GB2462683A

GB2462683A - A swivel-joint having sealing and locking means

Info

Publication number: GB2462683A
Application number: GB0815321A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gregor Carpenter
Original assignee: Crane Ltd
Current assignee: Crane Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-21
Filing date: 2008-08-21
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Also published as: GB0815321D0

Abstract

A swivel-joint 20 comprises a spigot 24 and socket 22, the socket having an outwardly sloping bevel 26 on its internal surface, while the spigot has a matching taper 26 on its external surface. One of the spigot and socket is provided with a sealing means, preferably an O-ring 34 which engages the other part so as to form a fluid tight connection. A retaining means 40 is also provided which locks the two mated parts together and prevents separation of the joint. Preferably, the retaining means 40 takes the form of a spring clip made of steel. Both the male and female portions may possess hexagonal exterior for engagement by a tool, for example to enable there to be screwed onto a pipe. This slip-coupling thereby allows relative rotation between the coupled parts.

Description

Slip Coupling The present invention relates to a slip coupling for connecting sections of piping.

Previously many systems have been proposed to couple pipes together both of a screw construction and slip construction. Most of these pipe systems are designed for systems where disassembly of the system is required. However, when connecting external pipe systems to a preassembled manifold system often there are a number of internal and external joints that can be disassembled. The joints between the two systems are therefore not desirable for disassembly nor it is desirable that rotation of the elements within the preassembled manifold system should occur on connection.

Currently unless the elements in the preassembled manifold system are clamped, such rotation can occur damaging components attached to the manifold system.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a connector for joining a external pipe system to a pre-prepared manifold system which overcomes these problems.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a slip coupling comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a female fitting which on its internal engagement end has an outwardly slopping bevel, the second part comprising the male part has a matching bevel on its outside edge that connects to the female part, one of the parts is equipped with sealing means which engage with the other part to create a fluid tight connection, and one of the parts is equipped with locking means which upon connection two the two parts locks the coupling, in which the construction of the parts allows rotation of one part relative to the other without substantial rotation force being transmitted between the parts.

Advantageously the sealing means is an 0-ring secured in an annular cut-out in one of the parts. Preferably the 0-ring is made of rubber or plastics material.

Preferably the locking means is an annular spring clip secured in an annular cut-out in one of the parts. Preferably the spring clip is made of steel.

In a preferred embodiment either part is equipped at its outside with a cross-section to enable the part to be screwed onto a coupling pipe by a tool.

Preferably the cross-section is hexagonal in shape.

An example of a slip coupling made in accordance with the present invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a photograph of a prior art manifold system; Figure 2 shows an example of damage to fittings on the manifold system in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective cross-section of a slip coupling according to the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an assembled slip coupling.

In Figure 1 a manifold 10 can be seen with a number of valves 12 attached thereto. The valves 12 have pipes 14, which extends through a manifold box 16 to attach to external pipe work and devices. As can be seen in the picture pipe fitting 12a is an electrically operated valve has been rotated upon connection of the pipe 14 to the valve 12.

In Figure 2 the damage to the fitting 12a can be clearly seen and is circled 18. Figures 1 and 2 show clearly the damage that can be caused if the fittings on the manifold are rotated upon connection of the external pipe work. This would not occur if the internal pipe work on 12a had been clamped before attachment of the external pipe work. However often fitters forget to do this.

Figure 3 shows a slip coupling 20 according to the present invention. The slip coupling has a female part 22 and a male part 24. The cross-section clearly shows that the male part 22 is coupled to the female part 24. The female and male parts 22, 24 have matching bevelled surfaces 26. When the end 28 of the male part engages with an internal collar 30 on the female part the connection becomes locked. The male part 24 has an annular groove 32 cut into it which is equipped with a rubber material 0-ring 34. The female part 22 has an annular groove 36 which matches with the profile of the rubber 0-ring, such that the 0-ring partially engages with the groove 36. At the end of the bevelled surface 26 the male fitting 24 has an annular groove 38 equipped with a retaining ring 40. The retaining ring 40 is made of a spring material such as steel and will expand into a corresponding groove 42 on the inside of the female part 22. The female part 22 at its extremity has a further bevel 44 to guide engagement of the male part 24 into the female part 22. The male part 24 has a corresponding collar 46 which engages the end of the female part 22 upon connection.

Therefore as the male part 24 is pushed into the female part 22, the bevel guides the surface of the male part 24 until it reaches engagement with the collar 30 on the female part 22. Upon reaching that stage the connection will be fluid tightly sealed by the 0-ring 34 and retained in that position by the spring ring 40.

Figure 4 shows the external profile of the joined slip coupling with the female part 22 fitted to a male part 24 fitted together such that their diametrical profile is substantially the same across the join. The female part 22 is equipped with a hexagonal section 48 for gripping by a tool.

Similarly the male part 24 has an hexagonal section 50 at its end face internal part of the male fitting at this stage 52 may be equipped with a screw thread. Similarly the internal profile of the female part of the end 54 may be equipped with a screw profile in order to enable joining to other parts of the piping system. It is therefore clear the advantages of a simple fitting device which upon connection does not put major rotational strain on the manifold system joint of either part.

It also avoids the need to clamp the two fitting as rotation about the coupling can occur with little or no rotation torque being transmitted by the coupling.

Claims

Claims 1. A slip coupling comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a female fitting which on its internal engagement end has an outwardly slopping bevel, the second part comprising the male part has a matching bevel on its outside edge that connects to the female part, one of the parts is equipped with sealing means which engage with the other part to create a fluid tight connection, and one of the parts is equipped with locking means which upon connection two the two parts locks the coupling, in which the construction of the parts allows rotation of one part relative to the other without substantial rotation force being transmitted between the parts.
2. A slip coupling according to claim 1, in which the sealing means is an 0-ring secured in an annular cut-out in one of the parts.
3. A slip coupling according to claim 2, in which the 0-ring is made of rubber or plastics material.
4. A slip coupling according to any preceding claim, in which the locking means is an annular spring clip secured in an annular cut-out in one of the parts.
5. A slip coupling according to claim 4, in which the spring clip is made of steel.
6. A slip coupling according to any preceding claim, in which either part is equipped at its outside with a cross-section to enable the part to be screwed onto a coupling pipe by a tool.
7. A slip coupling according to claim 6, in which the cross-section is hexagonal in shape.
8. A slip coupling substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.