structure. The adaptor permits the support assembly to be mounted in a suspended ceiling formed of hat channel or metal stud furring.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Paul S.F. Silcox, Peter M. MacDonald, Norman J. MacDonald, III
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Publication number: 20110284098Abstract: A hub assembly for supporting a portion of a flexible sprinkler assemblage within a ceiling, the hub assembly including a primary support mounted to a ceiling support member, and a secondary support member rotatable relative to a primary support member between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, portions of the supports are overlapping and cut outs formed in the primary support cooperate together with cut outs formed in the secondary support to define a hub opening configured to receive the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage. The hub assembly also includes a locking mechanism configured to selectively connect the primary support to the secondary support, and an adjustment mechanism disposed on the primary support that is configured to secure the position of the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage within the hub opening, and is separate from the locking mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Paul S. F. Silcox, Peter M. MacDonald, Norman J. MacDonald, III
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Publication number: 20090008104Abstract: A central hub includes a plate and a sleeve attached to the plate and adapted to receive a sprinkler head. The sleeve may be a telescoping sleeve. By providing a central hub with the plate and sleeve, the central hub provides increased stability and versatility to the sprinkler head. The plate provides additional stability and support to the sleeve, and thus the sprinkler head, rendering the combination better able to operate effectively when high fluid pressures are utilized. The central hub is generally attached to a support structure by some mechanism, such as a leg. The addition of the plate adds versatility by increasing the number and variety of legs that can be used to attach the central hub to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Patent number: 7032680Abstract: A central hub includes a plate and a sleeve attached to the plate and adapted to receive a sprinkler head. The sleeve may be a telescoping sleeve. By providing a central hub with the plate and sleeve, the central hub provides increased stability and versatility to the sprinkler head. The plate provides additional stability and support to the sleeve, and thus the sprinkler head, rendering the combination better able to operate effectively when high fluid pressures are utilized. The central hub is generally attached to a support structure by some mechanism, such as a leg. The addition of the plate adds versatility by increasing the number and variety of legs that can be used to attach the central hub to the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Publication number: 20040177976Abstract: A central hub includes a plate and a sleeve attached to the plate and adapted to receive a sprinkler head. The sleeve may be a telescoping sleeve. By providing a central hub with the plate and sleeve, the central hub provides increased stability and versatility to the sprinkler head. The plate provides additional stability and support to the sleeve, and thus the sprinkler head, rendering the combination better able to operate effectively when high fluid pressures are utilized. The central hub is generally attached to a support structure by some mechanism, such as a leg. The addition of the plate adds versatility by increasing the number and variety of legs that can be used to attach the central hub to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Applicant: PNM, Inc. a Massachusetts corporationInventors: Norman J. MacDonald,, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Patent number: 6752218Abstract: A support system for use in fire-protection sprinkler systems and for positioning and supporting a fire-protection sprinkler head in a suspended ceiling including a T-bar grid for supporting panels. The support system includes a hub defining an annular opening configured to receive the fire-protection sprinkler head, which is connected to a flexible conduit. A leg is attached to the hub and has first and second ends attached to the T-bar grid of the suspended ceiling.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Patent number: 6691790Abstract: A fire suppression sprinkler system (10), and method for installing a sprinkler system (10)in new and existing buildings. The system includes a manifold (12) that supplies fire-suppression fluid to a set of wall-mounted sprinkler heads (14) via flexible sprinkler head conduits (16) through an unobstructed path (18). The installation and retrofit methods include determining the location of the sprinkler head (14), installing the manifold (12), making sure that there is an unobstructed path (18) between the manifold (12) and the sprinkler head location, running the conduit (16) through the path (18) by snaking it where necessary through the wall (50) to which the sprinkler head (14) is mounted, connecting the conduit (16) to the manifold (12) and sprinkler head (14), and then mounting the sprinkler head (14).Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald
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Publication number: 20030066658Abstract: A central hub includes a plate and a sleeve attached to the plate and adapted to receive a sprinkler head. The sleeve may be a telescoping sleeve. By providing a central hub with the plate and sleeve, the central hub provides increased stability and versatility to the sprinkler head. The plate provides additional stability and support to the sleeve, and thus the sprinkler head, rendering the combination better able to operate effectively when high fluid pressures are utilized. The central hub is generally attached to a support structure by some mechanism, such as a leg. The addition of the plate adds versatility by increasing the number and variety of legs that can be used to attach the central hub to the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Patent number: 6488097Abstract: A central hub includes a plate and a sleeve attached to the plate and adapted to receive a sprinkler head. The sleeve may be a telescoping sleeve. By providing a central hub with the plate and sleeve, the central hub provides increased stability and versatility to the sprinkler head. The plate provides additional stability and support to the sleeve, and thus the sprinkler head, rendering the combination better able to operate effectively when high fluid pressures are utilized. The central hub is generally attached to a support structure by some mechanism, such as a leg. The addition of the plate adds versatility by increasing the number and variety of legs that can be used to attach the central hub to the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Patent number: 6123154Abstract: A system is provided for maintaining a sprinkler head in a position to allow continued operation during a fire in the event that the support structure for the sprinkler head fails or is otherwise removed. The support system includes a central hub adapted to receive a sprinkler head, a first leg attached to the central hub and having first and second ends. The support system also includes first and second ends having fastening devices adapted to attach the ends to the support structure. The fastening devices are configured to break away from the support structure in the event of support structure failure.