EP1848909A1

EP1848909A1 - Conduit having a variable rigidity

Info

Publication number: EP1848909A1
Application number: EP06709114A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olivier Pradeilles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-15
Filing date: 2006-01-18
Publication date: 2007-10-31
Also published as: US20090121477A1; WO2006087436A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible conduit (1) provided, in particular, for transporting fluids or powdery materials, comprising at least one sealed and flexible hose (2) inside of which a fluid or powdery fluid can be conveyed. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a straining device covering the sealed hose over at least a portion of the length of said conduit, preferably over the entire conduit. The straining device comprises at least one jacket (3) and means (4, 5) for straining the jacket. This jacket and straining means are provided for, when at rest, preserving the suppleness and flexibility of the conduit and, under the application of a specified stress, to rigidify the conduit and to hold its position over the length of the conduit covered by the straining device. The invention also relates to an actuator (15) for a conduit of the aforementioned type.

Description

VARIABLE RIGIDITY DRIVING

The present invention relates to a flexible pipe adapted in particular for the transport of liquid or gaseous fluids or pulverulent materials, said pipe comprising a clamping device to reduce its flexibility until it can stiffen and freeze, and vice versa, depending on requirements inherent in the use of said conduit. The invention also relates to an actuator for a variable rigid rigidity.

The conduct of the invention may be used for a variety of purposes such as, for example, a shower hose, a fire hose, a garden hose or any other application for transporting liquid or gaseous fluids, as well as a hose for Protection and direction of optical fibers or CCD cameras for medical or telecommunication applications.

Pipes and pipes of all kinds have been known for a long time, suitable for the transport of liquid or gaseous fluids or even powdery products. These pipes and hoses can be, according to their uses as well as their lengths and diameters, flexible or not, the pipes and hoses being generally of relatively small diameter (up to about twenty millimeters maximum) and intended to be handled and moved manually or mechanically.

It is often necessary to use, in combination with the flexible pipes, devices for supporting or maintaining said pipes in a specific position, particularly at the ends thereof. These support or holding devices make it possible to maintain the said ends so that they remain oriented in a preferred direction corresponding to either the connection axis of the pipe with a reservoir or a distribution member of the product to be transported, or to the direction of projection or product distribution using appropriate means. In the absence of such holding devices, the fluid or the material transported under pressure inside said pipe, is likely to cause inadvertent movements thereof when one of these ends is not maintained. The support and / or support devices are, however, only partially satisfactory. Indeed, these devices are generally fixed which greatly limits the modularity of use positions of the pipe without direct manipulation thereof.

In addition, said support or holding devices are often not suitable for use in difficult environments (fire, landslides, rugged terrain) which still requires human intervention to support and direct the pipes with the risks that this entails for the physical integrity of the staff in charge.

The documents US 2003/184 086, US 2004/074 993 and DE 295 09 507 U1 each describe a flexible pipe comprising a central pipe in which is capable of being conveyed a fluid, this central pipe being covered with a sheath. articulated formed of interconnected elements adapted to pivot relative to each other and forming a kind of sheath around the central pipe. However, the pipes described in these documents all have a substantially constant stiffness determined by the friction force existing between the interconnected elements forming the duct sheath.

Therefore, the simple friction between the constituent elements of the sheath can not be sufficient to rigidify the pipe correctly and completely to counteract the effect of the internal pressure of the fluid flowing in the central pipe and maintain the pipe in a certain position, especially when the length it exceeds 1 meter and / or its diameter is greater than a few centimeters.

Conversely, these pipes are never fully flexible and flexible due to the constant friction between the elements of the sheath, which strike their maneuverability.

Document WO 03/103466 A1 discloses a shower hose that can be stiffened by tensioning a cable using a mechanical or hydraulic actuator. However, such a hose does not comply with the standards of hygiene and safety required for this type of products besides the proposed stiffening system is mechanically unreliable.

The object of the present invention is to overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages of existing flexible pipes. The invention aims in particular to provide a pipe which, in a first state, is completely flexible and flexible, and which, in a second state, can be stiffened and fixed in a specific position, while continuing to convey a said fluid, material or other product of any kind.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pipe that is suitable for any kind of household or professional use, and whose flexible or rigid nature is independent of its length and diameter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pipe which can if necessary, in the frozen state, be guided and moved via appropriate control means.

The invention achieves its various goals by means of a flexible pipe of the type comprising at least one tight and flexible pipe within which a product such as a fluid, a material or cables or optical fibers can be conveyed, characterized in that it comprises a clamping device covering said sealed pipe over at least a portion of the length of said pipe, preferably the entire length of said pipe, said clamping device comprising at least one sheath and clamping means said sheath, said sheath and said clamping means being adapted, at rest, to preserve the flexibility and flexibility of said pipe and, under the application of a given constraint, to stiffen said pipe and freeze its position over the length of said pipe covered by said clamping device.

The pipe according to the invention is particularly advantageous in that it can be of two different types, flexible or rigid, depending on the needs of the user and a simple action thereof on the clamping device. The conduct of the invention thus allows, when rigid and fixed, the release of the hands of the user who can thus perform other tasks while driving continues to convey a said fluid or material for example. At the same time, when the clamping device is at rest, the pipe is as easy to handle and move as a traditional flexible pipe which facilitates its precise placement before stiffening and its storage after.

According to a first advantageous characteristic, the sheath of the pipe according to the invention is articulated and said clamping means cooperate with peripheral portions of said sheath at its joints, said clamping means exerting, under a said determined stress, forces pressure on said parts peripherals of said sheath. Thus, it causes the blocking of said joints, which itself allows the stiffening of the pipe.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said sheath comprises an assembly of modules provided with a longitudinal bore, preferably cylindrical, opening through said modules and complementary connecting means. Said cylindrical bore formed in each module makes it possible to thread said sheath onto said sealed pipe of the pipe. As for them, said complementary connecting means advantageously form, between said two assembled modules, said joints of said sheath, the latter being preferably ball-type.

