AU2003248476A1

AU2003248476A1 - Coupling

Info

Publication number: AU2003248476A1
Application number: AU2003248476A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Neil Cunningham
Original assignee: Aluminium Extrusion and Distribution Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Aluminium Extrusion and Distribution Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-01
Filing date: 2003-10-01
Publication date: 2004-04-22

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): CRANE ENFIELD METALS PTY LTD A.C.N. 008 408 151 Invention Title:

COUPLING

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2

COUPLING

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a coupling and relates particularly but not exclusively to a coupling for coupling two elements together. The elements are preferably, but not essentially, piping which may be used as handrails or knee rails in walkways.

Statement of the Invention Hitherto, handrails or knee rails in walkways have required, where the walkways change direction or traverse stairs, that the rails themselves, usually being of pipe, be bent, and this bending has occurred either off-site or under extremely difficult conditions on-site.

The bending to accurate tolerances requires that the measurements for the walkway be determined accurately so that the point of bending can be determined accurately.

In an attempt to overcome that problem, couplings have been used. The couplings are generally quite ugly in appearance and usually have the heads of nuts and bolts that hold the coupling together exposed in a raised condition. Not only is this ugly, but it provides protrusions from the coupling which can be dangerous if they catch with a person's clothes or body extremities.

Further, persons normally have to release their hand from the hand rail as they pass these couplings for fear of damage to the hand by the exposed heads of the nuts and the bolts, and this is inconvenient and may be dangerous in some situations.

In general, there is a need for a different coupling.

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention there may be provided a coupling for coupling two elements together, each element having an \\melb-file\hoe$\Priyankca\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP'.doc 1/10/03 3 axis which is intended to be at a desired angle with respect to the axis of the other element, said desired angle being within a limited range, said coupling having a first part and a second part, each part having connecting means for permitting a respective element to be connected thereto, each part also having a circular planar face which is mateable with the respective circular planar face of the other part, each respective circular planar face being inclined at an angle of less than 900 with respect to the respective axis, the coupling having fastening means for applying fastening clamping pressure between the two circular faces, said fastening means serving, in use, to hold the first part and the second part in a chosen angular orientation with respect to each other, so that axes of the two elements can be coupled at the desired angle.

Most preferably the fastening means clamps the circular planar faces in circular aligned relationship to each other.

Preferably the fastening means is a screw member that passes from one part into a screw recess carried by other part.

Preferably, each circular planar face is provided on a respective hemispherical body of a respective first part or second part.

Preferably, each hemispherical body is a hollow hemispherical body and the respective circular planar faces are provided on the exposed edge of the perimeter of the hemisphere.

Preferably the fastening means has said one part with an internally threaded bore to receive a screw threaded bolt that passes through an opening in said second part.

Preferably the head on the bolt is receivable within a recess in the surface of the hemispherical body, whereby the head of the bolt will not extend outwardly past the outer surface of the hemispherical body when the \\melbfiles\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.dOC 1/10/03 4 bolt is acting to apply the fastening clamping pressure.

Preferably the screw threaded bore and the opening have their central axes at a position on the respective first part and second part that coincides with an axis that extends midway from a diameter of the exposed edge of the perimeter, and perpendicular to the diameter to the surface of the hemisphere.

Preferably, the angle of inclination is approximately 400.

Preferably, the connecting means on each first part and second part is a respective arm.

Preferably, each arm is hollow.

Preferably, each arm is of circular transverse cross section and sized in diameter to fit within a hollow pipe that is to be coupled, whereby the coupling can couple two such pipes at a desired angle.

Preferably, the hemispherical body is sized for good aesthetics with a particular sized diameter pipe and, that for a larger size pipe to be coupled, there is provided a sleeve to increase the diameter of each arm and wherein the outside diameter of the sleeve equates approximately with the inside diameter of the larger size pipe, and the inner diameter equates approximately to the outside diameter of the arm.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained an example of a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded, part perspective view showing the coupling connecting with handrail pipes, Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional side view of a first part of the coupling, Figure 3 is a side view similar to that of Figure 2, \\melb-files\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03 5 Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional side view of a second part of the coupling, Figure 5 is a side view of the second part of the coupling, Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the first part of the coupling, Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the first part of the coupling, Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the second part of the coupling, Figure 9 is a rear elevational view of the second part of the coupling, Figure 10 is a transverse cross sectional view of the first and second parts of the coupling showing how they can locate with each other, in one angular orientation, Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure showing the first part and second part coupled in a different angle of orientation, Figure 12 is a perspective view of the first part and second part interconnected together and having an inline coupling connection for pipe, Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 12, but showing a different angular orientation of the first part and the second part, permitting pipe to be coupled at a different angle to that shown in Figure 12.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to all the figures of the drawings, it can be seen that the coupling has a first part 1 and second part 3. The parts may be made from diecast aluminium or other suitable materials. Whilst metal is preferred it is not essential. Plastics material could be used if required. The coupling is typically for connecting two elements together. In the present case the elements comprise tubular handrail or knee rail elements \\melb_files\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03 6 and 7 for a walkway. Each of the elements 5 and 7 therefore has a central axis 9 and 11 respectively, and the elements 5 and 7 may be interconnected with the coupling at a desired angle which is intended for the particular structural building in which the handrail or knee rail is to be used. This might conveniently be where the handrail or knee rail changes horizontal direction or vertical direction, and may even include the handrail extending horizontally and then down an inclined set of stairs. All such possibilities, including other possibilities, are to be considered as being embraced. In Figure 1 the desired angle is 180' so both elements will have their respective axis 9 and 11 in-line. Figures 11 and 13 show other possible angles. It is to be noted that the desired angle is within a limited possible range. For example, the coupling is unable to provide for a 3600 angle of coupling of the axes 9 and 11 of the respective elements 5 and 7.

Each of the first part 1 and second part 3 have connecting means 13 and 15 respectively for permitting the respective elements 5 and 7 to be connected to the coupling. Each part 1 and 3 also has a circular planar face 17 and 19 respectively, and these are mateable with each other. By observing figures 2, 3 4 and 5 it can be clearly discerned that the circular planar faces 17 and 19 have a plane that is inclined at an angle of less than 900 with respect to the respective axis 9 or 11. Typically, the angle of inclination is approximately 400 with respect to the axes 9 and 11, as shown in the drawings. This is clearly shown by the angle 0 in each of figures 2, 3, 4 and The axes 9 and 11 are also in-line with the central axis of the connecting means.

It should be noted that each of the circular faces 17 and 19 is provided on a respective hollow hemispherical body 21 and 23 of the first part 1 and the second part 3. The coupling has fastening means 25 which comprise a threaded bolt 27 and a corresponding threaded \\melbfiles\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03 7 bore 29. The thread bore 29 is provided in the second part 3 in an internal boss 31 provided in the second part 3. The bolt 27 passes through an opening 33 in the first part 1. The opening 33 is provided within a boss 35 on the inside surface of the hemispherical body 21. The axis of the bolt 27 is therefore arranged to be axially in-line with the bore 29 when the first part 1 and second part 3 are coupled together. The opening 33 is recessed from the external surface of the hemispherical body 21 so that when the bolt 27 is holding the first part 1 and second part 3 in an assembled clamped together arrangement, the head of the bolt 27 will be below the external surface of the hemispherical body 21.

It can be seen that the central axes of the screw threaded bore 29 and the opening 33 are at positions on the respective first part 1 and second part 3 that coincide with an axis 37 (see Figure 1) that extends midway from a diameter of each of the exposed edge of the perimeter of the hemispherical bodies 21 and 23 and perpendicular to the diameter of the surface of the hemispheres.

The first part has an upstanding lip 39 that extends forwardly of the circular planar face 17 on the first part 1. The lip 39 is adapted, in use, to fit within the hollow interior of the second part 3 around the inside wall surfaces of the circular planar face of the second part 3. In this arrangement, the upstanding lip 39 acts like a bearing support which centrally locates the first part and second part when the faces 17 and 19 are in engagement.

The coupling shown is sized for co-operation with 38mm diameter pipe for use as part of a knee rail of a walkway. The external diameter of the connecting means 13 and 15 is therefore typically of a size to neatly fit within the internal hollow opening of the pipe. Typically this dimension can be approximately 33mm. In this case, the radius of the hemispherical bodies can be 30mm i.e.

\\melb-files\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03 8 the hemispheres have a diameter of 60mm. With such a sized coupling, there can be good smooth transition of the surfaces of the pipe from one angle to another angle across the connector. The diameter of the hemispherical body parts is such that 38mm diameter pipe neatly abuts therewith and provides for relatively smooth transition across the desired angle at which the pipes are interconnected.

In order to avoid duplicating the coupling parts to a larger size, to take a larger size diameter pipe such as a 50mm diameter for used as a handrail, a coupling sleeve 41 (see Figure 1) may be utilised. The coupling sleeve 41 has a forward rib 43 which buts against the end of the connecting means 13 and/or 15 against a circular face 45 and 47 respectively on the first part 1 and second part 3. Typically, for the 38mm diameter pipe, the circular face 45 abuts squarely with the end of the pipe and conceals the thickness of the material of the pipe and provides for a smooth transition onto the hemispherical bodies 21, 23. The rib 43 also locates against the respective faces 45, 47, but provides a further circular face 49 on the rib 43 that serves a similar purpose on the diameter pipe. Thus, the rib 43 provides for a relatively smooth transition from the external diameter of a 50mm diameter pipe to the hemispherical bodies 21, 23.

The provision of the coupling sleeve 41 therefore serves two purposes.

1. To avoid the need for making coupling parts of a larger size to accommodate 50mm diameter pipe or other size pipe and to provide, 2. To provide a coupling without increasing the diameter of the hemispherical bodies 21, 23 which would tend to look unsightly and detract from the aesthetics when connecting a 50mm diameter pipe, if the coupling were designed specifically for 50mm pipe.

