GB2526684A

GB2526684A - Ceramic-backed elbow

Info

Publication number: GB2526684A
Application number: GB1507015.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Todd N Allison
Original assignee: Progressive Products Corp
Current assignee: Progressive Products Corp
Priority date: 2014-04-24
Filing date: 2015-04-24
Publication date: 2015-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-24
Also published as: GB2526684B; GB201507015D0

Abstract

In a fluid material handling system, a pipe bend is reinforced with exterior tiles 6, which may be ceramic. The pipe bend may further include a chamber 5 in which fluent material is deflected. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of making the fluid material handling system featuring the reinforced pipe bend. The pipe bend with reinforcement tiles may subsequently be further coated in a resistance material. The pipe bend may provide reinforcement against leakage, for fluid material handling systems carrying abrasive material.

Description

CERAMIC-BACKED ELBOW

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLiCATION

100011 This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/983,858, filed April 24, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

100021 The present invention relates generally to a ceramic-backed elbow, and more specifically to wear-resistant pipe elbow featuring a ceramic extension for providing wear-resistance while effecting short radius turns in fluent transport systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

100031 Existing wear-resistant elbows are made of typical materials which eventually wear over time. Existing "smart elbows," such as those taught by U.S. Patent No. 4,387,914 to Paulson et al. and assigned to HammerTek Corporation of Landisville, PA suffer from this issue.

BRfEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

10004] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ceramic-backed elbow featuring an extended chamber which alters the flow of fluent through the elbow section. This chamber is lined with a ceramic material and ceramic tiles to increase the durability and wear-resistance of the elbow. The remainder of the elbow is similarly coated with a ceramic mixture for similar wear-resistance, [0005] Alternatively, the entire structure may be covered with ceramic tiles.

[0006] Alternatively, the tiles can be applied prior to a coating being placed over the entirety of the elbow, except for the open connecting ends of the elbow. This can be done by placing the elbow into a coating pan arid covering the elbow with the abrasive-resistant material.

10007] Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a ceramic-backed elbow, and preferably a short radius elbow, with the benefits of ceramic tile and ceramic mixture components to increase the durability and wear-resistance of the pipe elbow.

10008] Heretofore there has not been available a ceramic-backed elbow with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

100091 EnThodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, in which: 100101 Fig. lisa side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

10011] Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, 100121 Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I, Introduction and Environment

100131 As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

100141 Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, "inwardly" and "outwardly" refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof, Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

II, Preferred Embodiment Ceramic-Backed Elbow 2 100151 A preferred embodiment features a low radius elbow 4 including an extension with a cavity 5, sometimes referred to as a deflection zone, similar to the Smart Elbow ® produced by HammerTek Corporation of Landisville, PA. The extension is surrounded by several ceramic tiles 6 which increase the life of the elbow by providing wear-resistance, The remainder of the elbow may be coated with a ceramic mixture 8 that similarly increases the life of the elbow. Due to the majority of wear occurring within the cavity 5, the ceramic tiles 6 are only necessarily placed in proximity to the cavity. However, they could be placed throughout the elbow if desired, 100161 As material flows through the elbow, the elbow tends to wear out, especially in the deflection zone cavity S. When using highly abrasive material, like powders, the wearing out of the elbow 4 occurs even faster. The ceramic files 6 are highly resistant to abrasive wear and extend the life of the elbow for much longer than a non-protected elbow, III. Alternative Embodiment Coated Elbow 22 100171 Fig. 2 shows an elbow 4 with a ceramic coating 8, or other abrasive resistant coating such as a ceramic mixture, a cement mixture, or a urethane mixture, is applied to all surfaces of the elbow 4, except for the open ends of the elbow where the elbow connects to other pipe sections. This ceramic coating is applied similarly to the related patent application No. 14/694,168, assigned to Progressive Products, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Kansas, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. The method of coating a pipe section includes placing the elbow into a coating pan while leaving the ends of the elbow exposed, coating the elbow with the abrasive-resistant material, and allowing the material to harden. A thin metal skin can be placed over the abrasive-resistant material to provide additional abrasive resistance and to allow for easy patching to further extend the life of the elbow.

IV. Alternative Embodiment Coated Ceramic-Backed Elbow 32 100181 Fig. 3 shows an elbow 4 with a ceramic coatingS and several ceramic tiles, which combines the two embodiments disclosed above. This provides the maximum level of wear-resistant protection to the elbow and extends the life of the elbow for several times the length of an elbow alone.

