GB2495395A - Tube joiner - Google Patents

Abstract

A tube joiner 10 comprises first and second joining members 12, 14 to cooperate with end regions of respective first and second tubes 210, 212 and join the first and second tubes to each other. Preferably the tubes are aligned along a common axis. Also provided is a tool (110, 112, fig 11) for joining the tubes to the joiner. The tube joiner optionally has a locating member 16 to locate the tube joiner and the first and second tubes into the tool. The joiner may have dimples 24 into which the tubes are deformed by the tool to achieve secure engagement. In a further aspect, a method of joining tubes is provided.

Description

Tube Joiner This invention relates to tube joiners. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to tube joiners for joining scaffold tubes.

In the scaffolding industry, it can be the case that scaffolding companies have lengths of scaffold tubes that are too short for use. Such tubes have to be discarded, which is a waste of material.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a tube joiner comprising first and second joining members to cooperate with end regions of respective first and second tubes and join the first and second tubes to each other.

Each of the first and second joining members may comprise respective first and second insertion members to be inserted into the end regions of the first and second tubes. The first and second tubes may be joined to each other in alignment with each other. The first and second tubes may be joined to each other along a common axis. The first and second tubes may have ends facing each other when joined by the tube joiner.

The tube joiner may include a locating member to locate the tube joiner and the first and second tubes in a tool for connecting the first and second tubes to the tube joiner. The locating member may comprise a central member. The locating member may be attached to the first and second joining members.

The locating member may extend outwardly beyond the first and second joining members. The locating member may extend radially outwardly from the first and second joining members. The locating member may be substantially circular, and may have a diameter which is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tubes being joined.

The locating member may comprise a flange extending from the first and second joining members. The locating member may by substantially circular in profile. The locating member may have a positioning formation for positioning the tube joiner in a :1 desired orientation in the tool. The positioning formation may be configured to cooperate with a corresponding positioning element on the tool. The positioning formation may be an indentation defined in the locating member, desirably in the circumferential edge of the locating member. The locating member may have a plurality of the aforesaid positioning formations. The plurality of positioning formations may be spaced around the circumference of the locating member.

The locating member may have a plurality of positioning formations spaced around the locating member. Each positioning formation may be positioned on the locating member to cooperate with a respective one of a plurality of positioning elements on the tool.

Each of the first and second joining members may be substantially cylindrical in configuration. Each of the first and second joining members may have a flat region, which may extend along the length thereof. Each of the first and second joining members may have a curved region extending from an edge of the flat region. Each joining member may be elongate. The first and second joining members may extend outwardly from the locating member on respective opposite sides thereof. The first and second joining members may be aligned with each other, and may be coaxial with respect to each other.

Each of the first and second joining members may have two flat regions, each of which may extend along the length of the respective joining member. The fiat regions may be substantially diametrically opposite each other.

Each of the first and second joining members may have two opposed curved regions, which may be diametrically opposite each other. Each curved region may extend from an edge of one of the flat regions to an edge of the other flat region.

Each joining member may have a securing formation to secure the respective tube to the joining member. Each joining member may have a plurality of the securing formations. The, or each, securing formation may be a securing depression defined by the respective first or second joining member. The, or each, securing depression may be a dimple.

I

The, or each, securing formation may be provided in the respective first and second joining members at an edge of the flat region, or an edge of one of the flat regions.

The, or each, securing formation may overlap the respective edge. A major proportion of the, or each, securing formation may be provided in the curved region, or in one of the curved regions.

Each joining member may have eight securing formations. Four of the securing formations may be provided adjacent one of the flat regions, and the further four securing formations may be provided adjacent the other flat region.

Each of the flat regions may have two of the securing formations adjacent each respective edge thereof.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a tube joining tool for joining first and second tubes to each other with a tube joiner as described above, the tool comprising two receiving members for receiving end regions of the first and second tubes cooperating with the tube joiner, each receiving member having at least one protrusion for deforming the end regions of the tube into securing engagement with the tube joiner.

