GB2043811A - Glanded Connection - Google Patents

Abstract

A connection for connecting a branch pipe to a mains pipe comprises a two part longitudinally split sleeve, one part of which has a branch pipe connection, the two parts being, in use, clamped around the mains pipe. To obtain a seal between the two parts machining of the mating surfaces has hitherto been standard practice. The invention provides for sealing of the mating surfaces by means of a resilient cord 26 disposed in a groove 24 in one of each pair of mating surfaces. When the parts are tightened together the cord bears against the other mating surface. Machining of the mating surfaces is not required. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Glanded Connection This invention relates to a glanded connection.

A glanded connection is a well known piece of equipment which is employed for example to connect a branch pipe to a mains pipe. Glanded connections generally comprise a two-part sleeve adapted to be clamped around the mains pipe, one of the sleeve parts having a flanged orifice to which a branch pipe can be connected. Each sleeve part is provided with flanges to which the other sleeve part is secured by bolts. In order to ensure that the joint between the two sleeves is fiuid-tight when clamped around a mains pipe it has been the practice to machine the mating surfaces flat and provide a flat gasket between the surfaces. Machining of surfaces represents a time-consuming and costly step which it would be advantageous to eliminate and the present invention has been made with that in mind.

According to the invention there is provided a glanded connection comprising a sleeve longitudinally split into at least two parts, means for clamping the parts of the sleeve together and means for forming a seal between the unmachined mating surfaces of the parts comprising a cord of deformable material, a part of which is received in a groove extending along the length of one of each pair of mating surfaces and adapted to bear against the other of said pair of mating surfaces when said parts are urged together.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an end elevation of a glanded connection.

Referring to the drawing the glanded connection consists of a sleeve split longitudinally into two parts 10 and 12. Externally projecting flanges or bosses 14 are provided adjacent the respective mating surfaces 16 and 18 of each part. Bolts 20 extend through bores in each pair of adjacent flanges or bosses and nuts 22 are tightened on the bolts so that the parts 10 and 1 2 can be held in place around a pipe.

A groove 24 extends along the length of one of each pair of adjacent mating surfaces; surface 18 in the embodiment being described. The groove is of arcuate cross-section preferably, but not essentially of substantially constant radius. As can be seen in the drawing each part 10 and 12 has only one mating surface with a groove. If desired, however, both mating surfaces of one part can be provided with a groove, the mating surfaces of the other part being left flat.

A cord 26 of resiliently deformable material such as natural or synthetic rubber is located in each groove. The cord is preferably of circular cross-section with a radius substantially the same as that of the groove. The dimensions of groove and cord are chosen so that when the cord is placed in the groove and undeformed, it projects beyond the plane of the mating surface.

As will now be evident, when the parts are urged together by tightening of the nuts 22 the projecting parts of each cord bear against the flat adjacent mating surface 16, forming a fluid-tight seal. The area of contact between the parts through the cords is relatively small and hence the pressure of the seal on surface 16 is correspondingly high. There is thus formed an extremely reliable seal which can contain pressures substantially higher than could be obtained with prior art arrangements. No machining of the mating surfaces is required.

Claims

1. A glanded connection comprising a sleeve longitudinally split into at least two parts, means for clamping the parts of the sleeve together and means for forming a seal between the unmachined mating surfaces of the parts comprising a cord of deformable material a part of which is received in a groove extending along the length of one of each pair of mating surfaces and adapted to bear against the other of said pair of mating surfaces.

2. A glanded connection as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the groove in each pair of mating surfaces is provided in different parts.

3. A glanded connection as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each groove is of part circular cross-section and the cord received therein of circular cross-section.

4. A glanded connection as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the radius of the cord is the same as that of the groove.

5. A glanded connection as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each ungrooved mating surface is flat.

6. A glanded connection substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Glanded Connection This invention relates to a glanded connection. A glanded connection is a well known piece of equipment which is employed for example to connect a branch pipe to a mains pipe. Glanded connections generally comprise a two-part sleeve adapted to be clamped around the mains pipe, one of the sleeve parts having a flanged orifice to which a branch pipe can be connected. Each sleeve part is provided with flanges to which the other sleeve part is secured by bolts. In order to ensure that the joint between the two sleeves is fiuid-tight when clamped around a mains pipe it has been the practice to machine the mating surfaces flat and provide a flat gasket between the surfaces. Machining of surfaces represents a time-consuming and costly step which it would be advantageous to eliminate and the present invention has been made with that in mind. According to the invention there is provided a glanded connection comprising a sleeve longitudinally split into at least two parts, means for clamping the parts of the sleeve together and means for forming a seal between the unmachined mating surfaces of the parts comprising a cord of deformable material, a part of which is received in a groove extending along the length of one of each pair of mating surfaces and adapted to bear against the other of said pair of mating surfaces when said parts are urged together. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an end elevation of a glanded connection. Referring to the drawing the glanded connection consists of a sleeve split longitudinally into two parts 10 and 12. Externally projecting flanges or bosses 14 are provided adjacent the respective mating surfaces 16 and 18 of each part. Bolts 20 extend through bores in each pair of adjacent flanges or bosses and nuts 22 are tightened on the bolts so that the parts 10 and 1 2 can be held in place around a pipe. A groove 24 extends along the length of one of each pair of adjacent mating surfaces; surface 18 in the embodiment being described. The groove is of arcuate cross-section preferably, but not essentially of substantially constant radius. As can be seen in the drawing each part 10 and 12 has only one mating surface with a groove. If desired, however, both mating surfaces of one part can be provided with a groove, the mating surfaces of the other part being left flat. A cord 26 of resiliently deformable material such as natural or synthetic rubber is located in each groove. The cord is preferably of circular cross-section with a radius substantially the same as that of the groove. The dimensions of groove and cord are chosen so that when the cord is placed in the groove and undeformed, it projects beyond the plane of the mating surface. As will now be evident, when the parts are urged together by tightening of the nuts 22 the projecting parts of each cord bear against the flat adjacent mating surface 16, forming a fluid-tight seal. The area of contact between the parts through the cords is relatively small and hence the pressure of the seal on surface 16 is correspondingly high. There is thus formed an extremely reliable seal which can contain pressures substantially higher than could be obtained with prior art arrangements. No machining of the mating surfaces is required. Claims

1. A glanded connection comprising a sleeve longitudinally split into at least two parts, means for clamping the parts of the sleeve together and means for forming a seal between the unmachined mating surfaces of the parts comprising a cord of deformable material a part of which is received in a groove extending along the length of one of each pair of mating surfaces and adapted to bear against the other of said pair of mating surfaces.

2. A glanded connection as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the groove in each pair of mating surfaces is provided in different parts.

3. A glanded connection as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each groove is of part circular cross-section and the cord received therein of circular cross-section.

4. A glanded connection as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the radius of the cord is the same as that of the groove.

5. A glanded connection as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each ungrooved mating surface is flat.

6. A glanded connection substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.