GB2528812A

GB2528812A - Pipe connection and collet release tool

Info

Publication number: GB2528812A
Application number: GB1519753.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marcus Austen Bennett; John Michael Lang; Darren Cockayne
Original assignee: Polypipe Ltd
Current assignee: Polypipe Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-04
Filing date: 2010-06-04
Publication date: 2016-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-04
Also published as: GB2480880B; GB201009440D0; GB2528812B; GB201519753D0; GB2480880A

Abstract

A pipe connection 10, a collet release tool (70, Fig 4), and a method of releasing a pipe 21 from a pipe connection. The pipe connection 10 is for a quick-release pipe connector 14 that uses a collet 18 based pipe gripping and pipe release mechanism. The pipe connection 10 comprises a body portion 16 and a collet 18 for selectively gripping or releasing a pipe 21 within the body portion 16. The body portion comprising a recessed shoulder 20 adjacent to its free end against which a rim 22 of the collet 18 can selectively bear, the recessed shoulder 20 being surrounded by a surrounding wall 28 that extends to or closer towards the free end of the body portion 16; the rim 22 of the collet 18 being fully recessed within the confines of the surrounding wall 28.

Description

Pipe Connection and Collet Release Tool The present invention relates to a pipe connection, a collet release tool, and a method of releasing a pipe from a pipe connection. In particular the present invention relates to a pipe connection for a quick-release pipe connector, or some other such pipe fitting as used in the plumbing industry, that uses a collet based pipe gripping and pipe release mechanism, and a release tool for facilitating the use of that release mechanism.

Quick-release pipe connections are well-known and can be found in a variety of different forms, and in a variety of different pipe connectors or pipe fittings, such as straight connectors, elbow connectors, tee connectors, reducing connectors, stop ends and manifolds. Those quick-release pipe connections typically operate through the provision of a moveable collet, one collet being provided for each quick release pipe connection where the pipe fitting has more than one.

The or each collet has an aperture therethrough that is sized to receive and selectively grip against a pipe that is to be connected to the pipe connector or pipe fitting. Then, for releasing that pipe connection, the collet is typically pushed inwardly with respect to the connector, along the axis of the aperture, so as to release the grip of the collet on the outside surface of the pipe. Such arrangements perform very well in most circumstances, and offer a very strong connection between the pipe and the pipe fitting. In particular, where the pipe and the pipe fitting are installed in a fixed location, they offer a very effective, and quick to install, solution compared to the conventional copper pipe and brazed joint connections. However, circumstances do arise in which the pipe, and thus the connector, get moved and pulling on a pipe that extends through a hole or in situations where the connector/pipe fitting might foul against some obstruction, can cause these prior art connections to be accidentally disconnected, by virtue of the collet getting depressed against surround of the hole, or against the obstruction, whereupon the gripping action of the collet against the pipe is released.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a pipe connection that can serve to mitigate this problem without increasing the complexity of the press-fit connection.

Another problem with known quick-release pipe connections as found on pipe connectors or pipe fittings is that the externally accessible part of the collet, which is made accessible to allow the connection to be readily released by the plumber, is fairly small, and as a result dexterous fingers can be required for operating it. Further, some designs are designed to make the release deliberately difficult. The present invention therefore also looks to provide a collet release tool to facilitate the disconnection of a pipe connection between a pipe and a pipe fitting, e.g. only when specifically required.

According to the present invention there is provided a pipe connection for a quick-release pipe fitting, the pipe connection comprising a body portion and a collet for selectively gripping or releasing a pipe within the body portion, wherein the body portion has a recessed shoulder adjacent to its free end against which a rim of the collet can selectively bear, the recessed shoulder being surrounded by a surrounding wall that extends to or closer towards the free end of the body portion, the rim of the collet being fully recessed within the confines of the surrounding wall.

By being fully recessed within the confines of the surrounding wall, the rim of the collet extends neither longitudinally beyond the height of the wall nor radially into the line of the wall. The collet is thus a recessed collet.

