GB2192925A - Mould plastics vessel with integral stub of plural diameters for pipe fittings to be attached thereto - Google Patents

Abstract

A moulded plastics vessel having a sidewall 10 is provided with an integrally moulded tubular member 14 communicating with the interior thereof. The member 14 comprises a plurality of portions 28, 30 of decreasing diameter and is adapted for the attachment of a fitting 20 by means of a compression type coupling 16, 18. The member 14 may be cut at any of the portions 28, 30 to allow different sizes of fittings 20 to be coupled thereto, and is preferably located in a recess formed in the wall 10. The integral moulding of the member 14 and the use of a compression type coupling 16, 18 avoids problems of sealing joints and transfer of tightening torques. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plastic vessel The present invention relates to improvements in moulded plastic vessels and particularly to facilitating the making of a pipe joint to a vessel such as a storage tank or the like.

A disadvantage associated with known moulded plastic vessels is that numerous problems arise when fittings such as valves or the like are connected thereto.

Such problems include lack of seal integrity arising arising from the contamination of coupling components, difficulty in inspecting the quality of the joint, transfer of the coupling tightening torque to the tank wall, the need for the use of sealing compounds or tape and the need for skilled labour. Furthermore, whilst it is relatively easy to reduce the diameter of an outlet, (say) to a required size, and increase will result in reduced flow efficiency.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a vessel of moulded plastics material including connecting means for the connection of fittings, such as valves or the like, thereto, said connecting means comprising a generally tubular member projecting from a wall of the vessel and communicating with the interior thereof, and adapted to receive a compression type coupling, said member being moulded integrally with said vessel.

Preferably also, said member comprises a series of tubular portions, the first of said series being adjacent the wall of the vessel and each succeeding portion having a diameter less than that of the preceding portion.

Preferably also, said member is located in a recess formed in the wall of said vessel.

Preferably also, said member is provided with an internal sleeve of a material which is stiffer than the material of the member.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a sectional view of a portion of a vessel embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, a moulded plastics vessel, such as a storage tank or the like, includes a sidewall 10 having an aperture 12 therein for use as an inlet or outlet, instrumentation or sampling point or the like. A tubular member 14 is moulded integrally with the wall 10 and communicates with the interior of the vessel via the aperture 12. The member 14 is generally cylindrical and is adapted to receive a compression type coupling, comprising a nut 16 and sealing ring 18, whereby the vessel may be connected to an external fitting such as gate valve 20 or the like.

The nut 16 co-operates with an externally threaded portion 22 of the valve 20 and the sealing ring 18 is located in an annular chamber formed therebetween so as to seal against the surface of the tubular member 14 and the body of the valve 20 when the nut 22 is tightened. The ring 18 may be of Dsection as shown, or any other suitable section. The tubular member 14 is preferably provided with an internal sleeve 24, which may be provided with external annular flange 26, to support the member 14 when the coupling is tightened. Accordingly, the sleeve is preferably of copper or brass, or any other material stiffer than that of the member 14.

In order that a variety of different sized couplings may be attached to the vessel, the member 14 is preferably formed as a series of tubular portions such as 28 and 30. The first portion 28 is adjacent the wall 10 and each succeeding portidn, such as 30, has a diameter less than that of its preceding portion. Thus, a variety of sizes of coupling may be connected to the member 14 by simply cutting it at the appropriate point.

It is also particularly preferred that the portion of the wall 10 from which the tubular member 14 projects be recessed, as shown in the drawing, such that the member 14 need not extend beyond the periphery of the main body of the vessel.

The member 14 may be formed at any point on the vessel according to the particular application.

A vessel according to the present invention may be directly connected to any of a wide range of fittings of varying sizes without loss of flow efficiency and protects the metal/plastic interface against tightening torques. The need for skilled labour is also obviated.

1. A vessel of moulded plastics materials including connecting means for the connection of fittings thereto, said connecting means comprising a generally tubular member projecting from a wall of the vessel and communicating with the interior thereof, and adapted to receive a compression type coupling, wherein said member is moulded integrally with said vessel.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a series of tubular portions, the first of said series extending from the wall of said vessel, and each succeeding portion extending from the outer end of, and having a diameter less than the preceding portion.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular portions are substantially co-axial.

