GB2138087A

GB2138087A - Sealing assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2138087A
Application number: GB08310153A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffrey F Baguley
Original assignee: Baguley & Sons Ltd J
Current assignee: Baguley & Sons Ltd J
Priority date: 1983-04-14
Filing date: 1983-04-14
Publication date: 1984-10-17
Also published as: GB2138087B; GB8310153D0

Abstract

A sealing assembly (10) for use in sealing, eg, an end of an indirect heating coil to a wall of a hot water tank, the assembly (10) having a tubular body (16), externally threaded, a flange (17) at one end of the body (16) and a complementary nut (18) having an internal recess (19). The body (16) has, at the transition to the flange (17) outwardly extending projections (20) which, in use, engage and deform the metal of a wall of a tank to restrain the body (16) against rotation upon tightening of the nut (18). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sealing assembly This invention relates to a sealing assembly for use in forming a connection and seal between a conduit and a non-ferrous metallic wall where the conduit passes through the wall.

When an indirect heating coil is disposed within a water storage tank of copper of other non-ferrous metal the ends of the coil must pass through the wall of the tank in sealing manner and connect with flow and return conduits from and to a source of hot water such as a central heating boiler. The coil is usually made from copper tubing and each end portion thereof, where it passes through the wall of the tank is united thereto and sealed thereto by means of a sealing assembly which includes an externally threaded spigot connected to or integral with the end portion, a flange for engaging the inside of the tank wall and a nut engaging the spigot and capable of clamping sealing members between the flange and the inner wall surface and/or between the nut and the outer wall surface. Such sealing members can be integral with or separate from the spigot.The free external end of the spigot will often serve to receive a threaded connection from the flow or return conduit.

When the connections are being made between the coil ends and the tank wall problems can arise. When torque is applied to the spigot to form the seal or to connect a conduit thereto, the spigot can turn relative to the tank wall causing distortion of and, in the worst case, collapse or failure of the soft metal of the coil. Collapse or puncture of the coil causes the installation to be useless and need replacement. Distortion of the coil end(s) can cause the water heating system to be inefficient. The latter problem can have more serious consequences for the manufacture.

Whereas a total failure is recognised immediately and rectified, a partial failure may go undetected save that the user has a poor system and believes this to a result of bad design rather than incorrect manufacture or installation. Thus, the reputation of the manufacturer can suffer.

With a view to preventing twisting of the coil ends upon installation of the coil in the tank it has been usual to adopt various measures. For example, non-circular apertures have been provided in the tank wall and noncircular shoulders or the like provided on the spigots. Soldering of the spigot flanges has been effected and various types of toothed locking washers have been used. However, none of these methods have been entirely satisfactory and most have involved considerable labour and/or materials cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing assembly for use where a conduit passes through a wall of non-ferrous metal and seals therewith, which is simple to manufacture and effective to prevent or reduce the possibility of torque applied to the assembly causing distortion of the coil or coil ends inside the wall.

Accordingly the invention provides a sealing assembly including an externally threaded tubular body, an annular flange at one end of the body and a nut threadedly engaging the tubular body, there being provided on the body two or more spaced formations which project outwardly from the body at or adjacent the flange.

When the assembly is engaged with a copper tank by passing the body through an aperture in a wall of the tank and tightening the nut, the projections engage the soft, nonferrous metal of the tank and preclude or substantially reduce the possibility that torque applied to the nut causes rotation of the body and concomitant twisting and distortion of the conduit within the tank.

The tubular body is preferably of a nonferrous metal such as brass or copper. The formations can be provided on the cylindrical body adjacent the flange, on the flange itself, or at the junction between the flange and body. Two projections spaced 1 80' apart can be sufficient but three or more are possible. In the case of a brass body the projections are preferably cast during manufacture of the body. In the case of a copper body the projections can be formed by a pressing operation.

The body can be integral with a conduit on the end of a coil or can be attached thereto as by brazing or soldering.

The nut preferably has an annular internal recess in its face which, in use, lies adjacent the wall of the tank to enable it to be fully tightened without fouling the projections or the metal of the tank wall which has been deformed by the projections.

The invention also includes a sealing connection where a conduit passes through a non-ferrous metal wall of a tank, the connection including a sealing assembly as aforesaid, the flange being disposed adjacent an inside surface of the tank around an aperture and the nut having been tightened to urge the flange towards the tank wall and to cause the projections to upset the metal of the tank wall to form a locking relation therewith without rotation of the body of the assembly relative to the wall.

The invention will be described further, by way if example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:~ Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a water tank inside which is mounted a coil whose ends pass through the wall of the tank; Figure 2 is a side view of a preferred sealing assembly of the invention; and Figure 3 is an end view of a body of the assembly of Fig. 2.

A preferred sealing assembly 10 of the invention (Fig. 2) is suitable for use in the creation of sealing connections 11 between end conduit portions 12 of an indirect heating coil 13, disposed within a hot water tank 14, (Fig. 1) and a wall 15 5 of the tank 14. Each portion 12 has connected thereto (as by brazing or soldering) a tubular cylindrical body 16 of an assembly 10. A flange 17 of the body 16 is disposed within the tank 14 the body 16 passes through a circular aperture in the wall 15. The flange 17 can urge a sealing ring (not shown) towards the wall 15.

Outside the tank 14 each body 16 has a nut 18 threadedly engaged therewith. The nut 18 has an annular recess 19 in its face adjacent the tank wall. When tightened the nut 18 and flange 17 sandwich the wall 15 between them and sealing means such as sealing washers, are incorporated. At the external junction between the body 16 and the flange 17 there are provided a pair of spaced projections 20 which are cast if the body is of brass or pressed if the body is of copper.

When the nut is tightened the projections engage the metal of the wall 15 and upset it to form a locking connection between the body 16 and the wall 15 to preclude turning of the body 16 and thus deformation of the portion 12 of the coil 1 1.

The invention includes the sealing connection made in the manner described using the assembly of the invention.

Claims

1. A sealing assembly including an externally threaded tubular body, an annular flange at one end of the body and a nut threadedly engaging the tubular body, there being provided on the body two or more spaced formations which project outwardly from the body at or adjacent the flange.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular body is of a non-ferrous metal such as brass or copper.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the formations are provided on the cylindrical body adjacent the flange, on the flange itself, or at the junction between the flange and body.

4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein two projections are spaced 1 80 apart.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body is of brass and the projections have been cast during manufacture of the body.

6. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the body is of copper and the projections have been formed by a pressing operation.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body is integral with a conduit on the end of a coil.

8. An assembly as calimed in any preceding claim wherein the nut has an annular recess in its face which, in use, lies adjacent the wall of the tank to enable it to be fully tightened without fouling the projections or the metal of the tank wall after it has been deformed by the projections.

9. A sealing assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A sealing connection where a conduit through a non-ferrous metal wall of a tank, the connection including a sealing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, the flange being disposed adjacent an inside surface of the tank around an aperture and the nut having been tightened to urge the flange towards the tank wall and to cause the projections to upset the metal of the tank wall to form a locking relation therewith without rotation of the body of the assembly relative to the wall.

11. A sealing connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS (12 Apr 1984)

1. A sealing assembly adapted to form a seal between an end of a conduit within a tank and a wall of the tank, the assembly including an externally threaded tubular body and a nut threadedly engaging the body, there being provided on the body two or more spaced formations which project outwardly from the body at or adjacent the flange which has a substantial annular planar sealing surface, the formations on the body being adapted, upon tightening of the nut in use, to engage the material of the tank wall surrounding an aperture therein and prevent rotation of the body under the influence of a tightening force applied to the nut.