The wall prevents inadvertent release of a pipe by accidental depression of the collet by resisting the accidental depression of that collet (i.e. a movement thereof axially inwards relative to the body portion of the pipe connection). However, its location outside the radial extent of the rim of the collet allows the collet still to be released when desired, i.e. without any need for the wall to be moved, displaced or removed from the body portion of the pipe connection.

Preferably the surrounding wall extends to the free end of the body portion.

Preferably the top of the wall defines that free end.

Preferably the collet extends into the body portion through an aperture at the free end of the body portion.

The rim may define a head or a sleeve of the collet, that head or sleeve being fully recessed within the confines of the surrounding wall.

Preferably the collet comprises an aperture at a corresponding free end thereof, once fitted within the body portion, for receiving a pipe therethrough.

The body portion may take the form of a cap-nut for facilitating the assembly of the pipe connection onto a body of a pipe connector or a body of a pipe fitting. The cap nut is generally adapted to screw onto that body of the pipe connector or onto that body of the pipe fitting.

Alternatively the cap nut and body can integrally formed for providing a one-piece assembly.

The body portion or cap nut, or the body of the pipe connector or the body of the pipe fitting, can be a plastic moulding. Alternatively one of more of them might be made of metal, such as steel, copper or brass.

Preferably the surrounding wall is continuous around the body portion.

Preferably the surrounding wall has a substantially constant cross-section around the body portion, such that, when it is round or circular, it forms an annular-like wall that surrounds the collet's rim. The internal diameter, or inner dimension, of that annular-like wall is thus larger than the corresponding outside diameter, or outer dimension, of the rim of the collet, i.e. all the way around the rim of the collet.

Preferably the shoulder is circular -most preferably it is washer shaped. It will thus be suitable for a circular, or washer shaped, rim of the collet to selectively bear against.

Preferably the wall extends around the full circumference, or the full perimeter or outer boundary, of the shoulder.

The wall can define a full annular-like surround for the rim, or a circumferential ring surrounding the rim.

Preferably the shoulder defines and lies within a plane that lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion.

Preferably the rim of the collet defines a second shoulder, facing the shoulder of the body portion.

Preferably the second shoulder defines and lies within a plane that lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion.

The body portion or cap nut may comprise a removable fascia, or a cap. The fascia or cap may comprise the shoulder and the surrounding wall. The fascia may be snap-fittable onto the cap-nut or the body portion. The two-piece arrangement allows the fascia to be swapped with a fascia of a different design, such as a fascia having intermittent surrounding projections, rather than a surrounding wall. The cap is thus interchangeable with other cap designs.

It is preferred, howeverm that the body portion or cap-nut is of a one piece construction.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pipe connection for a quick-release pipe fitting, the pipe connection comprising a body portion and a collet for selectively gripping or releasing a pipe within the body portion, wherein the body portion comprise a removable fascia or cap, the facia or cap encapsulating the end of the body portion and comprising a shoulder at or adjacent to its free end against which a rim of the collet can selectively bear.

A plurality of different, interchangeable, caps or fascias might thus be provided to provide a kit of parts.

Preferably the shoulder is a recessed shoulder and it is surrounded by a surrounding wall that extends to, or closer towards, the free end of the body portion. The shoulder may comprise any of the features disclosed above in relation to the other aspects of the invention or in the specific description below. Alternatively, the shoulder may be a recessed shoulder having at least three prongs extending to, or closer towards, the free end of the body portion from an outer perimeter of the shoulder, or of the facia or cap.

The changeable fascia or cap can allow the connection to take on a conventional prior art appearance, or a modified appearance with either a plurality of intermittent surrounding projections or a continuous surrounding wall, thereby allowing the connection to be matched to other pipe fittings being used by the plumber, or elsewhere in the plumbing installation.

Preferably the fascia or cap is removably fitted onto a cap nut or base of the body portion. This arrangement allows the fascia to be swapped with a fascia or cap of a different design.

