FR3140146A1 - ACCESSORY SUPPORT COLLAR ON PIPE AND ASSEMBLY MADE OF SUCH A COLLAR AND A MEASURING PROBE - Google Patents

Abstract

COLLAR FOR SUPPORTING AN ACCESSORY ON A PIPE AND ASSEMBLY MADE OF SUCH A COLLAR AND A MEASURING PROBE The clamp for supporting an accessory on a pipe comprises two half-collars assembled in a removable manner (CH2, CB2) , one of the half-collars (CH2) comprising a through-accessory mounting well (PA). In accordance with the invention, the collar comprises assembly and closure means made from material comprising a removable joint (AF, AA) and a clip-on closure lock (CL, GD) formed in the half-collars. Fig.5

Description

ACCESSORY SUPPORT COLLAR ON PIPE AND ASSEMBLY MADE OF SUCH A COLLAR AND A MEASURING PROBE

The present invention generally relates to the mounting on a pipe of an accessory such as a measuring accessory, in particular in water treatment equipment for swimming pools and spas. More particularly, the invention relates to an accessory support collar, as well as an assembly formed of such a collar and a measuring probe mounted thereon.

In the state of the art, an accessory support collar is known comprising two half-collars assembled to one another by screw-nut assemblies, such as the collar CA1 shown in . The CA1 collar of the prior art here supports an SM measuring probe (see Figs.2 and 3). The assembly of the SM measuring probe on the CA1 collar is shown in detail in Figs.2 to 4.

As clearly visible at the , the collar CA1 comprises a low half-collar CB1 and a high half-collar CH1 which straddle a pipe (not shown) and enclose it. Four sets of VE screw-nuts are provided for mounting and tightening the CA1 collar on the pipe. Also with reference to Figs.2 and 3, the high half-collar CH1 includes a PT well intended to receive an accessory for equipping the pipeline, here in the form of a pH measuring probe SM, also called a “pH probe” subsequently, which is used to measure the pH of swimming pool water. The PT well is through and allows the insertion of a measuring head of the SM probe into the pipe, via an orifice (not shown) drilled in the pipe opposite the PT well. Sealing at the contact surface between the half-collars CB1, CH1, and the pipe is typically obtained by means of a seal (not shown) housed in a circular groove RC of the top half-collar CH1 and arranged to surround the hole drilled in the pipe for insertion of the SM probe. Teflon tape wrapped on the pipe on either side of the SM probe insertion port can also be used to ensure sealing.

Briefly, the SM probe generally has a circular cylindrical shape and notably comprises a TS probe head, a tubular casing ET and an electrical connection cord CE extending from the TS head. The ET tubular envelope contains an EM glass measuring electrode, an electrolyte liquid solution and a reference electrode (not shown). The ET tubular envelope is hermetically closed. The EM glass measuring electrode is located at one end of the SM probe, the other end of which is the TS probe head which covers the electrical connections of the electrodes with the CE electrical cord.

The SM probe is mounted in the PT well by means of a PS insertion probe holder, as shown in Figs.2 to 4, which ensures the mechanical retention of the SM probe at the level of its ET tubular envelope, as well as the waterproofing. The PS probe holder screws into a female thread of the PT well and holds the SM probe in a fixed position suitable for measurement. The EM glass measuring electrode is thus immersed in the water circulating in the pipe, so as to measure its pH.

As visible in Figs.3 and 4, the PS probe holder comprises a plurality of parts including a male connector RM, standardized G1/2, a female nut EF, a sealing O-ring JT, as well as an RG claw washer and a BG seat ring. The male connector RM is screwed into the well PT by a first threaded portion typically coated with a Teflon sealing tape. The EF nut, the JT O-ring, the RG washer and the BG seat ring are placed on the ET tubular casing of the SM probe, as shown in Figure , and this is then inserted into the pipe via a central orifice of the RM fitting. The SM probe is fixed in position by tightening the female nut EF on a second threaded portion of the male connector RM. The RG claw washer prevents any anti-return movement of the SM probe once the EF nut is tightened. The BG seat ring is inserted between the JT seal and the RG washer, thus ensuring proper installation of the RG washer and protection of the JT seal against the claws of the RG washer.

The accessory support collar of the prior art described above and the assembly formed by this collar and the measuring probe mounted thereon have several drawbacks, in particular those indicated below:

The screw-nut assemblies used for assembling and tightening the two half-clamps on the pipe oxidize over time, which poses problems of dismantling and durability.

The tightening force exerted with the screw-nut assemblies is not controlled and too strong tightening can lead to breakage of the accessory support collar in the long term.

The central axis of the well is perpendicular to the central axis of the collar corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline. This poses a problem with mounting the pH probe on vertical portions of the pipe, because the pH probe must be tilted upwards by at least about 5 degrees from the horizontal.

