GB2358691A

GB2358691A - Sleeving

Info

Publication number: GB2358691A
Application number: GB0001922A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ewan G L Reid; Allan Urquhart
Original assignee: Balmoral Group Ltd
Current assignee: Balmoral Group Ltd
Priority date: 2000-01-27
Filing date: 2000-01-27
Publication date: 2001-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-27
Also published as: GB2358691B; GB0001922D0

Abstract

Sleeving (1, figure 1) for protecting pipes and cables is made up from a plurality of elongate sleeve elements (2, figure 1) disposed end-to-end. Each sleeve element is composed of individual segments 3, 3', 3" preferably made from polyurethane. The segments 3, 3', 3" are provided with co-operative longitudinal projections and recesses 10, 11 if at adjacent edges. The projections and recesses 10, 11 inter-engage to lock the segments together. Each set of projection-and-recess is shaped asymmetrically with the radial dimension of the recess increasing inwardly and the radial dimension of the projection increasing outwardly to prevent their separation. The projections and recesses are designed to inter-engage progressively as the segments arc partly rotated about a longitudinal axis of the sleeve element.

Description

2358691 SLEEVING This invention relates to sleeving for example for

protecting pipes and cables.

Such sleeving is Imown, for example from GB 2 276 694 and GB 2 260 590.

According to the invention there is provided a sleeving element for protecting pipes and cables, the element comprising a plurality of segments each segments having fastener components comprising a longitudinally extending mortice and a tenon for engagement with the mortice of an adjacent segment.

Preferably each element comprises three segments, which may be hingably fastened together.

A groove may be provided in the external periphery of one or more segments parallel with and spaced apart from the segment edge to decrease the stiffness of a fastener component.

An end of the element may be provided with a spigot for retention in a recess of an adjacent element.

Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of non-limiting example by reference to the accompanying figures of which:

Figure 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation, Figure 2 is a cross section, 2 -c Figure 3 is an enlarged scrap view of a hinge member.

Figure 4 is an enlarged scrap view of a fastener, Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of an early stage of 5 a first element engaging a second element, Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a mid stage of a first element engaging a second element, and Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a late stage of a first element engaging a second element.

Sleeving 1 comprises a plurality of sleeve elements 2. Each sleeve element comprises a plurality of segments 3, X, W. In the illustrated embodiment three segments are provided. Other numbers of segments could be used. Where however each sleeve element contains a large number of segments the sleeving can become unnecessarily expensive to make and difficult to deploy. Three, four or five segments are preferred.

In some embodiments of the invention the sleeve elements comprise polyurethane which may be cast. Those skilled will, however, have no difficulty in selecting other suitable materials which may vary according to the proposed application.

In some embodiments of the invention an end of each element is provided with a male spigot 4 cooperating with a corresponding female formation 5 of 3 r another element. In some of these embodiments resilient tongue and groove members 6, 7 are provided on each of the male and female members. Those sicilled will however have little difficulty in devising other means for 5 retaining abutting elements if desired.

In other embodiments of the invention male and female terminal members are not provided. The segments can then be of constant cross-section. This can be advantageous since the segments can be formed by extrusion or continuous casting.

Each segment is provided with a longitudinally extending mortice 10 which engagingly co-operates with a tenon 11 of an adjacent segment. The mortice and tenon allow adjacent segments to be locked together. At is least one of the mortice and tenon and optionally both of the mortice and tenon are resilient to allow engagement of the segments. Generally the mortice and optionally the tenon extend substantially the whole length of the segment.

In some embodiments of the invention at least some segments are ignobly connected to one or more other segments. Hinges 12 can be formed by casting the complete element as one piece. Those skilled will have little difficulty in devising other ways of providing hinges.

The primary function of hinges 12 is to aid assembly of the sleeving. Once the sleeving has been assembled they 4 er are much less important. If the hinges abrade away in use the sleeve will still be retained around the pipe or 1 cable by the mortice and tenon. Where an end sPig,)t is provided clamping forces will be transmitted from 5 adjacent elements.

