DE9307825U1 - Device for connecting pipes - Google Patents

Description

Device for connecting pipes

This invention relates to a device for connecting pipes arranged along the same axis with adjacent end faces.

There are many types of pipes and piping systems, most of which are used to transport a certain type of material from one place to another. Therefore, pipes are often used in engineering applications such as water supply pipes,
Control device pipelines,

ventilation piping, etc. Traditionally, connectors or joints are used to join the ends of pipes together to form a pipeline system for specific applications.

2333

Bremen:

Hollerallee 32, PO Box 10 71 27
D-2800 Bremen 1

Telephone (04 21) 34 90 71
Fax (04 21) 3 49 17 68
Telex 244 958 bopat d

Berlin:

Uhlandstrasse 173/174 D-1000 Berlin 15

Telephone (0 30) 8 81 10 36 Fax .(0*i0)V8i38ST. Telex * J83J 661 frone d .

Munich:

Franz-Joseph-Straße D-8000 Munich 40

Telephone (0 89)34 70 > Fax · (0 83J.3/.70 ' fete* * 5J4J§2forbod

Leipzig:

Petersstrasse 26
D (OJ-7010 Leipzig

Telephone (03 41)29 45 23
Fax (03 41) 28 40 74

Dusseldorf:

Am Rittersberg 39 D-4000 Düsseldorf 39

Telephone (02 11) 7 02 18 95 Fax (02 11) 7 02 18 95

BOEHMERT & BOEHMEjRt _{4 :} NORDEMANNC uV

For the types of pipes that have been widely used, a known method of connecting pipes involves making threaded portions at the ends of each pipe. Then an operator moves the pipes to be connected toward each other and aligns the pipes along the same axis. Normally, this method requires the adjacent pipes to be connected to be moved along the same axis and rotated relatively about the same axis. However, these pipes may contain materials with different weights, such as stainless steel, zinc, copper, etc. Therefore, it is not easy to install pipe joints, especially under the working conditions dictated by the particular environment of the pipes to be connected; although it is not impossible to rotate the pipes, making a pipe joint is very difficult and laborious.

Currently, a Japanese approach to pipe connection is widely used. The corresponding connection means comprises a connector and a groove for inserting a sheath ring. This groove is made along the inner edge of the end of the connector. A suitable way of implementing this approach is to use a special marking tool to make a double-line mark at a suitable place on the pipe. The suitable place is near the area up to which the pipe can be completely placed in the connector. In general, to make a connection, one end of the connector together with the sheath ring must be placed between the double-line mark of the pipe. Then the area of the connector surrounding the pipe must be brought into the recess of a compression tool, the pipe aligned with respect to a suitable angle

BOEHMERT & BOEHMER£..NOi^£MANN uV PARTNER

and the button of the compression machine is pressed to connect the pipe to the connector with the cover ring. The connecting area of the pipe with the connector becomes hexagonal in shape during compression connection and the cover ring is compressed. Vibrations generated when fluid or other material is transferred in the pipes will not cause the connecting area to become loose.

The main disadvantages of the above approach are the need for special tools such as a marking tool, a groove cutting machine and a compression machine, the high cost associated with purchasing these installation tools, and poor sealing effects because only one wrapping ring can be placed in the space between the front end of the connector and the pipe.

A different type of connecting device also known comprises at least a covering ring, a metal disk, a C-shaped ring with internal thread, a connecting element for receiving the above-described parts and a nut. In principle, the connecting element can be closed by means of the covering ring, disk and C-shaped ring after a pipe has been inserted into it by means of the covering ring, disk and C-shaped ring by using a normal wrench to screw the nut onto the threaded portion of the connecting element so that the C-shaped ring adapts to the pipe to complete the pipe connection. This connecting device can improve the disadvantages of the conventional approach, which requires compression machines and groove cutting machines. However, a new problem is introduced.

BOEHMERT & BOEHl^Eil^jNOSDEMANNuV PARTNER

-A-

The vibrations generated when liquid or other material is transferred in the pipes gradually loosen the C-shaped ring that tightly encloses the pipe, thus destroying the desired functioning of the pipe connection.

