GB2545686A

GB2545686A - Fluid transfer article

Info

Publication number: GB2545686A
Application number: GB1522621.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claire Taylor Melanie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-12-22
Filing date: 2015-12-22
Publication date: 2017-06-28
Also published as: GB201522621D0

Abstract

A tubular fluid transport pipe, made from a moulded plastics material, comprising a body 12 having concentric, parallel, inner and outer walls 14, 16 with a female threaded connector 18 at one end and a male threaded part 24 at the opposite end. Adjacent to the female connection there is an internal step, including a radially extending surface 20. Bordering the male joint there is an end wall 26 defining a radially extending surface with the male part being engageable, in use, with the female connector of an adjacent similar component (10, Fig. 2). The attached component may comprise a T-joint (30, Fig. 3) or a flexible seal. The bendable seal may be of a bellows-like form (32, Fig. 4).

Description

FLUID TRANSFER ARTICLE

This invention relates to a fluid transfer article, for example in the form of a moulded article, and in particular to a moulded article of plastics construction. The invention relates, for example, to a tubular moulded article capable of being secured, in an end to end fashion, to a series of other similar tubular articles to form an elongate tubular product having a substantially continuous tubular inner surface, and/or to a range of other articles.

One application in which an article of the type outlined hereinbefore is used is in the lining of drain pipes, for example to provide a technique whereby a broken, for example cracked, underground drain pipe can be lined to allow the continued use thereof. The invention relates, in particular, to an arrangement in which an article of the type outlined hereinbefore can be connected to other articles. Whilst this represents one application in which an article of the type outlined hereinbefore may be used, it will be appreciated that there is a wide range of other applications in which the article may be used, and the invention is not restricted in this regard.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a fluid transfer article comprising a plastics material moulded body of tubular form having concentric, parallel, inner and outer walls, a female thread formation at one end thereof and a male thread formation at an opposite end thereof, wherein adjacent the female thread formation there is formed an internal step including a radially extending surface, and wherein adjacent the male thread formation there is provided an end wall defining a radially extending surface, the end wall adjacent the male thread formation being engageable, in use, with the radially extending surface associated with the female thread formation of an adjacent similar article such that the inner walls of the article and the adjacent article form a substantially continuous cylindrical inner surface.

Such an arrangement is advantageous in that the substantially continuous nature of the inner surface reduces the risk of matter carried along the article becoming trapped and blocking, or partially blocking, the article.

The fluid transfer arrangement preferably further comprises a second article connected to and in fluid communication with an end part of the moulded article.

The second article may comprise an article of the type set out hereinbefore. Alternatively, it may take the form of, for example, of a T-piece.

Alternatively, the second article may take the form of a flexible seal member whereby the article can be sealed to another article, for example of a different diameter, and/or of a different shape, and/or that is not aligned with the first mentioned article, for example offset therefrom or angled relatively thereto.

The flexible seal member may be of, for example, bellows like form. Depending upon the application in which it is used, the flexible seal member may be of tapering diameter.

The invention further relates to a flexible seal member whereby a first article can be sealed to a second article, the flexible seal member being of bellows-like form. The flexible seal member may be used, for example to connect articles of a different diameter, and/or of a different shape, and/or that are not aligned with one another, for example that are offset from one another or angled relative to one another.

The article described hereinbefore may be used in the transfer of a wide range of fluids. For example, it may be used in the transfer of waste water. It will be appreciated, however, that this is merely one example of an application in which the article may be used, and that it may be employed in a range of other applications.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating an article in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the article of Figure 1 in use.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a fluid transfer article 10 is illustrated, the article 10 comprising a hollow, tubular moulded plastics material body 12 defining an outer generally cylindrical wall 14 and an inner generally cylindrical wall 16, the walls 14,16 being concentric with one another, extending parallel to one another and being spaced apart from one another, along most of the length of the body 12 by a uniform distance.

Adjacent one end of the body 12, an internal screw thread 18 is formed. A step defined by a radially extending wall or surface 20 is formed adjacent the internal screw thread 18, between the screw thread 18 and the inner wall 16. At the other end of the body 12 is formed an annular projection 22 defining an external screw thread 24. The shape and size of the external screw thread 24 is such that the external screw thread 24 can mate with the internal screw thread 18 of an adjacent, like, article 10. The end of the projection 22 defines an end wall 26 which, like the wall 20, extends radially. When fully screwed together, the end wall 26 of the body 12 abuts the wall 20 of the adjacent article 10, such that the inner walls 16 of the two articles 10 form a substantially continuous cylindrical surface with minimal disruptions thereto.

