GB2425339A

GB2425339A - End fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2425339A
Application number: GB0508258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aamir Hussein
Original assignee: EURO PLUMBING SUPPLIES Ltd
Current assignee: EURO PLUMBING SUPPLIES Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-23
Filing date: 2005-04-23
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-23
Also published as: GB2425339B; GB0508258D0

Abstract

An end fitting 10 adapted to be connectable at one end to a conduit 28 and releasably connectable at its other end to a connection member 30. The connection member 30 has a valve 40 with a valve member 41 which is biased to a closed position by a spring 42. The end filling 10 includes a housing 12 and an actuator member 20, which actuator member 20 when the end fitting 10 is connected to the connection member 30, engages the valve member 41 to hold the valve member 41 in an open position so that fluid can pass through the connection member 30. A part of the actuator member 20 is connected to the housing 12 by a part 24 which has a lower melting point than the housing 12 such that when the lower melting point part 24 softens the valve 40 closes. The lower melting point port is preferably solder.

Description

1 2425339 Title: End fitting

Description of Invention

This invention relates to an end fitting, which is connectable at one end to a conduit and releasably connectable at its other end to a connection member, which connection member includes a valve and is connectable to a further conduit.

More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to an end fitting for a gas conduit or hose, although it must be appreciated that the invention could be utilised for other fluids, such as liquids.

In use, such a gas conduit or hose extends from a gas appliance, such as a cooker, with its end remote from the cooker having an end fitting and being engageable with a connection member of a gas supply conduit or pipe.

Typically, the end fitting is formed as one of an inter-engaging plug and socket connection, with the connection member of the gas supply pipe being formed as the other thereof. To connect the connection member and end fitting together, the inter-engaging plug must be inserted into the socket and then, conventionally, a portion of one part must be rotated relative to the other part about a common longitudinal axis of both parts. The relative rotation of the connection member and the end fitting engages at least one projecting formation on one part with a corresponding recess formation on the other part.

Such a connection is commonly known as a bayonet-type connection.

The connection member of the gas supply pipe conventionally includes a valve which is spring loaded onto a seat to prevent outflow of gas from the gas supply pipe. Known end fittings are made from metal, such as brass, and have an integrally cast or machined metal projection which, when the end fitting is engaged with the connection member, forces the valve off its seat, in Al 1263GB order to allow gas to flow from the gas supply pipe, through the connection member and the end fitting, into the hose and then to the gas appliance.

A problem with this arrangement is that in the event of, for example, a fire, although the hose may be damaged along its length, the metal end fitting, including the metal projection thereof, and the connection member are likely to remain undamaged. There is thus the danger that the damaged hose may continue to be used or be re-used as the end fitting and connection member remain unaffected and will thus allow gas to flow to the damaged hose from which it may escape.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an end fitting specifically adapted to be connectable at one end to a conduit and releasably connectable at its other end to a connection member, the connection member having a valve with a valve member which is biased to a closed position by a spring, the end fitting including a housing and an actuator member, which actuator member, when the end fitting is connected to the connection member, engages the valve member to hold the valve member in an open position so that fluid can pass through the connection member wherein the actuator member is connected to the housing by a part which has a lower melting point than the housing such that when the lower melting point part softens the valve closes.

A part of the actuator member may be received in a recess in the housing.

Alternatively, a part of the actuator member may be received in an aperture in the housing. The recess or aperture, as the case may be, may have a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the end fitting, e.g. coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the end fitting.

The actuator member may have a receiving formation to receive at least a portion of the lower melting point part. The receiving formation may be, for Al 1263GB example, a peripheral channel formation. The receiving formation or peripheral channel formation, as the case may be, may lie in a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the end fitting.

The receiving formation may be provided near an exit of the recess or aperture in the housing.

When the lower melting point part softens, the actuator member may be slidable relative to the housing, i.e. by the action of the spring of the connection member acting through its valve. Where the actuator member is received in a recess in the housing, the actuator member may be slidable into the recess when the lower melting point part softens. Alternatively, where the actuator member is received in an aperture in the housing, the actuator member may be slidable through the aperture when the lower melting point part softens.

The lower melting point part may be a fusible alloy, such as a solder.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 is a side view of an end fitting in accordance with the present invention connected to a connection member, with a valve of the connection member in an open position; Figure 2 is a side view of the end fitting and connection member of figure 1, with the valve in a closed position; and Figure 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an end fitting in accordance with the present invention.

Al 1263GB Referring to Figure 1 this shows an end fitting in accordance with the present invention, indicated generally at 10. The end fitting 10 is connected at one end to a hose 28 and releasably connected at its other end to a connection member 30.

The end fitting 10 is generally cylindrical and includes a housing 12 having a first end 14 connected to the hose 28 and an opposite, second, end 16 engageable with the connection member 30. The housing 12 of the end fitting 10 is rotationally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis 15 thereof, and has a cylindrical passage 13 extending coaxially therethrough to receive gas from the connection member 30.

The second end 16 of the housing 12 also includes a plurality of further apertures 19 which are spaced around the axis 15 thereof and communicate with the passage 13 to allow for gas to flow from the connection member 30 into the passage 13.

The second end 16 of the housing 12 also includes an aperture 22 coaxial with the axis 15, and in fluid communication with the passage 13. Received in the aperture 22 is an actuator member 20. The actuator member 20 is positioned such that a portion thereof projects away from an end face 16 of the end 16 of the housing 12 to engage with a valve member 41 of a valve 40 (discussed later) of the connection member 30. The actuator member 20 is fixed relative to the housing 12 by a part 24 which has a lower melting point then the housing 12. The part 24 in this example is an annular bead of solder which is at least partially received in an annular recess in the actuator member 20.

