GB2570917A

GB2570917A - Pipe fitting device

Info

Publication number: GB2570917A
Application number: GB1802196.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harnett Tyronne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Tyronne Harnett
Priority date: 2018-02-09
Filing date: 2018-02-09
Publication date: 2019-08-14
Also published as: GB201802196D0

Abstract

A pipe fitting device comprises a mounting rail 20 to which a plurality of pipe clips 42 are or can be fitted. In one aspect the mounting rail is provided with a plurality of screw holes 36, and at the rear 24 of the rail at the locations of the screw holes, there are raised features 40. A second aspect has the mounting rail defining a retaining slot 32 with the pipe clips fitted to the mounting rail, and the slot 32 permitting adjustment of the locations of the pipe clips along the length of the rail. The raised features can comprise raised rings or other projections extending around the screw holes. Each pipe clip can take the form of a plastic moulded part including an opening 46 through which a threaded bolt 48 extends. The shank of the bolt extends through the slot and is received by a nut 34, for example of serrated form to resist rotation, located within the rail. The bolt head can be countersunk to avoid impeding pipe installation. The clips can be of different sizes to accommodate different pipe diameters. End caps can be provided to close the ends of the rail.

Description

PIPE FITTING DEVICE

This invention relates to a pipe fitting device, and in particular to a pipe fitting device intended for use in applications in which two or more pipes need to be secured to a wall or other support, for example where the spacing of the pipes is dictated by other equipment.

Where a domestic central heating boiler is being installed, there is a need to connect to the boiler a number of pipes, for example feed and return water pipes, gas pipes and the like may need to be connected to the boiler. Depending upon the type of boiler, a significant number of pipes may be required to be connected. By way of example, if the boiler is a so-called combi boiler, providing hot water for a radiator system, and also providing domestic hot running water, there may be a need to connect, for example, five pipes to the central heating boiler. It is desirable for the pipes to extend substantially parallel to one another. The positions and spacings of the pipes are dictated by the nature of the boiler being installed.

Figures 1 to 3 are views illustrating parts of typical installations showing the locations of connectors to which pipes must be connected. As shown, a paper template 1 may be provided to show the required pipe positions, and a jig 2 may be provided to which tails 3 may be mounted for connection to the pipes.

In a typical installation, the installer will mount a series of individual pipe clips to the wall adjacent the location at which the boiler is being installed, the pipe clips being positioned so as to hold the pipes in the correct positions for connection to the tails 3. Depending upon the skill of the installer, some of the pipe clips, and the pipes supported thereby, may be incorrectly positioned, leading to difficulties in connecting the pipes to the boiler, and so making the task of installing the boiler more complex. Furthermore, depending upon the construction of the wall to which the boiler is to be mounted, the mounting of pipe clips to the wall may only be possible in certain locations. Consequently, the installer may be unable to mount the clips exactly where desired. Again, this may result in the installation process being made more complex, for example requiring the installer to form bends in some of the pipes to allow the ends thereof to be located as required for connection to the boiler.

In unrelated applications, the use of mounting rails to allow components to be mounted to one another is known. By way of example, US2696139 describes a known rail based connection system.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pipe installation device in which the task of mounting and positioning pipes in desired locations, for example for subsequent connection to a boiler, is simplified, overcoming or reducing the effects of at least some of the problems associated with the known installation techniques.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a pipe fitting device comprising a mounting rail to which a plurality of pipe clips are fitted, the mounting rail defining a retaining slot whereby the pipe clips are fitted to the mounting rail, the slot permitting adjustment of the locations of the pipe clips along the length of the rail.

The pipe fitting device is preferably of slim profile, so that the pipes fitted using the device can be fitted relatively close to the wall or other supporting surface.

In use, the mounting rail is secured to the wall or other support, and the locations of the pipe clips on the mounting rail can readily be adjusted so that the pipes carried thereby, in use, are located as required. The positions occupied by the clips are infinitely variable. Difficulties associated with locating the pipe clips exactly where desired, either through incorrect location on the wall or the like, or through the wall being unsuitable for having pipe clips secured thereto in certain locations, are thus overcome or reduced. Also, as the clips are not individually mounted to the wall, dirt and dust arising from installation may be reduced.

Each pipe clip preferably takes the form of a plastics moulded part including an opening through which a threaded bolt extends, the shank of the bolt extending through the slot and being received by a nut located within the rail. Tightening of the bolt securely attaches the clip in position. The bolt head is preferably countersunk so as to avoid impeding pipe installation. The nut is preferably of serrated form so as to resist rotation, in use.

