DE29605722U1 - Pipe connector - Google Patents

Description

28 March 1996 Hz/N

Applicant: Attorney file 16106

Hoppe tools, ironware,
Industrial Supplies GmbH & Co KG
Bahnhofstr, 37
D-59929 Brilon

Representative:
Patent attorneys
Walther · Walther & Hinz
Heimradstr. 2
D-34130 Kassel

Pipe connectors

The present invention relates to an expandable connecting element for an upper chord of railings, parapets, etc., composed of at least two partial tubes, which essentially holds adjacent ends of the partial tubes together in a force-fitting manner.

Such connecting elements are usually short pipe sections that are slotted in the axial direction. The outside diameter of these pipe sections is chosen so that they can just be inserted into the respective pipe section of the upper chord. The outside diameter of the pipe section can be increased by means of an expansion element that engages in the slot in the radial direction and can be tightened in the radial direction by grub screws held in the pipe section. This clamps the pipe section in the respective pipe sections and the pipe sections are held flush with one another.

In order for the pipe sections that are in contact with the partial pipes to exert the surface pressure necessary for the play-free and reliable mounting of the partial pipes, a comparatively large spreading force is required.

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required. This expansion force is applied to the pipe section via the grub screw and/or the expansion element, whereby it may happen that damage occurs to one or more of the components.

Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of creating an expandable connecting element in which a play-free and reliable connection of the partial tubes of the upper chord is achieved with a lower expansion force,

As a technical solution to this problem, the invention proposes to further develop the connecting element described at the outset in such a way that the connecting element rests in a point-like and/or linear manner on the inside of the partial pipes.

A connecting element designed according to this technical teaching has the advantage that, due to the point and/or line-shaped contact of the connecting element with the partial pipe, a much lower spreading force is sufficient to achieve a higher surface pressure. This higher surface pressure means that the connecting element is at least partially pressed into the surface of the partial pipe, thus creating not only a force-fitting connection but also, at least partially, a form-fitting connection. The result is a reliable connection between two partial pipes of an upper chord that requires only a small spreading force.

In an advantageous further development, an axially aligned contact line is formed between the connecting element and the respective partial pipe. This has the advantage that the partial pipes to be connected are held well and reliably in the circumferential direction, since the form fit mainly acts in this direction. Since the hold in the axial direction is already given by the design of upper chords, a

increased support in the circumferential direction, a reliable connection of the partial tubes of an upper chord was created.

In an advantageous embodiment, the connecting element comprises an upper and a lower part, whereby the connecting element has at least one axially aligned contact edge. When the upper and lower parts are clamped together, the contact edge forms a contact line with the respective partial pipe and ensures that the connecting element is reliably held in the partial pipe. The upper and lower parts are held apart from one another and can be spread apart by at least one grub screw. This grub screw can be turned by a tool that extends through a corresponding opening in the partial pipe in such a way that the upper and lower parts are clamped in the partial pipes.

In a preferred development, the upper and/or lower part is essentially cuboid-shaped and made from commercially available flat steel. This enables the connecting element to be manufactured cost-effectively.

Further advantages of the device according to the invention emerge from the description of the embodiments and the attached drawing. Likewise, the above-mentioned and further listed features can be implemented according to the invention individually or in any combination with one another. The embodiments mentioned are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather have an exemplary character. Embodiments of the invention are shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing and are explained in more detail below.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a connection point between two

partial pipes;

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a top chord, cut along line A-B in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the connection point according to Figure 1,

in cut representation.

The individual figures of the drawing show the object according to the invention partially greatly enlarged so that their structure can be shown better.

Figure 1 shows the adjacent ends of two partial tubes 2, 4, which are held together by a connecting element according to the invention. These partial tubes 2, 4 are part of an upper chord (not shown) of railings or parapets.

In Figures 2 and 3, the partial pipes 2, 4 are shown in section, with Figure 2 showing a radial section and Figure 3 showing an axial section.

To connect the free ends of adjacent partial pipes 2, 4, a connecting element 6 is inserted into them, which comprises an upper part 8, a lower part 10 and two grub screws 12, 12'. The grub screws 12, 12' are held in corresponding threads in the lower part 10, while the upper part 8 is only placed on the two grub screws 12, 12'. In the area of the two grub screws 12, 12', openings 14, 14' are provided in the upper part 8 through which a tool can be inserted, with which the grub screw 12, 12' can then be screwed. The diameter of these openings 14, 14' is selected so that the upper part 8 still rests on the grub screws 12, 12' and yet allows the tool access to the respective grub screw.

In the area of the respective grub screw 12, 12' or the opening 14, 14', a recess 16, 16' is provided in the respective partial tube 2, 4, through which the tool (not shown) for screwing the grub screw 12, 12' can be inserted. The side of the opening 14, 14' facing the grub screw 12, 12' is chamfered in order to create a guide and holder for the upper part 8.

To connect the free ends of adjacent partial tubes of an upper chord or a parapet, the connecting element 6 is first inserted into a partial tube 4 and then clamped into the partial tube 4 by turning the grub screw 12' in the direction of the arrow 18. The upper part 8 and the lower part 10 are spread in the direction of the arrow 20 until they come into contact with their respective contact edges 22, 22', 24, 24' on the inside of the partial tube 4.

By further turning the grub screw 12', the spreading force acting on the upper part 8 and the lower part 10 increases further, with the result that the contact edges 22, 22', 24, 24' are pressed into the surface of the partial tube 4. After this has happened, the partial tube is slid onto the area of the connecting element 6 protruding from the partial tube 4 and clamped in an analogous manner by turning the grub screw 12.

By clamping the connecting element 6 in the partial tubes 2, 4 and by pressing the contact edges into the surface of the partial tubes, a force-fitting and partially form-fitting connection between the connecting element 6 and the partial tubes 2, 4 is created, which ensures a reliable and twist-proof connection of the two partial tubes 2, 4, and thus of the entire upper chord.

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List of reference symbols Partial pipe 2 Partial pipe 4 Connecting element 6 Top 8th Bottom part 10 Grub screw 12, 12' opening 14, 14' Recess 16, 16' Arrow direction 18 Arrow direction 20 Touch edge 22, 22' Touch edge 24, 24'

Claims (5)

Protection claims: 1. Expandable connecting element for an upper chord of railings, parapets, etc. composed of at least two partial tubes, which essentially holds adjacent ends of the partial tubes together in a force-fitting manner, characterized in that that the connecting element (6) rests point-like and/or linearly on the inside of the partial pipes {2, 4), 2. Connecting element according to claim 1,
characterized, that an axially aligned line of contact is formed between the connecting element (6) and the respective partial pipe (2, 4). 3. Connecting element according to at least one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that that the connecting element (6) comprises an upper part (8) and a lower part (10) which have at least one axially aligned contact edge (22, 22', 24, 24'). 4. Connecting element according to claim 3,
characterized, that the upper part (8) and the lower part (10) are held apart from one another and expandable by at least one grub screw (12, 12'). 5. Connecting element according to at least one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that that the upper part (8) and/or the lower part (10) are essentially cuboid-shaped.