GB2161234A

GB2161234A - Adjustable pipe bend

Info

Publication number: GB2161234A
Application number: GB08511495A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Millward
Original assignee: Paragon Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Paragon Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-06
Filing date: 1985-05-07
Publication date: 1986-01-08
Also published as: GB2161234B; GB8417239D0; GB8511495D0

Abstract

An adjustable pipe bend including a pair of pipe elements (10 and 12) rotatably connected together end to end and each element defining a 45 DEG bend so that by the appropriate adjustment of said elements it is possible to obtain, in any particular plane, an effective angle of bend between 0 DEG and 90 DEG . In order that the two pipe elements will be connected together in a leak-proof manner independently of any clamping force whilst capable of being angularly adjustable, the joint incorporates a resilient seal which may be an O-ring (18). The pipe elements need not form a spigot-and-socket joint (14, 16); in the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5 the elements have flanged ends which are clamped together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable pipe bend The invention relates to an adjustable pipe bend of the kind used when installing runs of waste, soil, underground drainage, rainwater and pressure pipes.

It is known to employ, as an adjustable pipe bend, a pair of pipe elements rotatably connected together end to end and each element defining a 450 bend so that by the appropriate adjustment of said elements it is possible to obtain, in any particular plane, an effective angle of bend between 0 and 900. However, in pipe bends of this construction previously provided it has been necessary to clamp the two elements together end to end in order to obtain a leakproof connection between the two.

The object of the invention is to provide an adjustable pipe bend in which the two pipe elements are connected together in a leakproof manner independently of any clamping force whilst capable of being angularly adjustable.

According to the invention, there is provided an adjustable pipe bend including a pair of pipe elements rotatably connected together end to end and each element defining a 450 bend so that by the appropriate adjustment of said elements it is possible to obtain, in any particular plane, an effective angle of bend between 0 and 90 , the two pipe elements being connected together in a leak- proof manner whilst being capable of being angularly adjustable by means of a resilient seal. The resilient seal may be an O-ring seal. An end portion of one of the two pipe elements will preferably form a spigot part which is received in a socket part of the other pipe element, the resilient seal surrounding the spigot part and being received in an enlarged part of the socket.In this case, an endmost part of the socket which surrounds the resilient seal will preferably be extended to embrace at least part of an annular abutment which is formed on one of the two pipe elements.

A retaining cap element inthe form of an annular ring of substantially L-shaped cross section may bear against the annular abutment which is formed on the one of the two pipe elements and embrace the endmost portion of the socket part of the other pipe element, said endmost portion of the socket part having a circumferential ridge formation over which an inturned lip portion of the retaining cap element can be snap fitted. In this case, there will preferably be provided an upstanding annular abutment which is closely spaced from the end of the retaining cap element and serves to prevent the latter from being accidentally knocked out of engagement with the circumferential ridge formation of the socket part.

Alternatively, a retaining cap element in the form of an annular ring of substantially L-shaped cross section may bear against the annular abutment which is formed on the one of the two pipe elements and have screwthreaded engagement with the endmost portion of the socket part of the other pipe element.

On the other hand, the two pipe elements may be provided with respective flanges and clamping means for clamping the two pipe elements together may be constituted by a pair of annular rings which overlie the flanges, said pair of rings being acted upon, to clamp the flanges together, by a series of bolts. Alternatively, the two pipe elements may be provided with respective flanges of tapering thickness and in this case clamping means for clamping the two pipe elements together may be constituted by a clamping ring with an internal groove of complementary shape, that is to say which engages the mutually remote surfaces of the flanges, screw means being provided for reducing the effective circumference of the clamping ring whereby the abutting flanges are clamped together by the ring.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view of an adjustable pipe bend embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a scrap sectional view drawn to a somewhat larger scale than Figure 1, and illustrating the joint details in the latter, and Figures 3 to 5 are sectional views which illustrate possible modifications of the adjustable pipe bend of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the adjustable pipe bend there illustrated is constituted by a pair of pipe elements 10 and 12 rotatably connected together end to end and each element defining a 450 bend so that by the appropriate adjustment of said elements it is possible to obtain, in any particular plane, an effective angle of bend between 0 and 900 as illustrated diagrammatically.

The joint details of the pipe bend of Figure 1 are illustrated in Figure 2. As shown, an end portion of the pipe element 10 forms a spigot part 14 which is received in a socket part 16 of the pipe element 12. An O-ring 18 which constitutes a resilient seal surrounds the spigot part 14 and is received in an enlarged part of the socket. The endmost part of the socket, that is to say that part which surrounds the O-ring, is extended to embrace an annular abutment 20 which is formed on the pipe element 10.A retaining cap element 22 in the form of an annular ring of substantially L-shaped cross section bears against the side of the annular abutment opposite the O-ring and embraces the endmost portion of the socket part 16 as shown, the endmost portion of the socket having a circumferential ridge formation 24 over which an inturned lip portion of the retaining cap element can be snap fitted to assume the position shown. The socket is formed with an upstanding annular abutment 26 which being closely spaced from the retaining cap element, serves to prevent the latter from being accidentally knocked out of engagement with the socket part 16.

