GB2496882A

GB2496882A - Pipe connector for connecting two axial pipe ends

Info

Publication number: GB2496882A
Application number: GB1120297.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Ingram
Original assignee: PLUMB PARTNERS GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: PLUMB PARTNERS GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2011-11-24
Filing date: 2011-11-24
Publication date: 2013-05-29
Also published as: GB201120297D0

Abstract

The pipe connector 110 comprises a body 120 for receiving the two axial pipe ends 15, 16 and sealing means 150 locatable directly on the axial end walls 32, 33 of the two pipes for preventing any fluid carried by the pipes in use to contact the axial ends thereof, causing corrosion; the connector provides substantially no bore restriction in use, the body and seals do not extend substantially within the bore of the pipes. The seals 32, 33 can be applied initially in the connector body or to the pipe ends 15, 16, e.g. in the form of a liquid, a powder, micro-capsules, rings, glue or paste. The pipe ends 15, 16 are multi-layered, e.g. of plastics and metal, and are used for heating or cooling systems or the transmission of potable water.

Description

A pipe connector The present invention relates generally to a pipe connector and a method of connecting two axial pipe ends, and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in connecting pipes, such as those found in plumbing, heating and cooling infrastrocture typically used hr buildings that are located anywhere in a structure, such as floors, ceilings, walls, etc. \xrater systems use pipes that typically comprise Plaslics or rubbers, although metal pipes, such as copper are known. If plastics pipes are used they are often multi-layered in that they contain a composite of materials radially arranged for example to provide a full or partial oxygen barrier or strength. For instance, Alupex (RTM) provide pipes which include a relatively thin layer of aluminium surrounded by plastics such as polyethylene.

The metal layer provides strength to the pipes, reduces expansion clue to temperature changes, and helps them retain their shape when curved for fitting purposes. More importantly it can act as an oxygen barrier to prevent oxygen penetrating the bore of the pipes from the surrounding environment. Air present in the fluid used in heating and cooling systems, or water in potable systenrs, is undesirable as it promotes corrosion of apparatus, such as pumps and pipes, and reduces the system's efficiency and life.

However, when the axial ends of pipes are connected together the aluminium layer, or other cotnposite materials are exposed to the fluid present in the bore of the pipes. This tluid may contain rust inhibitors and other chemicals to improve, or prevent the reduction of, the efficiency of the system and these chemicals promote corrosion of the layers in the pipe. The exposure of the axial ends is further exacerbated if the pipes have been cut such that it is a previously unexposed axial end that is to he connected as opposed to a factory supplied axial end which may already he sealed.

(I)nc known connector overcomes this problem by providing "0" rings either internally to tire bore, externally to the bore, or both. Figure 1 is a cross-section through a known connector.

In Figure 1 the connector is generally referenced 10. It resembles an "H" shape in cross-section, having air annular socket 50,51 at each end. Two "0" rings 55, 56, 57, 52 are provided in each socket. Two pipe 15, 16 are connected together using the connector 10. A cross-section of the pipe 15 on the right depicts the walls of the pipe 30A, 3013. The end of each va11 30A, 30B is referenced 32. The end 32 of the pipe 15 is pushed into a receiving socket in the connector 1(1 such that one "0" ring 55 seals against the outside surface of the pipe 15, and the other "0" ring 56 seals against the inside surface (defining the bore) of the pipe 15.

A cross-section of the pipe 16 on the left depicts the walls of the pipe 34A, 3413.

The end of each wall 34A, 3413 is referenced 33. The end 33 of the pipe 16 is pushed into a receiving socket in the connector 10 such that one "0" ring 57 seals against the outside surface of the pipe 16, and the other "0" ring 58 seals against the inside surface deflning the bore) of the pipe 16.

In tins way none of the fluid flowing inside the bore 40 of the pipes in use can reach the ends 32,33 of the pipes iS, 16.

However, it is clearly seen that the connector 10, by its arrangement, restricts the bore 40 of the pipes 15, 16 at the point of connection due to the inside surface 60 of the connector 10 being located radially inside the hore 40 of the pipes 15, 16 and projecting radially inwardly of the inner surface of the pipes 15, 16.

These connectors reduce the bore of the pipe, thus reducing flow rate and efficiency, and often having the effect that larger punips and other apparatus are required to address these losses. As an example, with some pipes that have a hare of l4nnn, the connectors can reduce the cross-sectional area by at least t4%.

Moreover, these known connectors are relatively expensive as they are relatively difficult to assemble with the "0" rings in place. Another problem is that the "0" rings could be missing from the connector unbeknown to the installer, thus promoting leaks in the system.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have a connector that reliably seals the axial ends of the pipes, which is relatively simple to produce and which substantially does not reduce the bore of the pipes being connected.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a pipe connector, for connecting two axial pipe ends, comprising a body for receiving the two axial ends and sealing means locatable directly on the axial ends of the two pipes for preventing any fluid carried by the pipes in use to contact the axial ends thereof, and providing substantially no bore restriction in usc.