The present invention also provides a collet release tool for use in releasing a connection formed by a pipe connection as defined above. The collet release tool comprises a horseshoe shape member having an opening for facilitating insertion of the tool over the diameter of a pipe from the side of the pipe, wherein the release tool further comprises a flange extending from an internal portion in a direction generally parallel to the transverse axis of the horseshoe shaped member. The flange is provided to engage against the collet of a quick-release pipe connection, without bearing against any surrounding prongs or a surrounding wall, where provided, as the collet release tool is slid along a pipe towards that pipe connection.

Preferably the opening is tapered. This helps with the locating of the tool onto the pipe.

Preferably the inner portion of the horseshoe shaped member has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe to which it is to be fitted to allow the tool easily to slide along the pipe.

Preferably the opening has a smallest transverse dimension that is smaller than the diameter of the inner portion. This allows the tool to snap onto a pipe for retention thereon until it is pulled off the pipe.

The present invention also provides a method of releasing a pipe from a pipe connection, the pipe connection comprising a collet and a body portion, the body portion having one or more member surrounding or located around an outer perimeter of a rim of the collet, the method comprising the steps of providing a collet release tool having a collect release surface and pushing the collet release surface against the front surface of the collet, between the member and the pipe, to push the collet inwards, relative to the body portion, along the longitudinal axis of the connection.

Preferably the collet release tool comprises a generally horseshoe shape body and a flange, the flange providing the collet release surface at its free end.

Preferably the flange is an arcuate member.

Preferably the flange is sized to fit between, or over and around, the or each member of the body portion.

The collet release tool therefore allows the collet to be depressed into the body portion of the pipe connection, for releasing the grip of the collet on the pipe, even where the member or members of the body portion resist digital interaction with that collet (i.e. interaction or operation by a finger). The tool thus facilitates the removal of the pipe from the pipe connection.

Preferably the pipe connection is as defined above.

Preferably the collet release tool is as defined above.

These and other features of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded schematic of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a collet release tool for engagement with the connection shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are further views of the collet release tool of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5a shows a perspective view of a cap from the embodiment of Figure 5; and Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, similar to that of Figure 5, but with a surrounding wall similar to that of the first embodiment.

Referring first of all to Figure 1, there is shown a straight connector 14 having two pipe connections 10, the left hand one in the drawing being shown in exploded form and the right hand one being shown in assembled form, and with an end of a pipe located and secured therein. The pipe is a straight walled pipe, i.e. one that can be cut to length and then fitted directly into the pipe connection.

Although the pipe connector 14 as shown takes the form of a straight connector, other forms of pipe fitting also be provided. For example, well known forms of pipe fittings that often feature quick release pipe connections include tee shaped connectors, either with three quick-release pipe connections thereon, or with a combination of quick-release pipe connections and other forms of pipe connection, or other required adapter mechanisms, stop ends, elbow connectors and manifolds. Other forms of pipe fitting typically found in pipe fitting product lines can also have pipe connections of the present invention incorporated therein.

The pipe connections 10 on either side of the connector 14 have the same design in this embodiment. Other arrangements are also possible, as explained above in relation to tee connectors.

The illustrated pipe connections 10 feature a collet-based quick release mechanism 12 comprising a body portion 16 and a collet 18. The collet 18 comprises a neck portion 19 and a rim 22. The neck portion 19 is adapted to receive a pipe 21 therethrough -through the centre thereof, i.e. along the longitudinal axis 30 of the connection 10. The collet's neck portion 19 is also sized to fit within an aperture within the body portion 16.

The pipe connection 10 further comprises a pair of washers 32 and an 0 ring 34, also sized to fit within the aperture of the body portion 16. They, in use, fit in a neck 82 of a body 84 of the pipe connector 14 to ensure that a water tight seal is achieved between the body 84 of the pipe connector 14 and the outer wall of the pipe 21. They cannot be pulled trough the aperture in the body portion 16 since the collet 18 blocks their path through that aperture.