Where the tube joiner has a locating member, at least one receiving member may have a corresponding positioning element to cooperate with the positioning formation on the tube joiner. At least one of the receiving members may have a plurality of positioning elements each being adapted to cooperate with a respective one of the positioning formations on the locating member. At least one of the receiving members may define a recess and the tube joiner may include an insertion element received in the recess, the positioning element being provided on the insertion element.

The protrusion on each receiving member may be positioned to deform the end region of the respective first and second tubes into the, or each, securing depression in the joining member.

Where the joining member has a plurality of securing depressions, and the receiving members may have a corresponding plurality of protrusions. Each protrusion may be positioned to deform the end region of the respective first or second tube into a respective one of the securing depressions. In the embodiment described herein, the deformation of the tubes into the securing depressions has the effect of securing the tubes to the tube joiner.

Each receiving member may define a concavity for receiving a portion of the end regions of the first and second tubes. The, or each, protrusion may be provided in the concavities. In one embodiment, each receiving member has a surface defining the concavity, and the recess may be defined in the surface of at least one of the receiving members.

The tool may include pressing means for pressing the first and second receiving members onto the end regions of the first and second tubes, thereby deforming the end regions of the first and second tubes into the securing depressions of the tube joiner.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of joining first and second tubes to each other, the method comprising inserting a first joining member of a tube joiner into an end region of the first tube, inserting a second joining member of the tube joiner into an end region of the second tube, and deforming the first and second end regions into securing engagement with the first and second joining members, thereby securing the first and second tubes to the tube joiner.

The tube joiner may be as described above. The first and second tubes, with the first and second joining members in the end regions of the tubes, may be disposed in a tube joining tool. The tube joining tool may be as described above.

The first and second receiving members of the tube joining tool may be pressed onto one another, to deform the end regions of the first and second tubes into the securing depressions defined in the first and second joining members.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tube joiner; Figure 2 is a side view of the tube joiner; Figure 3 is a top view of the tube joiner; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a receiving member, being part of a tool for joining tubes; Figure 5 is an end view of the receiving member shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further receiving member, being another part of the tool for joining tubes; Figure 7 is an end view of the further receiving member shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a first stage in a method of joining first and second tubes to each other by a tube joiner; Figure 9 shows a second stage in the method of joining first and second tubes to each other by a tube joiner; Figure 10 shows a third stage in the method of joining first and second tubes to each other by a tube joiner; Figure 11 shows the use of a tube joining tool in a fourth stage in a method of joining first and second tubes to each other by a tube joiner; and Figure 12 first and second tubes joined to each other.

Figures 1 to 3 show a tube joiner 10 in the form of a pin for insertion into the end regions of first and second tubes 210, 212, such as scaffold tubes, to be joined together to form a longer tube. Scaffold tubes have an outer diameter of 48.3 mm.

Some scaffold tubes have a wall thickness of substantially 4 mm. Other scaffold tubes have a wall thickness of substantially 3 mm. The tube joiner 10 can be made of different sizes to fit the size of the first and second tubes 210, 212 to be joined together.

The tube joiner 10 comprises an elongate first joining member in the form of a first insertion member 12 and an elongate second joining member in the form of a second insertion member 14. In use, the first insertion member 12 is received in an end region of the first tube 210, and the second insertion member 14 is received in an end region of the second tube 212, as shown in Figures 8 to 12, and described in more detail below.

A central locating member 16 is provided between the first and second insertion members 12, 14. The first and second insertion members 12, 14 are attached to the locating member 16 and extend from the locating member 16 on opposite sides thereof. As can be seen from the drawings, the first and second insertion members 12, 14 are attached to the locating member 16 coaxial relative to each other.

Each of the first and second insertion members 12, 14 has a generally cylindrical shape having opposed flat regions 18 having edges 20. Each of the first and second insertion members also has opposed curved regions 22 which extend between the flat regions 18 from the edges 20.

Each of the first and second insertion members 12, 14 may have a plurality of securing formations, in the form of dimples 24 defined by the first and second insertion members 12, 14. Each securing dimple 24 is defined by the respective first or second insertion member 12, l4so that it overlaps one of the edges 20.

