Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
  • F16L55/10—Means for stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses
  • F16L55/11—Plugs
  • F16L55/1108—Plugs fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the technical field of transport networks for energy fluids, or signals.
• These transport networks include installation conduit elements connected end to end inside which cables, pipes or wires are arranged.
• Such a network can be terrestrial or underwater.
• the present invention relates more particularly to a sealing end piece for an installation duct, or an installation duct element.
• installation duct is meant any plastic tube, for example high density polyethylene (HDPE), sealed from the outside with respect to liquids, and from the inside, screws -to any fluid, including under pressure.
• HDPE high density polyethylene
• Such a tube is also rigid enough to withstand mechanically any load, such as the weight of an earth column due to the burial of the installation duct, and flexible enough to be handled, for example wound on a reel.
• the installation duct elements In order to store or transport the installation duct elements before their connection, they can be filled with a liquid, for example pressurized air, for example at 0.5 bar, then closed at their two ends respectively . This makes it possible in particular to compensate for the embrittlement of said conduits, linked to the increase in their temperature, by exposure to the sun for example.
• a liquid for example pressurized air, for example at 0.5 bar
• the installation conduits having, for example, a tubular shape produced with a plastic material of the HDPE type are generally black in color.
• the duct elements are often stored or transported outside, and their black color favors the absorption of solar radiation, thus favoring their heating. It is not uncommon for such conduits to reach temperatures of the order of 60 ° C, thus softening their constituent material.
• the object of the present invention therefore aims to achieve in a simple manner the sealing of installation duct elements to withstand during their transport and storage at high mechanical stresses and in particular at high internal pressures.
• the sealing end piece comprises: - a plug comprising a tapered frustoconical part whose thread is for example self-tapping, capable of being when it is screwed into one end of the plastic conduit;
• a handling head having a peripheral shoulder in the extension of the plug, said peripheral shoulder being arranged to come opposite a edge of the edge of an opening of the duct,
• the object assigned to the present invention is also achieved by means of a method for closing a tubular installation pipe made of plastic material, for transport and storage, consisting in sealing the ends of said pressurized pipe or intended to be pressurized.
• the method consists in:
• An advantage of the sealing end piece according to the invention lies in the fact that it makes it possible to seal outside the duct, thus increasing the simplicity of construction and its reliability.
• Another remarkable advantage lies in the fact that the sealing end piece makes it possible to maintain the sealing, even when it is subjected to high pressures. Another advantage lies in the fact that the sealing is carried out on the edge of the duct, which is able to withstand a significant axial force on the part of the sealing end piece.
• sealing nozzle Another advantage of the sealing nozzle is linked to its great simplicity of use and its adaptability to deviations or fluctuations in the internal diameter of the various installation conduits.
• FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a sealing tip according to the invention, shown in exploded view and in perspective;
• FIG. 2 shows an axial sectional view of a sealing nozzle according to Figure 1, mounted on an installation duct;
• FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the sealing tip according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 is another method of mounting the nozzle according to the invention.
• the sealing end piece 2 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a tapered tapered plug 4.
• the latter has a self-tapping thread 6 making it possible to dig a helical thread inside an installation duct 1, when said plug 4 is screwed into one end of the duct 1.
• the sealing tip 2 also includes a handling head 8, which has a peripheral shoulder 10 in the coaxial extension.
• the peripheral shoulder 10 is intended to come opposite a edge 1a of the opening to be closed off from the duct 1.
• the sealing end piece 2 also comprises an annular seal 1 2 shown in FIG. 1, and disposed in a groove 30 formed between the head 8 and the threaded part of the plug 4.
• the annular seal 1 2 is, for example, a O-ring whose constituent material is chosen from viscoelastic materials, for example elastomer.
• the handling head 8 is externally provided with a knurling 14 substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (y-y ') of the duct 1. Knurling 14 can also be replaced by flats (not shown).
• the handling head 8 can comprise a hooking means. The latter is, for example a transverse bore 1 6.
• the plug 4 is extended at its free end 18 with a hooking ring 20.
• the sealing end piece 2 is preferably made in a single hollow part obtained by molding or injection of a technical plastic material.
• the material constituting the sealing end piece 2 is preferably chosen from materials of the technical polymer plastic type, loaded or not.
• the sealing tip 2 comprises a pressurizing valve 22 mounted on the free end 1 8, constituting the small base of the frustoconical part threaded plug 4.
• the pressurizing valve 22 thus makes it possible to introduce compressed air inside the duct 1, when the latter is already closed with the sealing ends 2.
• the pressurizing valve 22 is centered in the plug 4, and one of its ends 22a is screwed into the free end 1 8, passing through the plastic wall to come into communication with the interior volume of the conduit 1.
• the other end 22b of the pressurizing valve 22 remains accessible and protected by the handling head 8.
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view, passing through the longitudinal axis (y-y ') of the conduit 1.
• FIG. 2 represents the sealing end piece 2 screwed and therefore mounted in one end of the duct 1.
• the conduit 1 thus has an internal surface 1b, cylindrical, which is tapped over a certain length at its end, thanks to the self-tapping thread 6. The latter is encrusted at least partly in the material of the conduit 1 flush according to the internal surface 1 b. An intimate mechanical connection is thus obtained between the duct 1 and the plug 4.
• the present invention also relates to a method for closing a plastic installation pipe 1, for the storage and transport of the latter.
• This method consists in sealingly closing the ends of the conduit 1, which is pressurized or intended to be pressurized with any suitable fluid.
• the method consists in cutting the end of the conduit 1 transversely to its longitudinal axis (y-y '), in order to obtain a edge 1 a whose annular surface, devoid of roughness, extends in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (yy ').
• Devices for cutting the conduits 1 in this way are known as such.
• the method also consists in using a sealing tip 2 for each end of the duct 1, and in screwing each plug 4 into the corresponding end of the duct 1 in the axial direction F.
• the annular seal 1 2 is compressed between the peripheral shoulder 1 0 and the corresponding edge 1 a, in the axial direction F, by completing the screwing operation. A sealed obturation of the duct 1 is thus obtained, both pneumatically and hydraulically.
• a cylindrical ring 50 is placed externally on the end of the installation duct 1.
• the ring 50 has for example an internal shoulder resting on the edge 1a, so as to avoid slipping on the duct 1 during its installation.
• the ring 50 for example metallic, is mounted on the duct 1 before the sealing piece is screwed into the opening of the duct 1. This avoids the creep of the plastic material of the conduit 1, in particular when said conduits 1 are pressurized for a long period, for example of storage. Sealing and pressurization are then better ensured over time.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pipe Accessories (AREA)
• Gasket Seals (AREA)
• Protection Of Pipes Against Damage, Friction, And Corrosion (AREA)
• Joints With Pressure Members (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8849682

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Families Citing this family (26)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 2000
  • 2000-04-27 FR FR0005415A patent/FR2808257B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-03-21 US US09/813,610 patent/US6688336B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-04-26 IL IL14715101A patent/IL147151A0/xx unknown
  • 2001-04-26 EP EP01929721A patent/EP1188016A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-04-26 CN CN01801113.6A patent/CN1366592A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-04-26 HU HU0202083A patent/HUP0202083A2/hu unknown
  • 2001-04-26 WO PCT/FR2001/001287 patent/WO2001081813A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-04-26 CA CA002376434A patent/CA2376434A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-04-26 AU AU56419/01A patent/AU5641901A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-04-26 BR BR0104592-0A patent/BR0104592A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-04-26 MX MXPA01012640A patent/MXPA01012640A/es unknown
  • 2001-04-27 TN TNTNSN01064A patent/TNSN01064A1/fr unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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