As for the collet 18, it is provided with an interference element 36 on an inside surface of each of a plurality of fingers 38 thereof. Usually the interference elements are made of metal and are embedded into the fingers 38. Those interference elements 36 are for interfering on the outer surface of the pipe as the pipe is inserted or retracted through the centre of the collet 18. Those interference elements 36, interacting with the flexible fingers 38, thus allow the collet 18 to pull fractionally outwards or inwards with respect to the aperture and the body portion as the pipe 21 itself moves out and in relative to the body portion 16. Then, in turn, an outer surface of the fingers engage or disengage against elements on the inside surface of the aperture of the body portion 16 to deflect the fingers 38 for either providing a locking action between the collet 18 and the outside surface of the pipe 21 or for releasing that locking action. These interactions are all well-known in the art for the purpose of providing a quick-release or a quick-fit with the pipe connection, and therefore they will not be described further.

Since the pipe 21 is typically formed of a flexible plastics material, a reinforcing element is provided in addition to the pipe for inserting into the free end of the pipe 21. That insert strengthens the compressive stiffness of the free end of the pipe 21 for enhancing the interengageability of the collet, its interference elements 36 and the pipe 21. This ensures a tight connection of the pipe into the pipe connector 14, again as known in the ad. Such a reinforcing element is not needed for the pipe when it is made of a stiffer material, such as copper pipes.

This embodiment of quick-release pipe connection, however, differs from conventional quick-release pipe connections by virtue of the provision of a surrounding wall 28 lying around the perimeter of a recessed shoulder 20 of the body portion 16. That surrounding wall 28 forms a skid around the side wall 42 of a rim 22 of the collet 18, such that the rim 22 of the collet 18 remains inside the confines of the surrounding wall 28 irrespective of its pipe engagement condition, both longitudinally and radially. In this manner, free digital access to the collet 18 is resisted. Further, the surrounding wall 28 serves to prevent any interaction between the rim 22 of the collet 18 and obstructions, i.e. in the event that the connector 14 or the pipe is pulled towards an potentially interfering object. It also helps to avoid tampering since it becomes difficult to release the pipe without an appropriate tool, as explained below.

As shown, the surrounding wall 28 has a substantially constant cross-section around the full perimeter of the shoulder 20. It is to be appreciated, however, that surface patterning might be provided on the outside surface of the body portion 16 so as to provide a slight variance to the cross-section around that perimeter.

In an alternative arrangement, the surrounding wall 28 may be castellated, or otherwise shaped so as to comprise a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of troughs, albeit still defining a substantially surrounding wall. In that regard, preferably there are at least four such protrusions, and therefore four such troughs and most preferably at least 50% or at least 75% of that perimeter features a pad of a protruding element.

Ultimately, however, the best protection for the rim 22 of the collet 18 against accidental activation (release of a pipe) is a continuous wall as shown.

Since pipes are usually cylindrical, it is preferred that the collet and the body portion are substantially circular in cross-section (in a plane lying perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connection). The surrounding wall 28 is thus also preferably circular in cross-section.

As shown, the surrounding wall 28 extends perpendicular to the shoulder 20 of the body portion 16. That arrangement makes the shoulder 20 recessed relative to the free end of the body portion 16. This provides a readily mouldable form since there is no overhang formed by the surrounding wall 28.

The depth of the recess is importantly large enough to accommodate both the thickness of the rim (measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connection) and the range of travel of the rim 22 of the collet 18 as caused by the insertion or removal of the pipe 21 therein or therefrom.

Preferably that recess has a depth of about 4mm, although a recess in the range of 2 to 6mm will usually accommodate the range of likely sizes of collet, and the range of movements thereof, as commonly found in the quick release pipe connections previously known in the plumbing industry, which connections can be modified to include such a surrounding wall.