However, other fastening techniques may be used to secure the pipe clips to the rail. By way of example, each clip may include a T-shaped projection the head of which can be passed through the slot in one orientation of the clip, rotation of the clip through 90 degrees resulting in the head of the projection being orientated such that it can no longer pass through the slot thereby securing the clip to the rail. Another form of clip that may be used in accordance with the invention is one including a base plate that, in normal use, would be screwed or otherwise secured to the wall, and so which a pipe clip section can be attached by way of a threaded coupling. When a clip of this type is used, the base plate may be located within the rail, the threaded coupling extending through the slot.

The clips may be of different sizes to accommodate a range of pipe diameters.

End caps may be provided to close the ends of the rail.

The rail is preferably provided with screw holes through which screws or other fasteners may extend to allow mounting of the rail to the wall or other support. The rear of the rail, at the locations of the screw holes, is preferably provided with raised features. By way of example, raised rings or other projections may extend around the screw holes.

In use, by pressing the rail against the wall at the location at which the rail is to be installed, the raised features may be pressed into the surface of the wall leaving markings showing the installer where screw holes or the like are to be drilled for use in the mounting of the rail to the wall in the desired location. It will be appreciated that the installation of the rail is thus simplified. No separate marking tool is required, and the risk of the installer making errors in measuring and marking out the locations in which holes are to the drilled in reduced.

As, in use, both the installation of the rail is simplified through the provision of the raised features, and achieving the provision of pipe clips in the desired locations is simplified through the ability to adjust the positions of the pipe clips along the length of the slot, it will be appreciated that the use of the invention significantly simplifies the task of mounting pipes in desired positions. Where used in the installation of a domestic central heating boiler, it will be appreciated that the installation process is simplified. However, the invention is not restricted to applications in which pipes are required to be connected to a domestic central heating boiler, but rather may be used in a number of other applications in which there is a need to mount a plurality of pipes to a wall or other support.

The invention further relates to a pipe fitting device comprising a mounting rail to which a plurality of pipe clips are fitted, the mounting rail being provided with a plurality of screw holes, and the rear of the rail, at the locations of the screw holes, being provided with raised features. By way of example, raised rings may extend around the screw holes. As described hereinbefore, marking out of drilling hole locations is thus simplified.

The nature of the pipe fitting device is advantageous in that, even if a number of clips are already fitted to the rail before mounting of the rail in position, marking out of the locations at which holes most be drilled to allow mounting of the rail in position is still possible, for example making use of the raised features, or by using a pencil or other marking tool, accessing the screw holes via access openings formed in the rail.

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

Figures 1 to 3 are views illustrating typical installations in which a number of pipes are required to be mounted in a predetermined configuration to a wall or other support;

Figures 4 and 5 are front and side views of an installation in which a pair of pipe fitting devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention are used; and

Figures 6 and 7 are views illustrating the pipe fitting device of Figures 4 and 5.

As shown in Figure 4 and 5, when installing a domestic central heating boiler 10, mounted upon a wall 12, there is a need to provide a series of pipes 14 positioned to align with the tails 3 of a fixing jig 2 so as to allow connections to be made, subsequently, between the pipes 14 and parts of the boiler 10. In accordance with the invention, securing of the pipes 14 to the wall 12 in the desired locations is aided through the use of pipe fitting devices 18.

Each pipe fitting device 18 takes the form of a mounting rail 20. The rail 20 is conveniently of extruded form, manufactured from, for example, aluminium or a suitably robust plastics material. It is conveniently of relatively slim profile. The profile of the mounting rail 20 is best shown in Figure 6 and comprises a front wall 22, a rear wall 24, upper and lower side walls 26, 28, and strengthening braces 30. The front wall 22 is shaped to define an elongate slot 32 which extends along the full length of the rail 20. The positions of the braces 30 are such that the lips 22a are defined behind the front wall 22 with which, in use, fasteners 34 (see below) can engage. The rail 20 is conveniently designed in such a manner that the installer may cut it to a desired length to suit the application in which the device is being used.

The rear wall 24 is formed with mounting holes 36, access openings 38 being formed in the front wall 22 to provide access to the mounting holes 36. The access openings 38 are aligned with the mounting holes 36. The rear face of the rear wall 24 is provided, around the mounting holes 36, with raised features in the form of annular walls 40 in this case. The walls 40 are relatively sharp.