The accessory support collar is not optimized in terms of costs, in particular with regard to the number of parts, material and process costs, as well as installation and intervention costs in after-sales.

In the insertion probe holder used for mounting the pH probe, the sealing of the mounting of the male connector in the collar well is done with Teflon tape, which can cause mechanical stress in the event of excessive tape thickness and lead to a part breakage. Furthermore, the use of a claw washer for non-return of the pH probe has the disadvantage of possible alteration of the tubular casing of the probe when tightening the probe holder.

Like the collar, the insertion probe holder is not optimized. The number of parts that make it up is too large, which impacts its cost and assembly/disassembly times during installation and intervention.

The invention aims to provide a solution to the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a collar for supporting an accessory on a pipeline comprising two half-collars assembled in a removable manner, one of the half-collars comprising a through-well for mounting an accessory. In accordance with the invention, the collar comprises assembly and closure means made from material comprising a removable joint and a clip-on closure lock formed in the half-collars.

According to a particular characteristic, the clip-on closing lock comprises a closing pawl formed in one of the half-collars and a closing keeper formed in the other of the half-collars, the pawl and the keeper having a plurality of teeth of locking arranged so as to provide two levels of locking.

According to another particular characteristic, the two locking levels comprise a first level of pre-maintaining the collar in position on the pipe and a second level of strong tightening of the collar on the pipe.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the half-collars comprise tool supports in the form of a recess and/or a protruding portion, located at the level of the clip-on closure lock and intended for tightening the collar on the pipe using a tool.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the removable joint comprises several female articulation elements formed in one of the half-collars and a hinge pin formed in the other of the half-collars, the female articulation elements being partially open and aligned with a spacing between them, the hinge pin having supporting elements sized and spaced apart so as to fit between the female hinge elements when the hinge pin is inserted into the female hinge elements joint.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the half-collar not comprising the through-well for mounting the accessory comprises a hole forming a drilling guide intended to facilitate the installation of the collar on a pipe.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the half-collar not comprising the through-well for mounting the accessory comprises indexed assembly elements of the tenon-mortise type made from material, arranged so as to authorize side-by-side assembly , removable and aligned, of two identical half-collars.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the collar is made of plastic material, by injection molding.

According to yet another particular characteristic, the accessory mounting through well is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of the collar. This characteristic is advantageous because it allows, thanks to the collar of the invention, to install a pH measuring probe on a vertical portion of the pipe.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to an assembly comprising an accessory support collar as briefly described above and a measuring probe mounted on the collar. In accordance with the invention, this assembly also comprises a screw connection formed in a single piece and sealing means fitted to the measuring probe, which are arranged so as to ensure, by cable gland, a watertight assembly and a fixing mechanics of the probe on the collar, by tightening the connection in an accessory mounting well of the collar. The mechanical fixing of the measuring probe thus obtained is sufficient, in particular, to prevent it from moving back under the effect of the water pressure in the pipe.

According to a particular embodiment, the probe is typically a pH measuring probe.

Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description below of several particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

There is a perspective view of the pipe accessory support collar of the prior art.

There is a perspective view of a half-collar top of the prior art collar of the , with a pH probe mounted in a well in the half-collar.

There is a perspective view showing the waterproof mounting of the pH probe in the well of the half-collar of the , by means of a probe connector of the prior art, called an insertion probe holder, comprising a plurality of parts.

There is a perspective view showing in detail the prior art probe fitting used in mounting the .

There is a perspective view of a pipe accessory support collar according to the invention, in an open state.

There is a side view of the accessory support collar of the , in a closed state.

There is another side view of the accessory support collar of the , in a closed state.

There is a front view of the accessory support collar of the , in a closed state.

There is a perspective view of the accessory support collar of the to which a lower half-collar of another identical collar is assembled, using mortise-tenon type elements.

There is a perspective view of an assembly formed of an accessory support collar according to the invention and a pH measuring probe.

There is a front view of the entire .

There is a longitudinal sectional view of the entire .

There is a perspective view of a probe connector used in the invention for mounting the pH measuring probe in the collar of the assembly .

In general, it will be noted that the spatial reference considered in the present patent application for the accessory support collar and for the assembly formed by the collar and a measuring probe is the orthogonal spatial reference XYZ shown in Figs.5 to 13. In this orthogonal spatial reference XYZ, the X, Y and Z axes correspond respectively to a longitudinal horizontal axis, a transverse horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

With reference to Figs.5 to 9 and 10 to 13, a particular embodiment CA2 of an accessory support collar according to the invention is described below, as well as an ECS assembly formed of the collar CA2 and a pH probe designated SM.