The body may provide substantially no bore restriction in use. The term substantially is taken here to mean approximately zero °/o. However, it may he in the range from 0% to IOP/o, or 0% to 5%, or less than 14°/b. The bore restriction is calculated by dividing the difference henveen the cross-sectional areas of the bore of the pipe without and with the connector, by the cross-sectional area of the bore of the pipe without the connector.

The sealing means may only act on the axial ends of the pipe walls.

The sealing means may he a sealant of mechanical and/or chemical form.

In tins way, there is no requirement for an "0" ring located on the inside of the bore and thus no "0" ring retaining structure restricting the bore of the pipes. This may avoid pressure and/or volume-flow rate losses.

The connector may be a heating or cooling pipe connector. The connector may be a potable water pipe connector. The pipe connector may he a multi-layered pipe connector. The multi-layered pipe may include plastics, such as polyethylene.

The multi-layered pipe may include a metal layer. For instance, aluminium may he included.

The sealing means may comprise one or more of a liquid, a powder, a plurality of mIcro-capsules, a glue, alt anrtulus and a paste, applicable to the axial ends of die pipe.

The sealing means may be initially inactive and be capable of being activated.

The sealing means may he capable of being activated by exposure to one or more of air, heat, light, a fluid, a catalyst, a reactant and pressure. For instance, LV light may be used to activate the sealing means. Alternatively, or additionally, pressure exerted on the pipe ends as they are pushed into the connector may hreak micro-capsules and/or otherwise activate the sealing means.

with regard to the annul us, this may he pushed over the ends of each pipe. The annulus with or without other sealing means may thus seal the ends of the pipe walls.

The pipe end/annul us combination may then he inserted into the connector hody.

The sealing means may be arranged with the connector hody such that the act of inserting the two axial ends into the hody applies the sealing means to the two axial ends. For instance, the sealing means may be provided or pre-arranged within the connector body and/or annuli such that as the pipe ends re pushed in they contact j with the sealing means. Alternatively, the sealing means may he applied to the pipe ends before insertion into the connector and/or annuli.

Another possibility is that of a two-part sealing means, wherein one part is applied to the pipe ends and the other is provided or pie-arranged in the connector and/or annuli. On contact of the two parts the sealing means may become active.

The annulus may have an axially extending wall for close-fitting, in use, with either or both the radially inner and outer walls of the pipe ends.

The connector may include pipe retention means for retaining the two axial ends in the body. The pipe retention means may include a pipe retainer.

The pipe retention means may include one or more of compression, glue and screw threads for retaining the two axial ends in the body. For instance, glue may he provided between the body of the connector and the outside surface of the pipe ends.

Aliernatively, or additionally, standard compression screw fittings such as threads provided on the outside surface of the body of the connector may he used together with 1 5 a nut for clamping the body onto the pipe ends. Other means are anticipated.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of connecting two axial pipe ends, comprising the steps of providing the two axial ends, providing a connector according to the first aspect, and/or as described and claimed herein, applying the sealing means to the two axial ends and inserting the two axial ends into the body.

In tins regard, the steps of applying the sealing means to the two axial ends and of inserting the two axial ends into the body may be reversed. This may he the situation when the sealing means are already provided in the connector body and/or annuli.

The method may further comprise the step of activating the sealing means. This may he by the application of one or more of heat, pressure, light etc. The method may further comprise the step of applying the retention means to retain the two axial ends in the body of the connector.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted hcow refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is cross-sectional view of a known prior art connector; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is cross-section through a pipe including an annuLs; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the annulus of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of the annuLs of Figures 3 and 4; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of other embodiments of the invention.

The present invention will be described with respect to paiticular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may he exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It 1 5 is to he understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention tiescrihed herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positioims. It is to he understood that the tel-ms so used are interchangeable untler appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to he noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not he interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to he interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, hut does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the copc of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an cmhodirnent" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment but may refer to different embodiments.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should he appreciated that in the descripthm of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, ho\vever, is not to he interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects he in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, \vhile some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to he within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can he used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may he practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this descnption.

The invention will now be described by a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention. It is clear that other embodiments of the invention can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit or technical teaching of die invention, the invention being hnnted only by the terms of the appended claims.

Figure 1 has already been described above.

In Figure 2, one embodiment of the invention is shown being a connector 110 having a body 121 in the form of a substantially cylindrical member open at either axial end (having an annular socket at each end). The tigure shows die connector 110 in conjunction with two pipe ends 15, 16 having been pushed in, one at either open axial end of the body 120. The connector resembles an "H" shape in cross-section. The two pipe 15, 16 are connected together using this connector 110.