These ball joints thus allow the angular displacement of the modules of the sheath with respect to each other and give said sheath flexibility and flexibility when said clamping means are not active.

Also preferably, said clamping means comprise cables having a length at least equal to the length of said pipe. These cables advantageously cooperate with said peripheral portions of said sheath, in particular said modules thereof, so as to compress said sheath at its said joints under a tensile force applied to one end of said cables.

In a first embodiment of the pipe according to the invention, the sheath of said clamping device is preferably composed of identical modules, each said module consisting of a part of revolution comprising, on the one hand, a shaped head. ball of substantially spherical external profile, and, secondly, a flared shell, said shell having an internal profile complementary to said external profile of said head of a second identical module, said head and said shell constituting said complementary connecting means of each said module.

In a second variant embodiment, said sheath comprises at least two different types of modules, each type of module comprising a pair of similar connecting means complementary to the connecting means of the modules of the other type.

In this variant embodiment, said sheath then advantageously comprises first modules, of the male type, consisting of a part of revolution comprising two ball-shaped heads of substantially spherical external profile, and second modules, of female type, consisting of a part of revolution comprising two flared shells of internal profile complementary to said external profile of said heads of the male-type modules, said heads and said shells said male and female modules respectively being arranged along the axis of revolution of said modules and symmetrical with respect to a median plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of revolution of said modules.

In this second embodiment as in the first embodiment, said male and female modules comprise a said cylindrical bore pierced and opening right through the axis of revolution of said modules, this bore allowing to pass said modules on said sealed pipe of the conduct to constitute the articulated sheath.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the cables of the clamping device are inserted in guides formed, preferably parallel to said axis of revolution of said modules, in the walls of said shells of said modules, said cables comprising, at a first end, stop means, particularly stop type, against the module closest to said first end and, at a second end, means for connecting said cables to traction means ancillary to said pipe.

Advantageously, said clamping means further comprise strapping rings of said cables evenly distributed along said sheath of said clamping device, preferably at a rate of one every 1 to 15 modules of said sheath, preferably at a rate of from one to every 1 to 6 modules. These rings make it possible in particular to direct the compressive forces of the cables to the shells of the modules during the tensioning of the cables by traction means to stiffen the pipe.

In addition, said rings also improve the capacity of the pipe to freeze in a determined position, in three dimensions, during the tensioning of the cables by segmenting in a way the articulated sheath into "sections" of sheath each comprising a number determined modules, each said "section" freezing in the preferred direction in which it is oriented during the tensioning of the cables of the clamping device. In order to facilitate and improve the blocking of the joints between the modules of the conduit sheath according to the invention, the shell walls of said modules advantageously comprise notches extending from the edge of said shells to the base of those said notches thus delimiting flanks in which said guides for the cables of said clamping means are formed.

These notches allow to "weaken" the walls of the shells of the modules to facilitate their compression by the cables to stiffen the pipe.

To further improve the locking of said joints formed between said modules, said one or more head (s) of a said module preferably comprises on its external surface an annular groove coaxial with said axis of revolution of the module, said groove receiving means, preferably an O-ring, adapted to increase the adhesion between said head and said shell of the modules once assembled.

Advantageously, said clamping device may also comprise strapping rings of the flanks of said shells of the modules, the presence of these strapping rings flanks thus avoiding deformation and crushing of the latter when the pipe conveys a fluid under high pressure and the tension of the clamping cables is important.

In addition, the conduct of the invention may further comprise an outer protective sheath covering said clamping device, this protective sheath in particular to improve the aesthetics of the pipe, but also and especially to protect the means of clamping and the hinged sheath of said clamping device against corrosion, shock and any external aggression they may suffer.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, this protective sheath may also replace the cables of the clamping device of the pipe. For this purpose, it will be advantageous to choose a protective sheath material which is elastic and resistant. By then stretching the protective sheath under a tensile force, a narrowing of the diameter of said protective sheath is generated which constrains the modules of the pipe sufficiently to block the joints of the latter. As is apparent from the description above, the pipe according to the invention has a particular structure whose manufacturing method is however very simple.

In a first step, said modules comprising said complementary connecting means are threaded on a said sealed and flexible pipe, then, in a second step, said rigid modules are assembled by said complementary connecting means to form a said sheath articulated around said a flexible pipe.

These clamping means are then positioned in cooperation with said modules of the sheath, and ends are fixed to the ends of said pipe, said tips covering said articulated sheath and said clamping means of said clamping device and communicating with the open ends. said sealed pipe covered by said sheath.

In addition, when said pipe must comprise a protective sheath, covering said clamping device of the pipe with a said protective sheath before the introduction of said tips.

The pipe according to the invention will find particular application in all devices adapted to transport products such as fluids, powder materials or other telecommunication cables.

These devices, most of them existing, do not require any particular structural modifications and simply comprise a pipe according to the invention replacing the existing pipes as well as at least one actuator of the device for clamping said pipe, this control means being suitable for exert a said determined stress on the clamping means of the clamping device to stiffen said pipe.

For applications where the control of the position and the movements of the pipe are required, it may also be provided that said devices comprise at least one said individual actuator, in particular a said traction means, for each of said cables of said means for clamping said device clamping said pipe.

Whatever the application considered, the use of the pipe according to the invention is very simple and fast. For the transport of a fluid for example, we connect in a first time said driving by any appropriate means to an actuator and a source of fluid such that said clamping means of the clamping device and said hose and flexible pipe of the pipe cooperate and communicate respectively with said actuator and said source of fluid, then in a second time is placed said flexible pipe in a position determined according to the particular use of the pipe.

