AU2009251111B2

AU2009251111B2 - Device for ensuring the quality of fitting of a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe and method for implementing this device

Info

Publication number: AU2009251111B2
Application number: AU2009251111A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Philippe Mestres; Francois Paquier
Original assignee: Pipelife France SA
Current assignee: Pipelife France SA
Priority date: 2008-12-22
Filing date: 2009-12-22
Publication date: 2015-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-22
Also published as: MA31557B1; FR2940399A1; BRPI0905595A2; FR2940399B1; AU2009251111A1; AU2009251111A9; EP2202440A1

Abstract

DEVICE FOR ENSURING THE QUALITY OF FITTING OF A MALE END OF A PIPE INTO A FEMALE END OF ANOTHER PIPE AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS DEVICE Device for ensuring the quality of fitting of a male end (3) of a pipe into a female end (1) of another pipe, comprising a scraping means (D) for scraping the periphery of the outer surface of the male end (3) during fitting, this scraping means being located on either the male end or the female end. (Figure 3) FlG.2 136b 8b 3 D \ 15 14f f FG1 3 13f

Description

pool Secion29 Regulation 3.2(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Device for ensuring the quality of fitting of a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe and method for implementing this device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P111ABAU1207 - 1 DEVICE FOR ENSURING THE QUALITY OF FITTING OF A MALE END OF A PIPE INTO A FEMALE END OF ANOTHER PIPE AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS DEVICE 5 The invention relates to a device for ensuring the quality of fitting of a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe. Users of pipes experience difficulties when taking measures 10 to keep the pipes clean at the bottom of trenches at the time of fitting. Thus, the male and/or female ends may be soiled by mud, sand, gravel or other undesirable elements. When such foreign bodies are not removed from the male or 15 female parts at the time of fitting, defects such as substantial deterioration or scratching of the male end by granules introduced between the female end and the male end may result, this leading to a loss of sealing at a seal provided between the male end and the female end. It is the 20 same when granules are located between the seal and the male end, it thus being possible for sealing to be lost without the surface state of the male end deteriorating. US 2008/136164 relates to a sealing element intended to be 25 mounted on screw threads provided on tubes. If any dirt which would spoil the sealing element were to enter the female part, this could lead to a loss of sealing. Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in 30 this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia on or before the priority date of the claims herein.

- 2 It would be desirable to provide a device which ensures in a simple and efficient manner good quality of fitting by preventing or at least limiting the risks of loss of sealing resulting from the deterioration of the mating surfaces of 5 the male end and the female end. It is furthermore desirable for this device to be produced economically and to be simple to implement. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is 10 provided a device for ensuring the quality of fitting of a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe, the device including a scraping means for scraping a periphery of an outer surface of the male end during fitting, before the male end comes into contact with a seal located in the 15 female part, the scraping means being located on either the male end or the female end, wherein the scraping means remains outside the fitting before, during and after the fitting operation, providing a barrier to dirt from outside. 20 Advantageously, this scraping means is made of plastic, in particular polymer, elastomer or rubber. The scraping means may be pre-mounted on either of the two ends or be supplied separately from the pipe. 25 When the scraping means is pre-mounted on either the male end or the female end, it may be connected by a breakable link to a shutter disc for the end in question. As a variant, the scraping means is connected to a cover that can 30 be torn off, this cover closing the end in question. The cover may be self-adhesive or heat-sealable. Preferably, the scraping means comprises a cylindrical ring surrounding the male end or female end of the pipe. This - 3 cylindrical ring may be connected by a precut zone to a shutter disc. The shutter may be positioned separately from the cylindrical ring. 5 The cylindrical ring may be mounted around the female end, in which case it has, over the end rim, a radial return pointing inwards which is able to scrape the outer surface of the male pipe during fitting. 10 According to one variant, the cylindrical ring mounted around the female end is connected to a shutter disc having radial slots dividing it into separate angular sectors able to move aside into the female end as the male end is fitted. 15 In this case, the seal generally provided inside the female end is located at a distance from the rim of the female end greater than the internal radius of this female end such that the sectors of the shutter disc folded inwards through 900 do not reach as far as the seal. 20 According to another variant, the scraping means may be integrated in one piece with the end piece of the female end, forming a radial return pointing inwards. This scraping means may be formed or machined on the end piece of the 25 female end or else be positioned in a preformed groove in the socket in front of the groove holding the seal. According to another possibility, the scraping means comprises a cylindrical ring mounted around the male end and 30 designed to slide on this male end by being pushed by the female end at the time of fitting, in order then to scrape the outer surface of the male pipe.

