IL142966A - Connector conduit connector - Google Patents

Description

142966/2 FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTOR NAAN IRRIGATION AGRICULTURAL o» 3 T N n jvou vy rm>N-n»pvyn IVJ COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD.

C: 42293 42293na3.doc 03/5/01 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to pipe connectors generally and more particularly to flexible conduit connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are known a variety of flexible conduit connectors. The following patents and publications are believed to represent the current state of the art: : DE 775784; DE 1957575; DE 2215051 ; DE 2413246; DE 2425373; DE 2459690; DE 2518001 ; DE 2908935; DE 3009001 ; US 41 14930; US 354076; US 3613866; US 3876234; US 4076285; US 4406485; EP 1 14022; IL 59112; IL 591 13. Naan Irrigation Systems 2001, Price List.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved flexible conduit connector.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flexible conduit connector including: a hollow, elongate base member defining an outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth adjacent at least a first end thereof and a generally tapered portion inwardly of the peripheral tooth and characterized in that a cross sectional dimension of the tapered portion decreases with increased distance from the peripheral tooth; and a slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth arranged for slidable movement in engagement with the generally tapered portion, wherein the outwardly disposed peripheral tooth is arranged for liquid sealing engagement with a flexible conduit, and the slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth is arranged for retaining engagement with the flexible conduit and is operative to present an increasing cross section as the slidable inner facing tooth moves along the generally tapered portion towards the outwardly disposed peripheral tooth in response to application of a tension force on the flexible conduit relative to the base member, thereby tightening the engagement between the slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth and the flexible conduit.

Preferably, the slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth is configured as a split ring and is typically constructed of stiffer material than the material of the base member.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hollow, elongate base member defines an outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth adjacent first and second ends thereof and a generally tapered portion inwardly of each the peripheral tooth and characterized in that a cross sectional dimension of the tapered portion decreases with increased distance from the peripheral tooth.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a sharp inner facing edge. In such a case, the base member preferably is formed of polyacetal.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a non-sharp inner facing edge. In such a case, the base member preferably is formed of polyolefin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified side view illustration of a flexible conduit connector constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2A and 2B are each a partially cut-away illustration of the flexible conduit connector of Fig. 1 in operative engagement with a flexible conduit, Fig. 2A illustrating the structure upon initial engagement of the flexible conduit with the flexible conduit connector and Fig. 2B illustrating the structure upon application of tension between the flexible conduit and the flexible conduit connector; Fig. 3 is a simplified side view illustration of a flexible conduit connector constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 4A and 4B are each a partially cut-away illustration of the flexible conduit connector of Fig. 3 in operative engagement with a flexible conduit, Fig. 4A illustrating the structure upon initial engagement of the flexible conduit with the flexible conduit connector and Fig. 4B illustrating the structure upon application of tension between the flexible conduit and the flexible conduit connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified side view illustration of a flexible conduit connector constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in Fig. 1, the flexible conduit connector, which is preferably circularly symmetric about a longitudinal axis 100 is also symmetric about a central wall portion 102.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, which is not illustrated here but is within the scope of the present invention, the flexible conduit connector may not be symmetric about wall portion 102 and may thus be configured for connection to a single flexible conduit rather between two flexible conduits as in the illustrated embodiment. It is also appreciated that the flexible conduit connector of Fig. 1 may also be configured for connection to flexible conduits having different cross-sectional dimensions or in any other suitable non-symmetric manner.

As seen in Fig. 1, the flexible conduit connector preferably includes a hollow, elongate base member 104, which defines an outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth 106 adjacent at least a first end 108 thereof and an outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth 1 10 adjacent a second end 1 12 thereof.

Formed inwardly of outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth 106 is a generally cylindrical portion 1 14, which defines an inwardly facing stop surface 1 16. Similarly, formed inwardly of outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth 1 10 is a generally cylindrical portion 1 18, which defines an inwardly facing stop surface 120.

Formed inwardly of inwardly facing stop surface 116 is a generally tapered portion 122 which is characterized in that its outer cross sectional dimension decreases with increased distance from the inwardly facing stop surface 116 and thus from peripheral tooth 106.

Similarly, formed inwardly of inwardly facing stop surface 120 is a generally tapered portion 124 which is characterized in that its outer cross sectional dimension decreases with increased distance from the inwardly facing stop surface 120 and thus from peripheral tooth 110.

Formed inwardly of generally tapered portion 122 is a generally cylindrical portion 126, which defines an outwardly facing stop surface 128. Similarly, formed inwardly of generally tapered portion 124 is a generally cylindrical portion 130, which defines an outwardly facing stop surface 132.