In a third step, said actuator is then actuated in order to apply a determined stress on said clamping means resulting in the stiffening of said pipe and its freezing in said determined position in which it has been placed, the transport of the fluid inside. of said pipe being done without hindrance regardless of the position in which said pipe is frozen due to the absence of pinching or bending of the inner pipe of said pipe by the clamping device thereof.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the light of the description which follows, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 in which:

FIG. 1 shows a shower device comprising a pipe according to the invention connected at one end to a knob and at a second end to a means for controlling and actuating the clamping device of the pipe,

FIG. 2 represents, seen in partial longitudinal section, the pipe of the invention connected to the control and actuation means of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3A to 3C show respectively in front view, from above, and in longitudinal section along plane C-C a constituent module of the articulated sheath of the pipe according to the invention in a preferred embodiment,

- Figures 4A and 4B show, in section and in overall view, the structure of the clamping device of the pipe according to the invention;

- Figure 5 shows a shower device comprising a variable rigidity pipe connected at one end to a shower head and at a second end to another type of actuator, itself connected to a water valve; FIG. 6 represents an exploded view of the actuator of FIG. 5 and the assembly of parts constituting it along its longitudinal axis XX ',

- Figure 7 shows the actuator of Figures 5 and 6 seen in longitudinal section along its axis ZZ ¹ in the rest position;

FIG. 8 represents a perspective view in partial section showing positioning means of the actuator according to the invention;

- Figure 9 shows a sectional view along the plane V-V of Figure 7;

- Figure 10 shows the actuator of Figures 5 and 6 seen in longitudinal section along its axis ZZ 'in the actuating position;

- Figures 11A and HB respectively show in perspective the relative displacement of positioning means of the actuator of Figures 5 and 6 during a displacement of the rest position to the actuating position and vice versa;

- Figure 12 shows the actuator according to the invention seen in longitudinal section along its axis ZZ ', the actuator pushing means moving from their actuating position to their rest position;

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the connection between the actuator and a pipe of variable rigidity and the cooperation of thrust means of the actuator with the device for clamping said pipe when said thrust means are in the rest position and in actuation position respectively.

The pipe according to the invention has a singular structure from which derives particular properties of flexibility and flexibility or, conversely, stiffening, these properties depending on the state of the various constituent elements of said pipe. With reference to FIGS. and 4A, 4B in a first step, the pipe 1 according to the invention comprises a hose 2 central waterproof and flexible, this pipe being adapted in particular for the transport of fluids and / or powder materials.

This central pipe 2 is covered with a clamping device comprising in the first place an articulated sheath 3 consisting of modules 4 assembled to each other by means of complementary connecting means 41, 42, this articulated sheath 3 comprising an internal cylindrical channel 18 allowing the passage of said pipe 2.

In the embodiment described, the articulated sheath 3 consists of a plurality of identical modules 4 as shown in detail in FIGS. 3A to 3C and two end modules 19, 20. These modules 4, 19, 20 are assembled to each other by complementary connecting means 41, 42 which form a ball joint 3a between each module 4 of the sheath 3, this ball 3a allowing an angular deflection of about 40 ° between each module of the sheath, giving it flexibility and flexibility.

Each module 4 consists of a piece of cylindrical revolution made of metal or, preferably, resistant plastic such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP) or Acetal. However, other materials may also be used to produce the modules 4, chosen according to the desired cost of the pipe 1 and the mechanical stresses to be borne by it according to its use.

A said module 4 can be obtained for example by molding or injection and machining. It comprises a head 41 in the form of a ball from the base of which extends a shell 42 flared and recessed, said said head and said shell constituting said complementary connecting means of the modules 4. For this purpose, the external profile, spherical , the head 41 is complementary in shape to the substantially hemispherical inner profile of the cavity of the shell 42. In addition, to allow an easy and effective snap-fastening of the head 41 of a first module in the shell 42 a second module, the diameter of the footprint thereof at its rim is very slightly less than its maximum internal diameter, which corresponds to the maximum external diameter of said head 41.

In order to form said internal cylindrical channel 18 of the sheath 3, the upper cap of each module 4 is leveled and said module is pierced along its axis of revolution XX 'of a central cylindrical bore 14 opening on either side of the head 41 at the level of said cap of the module and inside the cavity of the shell 42, said bore having a diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the sealed pipe 2. The end modules 19, 20, for their part, are also pierced with a cylindrical bore but each have only one shell 42 and one head 41, the rest of their body forming a connection enabling the installation end caps 16, 17 at the ends of the sheath 3 of the pipe 1.

The walls of the shell 42 of the modules 4 comprise notches 8 delimiting therein flanks 421, 422, 423, 424, as well as guides 7 drilled parallel to said axis XX 'of the modules in the thickness of the flanks. These notches 8 and these guides 7, 4 in number distributed regularly every 90 ° about the axis XX ¹ , respectively make it possible to increase the flexibility of the walls of the shell 42 by the formation of said independent flanks and to pass 5 cables clamping the sheath 3. Said cables cooperate with said flanks 421, 422, 423, 424 at said joints 3a. Thus, during a tensioning of the cables 5 under a force F1, they exert on said flanks compressive forces F2 which block the joints 3a between the modules 4 to freeze the pipe.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the modules constituting the articulated sheath 3 may be of two different types, and in particular a first type of male module comprising two heads similar to the head 41 of the modules 4, and a second type of female module comprising two shells similar to the shell 42 of the modules 4 and arranged head to tail, the hinged sleeve then being formed by an alternation of male-type modules and female-type modules.

The cables 5, which may be metallic, for example made of stainless steel, or based on a plastic material such as NYLON®, have a length at least equal to that of the pipe 1 and may be of four individual cables or of two cables looped along the length of the sheath 3 as shown in Figures 2 and 4A, and they comprise at least one of their ends connecting means (not shown) to a traction member. These said connecting means can easily be integrated for example in a tip such as the tip 16 in Figure 2, avoiding too much freedom of the ends of said cables 5 and their wear.