A major proportion of each dimple 24 extends into the adjacent curved region 22, and a minor proportion of each dimple 24 extends into the adjacent flat region 18.

In the embodiment shown, each of the first and second insertion members 12, 14 defines of the dimples 24, whereby two of the dimples 24 are defined along each edge 20.

The locating member 16 is substantially circular in configuration having a circumferential edge 26. The locating member is in the form of a flange, extending radially outwardly relative to the first and second insertion members 12, 14. The diameter of the locating member 16 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the tubes 212, 214 to be joined together.

The locating member 16 includes positioning formations in the form of a plurality of positioning indentations 28 defined in the circumferential edge 26, and spaced about the circumferential edge. In the embodiment shown, the locating member 16 defines tour of the positioning indentations 28. Each of the positioning indentations 28 is defined in the locating member adjacent a respective one of the edges 20. The purpose of the positioning indentations 28 is to align the tube joiner 10 in a tool for securing the first and second tubes 212, 214 to the tube joiner 10, as explained below.

The tool for joining the first and second tubes 212, 214 to each other is shown in Figures 4 to 7. The tool comprises a lower receiving member 110, shown in Figures 4 and 5, and an upper receiving member 112, shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The lower receiving member 110, shown in Figures 4 and 5, comprises a generally cuboidal first block 114 of a metal, such as steel. The block 114 has two first engaging faces 116 for engaging corresponding second engaging faces 136 of the upper receiving member 112. A first hemicylindrical concavity 118 is defined in the block 114, the first concavity 118 having a first generally rectangular opening 120 between the upper faces 116.

A plurality of first hemispherical protrusions 122 are provided on the first block 114 in the first concavity 118. In the embodiment shown, the lower receiving member 110 has eight of the first protrusions 122. The first protrusions 122 are provided to deform the end regions of the first and second tubes 212, 214 into the dimples 24 in the first and second insertion members 12, 14 of the tube joiner 10, as explained below.

The first block 114 also defines a first semi-circular locating recess 124 around the centre of the first concavity 118. An insertion element 125 is inserted into the recess 124. Two positioning elements 126 extend from the insertion element 125 into the concavity. In use, the circumferential edge 26 of locating member 16 engages the insertion element 125, and each positioning indentation 28 defined in the locating member 16 receives a respective one of the positioning elements 126 on the insertion element 125. This has the effect of positioning the tube joiner 10 correctly in the tool so that the protrusions 122 deform the material of the first and second tubes 212, 214 into the dimples 24. This is explained in more detail below.

The lower receiving member 110 is mounted on a base 128, which includes first fixing means 130 for fixing the lower receiving member 110 in a pressing apparatus (not shown) employed to press the upper receiving member 112 onto the lower receiving member 110.

The upper receiving member 112 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. The upper receiving member 112 comprises a generally cuboidal second block 134 of a metal, such as steel. The second block 134 has two second engaging faces 136 mentioned above, for engaging the first engaging faces 116 of the first block 134. A hemicylindrical second concavity 138 is defined in the second block 134. The second concavity 138 has a second generally rectangular opening 140 between the second faces 136.

A plurality of second hemispherical protrusions 142 are provided on the second block 134 in the second concavity 138. In the embodiment shown, the upper receiving member 112 has eight of the second protrusions 142. The second protrusions 142 are provided to deform the end regions of the first and second tubes 212, 214 into the dimples 24 in the first and second insertion members 12, 14 of the tube joiner 10, as explained below.

The second receiving member 112 is attached to a carrier 144, which includes second fixing means 146 for fixing the upper receiving member 112 in the pressing apparatus.

The stages of joining first and second tubes 210, 212 to each other end to end are shown in Figures 8 to 12. In Figures 8 to 11, the features shown in broken lines are inside the features shown in solid lines.

In Figure 8, an end region 214 of the first tube 210 is presented to the first insertion member 12 of the tube joiner 10. Also, an end region 216 of the second tube 212 is presented to the second insertion member 14 of the tube joiner 10.

