FR2810087A1 - Insert for implanting pipe connection in tapped housing comprises body which fits against tapped section, on which rings with anchor lugs are mounted, each lug being compressible from position above outer surface of insert to below it - Google Patents

Abstract

The insert for implanting a pipe connection in a tapped housing (T) comprises a cylindrical body (1) which fits against the tapped section (F). Rings with anchor lugs (29) which slope in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion are mounted on this . Each lug can be compressed from a position where it lies above the outer surface of the insert to a position where it lies below it.

Description

The present invention relates to an element provided externally with means for cooperating with a thread. This element can be a fixing element of the stud or hook type, a connecting element than an instant fitting, or more generally any element intended to be fixed to a support by a thread-tapping type connection.

Such elements are widely used in the industry and generally comprise a cylindrical body which is externally provided with a thread intended to cooperate with the thread or threads of the thread in which the cylindrical body is introduced. The most well-known element of this type is the screw that is found in all types of industries. In fluid transport systems, there are all kinds of fittings having a threaded tubular body to be able to be installed on reservoirs, pump bodies, pressure regulators ... and allow the connection of pipes and other pipes.

I1 is thus ensured a resistant and easily removable fixing. However, the fixing operation in itself is relatively long since it requires screwing the element into the thread. To speed up this operation, pneumatic or electric screwing devices are often used. However, these devices are relatively expensive both for purchase and for use (need for accumulator compressors, specially adapted sockets, etc.).

it would therefore be advantageous to have an inexpensive simple means for accelerating the operation of fixing the element in a thread.

To this end, provision is made, according to the invention, for an element comprising a cylindrical body which is intended to be introduced into a tapping and is provided externally with means for cooperating with this tapping, these means comprising at least one anchoring tab which has one end coupled to the cylindrical body and one opposite end which is free and which is elastically deformable between a first state in which the free end of the anchoring lug is spaced from the central axis of the cylindrical part by a distance greater than the internal radius of the internal thread and a second state in which the distance separating the free end from the central axis is less than the internal radius of the internal thread.

Thus, the element is fixed in the thread by simply pushing the cylindrical body therein. The anchoring lug then deforms in its second state each time its free end encounters a crest of the thread or threads and returns elastically to its first state when its free end received between two crests. When the cylindrical body is sufficiently inserted into the thread, either free end the deformable tab is received between two ridges bearing against a portion of the side of the thread the anchoring tab is in its first state of deformation opposing any extraction of the cylindrical body outside the thread, i.e. the deformable tab is maintained in its second state by a crest of the thread of the thread and it is then necessary to screw the element slightly (generally less than one turn) to bring the free end of the anchoring tab between two ridges so that the deformable tab can return to the first state and oppose the extraction of the cylindrical body from the thread. In all cases, a cylindrical body clamping can be obtained to complete the fixing by screwing the cylindrical body into the thread. The fixing of the element in the thread is very fast.

Advantageously, the anchoring tab is folded towards the cylindrical part in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of introduction of the element into the thread to form an angle with the central axis.

Under an effort to extract the element from the thread, the free end of the anchor tab is applied against a portion of the side of the thread and the anchor tab tends to brace to oppose this effort. The resistance to bending of the anchoring tab associated with this bracing strengthens the fastening solidity.

preferably, the means for cooperating with the tapping comprise at least two anchoring lugs of different lengths and / or at least two anchoring lugs arranged axially successively along the central axis.

Thus, at least one of the hooking tabs will be received between two crests of the net without it being necessary to screw the element.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the free end of the anchoring lug has an end face which is substantially tangent to the helix of the tapping.

It is then possible to obtain a contact zone between the free end of the anchoring lug and the net which is non-linear or even surface.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description of particular non-limiting embodiments of the invention.

reference will be made to the appended drawings, among which - FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an instant fitting in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, - FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the anchoring means of this instant connector, - Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of an instant connector according to a second embodiment of the invention, - Figure 4 is an elevational view of the anchoring means of this connector instantaneous.