With reference to FIG. 2, rings or strapping rings 6 circumscribe the cables 5 between the joints 3a. These rings 6 have the function of directing the efforts of compression of the cables 5 under tension clothe the flanks of the shells 42 which will increase the tightening of the cables on the modules 4 and the clamping of the shells 42 on the heads 41 to lock the ball joints 3a and freeze the pipe in a determined position. The number of these rings 6 may vary depending on the stiffness of conduct that is desired in the end, as well as its length. In general, it is advisable to position a strapping ring 6 at the rate of one every 1 to 15 modules, and preferably at a rate of one every 1 to 6 modules to obtain a satisfactory rigidity of the pipe even in case of curvatures. important and numerous of it.

The articulated sheath 3, consisting of the modules 4, the cables 5 and the strapping rings 6 thus form the clamping device of the pipe 1 according to the invention allowing the flexibility of said pipe when the cables 5 are at rest and its stiffening when the tensioning of the cables 5 by a control and actuation device (traction member), which will be chosen according to the uses of the pipe 1 and its length and diameter. A said suitable traction member may in particular be of the electric cylinder type, pneumatic or hydraulic or furling type.

In a particular embodiment of the pipe according to the invention, the modules 4 may also comprise around their head 41 an O-ring 11 in order to increase the adhesion between said head and the inside of the flanks of the shells 42 and thus to improve still blocking the joints 3a of the sheath 3 during the tensioning of the cables 5. For this purpose, said heads 41 of the modules 4 comprise an annular groove 10 concentric with the cylindrical bore 14 of said modules, this groove receiving the case where appropriate one said o-ring 11.

In addition, the flanks 421, 422, 423, 424 of the shell 42 of the modules

4 of the articulated sheath 3 can also be surrounded by a ring or ring 12 housed in a groove 9 formed near the rim of the shell 42. This ring 12, optional for the stiffening function of the pipe 1, is however useful to avoid crushing and deformation of the shells when the pressure of the cables is important.

To improve the aesthetic appearance but also and especially to protect the elements of the clamping device thereof, the pipe 1 of the invention also comprises a protective sheath 13 covering the articulated sheath 3, the cables 5, the bushings strapping 6 and preferably the ends 16, 17 at the ends of said pipe. In an embodiment not shown, this protective sheath 13 may also, when its material is chosen sufficiently resistant and resilient, replace the clamping cables 5 to achieve the constraint of the modules 4 and the locking of the joints 3a of the pipe.

The pipe 1 of the invention is particularly advantageous for its ability to be flexible and flexible or conversely rigid and fixed in a position determined by the user following a control action thereof as a function of the use that he wishes at the top. This flexible or rigid nature of said pipe is exclusively determined by the state of the clamping device, which at no time constrains the central pipe 2, even when the cables 5 compress the flanks 421, 422, 423, 424 of the shells 42 of the modules for freezing the pipe, which allows to never interfere with the flow of the product transported in said pipe 2.

The pipe 1 will thus be suitable for a large number of diverse and varied applications for individuals and professionals, bringing in them a very high user comfort of use.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pipe 1 is particularly suitable for use as a shower hose in combination with a suitable actuator 15, for example able to exert traction on the cables 5 of the pipe 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In a first step, said pipe 1 is connected by its tip 16 to a hydraulic cylinder 15, itself connected to a not shown water inlet. The connection of the pipe 1 to the cylinder 15 operates the connection of the cables 5 of the clamping device of the pipe to the rod 151 of the cylinder 15 and the connection of the central pipe 2 to the water inlet of the shower. At the other end of the pipe, the tip 17 allows the introduction of a traditional shower head 21 by screwing or latching.

The hydraulic cylinder 15 comprises a control handle 152 for actuating or not the clamping device of the pipe. Thus, in a first position Pl of the control handle, the cylinder 15 only allows the water to pass inside the pipe 2 of the pipe 1 in the manner of a traditional valve, said pipe then being flexible and flexible, the cables 5 of its clamping device not being tensioned. If the user wishes in a second time to have their hands free to soap or wash them For example, he places said flexible pipe 1 in the position in which he wishes to fix it, then, in a third step, turns the handle 152 to a second position P2 for actuating the clamping device of pipe 1.

This rotation of the handle 151 causes a stop of the flow of water in the pipe 2 of the pipe 1 to the knob 21 and a bypass of this water to a filling circuit of the chamber 153 of the cylinder. The filling of said chamber causes the displacement of the rod 151 of the jack which itself causes a pull of the cables 5. The cables 5 thus stretched apply on the shells 42 transverse compressive forces guided by the strapping rings 6, causing the tightening the flanks 421, 422, 423, 424 of said shells on the head 41 of the modules 4 of the articulated sheath 3 and the locking of the joints 3a of said sheath, this blocking of the joints 3a causing the locking and the stiffening of the pipe 1 on its entire length in the position chosen by the user.

Once said pipe stiffened, said user brings back the handle 152 of the cylinder 15 to its first position when desired so that the water circulates again inside the pipe 2 to the knob to be rinsed as it would in a shower with a fixed showerhead. If, however, the user wishes to return to the pipe 1 its flexible nature it is sufficient to turn the control handle 152 to a third position P3, thus causing the emptying of the chamber 153 of the cylinder, the rise of the rod 151 of the latter and loosening of the cables 5, thus releasing the joints 3a of the sheath 3 of the pipe again allowing the angular displacement of the modules 4 of said sheath and the flexibility of the pipe.

In a variant, the actuator 15 described above may also be replaced by a similar device whose cylinder, rather than pulling on the cables 5, will push the modules 4 under the pressure of the water or the fluid derived for this purpose, the cables 5 being in this case immobile and only the modules 4 moving and compressing to stiffen the pipe 1. Such an actuator is shown in detail in Figures 5 to 14.

