GB2304164A

GB2304164A - Pipe connector saddle assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2304164A
Application number: GB9612521A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Malcolm Astal
Original assignee: SPRINGLYNN Ltd
Current assignee: SPRINGLYNN Ltd
Priority date: 1995-08-11
Filing date: 1996-06-14
Publication date: 1997-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-14
Also published as: GB2304164B; GB9612521D0

Abstract

The assembly comprises a resilient steel band 11 for passing about a main pipe 10, and clamping by means of a bolt 14. A raised collar part 17 forces a saddle piece 19 into contact with the pipe surrounding an aperture 21, and carries a T-connector. At least the saddle piece 19 is of acetal plastics material, and in one preferred embodiment, all the parts of the connector assembly carried by the saddle piece 19 are of acetal plastics material. The T-connector comprises an apertured tube part 22 covered by a branch connector housing 25 and a pipe connector bell 27, the part 22 providing for a cutting tool to form a port 32 in the pipe 10.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN PIPE CONNECTOR SADDLE ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to improvements in pipe connector saddle assemblies for connecting a branch pipe to a main pipe; for example for feeding individual domestic water supplies from a larger diameter communal supply main.

It is well known to mount a connector onto a main pipe by means of a saddle clamp which is fitted around the main pipe. In the prior art this usually takes the form of a pair of C-shaped half rings, each embracing half of the main pipe, and these are connected by tensioning bolts passing through flanges at the ends of the half rings. A branch connector is jointed to one of the half rings, sometimes by welding, but alternatively by being cast integrally therewith. It is usual to provide a right angle junction for the branch pipe to the branch connector, leaving an axial passage of the latter free for access of a trepanning tool to cut an aperture in the main pipe wall when the connector assembly has been mounted and clamped into position.

Such pipe connector saddle assemblies fabricated from cast metal components, such as case bronze for example, have been found to be relatively expensive. The need to tighten the bolts on both sides of the main pipe with more or less equal tension also introduces a degree of difficulty into the procedure for assembling the connector assembly which could be usefully reduced.

An object of the invention is to provide a more economic pipe connector saddle assembly which is also preferably easier to assemble correctly than known pipe connector assemblies.

The invention provides a pipe connector saddle assembly for connecting a branch pipe to a main pipe, comprising a resilient band, for passing about the body of the main pipe, the band being deformable to be passed about the body of the main pipe, and having tensioning means to adjust the tension of the band when in place.

The band is preferably a band of resilient, springy stainless steel sheet, with a gap enabling the band to be opened to fit about the main pipe, and to close with the ends of the gap juxtaposed. The band is preferably preformed into a substantially circular configuration, and flanges are preferably provided at the ends of the band defining the gap, for receiving a tensioning bolt.

The connector assembly preferably also comprises a saddle, for mounting on the outside of the pipe and providing a seal about the connector, the saddle being compressed by retaining means such as a raised collar provided formed in the band.

A branch connector may be mounted on the saddle, the connector having an axial bore therethrough. The connector may be received in a housing and communicate with a right-angle fitting for receiving the end of a branch pipe. The housing may have an aperture so that a trepanning tool may be inserted into the bore of the branch connector and left in place as a plug, to create an aperture in the wall of the main pipe to communicate between the main pipe and branch connector.

Parts if the connector assembly, such as the saddle, housing and right angle fitting may be of a synthetic plastics material such as acetal.

Preferred embodiments of pipe connector saddle assemblies according to the invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Wherein:- Fig 1 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of pipe connector assembly according to the invention, shown mounted on a main pipe, taken perpendicular to the axis of the main pipe; and:- Fig 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of pipe connector assembly according to the invention As shown, a main pipe 10 is girded by a resilient band 11 of stainless steel sheet. Band 11 is provided with a gap with flanges 12, 13 so that the band can be opened out to be placed about the pipe flexure of the band, and then return resiliently to close almost completely about the pipe 10, with flanges 12, 14 in near juxtaposition.The band is tensioned by means of a bolt 14 which passes through apertures in flanges 12, 13 and has a head 15 and a displaceable but 16 which can be engaged by suitable tools to effect tensioning, or loosening if removal is required for inspection or replacement.

Band 11 is formed with a dome 17 with a cetal aperture 18, which forms a collar which fits over a saddle-piece 19 of a plastics material such as acetal. Saddle piece 19 is provided with a seal ring 20, surrounding an aperture 21 in the saddle piece. A connector spigot 22 is seated within a flange 23 of the saddle piece and is aligned axially with the aperture 21. Spigot 22 is effectively a short length of pipe, with two open ends, and is also provided with a pair of transverse opposed ports 24. The parts ofthe spigot 22 which project beyond the flange 23 are covered by a branch connector housing 25, which has an aperture 26 over the open outer end of spigot 22, and also receives a flared pipe connector bell 27 aligned with ports 24 of the spigot 22.The bell 27 is provided with internal steps 28, 29 and a convergent plastics flange 30 is provided seated within the rim of the bell.. The end of a branch pipeline 31 is received within the bell, and seats on the step 28, Branch pipeline 31 may be a plastics pipe connecting an individual household water supply to the main pipe 10.

The connection is completed in use after mounting spigot 22 and housing 25, by use of a trepanning tool actuated by a key through aperture 26, the bore of spigot 22 and aperture 21, to create an aperture 32 in the wall of the main pipe, thus completing the pathway for water from the main pipe 10 to the branch pipe 31. The aperture 26 is then sealed by leaving the tool insitu as a plug.

The pipe connector assembly of the first embodiment being made from an assemblage of sheet stainless steel, plastics such as acetal, and standard pipe fittings, is less expensive to manufacture than the usual two part pipe clamp and connector assembly made from cast bronze. With a single tensioning bolt 14 instead of the two required by the usual two part clamp, assembly is also simpler to accomplish The resilient nature ofthe band 11 enables an effective seal to be obtained about the aperture 21, between the saddle piece and the main pipe.

A second embodiment of pipe connector saddle assembly according to the invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to Fig 2.

As shown in Fig 2 a main pipe 110 is girded by a resilient band 111 of stainless steel sheet. Band 111 is provided with a gap with flanged 112,113 so that the band can be opened out to be placed about the pipe flexure of the band, and then return resiliently to close almost completely about the pipe 110, with flanged 112, 114 in near juxtaposition. The band is tensioned by means of a bolt 114 which passes through apertures in flanges 112,113 and has a head 115 andadisplaceablenut 116 which can be engaged by suitable tools to effect tensioning or loosening if removal is required for inspection or replacement.

Band 111 is formed with a dome 117 with a central aperture 118, which forms a collar which fits over a saddle-piece 119 of a plastics material such as acetal. Saddle piece 119 is provided with a seal ring 120, surrounding an aperture 121 in the saddle piece.

A connector spigot 122 is seated within a flange 123 of the saddle piece and is aligned axially with the aperture 121. Spigot 122 is effectively a short length of pipe, with two open ends, and is also provided with a pair of transverse opposed ports 124. The parts ofthe spigot 122 which project beyond the flanges 123 are covered by a branch connector housing 125, which has an aperture 126 over the open outer end of spigot 122, and also receives a flared pipe connector bell 127 aligned with ports 124 of the spigot 122. The bell 127 is provided with internal steps 128, 129 and a convergent plastics flange 130 is provided seated within the rim of the bell. The end of branch pipeline 131 is received within the bell, and seats on the step 128, Branch pipeline 131 may be a plastics pipe connecting an individual household water supply to the main pipe 10.

The connection is completed in use after mounting spigot 122 and housing 125, by use of a trepanning tool actuated by a key through aperture 126, the bore of spigot 122 and aperture 121, to create an aperture 132 in the wall ofthe main pipe, thus completing the pathway for water from the main pipe 110 to the branch pipe 131. The aperture 126 is then sealed by leaving the tool insitu as a plug.

The embodiment of Fig 2 differs from that of Fig 1 in that apart from the band 111, and its forming means, the connector assembly is fabricated throughout from acetal plastics material. The saddle 118 and dome 117 is of smaller dimensions than that shown on Fig 1. The adoption of acetal throughout achieves savings in weight and cost which are of considerable practical advantage. Never the less the fittings can adequately withstand pressures encountered in water supply and other pipes, as effectively as prior brass fittings.

Claims

1. A pipe connector saddle assembly for connecting a branch pipe to a main pipe, comprising a resilient band for passing about the body of the main pipe, the band being deformable to be passed about the body of the main pipe, and having tensioning means to adjust the tension of the band when in place.

2. A pipe connector saddle assembly according to Claim 1 further comprising a saddle for mounting on the outside of the pipe and providing a seal about the connector, the saddle being compressably by retaining means such as a raised collar provided formed in the band.

3. A pipe connector saddle assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the band is a band of resilient springy stainless steel sheet, with a gap enabling the band to be opened to fit about the main pipe, and to close with the ends of the gap juxtaposed.

4. A pipe connector according to Claim 3 wherein the band is preformed into a substantially circular configuration and flanges are provided at the ends of the band defining the gap, for receiving a tensioning bolt.

5. A pipe connector according to Claim 2, wherein a branch connector is mounted on the saddle, said connector having an axial bore therethrough and being received in a housing and communicating with a right angle fitting for receiving the end of a branch pipe.

6. A pipe connector according to Claim 5 wherein the housing has an aperture so that a trepanning tool may be inserted into the bore, to create an aperture in the wall of the main pipe which then communicates between the main pipe which then communicates between the main pipe and the branch connector, the tool being left in placeasaplug.

7. A pipe connector according to Claim 2 wherein at least the saddle is of a synthetic acetal plastics rnaterial.

8. A pipe connector according to Claim 7 wherein all parts save the band and its tensioning bolt are of acetal plastics material.

9. A pipe connector saddle assembly substantially as herebefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig 1 or Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.