GB2145070A

GB2145070A - Improved cap cover

Info

Publication number: GB2145070A
Application number: GB08322321A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Mair Robb
Original assignee: ROBBCO NEOPRENE
Current assignee: ROBBCO NEOPRENE
Priority date: 1983-08-18
Filing date: 1983-08-18
Publication date: 1985-03-20
Also published as: GB8322321D0; GB2145070B

Abstract

A cap cover (1) is provided for closing the end of a pipe or pipe coupling (2) or other conduit device. The cover (1) which is made of a resilient material such as plastics so as to be pressable onto the pipe end comprises an annular wall (4) and a closure end wall (5), the annular wall (4) having on its inner surface annular arrays of part- spherical bobs (6). The arrangement is such that when the cap (1) is pressed onto the pipe end with the caps annular wall (4) surrounding the outer periphery of the pipe, the bobs (6) can engage between the convolutions of thread (3) at the pipe end for securement of the cap cover. The cap can also be fitted to a pipe end having an annular bead for cooperation with said bobs 6 (Fig. 4). in this embodiment the annular wall is of frusto-conical form. The present cap cover can be easily fitted to the pipe end and prevents entry or discharge of foreign matter via the pipe end, and additionally serves to protect the pipe thread. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cap cover device The present invention relates to a cap cover device.

It is common practice to provide a cap cover device for the open mouth of a conduit for example a hose coupling for the period when the conduit etc. is in non use. This can provide protection for the end coupling threads of the conduit and also serves to close the conduit mouth to prohibit entry of any foreign matter into the conduit or discharge therefrom. A previously known cap cover simply comprised a cap with internal screw threads to enable the cover to be screwed onto end threads of the conduit etc. This screw fitment could be excessively time consuming and if there were imperfections in the thread of the cap, fitment could be difficult if not impossible.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a cap cover device for a conduit or other item, comprising a cap having an annular wall and an end closure wall, the cap being made from resilient deformable material e.g. plastics so as to enable the cap to be a press fit on the conduit or other item, and a plurality of small projecting elements on the annular wall arranged such that they can engage with threads or other annular projection on the conduit or other item to retain the cap when the cap has been pressed onto the conduit or item.

Preferably the projecting elements are located on an internal surface of the annular wall and engage with an external thread or projection of said conduit or item.

Preferably one or more annular arrays of projecting elements are provided. The arrays can be axially staggered to facilitate engagement of the projecting elements with helical thread.

Preferably the annular wall is cylindrical, but the annular could be of other form, for example frusto conical.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 shows a sectional side elevation of a cap cover according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a sectional plan view of the cover of Fig. 1 through section A-A; Figures 3 and 4 show sectional side elevation of further embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a cap cover 1 is shown covering the threaded end of a hose coupling 2 serving for a high pressure application such as mud delivery in an oil well. The hose coupling 2 is attached to its hose (not shown) by suitable means and includes external thread 3 to enable the hose to be coupled to an appropriate part or fitment. It is essential that the thread 3 does not become damaged when the coupling is released from the fitment and placed in storage, otherwise due to the high pressure involved there is the danger that the coupling may inadvertently part from the fitment when the hose is refitted by means of the coupling at a later date: hence the use of the cap cover. The cover also prohibits entry or discharge of material from the hose when the coupling is attached thereto.

The cap 1 comprises an annular wall 4 of cylindrical form and a closure end wall 5, and on the internal surface 4a, of wall 4 there is located a plurality of projecting elements or bobs 6 which are arranged annularly (see Fig.

2). The elements 6 each of which is of curved form are preferably arranged in staggered annular arrays (three arrays being shown in Fig. 1) so that the elements 6 can fit between the convolutions of the thread 6 as shown.

Additionally the cap 1 is made of resilient deformable material such as an appropriate plastics material (e.g. neoprene or polypropylene), whereby the cap 1 is a press fit on the thread 6, the wall 4 expanding during fitting, to permit the elements 6 to move over the thread 3 and iodge in the respective thread valleys 7 for retention of the cap 1. By way of example each of the curved bobs 6 can have a width and height each of 4mm.

Fig. 3 shows a similar cap cover but intended for a wider hose coupling than that of Fig. 1. Also, only two annular arrays of elements 6 are employed.

The cap 1 according to the present invention has the advantage of being easily fitted to the threaded item to be covered especially in comparison with prior art screw-on type cap covers. This advantage is particularly present where the thread of the item has a relatively large diameter. The presence of the great number of bobs 6 ensures a secure fitting of the cap 1 on the item.

The cap 1 of Fig. 4 is intended more for use with a hose coupling 2 having a flanged coupling fitting (i.e. item 8 shown in Fig. 4).

As can be seen the flange 8 includes an outer frusto conical wall 8a, but again annular arrays of projecting elements or bobs 6 are provided. In this embodiment, the wall 4 is of frusto conical form, and it is a feature of the arrangement that the frusto-conical wall surface 8a, assists the radial expansion of the wall 4 during fitting of the cap 1.

It will be appreciated that the cap cover of the present invention could be used to cover items other than hose couplings. For example, the cap could be used for threaded pipe ends or indeed the threaded ends of bolts.

Claims

1. A cap cover device for a conduit or other item, comprising a cap having an annular wall and an end closure wall, the cap being made from resilient deformable material so as to enable the cap to be a press fit on the conduit or other item, and a plurality of small projecting elements on the annular wall arranged such that they can engage with threads or other annular projection on the conduit or other item to retain the cap when the cap has been pressed onto the conduit or item.

2. A cap cover device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projecting elements are located on an internal surface of the annular wall and engage with an external thread or projection of said conduit or item.

3. A cap cover device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein one or more annular arrays of projecting elements are provided.

4. A cap cover device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the arrays are axially stagerred to facilitate engagement of the projecting elements with helical thread.

5. A cap cover device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the projecting elements are arranged to engage between the thread convolutions of a threaded end of the conduit or item.

6. A cap cover device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cap is made of plastics material.

7. A cap cover device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plastics material is neoprene or polypropylene.

8. A cap cover device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projecting elements are each of part spherical form.

9. A cap cover device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the annular wall is of cylindrical form.

10. A cap cover device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the annular wall is of frusto-conical form.

11. A cap cover device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as iliustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.