GB2332254A

GB2332254A - Attachment of a gas valve flange to a manifold tube

Info

Publication number: GB2332254A
Application number: GB9726212A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Boyes
Original assignee: AEROMATIC CO Ltd
Current assignee: AEROMATIC CO Ltd
Priority date: 1997-12-12
Filing date: 1997-12-12
Publication date: 1999-06-16
Also published as: GB9726212D0; GB2332254A9

Abstract

The flange plate (10) is formed with a through hole in which one end of a metal tube is expanded or swaged to define a spigot. The latter is affixed to the manifold tube (18) to extend substantially at right angles to the axis thereof. The spigot can be affixed by projection welding, and thereafter a hole (20) is drilled in the peripheral wall of the tube (18) to provide the desired communication from the latter to externally of the flange plate (10). The welding, brazing and machining operations associated with more traditional methods are therefore not required.

Description

1 Fled Pipe Connections and Fis 2332254 This invention relates to the

attachment of flanges to pipes, particularly but not exclusively to a method for attaching a gas valve flange to a manifold tube, and to pipe fittings and connections so formed.

Traditional techniques used to fix a flange to a pipe involve welding, brazing and machining operations. These operations tend to be both lime consuming and costly.

Other less time consuming techniques include plunging a spigot in the flange and then fixing the spigot to the pipe by brazing before drilling a hole in the pipe. The plunging can result in a radius rim on the surface of the flange which hence needs to be modified in order to provide necessary sealing of an associated gas valve. In order to form a spigot by plunging in the flange, the latter is limited to a gauge of around 2 mm to 2.5 mm because of the limitations of spigot diameter and form radius on the lead-in side. Also some additional forming may be required to stiffen the thin flange plate when plunging.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of connecting a flange plate to a pipe, the method comprising forming a through hole in the flange plate, securing one end of an open-ended tubular component in the hole in the flange plate whereby the tubular component extends to one side of the flange plate, securing the tubular component to an outer peripheral wall of the pipe by electrical resistance welding, and forming a through hole in the peripheral wall of the pipe at the location of the tubular component, whereby to enable communication between the pipe and the other side of the flange plate.

Preferably the tubular component is secured to the flange plate by swaging into the latter, and preferably the axis of the tubular component 2 extends at substantially right angles to the plane of the flange plate.

Preferably also the tubular component is welded to the pipe such that the axis of the tubular component is substantially at right angles to the axis of the pipe.

The flange plate may be formed around the through hole at the side thereof remote from the pipe with a recess of greater diameter than the diameter of the hole, whereby to be able to accommodate an 0 ring as a seal between the flange plate and a gas valve to be connected thereto.

The invention also provides a flanged pipe connection formed by the method of any of the four preceding paragraphs. The invention further provides a pipe fitting formed by the method of any of the four preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. I is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a flange plate; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of an assembly incorporating the plate; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the plate assembly fixed to a manifold tube according to one embodiment; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the plate assembly fixed to a manifold tube according to a further embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a flange plate 10 of thick gauge metal is formed with a through hole 12 having countersunk outer edges (Fig. I). A metal tube having an outer diameter substantially that of the hole 12 is inserted in the hole 12 in the flange plate 10 from one side thereof and expanded or swaged with the hole 12 to thereby define a spigot 14 extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the plate 10 (the plate assembly 16 of Fig. 2).

3 The plate assembly 16 is intended to be fixed to a pipe or tube 18 by affixing the spigot 14 to the outer peripheral wall of the tube 18 with the axis of the spigot 14 substantially at right angles to the axis of the tube 18, whereby the flange plate 10 extends laterally of the latter. The spigot 14 is affixed to the tube 18 by electrical resistance welding, preferably projection welding, i.e. by electrically welding at high temperature where the effective point contact between the spigot 14 and the peripheral wall of the tube 18 allows the outer end of the spigot 14 to be shaped as it is joined to the tube 18, whereby to follow the contours of the outer peripheral wall of the latter (Fig. 3). Thereafter a hole 20 is drilled in the peripheral wall of the tube 18 through the spigot 14 to provide communication from the tube 18 to externally of the flange plate 10 (Fig. 3).

When used in a gas application, a gas valve (not shown) is attached to the plate assembly 16 to control flow of gas between the manifold tube 18 and an external fitting (not shown) mounted on the flange plate 10. The outer face of the flange plate 10 which mates with the gas valve is suitable for use with a valve having a small connecting flange necessitating the use of a small diameter 0 ring. A problem inherent in a known plate assembly, where the spigot is formed integrally with the flange plate by a plunging in the flange, is that a radius is formed on the outer face of the flange plate around the spigot aperture, leading to problems in locating any required 0 ring.

With some gas valves, a groove for location of the 0 ring is required to be part of the manifold flange plate. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, such a groove 22 is so provided in the flange plate 10 to accommodate an 0 ring 26.

The method of joining the flange to the tube is advantageous, not requiring the welding, brazing and machining operations associated with the more traditional methods. Subject to the limits of conductivity in the welding process, the distance of the flange plate from the pipe or tube can be varied, whereas the length of the spigot, if produced integral with the flange plate by plunging, is limited.

4 Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:-

1. A method of connecting a flange plate to a pipe, the method comprising forming a through hole in the flange plate, securing one end of an openended tubular component in the hole in the flange plate whereby the tubular component extends to one side of the flange plate, securing the tubular component to an outer peripheral wall of the pipe by electrical resistance welding, and forming a through hole in the peripheral wall of the pipe at the location of the tubular component, whereby to enable communication between the pipe and the other side of the flange plate.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the tubular component is secured to the flange plate by swaging into the latter.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the axis of the tubular component extends at substantially right angles to the plane of the flange plate.

4. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular component is welded to the pipe such that the axis of the tubular component is substantially at right angles to the ayds of the pipe.

5. A method according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the flange plate is formed around the through hole at the side thereof remote from the pipe with a recess of greater diameter than the diameter of the hole, whereby to be able to accommodate an 0 ring as a seal between the flange plate and a gas valve to be connected thereto.

6. A method of connecting a flange plate to a pipe, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A flanged pipe connection formed by the method according to any of the preceding Claims.

6

8.

A pipe fitting formed by the method according to any of Claims 1 to 6.

9. A flanged pipe substantially the accompanying drawings.

as hereinbefore described with reference to

10. A pipe fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.