GB2083151A

GB2083151A - Apparatus for by-passing a section of piping

Info

Publication number: GB2083151A
Application number: GB8028518A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Drayton Controls Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Drayton Controls Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 1980-09-04
Filing date: 1980-09-04
Publication date: 1982-03-17
Also published as: GB2083151B

Abstract

Apparatus for by-passing a section of piping 23 containing a fluid under pressure is in upper and lower parts 1 and 2 hinged together at the rear by pins 3. Each part internally is a substantially semi-circular section channel 4 interrupted by a radial wall 5 for squashing the middle of the piping section. At the front, the upper part 1 carries nut-and-stud clamping devices 7, 8 swingable transversely of the apparatus. Hollow cutting plugs 12 encircled by compressible seals 14 are rotatable about their axes to cut respective holes through the wall of the piping 23. The interiors of the plugs 12 communicate with each other via a duct 18 which may contain a valve 20. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Piping apparatus and method According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, compris ing first and second tubular means which are arranged to be put in fluid communication with the interior of said piping at respective ends of said section without any consequential substantial loss of said fluid from said piping, and duct means intercon necting the interiors of said first and second tubular means for fluid flow therebetween.

According to another aspect of the present inven tion, there is provided a method of by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, comprising putting in fluid communication with the interior of said piping at the ends of said section without any consequential substantial loss of said fluid from said piping respective first and second tubular means the interiors of which are intercon nected by duct means for fluid flow therebetween.

In order that the invention may be clearly under stood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accom panying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a top plan view of apparatus for by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, Figure 2 shows a sectional front elevation of the apparatus by-passing the section of piping, and Figure 3 shows an end elevation of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus is in two, upper and lower parts 1 and 2 hinged together at the rear by way of two co-axial hinge pins (of which one is seen and referenced 3). Extending the whole length of each part 1 and 2 is a substantially semi-circular section channel 4, except that the channel 4 is interrupted by a radial wall 5. Mounted in the front of the part 1 by way of co-axial pivot pins 6 are clamping studs (of which one is seen and referenced 7) each of which carries a co-operating nut 8 and a washer 9. Each stud 7 can be swung about the axis A of its pin 6 into and out of a forwardly-projecting fork 10 of the part 2. The part 1 is formed with two threaded bores (of which one is seen and referenced 11) which intersect perpendicu larly the base of its channel 4 at respective opposite sides of its wall 5.Screwed into each bore 11 is a threaded plug 12 which is sealed relative to the wall of the bore 11 by means of an annular heart seal 13.

Each plug 12 is formed with an axial bore 14 which commences at its inner end and terminates short of its outer end and with an intersecting diametral bore 15. The inner end of each plug 12 fits closely in an inner peripheral flange 16 of an elastomeric sealing disc 17. The bores 11 intersect a duct 18 which extends from one end to the other of the part 1 and the ends of which are closed by respective blanking plugs 19. Interposed in the duct 18 between the plugs 12 is a thermostatic radiator valve 20 of which the valve closure member 21 co-operates with a valve seat 22 encircling the duct 18.

In Figure 2, there is seen a copper pipe 23 of a central heating system. Assuming that it is desired to interpose the valve 20 in the system without needing to drain the system of heating fluid, the apparatus is caused to embrace the pipe, the studs 7 are swung into the forks 10, and then the nuts 8 are tightened to urge the parts 1 and 2 together. Such tightening causes the walls 5 to squash the adjacent zone of the pipe 23 between them to such an extent that that zone of the pipe is substantially completely closed against any further fluid flow therealong. Thereupon, the plugs 12, which have meanwhile been in positions with their inner extremities received completely within the flanges 16, are screwed inwards so that their inner extremities, which are formed as cutting edges, cut respective holes perpendicularly through the wall of the pipe 23.Thus fluid can now flow from the pipe 23 through the left-hand plug 12 shown in Figure 2, the valve 20 and the right-hand plug 12 back into the pipe 23.

Although the apparatus shown is used to by-pass the section of the pipe for the purpose of enabling the fluid flow to be controlled by a thermostatic radiator valve, by arranging a flow-detecting switch or meter in place of the valve, the apparatus can serve to by-pass the section of the pipe in order to allow the fluid flow through the pipe to be detected or measured.

