DE202009014843U1 - Cuff for making a connection between two tubular elements of polymer material - Google Patents

Abstract

A collar (10) for connecting a first and a second tubular member (12, 14) of polymeric material, the collar (10) having first and second end portions (18, 22), and wherein the first End portion (18) latchingly on a connection end portion (20) of the first tube member (12) and the second end portion (22) latchingly on a connection end portion (24) of the second tubular element (14) can be pushed.

Description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a collar for establishing a connection between a first and a second tubular element of polymer material.

Known lines, which are intended for installation in the ground, are laid in many Fällend in the ground so that they are "driven" into a previously formed hole in the ground. These lines are usually at least partially made of a polymer material and are also called Kunststoffvortriebsrohre. They can be used in particular as laying lines or receiving lines for gas lines or power and telecommunications cables or the like. It is also known to use these lines as sewers or sewage pipes or as rainwater pipes or rainwater pipes.

The laying in the ground takes place in that individual tubular elements made of polymer material or tubes made of polymer material according to the planned course or according to the course of the previously formed Erdlochs driven substantially successively in the axial direction in the previously formed hole and are connected to form the line with each other, as it is for example from the DE 3402198 A1 for the formation of a protective line for the protection of buried electrical lines is known. The connection between the individual pipe elements is usually formed in the form of a plug connection or a latching connection. These and other known types of connection between tubular elements for the formation of pipes to be laid in the ground are inter alia from the EP 1 375 114 A2 , of the EP 1 705 418 A2 , of the DE 200 17 639 U1 , of the DE 195 36 703 A1 and the DE 101 39 984 A1 known.

The known, usually quite flexible connections between the tubular elements are exposed to high stresses, in particular in the case of strongly curved lines or strongly curved preformed boreholes. The compounds are therefore prone to leaks, particularly in the case of bending and severe deformation, so that moisture or liquid can penetrate from the soil into the pipe or inner volumes of the pipe elements. This is particularly problematic if the line is provided for receiving current-carrying cables. This penetration of moisture or liquid into the pipe or inner volumes of the pipe elements is also referred to as infiltration. The infiltration by infiltrating liquid or by infiltration penetrating water, for example, be contaminated and z. B. cause corrosion in the line arranged or recorded live cables. A leakage of liquid or fluid from a buried in the ground line, however, is referred to as exfiltration and relates to the applications where the line z. B. is used as a sewer or rainwater pipe, so is provided for the flow with a liquid or a fluid. In an exfiltration due to a leak, for. B. contamination of the soil occur when z. B. occurs as a result of the exfiltration wastewater from industrial processes from the line to reach.

Effective sealing of the connections between the individual pipe elements by means of seals or sealing elements are also limited due to the pipe geometry, since the seals can only be installed very flat with a very limited compression due to the tube geometry.

If the pipe elements are pushed into one another in a known manner for connecting latching, it is possible that provided seals are moved or damaged by the usually heavy-duty locking process. The restoration of tightness turns out then usually quite difficult, since once engaged connections between pipe elements made of polymer material, especially after a long time, are difficult or at worst not solvable. In addition, the end sections of the tube elements to be connected by latching insertion or pushing can gap through the widening during the insertion process or latching process and / or deform plastically, together with a leak in the respective connection. Although known ungerastete connections between the tubular elements are usually easier solvable, but very flexible and not very tensile and thus quite vulnerable to leaks. Finally, the individual pipe elements can be pre-damaged in the soil or in the previously formed hole by stones or the like during propulsion and then fail under continuous load.

Underlying task

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a connection device for establishing a connection between two pipe elements for a pipe to be laid in the ground, with which it is possible to provide a connection between the two pipe elements, which compared to known solutions has a significantly higher tensile and compressive strength.

Inventive solution

This object is achieved according to the invention with a sleeve for establishing a connection between a first and a second tubular element made of polymer material, wherein the sleeve has a first and a second end portion, and wherein for the preparation of the compound, the first end portion latching to a connection end portion of the first Pipe member and the second end portion is latchingly pushed onto a connection end portion of the second tubular element.

