GB2386933A

GB2386933A - A tee connector for tapping into live pipes

Info

Publication number: GB2386933A
Application number: GB0204533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Fredrick Rees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-30
Filing date: 2002-02-27
Publication date: 2003-10-01
Also published as: GB0202087D0; GB0204533D0

Abstract

A tee connector for tapping into live pipes comprises a crossbar A formed as a half pipe section, and two C-shaped clips B that with the aid of screws, in use, fixes the tee connector to pipe work. Preferably the connector also includes an extra internally threaded pipe which straddles the T junction of the connector. This pipe may contain a serrated end cutter C which can be rotated on the internal thread so that it moves downwardly cutting a section out of the live pipe. Continued downward movement of the cutter C clamps the cut out portion of the live pipe in a sump area (F, fig 2) away from the flow of water so that the water contained within the live pipe can flow freely through a bore hole G that runs through the cutter C. An O-ring D may be fitted in the half pipe section so that leaking of water is prevented.

Description

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FO5SILL GdifER TURF

Non - Drain 'T' Connector MK2 \ One of the problems in extending a central heating or plumbing system is the need to drain the existing pipe work, in order to cut into it and fit 'T' connectors off which to run the new fittings or radiators. In either case water can be left standing in the existing pipe work, making it difficult to solder, this particularly applies to central heating systems. Draining and refilling a system is full of potential difficulties of dirty water spillage when emptying, and air locks when refilling, also refilling with fresh oxygenated water is detrimental to the long life and efficiency of heating systems. It is the intension of the present invention to provide a means of extending these systems but avoid the rlifficulties listed.

The non- drain 'T' connector is basically three parts. 'A' is the main body 'B' the pipe clamps and 'C' the cutting tool. To use 'A' is placed onto the existing pipe where it is intended to take off the water supply for the new radiators or taps, it is clamped firmly into position by the clamps 'B', as these clamps are tightened an 'O' ring 'D' is compressed onto the pipe.

Once the 'T' is clamped into position the new pipe work can be run, on completion the cutter C' is turned down its thread the serrated edge comes into contact with the side of the pipe and cuts away a section allowing the water to flow into the new pipe work. The cutter 'C' is turned all the way down until the washer 'E' at the top of the cutter compresses to stop any leakage, at the same tithe the serrated edge will have progressed down into the space provided 'F' locking the cut away section of pipe down into 'F' and out of the water flow.

The hole 'G' in the cutter will line up with the flow to the new pipework, the direction of the hole being indicated by groove 'H' in the top of the cutter. The 'O' ring 'D' will ensure a waterproofjoint onto the new pipe-work.

The serrated edge of the cutter is all-important the two views showing how the teeth will cut the full width of the cutter and forces the removed pipe section outward as it is cut.

Type '2' ME One of the disadvantages of the type '1' is the height of the cutter tower, making the fitting quite bulky, also lining up the hole through the cutter could be difficult.

With the type '2' these disadvantages are removed. As with type '1' the body clamp etc is unchanged, but now the fitting is assembled with the cutter turned down to the sump 'F' when needed the cutter is turned upwards, removing a section of the main pipe, but now it compresses this section into an area at the top of its travel when fully turned upwards an 'O' ring on the stem stops any leakage up the thread, the treaded rod is then cut offabove the cap, with a junior hacksaw, since it is of no further use and the fitting is far more compact than the type '1' having a total height of only 33 mm, this is only 5 mm wider than the average 15 mm compression nut at its widest.

As with the type '1' the actual shape of the cutter teeth will be decided with proto type tests but in both cases the teeth will provide copper filings, but no more than those formed when the pipe work is sawn through to provide access for a traditional 'I'.

CLAIMS N.D.T.C.2. NON-DRAIN 'T' CONNECTOR

1. A PLUMBING 'T' CONNECTOR, WHERE THE CROSS BAR IS FORMED AS A HALF

PIPE SECTION, SIZED TOFITPRECISELYAROUND HALF OF ALIVECOPPERWATER

PIPE AND BE CLAMPED INTO POSITION BY TWO OR MORE C SHAPED CLIPS FIXED

WITH SCREWS.