In use, the respective sized pipe, with or without the coupling 41, is fitted to the respective \\melb-files\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03* 9 coupling parts 1 and 3. The coupling parts 1 and 3 are then brought together and the bolt 27 is passed through the opening 33 and threadedly engaged in the bore 29. The bolt 27 is then lightly tightened and in this condition, the upstanding lip 39 locates within the hemispherical body of the second part 3. The respective circular faces 17 and 19 are then in substantially abutting aligned relationship to one another. One of the parts is then rotated relative to the other part to provide the required angle between the interconnected elements. Once the desired angle is achieved, the bolt 27 may be tightened clamping the parts together. It is noted that the circular connecting means 13 and 15 may also be rotated relative to their respective elements pipes in order to achieve the correct angular orientation. If desired, the elements may be directly fixed to the connecting means 13 and 15 by some suitable means such as by glue, screws, rivets or the like.

The arrangement provides for a neat coupling interconnection of elements. The coupling will permit this connection at a desired angle, within a limited range. When the bolt 27 is tightened there will be fastening clamping pressure applied between the two circular planar faces 17 and 19, which will then hold the parts 1 and 2 in assembled relationship at the desired angular orientation.

Modifications may be made to the invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art of making walkways and/or coupling members generally. For example, whilst the connecting means 13 and 15 have been shown as being circular in transverse cross sectional shape, they may be rectangular. Whilst the hemispherical bodies 21 and 23, and the connecting means 13 and 15 have been shown as being hollow to minimise material usage, they may, in fact, be made solid.

By appropriately providing seals on the respective circular planar faces 17 and 19, and \\melb-files\home$\Priyalka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03 10 appropriate seals between the connecting means 13 and and the respective elements 5 and 7, a fluid tight or air tight seal may be provided through the coupling. In this case, if the coupling is hollow, it may be able to transmit fluids or air from one interconnected pipe to another. Appropriate sealing may then need to be effected under the head of the bolt 27 and the opening 33.

Further, in the case of the threaded bore 29, it may be replaced with a non threaded bore 29, that has a recess associated those with so that a nut (not shown) can engage with the threaded shaft of the threaded bolt 27 and hold the two part 1 and 3 together.

These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

\\.'lbfiles\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03

Claims

1. A coupling for coupling two elements together, each element having an axis which is intended to be at a desired angle with respect to the axis of the other element, said desired angle being within a limited range, said coupling having a first part and a second part, each part having connecting means for permitting a respective element to be connected thereto, each part also having a circular planar face which is mateable with the respective circular planar face of the other part, each respective circular planar face being inclined at an angle of less than 900 with respect to the respective axis, the coupling having fastening means for applying fastening clamping pressure between the two circular faces, said fastening means serving, in use, to hold the first part and the second part in a chosen angular orientation with respect to each other, so that axes of the two elements can be coupled at the desired angle.

2. A coupling as claimed in.claim 1 wherein the fastening means is able to clamp the circular planar faces in circular aligned relationship to each other.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fastening means is a screw member that passes from one part into a screw recess carried by other part.

4. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each circular planar face is provided on a respective hemispherical body of a respective first part or second part. A coupling as claimed in claim 4 wherein each hemispherical body is a hollow hemispherical body and the respective circular planar faces are provided on the exposed edge of the perimeter of the hemisphere. \\meIb-f iles \hoe \Priyanka\Keep\speci \COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03 12

6. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fastening means has said one part with an internally threaded bore to receive a screw threaded bolt that passes through an opening in said second part.

7. A coupling as claimed in claim 6 when appended to claim 5 wherein a head of the bolt is receivable within a recess in the surface of the hemispherical body, whereby the head of the bolt will not extend outwardly past the outer surface of the hemispherical body when the bolt is acting to apply the fastening clamping pressure.

8. A coupling as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the screw threaded bore and the opening have their central axes at a position on the respective first part and second part that coincides with an axis that extends midway from a diameter of the exposed edge of the perimeter, and perpendicular to the diameter to the surface of the hemisphere.

9. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the angle of inclination is 400. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting means on each first part and second part is a respective arm.

11. A coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein each arm is hollow.

12. A coupling as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein each arm is of circular transverse cross section and sized in diameter to fit within a hollow pipe that is to be coupled, whereby the coupling can couple two such pipes at a desired angle. \\melbfiles\home$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03 13

13. A coupling as claimed in claim 4 or any one of claims 5 to 11 when appended to claim 4 wherein the hemispherical body is sized for good aesthetics with a particular sized diameter pipe and, that for a larger size pipe to be coupled, there is provided a sleeve to increase the diameter of each arm and wherein the outside diameter of the sleeve equates approximately with the inside diameter of the larger size pipe, and the inner diameter equates approximately to the outside diameter of the arm.

14. A coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 1 st day of October 2003 CRANE ENFIELD METALS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia \\melb-files\hme$\Priyanka\Keep\speci\COUPLING CAP.doc 1/10/03