The male end may be protected by a device of the flexible sheath type. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is 5 provided a method for fitting a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe, in particular located at the bottom of a trench, wherein: - before fitting, a scraping means for scraping a periphery of an outer surface of the male end is mounted around either the male end or the female 10 end; - and the male end is inserted into the female end such that the scraping means cleans the outer surface of the male end before it comes into contact with a seal located in the female part, the scraping means remaining outside the fitting before, during and after the fitting operation, 15 providing a barrier to dirt from outside. Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components 20 or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Apart from the arrangements disclosed hereinabove, the 25 invention consists of a number of other arrangements which will be dealt with in greater detail hereinafter with regard to exemplary embodiments described with reference to the appended drawings but which are in no way limiting. In the drawings: 30 Figure 1 is a partial vertical half-section of the female end of a pipe equipped with a scraping means according to the invention; - 4a Figure 2 is a perspective view on a smaller scale of the female end equipped with the scraping means and a shutter disc; Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the fitting underway 5 of a male pipe end into the female end in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a partial diametrical cross section of a female pipe end equipped with a variant of the scraping means; Figure 5 is a perspective view on a smaller scale of 10 the female end in Figure 4 equipped with the scraping means and the shutter divided into angular sectors by radial slots; Figure 6 is a diagrammatical axial half-section illustrating the fitting of the male end into the female end 15 in Figure 4; Figure 7 is an axial cross section of a female end equipped with a scraping means according to the invention with a self-adhesive cover; Figure 8 is an axial half-section of a variant 20 embodiment with the scraping means located on the male end of the pipe; Figure 9 is a perspective view on a smaller scale of the male end of the pipe in Figure 8 equipped with the scraping means with shutter disc; 25 THE NEXT PAGE IS PAGE 5.

- 5 Figure 10 is a diagrammatical axial half-section illustrating the fitting of the male pipe in Figure 8 into the female end; Figure 11 is a partial axial half-section of a 5 variant embodiment with scraping means in one piece with the female end; Figure 12 is a diagrammatical partial cross section illustrating a variant scraping means mounted on the male pipe end; 10 Figure 13 illustrates, in a similar manner to Figure 12, another variant scraping means mounted at the mouth of the female end; and Figure 14 illustrates another two-lipped variant of the scraping means mounted at the mouth of the 15 female end. Referring to Figures 1-3 of the drawings, a female end 1 of a pipe 2 can be seen, on which a scraping means D according to the invention is mounted. The pipe 2, in 20 the example in question, is made of plastic, in particular PVC. The female end 1 has a larger internal diameter in order to receive the male end 3 (Figure 3) of another pipe. The female end 1 is often referred to as "socket" and has an internal groove 4, at a distance 25 from the mouth 5, in which groove an annular seal 6 is housed which is intended to engage with the male end 3. The invention is not limited to plastic pipes and may be applied to pipes made of another material, for 30 example to metal pipes or concrete pipes. The scraping means D made of plastic, in particular polymer, comprises a cylindrical ring 7 surrounding the female end 1 of the pipe. This ring 7 has, over the 35 mouth 5 of the end, a radial return 8 pointing inwards forming a sort of collar which projects slightly inwards with respect to the internal surface of the end 1 in order to form a scraping edge.