In Figure 9, the first insertion member 12 is inserted in the end region of the first tube 210 so that the first tube 210 abuts against one side of the locating member 16. The second insertion member 14 is inserted in the end region 216 of the second tube 212 so that the second tube 212 abuts against the other side of the locating member 16.

This provides a tube joining arrangement 218, as shown in Figure 10.

Referring to Figure 11, the tube joining arrangement 218 is then disposed in the first concavity 118 of the lower receiving member 110, so that the lower cavity 118 receives a lower region of the tube joining arrangement 218. The lower receiving member 110 is in a fixed position in a pressing apparatus (not shown).

The tube joining arrangement is disposed in a position so that the locating member 16 engages the insertion element 125. The tube joining arrangement is oriented so that each of the two of the positioning indentations 28 receives a respective one of the positioning elements 126 on the insertion element 125. This locates the tube joiner 10 50 that the lower eight dimples 24 are aligned with the protrusions 122 in the first concavity 118.

The carrier 144, to which the upper receiving member 112 is attached, is mounted on a movable part (not shown). The upper receiving member 112, which is mounted on a movable part of the pressing apparatus, is then moved so that the second concavity 138 receives an upper region of the tube joining arrangement 218. With the tube joining arrangement 218 positioned as described in the preceding paragraph, the upper eight dimples 24 are aligned with the second protrusions 142 in the second concavity 138.

The pressing apparatus is then operated so that the upper receiving member 112 is pressed down on the tube joining arrangement 218, as indicated by the arrow A. This has the effect of deforming areas 220 (see Figure 12) of the end regions 214, 216 of the first and second tubes 210, 212 so that the protrusions 122, 142 push the material of the areas 220 of the first and second tubes 210, 214 into the dimples 24, thereby securing the first and second tubes 210, 214 to the tube joiner 10 so that the first and second tubes 210, 212 are joined together.

