DE4401433A1 - Joint system between bars of encased flexible plastics filaments - Google Patents

Abstract

The system comprises bars (33) having neck halves (1,3) with axial bores. A special glue is delivered between the bores in the halves and the bared ends (39) of the bars, while each half contains a vent hole (27) from the bore, and is compressed in the radial direction after fitting. The male portion on one half engages in the female one in the other, in which it is inserted in the sideways direction. The male portion has an additional locking member (13), engaging in a mating recess (21) in the female half.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for connecting a sequence of encased flexible plastic filaments existing rods attached to their respective ends are provided with mutually compatible coupling elements.

In sewers and pipes, in particular, settle over time inevitably dirt and mud from, which hinders the free drainage is. This leads in part to the sewers and pipes becoming blocked, so that cleaning of these channels and pipes is required to keep them free from dirt and Rid mud.

Difficulties arise before cleaning that the constipation in the Duct or pipe systems are usually not detectable from the outside and therefore even more so cannot be inspected. To reliably locate this constipation point can, a method is used in which a camera or television head in the Channel or pipe system is inserted, which has a corresponding associated Cable the captured images to a monitor outside the channel or Pipe system transmits. This will make the constipation visible.

The camera or television head is at the front end of a series of rods made of solid plastic, attached to each other by means of a Coupling device are connected. Therefore, the bars are inevitably little flexible. These rods for sewer or pipe inspection are similar to a small armored vehicle that is controlled remotely into the sewer or Pipe system introduced. Another possibility is that the Plastic rods from a drum with a very large diameter or Reel unwound and inserted into the sewer or pipe system.

A high degree of flexibility is expected from the push rods, as these and pipe bends of sometimes 90 °, often even 180 °, to overcome  lead the camera or television head to the inspection site. Sometimes you have to overcome several such consecutive duct and pipe bends become.

The coupling device mentioned usually consists of a male (female) coupling part and a female (female) coupling part Metal, each glued to one end of a push bar. In the Connection of two push rods is the male coupling element in the axial Direction inserted into the female coupling element, one being resilient stored locking lug the male coupling element in a corresponding recess engages in the female coupling element.

By coupling the coupling elements in the axial connection direction the coupling elements get dirty after each use. That’s why Coupling elements difficult to clean and prevent perfect use re-use because the dirt is inside the coupling elements settles and encrusted. Difficulties in loosening the coupling elements from each other, namely on the one hand due to the pollution mentioned and on the other hand in that the locking lug is hardly accessible to remove it from the To release latching. The rods made of all-plastic tend due to the high load when using the push rods for tearing and splintering, so that they are unusable after a short time. By sticking the coupling elements inevitably form outer edges and the diameter in the coupling area will be expanded considerably. This leads to resistance and blockages in the arches of the pipes or channels when inserting and handling the push rods through the extremely high thrust to which these push rods are exposed. The protruding ones Corners and edges and the thickening in the coupling area can still lead to one Damage to the television transmission cable carried and thereby the completely prevent intended sewer inspection.  

For cleaning sewers and pipes themselves, one is usually used Pipe cleaning spiral used with a pipe cleaning device that manually or is motor-driven, is connected. This pipe cleaning spiral consists of high quality steel that can withstand high loads and that is resistant to corrosion and dirt.

A tool head is attached to the front end of the pipe cleaning spiral Cleaning the sewage pipe or sewer is suitable. Although the Pipe cleaning spiral has a length of several meters, its length can be expanded considerably by a sequence of these spirals over a Coupling device is connected, which consists of a (male) and a compatible receiving (female) coupling element, which are attached to the respective end of each partial spiral. Have the coupling elements for this purpose a neck piece that fits into the inner diameter of the Pipe cleaning spiral is used. The pipe cleaning spiral has an enormous internal spring tension, which grips the neck piece so positively and positively, that no additional attachment of the neck piece of the coupling element, for example by welding or pinning. In the Connection of two pipe cleaning spirals becomes the coupling element to be accommodated inserted laterally into the receiving coupling element. In addition, on provided a resilient locking part to be received coupling element, which engages in a compatible counterpart in the receiving coupling element and can be released again using a special tool.

