GB1599350A - Connector for interconnecting lenghts of tubing - Google Patents

Description

(54) CONNECTOR FOR INTERCONNECTING LENGTHS OF TUBING (71) We, SPIRO INVESTMENT, S.A., a Joint Stock Company organised and existing under the laws of Switzerland, of Industriestrasse CH-3 178, Bösingen, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a connector for use in interconnecting lengths of tubing.

Lengths of tubing, such as so-called spiral lock-seam or helical lock-seam metal tubing marketed under our Trade Marks SPIRO and SPIROVENT, are usually interconnected on site by connectors such as sleeve connectors, and difficulties can arise in completing this operation satisfactorily and quickly. It is an object of the present invention to minimize such difficulties.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for use in interconnecting lengths of tubing, the connector comprising interconnected outer and inner sleeve members each in the form of a curved metal strip, a first limb extending from an end of the outer strip, a second limb extending from an end of the inner strip, and means for moving the thirst and second limbs relative to one another so that the outer sleeve member will contract and the inner sleeve member will expand to grip aligned end lengths of tubing which are sandwiched between the sleeve members.

Preferably, each of said metal strips has overlapping end parts, said first limb extends from the outer end of the outer strip, said second limb extends from the inner end of the inner strip to pass through openings in the overlapping end part of the inner strip and the adjacent inner end part of the outer strip, and said means act to move the first and second limbs towards one another.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing one form of connector interconnecting two lengths of metal tubing; Figure 2 is a section on the line H-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view corresponding to Figure 2 but before tightening; Figure 4 is a detail view in the direction of arrow IV of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is an end view showing another form of connector.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, connector 10 is arranged to interconnect lengths 11 and 12 of metal tubing which may be of the spiral lock-seam type.

The connector comprises an outer sleeve.

member 13 in the form of a curved metal suip having an inner end part 14 overlapped by an outer end 15, and an inner sleeve member 16 in the form of a curved metal strip having an inner end 17 overlapped by an outer end part 18.

A first lug or limb 19 extends outwardly from the end 15 of the outer sleeve strip, and a second lug or limb 20 extends outwardly from the end 17 of the inner sleeve strip to pass through slots or like openings in the end parts 18 and 14. A bolt 21 passes through openings in the limbs 19 and 20 > and is provided with a lock nut 22.

The sleeve members 13 and 16 are interconnected at 23 by a welded connecting piece or by a pin and hole connection. The interconnection 23, and also the lugs 19 and 20, are positioned centrally along the axial length of the connector 10.

In use of the connector 10, the ends of the lengths 11 and 12 of tubing are inserted into the annular gap between the sleeve members 13 and 16 until the tubing ends engage the lug 20 of the connector and possibly also the interconnection 23. The bolt 21 is then tightened to draw the lugs 19 and 20 together; assuming that the point of interconnection 23 of the sleeve members will remain stationary, the tightening action contracts the outer sleeve member 13 and expands the inner sleeve member 16 to grip firmly the sandwiched end lengths of tubing.

Connectors as described above can be readily applied on site, with a minimum of skilled labour, and have given very satisfactory results in air conditioning and ventilating systems. However, sealing compositions may be applied to the sleeve members and/or to the end lengths of tubing, and rubber or plastics rings or sleeves may be included, to increase the degree of fluid-tightness of the connections.

The invention has been described as applied to a coupling for lengths of equal-diameter tubing, but may also be applied, with the use of tubular adaptors where appropriate, to, for example, T-couplings, bend couplings, or end closures which incorporate tubular lengths.

In a modification of the invention, with large-diameter tubing, the lugs (19 and 20) may extend inwardly.

In a further modification, lugs such as 19 and 20 extending from the end parts 15 and 17 of the sleeve strips, but with one lug passing through a gap in the other end part, may be moved apart to effect the required contraction and expansion of the sleeves 13 and 16.

Referring now to Figure 5, connector 32 comprises an outer sleeve member 33 in the form of a curved metal strip or plate having an inner end part 34 overlapped by an outer end 35, and an inner sleeve member 36 in the form of a curved metal strip or plate having an inner end 37 overlapped by an outer end part 38.

A limb 39 reinforced by a welded gusset 40 is bent outwardly from the end 35 of the outer sleeve member, and a welded lug 41 reinforced by a welded gusset 42 extends outwardly from the end 37 of the inner sleeve member to pass through slots 43 and 44 in the end parts 38 and 34. A bolt 45 passes through openings in the limb 39 and the lug 41, and is provided with a lock nut 46.

The-sleeve members 33 and 36 are interconnected by a welded finger 47 which is reinforced by a gusset 48 and which extends outwardly from end part 38 of the inner member to pass through a restricted opening 49 near the end 35 of the outer member.