Therefore, it is important to have a new approach to the pipe joint so that no relative rotation of the pipes is required, as in a conventional method, to make a joint easily and essentially independent of the working conditions dictated by the environment of the structure. In addition, it should not be necessary to purchase extra tools such as marking tools, groove cutting machines, compression machines, etc. It is also important that the new approach avoids the problem resulting from the gradual loosening and slipping of the joint element due to the vibrations generated when transferring liquid or other material in the pipes.

Accordingly, the main object of the invention is to provide an improved device for connecting pipes, the new pipe connecting device enabling pipes to be connected without rotation of the pipes relative to each other, which facilitates the working conditions in the environment of the construction. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to make the purchase of marking tools, groove cutting machines, compression machines, etc. unnecessary for working on the pipes. Also, the loosening of the connecting element due to vibrations when transferring liquid or other material in the pipes should be prevented.

BOEHMERT & BOEHlfaEi^, _; Np|UD£MÄNN*uäD E\RTNER

More specifically, the invention comprises an external connecting element with an axial passage for receiving the ends of two pipes, each pipe connection being defined by the following features:

The inner wall of the connecting element has an internally threaded area. The first end of a connecting ring is at least partially freely displaceable in the internal threaded area of the outer connecting element. A fastening ring is intended to be arranged in the passage of the outer connecting element. When the connecting ring moves towards the outer connecting element, an engaging end of the fastening ring is made to engage over a suitable length in the outer surface of the pipe surrounded by it, so that the connecting device according to the invention can be well connected to this pipe. Therefore, the vibrations generated when transferring liquid and other material in the pipes will have a very hard time deteriorating the connection that exists between the device for connecting pipes and each pipe. Moreover, the connection between the connecting device and each pipe is carried out with conventional wrenches, without any special compression tools.

In this invention, the improved pipe-joining device and the corresponding pipes form a mating structure. This structure includes the outer connecting element which comprises a first outer surface, a second outer surface and an axial passage, the size of the axial passage allowing the connecting ring to be easily inserted inside

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of the outer joint member. Many grooves are provided on the first outer surface of the outer joint member so that when the first end of the connecting ring has completely entered the outer joint member, a fixing pin can be passed through the connecting ring and enter one of the many grooves. Therefore, the jointing device does not have the shaking problem due to the vibrations when transferring liquid or other material in the pipes.

In addition to the above-described advantages of the improved device for connecting pipes, namely no gradual loosening of the device for connecting pipes at the connection areas due to vibrations and no need for special compression tools to create a pipe connection, another aim of the invention is to improve sealing effects. Within the axial passage of the outer connecting element, a deformation device is therefore present adjacent to each of the two ends of the fastening ring. After the first end of the connecting ring has completely entered the outer connecting element, this design ensures an improvement in sealing.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description, in which an embodiment is explained in detail using the schematic drawing. In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a

Device for connecting pipes according to the invention, the device

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT,

·

symmetrical and only one half of the complete device is shown;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section along the axis of the device for connecting pipes shown in Fig. 1, into which the ends of two pipes to be connected are inserted, the connecting ring not being shown completely inserted into the outer connecting element; and

Fig. 3 is a further longitudinal section along the axis of the device for connecting pipes, showing the connecting ring completely inserted into the external connecting element, so that the fastening ring is forced to engage the external surface of the pipe.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, like parts are assigned like reference numerals. The device according to the invention has a symmetrical structure for connecting a pair of pipes A and B and comprises an external connecting element 10 with an axial passage 11, only one half of the device according to the invention being described below with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3:

The axial passage 11 is delimited by a first outer surface 12 and a second outer surface 13. A connecting ring 20 is freely movable along the axis of the device according to the invention within the axial passage 11. In addition, a fastening ring 30 and a deformation device 40 can be arranged in

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the passage 11 of the outer connecting element 10. After the connecting ring 20 has entered the outer connecting element 10, it can change the position of the fastening ring 30 and compress the deformation device 40, which can be implemented as follows:

In the connecting element 10, opposite the first outer surface 12, there is an inner surface 14 which has an area with an internal thread 15. The internal thread 15 is used to screw in the connecting ring 20. The connecting ring 20 comprises a first outer surface 21, a second outer surface 22 and a passage 24 which is delimited by the two outer surfaces 21 and 22. An area with an external thread 23 is provided on the outer surface 21. This external thread 23 provides the counterpart to the internal thread 15 of the connecting element 10, so that the first outer surface 21 of the connecting ring 20 can be rotated and moved within the passage 11. It is important that the passage 24 runs within the passage 11, and thus a pipe, such as pipes A and B, enters the passage 11 of the outer connecting element 10 through the passage 24.