By pushing the receptacle into the receptacle from the side Clogging element prevents contamination of the coupling device. A Cleaning the coupling device is therefore unnecessary. By this Coupling device is an easy and simple connection of the Pipe cleaning spirals, the connection through the additional Locking means is secured.  

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for connecting to create flexible plastic rods to easily in a duct or pipe system to be able to introduce and used for devices for pipe and sewer inspection can be used to determine the functional properties and manageability of these devices improve.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that

• - the ends of the rods are stripped;
• - The coupling elements each enclosing the ends of the rods Have neck piece, which is provided with an axial bore;
• - The coupling elements on the respective stripped ends of the rods are plugged in, between the stripped end of the rod and the a special adhesive is introduced into the axial bore in the neck piece;
• - Each coupling element has a ventilation opening that is aligned with the axial Bore of the neck piece communicates;
• - With the coupling element placed on the rod, the neck piece of the Coupling element is radially compressed;
• - The one coupling element of a rod with the compatible Coupling element of another rod is positively and positively connected, the male coupling element of a rod laterally into the female coupling element of the other rod can be inserted; and
• - The male coupling element at its front end an additional Has locking part that is in a compatible counterpart in the female Coupling element engages.

Can on the inner wall of the axial bore in the neck of the coupling element Notches can be attached, which are preferably designed as an internal thread.

The locking part in the male coupling element can be axially resilient stored pin, which is in a corresponding axial receiving bore of the female Coupling element engages.  

The female coupling element has a lateral opening that is aligned with the axial Receiving hole is connected, a tool for. In the lateral opening resilient release of the pin of the male coupling element from the axial Receiving hole of the female coupling element can be used.

The coupling elements consist essentially of a corrosion-resistant metallic material of high strength.

The invention is further characterized by the use of a clutch a connection arrangement for connecting a sequence of jacketed flexible plastic filaments consisting of rods attached to their respective ends are provided with mutually compatible coupling elements for insertion in Pipes and channels for devices for pipe and channel inspection with the characteristics of at least one of claims 1 to 6.

The coupling device used so far for connecting rods to the pipe or sewer inspection was not safe and reliable for the reasons mentioned at the beginning enough to be able to use them several times for inspection purposes. So it was to find a clutch that has all disadvantages due to its constructive design the known coupling devices eliminated. It comes down to it in particular indicates that the clutch can be subjected to extreme thrust and high Has slidability in sewer or pipe bends of sewer systems. In addition, contamination of the clutch should generally be prevented to be able to use them several times without additional cleaning. After all, the Coupling have a high level of functional reliability.

After performing a variety of test attempts with different Coupling devices was now on the coupling for the pipe cleaning spiral which has been modified in such a way that it can be used for devices for channel or Pipe inspection can be used.  

For this purpose, the neck piece was attached to each coupling element that surrounds the stripped end of the push rod with its inner bore. Thereby there is a seamless transition from the outer circumference of the respective Push rod to the outer circumference of the neck piece of the coupling element, the is only slightly expanded radially due to its design. Simultaneously with the sliding of the neck piece of the coupling element on the The stripped area of the rod is inserted with a special adhesive that is used for a fixed Connection of the coupling element with the rod ensures. The connection will further by notches in the interior of the neck hole of the coupling element stabilized, especially if the neck piece with a suitable tool or a press radially against the outer surface of the stripped portion of the rod is squeezed. This combination of glue, notch and compression results to a permanent reliable connection of the individual coupling element with the respective push rod.

The vent opening in connection with the neck piece bore ensures a Escape of air when inserting the stripped area of the push rod in the neck piece of the coupling element.

