AU2020233676A1 - Fire Booster Cabinet & Method - Google Patents

Abstract

A cabinet (30) for housing a fire booster pipework is disclosed. The cabinet takes the form of two or more rectangular base frames (2) each of which has a predetermined width and a length which is an integral multiple of the predetermined width, and two 5 or more tops (4) each corresponding to, and sized to overlie, a corresponding one of the base frames (2). In addition, there is at least one vertical frame (8) each of which has the predetermined width and is located between a corresponding pair of the base frames (2) and a corresponding pair of tops (4). A multiplicity of wall panels (6), each having the predetermined width, is positioned around the perimeter of the base frames 10 and tops. The wall panels and vertical frame(s) have substantially the same height. A method of assembling such a cabinet is also disclosed 5362F-AU 7 I/A" 0 0 p

Description

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Fire Booster Cabinet & Method

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to fire fighting equipment and, in particular, to a cabinet for housing fire booster pipework.

Background Art Modem buildings of substantial size are provided with fire fighting equipment. This equipment is located within the building and includes sprinkler systems, fire hoses and the like. An array of pipes and valves is connected to this equipment. These arrays of pipes and valves are known as fire sprinkler boosters and/or fire hydrant boosters. These booster arrays connect the firefighting equipment within a building to the water main located outside the building. Typically the area occupied by a booster array of pipes and valves is a rectangular area of approximately 1 metre by several meters.

In many jurisdictions it is recommended, or mandatory, for the booster array to be housed in a cabinet. This is in order to shield the booster array from the elements and also deter malicious manipulation of the valves, vandalism, etc. Each cabinet includes at least one door which is normally able to be locked so as to prevent unauthorised access to the interior of the cabinet.

For many years such cabinets have been fabricated in a factory or workshop and transported by truck to the site of eventual installation. This procedure suffered from various problems including requiring a disproportionately large vehicle to transport a lightweight cabinet, the contents of which consists substantially of air.

This problem was to some extent ameliorated by the arrangement as disclosed in Australian Patent Application No 2013 206 423. The disclosure of this specification is that such a cabinet can be fabricated from a base frame, a roof or top, and a number of wall panels. Such a cabinet is able to be transported to the site in a knocked down condition and assembled on site.

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Genesis of the Invention The Genesis of the present invention is a desire to improve upon the above-mentioned cabinet.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a cabinet for housing a fire booster pipework, said cabinet comprising a plurality of rectangular base frames each of which has a predetermined width and a length which is an integral multiple of said predetermined width, a plurality of tops each corresponding to, and sized to overlie, a corresponding one of said base frames, at least one vertical frame each of which has said predetermined width and is located between a corresponding pair of said base frames and a corresponding pair of said tops, and a multiplicity of wall panels each having said predetermined width and being positioned around the perimeter of said base frames and tops, said wall panels and said vertical frame(s) having substantially the same height.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of erecting the cabinet, said method comprising the steps of: (i) securing a vertical frame to one end of a first horizontally extending one of said base frames, (ii) securing a second horizontally extending one of said base frames to said vertical frame, (iii) attaching at least one of said wall panels to said first base frame and said vertical frame, and (iv) attaching at least one of said wall panels to said second base frame and said vertical frame, to thereby brace said vertical frame.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two partial or sub-cabinets arranged end to end, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a vertical joining frame, the view having three enlarged portions each showing a detail of a corresponding portion of the frame,

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Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of two adjoining tops on to the upper edge of a vertical joining frame, and Fig. 4 is a truncated front elevation showing two base frames and two tops joined to a vertical joining frame.

Detailed Description As seen in Fig. 1, a first sub-cabinet 10 having three wall panels 6 extending along its longer side, is able to be joined to a second sub-cabinet 20 having two wall panels 6 extending along its longer side, by means of a vertical frame 8. This enables the two sub-cabinets to be assembled together so as to form a full cabinet 30 having five wall panels 6 extending along its longer side. As will become apparent, other combinations of sub-cabinets are possible.

