GB2314392A - Joint providing movement of pipe in a hollow structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The joint comprises a pipe 15 adapted to engage a inlet 12 of the structure 11 and having an outwardly directed circumferential flange 16 paced from its inner end and a sleeve member 20 adapted to be secured with said inlet and having an inwardly directed circumferential flange 22 at its outer end to overlie the flange 16 and an O-ring seal 24 between the pipe 15 and internal surface of the inlet, the inwardly directed flange of the sleeve member being outwardly spaced from its connection with the inlet to permit axial movement of the pipe relative to the inlet. This joint can be used in conjunction a joint allowing rotation of a pipe in a hollow structure ( Fig 2, 3 not shown ) on each side of a radiator to allow radiator pivoting for decorating purposes.

Description

JOINT This invention concerns ajoint for connecting a pipe to a hollow structure having a tubular inlet thereto such that relative axial movement between the pipe and hollow structure is possible.

The joint is particularly but, by no means exclusively, suitable for connecting vertically extending water feed and return pipes to the valves of a central heating radiator.

According to the present invention there is provided ajoint for connecting a pipe with a hollow structure having a tubular inlet thereto comprising a tubular member adapted to engage the inlet and having an outwardly directed circumferential flange spaced from its inner end and a sleeve member adapted to be secured with said inlet and having an inwardly directed circumferential flange at its outer end and adapted to overlie the outwardly directed flange on the tubular member, and an O-ring seal between the tubular member and internal surface of the inlet, the inwardly directed flange of the sleeve member being outwardly spaced from its connection with the inlet to permit axial movement of the tubular member relative to the inlet.

The sleeve member may have an internally threaded portion at its inner end adapted to engage a threaded bore on the outer surface the tubular inlet.

Two of the joints may be used to connect vertically extending water feed and return pipes to the valves of a central heating radiator.

The valves of the radiator may be connected with hollow pipe receiving fittings of the radiator by sleeve members secured to the hollow fittings and tubular members extending through the sleeve members with O-ring seals between the sleeve members and tubular members, the arrangement enabling rotational movement of the radiator relative to its valves.

It will be understood that the radiator can be lifted relative to its feed pipes to disengage it from means normally holding it to a wall and then swung downwardly to give access to the wall normally behind the radiator.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, one form ofjoint embodying same and other joints with which it might be combined.

Of the drawings : Figure 1 shows a cross-section through the joint of the invention; and Figures 2 & 3 show cross-sections through two forms ofjoint with which the joint of Figure 1 might be used.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be seen that the joint generally indicated at 10 lies in this example between a radiator valve 11 having a tubular inlet (or outlet) 12, and a feed (or return) pipe 13.

The outer end of the inlet 12 is threaded at 14.

-The joint comprises a tubular member 15 having an externally directed circumferential flange 16 axially spaced from its inner end. The feed pipe 13 is connected to the outer end ofthe tubular member 15 by any known and suitable means.

The inner end of the tubular member 15 is located within the inlet 12.

The joint further comprises a sleeve member 20 having an internally threaded socket 21 at its inner end adapted to engage the threaded outer end of the inlet 12, and an inwardly directed flange 22 at its outer end adapted to engage the outer surface of the flange 16.

The outer surface of the inner end of the tubular member 15 is provided with circumferential grooves 23 which locate O-rings 24 which form a seal with the internal bore ofthe inlet 12.

The flange 22 is axially spaced from the socket 21 to enable axial movement of the member 15 (and hence pipe 13) relative to the inlet 12.

The joints of Figure 1 when provided between both vertically extending feed and return pipes and the valves of a radiator enable the radiator to be raised to disengage it from means normally holding it to a wall therebehind.

Preferably the valves are connected with the radiator by further joints permitting rotational movement of the radiator relative to its valves to give access to the wall normally behind the radiator for decorating or maintenance purposes. Examples of such valves will now be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the pipe receiving fitting 110 of a central heating radiator 111 is in the form of a hollow sphere from which a short length of pipe 112 integral therewith extends and which is welded to the body ofthe radiator. The fitting 110 has a threaded bore 113.

The joint comprises two parts, a sleeve member 114 and a tubular member 115.

The sleeve member 114 has a threaded portion 116 on its outer surface located inwardly of or behind an outwardly directed flange 117. An O-ring 118 is located against the forward face of the flange 117.

The tubular member 115 has an outwardly directed flange 120 and an inner extension 121 having radial bores 122 therethrough. Two axially spaced circumferential grooves 123 in the part ofthe tubular member 115 extending outwardly from the flange 120 locate O-rings 24.

The tubular member 115 is located through the threaded bore 113 with the inner end of the extension 121 abutting the wall of the fitting 110 opposite the bore 113.

The sleeve member 114 is fitted over the tubular member 115 and screwed into the bore 113 to bring its forward end into engagement with the flange 120 and nip the O-ring between the fitting 110 and flange 117 to form a seal.

The O-rings 124 form a seal between the tubular member 115 and sleeve member 114.

The tubular member 115 is constrained against axial movement by the abutment of the extension 121 with the fitting 110 and the flange 120 with the sleeve member 114.

It will be understood that the fitting 110 may be rotated with the sleeve member 114 around the tubular member 115.

When joints as described are provided between the two valves of a radiator which are connected with the feed and return pipes by the joints of Figure 1 and the radiator, the two fittings 110 are co-axial allowing the radiator to be lifted and hingedly lowered to give access to the wall therebehind for maintenance and decoration without use of tools or loosening any plumbing connection.