100191 Any other pipe section, including straight pipe sections, could be fitted with ceramic tiles 6 and/or abrasive-resistant coatings 8; however, the elbow 4 with a deflection zone cavity 5 presents the best example of a pipe section requiring high levels of abrasion resistance to prevent constant replacement of pipe section parts, which can cause a shutdown in production.

100201 It is to be understood that while certain embodiment and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.

100211 The disclosures in United States patent application nos. 61/983,858 and 14/694,531, from which this application claims priority, and in the abstract accompanying this application are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fluent material handling system including a wear-resistant elbow, the system comprising: the elbow including a first open end, a second open end, and a bend including an interior ftce, an exterior face, an inner arc, and an outer arc; and a plurality of abrasion-resistant tiles adhered to the exterior face of said bend, said abrasion-resistant tiles configured to prevent material traveling thm ugh said elbow from forming a leak within said elbow.
2. The system of claim 1 fiuther comprising: said bend including a continuous annular channel; and a chamber formed on the outer arc of said bend opposite said first open end, said chamber opening into said channel on one side tangential to said channel wall with the other side of said chamber merging with said outer arc at a point outwardly offset parallel to the central axis of said inlet port by one quarter of the diameter of the channel.
3. The system of claim I or 2, further comprising: a coating pan configured to receive said elbow except for said first open end and second open end, and a coating material configured to cover said pipe section and said plurality of abrasion-resistant tiles within said coating pan, said coating material further configured to harden over time.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein said coating material comprises an ingredient selected from the list comprising: ceramic; cement; and urethane.
5. The system of claim 3 or4, further comprising athin metal skin applied to the exterior of said coating material upon said coating material haideninw
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a metal patch configured to patch a hole in said thin metal skin.
7, A fluent material handling system including a wear-resistant elbow, the system comprising: the elhow including a first open end, a second open end, and a bend including an interior face, an exterior face, an inner arc, and an outer arc; said bend including a continuous annular channel; a chamber formed on the outer arc of said bend opposite said first open end, said chamber opening into said channel on one side tangential to said channel wall with the other side of said chamber merging with said outer arc at a point outwardly offset parallel to the central axis of said inlet port by one quarter of the diameter of the channel; and a plurality of abrasion-resistant tiles adhered to the exterior face of said bend in proximity with said chamber, said abrasion-resistant tiles configured to prevent material traveling through said elbow from forming a leak within said elbow.
8. The system of claim 7, further comprising: a coating pan configured to receive said elbow except for said first open end and second open end; and a coating material configured to cover said pipe section and said plurality of abrasion-resistant tiles within said coating pan, said coating material further configured to harden over time.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said coating material comprises an ingredient selected from the list comprising: ceramic; cement; and urethane.
10. The system of claim 8 or 9, further comprising a thin metal skin applied to the exterior of said coating material upon said coating material hardening.ii The system of claim Ii, further comprising a metal patch configured to patch a hole in said thin metal skin.12. A method of constructing an abrasion-resistant elbow for a fluent pipe system, the method comprising the steps: adhering a plurality of ceramic tiles to an exterior face of an elbow comprising a first open end, a second open end, and a bend including an interior face, an exterior face, an inner arc, and an outer arc; connecting said elbow first open end to a first pipe section; connecting said elbow second end to a second pipe section; and transferring fluent material through said pipe section, wherein said abrasion-resistant tiles configured to prevent material traveling through said elbow from forming a leak within said elbow.13. The method of claim 12, wherein: said bend including a continuous annular channel; and a chamber formed on the outer arc of said bend opposite said first open end, said chamber opening into said channel on one side tangential to said channel wall with the other side of said chamber merging with said outer arc at a point outwardly offset parallel to the central axis of said inlet port by one quarter of the diameter of the channel.14. The method of claim 12 or 13, further comprising the steps: placing said elbow into a coating pan, wherein said first and second ends extend beyond said coating pan; pouring a coating material over said pipe section and filling said coating pan; drying said coating material such that it hardens; removing said coating pan; and placing a thin metal skin over the exterior of said coating material.15. The method of claim 14, wherein said coating material comprises an ingredient selected from the list comprising: ceramic; cement; and urethane.16. The method of claim 14 or 15, further comprising the steps: patching a hole formed by said fluent materia' through said pipe section, said coating material, and said meta' skin with a metal patch applied to an exterior face of said metal skin.17. A fluent material handling system as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.18. A method as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.