The lateral connectivity of the two to each other is particularly advantageous compatible coupling elements, since there are no possibilities to accumulate Dirt and mud are present. Interlocking each Coupling halves are locked by the additional locking means Secure the coupling connection functionally reliably.

To decouple two connected rods into the side opening of the female coupling element a special tool, which can be a mandrel, inserted that the spring-loaded locking part in the male Pushes back coupling element and thereby through the two coupling elements uncoupled lateral movement away from each other.  

This invention provides a connector assembly that includes a has special coupling device which is particularly suitable, a sequence of flexible plastic rods for insertion into pipes and channels connect, which are used for devices for pipe and sewer inspection.

In one embodiment, the present invention is described with reference to FIG the associated drawings described in more detail. The drawings show in

FIG. 1 shows the inventive arrangement in the uncoupled state;

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 2 in the connected state;

Figure 3 shows the male coupling element in an exploded view.

Fig. 4, to the coupling element of FIG. 3 compatible female coupling member, and

Fig. 5 shows a stripped rod for connection to a coupling element.

In Fig. 1, a female coupling member 1 and a male coupling member 3 are shown, which are located in the uncoupled state. These coupling elements 1 and 3 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this respect, reference is made below to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The coupling elements 1 and 3 are necessarily designed to be compatible with one another and, in the connected state, assume the shape shown in FIG. 2.

The female coupling element 1 has a neck piece 5 and the male coupling element has a neck piece 7 .

As can be easily seen from the drawings, the male coupling element has a guiding form, which finds its counterpart in the claw-shaped form of the female coupling element 1 . At the front end of the male coupling element, a spring 11 and a locking part in the form of a pin 13 are inserted into an axial bore 9 . The pin 13 has an axial longitudinal groove 15 . In order to hold the pin 13 securely in the bore 9 , there is a further pin 17 which is inserted into a bore 19 which runs transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bore 9 and meets it. As a result, the pin 17 engages in the longitudinal groove 15 of the pin 13 , the locking pin 13 being axially displaceable over the length of the longitudinal groove 15 and being resiliently supported by the spring 11 .

An axial receiving bore 21 is provided in the female coupling element 1 as a counterpart to the locking pin 13 .

In order to connect the male coupling element 3 to the female coupling element 1 , the male coupling element 3 is inserted laterally with its guiding shape, which is designed in a dovetail shape, into the claw-shaped form of the female coupling element 1 . The locking pin 13 is pressed back against the force of the spring 11 . In the connected state of the connection arrangement, the spring 11 presses the locking pin into the receiving bore 21 , so that the male coupling element 3 is positively and non-positively connected to the female coupling element 1 . This connected state is shown in Fig. 2.

If the male coupling element 3 is separated from the female coupling element 1 and thus the coupling device is to be released, as shown in FIG. 1, a bolt (not shown) or some other special tool is inserted into an opening 23 made on the side of the female coupling element 1 , which lock pin 13 pushes back against the resistance of the spring 11 , so that the male coupling element 3 can be pulled sideways out of the female coupling element 1 .

The neck piece 5 of the female coupling element 1 has an axial bore 25 which can extend further into the female coupling element 1 . The neck piece 7 of the male coupling element also has an identical axial bore, which, however, is not shown in FIG. 3. Both coupling elements 1 and 3 also each have a ventilation opening 27 and 29 , each of which runs radially to the axial bore 25 and is connected to the latter. In addition, the inner wall of the axial bore 25 is provided with notches 31 , which can be designed as an internal thread.

