GB2311112A

GB2311112A - Duckfoot bend fitting for connecting a mains pipe to e.g. a fire hydrant

Info

Publication number: GB2311112A
Application number: GB9705268A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy George Riley
Original assignee: Fusion Group PLC
Current assignee: Fusion Group PLC
Priority date: 1996-03-15
Filing date: 1997-03-13
Publication date: 1997-09-17
Also published as: GB9705268D0; GB9605445D0

Abstract

The fitting has respective pipe sockets 2, 3 at a mutual angle and is integral with or supported by a foot member 4; each socket 2, 3 has an internal electrical winding 7, 8 to provide electro-fusion welding of a compatible pipe end inserted in the socket. Respective terminals for the windings are located in protective sleeves 9, 10. The pipe end for insertion in the vertically oriented socket 2 is a spigot with a flanged end; dependent upon the depth location of the bend fitting, the spigot length is determined by cutting such that the flange depth below ground enables the coupling of a hydrant at a predetermined depth.

Description

PIPE FITTINGS This invention relates to pipe fittings and is particularly concerned with pipe fittings generally known as "duckfoot bends".

In water systems involving the underground piping of water to domestic or to industrial areas, there is the need to bring a water supply to the surface at various strategic locations.

Thus, for example, in built-up areas, both domestic and industrial, there is the need for the strategic location of hydrants. To achieve this, it is known to employ a duckfoot bend, the transverse sector of which is connected to a mains supply and the upright sector of which is connected to, such as, a fire hydrant, with an interposed, flanged spool piece of a height to ensure that the hydrant tee is at a recommended depth below the ground.

Duckfoot bends must, of course, have a watertight connection to mains, and a watertight connection to a flanged spool piece, not easily achieved by conventional means in the tight confines of working in a narrow trench. Equally, and given that a rise and fall at the land surface can exist as between the locations of hydrants in a supply system, a variety of spooled flanges need to be transported from which a required size can be selected to set the hydrant tee as required, and as is mentioned above.

A first objective of the invention is to provide a duckfoot bend that avoids those disadvantages mentioned above. A second object is to enable the correct setting of a hydrant at a required depth more easily than has hitherto been possible.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a duckfoot bend for a water supply system comprises first and second integral pipe socket of an appropriate plastics material and at a required angular disposition, said integral pipe socket being appropriately attached or integral with a foot member, each of said first and second socket having an internal electrical winding, said windings being connected to terminals externally of the said socket, and whereby with a mains pipe of a compatible plastics material inserted into one socket of the duckfoot, and the tubular section or spigot of a flange piece of a compatible plastics material inserted into the other socket of the duckfoot, the application of current to the windings causes the melting of the interface of the socket of the duckfoot to the mains and to the spigot of the flange piece and causes fluid-tight welding ofthe duckfoot to the mains and the spigot.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a spigotted flange piece for use with the duckfoot as defined above, comprises a spigot of a length longer than the typical depth below ground of mains supply, and whereby, on site, a spigot can be cut to any particular length such that when connected to the duckfoot, its flange is at a depth below ground to locate a hydrant at the predetermined depth below ground.

The advantages provided by the invention are numerous. There is the speed of installation, and the substantial guarantee of a watertight connection of the duckfoot to the mains and to the spigotted flange piece. There is the avoidance of the need to carry a number of spooled flange pieces to suit all depths of mains that might be encountered.

Being of a suitable plastics material compatible with the material of a plastics mains, there is avoided the need to adapt a plastics mains to accept a metal fitting, and there is minimised the risk of mechanical and frost damage, in addition to providing non-corrodible fittings.

One embodiment ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a duckfoot hydrant fitting in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a spigotted flange piece for use with the duckfoot hydrant fitting of Figure 1.

In the drawings a duckfoot hydrant fitting 1 has first and second integral pipe sockets 2, 3 of an appropriate plastics material. The pipe sockets are shown disposed at 90 , but they could be at any required acute or obtuse angle. The integral sockets 2, 3 are mounted on a foot member 4 by support members 5, 6.

Each ofthe integral sockets 2, 3 is provided with a respective internal electrical winding 7, 8 extending to respective terminals located within integral protective sleeves 9, 10.

Thus, with the duckfoot fitting 1 positioned in, e.g., a trench, a mains supply pipe 11 of a compatible plastics material can be inserted with relative ease into the socket 3, and equally easily, the spigot 12 of a spigotted flange piece 13 inserted into the socket 3. With the windings 7,8 suitably connected to a source of electrical power, an electro-fusion welding of the mains pipe 11 to the socket 3 and the spigot 12 to the socket 2 can be effected with the substantial guarantee of a fluid tight connection as between the mains pipe, the fitting and the spigotted flange piece.

The further advantage ofthe invention is that a universally useable spigotted flange piece can be employed, and which has a spigot 12 of a length longer than would be required in any ordinary circumstances at the required location of, for example, a hydrant. With the fitting 1 located in a trench, the spigot 12 of the spigotted flange piece can be cut to a required length to ensure that with the spigot inserted into the socket 2, the flange 14 on the spigot is set at a required height above the fitting 1 and thereby be at a required depth below the ground surface with the consequent result that a hydrant tee suitably secured to the flange 14 is at a recommended depth below ground.

Claims

1. A duckfoot bend for a water supply system comprising first and second integral pipe socket of an appropriate plastics material and at a required angular disposition, said integral pipe socket being appropriately attached or integral with a foot member, each of said first and second socket having an internal electrical winding, said windings being connected to terminals externally ofthe said socket, and whereby with a mains pipe of a compatible plastics material inserted into one socket of the duckfoot, and the tubular section or spigot of a flange piece of a compatible plastics material inserted into the other socket of the duckfoot, the application of current to the windings causes the melting of the interface of the socket of the duckfoot to the mains and to the spigot ofthe flange piece and causes fluid-tight welding ofthe duckfoot to the mains and the spigot.

2. A spigotted flange piece for use with the duckfoot as in Claim 1, comprising a spigot of a length longer than the typical depth below ground of mains supply, and whereby, on site, a spigot can be cut to any particular length such that when connected to the duckfoot, its flange is at a depth below ground to locate a hydrant at the predetermined depth below ground.

3. A duckfoot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. A spigotted flange piece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.