Norman W Macdonald

US Patent:

20030066658, Apr 10, 2003

Filed:

Nov 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/294886

Inventors:

Norman MacDonald - Lunenburg MA, US
Peter MacDonald - Boxboro MA, US
Paul Silcox - Pembroke MA, US

Assignee:

PNM, Inc.

International Classification:

A62C037/08

US Classification:

169/037000, 169/041000, 169/016000

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20070039743, Feb 22, 2007

Filed:

Feb 9, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/352449

Inventors:

Norman MacDonald - Lunenburg MA, US
Peter MacDonald - Boxborough MA, US
Paul Silcox - Pembroke MA, US

International Classification:

A62C 37/08

US Classification:

169037000, 169038000

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20080066932, Mar 20, 2008

Filed:

Sep 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/862852

Inventors:

Norman MacDonald - Lunenburg MA, US
Peter MacDonald - Sherborn MA, US
Paul Silcox - Plainville MA, US

Assignee:

Flexhead Industries, Inc. - Holliston MA

International Classification:

A62C 35/00

US Classification:

169016000

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

53969596, Mar 14, 1995

Filed:

Sep 20, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/123110

Inventors:

Norman Macdonald - Boxboro MA

Assignee:

PNM, Inc. - Boxborough MA

International Classification:

A62C 3568

US Classification:

169 51

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

57433372, Apr 28, 1998

Filed:

Nov 4, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/743498

Inventors:

Norman J. MacDonald - Lunenburg MA

Assignee:

PNM, Inc. - Boxboro MA

International Classification:

A62C 3750

US Classification:

169 16

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

6119784, Sep 19, 2000

Filed:

Jan 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/228083

Inventors:

Norman J. MacDonald - Lunenburg MA
Peter M. MacDonald - Boxboro MA
Paul S. F. Silcox - Pembroke MA

Assignee:

PNM, Inc. - Acton MA

International Classification:

A62C 200
A62C 3708

US Classification:

169 43

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

56495986, Jul 22, 1997

Filed:

Jun 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/670183

Inventors:

Norman J. MacDonald - Lunenburg MA

Assignee:

PNM, Inc. - Boxboro MA

International Classification:

A62C 3568

US Classification:

169 54

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

55707459, Nov 5, 1996

Filed:

May 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/455026

Inventors:

Norman J. MacDonald - Lunenburg MA

Assignee:

PNM, Inc. - Boxborough MA

International Classification:

A62C 3750

US Classification:

169 16

Abstract:

A relocatable sprinkler assemblage can be safely relocated while pressurized and operational and does not effect the temperature sensitivity of the sprinkler head. The assemblage includes: (a) a rigid fitting communicating with a flexible sprinkler conduit, the fitting having a conduit end and a head end; (b) the fitting having an unthreaded outer surface adjacent to the conduit end and a threaded outer surface adjacent to the head end; (c) the fitting having an interior surface concentric about the axis of the fitting, the diameter of the inner surface at the head being less than the diameter of the interior surface at the conduit end; (d) a sprinkler head having an externally threaded cylindrical pipe and a thermally sensitive plug, the externally threaded cylindrical pipe being turned into the interior threaded surface of the fitting; (f) a rigid cup with an internal thread at the mouth adapted to be turned onto the head end threaded outer surface, the attachment being substantially watertight; (g) the cup being a transparent polymer for determining the activation condition of the sprinkler head; and (h) the fitting having a threaded outer surface that fits into a hole in a ceiling and is clamped to the ceiling by a threaded nut turned onto the threaded outer surface.