The arrangement is such that when the two parts of the pipe bend have been snap fitted together as described above, they are connected together in a leakproof manner whilst still being angularly adjustable. (Such adjustment may be allowed by the fact that the O-ring seal is made of a material having self-lubricating properties such as PTFE or by the fact that, if not made of such a material, the ring has been suitably lubricated before assembly).

However, it will be understood that this construction of adjustable pipe bend is not suitable for use in pipe runs which are to be subjected to any substantial internal pressure because this would immediately force the two parts of the pipe bend apart.

In Figures 3 to 5 there are illustrated possible modifications of the adjustable pipe bend described above whereby it can be made capable of withstanding relatively high internal pressure. For example, in Figure 3 there is illustrated an arrangement in which the retaining cap element instead of being snap fitted on the endmost part of the socket part is screwthreaded thereon.The arrangement is such that when the two parts of the bend have been positioned as required relative to each other the retaining cap element can be tightened and will then resist any tendency for relatively high internal pressure to blow the two parts of the bend away from each other. (Whilst being angularly adjusted and before the two elements of the bend have been subjected to the relatively high internal pressure, the sealing means between them are such that they are connected together in a leakproof manner).

In Figure 4 there is illustrated an arrangement in which the pipe elements 10 and 12 have been provided with flanges 28 and 30 and rather different clamping means have been provided for clamping the two pipe elements together, said clamping means in this case being constituted by a pair of annular rings 32 and 34 which overlie the flanges, as shown, and which can be clamped together by a series of bolts (not shown).

In Figure 5 there is illustrated an arrangement similar to that illustrated in Figure 4 in the sense that the pipe elements 10 and 12 have abutting flanges 36 and 38. However, it will be seen that the flanges are of tapering thickness and that their mutually remote surfaces are engaged by a clamping ring 40 with an internal groove of complementary shape. Screw means (not shown) are provided for reducing the effective circumference of the clamping ring whereby the abutting flanges are clamped together by the ring.

It will be observed that the opposite ends of the assembled pipe bend illustrated in Figure 1 are of a well known spigot and socket form frequently used for low pressure applications. It will be understood that the opposite ends of the modified pipe bends illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 will be somewhat different and will be such as to enable relatively high pressure resistant joints to be made, For example, they could be flanges to enable clamped connections to be made.

Various modifications may be made, For example, in the embodiment of Figure 3, it could be arranged for angular adjustment to be possible even after the screwthreaded retaining cap element has been fully tightened, that is to say by arranging for there to be a small clearance between the retaining cap element and the abutment 20 after tightening.

Furthermore, although in all the illustrated embodiments the sealing of the two elements together is shown to be by way of an O-ring seal it will be understood that other forms of sealing rings could be employed. It will be understood that the various elements of the adjustable pipe bend may ideally be made of a synthetic plastics material. -However, other materials may well be used.

Claims

1. An adjustable pipe bend including a pair of pipe elements rotatably connected together end to end and each element defining a 450 bend so that by the appropriate adjustment of said elements it is possible to obtain, in any particular plane, an effective angle of bend between 0 and 90 , the two pipe elements being connected together in a leakproof manner whilst capable of being angularly adjustable by means of a resilient seal.

2. An adjustable pipe bend according to claim 1, in which the resilient seal is an O-ring seal.

3. An adjustable pipe bend according to either one of the preceding claims, in which an end portion of one of the two pipe elements forms a spigot part which is received in a socket part of the other pipe element, the resilient seal surrounding the spigot part and being received in an enlarged part of the socket.

4. An adjustable pipe bend according to claim 3, in which an endmost part of the socket which surrounds the resilient seal is extended to embrac at least part of an annular abutment which is formed on the one of the two pipe elements.

5. An adjustable pipe bend according to claim 4, in which a retaining cap element in the form of an annular ring of substantially L-shaped cross section bears against the annular abutment which is formed on the one of the two pipe elements an embraces the endmost portion of the socket part the other pipe element, said endmost portion of the socket part having a circumferential ridge formation over which an inturned lip portion of the retaining cap element can be snap fitted.

6. An adjustable pipe bend according to claim 5, in which said other pipe element is formed wit an upstanding annular abutment which is closely spaced from the end of the retaining cap element and serves to prevent the latter from being accidentally knocked out of engagement with the circumferential ridge formation of the socket part.

7. An adjustable pipe bend according to clairr 4, in which a retaining cap element in the form o an annular ring of substantially L-shaped cross section bears against the annular abutment whic is formed on the one of the two pipe elements a has screwthreaded engagement with the endmo portion of the socket part of the other pipe element.

8. An adjustable pipe bend according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the two pipe ele ments are provided with respective flanges and in which clamping means for clamping the two pipe elements together are constituted by a pair of annular rings which overlie the flanges, said pair of rings being acted upon, to clamp the flanges together, by a series of bolts.

9. An adjustable pipe bend according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the two pipe elements are provided with respective flanges of tapering thickness and in which clamping means for clamping the two pipe elements together are constituted by a clamping ring with an internal groove of complementary shape, that is to say which engages the mutually remote surfaces of the flanges, screw means being provided for reducing the effective circumference of the clamping ring whereby the abutting flanges are clamped together by the ring.

10. An adjustable pipe bend constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3 or Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.