DE29806160U1 - Improved pipe connector - Google Patents

Description

PALGEN, SCHUMACHER & KLUfN ^: '··"··'··"""

DÜSSELDORF ESSEN PATENT ATTORNEYS

OUR SIGN: 98 250 K/el Düsseldorf, 25 August 1998

Delta Capillary Products Limited Alexander Street,

Dundee,

DE3 7DT

Great Britain Improved pipe connector

The invention relates to improvements in plug-in connectors for tubular goods.

It is known to make a connection between the ends of two or more sections of pipe or conduits or ducts in a pipe using a connector such that the ends of the pipe are inserted into the ends of a connecting arrangement to automatically effect a seal. Each end usually comprises a bore into which an end portion of the pipe can be inserted, a seal suitable for making the connection watertight, a tightening element to hold the pipe in position and a stopper to prevent the pipe from being inserted too far into the bore. Many embodiments are available, including straight connectors for connecting two sections of a pipe in a straight direction, T-connectors for connecting the ends of three pipes, and

D-40239 DÜSSELDORF MULVANYSTRASSE 2 TELEPHONE 49 / 211 / 96 145 - 0 FAX 49 / 211 / 96 145 - 20

D-45133 ESSEN ■ FRÜHLINGSTRASSE 43 A ■ TELEPHONE 49 / 201 / 84 230 - 0 · FAX 49 / 201 / 84 230 - 20

POSTBANK COLOGNE (bank code 370 100 50) 115 211 - 504

Angle pieces for connecting pipes at essentially right angles.

In a prior art push-in connector, the desired shape of the connector body is machined from a solid block. Typically, the body includes a cylindrical bore with an open end to receive the tube and a step along the length of the bore that narrows the bore to prevent the tube from being pushed too far into the connector body.

To hold the pipe in the prior art connector body, a ring seal and a clamping ring are inserted into the bore and held in position by a union nut screwed onto the end of the connector body. The union nut is usually made of plastic, but can also be made of metal. The union nut has a bore that allows the pipe to pass through, but is small enough to prevent the seal and clamping ring from leaving the bore.

A problem with this connector is that the body and union require significant machining, which results in material loss. Furthermore, very precise work is required to ensure that the union nut interacts with the body, including the creation of a thread for the union nut.
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In a first aspect, the invention provides a plug-in connector for use in connecting one or more pipes, wherein the connector comprises at least a hollow connecting portion adapted to receive a pipe, and wherein the connecting portion is formed by a rolling or other forming

process to form at least one inwardly projecting projection suitable for at least partially defining an opening in the hollow end region through which the tube can be inserted.
5

The plug connector may comprise a main body comprising the at least one connecting portion, the connecting portion comprising a hollow cylindrical body having an internal bore and an open terminal end forming an end face of the bore, a first inwardly directed projection formed at a first point along the bore of the connecting portion spaced from its terminal end and a second inwardly directed projection formed at a second point along the bore between the first point and the end face of the bore, a connecting means disposed in the hollow cylindrical body between the first inwardly projecting projection and the second inwardly projecting projection, the projections being adapted to retain the connecting means in the bore.

The first inwardly projecting projection may comprise a raised projection on the inner surface of the bore, or a step or shoulder at which the diameter of the bore changes. The inwardly projecting projection acts as a counter-bearing for the fasteners and any change in the shape or profile of the bore suitable for this purpose is meant by the term first projection.

The connecting means can be fixed within the end region of the hollow cylinder body between the inwardly projecting or inwardly directed projections.

This eliminates the need for separate union nuts at the ends.

Preferably, the connecting sections are formed by a metallic pipe section and the second projections are formed by rolling or another deformation of the connecting end of the pipe section that occurs radially inwards with respect to the bore. The clear cross-section in the bore is thereby restricted. The pipe section can comprise a standard capillary fitting.