The pipe 1 is then connected at its second end to the actuator 15 via a connection member 16. This connection member may be of the screw type or snap-fastening type, attached to the end of the driving 1 and screwed or latched respectively on the actuator 15 which comprises a complementary connection means.

The actuator 15 consists, from its base to its top, of a cylindrical and hollow base 39 pierced at its bottom with water injection orifices communicating with the opening of a connection tip formed at the base. of the base 39 (Figure 6).

A cylindrical jacket 26 comes to fit or screw on said base 39 by a tabular end piece 261 integral with a flange 263 of said jacket 26. In the space between the bottom of the base 39 and the flange 263 is housed a nozzle 40 whose nozzle passes through the flange 263 through an orifice pierced at its center.

The inside of the liner 26 forms a compression chamber 262 receiving a piston 24. The piston comprises a disc 241, from which extends a thrust shaft 242. O-rings 247 seal between the cylindrical surface of the disc 241 and the walls of said chamber 262.

In addition, as is more clearly apparent in FIG. 7, the piston 24 has a bore 245 pierced axially with the shaft 242 and with the disc 241 of the piston, said bore 245 forming a flow duct leading right through the piston and terminating in a substantially conical recess 248 formed in the body of disc 241 from the lower surface thereof.

From the upper surface of the disk 241 there is also a semi-cylindrical wall 243 coaxial and spaced from the shaft 242 of the piston and on the inner face of which is hollowed a groove 244. This wall 243 constitutes a guide means and blocking rotation of a ring 31 rotatably mounted by its central bore 313 around the shaft 242 of the piston.

This ring 31 overlaps a leaf spring 36, also mounted on the shaft 242 of the piston, and whose outer end is connected to the wall 243 of said piston by a pin 361 inserted into an orifice of said wall 243. and whose inner end is locked in a groove made in the ring 31.

The stroke of the ring 31 around the shaft 242 of the piston, and thus the stress of the spring 36, is limited by a first stop 312 projecting radially on the ring 31 and engaged, such a slide, in the groove 244 of the wall 243 of the piston, a rod 246 being inserted vertically in the thickness of said wall 243 so that it forms in said groove 244 a second stop against which the stop 312 of the ring 31 is locked, which allows a maximum rotation of about 360 ° of the ring around the shaft 242 of the piston (Figure 9).

Above the ring 31, and in contact with it, is a tubular sleeve 30, also mounted free to rotate on the shaft 242 of the piston 24 by its central bore 302. At its base, said sleeve 30 comprises a notched ring 301 complementary to a notched surface 311 formed on the ring 31, said notched ring 301 and said notched surface 311 allowing the coupling of the ring 31 and the sleeve 30 by meshing

As shown in Figure 8, the sleeve 30 also has on its outer surface two identical threads 303 and helical. These threads 303 allow, in cooperation with male elements 34 described below, to guide the sleeve 30 geared on the ring 31 in rotation and thus the tensioning of the leaf spring 36 during an elevation of the piston 24 in the compression chamber 262.

A flange 29 is also threaded onto the shaft 242 of the piston around the sleeve 30, resting on the upper flange of the wall 243 of the piston.

The compression chamber 262 is closed by a removable flange 28 having a central circular opening of diameter equal to that of the shaft 242 of the piston covered with the sleeve 30 which thus extend outside the compression chamber 262 through of said opening, a compression spring 27 coaxial with the shaft 242 of the piston and the sleeve 30 being interposed between said flange 28 and the flange 29 so as to force the plating of said flange 29 on the piston 24 to maintain the latter. at the bottom of the compression chamber.

A cover 37 is reversibly fixed by screwing on the sleeve 26 of the actuator. This cover 37 has two internal housings, a lower housing covering a tubular barrel 32, a cross 33 and a thrust member 25, all coaxial and having a central bore 323, 332, 253 of axis ZZ ', and an upper housing of connection of a connecting piece 16 of the pipe of variable rigidity, said tip 16 covering the end 251 of the thrust member 25. The barrel 32 is mounted by its central bore 323 on the end of the shaft 242 of the piston 24 covered with the sleeve 30 coming out of the compression chamber 262 through the central orifice of the flange 28 on the jacket 26. Said cylinder 32 constitutes , in cooperation with the sleeve 30 on the one hand and with the cross 33 on the other hand, a positioning and locking means of the thrust member 25, the lower end of which rests on the upper end of the 242 shaft of the piston 24 between the walls of the barrel 32. The latter comprises two series of notches 321, 322 machined in the longitudinal direction in its said walls, the notches 321 being of substantially equal depth to the height of the barrel 32 and the notches 322 being very shallow, of the order of a few millimeters, on the upper edge of the walls of the barrel, each notch 321 being offset by an angle of 45 ° with respect to a notch 322 and an angle of 90 ° in relation to u no other notch 321, this creating a regular alternation of notches 321 and 322 all around the circumference of the barrel 32, giving the latter a form of notched crown.

In addition, as shown in more detail in FIG. 8, said barrel 32 also comprises at its base balls 34 for coupling said barrel with the sleeve 30 on the shaft 242 of the piston 24, said balls 34 being diametrically opposed on the inner face of the central bore 323 of the barrel so as to engage in the threads 303 formed on the sleeve 30, adjusting screws 35 for adjusting during assembly the depth of penetration of the balls in said threads 303.