According to the invention, the first end portion of the collar is latchingly slidable onto a connecting end portion of the first tubular member or the connecting end portion of the first tubular member is latchably inserted into the first end portion of the sleeve to make the connection, and the second end portion of the sleeve is latchingly locked to a connecting portion. End section of the second tube member pushed or the connecting end portion of the second tube member latchingly inserted into the second end portion of the sleeve.

By using a connecting device in the form of the sleeve according to the invention, a connection between the two tube elements can be created, which has a significantly higher tensile and compressive strength compared to known solutions. Because, in contrast to known solutions in which pipe elements are pushed into one another latching, the pipe elements deform only minimally during latching operation with the sleeve according to the invention, so that a "gape" and / or plastic deformation of the pipe elements or the pipe element ends are largely avoided can. In particular, the sleeve can preferably be formed so that this deformation of the tubular elements is significantly reduced during the latching process compared to known solutions. An unwanted bending and deformation, as z. B. can occur when an obstacle occurs during the "driving" of the pipe elements or the pipe to be laid into the ground - can be largely avoided by using a connecting device in the form of the cuff. Provided seals are therefore charged only slightly.

Preferably, the sleeve is partially or entirely made of a metallic material, wherein the metallic material may be particularly preferably steel or stainless steel. A metallic material provides a high stability or tensile and compressive strength of the compound and avoids a high degree of adverse "gapping".

The cuff can z. Example, also consist of a polymeric material, wherein in a preferred embodiment, the sleeve consists partially or entirely of polyamide. Polyamide is characterized in that it can serve as a metal substitute, so that even a sleeve made of polyamide provides a high stability or tensile and compressive strength of the compound. A cuff from Polymaid can also by means of a conventional method for plastics processing, such. As an injection molding process, are easily and inexpensively.

If the sleeve is preferably partially or wholly made of a metallic material or polyamide, unlike known solutions, the locking can be done with relatively little effort, so that displacement or damage ev. Seals can occur only rarely. This is a consequence of the material pairing of metal to polymer material or polymaid to polymer material, which is associated with comparatively low coefficients of friction. In known solutions, in which end portions of the tubular elements of polymer material are pushed into one another, the associated with the material pairing of the same or similar plastics friction coefficients are in most cases significantly larger.

If the sleeve preferably consists partly or entirely of a metallic material, the sleeve can be loosened even after a certain period of use, in particular because a metallic sleeve is not subject to the aging processes known for polymer materials, which in the case of known solutions adversely affects the solubility between two component partners made of polymer material. This has the advantage that after a made installation of the respective pipe in the ground with any necessary maintenance operations, if necessary, it is still possible to solve the pipe elements again from each other.

The invention further relates to a conduit for installation in the ground, comprising at least two pipe elements and at least one sleeve according to the invention, wherein the pipe elements are connected to each other via the sleeve. In particular, in this case the line for laying in the ground, for example, comprise at least 3 and up to 10 or at least 3 and up to 20 connected pipe elements, the number may vary depending on the application.

In a practical embodiment of the conduit for burying in the ground at least one main seal and at least one at each connection end portion of the tubular elements Safety seal arranged, wherein the main seals are provided to seal the connection with the sleeve against penetrating liquid, and wherein the safety seals are activated by contact with liquid and intended to restore the tightness of the connection with the sleeve in case of existing leakage.

In this practical embodiment, in addition to the main seals, which are intended to seal the connection with the sleeve or the connection of the respective connecting end portion with the collar against penetrating liquid, safety seals are provided which restore the tightness in the event of leakage. For this purpose, the safety seals can be activated by contact with liquid.

Preferably, at least one safety seal partially or wholly consists of a swellable material. It is particularly preferred if each safety seal of the line for laying in the ground partially or entirely consists of a swellable material. By using a swellable material, which in particular can be a swellable elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer composite (such as, for example, Q-TEC known from AWADOCK), the tightness can be restored. The swellable material swells on contact with liquid, which by this swelling the tightness can be restored. Source volume, source pressure and source start are preferably adjustable. A safety seal, which consists partly or wholly of a swellable material, adapts itself by its increase in volume and flexibility almost any shape and can thus seal leaks.