Alternatively, the second inwardly projecting projection may comprise a continuous edge formed by a rolling operation or one or more raised portions above the bore surface formed by impressing the outer surface of the connecting portion with a punch or other means which causes deformation of the connecting portion. The raised portions may be distributed around a circumference of the bore and are preferably provided at the terminal end of the bore.

The first inwardly directed projection may be machined by rolling a groove into the outer surface of the connecting portion, thereby forming an inwardly directed edge upon deformation of the connecting portion. Preferably, the edge extends continuously around the inside of the end portion, but may also be discontinuous. It may comprise one or more raised portions on the inner surface of the bore.

Alternatively, the first inwardly facing projection may be formed by a shoulder which is located at a point

long of the bore between two sections of the bore of different inner diameters.

By non-cutting deformation of the connecting portion to form both the first and second projections, the connector can be manufactured without any machining of the material on a milling or turning machine.

The connecting means can comprise one or at least two different components. Preferably, the connecting means comprises a counter bearing element which is suitable for cooperating with the first projection and with a sealing ring. The sealing ring is preferably suitable for being inserted at least partially between the counter bearing element and the connection end. Preferably, a clamping ring is provided which comprises an annular body which preferably has a plurality of inwardly directed teeth and which is preferably inserted substantially between the sealing ring and the connection end. When a pipe is inserted into the connector end region, it can be held by the teeth while the sealing ring engages the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical bore and the outside of the pipe. The counter bearing element forms an inwardly directed step which prevents the pipe from being pushed past a point at which it rests against the counter bearing element. The elevation prevents the counter bearing element from being pushed further into the connection region, i.e. away from the connection end.

Preferably, a pair of guards or spacers are provided, one spacer on each side of the clamping means, to prevent the sealing ring from being damaged by the teeth.

! 11 I · · <

The spacers may be integral with the clamping element. The spacers have an inner diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the pipe so as to help support the pipe in its end section. The inner diameter of the abutment elements may further be selected so that the abutment elements fit tightly against the pipe so as to prevent the pipe from being displaced radially within the connecting body.

Preferably, the fastener is retained in the bore by the first and second projections, with some axial play of the fastener within the bore.

Preferably, the connector comprises two connecting sections,
which form a straight connector and a first inwardly directed projection may be common to both sections, ie a single elevation may be formed by rolling etc.

Alternatively, the connector body may also form a T-shaped connector with three connecting sections. Of course, many other arrangements of connecting elements can be provided.

The connector body can be made of copper or brass, e.g. British Standard 2872 CZ132 or 2874 CZ132.

Each connecting portion may have a different internal diameter so as to enable the connection of pipes of different diameters. Alternatively, each connecting portion may have substantially the same internal diameter and the connecting means may be of different dimensions so as to

to accommodate different pipe diameters. Alternatively, only one connecting section can be formed in order to be able to connect a single pipe to a measuring device or another device.
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The connecting body can be made of copper or a copper alloy. Of course, the invention is not intended to be limited to this selection of materials, but rather the invention is intended to encompass any other material that is suitable for being deformed in order to form the essential features such as one or more inwardly projecting projections without breaking.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a plug-in connector having at least one connecting portion,
which comprises a bore and is suitable for receiving at least part of a connecting means such that the connecting means is retained in the bore by at least one inwardly projecting projection without a union nut.

In connection with a third aspect, the invention provides a network of pipes or tubes or the like connected by means of one or more connectors according to the first aspect of the invention.

Three embodiments of a connector according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a section through a first connector for connecting two pipes;

Fig. 2 (a) to (d) the different possible

illustrates steps during manufacture and assembly of the plug-in connector shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a plug-in connector for connecting three pipes and

Fig. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a connector.

Fig. 1 shows a connector for connecting the ends of two pipes 100,101.

The connector comprises a main part 1 which is symmetrical about a central line A-A'. A first connecting section 10 is formed on the left side of the line A-A' and a second connecting section 11 on the right side of the line A-A'. Of course, the connector does not have to be symmetrical.