The thrust member 25 takes the form of a finger whose upper end 251 is of complementary shape to the lower end of the sheath of the variable rigidity pipe 1 connected to the actuator by its clamping cables 5 embossed at the base of the connector 16, said connector being itself inserted in the cover 37, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. At its lower end, said thrust member is integral with the cross 33, whose bars 331 are inserted into the notches 321 of the barrel 32 when the actuator is at rest. In addition, guide grooves 252 may also be formed along two generatrices of said thrust member 25 from the cross 33 to the head 251 thereof, pins 38 inserted transversely to the base of the connector 16 penetrating said grooves 252. in order to prevent the rotation of said thrust member during these movements along the axis ZZ ¹ under the action of the piston 24. The piston 24 and the thrust member 25 constitute pushing means movable along the longitudinal axis ZZ 'between a rest position (FIG. 7) and an actuating position (FIG. 10), and their respective bores 245, 253. communicate, allowing the insertion of said watertight and flexible pipe 2 of water circulation in the pipe 1 as shown in Figures 7, 10 and 12 in particular.

In addition, the ring 31, the leaf spring 36, the sleeve 30, the barrel 32, the cross 33 and the balls 34 constitute positioning and blocking means cooperating with said thrust means 24,25 to apply or release a stress on the sheath 3 and the cables 5 of the variable stiffness pipe 1.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 7 and 13, the actuator 15 is; as indicated above, controlled from the shower head 21 by means of the button 22 for closing the water inlet in the shower head. In the normal state, the flexible rigidity pipe 1 is flexible such as a traditional shower hose.

When the valve is opened, the water first enters the actuator 15 through the orifices 211 of the base 39 and into said pipe 2 and the pipe 1 to the pommel 21. The piston 24 is then in the down position , or of rest, inside the compression chamber 262, the force of the compression spring 27 being greater than the pressure of the water at the base of the piston. At the same time, the thrust member 25 is in contact with the end of the shaft 242 of the piston and the bars 331 of the cross 33 in the notches 321 of the barrel 32, its pushing head 251 does not support on the end module of the sheath 3 of the pipe 1, the cables 5 of the latter being flexible (Figure 13). The user can then shower as he would with a traditional shower.

If the user wishes in a second time to have his hands free to soap or wash his hair, for example, he places said pipe 1 in the position in which he wishes to stiffen it, then exerts a pressure on the closing button 22 of the water inlet at the pommel 21. The water can then no longer flow through the pommel. This results in a compression of the water coming from the valve in the chamber 262 of the actuator, at the base of the piston 24, which causes, as represented in FIGS. 6, 10 and 14, an elevation of the piston 24 and consequently the thrust member 25 in the direction of the arrow M1 under the pressure of the water on the disk 241 from said rest position (FIGS. 7 and 13) to said actuating position (FIGS. 10 and 14).

The translation of the piston 24 under the pressure of the water causes the ring 31 and the sleeve 30 to rotate simultaneously, coupled at their toothed contact portions 301, 311, by an angle α (FIG. 9) of FIG. order of 40 to 50 °, and more particularly between 42 ° and 47 °, around the shaft 242 of the piston. This rotation of the ring 31 and the sleeve 30 causes the compression of the leaf spring 36 and is itself caused by the movement of the balls 34 of the barrel 32 in the threads 303 of the sleeve, said barrel being locked in rotation by the bars 331 of the cross 33 at the base of the thrust member 25 in its notches 321.

When said piston 24 and said thrust member 25 have reached their said actuating position (Figure 10), the head 251 of the thrust member 25 exerts on said sheath 3 a thrust causing the compression of said sheath 3 and the tension cables 5 which then apply transverse forces on the joints formed between the modules of the sheath 3, which joints are blocked and the pipe 1 thus stiffened. At the same time, the bars 331 of the cross 33 at the base of said thrust member 25 are out of the notches 321 of the barrel 32, which is thus released in rotation, as is the leaf spring 36 connecting the ring 31, coupled to the sleeve 30, to the shaft 242 of the piston.

As shown in FIG. HA, the relaxation of said leaf spring 36 then causes rotation of said ring 31, of said sleeve 30 by an angle α in the opposite direction to that adopted by said sleeve and said ring during the rise of the piston. 24 in the actuating position, said sleeve driving in its rotation the barrel 32 which pivots from said angle α, whose value is determined, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, by the pitch of the threads 303 of the sheath according to the length of the shaft 242 of the piston. This rotation of the barrel 32, which is carried out as soon as the bars 331 of the cross 33 come out of the notches 321 of said barrel, causes the positioning of the notches 322, of shallow depth in line with said bars 331 of the cross 33.

The return M2 of the piston 24 to its rest position then allows, as shown in Figures HB and 12, a slight lowering of the thrust member 25 and the positioning 331 bars of the cross in the notches 322 of the cylinder 32, thus maintaining said thrust member 25 in the actuated high position while the piston 24 returns to the rest position.

This return M2 of the piston is effected following a new pressure of the user on the knob 22 of the knob 21. Thus the water flows again from the valve to the knob 21 inside the pipe 2 inserted into the bores 253. and 245 of the thrust member 25 and the piston 24 respectively, which results in a decrease in the water pressure in the chamber 262, allowing the return of the piston 24 along the arrow M2 to its rest position under the action compression spring 27, compressed during the rise, while the thrust member 25 remains blocked in the upper position by the cross 33 and the barrel 32.

During the descent M2 of the piston, it is appropriate that the ring 31 and the sleeve 30 are uncoupled in order to avoid constraining the leaf spring 36 in a direction opposite to that of its winding. This uncoupling is enabled by the existence of a clearance h of a few millimeters between the flange 29 and the toothed ring 301 at the base of the sheath 30 on the one hand, and by the friction of the balls 34 of the barrel 32 in the threads 303. the sleeve 30 on the other hand, friction which causes a retention of the sleeve 30 when the descent M2 of the piston 24 begins under the support of the flange 29 on the wall 243, held sufficient to cause the separation of the notched portions 301, 311 of the sleeve and ring 31 to the extent that said ring is integral with the movement of the piston 24 by the spring 36.