4. A vessel as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said member is located in a recess formed in the wall of said vessel.

5. A vessel as claimed in claim 4 wherein said member located in said recess does not extend beyond the surrounding wall of said

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Plastic vessel The present invention relates to improvements in moulded plastic vessels and particularly to facilitating the making of a pipe joint to a vessel such as a storage tank or the like. A disadvantage associated with known moulded plastic vessels is that numerous problems arise when fittings such as valves or the like are connected thereto. Such problems include lack of seal integrity arising arising from the contamination of coupling components, difficulty in inspecting the quality of the joint, transfer of the coupling tightening torque to the tank wall, the need for the use of sealing compounds or tape and the need for skilled labour. Furthermore, whilst it is relatively easy to reduce the diameter of an outlet, (say) to a required size, and increase will result in reduced flow efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages. Accordingly, the present invention provides a vessel of moulded plastics material including connecting means for the connection of fittings, such as valves or the like, thereto, said connecting means comprising a generally tubular member projecting from a wall of the vessel and communicating with the interior thereof, and adapted to receive a compression type coupling, said member being moulded integrally with said vessel. Preferably also, said member comprises a series of tubular portions, the first of said series being adjacent the wall of the vessel and each succeeding portion having a diameter less than that of the preceding portion. Preferably also, said member is located in a recess formed in the wall of said vessel. Preferably also, said member is provided with an internal sleeve of a material which is stiffer than the material of the member. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a sectional view of a portion of a vessel embodying the invention. Referring now to the drawing, a moulded plastics vessel, such as a storage tank or the like, includes a sidewall 10 having an aperture 12 therein for use as an inlet or outlet, instrumentation or sampling point or the like. A tubular member 14 is moulded integrally with the wall 10 and communicates with the interior of the vessel via the aperture 12. The member 14 is generally cylindrical and is adapted to receive a compression type coupling, comprising a nut 16 and sealing ring 18, whereby the vessel may be connected to an external fitting such as gate valve 20 or the like. The nut 16 co-operates with an externally threaded portion 22 of the valve 20 and the sealing ring 18 is located in an annular chamber formed therebetween so as to seal against the surface of the tubular member 14 and the body of the valve 20 when the nut 22 is tightened. The ring 18 may be of Dsection as shown, or any other suitable section. The tubular member 14 is preferably provided with an internal sleeve 24, which may be provided with external annular flange 26, to support the member 14 when the coupling is tightened. Accordingly, the sleeve is preferably of copper or brass, or any other material stiffer than that of the member 14. In order that a variety of different sized couplings may be attached to the vessel, the member 14 is preferably formed as a series of tubular portions such as 28 and 30. The first portion 28 is adjacent the wall 10 and each succeeding portidn, such as 30, has a diameter less than that of its preceding portion. Thus, a variety of sizes of coupling may be connected to the member 14 by simply cutting it at the appropriate point. It is also particularly preferred that the portion of the wall 10 from which the tubular member 14 projects be recessed, as shown in the drawing, such that the member 14 need not extend beyond the periphery of the main body of the vessel. The member 14 may be formed at any point on the vessel according to the particular application. A vessel according to the present invention may be directly connected to any of a wide range of fittings of varying sizes without loss of flow efficiency and protects the metal/plastic interface against tightening torques. The need for skilled labour is also obviated. CLAIMS

1. A vessel of moulded plastics materials including connecting means for the connection of fittings thereto, said connecting means comprising a generally tubular member projecting from a wall of the vessel and communicating with the interior thereof, and adapted to receive a compression type coupling, wherein said member is moulded integrally with said vessel.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a series of tubular portions, the first of said series extending from the wall of said vessel, and each succeeding portion extending from the outer end of, and having a diameter less than the preceding portion.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular portions are substantially co-axial.

4. A vessel as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said member is located in a recess formed in the wall of said vessel.

5. A vessel as claimed in claim 4 wherein said member located in said recess does not extend beyond the surrounding wall of said vessel.

6. A vessel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said member is provided with an internal sleeve of material having a stiffness greater than that of the material of the member.

7. A vessel as claimed in claim 6 wherein said internal sleeve is provided with an annular flange at one end thereof.

8. A vessel of moulded plastics material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.