2. A PLUMBING 'T' CONNECTOR, AS CLAIMED IN ONE, WHICH HAS A DOWN LEG

WHICH IS ADAPTED TO FIT ONTO STANDARD PLUMBING FITTINGS.

3. A PLUMBING 'T' CONNECTOR AS CLAIMED IN ONE AND TWO WHERE AN EXTRA

INTERNALY THREADED PIPE FIXES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE 'T' STRADDLING

THE JUNCTION OF THE CROSS BAR & DOWN LEG BUT FIXED MORE TOWARD THE

DOWN LEG.

4. A PLUMBING 'T' CONNECTOR AS IN CLAIMS 1-3 WHERE THE PIPE DESCRIBED

IN THREE CONTAINS A SAWRATED END CUTTER WHICH CAN BE TURNED UP OR

DOWN ON THE INTERNAL THREAD

5. A PLUMBIN 'T' CONNECTOR AS IN CLAIMS 1-4 WHERE THE CUTTER HAS A

BORE HOLE ACROSS ITS LENGTH DOWN AT THE SAWRATED END.

6. A PLUMBING 'T' CONNECTOR AS IN CLAIMS 1-5 WHERE THE CUTTER HAS A

HEXIGON AND SEAL RING AT THE OPPERSITE END TO THE SAWRATED EDGE AND

A GROVE ACROSS THE HEXIGON TO INDICATE THE DIRECTION OF THE BORE

HOLE DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 5.

7. A PLUMBING CT' CONNECTOR AS IN CLAIMS 1-6 WHICH HAS A CUTTER WHICH,

ON BEING ROTATED DOWNWARD ON ITS THREAD CURVES INTO CONTACT EDITH

THE WALL OF THE LIVE COPPER PIPE ONTO WHICH THE 'T' IS CLAMPED AND

CUTS A SECTION OUT OF THE WALL OF THE PIPE.

8. A PLUMBING 'T' CONNECTOR AS IN CLAIMS 1-7 WHICH HAD A SUMP UNDER

THE CUTTER SO THAT THE SECTION OF COPPER PIPE REMOVED BY THE CUTTER

IS PRESSED INTO THE SUMP AND OUT OF THE WATER FLOW.

9. A PLUMBING 'T' CONNECTOR AS IN CLAIMS 1-8 IN WHICH THE CUTTER AFTER

BEING TURNED DOWN REMAINS IN THIS POSITION WITH ITS BORE HOLE

ALIGNED WITH THE 'T' LEG AND THE CUTTER SEAL STOPPING ANY LEAKAGE OF

WATER UP THE CUTTER THE SAWRATED END HOLDING THE COPPER CUT OFF IN

THE SUMP.

10.APLUMBING'T'CONNECTORASINCLAIMS1-9INWCHARUBBERSEALOR

O' RING IS FITTED IN THE HALF PIPE SECTION SO THAT AFTER IT HAS BEEN

USED THE WATER CANNOT LEAK OUT AROUND THE HALF CYLINDER SECTION.

^5 ()lb," '' -'- /? À rv INVESTOR IN PEOPLE - Application No: GB0204533. 4 Examiner: Rhodn Evans Claims searched; 1-10 Date of search: 25 July 2003

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X i,2, 10 Su 844899 A (Slavy Metal) see figure and WPI abstract accession number 1982-E9171 E [25].

X,,7 DE 4309941 A (Puspas) see figure and WPI abstract accession number 1994-358973 [45].

X I-47 US 3756261 (Minchhoff) all figures and line 23 column 3 to line 37 column 4.

X 1,4,7 FR 2625289 A (Cartel) all figures and WPI abstract accession number 1989-243661 [37].

Cate vies: g X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and/or state of the art.

Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if combined P Document published on or after the declared priority date but before the with one or more other documents of same category. filing date of this invention.

& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.

Field of Search:

Search of GB EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCV: F2G; F2P

Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC7: 1 | F16L I

The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report: I | WPI, EPODOC, PAT l An Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry