GB2269871A

GB2269871A - Variable attachment means

Info

Publication number: GB2269871A
Application number: GB9217703A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Thomas Pomfret
Original assignee: GODIVA GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: GODIVA GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1992-08-20
Filing date: 1992-08-20
Publication date: 1994-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-20
Also published as: GB9217703D0; GB2269871B

Abstract

A variable attachment means, for example a flange plate (15), fixed to a piece of apparatus, e.g. to the discharge of a pump, has a number (n) of attachment points, e.g. holes. The first (n-1) of these holes are arranged in a specific geometrical configuration, for example a trapezoidal configuration. The remaining attachment point or hole is so positioned that it may be substituted for one of the first set of (n-1) points to form a new set of attachment points in a geometrical configuration congruent with that of the first (n-1) points, but rotated with respect to the configuration of the first (n-1) points. For example, a flange plate (15) may have five holes 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 four of which may be grouped together to form a trapezium 30, 31, 32, 33, whilst one 33 of these four holes may be substituted by the fifth hole 34 to form a congruent trapezium 30, 31,32, 34, rotated with respect to the first trapezium. A second piece of apparatus (e.g. a valve) to be attached to the flange plate carries a further flange plate with four holes arranged in a complementary trapezium. This allows the second piece of apparatus to be oriented in one of two angular positions when it is attached via the holes. An additional extra hole may be provided to allow more than two possible orientations for the two pieces of apparatus to be connected. <IMAGE>

Description

VARIABLE ATTACHMENT MEANS This invention relates to variable attachment means to enable first and second members having multiple attachment points to be aligned for mutual attachment in different eg rotational relationship to one another using selected attachment points.

Attachment members, for example plates or flanges, forming part, or for connection of, for example conduits and casings for machinery in many cases have their attachment points (for example holes for bolts, studs or adhesive areas) in a non-symmetrical relationship to one another. Where such attachment points are arranged symmetrically, there may be two or more rotational positions in which the attachment points of the attachment members can be aligned. The absence of at least one degree of symmetry of such attachment points will usually, and in many cases deliberately, remove that rotational freedom.The present invention has as its object to provide in such attachment members the facility to align with and be attached to the attachment points of the other member in two or more rotational positions, thereby increasing the flexibility of positioning and assembly of such attachment members.

According to the present invention an attachment member has n attachment points, a first n-l of which are in a first geometrical disposition, the remaining attachment point (hereinafter for convenience "the additional attachment point") being positioned in a substantially equivalent geometrical disposition with n-2 of the first n-l attachment points.

In one form of the invention an attachment member has five attachment points, the first four of which are disposed to form a trapezium between them, and the fifth attachment point (the additional one) being positioned to form a substantially congruent trapezium with three of the first four attachment points.

The disposition of the additional attachment point may be handed. Moreover there may be more than one such additional attachment point on a given attachment member to provide additional flexibility of positioning and assembly with other attachment members. The second form of this invention may therefor involve six attachment points, four of which provide the basic trapezium, and the fifth and sixth attachment points forming different substantially congruent trapezia with, in each case, a different three of the first four attachment means.

The attachment members will typically be inthe form of a plate, flange or casing for other equipment such as a conduit, a valve or other piece of machinery, and the attachment points will typically be aligned holes in attachment members to be connected by bolts, a complimentary arrangement of holes and studs, or adhesive positions on opposing surfaces.

Taking the second form of the invention as an example, valves built to DIN 14381 have a pattern of four holes on their mounting flanges, which four holes are arranged in a trapezium. The corresponding four holes in a trapezium are provided on the mounting plate to which the valve is to be attached. The asymmetry of the trapezium restricts the attachment of the valve to one position. There are instances of installation for example of pumps where attachment of the valve at a different rotational position relative to the mounting plate may be desirable, but with the standard arrangement that can only be achieved by insertion of an adapter plate which may in itself introduce spacial constraints.

The applicants have discovered that eg the pump discharge flange can be provided with a fifth hole which forms, with three of the first four holes, a trapezium of substantially the same dimensions as the DIN standard trapezium of holes, and thereby allows location and fixing of a DIN standard valve to the pump body in either of two rotational positions. Of course the equivalent five fixing points could be provided either on the pump or the valve flange with the standard DIN trapezium of fixing points on the other, to exactly the same effect, and may be handed. A sixth hole may also be provided, the fifth and sixth holes providing handed alternatives with the same member.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention first and second attachment members are provided, the first having n attachment points and the second having n+l attachment points, the n of the attachment points of the first member being in substantial alignment with a first n attachment points of the second member, the second member being provided with a further attachment point positioned in relation to n-l of the first n attachment points in substantially the same geometrical disposition as those first n attachment points such that the first and second attachment members can be mated with their respective fixing points in alignment in different rotational positions.

In a particular form of this aspect of the invention the first attachment member has four fixing points arranged in a trapezium, and the second attachment member has five attachment points four of which are arranged in substantially the same trapezium as that of the first member, with the fifth attachment point of the second member forming a substantially congruent trapezium with three of the first four attachment points, such the first and second attachment members can be mated with their respective fixing points in alignment in two rotational positions.

It will be appreciated in the second aspect of the invention above the figure n is equivalent to n+l in the first aspect of the invention above, but otherwise the construction and form of the various members and points are equivalent.

