AU644582B2 - Improvements in or relating to connectors - Google Patents

Description

I 644582

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION S F Ref: 117732 FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

-I Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Polytherm Industries Limited 102 Springs Road East Tamaki Auckland NEW ZEALAND Rex Joseph Penney, Peter Douglas Cole and Roger Wilson Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Improvements in or Relating to Connectors The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845/1 This invention relates to connectors for pipes or conduits, and is intended particularly though not necessarily solely to provide a connector for small diameter polybutylene pipes and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a connector for a pipe or conduit, which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention consists in a connector for a pipe or conduit, comprising: a pre-assembled connector for a pipe or conduit, comprising: an end fitting for a pipe or conduit, said end fitting including at least one spigot having a threaded portion extending from an end of the end fitting towards a flange; an annular spacer element retainably fitted about said spigot between and adjacent said threaded portion and said flange, and defining with its outer surface an annular channel having its axis of rotation parallel to or coincident with that of said spacer element; and a swagable sleeve or collar, including an internal annular rib at or adjacent an end thereof, said sleeve or collar being supported from i"..said annular spacer element with said annular rib engaged with said annular channel, said sleeve or collar extending beyond said annular spacer element over said spigot to define an annular space capable of receiving in use, an end of a pipe or conduit having suitable internal and external diameter, whereupon said sleeve or collar may be .swaged so as to at least in part hold said pipe or conduit in place by means of a reduction in the said annular space without reducing the S•internal diameter of said annular spacer element.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The -2- BFD/1022E disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figure, which shows a cross section through a connector for a pipe or conduit according to the invention.

Referring now to the Figure, a connector 1 for a pipe or conduit 2 is provided, comprising a pipe or conduit end fitting or the like 3, having a bore 4 therethrough. An annular spacer element 5 is provided about the end fitting 3. In the form of the invention shown, the end fitting is of the type having a 7 relatively broad bore spigot portion45 at one end and a a* relatively narrower bore spigot portion 6 at the other end, and being ribbed or screw threaded about both spigot portions. The annular spacer element is seated against the intersection *ov 7 between the broader spigot portionqV aind the narrower spigot portion However it is envisaged that this connector arrangement may be used with other articles in which a pipe cr CoW conduit is to be connected to a spigot.

The spacer element 5 is preferably constructed of a resilient material, most preferably a firm but resilient plastics material.

The spacer element 5 comprises an annular spacer portion 9 having an internal diameter substantially 3 corresponding to the external diameter of a spigot 6 of said end fitting or the like 3, and an annular seat 8 at least partly formed by an external surface of the spacer portion 9. In the preferred form of the invention as shown in the Figure, the seat 8 is substantially L-shaped in cross section and is formed by the external surface of the spacer portion 9 and the surface of an annular flange 11 of the spacer element 5, projecting perpendicular to the spacer portion 9.

A swagable ring or collar 12, preferably of copper or the like metallic material, is seated onto the seat 8 of the spacer element 5 so that the spacer portion 9, which has an internal 9.

diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the end fitting or insert at the point at which the connection is to be made, lies between the ring or collar 12 and the end fitting 3, Sri.. for example about the narrower spigot portion 6, and an annular slot 13 is thereby defined between the spigot portion 6 and the ring or collar 12 to in use receive an end of the pipe or conduit 2.

In the preferred form of the invention, the spacer element includes recess 14 preferably annular, in or adjacent the seat 8, and the ring or collar 12 includes an internal rib preferably annular, the rib and the recess being so arranged and configured as to interengage when the ring or collar 12 is seated on the seat 8, thus 4 substantially inhibiting disengagement of these elements from one another.

The use of the invention will now be described.

In use, the spacer element 5 is positioned tightly about the end fitting 3, so that a spigot portion 6 of the fitting 3 projects from the spacer element 5 and the swagable ring or collar 12 is then seated onto the seat 8 about the spacer portion 9 of the spacer element 5 and about the end fitting 3 so that rib 15 and recess 14 if provided interengage.

0 Alternatively the spacer element 5 can be engaged with the collar or ring 12 and then this combination placed on the end fitting 3. The connection can be made more secure if required by crimping the ring or collar 12 at its end seated on the spacer elements. A slot 13 is thus defined between the spacer portion 9 of the spacer element 5, the inner surface of the ring se or collar 12, and the outer surface of the spigot portion 6, and °ee the end of a pipe or conduit 2 can be inserted therein when it is desired to connect this to the end fitting 3. If the wrong end of the ring or collar is accidentally seated onto the seat 8, then the projecting rib 15 may be so dimensioned as to prevent the insertion of the end of the pipe or conduit 2 of appropriate size into the defined slot 13, thus preventing an insecure connection being made.

Once the pipe or conduit has been completely inserted into the defined slot 13, the ring or collar 12 may be 5 swaged in the conventional manner to crimp and secure the end pipe or conduit onto the ribbed or threaded end fitting or the like 3, for example about the narrow spigot portion 6.

Thus it can be seen that a simple but secure connector fitting is provided, which has the advantage of the crimping or swagable ring being firmly engaged with the end fitting prior to the insertion of the pipe or conduit and swaging taking place.

The resilient spacer element can also contribute to sealing the joint.

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Claims (7)

1. A pre-assembled connector for a pipe or conduit, comprising: an end fitting for a pipe or conduit, said end fitting including at least one spigot having a threaded portion extending from an end of the end fitting towards a flange; an annular spacer element retainably fitted about said spigot between and adjacent said threaded portion and said flange, and defining with its outer surface an annular channel having its axis of rotation parallel to or coincident with that of said spacer element; and a swagable sleeve or collar, including an internal annular rib at or adjacent an end thereof, said sleeve or collar being supported from said annular spacer element with said annular rib engaged with said annular channel, said sleeve or collar extending beyond said annular spacer element over said spigot to define an annular space capable of receiving in use, an end of a pipe or conduit having a suitable internal and external diameter, whereupon said sleeve or collar may be swaged so as to at least in part hold said pipe or conduit in place by means of a reduction in the said annular space without reducing the internal diameter of said annular spacer element.

2. A pre-assembled connector as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said annular spacer element is constructed of a resilient material.

3. A pre-assembled connector as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said resilient material comprises a firm but resilient plastics material.

4. A pre-assembled connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said sleeve or collar is of copper or the like swagable metallic material.

A pre-sasembled connector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A pre-assembled connector for a pipe or conduit as claimed in any of the preceding claims when fitted to a pipe or conduit having a suitable internal and external diameter. DATED this TWENTIETH day of OCTOBER 1993 Polytherm Industries Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON

-7- BFD/1022E