Referring next to Figure 2, the straight pipe connector 14 of Figure 1 is again shown, but now in a fully assembled form -with pipes 21 located in both pipe connections 10 thereof. In addition, however, a collet release tool 70 is shown. That collet release tool is shown in further detail in Figures 3 and 4.

The collet release tool 70 comprises a generally horseshoe shaped main body 72 defining an opening 74 for allowing the collet release tool 71 to be slotted onto the pipe 21. Via that opening, the collet release tool 70 can be located onto the pipe at any point along its length such that it aligns with the longitudinal axis 30 of the relevant pipe connection 10.

The opening 74 leads to a central area 76 of the tool that has a radius 78 that corresponds largely with the radius of the pipe 21 onto which it is to be mounted. That radius 78, however, is preferably a fraction larger than the radius of the pipe. This is to allow the collet release tool 70 freely to slide along the pipe.

As for the opening 74, it is dimensioned to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the pipe 21. This is to allow that collet release tool 70 to snap fit onto the pipe 21 due to the flexibility of the pipe 21, and possibly also due to the flexibility of the collet release tool, e.g. where the pipe is a copper pipe -with a relatively rigid cross section. This smaller size for the opening helps to ensure that the collet release tool 70 can both slide along the pipe 21 and yet be sufficiently retained on the pipe 21 to be easy to use, at least until it is desired to remove it therefrom.

In addition to the horseshoe shaped main body 72, there is an upstanding flange 80 of a size designed to fit inside the surrounding wall 28 of the body portion 16 of the pipe connection 10. Preferably that upstanding flange 80 defines a further wall which follows the inside perimeter of the horseshoe shaped body in a generally arcuate manner. However, it does not extend out towards the opening 74. That upstanding flange 80 or wall serves to allow the collet release tool 70 to bear against the free end of the collet 18 for pushing that collet 18 in towards the centre of the pipe connector 14 for releasing the grip of the collet 18 against the outside surface of the pipe 21. The collet release tool 70 can thus facilitate the release of the pipe 21 from the pipe connection 10 despite the presence of the surrounding wall 28 surrounding the rim 22 of the collet 18.

Referring next to Figure 5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, like elements are marked with like numbers. Those elements include the washers 32, the 0-ring 34, the collet 18, the pipe 21 and the reinforcing element 40. The body portion 16, however, is now formed from two separable components. The first component 44 (the base or cap-nut) comprises the aperture through which the collet 18 is located into the pipe fitting or pipe connector 14.

That first component, however, is now provided with a hub 46 at its free end. That hub 46 defines a portion onto which a second component 48 -a cap or fascia -can be snap fitted. For that purpose, the cap has an inside profile with a ridge 50 and the hub 46 has a tapered front face 52 and an annular recess 54, the recess being for accommodating the ridge 50 of the cap 48, and the tapered front face 52 being to assist with the process of snap fitting the cap 48 onto the hub 46.

By having the cap 48 snap-fittable onto the first component 44 of the body portion 16, different forms of body portion can be provided, perhaps as a kit. For example, in certain applications it may be desirable for the rim 22 of the collet 18 to be readily accessible, whereby a cap 48 having no surrounding wall 28 may be preferred. In another application, as shown in Figure 5, that cap features three prongs 56 (of which only two are shown in Figure 5). The third prong would be equally spaced around the perimeter of the cap 48, as shown in Figure 5a.

In a third arrangement, as shown in Figure 6, a surrounding wall 28 replaces those three prongs 56, whereby the body portion 16, once assembled by snap fitting the cap 48 onto the first component 44, effectively resembles the body portion 16 of the first embodiment (Figure 1).