In order to improve the emptying of the compression chamber 262 and the descent M2 of the piston, the disk 241 of the piston 24 has in its lower surface a recess 248 of conical shape for creating a suction effect of the water towards the water. 245 of the shaft 242 of the piston 24 when the latter descends, the flow of water injected through the nozzle 40 towards the shaft 242 also promoting this suction effect.

If the user then wishes to give the variable-stiffness pipe 1 its flexible character, it suffices to press again the button 22 of the knob 21 so as to cause a new filling of the compression chamber 262 and thus a new one. mounted Ml piston 24 to the actuating position (in which is always blocked the thrust member 25). As before, the rise of the piston causes the coupling of the sleeve 30 and the ring 31, then the rotation of these last, with simultaneous compression of the leaf spring 36, by the sliding of the balls 34 of the cylinder 32 in the threads 303 of the sleeve.

When said piston reaches said actuating position, the upper end of its shaft 242 lifts the thrust member 25 and the cross 33 causing a loosening of the bars 331 out of the notches 322 of the cylinder which then makes a new rotation α of 45 ° and the alignment of the notches 321 in line with the bars 331 of the cross 33. A new pressure of the user on the knob 22 of the knob causes the emptying of the compression chamber 262 and the descent M2 of the piston 24, the return of the thrust member 25 to the rest position (FIGS. 7 and 13) being this time permitted by the sliding of the bars 331 into the deeper notches 321 of the barrel 32. Once in the rest position, the piston 24 and the thrust member no longer exert any pressure on the sheath 3 and the cables 5 of the variable rigidity pipe 1 which therefore finds flexibility and maneuverability.

As can easily be seen from the foregoing description, the pipe 1 of the invention, used as a shower hose, will allow for example in the medical environment nurses and caregivers to shower a patient while having the two free hands. Disabled persons will also find great comfort in using the pipe according to the invention for showering.

The conduct of the invention will also be particularly suitable for watering gardens, or the fight against fire where it will allow firefighters to freeze their spear in a specific direction without having to hold it and stay closer to the flames , with all the risks that entails.

The conduct of the invention can also convey any other gaseous substance, liquid or organic or optical fibers and electrical cables which opens a wide range of use in areas such as domestic applications, industry, food , or the defense systems. For applications for guiding optical fibers or fluoroscopy for example, it is also possible, for example, to provide individual manipulation of each of the cables 5 of the clamping device of the pipe 1 with the aid of suitable control and actuation devices, which makes it possible to vary the position of the pipe at the same time as the latter is rigid by varying the individual tension of the cables.

The present invention has been described here with reference to the appended figures in a particular embodiment and application which are in no way limitative of the scope of the invention. Indeed, many variations in dimensions, shapes and materials of the constituent elements of the pipe can be easily envisaged by the skilled person depending on the particular applications of said pipe without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Flexible pipe (1) adapted in particular for the transport of fluids, or powdery materials, comprising at least one hose (2) sealed and flexible within which a said fluid or a said material can be conveyed, characterized in that it comprises a clamping device covering said sealed pipe over at least a portion of the length of said pipe, preferably all of said pipe, said clamping device comprising at least one sheath (3) and clamping means of said sheath (4, 5, 13), said sheath and said clamping means being adapted, at rest, to preserve the flexibility and flexibility of said pipe and, under the application of a determined constraint, to stiffen said pipe and to freeze its position along the length of said pipe covered by said clamping device.

2. Line according to claim 1, wherein said sheath (3) is articulated and said clamping means (4, 5, 13) cooperate with peripheral portions of said sheath at its joints (3a), said clamping means exerting, under a said determined stress, pressure forces on said peripheral portions of said sheath for rigidification by blocking said joints.

3. Line according to claim 2, wherein said sheath (3) comprises an assembly of modules (4) provided with a longitudinal bore (14), preferably cylindrical, opening on the one side of said modules and complementary connecting means. (41, 42), said cylindrical bore allowing said sheath to be threaded onto said sealed pipe (2) of said pipe (1) and said complementary connecting means forming, during the assembly of said modules, said joints (3a) of said sheath.

4. Conduit according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein said clamping means comprise cables (5) of a length at least equal to the length of said pipe, said cables (5) cooperating with said peripheral portions of said sheath, in particular said modules thereof, so as to compress said sheath at its said joints under a tensile force applied to one end of said cables.

5. Pipe according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said complementary connecting means (41, 42) of said modules (4) of said sheath form a hinge-type ball (3a) between said two assembled modules.

6. Conduit according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said modules (4) of the sheath (3) of said clamping device are identical, each said module consisting of a part of revolution comprising a head (41). in the form of a substantially spherical external profile ball, and a flared shell (42), said shell (42) having an internal profile complementary to said external profile of said head of a second identical module, said head and said shell constituting said means of complementary links of each said module.

7. Conduit according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said sheath (3) comprises at least two types of different modules such as:

each type of module comprising a pair of connecting means (41, 42) similar complementakes the connecting means of the modules of the other type,

first modules, of the male type, consisting of a part of revolution comprising two ball-shaped heads (41) of substantially spherical external profile, and

second modules, of female type, consisting of a part of revolution comprising two flared shells (42) of internal profile complementary to said external profile of said heads of the male type modules,

said heads and said shells of said male and female type modules respectively being disposed along the axis of revolution (XX ') of said modules and symmetrical with respect to a median plane (P) orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of revolution of said modules.

8. Conduit according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein said cables (5) are inserted in guides (7) formed, preferably parallel to said axis of revolution (XX ') of said modules (4), in the walls of said shells (42) of said modules, said cables comprising, at a first end, stop means, in particular of the stop type, against the module closest to said first end and, at a second end, connection means said cables to traction means (15) attached to said conduit.

