GB2359347A

GB2359347A - Pipe connection unit with valve

Info

Publication number: GB2359347A
Application number: GB9930355A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Whitfield
Original assignee: Crane Ltd
Current assignee: Crane Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-22
Filing date: 1999-12-22
Publication date: 2001-08-22
Also published as: GB9930355D0

Abstract

A pipe connection unit 10 comprises a hollow main body 12, which is provided with at least three pipe connection points 18, at least one of the pipe connection points being provided with a connection adaptor 22. A valve 28 is housed within the main body 12 and is positioned between at least one of the pipe connection points so that in use the valve controls fluid flow between the at least one pipe connection point and the remaining pipe connection points. A valve controller 34 is connected to the valve. The main body may have a tee configuration, and the valve may be an isolating, ball, gate, balancing, or globe valve.

Description

2359347 Pipe connection unit The present invention relates to a pipe

connection uni t.

In the construction of fluid circuits, it is frequently necessary to join several components and pipes together. For example, a sub-circuit may need to be connected to a ring main, or a piece of equipment may need to be connected to a ring main or a sub-circuit. In these circumstances, it may be necessary or desirable to adjust the fluid flow in one part of the circuit as compared to the fluid f low in the other part, or to isolate one part of the circuit from the other part. this may be done by f itting a valve between the ring main and the sub-circuit or between the equipment and the ring main or sub-circuit.

However, according to the prior art, it is necessary to use several separate components, including the valve, pipe connection pieces, and adaptors to allow the valve to be used with the particular type of pipe. Each of the these components needs to be separately joined to its adjacent components, and the quantity of components required can lead to a substantial number of joints. The jointing is typically achieved by use of P.T.F.E. tape, or a proprietary jointing compound. Such methods are time-consuming so installation time can be high. Also, 2 joints made in this way can be liable to leakage, and the likelihood of leakage in a circuit increases with the number of joints. Thus an increased number of joints also can lead to increased downtime for maintenance of the circuit.

An aim of the present invention is to address the aforementioned disadvantages.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a pipe connection unit comprising a hollow body, the body is provided with at least three pipe connection points, and at least one of the pipe connection points is provided with a connection adaptor, a valve is housed within the main body and positioned between at least one of the pipe connection points and the remaining pipe connection points such that when in use it controls fluid flow between the at least one pipe connection point and the remaining pipe connection points, and controller is connected to the valve.

a valve Such a unit offers a number of advantages. For 20 example, two parts of a fluid circuit, such as a piece of equipment and a ring main, which require a valve between them. can be readily connected together using a single component. This reduces time and expense, and also provides a much better connection as the number of joints between pipes and components is reduced, which in turn 3 reduces the likelihood of leakage, and therefore also reduces maintenance time and cost.

Preferably, at least one of the pipe connection points is provided with a connection adaptor. This allows the pipe connection unit to be more readily connected to pipe with different characteristics, such as size and shape, to those of the pipe connection point.

Advantageously the main body provides three pipe connection points in a tee configuration, such that the valve is housed in the branch of the tee and an adaptor is provided on the pipe connection point located at the end of the branch. This configuration is especially suitable for the connection of a single piece of equipment to a ring main or a sub-circuit, wherein fluid is flow between the ring main or a sub-circuit and the equipment may need to be controlled.

Alternatively, the main body provides three pipe connection points, such that the two pipe connection points positioned on the same side of the valve are arranged substantially at right angles to each other, and an adaptor is provided on the remaining pipe connection point. This is advantageous if a piece of equipment needs to be connected to a corner of Alternatively, the main three pipe connection points, positioned between one pipe a fluid circuit. body provides more than such that the valve is connection point and the 4 remaining pipe connection points, the one pipe connection point being provided with an adaptor, and the remaining pipe connection points being arranged in a manifold configuration. Thus, a number of inlet pipes can be connected to a single valve, or alternatively, a single valve can control the flow to a number of outlet pipes.