1. Apparatus for by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, comprising first and second tubular means which are arranged to be put in fluid communication with the interior of said piping at respective ends of said section without any consequential substantial loss of said fluid from said piping, and duct means interconnecting the interiors of said first and second tubular means for fluid flow therebetween.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second tubular means comprise respective hollow cutting plugs rotatable about their own axes to cut respective holes through the wall of said piping.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, and further comprising compressible annular sealing means encircling the respective plugs for sealing between the respective plugs and the piping.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, and in first and second parts which are each internally of substantially semi-circular crosssection, said apparatus including clamping means for urging said first and second parts together so that said apparatus becomes of substantially circular cross-section internally.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first and second parts are hinged together at one longitudinal side of the apparatus, and said clamping means is provided at the other longitudinal side thereof.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said clamping means comprises nut-and-stud means mounted so as to be swingable transversely of said apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim,

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Piping apparatus and method According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, compris ing first and second tubular means which are arranged to be put in fluid communication with the interior of said piping at respective ends of said section without any consequential substantial loss of said fluid from said piping, and duct means intercon necting the interiors of said first and second tubular means for fluid flow therebetween. According to another aspect of the present inven tion, there is provided a method of by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, comprising putting in fluid communication with the interior of said piping at the ends of said section without any consequential substantial loss of said fluid from said piping respective first and second tubular means the interiors of which are intercon nected by duct means for fluid flow therebetween. In order that the invention may be clearly under stood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accom panying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a top plan view of apparatus for by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, Figure 2 shows a sectional front elevation of the apparatus by-passing the section of piping, and Figure 3 shows an end elevation of the apparatus. Referring to the drawings, the apparatus is in two, upper and lower parts 1 and 2 hinged together at the rear by way of two co-axial hinge pins (of which one is seen and referenced 3). Extending the whole length of each part 1 and 2 is a substantially semi-circular section channel 4, except that the channel 4 is interrupted by a radial wall 5. Mounted in the front of the part 1 by way of co-axial pivot pins 6 are clamping studs (of which one is seen and referenced 7) each of which carries a co-operating nut 8 and a washer 9. Each stud 7 can be swung about the axis A of its pin 6 into and out of a forwardly-projecting fork 10 of the part 2. The part 1 is formed with two threaded bores (of which one is seen and referenced 11) which intersect perpendicu larly the base of its channel 4 at respective opposite sides of its wall 5.Screwed into each bore 11 is a threaded plug 12 which is sealed relative to the wall of the bore 11 by means of an annular heart seal 13. Each plug 12 is formed with an axial bore 14 which commences at its inner end and terminates short of its outer end and with an intersecting diametral bore 15. The inner end of each plug 12 fits closely in an inner peripheral flange 16 of an elastomeric sealing disc 17. The bores 11 intersect a duct 18 which extends from one end to the other of the part 1 and the ends of which are closed by respective blanking plugs 19. Interposed in the duct 18 between the plugs 12 is a thermostatic radiator valve 20 of which the valve closure member 21 co-operates with a valve seat 22 encircling the duct 18. In Figure 2, there is seen a copper pipe 23 of a central heating system. Assuming that it is desired to interpose the valve 20 in the system without needing to drain the system of heating fluid, the apparatus is caused to embrace the pipe, the studs 7 are swung into the forks 10, and then the nuts 8 are tightened to urge the parts 1 and 2 together. Such tightening causes the walls 5 to squash the adjacent zone of the pipe 23 between them to such an extent that that zone of the pipe is substantially completely closed against any further fluid flow therealong. Thereupon, the plugs 12, which have meanwhile been in positions with their inner extremities received completely within the flanges 16, are screwed inwards so that their inner extremities, which are formed as cutting edges, cut respective holes perpendicularly through the wall of the pipe 23.Thus fluid can now flow from the pipe 23 through the left-hand plug 12 shown in Figure 2, the valve 20 and the right-hand plug 12 back into the pipe 23. Although the apparatus shown is used to by-pass the section of the pipe for the purpose of enabling the fluid flow to be controlled by a thermostatic radiator valve, by arranging a flow-detecting switch or meter in place of the valve, the apparatus can serve to by-pass the section of the pipe in order to allow the fluid flow through the pipe to be detected or measured. CLAIMS

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, and further comprising squashing means between said first and second tubular means and arranged to squash said piping at a location between the ends of said section.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 as appended to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said squashing means comprises respective radial walls of said first and second parts.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, and further comprising a thermostatic radiator valve in said duct means.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, 8, or 9, and further comprising flow-detecting means in said duct means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, and further comprising blanking plug means closing end means of said duct means.

12. A method of by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, comprising putting in fluid communication with the interior of said piping at the ends of said section without any consequential substantial loss of said fluid from said piping respective first and second tubular means the interiors of which are interconnected by duct means for fluid flow therebetween.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising, prior to said putting, squashing said section at a location intermediate its ends.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, and further comprising clamping first and second parts of said apparatus together about said section and thereby producing said squashing.

15. Apparatus for by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of by-passing a section of piping containing a fluid under pressure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.