There is thus described a tube joiner 10 that can be used to join tubes together end to end to form a longer tube. This is particularly useful in the scaffolding industry where it is desired to form longer tubes from the shorter tubes available.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, thetube joiner 10 could be used to join togethertubes other than scaffold tubes. Also, the end profile of the first and second receiving members 12, 14 can be of different shapes depending upon the profile of the tubes to be joined.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. A tube joiner comprising first and second joining members to cooperate with end regions of respective first and second tubes and join the first and second tubes to each other.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A tube joiner according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second joining members comprises first and second insertion members to be inserted into the end regions of the first and second tubes.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A tube joiner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second joining members extend along a common axis and thereby can cooperate with the first and second tubes in alignment with each other along said common axis.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A tube joiner according to claim 3, wherein the first and second joining members extend in opposite directions from each other.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A tube joiner according to any preceding claim, including a locating member to locate the tube joiner and the first and second tubes in a tool for securing the first and second tubes to the tube joiner.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A tube joiner according to claim 5, wherein the locating member comprises a central member attached between the first and second joining members.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A tube joiner according to claim 6, wherein the locating member extends outwardly beyond the first and second joining members.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A tube joiner according to claim 7, wherein the locating member is substantially circular and extends radially outwardly from the first and second joining members.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A tube joiner according to claim 8, wherein the locating member has a diameter which is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tubes to be joined.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A tube joiner according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the locating member has at least one positioning formation for positioning the tube joiner in a desired orientation in the tool, the, or each, positioning formation being configured to cooperate with a corresponding positioning element on the tool.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A tube joiner according to claim 10, wherein the, or each, positioning formation is an indentation defined in the locating member.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A tube joiner according to claim 11, wherein the, or each, positioning formation is an indentation defined in the circumferential edge of the locating member.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A tube joiner according to claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the locating member has a plurality of the aforesaid positioning formations spaced around the circumference of the locating member.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A tube joiner according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein each positioning formation is positioned on the locating member to cooperate with a respective one of a plurality of positioning elements on the tool.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A tube joiner according to any of claims 5 to 14, wherein each of the first and second joining members is elongate and substantially cylindrical in configuration, having at least one flat region extending along the length thereof, and a curved region extending from an edge of the, or each, flat region..</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A tube joiner according to claim 15, wherein each of the first and second joining members has two flat regions disposed substantially opposite each other, each flat region extending substantially the whole length of the respective joining member.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A tube joiner according to claim 16, wherein each of the first and second joining members has two curved regions disposed substantially opposite one another, each curved region extending from an edge of one of the flat regions to an edge of the opposite flat region.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A tube joiner according to claim 15, wherein each of the first and second joining members extend outwardly from the locating member on respective opposite sides thereof.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A tube joiner according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein each joining member has at least one securing formation to secure the respective tube to the joining member.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A tube joiner according to claim 19, wherein each joining member has a plurality of the aforesaid securing formations.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A tube joiner according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the, or each, securing formation is a securing depression defined by the respective first or second joining member.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. A tube joiner according to claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the, or each, securing formation is provided by the, or a respective, flat region.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. A tube joining tool for joining first and second tubes to each other with a tube joiner comprising first and second joining members to cooperate with end regions of respective first and second tubes, the tool comprising two receiving members for receiving end regions of the first and second tubes cooperating with the tube joiner, each receiving member having at least one protrusion for deforming the end regions of the tubes into securing engagement with the tube joiner.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. A tube joining tool according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the receiving members has a positioning element to cooperate with a positioning formation on the tube joiner.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. A tube joining tool according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the receiving members has a plurality of positioning elements each being adapted to cooperate with a respective positioning formation on the tube joiner.</claim-text> <claim-text>26. A tube joining tool according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the receiving members defines a locating recess for receiving a locating member on the tube joiner.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. A tube joining tool according to any of claims 23 to 26, wherein the tube joiner includes defines at least one securing depression on each joining member, and the protrusion on each receiving member is positioned to deform the end region of the respective first and second tubes into the, or each, securing depression in the joining member.</claim-text> <claim-text>28. A tube joining tool according to claim 27, wherein the joining member has a plurality of securing depressions, and the receiving members have a corresponding plurality of protrusions, each protrusion being positioned to deform the end region of the respective first or second tube into a respective one of the securing depressions.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. A tube joining tool according to any of claims 23 to 28, wherein each receiving member defines a concavity for receiving a portion of the end regions of the first and second tubes, and each protrusion is provided in the concavities.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. A tube joining tool according to claim 29 when dependent upon claim 12, wherein each receiving member has a surface defining the concavity, and the locating recess is defined in the surface of at least one of the receiving members.</claim-text> <claim-text>31. A tube joining tool according to any of claims 23 to 30, including pressing means for pressing the first and second receiving members onto the end regions of the first and second tubes, thereby deforming the end regions of the first and second tubes into the securing depressions of the tube joiner.</claim-text> <claim-text>32. A method of joining first and second tubes to each other, the method comprising disposing a first joining member of a tube joiner into an end region of the first tube, disposing a second joining member of the tube joiner into an end region of the second tube, and deforming the first and second end regions into securing engagement with the first and second joining members, thereby securing the first and second tubes to the tube joiner.</claim-text> <claim-text>33. A method according to claim 32, wherein after the first and second joining members have been disposed in the end regions of the first and second tubes, the first and second joining members in the end regions of the tubes, are disposed in a tube joining tool.</claim-text> <claim-text>34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the tube joining tool comprises two receiving members for receiving the end regions of the first and second tubes with the tube joiner therein, and the method includes pressing the first and second receiving members of the tube joining tool onto one another, to deform the end regions of the first and second tubes into securing depressions defined in the first and second joining members.</claim-text> <claim-text>35. A method according to claim 34, wherein each receiving member has at least one protrusion for deforming the end regions of the tubes into the depression.</claim-text> <claim-text>36. A method according to claim 34, 35 or 36, wherein the tube joiner has a locating member, and the tube joining tool has a locating recess, and the method includes locating the locating member in the locating recess before pressing the first and second receiving members of the tube joining tool onto one another.</claim-text> <claim-text>37. A tube joiner substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.</claim-text> <claim-text>38. A tube joining tool substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 7 39. A method of joining first and second tubes to each other substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 8 to 11.</claim-text>