In implementing the invention, the fastening ring 30 and the deformation device 40 are held in the space delimited by an inner shoulder 16 of the connecting element 10, which is formed by the first outer surface 12 and the second outer surface 13 of the outer connecting element 10, and the front edge of the outer surface 21 of the connecting ring 20 facing the outer connecting element 10.

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT,

When the first outer surface 21 of the connecting ring 20 has completely entered the outer connecting element 10, the fastening ring 30 and the deformation device 40 cannot escape from the area delimited by the first outer surface 12, while they can be displaced along the axis, as explained in more detail below:

The fastening ring 30 includes an engaging end 31, which is used to engage the outer surface of the pipe it surrounds. The fastening ring 30 also includes a front surface 32 adjacent the engaging end and a rear surface 33. Typically, the fastening ring 30 has a gap 35 substantially perpendicular to and between the front surface 32 and the rear surface 33 so that the fastening ring 30 can be closely adapted to the round outer surface of a pipe, such as pipes A and B.

On the other hand, the deformation device 40 fulfills a completely sealing function. The deformation device 40 contains an inner ring 41, a middle ring 42 and an O-ring 43. The inner ring 41 is arranged in the space between the inner shoulder 16 and the fastening ring 30; the middle ring 42 is accommodated in the space between the fastening ring 30 and the connecting ring 20; and the O-ring 43 is arranged in the space between the second outer surface 22 of the connecting ring 20 and the first outer surface 12 of the outer connecting element 10, wherein an annular groove 25 is formed on the surface between the first outer surface 21 and the second outer surface 22 of the connecting ring 20, into which the O-ring 43 can be at least partially inserted. In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal section of the

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT,

- 10 -

Inner ring 41 of the deformation device 40 has approximately an L-shaped configuration which encloses most of the space that houses the fastening ring 30. In addition, the front surface 32 of the fastening ring 30 is in contact with the inner shoulder 411 of the L-shaped inner ring 41, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

According to a preferred embodiment, the end of the outer surface 13 facing away from the outer surface 12 has a circular projection 17. This circular projection 17 represents a reference length for the pipes A and B when these pipes are inserted into the device for connecting pipes and are thus arranged in contact with one side of the circular projection 17. The cylindrical second outer surface 22 of the connecting ring 20 has grooves 26 parallel to the axis of the device for connecting pipes. These grooves 26 enable an operator to easily and quickly turn the end of the connecting ring 20 having the outer surface 21 into the outer connecting element 10 to create a pipe connection using very simple tools, such as a conventional wrench.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting ring 20 moves towards the second outer surface 13 of the outer connecting element 10 while it is rotated, since the internal thread 15 of the first outer surface 12 of the outer connecting element 10 forms the counterpart to the external thread 23 on the first outer surface 21 of the connecting ring 20. At the same time, the first outer surface 21 of the connecting ring 20 moves along the surface of the fastening ring 30 having a bevel 34, so that the front area of the engaging end 31 is gradually pressed onto the pipe surface and the engaging end 31 finally enters the

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT,

• · fc · ♦ * ·

- 11 -

Outer surface of the pipe. An embodiment is preferred in which the connecting ring 20 has a guide 211 in the area having the outer surface 21 in order to avoid overlap effects. This clearly demonstrates that a secure connection between a device for connecting pipes and pipes can be made without using special tools such as groove cutting machines and compression machines. In addition, the occurrence of gradual loosening due to vibrations when transferring liquid or other material in the pipes will be less common with the device according to the invention than with conventional devices.