The invention is described here in an application to an instant fitting intended to be fixed - a support S in which is formed a channel having an end thread T opening out of the support S. The thread T has here a thread F single (but may include several if necessary) and has an internal radius r and a helix angle a. The support S_ is for example the casing of a pump, of a regulator, the casing of a fluidic module, a reservoir ... The instantaneous connection makes it possible to connect a support pipe S.

Referring to FIG. 1, the instant fitting comprises a body 1, of central axis 22, which provided with a bore 2 axially divided into three parts, namely, from right to left, a large diameter part 3 for receiving a insert 4 and an annular seal 5, a part 6 whose diameter corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the pipe to be inserted in this fitting and a part 7 receiving an end sleeve 8 which has an inside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of this pipe and has a first end provided with an external annular step 9 which hooks behind the shoulder 10 connecting part 6 to part 7 an opposite end projecting outside the body 1 and provided with a flange 11. The flange 11 has a radial surface 27 which faces an external radial surface 12 of the body 1 and defines therewith an external groove 13.

The insert 4 is here represented in two parts 14 and 15 are inserted and held by force in the body 1 according to a known technique. The two parts 14 and 15 define between them a groove 16 which constitutes a housing for a washer 17 provided with hooking teeth and retaining the pipe which will be introduced into the bore 2.

The body 1 here comprises a head 18 delimiting a shoulder 19 projecting radially from the external surface of the cylindrical body 1 in order to define a stop for the insertion of the connector into the tapping T. A circular groove 20 is formed in the shoulder 19 around of the cylindrical body 1 to receive a seal 21.

A tubular pusher 32 is mounted in part 14 of the insert 4 to be movable to slide between an inactive extended position in which it is retained by a shoulder 33 in abutment with a shoulder 34 in part 14, the washer 17 then being simply by pressing on the nose 35 of this pusher and a retracted position in which the shoulders 33, 34 are spaced from one another and the nose 35 lifts all of the teeth of the washer 17.

Means for anchoring the body 1 in the thread are mounted in the external groove 13 of the body 1.

With reference also to FIG. 2, these means comprise two contiguous rings 24 having end surfaces 25 provided with reliefs 26, for example sawtooth, to cooperate, on the one hand, with one another by their end surfaces 25 adjacent and, on the other hand, for one with corresponding reliefs 28 formed in the radial surface 27 of the flange it and for the other with corresponding reliefs formed in the radial surface 12. The rings 24 are thus linked in rotation with the body 1.

Anchoring lugs 29 each secured to a ring 24 extend laterally with respect to the rings 24 so that they form an angle with the central axis 22 of the body and extend in the direction of the head 18 from that - this.

Each anchoring lug 29 has one end secured to the external surface of the ring 24 concerned and a free opposite end 30 which has an end facet 31 substantially tangent to the helix of the internal thread T of angle a. Each anchoring lug 29 is deformable between a first state in which the free end 31 is spaced from the central axis 22 by a distance greater than the internal radius r of the thread T and a second state in which the free end is spaced from the central axis 22 by a distance less than the internal radius r of the internal thread T.

Each ring 24 and the corresponding anchoring lugs 29 are here produced in one piece by injection of a thermoplastic material into a mold. They could also be made of metal.

The rings 24 are threaded onto the bottom of the external groove 13 before the end sleeve 8 is put in place. The end sleeve 8 is then snapped into the body 1 and keeps the rings 24 in place by applying them against the radial surface 12. When the rings 24 are in place in the external groove 13, the anchoring lugs 29 of the rings 2 form two rows offset axially with respect to each other. The same result can be obtained by means of a single ring carrying two rings of anchoring lugs offset axially.