As illustrated, the projection 22 conveniently carries an O-ring seal 28 or the like, arranged to seal against a part of the adjacent article 10, in use, to form a substantially fluid tight seal therewith.

In use, articles 10 of the type described hereinbefore may be used to line a drain pipe. In order to install the articles 10 in a drain pipe, a first article 10 is pushed into the drain pipe. After insertion of the article 10 into the drain pipe, another article 10 is secured to the end of the first article 10, the two articles 10 being screwed together. Once secured together, the two articles 10 are pushed, at a single unit, further into the drain pipe, at which point a third article 10 may be secured to the aforementioned two articles. It will be appreciated that by repeating the process of pushing the assembly made up of articles 10 further into the drain pipe, and securing additional articles 10 to the end of the assembly, an elongate assembly that fully lines a desired length of drain pipe can be assembled. Installation of the assembly does not require access to the full length of the drain pipe. Rather, installation may be achieved using, for example, access chambers located at intervals along the length of the drain pipe, or using a series of excavations spaced apart along the length of the drain pipe.

Figure 2 illustrates several of the articles 10 connected together and used in such an application.

As the articles 10 when assembled in this fashion define, together, a substantially continuous, uninterrupted generally cylindrical inner surface, it will be appreciated that the risk of matter carried through the assembly becoming adhered to the articles 10 at the joints therebetween, which could result in blockage or partial blockage of the assembly, is reduced.

There are circumstances in which it may be desired to line an intersection between drain pipes. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 3, after installation of an assembly of articles 10 in the manner outlined hereinbefore, a T-piece 30 may be threadedly connected to the end of the first installed one of the articles 10, access being gained thereto from, for example, an access chamber or the like. Conveniently, other connections are made to the T-piece 30 by means of compression fittings or the like.

Figure 4 illustrates another arrangement by which articles 10 may be connected. As shown in Figure 4, a flexible seal member 32 of bellows-like form may be connected, at one end, over an end part of one of the articles 10, and at its opposite end over an end part of, for example, another of the articles 10. As the seal member 32 is of flexible form, it can accommodate a degree of misalignment between the articles 10 to which it is connected. For example, the articles 10 may be axially misaligned, or may be angled relative to one another. The material of the seal member 32 may permit a degree of stretching thereof, allowing the seal member to be used to connect articles 10 of different shapes and sizes, if desired. Furthermore, the bellows-like nature of the seal member 32 may allow it to be axially compressed, accommodating different spacings between the articles 10.

Whilst not illustrated, the seal member 32 may be of tapering diameter along its length, thereby allowing the seal member 32 to be used to connect articles of a wide range of sizes.

Conveniently, the material of the seal member 32 is such as to permit stretching thereof over the ends of the articles 10, subsequent retraction of the seal member 32 forming a substantially fluid tight seal between the seal member 32 and the article 10.

Whilst use of the seal member 32 is described in association with two substantially identical articles 10, it will be appreciated that the seal member 32 may be used in conjunction with a range of different designs of article, and may be used to provide a sealed connection between different article designs, if desired.

The article described hereinbefore may be used in the transfer of a wide range of fluids. Although the description hereinbefore makes reference to the use of the article in lining a drain pipe, and hence in the article being used in the transfer of waste water, it will be appreciated, that this is merely one example of an application in which the article may be used, and that it may be employed in a range of other applications.

Although specific example embodiments are described hereinbefore, it will be understood that a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fluid transfer article comprising a plastics material moulded body of tubular form having concentric, parallel, inner and outer walls, a female thread formation at one end thereof and a male thread formation at an opposite end thereof, wherein adjacent the female thread formation there is formed an internal step including a radially extending surface, and wherein adjacent the male thread formation there is provided an end wall defining a radially extending surface, the end wall adjacent the male thread formation being engageable, in use, with the radially extending surface associated with the female thread formation of an adjacent similar article such that the inner walls of the article and the adjacent article form a substantially continuous cylindrical inner surface.

2. An article according to Claim 1, further comprising a second article connected to and in fluid communication with an end part of the moulded article.

3. An article according to Claim 2, wherein the second article comprises an article of the type set out in Claim 1.

4. An article according to Claim 2, wherein the second article comprises a T-piece.

5. An article according to Claim 2, wherein the second article takes the form of a flexible seal member whereby the article can be sealed to another article.

6. An article according to Claim 5, wherein the flexible seal member is of bellows like form.

7. An article according to Claim 6, wherein the flexible seal member is of tapering diameter.

8. A flexible seal member whereby a first article can be sealed to a second article, the flexible seal member being of bellows-like form.

9. An article according to Claim 8, wherein the flexible seal member is of tapering diameter.