The present invention therefore provides a quick release pipe fitting having a novel pipe connection thereon in which access to the rim of the collet is selectively

restrictable.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be appreciated that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example. Modifications in details may be made to the invention within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A pipe connection for a quick-release pipe fitting, the pipe connection comprising a body portion and a collet for selectively gripping or releasing a pipe within the body portion, wherein the body portion has a recessed shoulder adjacent to its free end against which a rim of the collet can selectively bear, the recessed shoulder being surrounded by a surrounding wall of the body portion that extends to or closer towards the free end of the body portion, the rim of the collet being fully recessed within the confines of the surrounding wall, wherein the surrounding wall is continuous around the body portion.
2. The pipe connection of claim 1, wherein the surrounding wall has a substantially constant cross-section around the body portion.
3. The pipe connection of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is of a one piece construction.
4. The pipe connection of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the body portion comprises a removable fascia or cap.
5. The pipe connection of claim 4, wherein the fascia or cap comprises the shoulder and the surrounding wall.
6. The pipe connection of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the fascia or cap is snap fittable onto a base of the body portion.
7. The pipe connection of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is integrally formed onto a body of a pipe connector.
8. A method of releasing a pipe from a pipe connection, the pipe connection comprising a collet and a body portion, the body portion having a surrounding wall around an outer perimeter of a rim of the collet such that the rim of the collet is fully recessed within the confines of the surrounding wall, the method comprising the steps of providing a collet release tool having a collect release surface and pushing the collet release surface against the front surface of the collet, between the surrounding wall and the pipe, to push the collet inwards, relative to the body portion, along the longitudinal axis of the connection.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the collet release tool comprises a generally horseshoe shape body and a flange, the flange providing the collet release surface at its free end.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the flange is an arcuate member.
11. The method of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the flange is sized to fit between, or over and around, the surrounding wall of the body portion.
12. A pipe connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2.
13. A pipe connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6.
14. A method of disconnecting a pipe from a pipe connection, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been made as follows: CLAIMS: I. A pipe connection for a quick-release pipe fitting, the pipe connection comprising a body portion and a cd let for selectively gripping or releasing a pipe within the bocy poctkn, wherein the body portion has a recessed shoulder adjacent to its free end aga 1st which a nm of the coVet can selectively bear, the recessed shoulder benig surrounded by a surrounding wall of the body portion that extends to or closer towards the free end of the, body portion the rim of the coVet being fully recessed within the.confines of the urrounding wall, wherein the surrounding wall is. toflt.inubu.s around the body portion 2. The pipe connection of claim 1, wherein the surrounding wall has a substantially constant cross-section around the body portion.LI") 15 3 The pipe connection of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is of a one piece construction, (Si r 4. The pope connection of any one of' claims 1 to 2, wherein the body portion 0 comprises a removable fascia or cap.5. The pipe connect' ion of claim 4, wherein the fascia or cap comprises the shoulder and the surrounding wall.6. The pipe connection of cla'ihi 4 or claim 5, wherein the fascia or cap. is snap fittable onto a base of the bcdy portion, 7. The pipe connection of any one of the preceding claims, vhere'in'the body portion is integrally formed onto a body of a pipe connector.8, A method of releasing a pipe' from a pipe connection, the pipe connection comprising a collet and a body portion, the body portion having a surrounding wail around an outer perimeter of a rim of the coVet such that the rim of the coVet is fully recessed withrn the confines of f he sunounding wall, and wherein the surrounaing wall is continuous around the body portion, the method compri&'ng the steps of providing a 35. coVet release tool having a collect release surface and pushing the CoVet release surface against. the. front, surface of the collet,. between. the surrounthng wall and the.pipe, to push the cdllet inwards, relahve to the body portion along the lorgitudinal axis of the connection.5.9 The method of claim 8, wherein the coliet release toot comprises a generally horseshoe shape body and a flange, the flange. providing the coflet release surface at its free end.10.. The method of claim 9, wherein the flange is an ai'cuate member.11. The method of claim 9 or claim tO. wherein, the flange is sized to fit between, or over and. around the surrounding wall of the body 12. A. pipe connection substanUally as hereinbefore described with reference to LI') 15 RgurelorFigure2.13. A pipe connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6:CCD 20 14 A method of disconnecbng a ppe from a pipe cunnection, the method being substantially as her&nbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.