In Fig. 5 a portion of a flexible plastic rod 33 is shown, which consists of a plastic filament 35 which is surrounded by a plastic jacket 37. Such a rod for insertion into pipes and channels is connected to a coupling element 1 or 3 at one end. The other end of the rod 33 is connected to the other coupling element. For this purpose, the area 39 of the rod 33 to be connected is freed from the plastic jacket 37 , as is customary in the case of electrical cables. The plastic filament 35 is thereby exposed in the stripped region 39 . This stripped area 39 of the rod 33 is provided with a special adhesive and inserted into the axial bore 25, for example of the female coupling element 1 . Since the inner diameter of the axial bore 25 corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the plastic filament 35 of the rod 33 , the air escaping when the rod 33 is inserted into the female coupling element 1 escapes via the ventilation opening 27 . This ensures that no air cushion forms when connecting the rod 33 to the coupling element 1 .

The special adhesive now connects the stripped plastic filament 35 of the rod 33 to the inner wall of the axial bore 25 of the coupling element 1 . This already creates a relatively secure and stable connection. In addition, as indicated by the stronger arrows in FIGS . 1, 2 and 5, a high contact pressure is exerted by a suitable tool on the neck of the female coupling element 1 , so that the notches 31 on the stripped plastic filament 35 of the rod 33 press and firmly press this area together. This increases the stability of the connection enormously.

The provided with the coupling elements 1 and 3, push rods 33 may be formed to a push rod 33 of any length now by connecting a consequence of these rods, which is used by the clutch assembly rigid and stable, yet flexible. The front end of a series of such push rods 33 can be connected to a television or camera head in the same way in order to insert the push rod into a sewage pipe system to inspect it. The other end of the sequence of push rods 33 is expediently connected to an inspection device.

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement for connecting a series of sheathed from flexible plastic filaments rods, which are provided at their respective ends with mutually compatible coupling elements, characterized in that

• - the ends of the rods are stripped;
• - The coupling elements each have a neck piece enclosing the ends of the rods, which is provided with an axial bore;
• - The coupling elements are plugged onto the respective stripped ends of the rods, a special adhesive being introduced between the stripped end of the rod and the axial bore in the neck piece;
• - Each coupling element has a vent opening which is connected to the axial bore of the neck piece;
• - When the coupling element is placed on the rod, the neck piece of the coupling element is radially compressed;
• - The one coupling element of a rod is non-positively and positively connected to the compatible coupling element of another rod, the male coupling element of the one rod being insertable laterally into the female coupling element of the other rod; and
• - The male coupling element has an additional locking part at its front end, which engages in a compatible counterpart in the female coupling element.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that on the inner wall notches of the axial bore in the neck of the coupling element are attached. 3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the notches as Internal threads are formed. 4. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking part is an axially resilient pin in the male coupling element, which in a corresponding axial receiving bore of the female Coupling element engages. 5. Arrangement according to claim 1 and 4, characterized in that the female Coupling element has a lateral opening which is aligned with the axial Receiving hole is connected, with a tool in the side opening for the resilient release of the pin of the male coupling element from the axial receiving bore of the female coupling element can be used. 6. Arrangement according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the Coupling elements essentially made of a corrosion-resistant metallic material of high strength. 7.Use of a coupling of a connection arrangement for connecting a series of rods consisting of coated flexible plastic filaments, which are provided at their respective ends with mutually compatible coupling elements, for insertion into pipes and ducts for devices for pipe and duct inspection with the proviso, that

• - the ends of the rods are stripped;
• - The coupling elements each have a neck piece enclosing the ends of the rods, which is provided with an axial bore;
• - The coupling elements are plugged onto the respective stripped ends of the rods, a special adhesive being introduced between the stripped end of the rod and the axial bore in the neck piece;
• - Each coupling element has a vent opening which is connected to the axial bore of the neck piece;
• - When the coupling element is placed on the rod, the neck of the coupling element is radially compressed;
• - The one coupling element of a rod is non-positively and positively connected to the compatible coupling element of another rod, the male coupling element of the one rod being insertable laterally into the female coupling element of the other rod; and
• - The male coupling element has an additional locking part at its front end, which engages in a compatible counterpart in the female coupling element.

8. Use of a coupling of a connection arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by the features of at least one of claims 2 until 6.