GB2089919A

GB2089919A - Joint for plastic or rubber pipes

Info

Publication number: GB2089919A
Application number: GB8117358A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-12-19
Filing date: 1981-06-05
Publication date: 1982-06-30
Also published as: IT1134821B; IT8026811A0; ES267356U; BE889422A; DE3150200A1; SE8103538L; FR2496832A1

Abstract

Joint for joining pipes or tubes (1, 2) to one another or a pipe or tube to a sleeve or connector, comprising annular ridges (3) and depressions (4) at the free end (1<1>, 2<1>) of each element to be connected and coupled to one another. The ridges and depressions may be of either circumferential or helical configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Joint for plastic or rubber pipes This invention relates to a joint for joining plastic or rubber tubes or pipes.

More particularly, this invention is concerned with a joint, which is specially suitable for household electrical apparatus and appliances, for joining two pipes to each other, or a pipe or tube to a sleeve, connector, or any other apparatus for the transportation of fluids, liquids, powders, solid granules or any other material.

As well known, the most commonly used system for joining two pipes, or a pipe or tube to a sleeve, connector or any other transportation apparatus, consists of engaging the two end portions to each other or one each other and anchoring the two engaged ends by metal clips.

This connecting system has the disadvantage that the metal clips are liable to oxidation and breakage, particularly when used for a number of times. Additionally, said metal clips are scarcely practical, anti-aesthetical and require an added cost and labour for assembling thereof.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a joint for plastic or rubber pipes, avoiding the above mentioned disadvantages.

More particularly, it is the object of this invention to provide a joint for plastic or rubber pipes which, in addition to ensure a positive sealing, is of practical use, does not require an added cost and is not oxidizable.

It has now been found that these and other objects are achieved, according to the present invention, by a joint for plastic or rubber pipes comprising side-by-side arranged annular ridges and depressions at the free end of each pipe or portion to be joined and coupled to one another.

The ridges and depressions may be circular, helical or of any other configuration and the edges thereof may be provided with sealing lips. Said ridges and depressions may be replaced by simple raised scorings or finnings, formed at the free end of each pipe to be joined and arranged at a short distance from one another.

For the engagement thereof, the pipes or sleeves may have at the joint zone and for a limited section a differentiated diameter, that is a diameter larger than the other, so as to be insertable in each other. Thus, the annular ridges and depressions of the two parts to be connected are opposite and formed respectively on the inner surface of the end of the part to be connected having major diameter and on the outer surface of the other part to be connected having minor diameter. By manually forcing the two parts to be connected in each other in axial directicn, the respective ridges and depressions step over one another and are mutually coupled, thus providing an obstacle to disconnection thereof.

For a better joining and increased sealing, externally or internally of the coupling zone a ring of any rigid or resilient material can be inserted, which ring can be forcibly manually fitted by mere axial sliding.

Alternatively, the ends of the parts to be joined may be of a same diameter, in which case the annular ridges and depressions are formed on the same (inner or outer) surface of the two ends and coupling is assured by a connecting and jointing sleeve provided with ridges and depressions and arranged internally or externally of the two ends to be joined, at the zone provided with ridges and depressions.

The ridges and depressions of the sleeve mutually couple with those of the two parts to connected assuring the junction thereof. The joint according to the present invention is carried out by the same pipes or parts to be joined and thus does not require any additional or metal parts.

Once the two pipes or parts have been joined, the disconnection thereof can be effected by only pulling the two ends away from each other, in case after unthreading the circlip.

The annular ridges or fins of the pipes are located at the connection and contact zone of the pipes, where one component of the joint grips the other component. Under the action of forced connection, the ridges or fins would temporarily be deformed, but then be restored to initial configuration and position, clamping with the required compactness to ensure liquid and general fluid sealing.

Thus, fluids may freely flow within the pipes without any leakage at the joints.

A joint according to the present invention can be used on any flexible or rigid pipe, finned or unfinned pipe, as well as on metal pipes.