Each connecting portion 10 (11) comprises a hollow cylindrical body formed by the connector body 1. A groove is rolled around the line A-A' in the body 1 to form an inwardly directed projection 2, and the connecting portion 10 (11) has a terminal end 8 (8') which forms an end face. The terminal end 8 (8') is rolled inwardly so that the diameter of the opening of the connecting portion is smaller than that of the hollow body.

Between the elevation 2 and the connection end 8 (8') there are provided a counter bearing element 3 ( ^3f ), a sealing ring 4 (4'), a first spacer 5 (5'), a clamping element 6 (6') and a second spacer 7 (7'). Each part has a substantially annular shape, the outer diameter cooperating with the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder body.

each connecting section 10 (11) has one end of a piece of a pipe 100, 101. Each pipe 100, 101 projects through the aforementioned spacers, clamping elements, sealing rings and parts of the counter-bearing element into the respective connecting section.

When the pipe is inserted into the connection section, it protrudes through the clamping element. This has a plurality of inwardly directed teeth distributed over a circumference with a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the pipe. Therefore, once the pipe is inserted, the teeth are easily deformed away from the connection end. The pipe can be inserted further into the opening, but any attempt to pull the pipe out again will result in the teeth digging into the pipe, preventing withdrawal. The teeth are shaped in such a way that their tips/corners are rounded to prevent abrasions of the pipe or indentation and/or withdrawal of the same.

After passing the clamping element, the pipe passes through the sealing ring, which forms a seal between the outer diameter of the pipe and the inner diameter of the hollow end section. This maintains the tightness of the connection.

Finally, the pipe reaches the counter-bearing means, which comprises a substantially ring-shaped component which has an inner stepped bore, the larger diameter of which faces the connection end and the smaller diameter of which faces away from the connection end and forms a shoulder between them. The bore diameters are selected so that the larger bore supports the pipe end, whereas the shoulder prevents further movement of the pipe through the counter-bearing means. Since the counter-bearing means is provided with the inwardly projecting elevation 2,

interacts, it cannot be pushed further into the end section.

In addition to the above, the inner diameter of the spacers 5,7 (5',7') is preferably chosen only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipe. This helps to provide additional support to the connection.

The process for producing the complete structure shown in Fig.

1 is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2 (a) to 2 (d).

Fig. 2 (a) shows the first step, which shows the connector body 1 before deformation.

In the second step, shown in Fig. 2 (b), the blank is expanded to increase its inner diameter. The new diameter is chosen to be sufficiently larger than the diameter of the tubes to be inserted into the connector so as to provide clearance for the connecting means to be inserted. A boss is formed by rolling a groove into the outside of the blank, which deforms the blank.

In a third step, shown in Fig. 2 (c), a counter bearing component, a sealing ring, a first spacer, a clamping element and a second spacer are inserted in this order into a first end of the hollow connector body. The components correspond to Fig.

2 (d), and the connecting ends of the body are rolled inwards to prevent the clamping element etc. from falling out of the body.

The procedure for inserting the components: counter bearing component, sealing ring, spacer, clamping element and

Spacer is repeated for the other end of the connector body and this other end is deformed inward to retain the components.

It goes without saying that the step of expanding the blank to create the inner bore can be omitted if a larger standard sleeve is used.

Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the connector body is T-shaped so as to receive the ends of three tubes. Each end portion is substantially the same as the ends in the first described embodiment.

A third embodiment is shown in Fig. 4 and differs from the first and second embodiments in several respects. For clarity, similar components are designated by the same reference numerals.

It will be seen first that instead of rolling the end face of the connecting portion inwardly, a circumferential groove 13 is rolled around the outer surface of the connecting portion to form a continuous inwardly directed projection 14. This cooperates with a groove provided in the second spacer 7 to retain the component parts of the connecting means within the bore, leaving some axial play between the inwardly directed projection 14 relative to the groove 12.

Furthermore, instead of a rolled portion forming the first inwardly directed projection, a step is provided in the diameter of the bore, which forms a shoulder 15 which serves as an inwardly directed projection. This serves to form the stop with which the counter bearing element cooperates.