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Patent number: 6119784Abstract: A support system for positioning a sprinkler head relative to a support structure in a ceiling, floor, or wall includes a central hub adapted to receive the sprinkler head, a first leg attached to the central hub and having a first end configured to be attached to the support structure, a second leg attached to the central hub and having a second end configured to be attached to the support structure, the second leg being spaced-apart from and substantially parallel to the first leg. The support system combines increased flexibility in installation with increased support for the sprinkler head during operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald, Paul S. F. Silcox
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Patent number: 6076608Abstract: A fire suppression sprinkler system and method for installing a sprinkler system in new and existing buildings. The system includes a manifold that supplies fire-suppression fluid to a set of wall-mounted sprinkler heads via flexible sprinkler head conduits through an unobstructed path. The installation and retrofit methods include determining the location of the sprinkler head, installing the manifold, making sure that there is an unobstructed path between the manifold and the sprinkler head location, running the conduit through the path by snaking it where necessary through the wall to which the sprinkler head is mounted, connecting the conduit to the manifold and sprinkler head, and then mounting the sprinkler head.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1998Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. MacDonald, III, Peter M. MacDonald
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Patent number: 5762096Abstract: A portable cleaning and flushing device for beverage conduits such as draft beer distribution coils includes a manifold, couplings and a number of valves which are controllable so as to sequence the supply of detergent from a reservoir, mixing with water from an external water source and flushing and rinsing of the distribution conduits. The device is wheeled about like a handcart and is coupleable to one or more beverage distribution lines by lead lines in place of normally attached kegs. The device is coupled to a water supply and to an electric power outlet. Detergent and pressurized water are mixed and flushed through the beverage conduit to an open spigot at the dispensing end. A preferably programmable computerized controller sequences the operation of valves for detergent addition to a manifold, venting of the manifold, water supply for obtaining a mixing solution, application of the mixing solution to the conduit, rinsing and finally draining.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventor: Paul J. Mirabile
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Patent number: 5743337Abstract: A relocatable sprinkler assemblage includes a flexible conduit connecting to a source of fire-suppression fluid, a heat-sensitive sprinkler head, a rigid fitting connecting the conduit to the sprinkler head, and a removable cap that, together with the fitting, creates a watertight compartment around the sprinkler head so that the assemblage can be moved while the sprinkler system remains pressurized and operational. The cap includes alerts the user to the condition of the sprinkler head, whether or not the head has been activated during the relocation process. In one embodiment, the cap is transparent, so that the condition can be determined by looking for fluid inside the cap. In another embodiment, the cap has a valve that can be operated manually to determine if there is fluid in the cap. In a third embodiment, the cap has a flexible bag that appears rigid if there is pressurized fluid in it.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventor: Norman J. MacDonald, III
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Patent number: 5649598Abstract: A shroud for use with a sprinkler assembly in a corrosive environment comprising a secondary bag surrounding the sprinkler head to protect it from the corrosive environment for a minimum period of time, a ribbon-shaped corrosion sensor located adjacent to the outer surface of the secondary bag that corrodes apart to electrically trigger an alarm before the ability of the secondary bag to protect the sprinkler head fails, a primary bag surrounding the secondary bag and the sensor to protect them from the corrosive environment for a minimum period of time, a pair of gaskets with an opening for the sprinkler head, the bags extending through the opening of one of the gaskets and annular skirts extending from the edge of the bag openings being sandwiched between the gaskets and held together by a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the bags melting at a temperature that is higher than the normal temperature of the corrosive environment and lower than the temperature at which the sprinkler head activates.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1996Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventor: Norman J. MacDonald, III
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Patent number: 5570745Abstract: A relocatable sprinkler assemblage can be safely relocated while pressurized and operational and does not effect the temperature sensitivity of the sprinkler head.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1995Date of Patent: November 5, 1996Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventor: Norman J. MacDonald, III
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Patent number: 5396959Abstract: A sprinkler system, for cooperation with an array of ceiling tiles, essentially features a mount of tiles including at least one with a central opening, a web disposed above the mount of tiles and including a central hub and legs extending therefrom to the corners of a frame with a dimensional profile like that of the tiles, a number of ceiling wires supporting the frame in spaced relation to a ceiling, a sprinkler head supported within the central hub and extending through the central opening, and apparatus for connecting the sprinkler head to a source of fluid. Preferably, the apparatus includes a rigid stationary water grid and supply and a flexible hose connecting the sprinkler head to the water grid and supply. Preferably, the flexible hose is an annealed stainless steel braid hose having an open pitch.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1993Date of Patent: March 14, 1995Assignee: PNM, Inc.Inventor: Norman Macdonald