In use, the installer positions the rail 20 against the wall 12 at the location at which the rail 20 is to be installed. By pressing the rail 20 against the wall 12, the walls 40 dig into the wall surface. Upon subsequently removing the rail 20, the locations at which the walls 40 dug into the wall surface provide indications to the installer of the locations at which screw holes or the like should be drilled. After drilling of the screw holes, and the installation of rawl plugs or the like, the rail 20 can be secured in position using screws extending through the mounting holes 36, the access openings 38 allowing the installer to access the mounting holes 36, for example to allow the use of a screw driver or other suitable tool to drive the screws home and secure the rail 20 in position.

Preferably, the mounting holes 36 are spaced apart from one another at non uniform spacings, and the installer can select which of the mounting holes 36 to use to secure the rail 20 in position, taking into account factors such as the nature of the wall 12 to which the rail 20 is to be secured. Similarly, they may be of different sizes to accommodate fasteners of different sizes, for example for use with different wall materials.

Mounted to the rail 20 are a series of pipe clips 42. Each clip 42 takes the form of a plastics moulded part 44 shaped to receive and support a part of a pipe 14. The moulded part 44 includes an opening 46 through which extends the shank of a bolt 48. A nut or other screw threaded fastener 34 is loosely threaded to the shank of the bolt 48. The head of the bolt 48 is preferably countersunk so as not to impede the fitting of a pipe to the clip. The nut is preferably of serrated form so as to resist rotation thereof, the serrations tending to grip or dig into the lips 22a, upon initial tightening to resist rotation of the nut. In this condition, the pipe clip 42 is mounted to the rail 20 by sliding it into position from an end of the rail 20, the fastener 34 being located within the rail 20 and the shank extending through the slot 32. The clip 42 can be slid to a desired position and once in the desired position, the bolt 48 can be rotated to clamp the clip 42 to the rail 20 in the desired position, the nut 34 engaging the lips 22a. If, subsequently, it is felt that some adjustment of the pipe clip position is required, the bolt can be loosened, the clip repositioned and the bolt subsequently refastened.

Once all of the required clips 42 have been positioned, end caps 50 can be pushed into the ends of the rail 20 to give the pipe fitting device 18 a neat finish. Pipes 14 can subsequently be secured to the device 18 as required. As shown, two or more such devices may be used in a spaced fashion to properly support the pipes 14. The slim profile of the rail allows the pipes to be mounted relatively close to the wall or supporting surface.

It will be appreciated that the use of the pipe fitting device 18 described hereinbefore is advantageous in that it allows the mounting of pipes 14 to a wall 12 in desired locations, the mounting of the pipes being undertaken in a relatively simple and straightforward fashion. Securing of the rail 20 in position may be undertaken without running the risk of errors in marking out drilling holes. The use of the device reduces the number of holes that must be drilled and so reduces the generation of dust and dirt, leading to a cleaner installation. Accurate pipe positioning can be readily achieved through the infinitely variable nature of the pipe fitting device. Issues arising from the inability to screw or otherwise attach fittings to certain areas of a wall are addressed.

Whilst clips of plastics form are mentioned hereinbefore, it will be appreciated that other clip designs, and clips of a range of materials may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

Whilst one embodiment of the invention is described hereinbefore, it will be appreciated that a number of modifications and alterations may be made to the arrangement without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, the pipe clips and manner in which they are secured to the rail may take a wide range of forms.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pipe fitting device comprising a mounting rail to which a plurality of pipe clips are or can be fitted, the mounting rail being provided with a plurality of screw holes, and the rear of the rail, at the locations of the screw holes, being provided with raised features.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the raised features comprise raised rings or other projections extending around the screw holes.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the mounting rail defines a retaining slot whereby the pipe clips are fitted to the mounting rail, the slot permitting adjustment of the locations of the pipe clips along the length of the rail.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein each pipe clip takes the form of a plastics moulded part including an opening through which a threaded bolt extends, the shank of the bolt extending through the slot and being received by a nut located within the rail.

5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the bolt head is countersunk so as to avoid impeding pipe installation.

6. A device according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the nut is of serrated form so as to resist rotation, in use.

7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the clips are of different sizes to accommodate a range of pipe diameters.

8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein end caps are provided to close the ends of the rail.

9. A pipe fitting device comprising a mounting rail to which a plurality of pipe clips are or can be fitted, the mounting rail defining a retaining slot whereby the pipe clips are fitted to the mounting rail, the slot permitting adjustment of the locations of the pipe clips along the length of the rail.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the rail is provided with screw holes through which screws or other fasteners may extend to allow mounting of the rail to the wall or other support.

11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein the rear of the rail, at the locations of the screw holes, is provided with raised features.

12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein the raised features comprise raised rings or other projections extending around the screw holes.