As clearly visible in Figs.5 to 9, the accessory support collar CA2 is of the removable joint type and comprises a high half-collar CH2 and a low half-collar CB2, each configured in a semi-circle. In the following description and all of the figures, the collar CA2 is considered in a spatial arrangement such that the closing plane of the half-collars CH2, CB2, is located in the plane XY, with a longitudinal central axis AL aligned in x.

The CH2, CB2 half-clamps are manufactured by injection molding, typically in plastic, as two separate parts intended to be assembled. The CH2 high half-collar includes assembly and closing means in the form of several female AF articulation elements and a CL closing pawl, as well as the PA accessory mounting well. The CB2 low half-collar includes other assembly and closing means in the form of a hinge pin AA and a closing keeper GD, male TE and female MO elements of the mortise-tenon type and a TG drilling hole. The female joint elements AF and the joint pin AA cooperate to form the aforementioned removable joint. The CL closing pawl and the GD closing striker cooperate to form a clip-on closing lock.

In the high half-collar CH2, the female AF articulation elements are similar and three in number in this embodiment. As better visible at , the female AF articulation elements are aligned in an X, with a regular spacing, and are partially open from above to be able to introduce the AA articulation pin. Reinforcement ribs NE are provided for the mechanical robustness of the female AF articulation elements. The spacing of the female articulation elements AF provides clearances in which the supporting elements EP of the articulation axis AA are housed, visible at the .

The CL closing pawl typically comprises several teeth which are here arranged in two parallel rows aligned in an the desired mechanical fixing and sealing.

The accessory mounting well PA, as clearly visible in Figs.6, 7 and 12, is inclined at an angle AN relative to the Z axis, in the XZ plane. The angle AN here is approximately 5 degrees at least. When the CA2 collar is installed on a vertical portion of the CN pipeline, this angle AN provides the desired inclination for the SM probe relative to the horizontal, as indicated above in the description of the state of the art.

Furthermore, as visible in the , the PA accessory mounting well includes a female FL thread, conforming to the G1/2 standard, for mounting the SM probe with a screw-on fitting. A circular groove GC, visible in Figs.5 and 12, is provided for the installation of a seal JE around the opening of the PA well opening onto the CN pipeline.

In the low half-collar CB2, as visible in Figs.6 and 9, the articulation axis AA extends longitudinally in X and is connected to the body of the half-collar by the aforementioned supporting elements EP, as well as by elements EPL side carriers. These supporting elements EP, EPL, are regularly spaced to allow the assembly of the joint pin AA with the female joint elements AF.

The described architecture of the female articulation elements AF and the articulation pin AA allows complete assembly/disassembly of the CH2 and CB2 half-collars, which can be assembled to form the CA2 collar or separated into two separate pieces. This characteristic of disassembly grants advantages in terms of repairability at lower cost and additional function attributable to a part, as will appear more clearly below. Furthermore, the described architecture of the removable joint allows a reduction in material, for the benefit of cost optimization, while maintaining excellent mechanical robustness.

As visible at , the closing striker GD typically comprises several teeth which are here arranged in two parallel rows aligned in an X. Closure of the collar CA2 is obtained by the meshing of the teeth of the closing pawl CL and the closing striker GD.

The first level of closure mentioned above, namely the level of pre-maintenance in position, corresponds to meshing of the teeth of the first row, obtained without tools by an effort exerted by hand by an operator. The second level of closure mentioned above, namely the strong tightening level, corresponds to meshing of the teeth of the second row, obtained by the operator using simple multi-grip pliers. A recess forming an EC shoulder, visible at the , is provided under the closing keeper GD to serve as a clamping support for one tooth of the multi-grip pliers, another clamping support for the other tooth of the multi-grip pliers being formed by a protruding flat, PL, au- above the CL closing pawl. The tools required for closing/opening the CA2 collar are limited to multigrip pliers for tightening it tightly and a screwdriver to unclip the CL ratchet to open the collar.

The male element forming a tenon TE and the female element forming a mortise MO included in the low half-collar CB2 allow a side-by-side assembly, removable and indexed, of several half-collars CB2 or collars CA2, as shown in , to obtain a desired alignment.

The TG drilling hole in the CB2 half-clamp provides assistance for drilling the CN pipeline. Thus, one or more half-collars CB2 assembled by their tenon-mortise elements TE, MO, are arranged on the pipe CN for drilling it at the locations corresponding to the drilling holes TG. The diameter of the TG hole indicates that of the drill bit to be used to drill the CN pipeline. The drilled hole is thus suitable for the insertion of the accessory to be installed, here the SM probe.