As the connecting ring 20 is rotated to move toward the outer connecting element 10, the structure of the novel deformation device 40, which includes the inner ring 41, the center ring 42 and the O-ring 43, deforms due to the clamping effect exerted by the connecting ring 20. After the first outer surface 21 of the connecting ring 20 has completely entered the outer connecting element 10, the O-ring 43 completely deforms. The pressure exerted on the inner ring 41, the center ring 42 and the O-ring 43 results in a strong deformation effect with the generation of friction, so that the inner ring 41, the center ring 42 and the O-ring 43 are forced to fit tightly to the other parts of the device for connecting pipes as well as to the pipes themselves. This not only prevents the relative rotation between the outer connecting element 10 and the connecting ring 20, but also provides a high sealing effect.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT,

According to the invention, the connecting ring 20 additionally has a fastening hole 27 arranged parallel to the outer surface 22 to allow a fastening pin 50 to pass through the connecting ring 20. In addition, the end of the outer surface 12 facing away from the outer surface 13 has a plurality of grooves 18 on the outer connecting element 10 which form counterparts to the fastening hole 27. The grooves 18 are arranged on the cylindrical first outer surface 12 along its axis so that each groove can be brought into a position in which it is aligned with the fastening hole 27 so that the fastening pin 50 can be inserted through the fastening hole 27 into one of the many grooves 18. This prevents the relative rotation between the outer connecting element 10 and the connecting ring 20 due to vibrations.

The invention thus provides an effective and improved device for connecting pipes. As the connecting ring 20 is rotated into the outer connecting element 10, it guides the fastening ring 30 so that it engages the outer surface of the pipe. The invention therefore provides an improved device for securely connecting pipes without the need for special tools; improves the tightness; and substantially eliminates the problem of gradual loosening due to vibrations when transferring liquid or other material in the pipes. Obviously, the device according to the invention has a novel design of the spatial structure and has great improvements.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT,

may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT* ilQRDEjM>j$N une>* PARTNER

Bezucjs character list Pipe A Pipe B Connecting element 10 execution 11 Exterior surface 12 Exterior surface 13 Inner surface 14 inner thread 15 Inner shoulder 16 Circle projection 17 Groove 18 Connecting ring 20 Exterior surface 21 Exterior surface 22 External thread 23 execution 24 Ring groove 25 Groove 26 Mounting hole 27 guide 211 Mounting ring 30 End of intervention 31 Front surface 32 Back surface 33 bevel 34 gap 35 Deformation device 40 Inner ring 41 Middle ring 42 O-ring 43 Inner shoulder 411

50 Fixing pin

Claims (12)