The functional and structural characteristics of the joint according to the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawings showing an unrestrictive exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and in which:: Fig. 1 is an outside pelspective view of the end portion of the joint component having major diameter; Fig. 2 is an outside perspective view showing the end portion of the other joint component having minor diameter; Fig. 3 is a perspective, partially sectional view showing the two joint components as connected in each other; Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the two end portions of Figs. 1 and 2, respectively; Fig. 6 is an outside perspective view showing the end portion of the joint component having minor diameter provided with annular fins or ridges helically arranged; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective, partially sectional view showing the joint components in the case where the two ends are of a same diameter and use is made of a connecting and jointing sleeve arranged externally of the two ends to be joined;; Fig. 8 is a variant to the joint shown in Fig. 7, in which the connecting sleeve is arranged internally of the two ends to be joined; and Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views showing an example of junction of a pipe to the connector of an exhaust pump of a washing machine, using the joint shown in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, the two pipes 1 and 2 to be joined have the ends thereof, 1' and 2' respectively, of different diameter.

Particularly, the end 1' of larger diameter is provided for a short section and on its inner surface with annular ridges or fins 4. The end 2' of minor diameter is provided for a short section and on its outer surface with annular ridges or fins 3.

The junction between the two pipes 1 and 2 is carried out by forcibly inserting end 2' in end 1', so that said fins or ridges will match and come in contact with one another.

The annular fins or ridges 3 or 4 may be of circular or helical configuration 5, as shown in Fig. 6. A circlip 8 may be forcibly fitted by sliding on the joint section of said two tubes or pipes 1 and 2.

Where the joint is intended to join pipes 1 a and 2a of a same diameter, a sleeve 6 is used as defining at 7 the two connecting zones. This sleeve 6, provided with ridges or fins 4, can be inserted outwardly of the two pipes 1 a and 2a to be joined. Alternatively, the sleeve 6' can be inserted internally of pipe 2 and end 10 of an exhaust pump 9 of a washing machine.

The circlip 8 and 8' can be fitted outwardly or inwardly of the sleeve 6.

The joint according to the present invention can be conveniently used in a domestic environment, when water inlet or outlet pipes have to be installed or extended such as, for example, in washing machines and dish-washing machines.

The invention can be used or applied in other fields, such as gardening, farming, building, etc.

For middle or high pressures in the pipes it is advisable to insert reinforcing rings or elements at the joint zone.

In a practical embodiment of the present invention, changes or modifications to the embodiments shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings can be made within the spirit of the present invention and without departing from the covering scope thereof.

Claims

1. Joint for plastic or rubber pipes or for connecting a pipe to a sleeve, connector, or any other apparatus, comprising side-by-side arranged annular ridges and depressions at the free end of each pipe or part to be connected and coupled to one another.

2. Joint according to Claim 1, wherein said ridges and depressions are of circular or helical configuration.

3. Joint according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the edges of said ridges are provided with sealing lips.

4. Joint according to Claim 1, wherein said ridges and depressions are raised scorings or finnings.

5. Joint according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the two ends of the parts to be connected are of different diameter and the annular ridges and depressions are formed on the outer surface of the part to be connected having minor diameter and on the inner surface of the part to be connected having major diameter, the junction being provided by inserting the minor diameter part in the major diameter part.

6. Joint according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the two ends of the parts to be connected are of a same diameter, the ridges and depressions are formed on the same surface of each of the two ends and the coupling is provided by a connecting and jointing sleeve provided with ridges and depressions.

7. Joint according to Claim 6, wherein the connecting and jointing sieeve is arranged externally of the two ends to be joined.

8. Joint according to Claim 6, wherein the connecting and jointing sleeve is arranged internally of the two ends to be joined.

9. Joint according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a ring is forcibly fitted externally or internally of the coupling zone.

10. Joint for pipes or for joining a pipe to a sleeve, connector or apparatus, particularly suitable for household electrical apparatus and appliances, as above described and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

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11. Pipes and joining pieces the ends of which are fixed with a plurality of complementary annular ridges and depressions dimensioned to fit one in the other to form a sealed joint, with at least three and preferably five ridges and depressions interengaging.