Rotationally supported on the housing 12 (for rotation about the axis 15), substantially midway between its ends 14, 16, is a locking member 17. The Al 1263GB locking member 17 includes a pair of recesses 18, spaced 1800 from each other around the axis 15, which are engageable with respective projecting formations (not shown) on the connection member 30. The recesses 18 and the projecting formations (not shown) provide a bayonet-type connection between the end fitting 10 and the connection member 30. Such bayonet-type connections are well known in the art and thus will not be discussed in any further detail.

Moving on to the connection member 30, which is of known form, this is generally L-shaped in side view and includes a first, generally cylindrical, part 32 and a second part 38 which are connected transversely to each other at corresponding ends. The first part 32 has a recess 34 at one end to receive the second end 16 of the housing 12 of the end fitting 10 and a portion of the locking member 17. Spaced inwardly of an entrance to the recess 34 is a radially inwardly extending flange 34a against which the locking member 17 abuts when the end fitting 10 is connected to the connection member 30. The recess 34 extends into the first part 32 coaxial with the axis 15 and opens into a valve chamber 35, which is also coaxial with the axis 15. An opening in the valve chamber 35 opposite an entrance to the recess 34 is closed by a stopper member 37.

The second part 38 of the L-shaped connection member 30 includes an aperture 39 which extends therethrough substantially perpendicular to the axis and communicates with the valve chamber 35 in the first part 32. The aperture is shaped to receive a conduit (not shown), such as a gas supply pipe.

The valve member 41 of the valve 40 is supported in the valve chamber 35, and is biased to engage a tapered valve seat 44 by a spring 43. The spring 43 is connected at one end to a part of the valve member 41 remote from the valve seat 44 and at its opposite end is connected to the stopper member 37.

Al 1263GB The valve member 41 supports a valve seal 42 to provide a seal between the valve member 41 and the valve seat 44 when the valve member 41 is in a closed position.

The configuration shown in Figure 1 is that when the end fitting 10 is connected to the connection member 30, with the valve member 41 thereof in an open position, such that gas can flow through the connection member 30 and the end fitting 10, into the hose 28 and then to a gas appliance (not shown).

Turning now to figure 2. In the event of, for example, a fire, the hose 28 may be damaged along its length by excess heating, which could allow gas to escape therefrom. However, the end fitting 10 of the present invention addresses this problem by connecting the actuator member 20 to the housing 12 by the part 24 of solder. As the end fitting 10 becomes hotter, the part 24 of solder softens. As a result of the force being applied by the valve spring 43 to bias the valve member 41 to a closed position, the actuator member 20 slides through the aperture 22 towards the connection of the hose 28 to the end fitting 10. This continues until the valve member 41 lies in a closed position with the valve seal 42 lying against the valve seat 44, such that no gas can flow through the valve 40.

By the provision of an actuator member 20 connected to housing 12 by the part 24 which has a lower melting point than the housing 12, the danger that the damaged hose 28 may continue to be used or be re-used is minimised, because as soon as the part 24 of solder softens, due to excess heat caused by the fire, the valve member 41 moves to a closed position. Of course, it must be appreciated that more than one actuator member could be utilised.

Furthermore, it must also be appreciated that the actuator member 20 could be provided in a recess in the end fitting, rather than an aperture 22. This can Al 1263GB be seen in an alternative end fitting 10' shown in figure 3, with the recess indicated at 60.

By the use of the term "solder" in the above example, we mean to include all fusible alloys which can be used to join less fusible metals together. Two examples of such solders which can be used in the present invention are tin and lead, and copper and zinc solders. It must, however, be appreciated that the lower melting point part could be a material other than a solder, so long as it has a melting point lower than that of the housing of the connection member.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

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Claims

1. An end fitting specifically adapted to be connectable at one end to a conduit and releasably connectable at its other end to a connection member, the connection member having a valve with a valve member which is biased to a closed position by a spring, the end fitting including a housing and an actuator member, which actuator member, when the end fitting is connected to the connection member, engages the valve member to hold the valve member in an open position so that fluid can pass through the connection member wherein the actuator member is connected to the housing by a part which has a lower melting point than the housing such that when the lower melting point part softens the valve closes.

2. An end fitting according to claim I wherein a part of the actuator member is received in a recess in the housing.

3. An end fitting according to claim 2 wherein the recess has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the end fitting.

4. An end fitting according to claim I wherein the actuator member is received in an aperture in the housing.

5. An end fitting according to claim 4 wherein the aperture has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the end fitting.

6. An end fitting according to any proceeding claim wherein the actuator member has a receiving formation to receive at least a portion of the lower melting point part.

7. An end fitting according to claim 6 wherein the receiving formation is a peripheral channel formation.

A11263GB

8. An end fitting according to claim 7 wherein the peripheral channel formation lies in a plane substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the end fitting.

9. An end fitting according to any one of claims 6 to 8, as appendant to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the receiving formation is provided near an exit of the recess in the housing.

10. An end fitting according to any one of claims 6 to 8, as appendant to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the receiving formation is provided near an exit of the aperture in the housing.

11. An end fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein when the lower melting point part softens, the actuator member is slidable relative to the housing.

12. An end fitting according to claim 11 as appendantto claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the actuator member is slidable into the recess when the lower melting point part softens.

13. An end fitting according to claim 11 as appendant to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the actuator member is slidable into the aperture when the lower melting point part softens.

14. An end fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lowering melting point part is a fusible alloy.

15. An end fitting substantially as described herein and/or in accompanying drawings.

Al 1263GB 14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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