Preferably the valve is an isolating valve. When connecting a piece of equipment to a fluid circuit, it is frequently desirable to fit an isolating valve between the two so that the equipment can be isolated from the main flow in the circuit, for ease of maintenance, for example.

Advantageously, the isolating valve is a ball valve. Alternatively, the isolating valve is a gate valve, a balancing valve or a globe valve. A variety of valves having different characteristics can perform the function of complete interruption of flow, so it is advantageous to select the type of valve best suited to the purpose to which the pipe connection unit is to be put.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve controller comprises a lever handle. Alternatively the valve controller is a tee handle. Thus the most appropriate valve controller for a particular application can be selected, having regard to, for example, the available space and ease of access.

Advantageously, the valve controller is provided with a lock shield. This inhibits tampering and accidental or unintentional adjustment of the valve.

In a preferred embodiment, the pipe connection unit further comprises an extension stem positioned between the valve and the valve controller. The extension stem allows the pipe connection unit to be fully lagged, if necessary, whilst still allowing ready adjustment of the valve.

Advantageously, the connection adaptor is fastened to the main body by means of a union ring. This is a simple means of fastening a particular adaptor to the main body, so that a standard design of main body can be used in the production of pipe connection units for a variety of applications.

Possibly, the connection adaptor is a hose union connector.

Examples of pipe connection units made in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of such a pipe connection unit; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1; Figure embodiment; 3 is a cross-sectional view of a further 6 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 1 but having an alternative valve controller; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a further 5 embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 1 but having an alternative valve controller; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 1 but having an alternative valve controller.

A pipe connection unit 10 has a hollow main body 12 which is substantially tee-shaped and has a main through bore 14, and a side branch bore 16 defined by a side branch 17, branching off from the main through bore 14 at right angles and midway along the length of the main through bore 14. Each end of the main through bore 14 terminates in a pipe connection point 18, by which the pipe connection unit 10 can be joined to the pipe work of a fluid circuit.

A seat retainer 20 abuts the end of the side branch 17 and has an flange 21 which fits within the side branch bore 16. An adaptor 22 abuts the seat retainer. The seat retainer 20 and the adaptor 22 define an extension of the side branch bore 16, and form a further pipe connection point 18.

The seat retainer 20 and the adaptor 22 are held onto the side branch 17 of the main body 12 by means of a 7 union ring 24, which encircles the joins between the components and clamps them together. An 0-ring 26 is disposed between the seat retainer 20 and the adaptor 22.

A isolating ball valve 28 is housed within the side branch bore 16, and comprises a ball 30, having a through bore 31, disposed between two seat rings 32, and held in place by the abutment of the seat retainer 20 against the side branch 17.

A valve controller 34 is connected to the ball valve 28 and comprises a elongate stem 36 which extends from the ball 28 through the wall of the side branch 17 and a gland nut 38 which interengages with the main body 18 and holds the stem 36 in a rotatable position with respect to the main body 18. A packing ring 40 is disposed around the stem 36 between the main body 18 and the gland nut 38 to provide a seal. A lever handle 40 is fastened to the end of the stem 36 distant from the ball 28 by means of a retaining screw 42 which passes through the lever handle 40 into the stem 36 in a directional substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem 42. The lever handle 40 extends generally perpendicularly from the stem 36, has an angled section 42 and terminates in a grip section 44 which lies substantially parallel to the plane of the main and side branch bores 14, 16 but spaced apart from the pipe connector unit.

8 This pipe connector unit 10 could be used to connect a piece of equipment to a ring main, for example. The main through bore 14 is f itted into the pipe work of the ring main, so that the main through bore 14 forms part of the ring main. The pipe connection points 18 at each end of the main through bore 14 are used to connect the pipe connection unit 10 to the pipes of the ring main, so that two joints are formed. The equipment is then connected to the remaining pipe connection point 18 at the adaptor 22.

The equipment is likely to have a different type of pipe to that of the ring main, for example, it may be of a different bore or a different material, so the adaptor is used to convert the characteristics of the side branch to those which are appropriate for connection to the equipment pipe. Thus a good joint between the equipment and the pipe connection unit 10 can be readily achieved. Hence it is necessary to select a pipe connection unit 10 having an adaptor 22 appropriate for the equipment. Pipe connection units having a variety of adaptors can be supplied, so that the user can select whichever is most suitable for his requirements.

once in place, the pipe connection unit 10 allows the equipment to be isolated from the ring main by operation of the isolating ball valve. This is done by the known method of rotating of the lever handle 40 to rotate the ball 30, via the stem 36, until the through 9 jDore 31 of the ball 30 is at right angles to the side branch bore 16, which is thereby blocked. Fluid flow from the ring main to the equipment is thereby prevented, and maintenance work can be carried out on the equipment without disturbing operation of the remainder of the fluid circuit.

Use of the pipe connection unit 10 therefore allows connection of equipment to a ring main, with the capability of isolating the equipment, with only three pipe joints needing to be made. Thus the connection process is rapid and straightforward. Also, the number of joints is minimised, which in turn reduces the overall likelihood of leakage occurring in the fluid circuit as a whole. Therefore, the requirement for maintenance of the circuit is also reduced, as is the downtime required for such maintenance to be carried out.

According to the prior art, it is not always standard practice to fit an isolation valve in such circumstances, because of the drawbacks associated with the large number of joints which are required. Use of the present invention, however, addresses these drawbacks and therefore offers the possibility of encouraging the good practice of fitting isolation valves, and thus providing the advantages associated with the provision of these valves.

An alternative embodiment 46 of the present invention is shown in Figure 3. The main body 12 again provides two pipe connection points 18 separated from a third pipe connection point 18 by an isolating ball valve 28. The main through bore 48 is substantially L-shaped, so that the firstmentioned two pipe connection points 18 are substantially at right angles to each other. The side wall 50 of the main through bore 48 is curved between the two pipe connection points 18 on the side away from the ball valve 28, to improve flow of fluid between the two pipe connection points 18.

This embodiment is of especial use in applications where a piece of equipment, such as an automatic air vent or a drain-of f cock, needs to be fitted in the corner of a ring main or other fluid circuit. The curved main through bore 48 will follow the corner of the circuit whilst the equipment is branched off therefrom.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show further alternative embodiments of the present invention, which have different configurations of valve controller 34. In each case, the pipe connection unit 10 is substantially similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, although these types of valve controller are equally applicable to the pipe connection unit 46 shown in Figure 3.

The embodiment of Figure 4 has the lever handle 40 of Figure 1 replaced by a lock shield 52 which inhibits 11 rotation of the stem 36 and the ball 30 so that the position of isolating ball valve 28 is not changed accidentally or unintentionally, thus helping to prevent the equipment from being isolated when it should not be.

This feature is useful if the pipe connection unit 10 is in an exposed location where it could be subject to tampering.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the pipe connection unit 10 in which the elongate stem 54 is extended beyond the length shown in Figure 1. It is enclosed in a stem extension member 56 which supports the lever handle 40. This extended stem 54 provides additional space between the pipe connection unit 10 and the lever handle 40, so the former can be lagged adequately without interfering with operation of the isolating ball valve 30 by rotation of the lever handle 40.

The embodiment of the pipe connection unit 10 shown in Figure 6 differs from that shown in Figure 1 in that the lever handle has been replaced by a so-called IT, handle. Operation of the isolating ball valve 30 is achieved by rotation of the IT, handle, in the same way as operation with a lever handle, but this designof handle occupies less space than a lever handle, so this embodiment may be of use if space is at a premium.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above; further embodiments can be 12 readily envisaged which do not depart from the scope of the invention.

For example, the pipe connection unit is not limited to use for the connection of equipment to a ring main. It may be necessary to connect equipment to a sub-circuit, or a sub-circuit to a ring main whereby the provision of an isolating valve is still desirable. The present invention is applicable to use in these situations, and a pipe connection unit having an appropriate adaptor can be selected accordingly. Also, more than three pipe connection points may be required. The main body of the pipe connection unit can be shaped accordingly to provide more. For example, a manifold arrangement may be useful, in which a number of inlet pipes feed into a single valve, or a single valve feeds a number of outlet pipes.

A wide variety of adaptors can be provided to accommodate different configurations of pipe. It may also be desirable to provide a pipe connection unit having a hose union connector in place of an adaptor for pipes.

Additionally, there is no reason to limit the invention such that an adaptor is only provided at one pipe connection point; certain applications might benefit from two or more adaptors. Furthermore, some applications may not require any kind of adaptor, in which case the pipe connection unit can be supplied without adaptors. Such an 13 embodiment also offers the possibilty of the user fitting his own specialised adaptor.

The isolating valve is not limited to being a ball valve. The requirement of isolation can also be achieved by use of other valve types such as a gate valve, a balancing valve or a globe valve.

Alternatively, isolation may not be required at all, and the requirement to modify flow between two parts of a fluid circuit may arise instead. In this situation, the isolating valve can be replaced by, for example, a nonisolating balancing valve. Furthermore, the valve could provide flow control in conjunction with the capability for complete isolation if it is desirable to satisfy both requirements.

14

Claims

Claims

1.

is 9930355.4 A pipe connection unit comprising a hollow main body, the body being provided with at least three pipe connection points, and at least one of the pipe 2.

connection points being provided with a connection adaptor, a valve housed within the main body and positioned between at least one of the pipe connection points and the remaining pipe connection points such that when in use the valve controls fluid flow between the at least one pipe connection point and the remaining pipe connection points, and a valve controller connected to the valve.

A pipe connection unit according to claim 1, in which the main body provides three pipe connection points in a tee configuration, such that the valve is housed in the branch of the tee and an adaptor is provided on the pipe connection point located at the end of the branch.

3. A pipe connection unit according to claim 1, in which the main body provides three pipe connection points, such that the two pipe connection points positioned on the same side of the valve are arranged substantially at right angles to each other, and an adaptor is provided on the remaining pipe connection point.

is 7 is 8.

9930355.4 A pipe connection unit according to claim 1, in which the main body provides more than three pipe connection points, such that the valve is positioned between one pipe connection point and the remaining pipe connection points, the one pipe connection point being provided with an adaptor, and the remaining pipe connection points being arranged in a manifold configuration.

A pipe connection unit according to any preceding claim, in which the valve is an isolating valve.

according to claim 5, in is a ball valve.

A pipe connection unit according to claim 5, in which the isolating valve is a gate valve.

A pipe connection unit according to claim 5, in which the isolating valve is a balancing valve.

A pipe connection unit according to claim 5, in which the isolating valve is a globe valve.

10. A pipe connection unit according to any preceding claim, in which the valve controller comprises a A pipe connection unit which the isolating valve lever handle.

11. A pipe connection unit according to any of claims 1 to 9, in which the valve controller comprises a tee handle.

16 is 9930355.4 12. A pipe connection unit according to any preceding claim, in which the valve controller is provided with a lock shield.

13. A pipe claim, 18.

19.

connection unit according to any preceding and further comprising an extension stem positioned between the valve and the valve controller.

14. A pipe connection unit according to any preceding claim, in which the connection adaptor is fastened to the main body by means of a union ring.

15. A pipe connection unit according to claim 14, in which the connection adaptor is a hose union connector.

16. A pipe connection unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 and 2.

17. A pipe connection unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figure 3.

A pipe connection unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figure 4.

A pipe connection unit substantially as herein with reference to the accompanying 20. A pipe connection unit substantially as herein with reference to the accompanying described Figure 5. described Figure 6.