The liquid, which would penetrate existing leak without the safety seal in the pipe element or the pipe elements and thus therefore in the inner volume of the pipe element or the inner volumes of the pipe elements, in particular water or moisture from the soil. This liquid can penetrate, in particular as a result of failure of at least one of the main seals or as a result of leakage of at least one main seal to the safety seals and / or to activate them to restore tightness.

However, even if an unwanted bending and deformation, as set out above, can be largely avoided by using a connecting device in the form of the cuff, but can not be completely ruled out that in a particular case, a failure or leakage of a main seal due to slipping or damage to the Main seal occurs during the joining of the pipe elements, even with the greatest care in the laying work. This is especially true when the individual pipe elements according to the planned course or according to the course of the previously formed hole in the "driving" into the ground high mechanical loads, in particular with components perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular element exposed. In this respect, by providing the safety seal or the safety seals, the risk of a leak in the finished manufactured and laid line, in contrast to known solutions significantly or greatly reduced.

The main seal may preferably be made partly or wholly of EPDM (abbreviation for ethylene-propylene-diene rubber) or NBR (abbreviation for nitrile rubber) or SBR (abbreviation for styrene-butadiene rubber) or a TPE (abbreviation for thermoplastic) Elastomer).

At least one main seal may preferably be designed in the form of an O-ring seal, wherein it may be particularly preferred in this case if each main seal of the line is designed for laying in the ground in the form of an O-ring seal.

Preferably, at least one main seal in the form of a lip seal may be formed, wherein it may be particularly preferred if each main seal of the line is designed for installation in the ground in the form of a lip seal. Both the O-ring seal and the lip seal are practical and effective seal shapes.

Preferably, at least one safety seal in the form of an O-ring seal may be formed, wherein it may be particularly preferred if each safety seal of the line is designed for installation in the ground in the form of an O-ring seal.

Alternatively, the safety seal and main seal may have any cross-sectional shape configured to provide a sufficient sealing effect.

In a preferred embodiment of the conduit for laying in the ground at least one identification element is attached to an inner wall of at least one tubular element.

The identification element is preferably detectable out of the inner volume of the tubular element, wherein the inner volume of the inner wall of the tubular element is limited. The Identification element is provided with data or information which relates preferably to the pipe element or the pipe laid in the ground, ie data or information, such as serial numbers, material specifications, required by standards or laws data, manufacturer information, date of manufacture, pipe type, pipe material, etc. The data or information may be in the form of characters or symbolic characters. The data or information can be detected by using control devices which can be introduced into the internal volume of the tubular element or into the internal volume of the laid line, such as, for example, cameras for line inspection, so that they can be made available to a user. In practice, this is also referred to as a channel TV tour. Particularly preferably, the identification element is designed in the form of an RFID chip. Using an RFID chip, data stored on the RFID chip, which are preferably data associated with the pipe element or the pipe laid in the ground, can be read out wirelessly, so that the use of control devices, such as cameras for line inspection, is dispensed with can be.

Preferably, several, at least two to four pipe elements of the pipe for installation in the ground - provided that it comprises more than four pipe elements - provided with at least one identification element on the inner wall. Particularly preferably, at least the two outermost tubular elements are each provided with an identification element on the inner wall. The provision of a plurality of identification elements facilitates line inspection, in particular if the lines are laid relatively long, in particular if certain pipe elements or line sections are not accessible. In this respect, it is particularly preferred if a plurality of identification elements are distributed uniformly over the entire line to the inner walls of the tubular elements.

In a further preferred embodiment of the pipe for laying in the ground at least one pipe element is provided with a wear-resistant outer layer. Particularly preferably, all pipe elements of the line are provided with a wear-resistant outer layer. The wear-resistant outer layer prevents damage to the pipe element, preferably damage to a supporting inner layer of the tubular element on which the outer layer is preferably applied, along with additional security when driving or introducing the pipe element or the pipe into the soil.