The connection of the fitting to the support S is carried out by introducing the body 1 into the internal thread T in the direction indicated by the arrow I until the head 18 of the body 1 abuts against the external surface of the support S_ on which opens the internal thread T. During the insertion of the body 1, the anchoring tabs 29 will successively deform between their two states to disappear when they meet the crests C of the thread F and then return elastically so that their free end 30 extends between two peaks.

When the head 18 of the body 1 is in abutment against the support S, the terminal facet 31 of the free end 30 of at least one of the anchoring tabs 29 will be in abutment against a portion of the side of the thread opposite head 18 Given the inclination of the anchoring tab 29 relative to the central axis 22, this deformable tab will tend to brace under an effort to extract the connector and will thus oppose this effort. Due to the slope (corresponding to the tangent of the helix angle a) of the end facet 31 of the free end 30 of the anchoring lugs 29 and the axial offset of the latter, the risk that none of the anchoring tabs of one of the rings 24 is in abutment against a portion of the side of the net is limited.

If only one ring 24 was used, it could be necessary after the introduction of the body 1 into the internal thread T, to slightly screw the latter to bring at least one of the anchoring lugs 29 into the bottom of the thread F. This allows in all cases to tighten the element.

The rotational connection of the rings 24 to each other and to the cylindrical body facilitates on the one hand the tightening and on the other hand the subsequent unscrewing for disassembly which will be carried out by rotating the cylindrical body.

Identical or analogous elements will bear an identical reference in the description which follows of the second embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 3, the one-touch fitting has a structure similar to that of the one-touch fitting shown in FIG. 1 except with regard to the terminal sleeve 8 which is mounted on the external surface of the body 1. The terminal sleeve 8 can be fixed by gluing or by conical fitting.

The terminal sleeve 8 defines a substantially radial shoulder 27 which has a concave frustoconical shape.

With reference also to FIG. 4, the anchoring means here comprise a single washer 24 in lateral projection from which extend anchoring tabs 29a, 29b of two different lengths (more than two different lengths can be provided). These anchoring lugs 29 are deformable in a similar manner to that of the anchoring lugs of the first embodiment.

Due to the difference in length of the anchoring lugs 29a, 29b it is ensured as above that at least one of the anchoring lugs 29 will have its free end 30 in the bottom of the thread F between two ridges to oppose an effort to extract the fitting.

The concave frustoconical shape of the shoulder 27 forms a stop preventing the anchoring lugs 29 from turning over under an extraction force which would be exerted on the body 1.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and it is possible to make variant embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In particular, the anchoring lugs can be made in one piece with the element. Other forms can also be envisaged.

Furthermore, other applications can be envisaged and in particular all those relating to the fixing in a tapping of an element of any kind.

Claims (7)

1. Element comprising a cylindrical body (1) which is intended to be introduced into a thread (T) and is provided externally with means for cooperating with this thread, characterized in that these means comprise at least one anchoring lug (29 ) which has an end coupled to the cylindrical body and an opposite free end (30) and which is elastically deformable between a first state in which the free end of the anchoring tab is spaced from the central axis (22) of the cylindrical part of a distance greater than the internal radius (r) of the thread and a second state in which the distance separating the free end from the central axis is less than the internal radius of the thread. 2. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring lug (29) is folded towards the cylindrical part (1) in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of introduction of the element into the thread to form an angle with the central axis (33). 3. Element according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the anchoring lug (29) is integral with a ring (24) received in an external groove (13) of the cylindrical body (1). 4. Element according to claim 3, characterized in that the ring (24) has at least one end face (25) having reliefs (26) for cooperating with corresponding reliefs (28) of a flank (27) of the external groove (13) of the cylindrical body (1). 5. Element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for cooperating with the thread include at least two anchoring lugs (29a, 29b) of different lengths. 6. Element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the means for cooperating with the tapping comprise at least two anchoring lugs (29) disposed axially successively along the central axis ( 33). 7. Element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end (30) of each anchoring lug (29) has an end face (31) substantially tangent to the angle propeller (a ) of the thread (T).