A cross-section of the pipe 16 on the left depicts the walls of the pipe 34A, 3411.

The end of each wall 34A, 34B is referenced 33. The end 33 of the pipe 16 has been pushed into the receiving socket in the connector 110.

A sealing material 150 has been placed either on the end 33 of the pipe wall 34A prior to its insertion into the socket, or has been placed into the socket in readiness for receiving the pipe 16. The sealing material 150 seals the end 33 of the pipe 16 such that any fluid flowing in the bore 40 of the pipes/connector cannot contact with it.

This is repeated on the right hand side of the connector 110 in that a pipe 15 having walls 30A, 3011 and an end 32 has been pushed into its receiving socket.

A scaling material 150 has been placed either on the end 32 of the pipe wall 30A prior to its insertion into die socket, or has been pl:ed into the socket iii readiness for receiving the pipe 15. The sealing material 150 seals the end 32 of the pipe 15 such that any fluid flowing in the bore 40 of the pipes/connector cannot contact with it.

Since there are no "C)" rings there is no requirement for the connector to project into the bore 40 and restrict its flow.

Although not shown, a glue may he used on the exterior surface of the pipe ends 34-A, 30A such that the connector 110 remains in place thereon.

A different embodiment is shown in Figure 3 in that the pipe having ends 32 tnay be fitted into an annulus 24-6 in the form of a trough. The annulus 246 is better shown in Figures 4 and S wherein the bore 40 is visible. The annulus has a trough having two walls which project both radially inside and outside the pipe wall. The pipe ends 32 are pushed into this annulus/trough. The annulus may he sealed to the pipe ends 32 in many cliff erent \vays such as glue. The annulus 246 in Figure 3 is shown exaggerated in size for the sake of clarity. In reality the annulus 246 may be sized to fit snugly/tightly onto the end of the pipe so as to minimise any restriction of the bore 40.

The annulus may he shrunk onto the pipe ends.

An exainpie of how the annulus 246 may appear is shown on the left of Figure 6 in association with a connector 210 having a body 220. It will be noted that the body 220 does not extend inside the bore of the pipes.

On the right of this Figure an ahernarive embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the annulus 346 has only a radially outer wall and no radially inner wall such that in cross-section it resembles an "L" shape as opposed to the "[2" shape on the left. The annulus 346 may he sealed to the end 32 of the pipe 30A by any of the means described herein, such as a glue, a liquid, a powder, a plurality of micro-capsules, and a paste, apphcable to the axial ends of the pipe or to the annulus 346. It will be noted that in this example neither the body 220 nor the annulus 346 extends inside the bore of the pipes.

Although shown with the wall contacting with the radially outer surface of the pipe end 32 the wall could he on the radially inner surface only.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims I. A pipe connector, for connecting two axial pipe ends, comprising a body for receiving the two axial ends and seahng means locatable directly on the axial ends of the two pipes for preventtng an fluid carried by the pipes in use to contact the axial ends thereof and providing substantially no bore restriction in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the body does not extend inside the bore of the pipes.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The connector of either one of claims 1 and 2, being a heating or cooling pipe connector.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The connector of either one of claims I and 2, being a potable water pipe connector.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the pipe connector is a multi-layered pipe connector.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the multi-layered pipe includes plastics.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The connector of either one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the multi-layered pipe includes a metal layer.</claim-text> <claim-text>K The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means comprises one or more of a liquid, a powder, a plurality of micro-capsules, a glue, an annul us and a paste, applicable to the axial ends of the pipe.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means is initially inactive and is capable of being activated.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the sealing means is capable of being activated by exposure to one or more of air, heat, light and pressure.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The connector of any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means is arranged with the connector body such that the act of inserting the two axial ends into the body applies the sealing means to the two axial ends.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The connector of claim 8, or any one of claims 9 to 11 when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 7, wherein the annul us has an axially extending wall for cli)se-fitting, in use, with either or both the radially inner and outer walls of the pipe ends.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The connector of any preceding claim, including pipe retention means for retaining the two axial ends in the body.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the pipe retention means includes one or mote of compression, glue and screw threads for retaining the two axial ends in the body.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A method of connecting two axial ends of heating or cooling pipes, comprising the steps of providing the two axial ends, providing a connector according to any one of claims t to 12, applying the sealing means to the two axial ends and inserting the two axial ends into the body.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of activating the sealing means.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. The method of either one of claims 15 and 16, when dependent directly or indirectly on claims 13 and 14, further comprising the step of applying the retention means to retain the two axial ends in the hotly of the connector.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A heating or cooling pipe connector substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 0</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A method of connecthig two axial ends of heating or cooling pipes substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to die accompanying drawings.</claim-text>