To facilitate assembly of the elements it may be desirable to provide means for temporarily increasing the resilience of a terminal mortice 11' or tenon. In the illustrated embodiment this is achieved by providing a longitudinally extending groove in a segment adjacent the mortice. In the illustrated embodiment this comprises a round bottomed groove 14 parallel with and spaced apart from a segment edge. A small land 15 extends between the groove and the mortice. Since stiffness is proportional to the cube of the thickness this groove much increases the flexibility of lip 16 allowing it to be urged over the tenon.

Once the element has been assembled packing 17 is driven into the groove thereby increasing the stiffness of the lip. Packing 17 will generally be a resilient material which when uncompressed is slightly large in diameter than the width of the groove. O-ring cord for example of (jur K VITONAor silicone may be used. O-ring cord is readily and cheaply available in a wide range of size. The manufacturers apply strict tolerances on diameter. A roller tool may be useful to urge the cord into position.

It will be seen that the illustrated embodiment can be at least partially assembled by a rotational iiiovement. A first tip 30 of a first segment is caused to abut a second tip 31 of a second segment. The segments are then relatively rotated about the point of abutment. Relative rotational movement rather than translation is facilitated by the provision of a hinge as hereinbefore described. Nose 32 of tenon is inclined away from the outer periphery of the sleeving. Heel 33 of the mortise is of complementary shape. The nose of the tenon can then enter the mortise with little or no deformation of the sleeving. Similarly the foot 34 of the tenon is dimensioned so as not to interfere with the rear 35 of the mortise.

Since in this arrangement little or no deformation is required the first two segments can easily be joined. Since the third segment has a flexible lip it is relatively easy to insert it even if some interference occurs.

Other means of packing the groove will suggest 20 themselves to the skilled such as gluing a packing member in position.

6 r

Claims

Claims

J 1. A sleeving element for protecting pipes and cables, the element comprising a plurality of segments, each segment having fastener components comprising a longitudinally extending mortice and a tenon for engaging with the mortice of an adjacent segment.
2. A sleeving element as claimed in claim 1 comprising 10 three segments.
3. A sleeving element as claimed in claim 1 or claftn 2 wherein the segments are hingably fastened together.
4. A sleeving element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a groove is provided on the external periphery of a segment parallel with and spaced apart from a segment edge to decrease the stiffness of a fastener component.
5. A sleeving element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims an end being provided with a spigot for retention in a recess of an adjacent element.
6. A sleeving element substantially as described herein by reference to any one or more of the figures.

1 7 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A sleeving element for protecting pipes and cables, the element comprising a plurality of segments, the segments having fastener components each comprising a longitudinally extending projection and longitudinally extending recess which lie on a radial plane and fit into one another; characterized in that the projection and recess are shaped in an asymmetrical manner with the 10 radial dimension of the recess increasing in a direction circumferentially inwardly of the recess and the radial dimension of the projection increasing in a direction circumferentially outwardly of the projection to prevent separation circumferentially whereby the segments can is be joined together by rotational movement of the segments about a longitudinal axis to bring the projection progressively into the recess.

2. A sleeving element as claimed in claim 1 and 20 comprising three segments.

3. A sleeving element as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the segments are hingably fastened together.

4. A sleeving element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a groove is provided on the t: Q C a Q) . c C. & external periphery of at least one of the segments parallel with and spaced apart from a segment edge to decrease the stiffness of the associated fastener component for joining purposes.

5. A sleeving element according to claim 4, wherein the groove is fitted with packing after the segments have been joined together.

io 6. A sleeving element according to claim 5, wherein the packing is in the form of an 0-ring.
7. A sleeving element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further comprising a spigot at one end for retention in a recess at one end of an adjacent element and a recess at the other end for re-ceiving a spigot at one end of another adjacent element.
8. A sleeving element according to any one of the preceding claims and made from polyurethane.
9. A sleeving element substantially as described herein by reference to any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

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10. A pipe or cable having therearound sleeving elements according to any one of the preceding claims.

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