In use of the connector 32, the ends of lengths of tubing are inserted into the annular gap between the sleeve members 33 and 36 until the tubing ends engage the lug 41 of the inner member and possibly also the finger 47. The bolt 45 is then tightened to draw the lug 41 and the limb 39 together, and it will be noted that the lug 41 engages end 50 of the slot 44 to contract the outer sleeve member 33 whose other end 35 is held by finger 47 engaging in opening 49; the inner sleeve member 36 is simultaneously expanded as the lug 41 advances along slot 43, the other end of the member 36 being held as finger 47 is engaged in opening 49, and the sandwiched end lengths of tubing are firmly gripped.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A connector for use in interconnecting lengths of tubing, the connector comprising interconnected outer and inner sleeve members each in the form of a curved metal strip, a first limb extending from an end of the outer strip, a second limb extending from an end of the inner strip, and means for moving the first and second limbs relative to one another so that the outer sleeve member will contract and the inner sleeve member will expand to grip aligned end lengths of tubing which are sandwiched between the sleeve members.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, in which each of said metal strips has overlapping end parts, said first limb extends from the outer end of the outer strip, said second limb extends from the inner end of the inner strip to pass through openings in the overlapping end part of the inner strip and the adjacent inner end part of the outer strip, and said means act to move the first and second limbs towards one another.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, in which said sleeve members are interconnected by a spigot and socket connection between the outer end part of the inner strip and the outer end part of the outer strip.

4. A connector as claimed in Claim 3, in which said spigot and socket connection comprises a finger extending from the outer end part of the inner strip to enter an adjacent opening in the outer end part of the outer strip.

5. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, in which the means for moving the first and second limbs towards one another comprise a screw member acting between said limbs.

6. A connector as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which at least one of said members is coated with a sealing composition on its tubing-engaging face.

7. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, and further comprising at least one sealing ring or sleeve.

8. A connector for use in interconnecting lengths of tubing, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Lengths of tubing whenever interconnected by a connector as claimed in any preceding Claim.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. results in air conditioning and ventilating systems. However, sealing compositions may be applied to the sleeve members and/or to the end lengths of tubing, and rubber or plastics rings or sleeves may be included, to increase the degree of fluid-tightness of the connections. The invention has been described as applied to a coupling for lengths of equal-diameter tubing, but may also be applied, with the use of tubular adaptors where appropriate, to, for example, T-couplings, bend couplings, or end closures which incorporate tubular lengths. In a modification of the invention, with large-diameter tubing, the lugs (19 and 20) may extend inwardly. In a further modification, lugs such as 19 and 20 extending from the end parts 15 and 17 of the sleeve strips, but with one lug passing through a gap in the other end part, may be moved apart to effect the required contraction and expansion of the sleeves 13 and 16. Referring now to Figure 5, connector 32 comprises an outer sleeve member 33 in the form of a curved metal strip or plate having an inner end part 34 overlapped by an outer end 35, and an inner sleeve member 36 in the form of a curved metal strip or plate having an inner end 37 overlapped by an outer end part 38. A limb 39 reinforced by a welded gusset 40 is bent outwardly from the end 35 of the outer sleeve member, and a welded lug 41 reinforced by a welded gusset 42 extends outwardly from the end 37 of the inner sleeve member to pass through slots 43 and 44 in the end parts 38 and 34. A bolt 45 passes through openings in the limb 39 and the lug 41, and is provided with a lock nut 46. The-sleeve members 33 and 36 are interconnected by a welded finger 47 which is reinforced by a gusset 48 and which extends outwardly from end part 38 of the inner member to pass through a restricted opening 49 near the end 35 of the outer member. In use of the connector 32, the ends of lengths of tubing are inserted into the annular gap between the sleeve members 33 and 36 until the tubing ends engage the lug 41 of the inner member and possibly also the finger 47. The bolt 45 is then tightened to draw the lug 41 and the limb 39 together, and it will be noted that the lug 41 engages end 50 of the slot 44 to contract the outer sleeve member 33 whose other end 35 is held by finger 47 engaging in opening 49; the inner sleeve member 36 is simultaneously expanded as the lug 41 advances along slot 43, the other end of the member 36 being held as finger 47 is engaged in opening 49, and the sandwiched end lengths of tubing are firmly gripped. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A connector for use in interconnecting lengths of tubing, the connector comprising interconnected outer and inner sleeve members each in the form of a curved metal strip, a first limb extending from an end of the outer strip, a second limb extending from an end of the inner strip, and means for moving the first and second limbs relative to one another so that the outer sleeve member will contract and the inner sleeve member will expand to grip aligned end lengths of tubing which are sandwiched between the sleeve members.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, in which each of said metal strips has overlapping end parts, said first limb extends from the outer end of the outer strip, said second limb extends from the inner end of the inner strip to pass through openings in the overlapping end part of the inner strip and the adjacent inner end part of the outer strip, and said means act to move the first and second limbs towards one another.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, in which said sleeve members are interconnected by a spigot and socket connection between the outer end part of the inner strip and the outer end part of the outer strip.

4. A connector as claimed in Claim 3, in which said spigot and socket connection comprises a finger extending from the outer end part of the inner strip to enter an adjacent opening in the outer end part of the outer strip.

5. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, in which the means for moving the first and second limbs towards one another comprise a screw member acting between said limbs.

6. A connector as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which at least one of said members is coated with a sealing composition on its tubing-engaging face.

7. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, and further comprising at least one sealing ring or sleeve.

8. A connector for use in interconnecting lengths of tubing, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Lengths of tubing whenever interconnected by a connector as claimed in any preceding Claim.