Another difference lies in the combination of the first spacer and the clamping element as a single part, and the provision of a pipe release device which is activated by pushing the second spacer into the bore while engaging the teeth of the clamping means. A part of the second spacer acts on the clamping element in such a way that the teeth are spread radially outwards in order to release the pipe.

It will be understood that the invention lies at least in part in the provision of a connector body which can be formed to eliminate the need for a union nut at the end. The connector is particularly suitable for pipes carrying water or other liquids or any other fluid medium.

Claims (12)

PALGEN, SCHUMACHER & KLUIN '"""' "··" : ' '''''^ DÜSSELDORF ESSEN PATENT ATTORNEYS OUR REGISTRATION: 98 250 K/el Düsseldorf .on 6 April 1998 Delta Capillary Products Limited Alexander Street, Dundee, DE3 7DT Great Britain Protection claims 1. Plug-in connector for connecting one or more pipes (100,101), in which the connector comprises at least one hollow connecting section (10) which is suitable for receiving a pipe (100,101), characterized in that the connecting portion (10) is deformed by a rolling or other deformation process to form at least one inwardly projecting projection (8,13) which is suitable for at least partially reducing an opening leading into the hollow end region (10) through which the tube (100, 101) can be inserted. 2. Plug-in connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug-in connector comprises: - a main body (1) with at least one connecting section
(10) forming a hollow cylindrical body with an inner bore and an open connection end (8); a first inwardly projecting projection (2) which is arranged at a first location along the bore of the D-40239 DÜSSELDORF MULVANYSTRASSE 2 TELEPHONE 49 / 211 / 96 145 - 0 FAX 49/211/96 145 - 20 D45133 ESSEN FRÜIILINGSTRASSE 43 A TELEPHONE 49 / 201 / 84 230 - 0 FAX 49 /201/84 230 - 20 POSTBANK COLOGNE (bank code 370 100 50) 115 211 - 504 connecting section is formed at a distance from its connecting end (8); a second inwardly directed projection (8, 13) formed at a second location along the bore between the first location and the end surface of the bore; a connecting means (4,5,6,7) which is arranged in the hollow cylindrical body (1) between the first inwardly projecting projection (2) and the second inwardly projecting projection (8,13); wherein the projections (2,8,13) are suitable for retaining the connecting means in the bore. 3. Plug-in connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting sections (10) are formed by a metallic tube section and the second projection (8) is formed by inward rolling or other deformation of the connection end (8) of the sleeve. 4. A plug-in connector according to claim 3, wherein the metallic tube portion comprises a standard capillary fitting. 5. Plug-in connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the second inwardly projecting projection comprises a continuous elevation (13) which is formed by a rolling process. 6. A plug connector according to claim 2, wherein the second inwardly projecting projection comprises one or more projecting portions arranged around the circumference of the bore. 7. Plug-in connector according to one of the claims of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first inwardly directed projection (2) is formed by rolling a groove is formed in the outer surface of the connecting portion (10) so as to form an inwardly projecting elevation (2) when the connecting portion (10) is deformed.
5 8. Plug-in connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first inwardly directed projection is formed by a shoulder (15) at a location along the bore between two portions of the bores of different inner diameter. 9. Plug-in connector according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the connecting means (4, 5, 6, 7) comprise a counter-bearing element (3) which is suitable for interacting with the first projection (2), a sealing ring (4) which is suitable for being arranged at least partially between the counter-bearing element and the connection end (8), and a clamping element (6) which has an annular body with a plurality of inwardly directed teeth, which is arranged substantially between the sealing ring (4) and the connection end (8). 10. A plug connector according to claim 8, characterized in that a pair of spacer elements (57) are provided, each spacer element (57) being provided on each side of the clamping element (6) to prevent the sealing ring (4) from being destroyed by the teeth. 11. Plug-in connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting body (1) is made of brass. 12. Plug-in connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector body (1) is made of copper or a copper alloy.