The ring 7 is connected to a shutter disc 9 by a precut zone 10 having a series of openings 11 separated by radial branches 12 linking it to the return S. The disc 5 9 forms a breakable cap in a plane at right angles to the axis of the female end. As a variant, the shutter may be positioned separately from the cylindrical ring 7. 10 In order to fit the male end 3 into the female end 1, as illustrated in Figure 3, the user separates the shutter disc 9 from the return 8 along the precut zone such that only the radial return 8 and the ring 7 15 remain. The male end 3 is then introduced into the female end 1 as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3. The internal radial rim of the return 8, projecting slightly from 20 the internal surface of the end 1, forms a scraping edge around the entire periphery of the male end 3 which is thus cleaned of any foreign bodies as it is introduced into the female end 1. A good quality seal is produced when the male end 3 has passed the seal 6. 25 Specifically, the cleaning of the male end 3 carried out by the scraping means D prevents the external surface of this end from deteriorating, for example by preventing scratching, and also prevents gravel or granules getting under the seal 6. 30 Referring to Figures 4-6, a variant embodiment can be seen in which the cylindrical ring 7 mounted around the female end 1 is connected to a shutter disc 9a having radial slots 13 extending from the return 8 of the ring 35 as far as a central opening 14. Angular sectors 15 are thus produced between two successive slots 13. The number of these sectors 15 is selected to be sufficiently high for the entire structure to retain a - 7 certain flexibility on folding inwards. For example, the number of angular sectors 15 may be around eight or more, each sector having the same opening angle. 5 The slots 13 and the central opening 14 have sufficiently small dimensions to prevent most foreign bodies, in particular gravel, from entering the female end 1. 10 The fitting of the male end into the female end 1 is illustrated in Figure 6. By pushing the male end 3 into the female end 1, in the direction of the arrow in Figure 6, the sectors 15 are caused to fold through 900 towards the inside of the female end 1. The sectors 15 15 press against the internal surface of this female end and their other face scrapes the male end 3. Figure 7 shows a variant embodiment in which the scraping means D still comprises a cylindrical ring 7 20 with a radial return 8 mounted around the female end 1. The return 8 is free, having no shutter disc. The entry of the female end 1 is closed by a cover 16 adhesively bonded to the return 8. The cover 16 may be self adhering or be made of a heat-weldable material 25 adhesively bonded to the return 8 by heating. The cover 16 has a detachment tongue 17 projecting radially outwards. For fitting, the user separates the cover 16 from the 30 scraping device D by pulling on the tongue 17 so as to release the return 8 forming the scraping edge. Fitting can then be carried out under the same conditions as those in Figure 3. 35 Referring to Figures 8-10, a variant embodiment can be seen in which the cylindrical ring 7b of the scraping means D surrounds the male end 3 of the pipe. The - 8 scraping edge 8b is formed by the mouth of the ring 7b remote from the opening of the male end 3. The cylindrical ring 7b is connected at the opposite 5 end from the scraping edge 8b by a precut annular zone 10b to a shutter disc 9b which closes the male end 3. The precut zone 10b has openings and radial branches similar to those of the zone 10 in Figure 2. 10 In order to fit the male end 3 into the female end 1, as illustrated in Figure 10, the shutter disc 9b is separated from the cylindrical ring 7b. The precut zone 10b is designed such that no radial return pointing inwards remains on the rim of the cylindrical ring 7b 15 remote from the scraping edge 8b. The male end 3 is introduced into the female end 1 such that the rim of the female end 1 pushes the cylindrical ring 7b which slides on the male end 3 as it is fitted. 20 The scraping edge 8b thus cleans the entire periphery of the external surface of the male end 3. Figure 11 shows another variant embodiment in which the scraping device D consists of a radial return 8c 25 pointing inwards at the mouth of the female end 1c. The cross section of the return 8c is triangular, ending in a point in the direction of the axis of the female end 1c in order to give the return Sc a certain bending elasticity. Radial slots may be provided in the return 30 8c to increase its elasticity. The return 8c may be formed and/or machined directly on the end piece of the female end 1c. As a variant, the scraping means may be positioned in a preformed groove in the socket in front of the groove holding the seal. 35 During fitting, the male pipe 3 is scraped by the radial return 8c before reaching the seal 6.