9. Conduit according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein said clamping means further comprise strapping rings (6) of said cables (5) distributed regularly along said sheath (3) of said clamping device, preferably at a rate of one every 1 to 15 modules (4) of said sheath, more preferably at a rate of one every 1 to 6 modules (4).

10. Conduit according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the walls of said shells (42) of said modules (4) comprise notches (8) extending from the edge of said shells to the base thereof , said notches thus delimiting flanks (421, 422, 423, 424) in which said guides (7) for the cables (5) of said clamping means are formed.

11. Conduit according to one of claims 6 to 10, wherein said (s) head (s) (41) of a said module (4) has on its outer surface a coaxial annular groove (10). at said axis of revolution (XX ') of the module, said groove receiving a means (11), preferably an O-ring, capable of increasing the adhesion between said head (41) and said shell (42) of the modules once assembled .

12. Conduit according to one of claims 10 or 11, wherein said clamping device also comprises strapping rings (12) of said flanks (421,

422, 423, 424) of said shells of the modules of said articulated sheath (3).

13. Actuator (15) for a flexible pipe (1) with variable rigidity according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises:

connecting means of said actuator to a source of a said fluid (F); and

connecting means (16) at one end of said flexible pipe (1); and

a device for actuating the device for clamping said pipe comprising:

"thrust means (24, 25) adapted to communicate with said sealed and flexible pipe (2) of said pipe and with said source of fluid on the one hand and to cooperate with said sheath (3) of the clamping device of the and with said fluid (F) on the other hand, and "positioning means (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) of said thrust means;

said thrust means and said positioning means cooperating to apply or release, as a result of an action of the fluid on said thrust means triggered by closing said flexible and tight pipe of said pipe by a user, a constraint on the clamping device of said pipe connected to said actuator so as to stiffen or soften respectively said pipe.

14. An actuator according to claim 13, characterized in that said thrusting means are movable along a longitudinal axis ZZ 'of said actuator between a rest position and an actuating position and comprise a piston (24) movable inside a a compression chamber (262) communicating with said fluid source (F), and a thrust member (25) having an end (251) of complementary shape to that of the end of said sheath (3) of the clamping the pipe (1) to be connected to said actuator (15).

15. An actuator according to claim 14, characterized in that said piston (24) comprises a disc (241) in contact with the walls of said compression chamber (262) and a thrust shaft (242) extending along said axis longitudinal ZZ 'of the actuator from said disk to the outside of said chamber and cooperating with said thrust member (25).

16. An actuator according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that said positioning means comprise locking means (32, 33) of said biasing means and rotational guiding means (30, 31, 34, 35). 36) of said locking means.

17. Actuator according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that it comprises at least one elastic return means (27) of said biasing means (24, 25) in the rest position, preferably of the spring type. compression, disposed within the compression chamber (262), and at least one elastic return means (36) of said rotational positioning means, preferably of the leaf spring type, integral with said piston (24) and at least one of said positioning means (30, 31).

18. Actuator according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that said rotational guiding means comprise a ring (31) and a sleeve (30) cylindrical and rotatably mounted on the thrust shaft (242). said piston (24), said ring and said sheath having meshing means (301, 311) for coupling said ring and said sheath during a displacement (Ml) of said piston from said rest position to at said actuating position and their uncoupling when moving (M2) from said actuating position to said rest position.

19. Actuator according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that said locking means comprise a barrel (32) rotatably mounted around the piston shaft (242) and the thrust member (25). ), said bariJlet comprising at least two series of notches (321, 322) of different depths forming two alternating notches in the walls of said cylinder all around the circumference thereof, said notches being adapted to cooperate with locking elements ( 331) of complementary shape and integral with said thrust member (25), said locking elements (331) being placed in said notches during displacements (Ml, M2) of said thrust means.

20. Actuator according to claim 19, characterized in that said sheath (30) of the rotation guiding means comprises at least one external thread (303) cooperating with at least one male element (34), preferably a ball or a spur. placed in the internal bore (323) of said barrel (32) so as to cause said sheath (30) and said ring (31) to rotate during movements (M1) of thrust means from their rest position to their position actuating.

21. An actuator according to claims 19 or 20, characterized in that said resiliently rotating return means (36) is integral with said ring (31) of said rotational guiding means so as to cause rotation of said barrel (32) when said locking elements (331) out of the notches (321, 322) of said barrel (32), said thrust means then being in the actuating position.

22. Actuator according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the thread (303) of the sheath (30) is such that it causes a rotation of said barrel (32) of an angle (α) between 40 At 50 °, preferably between 42 ° and 47 °, consecutively to releasing said elastically resilient return means (36) when said pushing means (24, 25) are in the actuating position and said locking members (331) of said pushing member (25) projecting from said notches (321, 322 ) of the barrel.

23. Actuator according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that said piston (24) comprises at its base a recess (248) of conical or frustoconical shape communicating with said bore (245) pierced along the thrust shaft. (242) of said piston.

24. Device adapted in particular for the transport of fluids and powdery materials, characterized in that it comprises a pipe (1) according IWe of claims 1 to 12 and at least one actuator (15) of said clamping device of said pipe adapted to exerting a said determined stress on said clamping means (5, 6, 4) of said clamping device for stiffening said pipe.

25. Device according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises at least one said individual actuator (15), including a said traction means, for each of said cables (5) of said clamping means of said clamping device of said pipe .

26. Device according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises an actuator (15) according to one of claims 13 to 23.

27. Use of a pipe 1 according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that in a first step, said pipe is connected to an actuator (15), in particular an actuator according to one of claims 13 to 23, such that said clamping means (5) of the clamping device cooperate with said control and actuating means, and then in a second step place said flexible pipe in a position determined according to the particular use of driving, and in a third step, the actuator is activated in order to apply a determined stress on said clamping means (5) causing the stiffening of said pipe and its freezing in said determined position in which it was placed.