The means described above integrated into the CB2 half-collar, namely the mortise-tenon elements TE, MO, and the drilling hole TG, give this part an additional function as an alignment and drilling template. With these characteristics, the invention provides rapid and easy installation on pipelines of the clamps and corresponding accessories supported, with the guarantee of compliance with pre-established mounting specifications.

Referring now more particularly to Figs.10 to 13, the ECS assembly according to the invention essentially comprises a CA2 accessory support collar, an SM pH measuring probe and an RS probe connection.

Unlike the prior technique, mounting the SM probe on the CA2 collar requires a reduced number of parts. This assembly is of the cable gland type and is carried out using the RS probe connection and sealing means including one or more JO O-rings and one or more RO washers.

The RS probe connector is a plastic part made by injection molding. As visible at , the RS probe connection has a central through bore AC designed for a tight fitting of the SM probe. The RS probe connector comprises a TE head portion, a PV threaded screwing portion and a PR pressing portion. The portion forming the TE head has the general exterior shape of a hexagonal cylinder with recesses to maintain a uniform thickness of material. The PV threaded screw portion is standardized G1/2. The pressing portion PR is of circular cylindrical shape with smooth surfaces and is intended for the application of clamping pressure on the means JO, RO, in order to thus obtain sealing by stuffing box gland.

Thus, the SM probe is first fitted tightly into the central bore AC of the RS probe connector. The sealing means JO, RO, are then placed on the tubular casing ET (cf. ) of the SM probe. The tubular casing ET is subsequently introduced into the well PA of the collar CA2. The end of the tubular casing ET enters the pipeline CN through the hole drilled opposite the well PA. The assembly of the SM probe is completed with the tightening of the RS probe connection in the PA well using a wrench, which allows the desired mechanical fixing and sealing to be obtained.

In the embodiment described above, the SM probe is a commercial probe available off the shelf and the RS probe connector is then attached to the probe, by fitting with tightening. Other embodiments may use a specific probe, designed to further optimize costs and the manufacturing process, in which the probe and its connector form a single part, the connector having been molded onto the probe properly. spoken and covering it on its upper part.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments which have been described here by way of example. A person skilled in the art, depending on the applications of the invention, may make different modifications and variants falling within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (11)

Accessory support collar on a pipeline comprising two detachably assembled half-collars (CH2, CB2), one of the half-collars (CH2) comprising a through-well for mounting an accessory (PA), characterized in which it comprises assembly and closure means made from material comprising a removable articulation (AF, AA) and a clip-on closure lock (CL, GD) formed in said half-collars. Collar according to claim 1, characterized in that said clip-on closing lock comprises a closing pawl (CL) formed in one of said half-collars (CH2) and a closing keeper (GD) formed in the other of said halfs -collars (CB2), said pawl and striker (CL, GD) having a plurality of locking teeth arranged so as to provide two levels of locking. Collar according to claim 2, characterized in that said two locking levels comprise a first level of pre-maintenance in position of said collar (CA2) on said pipe (CN) and a second level of strong tightening of said collar (CA2) on said pipeline (CN). Collar according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said half-collars (CH2, CB2) comprise tool supports in the form of a recess (EC) and/or a protruding portion (PL), located at the level of said clip-on closure lock and intended for tightening said collar (CA2) on said pipe (CN) using a tool. Collar according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said removable articulation comprises several female articulation elements (AF) formed in one of said half-collars (CH2) and a articulation axis (AA) formed in the other of said half-collars (CB2), said female articulation elements (AF) being partially open and aligned with a spacing between them, said articulation axis (AA) having supporting elements (EP, EPL) dimensioned and spaced so as to fit between said female hinge elements (AF) when said hinge pin (AA) is inserted into said female hinge elements (AF). Collar according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the half-collar (CB2) not comprising said through-accessory mounting well (PA) comprises a hole forming a drilling guide (TG) intended to facilitate the installation of said collar (CA2) on a pipe (CN). Collar according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said half-collar (CB2) not comprising said through-accessory mounting well (PA) comprises indexed assembly elements of the tenon-mortise type ( TE, MO) made from material, arranged so as to authorize a side-by-side, removable and aligned assembly of two so-called identical half-collars (CB2). Necklace according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is made of plastic material, by injection molding. Collar according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said accessory mounting through well (PA) is inclined at a predetermined angle (AN) relative to a perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis (AL) of said collar (CA2). Assembly comprising an accessory support collar (CA2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a measuring probe (SM) mounted on said collar (CA2), characterized in that it also comprises a connection screwable formed in a single piece (RS) and sealing means (JO, RO) equipping said probe (SM), which are arranged so as to ensure, by cable gland, watertight assembly and mechanical fixing of said probe (SM) on said collar (CA2), by tightening said connector in an accessory mounting well (PA) of said collar (CA2). Assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the measuring probe (SM) is a pH measuring probe.