GB2204102A

GB2204102A - Pipe coupling

Info

Publication number: GB2204102A
Application number: GB08806903A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Leitch Rivers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-23
Filing date: 1988-03-23
Publication date: 1988-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-23
Also published as: GB8806903D0; GB2204102B

Abstract

A pipe coupling comprises a main body portion adapted to be interposed between the normal outlet from a hot water tank and the normal outlet pipe to permit a further outlet pipe to be fitted. The coupling includes a section disposed within the bore of the coupling and preferably to one side of the bore. The section joins an opening in the wall of the coupling with a depending portion which extends from the coupling a distance sufficient to ensure that the end of the depending portion is always submerged. The coupling ensures that a pump connected to the further outlet is not affected by air entering the system. <IMAGE>

Description

PIPE COUPLING The present invention relates to a pipe coupling and more particularly to a pipe coupling enabling a pipe to be connected to an existing fitting to a tank.

It is becoming more and more popular in the domestic plumbing of showers to use a pump to deliver water to the sThoei hexa5. The conecti# of #f to the cold water supply does not present any difficulties. However, the connection to the hot water supply does cause difficulties due to the fact that the outlet from the hot water tank is taken from the top of the tank rather than the bottom. This results in it being possible for air to get into the pump due to air collecting in the top of the hot water tank.

This difficulty is well known and when pumps are installed, it is customary to either cut a hole in the side of the hot water tank specifically to receive a so-called Essex flange or to connect into the hot draw off pipe below the normal vent connection. However, in the latter case there must be 2 metres minimum from the joint to the water level in the cold water supply tank to avoid air entrapment.

The present invention provides a pipe coupling comprising a tubular main body portion having a main bore extending from one end to the other of the main body portion, an opening in the wall of the main body portion, said opening being provided with means for attaching a pipe extending transversely to the main pore and with a tubular extension disposed in the main bore of the main body portion and extending from the opening to a position distal one end of the main body portion, the tubular extension being of a crosssectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the main bore.

This arrangement has the advantage that it can be fitted into the existing hot water tank outlet to permit a separate pipe to depend into the tank without interfering to any substantial extent with the usual outlet.

In order that the present invention be more readily understood an emsodiment therev; will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a sectional side view of a coupling.

A coupling according to the present invention comprises two basic elements, a tubular body 10 which fits into the existing aperture in the hot water tank and an outlet section 11. The body 10 has a plane wall section 12 of a height to permit a normal pipe to be connected thereto through the side wall of the tubular body. In this case, the normal pipe diameter is 1/2" (15mm). Above the wall section 12 there is provided a female threaded portion 13 to receive the conventional outlet fittings normally connected directly into the top of the tank for supplying hot water to sinks, baths etc. Below the wall section 12 is a male threaded portion 14 arranged to be screwed into the aperture in the top of the tank.

The outlet section 11 of the coupling extends up the bore of the body 10, preferably up one side so as to interfere as little as possible with flow through the coupling to sinks, baths etc. The outlet section 11 will be described as having three sections but it will be appreciated that the outlet may be unitary or made in two pieces. Equally, while a part of the outlet section is shown as being integral with the tubular body 10, it is possible to fabricate the outlet section by simply boring a hole through the side wall of the tubular body, fixing a normal pipe to the exterior of the body and welding or brazing a tube on the inside of the body, the bore of the tube opening into the normal pipe through the hole in the wall of the body.

Firstly, there is a main body section 15 which extends axially up the adapter 10 and then turns to exit through the wall section 12 of the adapter 10.

The bottom of the main body section is provided with a length of piping sufficient to depend into the water in the hot water tank even in the presence of air in the top of the tank. It has been found that a length of 20.0 cms (8 inches) is sufficient.

The other end of the main body section 15 can either terminate at the wall section 12 of the adapter or it can extend through the wall section 12 to form a portion to which a normal pipe may be connected.

The main body section 15 may be shaped or flattened as shown to reduce to a minimum the restriction to flow through the adapter caused by the presence of the outlet section.

The above arrangement assures an absence of air in the pump of a pumped shower arrangement without requiring cutting of the tank which is costly and time consuming. It can also be used in all situations as it is not dependent on any minimum head of water.

In a modification, the coupling can be used to give access through the aperture in the tank designed to receive an immersion heater. The coupling can permit access of the electrical heating elements as well as the main body section and depending pipe section of the outlet to the pump.

With the above arrangement, the body 10 can be screwed into a 3/4 inch BSP hole. It has been found in some circumstances that the hole in a hot water tank is in fact 1 inch BSP that for this reason the body is provided with an adaptor 20 which has an external male thread of 1 inch BSP and an internal female thread of 3/4 inch BSP. In use, the adaptor would then be screwed on the portion 14 of the body 10 and enable the body to be directly screwed into the top of a hot water tank with a 1 inch BSP hole.

It is advantageous in these circumstances to provide the portion 13 of the body 10 with an enlarged diameter of 1 inch BSP. This means that the adaptor 20 can be received in the portion 13 and permit a number of variations in coupling sizes. Thus, with a hot water tank having a 3/4 inch BSP hole, it is possible to feed either a 1 inch BSP or a 3/4 inch BSP outlet through the portion 13 of the body 10. Equally, with a 1 inch BSP hole in the hot water tank the body can feed through the portion 13 a 1 inch BSP system.

If one did not wish to use an adapter, it is possible to provide the screw threaded portions to any desired size in any suitable combination of sizes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pipe coupling comprising a tubular main body portion having a main bore extending from one end to the other of the main body portion, an opening in the wall of the main body portion, said opening being provided with means for attaching a pipe extending transversely to the main bore and with a tubular extension disposed in the main bore of the main body portion and extending from the opening to a position distal one end of the main body portion, the tubular extension being of a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the main bore.

2. A pip coupling according to claim 1, wherein the extension is in two parts.

3. A pipe coupling according to claim 2, wherein one of the parts of the extension is integral with the main body portion.

4. A pipe coupling according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said one end is provided with an external screw thread.

5. A pipe coupling according to claim 4, wherein the external screw thread is 3/4 BSP.

6. A pipe coupling according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the other end of the main body portion is provided with an internal screw thread.

7. A pipe coupling according to claim 6, wherein the internal screw thread is 3/4 BSP.

8. A pipe coupling according to claim 6, wherein the external screw thread is a 3/4 BSP male thread and the internal screw thread is a 1 inch BSP female thread.

9. A pipe coupling according to claim 8 and comprising an adapter member having an internal screw threaded portion arranged to co-operate with the external screw threaded portion of the main body portion and an external screw threaded portion arranged to co-operate with the internal screw threaded portion of the main body portion.