Turning now to Figure 3, the arrangement is generally similar, (like parts being indicated with like reference numerals) save that the tubular member 115 is comprised by thin-walled copper tube whose inner end is deformed to form the flange 120 and that at least one circumferential groove 150 is provided on the inner periphery of the sleeve member 114 which locates an O-ring 151 to form the seal between the sleeve member 114 and tubular member 115.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (15)

1. Ajoint for connecting a pipe with a hollow structure having a tubular inlet thereto comprising a tubular member adapted to engage the inlet and having an outwardly directed circumferential flange spaced from its inner end and a sleeve member adapted to be secured with said inlet and having an inwardly directed circumferential flange at its outer end and adapted to overlie the outwardly directed flange on the tubular member, and an 0being seal between the tubular member and internal surface ofthe inlet, the inwardly directed flange of the sleeve member being outwardly spaced from its connection with the inlet to permit axial movement of the tubular member relative to the inlet.

2. Ajoint according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve member has an internally threaded portion at its inner end adapted to engage a threaded bore on the outer surface the tubular inlet.

3. Joints according to claim 1 or claim 2 when fitted between vertically extending feed and return pipes and the valves of a central heating radiator.

4. Joints according to claim 3 in combination with joints connecting the radiator valves by pipes with hollow pipe receiving structures secured to the radiator and each comprising a sleeve member adapted to be secured to the hollow structure, a tubular member adapted to extend through the sleeve member and an O-ring seal between the sleeve member and tubular member, the tubular members being connected with said pipes.

5. A joint according to claim 4 wherein the sleeve member has a threaded portion on its outer surface adapted to engage a threaded bore in the hollow structure.

6. A joint according to claim 5 wherein there is an outwardly directed flange behind the threaded portion of the sleeve member.

7. -A joint according to claim 6 wherein an O-ring is provided against the forward face of the flange to form a seal between the sleeve member and the hollow structure.

8. A joint according to any of claims 4-7 wherein the tubular member has an outwardly directed flange adapted to abut the forward end of the sleeve member to prevent outward withdrawal of the tubular member.

9. Ajoint according to claim 8 wherein the tubular member extends inwardly from the flange to provide an end adapted to abut the inside of the hollow structure opposite the threaded bore therein to locate the tubular member and prevent inward movement thereof.

10. A joint according to claim 9 wherein the extended portion of the tubular member may have radial bores therethrough for the passage of fluid.

11. A joint according to any of claims 4-10 wherein there is at least one circumferential groove in the tubular member to locate and O-ring forming the seal between the sleeve member and the tubular member.

12. Ajoint according to claim 8 wherein the tubular member is comprised by a think walled tube whose inner end is deformed to form the flange.

13. A joint according to claim 12 wherein there is at least one circumferential groove on the inner wall of the sleeve member to locate an O-ring forming the seal between the sleeve member and the tubular member.

Amendments to the claims have been fled as follows 1. A joint for interconnecting a pipe or other tubular element with a hollow structure having a tubular inlet thereto, the joint comprising a tubular ended member associated with the pipe, an annular sealing member provided with first and second sealing means, said first sealing means being for sealing engagement between said annular sealing member and said inlet and said second sealing means being for sealing engagement between said annular sealing member and said tubular member, said annular sealing member and said inlet being provided with means to secure said sealing member to said inlet to prevent axial movement therebetween, said second sealing means engaging the outer curved surface of the tubular member whereby sealing engagement may be effected between said sealing member and said tubular member over a plurality of relative axial positions there between.

2. A joint according to Claim 1 wherein the annular sealing member has an internally threaded portion at its inner end adapted to engage a threaded bore on the outer surface the tubular inlet.

3. A joint according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 when fitted between a vertically extending feed and return pipe and the valve of a central heating radiator.

4 A joint according to Claim 3 in combination with at least one further joint connecting the radiator valves by pipes with hollow pipe receiving structures secured to the radiator and each comprising a sleeve member adapted to be secured to the hollow structure, a tubular member adapted to extend through the sleeve member and an O-ring seal between the sleeve member and tubular member, the tubular members being connected with said pipes.

5. A joint according to Claim 4 wherein the sleeve member has a threaded portion on its outer surface adapted to engage a threaded bore in the hollow structure.

6. A joint according to Claim 5 wherein there is an outwardly directed flange behind the threaded portion of the sleeve member.

7. A joint according to Claim 6 wherein an O-ring is provided against the forward face of the flange to form a seal between the sleeve member and the hollow structure.

8. A joint according to any of Claims 4-7 wherein the tubular member has an outwardly directed flange adapted to abut the forward end of the sleeve member to prevent outward withdrawal of the tubular member.

9. A joint according to Claim 8 wherein the tubular member extends inwardly from the flange to provide an end adapted to abut the inside of the hollow structure opposite the threaded bore therein to locate the tubular member and prevent inward movement thereof.

10. A joint according to Claim 9 wherein the extended portion of the tubular member may have radial bores therethrough for the passage of fluid.

11. A joint according to any of Claims 4-10 wherein there is at least one circumferential groove in the tubular member to locate an O-ring forming the seal between the sleeve member and the tubular member.

12. A joint according to Claim 8 wherein the tubular member is comprised by a thick walled tube whose inner end is deformed to form the flange.

13. A joint according to Claim 12 wherein there is at least one circumferential groove on the inner wall of the sleeve member to locate an O-ring forming the seal between the sleeve member and the tubular member.

14. Ajoint according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

15. A joint substantially as described with reference to any of Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.