- 9 Figure 12 illustrates a variant embodiment of the scraping device D formed by a cylindrical ring 7d fixed at the mouth of the male end 3 of the pipe. The external surface of the mouth of the pipe is bevelled 5 along a frustoconical surface 3d against which a lip 13 connected to the ring 7d is pressed, at its end remote from the opening in the end 3. When the male end 3 is fitted into the female end 1, 10 the end piece of the latter pushes the ring 7d over the male end 3. The lip 13 is lifted and the V-shaped space between the lip 13 and the internal cylindrical surface of the ring 7d closes up to enable the lip 13 to slide over the upper surface of the male end 3. The scraping 15 means D in Figure 12 is independent of the shutter device (not shown) for the end 3 of the pipe. The ring 7d, with its lip 13, may be supplied separately from the pipe and mounted at the mouth of the latter, for example at the time it is placed in preparation in a 20 trench. Figure 13 shows a variant embodiment in which the scraping means D comprises a ring 7e fixed at the mouth of the female part 1. This ring 7e is secured to a lip 25 13e forming a frustoconical skirt the long base of which is secured to the ring 7e and the short base of which, advantageously provided with a foot 14, scrapes the male pipe 3 as it is fitted. 30 Figure 14 shows a variant 7f of the ring forming a scraper fixed at the mouth of the female end 1. The ring 7f has two lips 13f, 14f secured to the actual ring by a radial return 15. 35 The lip 13f forms a cylindrical collar projecting axially at the opposite end from the female end 1 and surrounds in a sliding manner the cylindrical part of the male end 3. The lip 14f is turned towards the - 10 female end 1 and forms a flexible frustoconical skirt which can be pressed against the bevel in the male end 3. The lip 14f generally has radial slots to give it sufficient flexibility. 5 During fitting, the advance of the male end 3 towards the female end 1 causes the lip 14f to lift. The two lips 13f, 14f scrape the male end 3. 10 The scraper device D according to the invention may be supplied separately from the pipe, in particular according to variants of Figures 12-14 or be pre mounted on the pipe with the shutter disc or closure cover. The scraping device limits the deterioration of 15 the male end of the pipe and the risks of leaks which could be brought about by foreign bodies deposited on this male end fitting. It should be noted that the scraper device D does not 20 have a sealing function but a function of cleaning the male part being inserted into the female part. Once fitting has been carried out, the scraper device no longer performs its cleaning function. 25 In most of the variants, the scraper device D remains outside the fitting before, during and after the fitting operation, providing a barrier to dirt coming from the outside. 30 The scraper device D is able to reduce the transport of dirt by the male part towards the seal on the inside of the female part. The male end, or male mouth, could, if need be, be 35 protected by a device of the flexible sheath type which would be intended to roll up or peel off during insertion.

- 11 The invention relates not just to PVC pipes, in particular for water conveyance, but also to pipes made of other materials, for example steel or concrete, the joining of which must have sufficient quality for 5 sealing.

Claims

1. Device for ensuring the quality of fitting of a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe, the device including a scraping means for scraping a periphery of an outer surface of the male end during fitting, before the male end comes into contact with a seal located in the female part, the scraping means being located on either the male end or the female end, wherein the scraping means remains outside the fitting before, during and after the fitting operation, providing a barrier to dirt from outside.

2. Device according to Claim 1, wherein the scraping means is made of plastic.

3. Device according to either Claim 1 or 2, wherein the scraping means is pre-mounted on either the male end or the female end.

4. Device according to Claim 3, wherein the scraping means is connected by a breakable link to a shutter disc for the end to which the scraping means is pre-mounted.

5. Device according to Claim 3, wherein the scraping means is connected to a cover that can be torn off, the cover closing the end to which the scraping means is pre-mounted.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scraping means includes a cylindrical ring surrounding the female end or male end of the pipe.

7. Device according to Claim 6, wherein the cylindrical ring is connected by a precut zone to a shutter disc. - 13

8. Device according to either Claim 6 or 7, wherein the cylindrical ring is mounted around the female end and includes a radial return over a rim of the female end, the radial return pointing inwards and being able to scrape the outer surface of the male pipe during fitting.

9. Device according to Claim 6, wherein the cylindrical ring mounted around the female end is connected to a shutter disc having radial slots dividing it into separate angular sectors able to move aside into the female end as the male end is fitted.

10. Device according to either Claim 6 or 7, wherein the cylindrical ring is mounted around the male end and is designed to slide on this male end by being pushed by the female end at the time of fitting, in order to scrape the outer surface of the male pipe.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male end is protected by a device of the flexible sheath type.

12. Method for fitting a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe, in particular located at the bottom of a trench, wherein: - before fitting, a scraping means for scraping a periphery of an outer surface of the male end is mounted around either the male end or the female end; - and the male end is inserted into the female end such that the scraping means cleans the outer surface of the male end before it comes into contact with a seal located in the female part, the scraping means remaining outside the fitting before, during and after the fitting operation, providing a barrier to dirt from outside. - 14

13. Device for ensuring the quality of fitting of a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe, substantially as herein before described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

14. Method for fitting a male end of a pipe into a female end of another pipe, substantially as herein before described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. PIPELIFE FRANCE WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS P32748AU00