The present invention and its aspects may be carried into practice in various ways and an embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the flange and fixing point disposition on a pump discharge and valve body according to DIN 14381; Figure 2 shows a flange of a pump discharge according to the present invention for fixing in one of two positions to a valve flange according to DIN 14381 and Figure 1; and Figure 3 at 3(a) shows a valve according to DIN 14381 fixed in a first position to a pump discharge flange according to Figure 2 and at 3(b) the same valve affixed in a second position to a discharge flange according to Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows a standard disposition of a mounting flange for a pump discharge and valve according to DIN 14381. The flange 10 has a hole 12 for passage of the pumped fluid and is provided with four attachment holes 20, 21, 22 and 23. The flange 10 will be affixed to a discharge for example of a portable pump. The outlet valve to be attached to the flange 10 will be provided with a complimentary flange having holes corresponding in position to holes 20, 21, 22 and 23 and the flange 10 and the complimentary flange of the valve will be affixed together (if needs be with appropriate gasketting) by use of bolts passing through the aligned holes 20 to 23. The bolts may be threaded or provided with fixing nuts.

With the trapezium distribution of holes 20 to 23, the corresponding complimentary valve flange can only be affixed to flange 10 in one distribution, that being as shown in essence in Figure 3(a). There are instances though where the standard DIN 14381 valve may usefully be located in relation to flange 10 in a different rotational position, for example to provide a discharge rotationally displaced as compared with the standard valve positioning, but with the standard DIN valve/plate configuration that is only achievable by use of spacer plates with additional attachment points.

Turning now to Figure 2 there will be seen a flange 15 which has four fixing holes 30, 31, 32 and 33 corresponding to the fixing holes 20 to 23 of the flange 10. It has an equivalent hole for passage of fluid at 22. The flange 15 though is provided with a further lug 17 in which is provided a fifth fixing hole 34.From the exemplary linear measurements provided on Figure 2 it will be seen that holes 30, 31, 32 and 34 form a trapezium of substantially the same angles and dimensions as the trapezium of holes 20 to 23 and 30 to 33, but with a rotational difference between the trapezia of about 80 With a standard DIN 14381 valve for example as shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b) at 40, the valve 40 and the flange 15 can be aligned either as shown in Figure 3(a) by aligning the trapezium of fixing holes on the valve, flange with holes 30, 31, 32 and 33, or in the position as shown in Figure 3(b) by aligning the valve holes with holes 30, 31, 32 and 34 on flange 15 with an 83 30' rotational difference between the positions of the valve 40 between Figures 3(a) and 3(b). The position of the lug 17 containing the hole 34 can be seen on Figures 3(a) and 3(b).

A clearance fit of the holes 30 to 34 with regard to the standard DIN trapezium hole disposition and the fixing bolts to be used will need to be provided for secure fixing, and the position of any gasketting regarding the hole 22 and the corresponding hole of the standard DIN valve will need to take account of the slight difference in the two trapezia formed respectively by holes 30 to 33 and 30, 31, 32 and 34, but a satisfactory connection in each case is believed to be feasible.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be handed ie with the flange 15 of Figure 2 the mirror image of that shown about the line A A.

In a further embodiment of the invention, not shown, a further lug (as 17) with a further hole (as 34) may be provided so that the flange 15 of Figure 2 is symmetrical about the line A-A to allow for attachment of the valve 40 in 3 rotational positions.

Claims

1. An attachment member having n attachment points, a first n-l of which are in a first geometrical disposition, characterised in that the remaining attachment point is positioned in a substantially equivalent geometrical disposition with n-2 of the first n-l attachment points.

2. An attachment member as claimed in claim 1 having five attachment points, the first four of which are disposed to form a trapezium between them, and the fifth attachment point being positioned to form a substantially congruent trapezium with three of the first four attachment points.

3. An attachment member as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which an additional attachment point is positioned in a further substantially equivalent geometrical disposition with a different n-2 of the first n-l attachment points.

4. An attachment member as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 in the form of a plate, flange or casing.

5. An attachment member as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the attachment points are holes, studs or adhesive areas.

6. An assembly comprising first and second attachment members, the first member having n attachment points and the second member having n+l attachment points, the n of the attachment points of the first member being in substantial alignment with a first n attachment points of the second member, and the second member being provided with a further attachment point positioned in relation to n-l of the first n attachment points in substantially the same geometrical disposition as those first n attachment points, such that the first and second attachment members can be mated with their respective fixing points in alignment in different rotational positions.

7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 in which the first attachment member has four fixing points arranged in a trapezium, and the second attachment member has five attachment points four of which are arranged in substantially the same trapezium as that of the first member, with the fifth attachment point of the second member forming a substantially congruent trapezium with three of the first four attachment points, such that the first and second attachment members can be mated with their respective fixing points in alignment in two rotational positions.

8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the second attachment member has an additional attachment point positioned in a further substantially equivalent geometrical disposition with a different n-l of the first n attachment points.

9. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8 in which the first and second members have mating plates, flanges or casings, or a combination thereof.

10. An attachment member as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 9 in which the attachment points are holes, studs or adhesive areas or a combination thereof.

11. An attachment member substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. An assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.