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT, NORDEMANN and PARTNERS Registered mail To the German Patent Office Zweibrückenstrasse 12 8000 Munich 2 ¹ PA DR-ING. KARL BOEHMERT (1933-1973) PA DIPL.-ING. ALBERT BOEHMERT*, BREMEN RA WILHELM JH STAHLBERG, BREMEN PA DR-ING. WALTER HOORMANN*, BREMEN PA DIPL.-PHYS. DR. HEINZ GODDAR·, MUNICH PA DR-ING. ROLAND LIESEGANG·, Munich RA WOLF-DIETER KUNTZE, BREMEN PA DIPL.-PHYS. ROBERT MÜNZHUBER·, (1965 · 1992) PA DIPL.-ING. EDMUND F. EITNER* (1933 - 1990) RA DR. JUR. LUDWIG KOUKER, BREMEN PA DR (CHEM.) ANDREAS WINKLER·, BREMEN RA MICHAELA HUTH, BREMEN PA DIPL-PHYS. DR MARION TÖNHARDT·, Düsseldorf LAWYER DR LEGAL ANDREAS EBERT-WEIDENFELLER, BREMEN RA PROF. DR. JUR. WILHELM NORDEMANN··, professional RA DR JUR KAI VINCK", BERLIN RA PROF. DR JUR. PAUL W. HERnN", BERLIN LAWYER KLAUS VOM BROCKE, BERLIN LAWYER HERMANN-JOSEF OMSELS, BERLIN LAWYER DR MARTIN SCHELLENBERGER, LEIPZIG PA - Patent Attorney * - European Patent Attorney RA - Attorney-at-law " - Notary Your sign
Your ref. New registration Your letter of Our sign Our ref. WM1619 Bremen 19 May 1993 Shiow-Duan Wang 2nd Fl., 137 An Tai St., Nei Hu Taipei, Taiwan 114 R.CO. Device for connecting pipes Expectations 1. Device for connecting pipes arranged along the same axis with adjacent ends, comprising: - an external connecting element (10); - a connecting ring (20) which can be at least partially screwed into the outer connecting element (10); - a fastening ring (30) between the connecting element (10) and the connecting ring (20), which can be displaced into a position engaging the outer surface of a pipe arranged in the device for connecting pipes and surrounded by the fastening ring (30) by screwing the connecting ring (20) into the outer connecting element (10); and - a deformation device (40) between the connecting element (10) and the connecting ring (20), which Bremen: Hollerallee 32, PO Box 10 71 27
D-2800 Bremen 1
Telephone (04 21) 34 90 71
Fax (04 21) 3 49 17 68
Telex 244 958 bopat d Berlin: Uhlandstrasse 173/174 D-1000 Berlin 15
Telephone (0 30) 8 81 10 36 Telefax (0 30) 8 81 39 27 Telex 183 661 froead . Munich: Franz-Joseph-Straße D-8000 Munich 40 Telephone (0 89) 34 70 Fax (0 89) 34 70 . . ,52&Iacgr;282 faAo d. Leipzig: Petersstrasse 26
D (OJ-7010 Leipzig
Telephone (03 41)29 45 23
Fax (03 41) 28 40 74 Dusseldorf: Am Rittersberg 39 D-4000 Düsseldorf 39 Telephone (02 11) 7 02 18 95 Fax (02 11) 7 02 18 95 BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT ₅ JTORDEMA-NKWd P#RTNEjR 2 - by screwing the connecting ring (20) into the connecting element (10) it can be deformed and is essentially adaptable to the other components of the device for connecting pipes and to the pipe. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer connecting element (10) has a first outer surface (12), a second outer surface (13) and an inner shoulder (16) formed by the first outer surface (12) and the second outer surface (13) as well as an axial passage (11) delimited by the first outer surface (12) and the second outer surface (13); and that the connecting ring (20) has a first outer surface (21) and a second outer surface (22), wherein the first outer surface (21) can be inserted into the outer connecting element (10) along the axial passage (11) and the engagement of the fastening ring (30) can be forced into the outer surface of the pipe. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer connecting element (10) has a region with an internal thread (15) opposite the first outer surface (12); and that the counterpart of this internal thread (15) is formed by an external thread (23) on a region of the first outer surface (21) of the connecting ring (20). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening ring (30) has an engagement end (31) on the side facing away from the connecting ring (20), adjacent to this engagement end (31) has a front surface (32), a rear surface (33) and a bevel (34) of the outer surface delimited by the front surface (32) and the rear surface (33), so that BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT ₁ JWORDEMANTC^d PARJNßR the end of the connecting ring (20) having the first outer surface (21) is movable along the bevel (34) in the direction of the outer connecting element (10), whereby pressure can be exerted on the front region of the engagement end (31). 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformation device (40) an inner ring (41) in the space between the inner shoulder (16) and the fastening ring (30), a central ring (42) in the space between the fastening ring (30) and the connecting ring (20) and an O-ring (43) in the space between the connecting ring (20) and the first outer surface (12) of the outer connecting element (10); and that an annular groove (25) is formed at the end of the first outer surface (21) of the connecting ring (20) which faces away from the second outer surface (22) for at least partially receiving the O-ring (43). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the longitudinal section of the inner ring (41) of the deformation device (40) has a substantially L-shaped configuration which encloses most of the space accommodating the fastening ring (30). 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fastening hole (27) is formed in the region of the connecting ring (20) comprising the second outer surface (22) parallel to the second outer surface (22); that a fastening pin (50) can be passed through the fastening hole (27); and that the cylindrical first outer surface (12) of the outer connecting element (10) has a plurality of grooves (18) which are each arranged in relation to the fastening hole (27) BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT, ,NQRDEM^I^ijnd PARTNER can be aligned in the connecting ring (20) so that the fastening pin (50) can be inserted through the fastening hole (27) into a groove (18). 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer connecting element (10) in the region of the second outer surface (13) has a circular projection (17), the side surfaces of which are each in contact with one end of the two pipes to be connected and arranged in the device for connecting pipes. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the connecting ring (20) having the second outer surface (22) has a plurality of grooves (26) arranged parallel to the axis of the device for connecting pipes. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the connecting ring (20) having the first outer surface (21) comprises a guide (211). 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening ring (30) between the front surface (32) and the rear surface (33) has a gap (35) extending substantially perpendicular to the front surface (32) and the rear surface (33). 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for connecting pipes is constructed symmetrically.