Brief description of FIG. 1

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying 1 explained in more detail. The figure shows a schematic sectional view of a line according to the invention 16 for laying in the ground, the first pipe element 12 , a second pipe element 14 and a cuff according to the invention 10 includes, wherein the tube elements 12 . 14 over the cuff 10 are interconnected, in such a way that a first end portion 18 the cuff 10 latching on a connection end section 20 of the first tubular element 12 and a second end portion 22 the cuff latching on a connecting end portion 24 of the second tubular element 14 is deferred. Each end section 18 . 22 the cuff 10 has a latching projection 32 on, in each case a corresponding detent recess 34 of the respective connection end portion 20 . 24 intervenes. Alternatively, any number of such latching projections and locking recesses may be provided.

With the cuff 10 becomes a stable or tension and pressure-resistant connection between the pipe elements 12 . 14 created, which in particular a connection of the inner volumes of the tubular elements 12 . 14 allows.

At each connection end section 20 . 24 the pipe elements 12 . 14 are a major seal 26 in the form of a lip seal and a safety seal 28 arranged in the form of an O-ring, each in annular grooves 30 are included. The main seals 26 are designed to connect with the cuff 10 to seal against penetrating liquid, and the safety seals 28 are activated by contact with liquid and provided for the tightness of the connection with the cuff 10 restore in case of existing leak. The figure shows right schematically the formation of the main seals 26 and the safety seals 28 in an unloaded condition.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

cuff

12

first pipe element

14

second pipe element

16

Cable for laying in the ground

18

first end portion cuff

20

Connecting end portion first pipe element

22

second end portion cuff

24

Connecting end portion second pipe element

26

main seal

28

security seal

30

ring groove

32

catch projection

34

latching depression

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 3402198 A1 [0003]
• EP 1375114 A2 [0003]
• EP 1705418 A2 [0003]
• DE 20017639 U1 [0003]
• DE 19536703 A1 [0003]
• DE 10139984 A1 [0003]

Claims (11)

Cuff ( 10 ) for establishing a connection between a first and a second tubular element ( 12 . 14 ) of polymeric material, the cuff ( 10 ) a first and a second end portion ( 18 . 22 ), and wherein for the preparation of the connection, the first end portion ( 18 ) latching onto a connection end section ( 20 ) of the first tubular element ( 12 ) and the second end section ( 22 ) latching onto a connection end section ( 24 ) of the second tubular element ( 14 ) can be pushed. Cuff according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve consists partly or wholly of a metallic material. Cuff according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve consists partly or wholly of polyamide. Management ( 16 ) for burial in the ground, comprising at least two tubular elements ( 12 . 14 ) and at least one cuff ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular elements ( 12 . 14 ) over the cuff ( 10 ) are interconnected. Management ( 16 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that at each connection end portion ( 20 . 24 ) of the tubular elements ( 12 . 14 ) at least one main seal ( 26 ) and at least one safety seal ( 28 ), the main seals ( 26 ) are provided for the connection with the cuff ( 10 ) to seal against penetrating liquid, and wherein the safety seals ( 28 ) are activated by contact with liquid and are intended to ensure the tightness of the connection with the cuff ( 16 ) in case of existing leak. Management ( 16 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one safety seal ( 28 ) consists partly or wholly of a swellable material. Management ( 16 ) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one main seal ( 26 ) is formed in the form of an O-ring seal. Management ( 16 ) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at least one main seal ( 26 ) is formed in the form of a lip seal. Management ( 16 ) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that at least one safety seal ( 28 ) is formed in the form of an O-ring seal. Management ( 16 ) according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that on an inner wall of at least one tubular element ( 12 . 14 ) at least one identification element is attached. Management ( 16 ) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that at least one tubular element ( 12 . 14 ) is provided with a wear-resistant outer layer.

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