Each of the sub-cabinets is essentially as described in the above-mentioned Australian patent specification and consists of a base 2 having feet 3 and a top 4. Each base 2 has a predetermined width which is the same width as the wall panels 6. In addition, each base 2 has a predetermined length which is an integral multiple of the wall panel width. Each top 4 is sized to overlie, and correspond to, its corresponding base 2. Selected ones of the wall panels 6 are provided with handles 7. These provide access doors to the cabinet interior.

As seen in Fig. 2, the vertical frame 8 is provided with a lower edge 11 having a downwardly directed C-shaped profile 13. In addition, the vertical frame 8 is provided with side edges 14 having an inwardly directed U-shaped profile 15. The upper edge 16 has an upwardly directed C-shaped profile 13 and a narrow upwardly directed slot 18 formed in each end of the side edges 14, only one of the two slots 18 being illustrated in Fig. 2.

As seen in Fig. 3, the tops 4 have downwardly directed edges 24 which are able to be abutted and inserted into the narrow slot 18. Apertures 25 are provided in the top edges 24 and the side edges 14 to permit the tops 4 and side edges 14 to be secured by conventional self-tapping fasteners 27 (Fig. 4). A similar arrangement is provided to enable the adjacent bases 2 to be joined to the vertical frame 8 as illustrated in Fig. 4.

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In order to permit the assembly of the full cabinet 30, the left-hand base 2 is positioned over the fire booster pipework (not illustrated) and, if necessary, the feet 3 are adjusted to ensure that the left-hand base 2 is horizontal and level. Then the vertical frame 8 is joined to one end of the left-hand base 2. Then the right-hand base 2 is joined to the vertical frame 8 and again, its feet 3 are adjusted if necessary to level it with the left-hand base 2.

Then a first wall panel 6 is joined to the left-hand base 2 and the vertical frame 8. Next a second wall panel 6 is joined to the right-hand base 2 and the vertical frame 8. These two wall panels 6 brace the vertical frame 8. Thereafter the remaining wall panels 6 can be installed as explained in the above-mentioned Australian patent specification, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into the present specification.

Next the two tops 4 are abutted and joined to the vertical frame 8 and wall panels 6 so as to complete the assembly of the full cabinet 30.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the fire fighting arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the bases 2 and tops 4 can be made of different lengths from those illustrated, so long as the lengths are integral multiples of the width. Thus the sub-cabinet 10 can be the same size as the sub-cabinet 20, for example. In addition, three or four sub-cabinets can be assembled in end to end configuration, if desired.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'.

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Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. A cabinet for housing a fire booster pipework, said cabinet comprising a plurality of rectangular base frames each of which has a predetermined width and a length which is an integral multiple of said predetermined width, a plurality of tops each corresponding to, and sized to overlie, a corresponding one of said base frames, at least one vertical frame each of which has said predetermined width and is located between a corresponding pair of said base frames and a corresponding pair of said tops, and a multiplicity of wall panels each having said predetermined width and being positioned around the perimeter of said base frames and tops, said wall panels and said vertical frame(s) having substantially the same height.
2. 2. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1 and not having a floor, whereby said fire booster pipework extends through said base frames.
3. 3. The cabinet as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each said top has a downwardly directed edge, and said vertical frame(s) has an upwardly facing slot sized to receive a pair of said downwardly directed edges.
4. 4. The cabinet as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein at least one of said wall panels has one or more handles and is releasably detachable from said cabinet so as to provide access to the interior of the cabinet.
5. 5. A method of erecting the cabinet as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: (i) securing a vertical frame to one end of a first horizontally extending one of said base frames, (ii) securing a second horizontally extending one of said base frames to said vertical frame, (iii) attaching at least one of said wall panels to said first base frame and said vertical frame, and (iv) attaching at least one of said wall panels to said second base frame and

   5362F-AU 5 said vertical frame, to thereby brace said vertical frame.
6. 6. The method as claimed in claim 5 including the further steps of: (v) adding further wall panels to fill the perimeter of said joined base frames, and (vi) adding said tops to said wall panels and vertical frame.

   Dated this 16 day of September 2020

   Refire Group Pty Ltd by its Patent Attorneys

   Fraser Old & Sohn

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