Cylindrical portions 126 and 130 meet at opposite surface 134 and 136 of central wall portion 102.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth element 140 is arranged for slidable movement along and in engagement with the generally tapered portion 122. Similarly, a slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth element 142 is arranged for slidable movement along and in engagement with the generally tapered portion 124.

In the illustrated embodiment tooth elements 140 and 142 are formed as split rings each defining a gap, represented respectively by reference numerals 144 and 146. It is appreciated that the rotational orientation of the gaps 144 and 146 about axis 100 need not be of significance.

In the illustration of Fig. 1, tooth elements 140 and 142 are each shown in a retracted orientation, against respective top surfaces 128 and 132.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2A and 2B, which are each a partially cut-away illustration of the flexible conduit connector of Fig. 1 in operative engagement with a flexible conduit, Fig. 2A illustrating the structure upon initial engagement of the flexible conduit with the flexible conduit connector and Fig. 2B illustrating the structure upon application of tension between the flexible conduit and the flexible conduit connector.

Fig. 2A shows flexible conduits 150 and 152 pushed over ends 108 and 1 12 of base member 104 in directions indicated by respective arrows 154 and 156, typically so as to abut against surfaces 134 and 136 of central wall portion 102. It is a particular feature of the present invention that in this orientation, outwardly disposed peripheral teeth 106 and 1 10 are arranged for liquid sealing engagement with respective flexible conduits 150 and 152.

It is also a particular feature of the present invention that the flexible conduits 150 and 152 are engaged by respective slidable inner facing generally peripheral teeth 140 and 142, in retaining engagement in a non-liquid pressured environment.

As seen in Fig. 2B, in this non-liquid pressured environment, the slidable inner facing generally peripheral teeth 140 and 142 are each operative to present an increasing cross section as the slidable inner facing teeth 140 and 142 move along respective generally tapered portions 122 and 124 towards respective outwardly disposed peripheral teeth 106 and 110 in response to application of tension in directions indicated by respective arrows 158 and 160 on respective flexible conduits relative to the base member 104. This increase in cross section may be observed by noticing an increase in the size of the gaps 144 and 146 in respective teeth 140 and 142, between the orientations shown in Figs. 2A and 2B. Movement of slidable inner facing generally peripheral teeth 140 and 142 toward peripheral teeth 106 and 1 10 is stopped by engagement of teeth 140 and 142 with respective stop surfaces 116 and 120.

The increase in cross section of the teeth 140 and 142 tightens the engagement between the slidable inner facing generally peripheral teeth 140 and 142 and respective flexible conduit 150 and 152. This enhanced engagement is further enhanced by the lack of liquid pressure thereat, produced by sealing between teeth 106 and 1 10 and respective flexible conduits 150 and 152. Were liquid pressure to be present in the engagement vicinity of teeth 140 and 142, this could cause widening of the flexible conduits 150 and 152 and decrease tightness of the engagement between the fluid conduits 150 and 152 and respective teeth 140 and 142.

It is noted that in the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 2B, teeth 106 and 110 are formed with relatively sharp edges. This embodiment is preferably realized by employing materials such as polyacetal for the base member 104.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified side view illustration of a flexible conduit connector constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment may be identical to that of Fig. 1 except in that the edges of teeth 306 and 310, which correspond to teeth 106 and 1 10 are less sharp than in the embodiment of Fig. 1. The embodiment of Fig. 3 is preferably realized by employing materials such polyolefin for the base member 304. This is an advantage to the relative cost and chemical resistance of polyolefin as compared with other candidate materials. In all other relevant respects described hereinabove, the structure and operation of the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 3 are identical.

This may be appreciated by considering Figs. 4A and 4B, which are each a partially cut-away illustration of the flexible conduit connector of Fig. 3 in operative engagement with a flexible conduit, Fig. 4A illustrating the structure upon initial engagement of the flexible conduit with the flexible conduit connector and Fig. 4B illustrating the structure upon application of tension between the flexible conduit and the flexible conduit connector.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the specification and which are not in the prior art.

Claims (22)

C L A I M S J - / .- >/c7

1. A flexible conduit connector comprising: a hollow, elongate base member defining an outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth adjacent at least a first end thereof and a generally tapered portion inwardly of said peripheral tooth and characterized in that a cross sectional dimension of the tapered portion decreases with increased distance from said peripheral tooth; and a slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth arranged for slidable movement in engagement with said generally tapered portion, wherein said outwardly disposed peripheral tooth is arranged for liquid sealing engagement with a flexible conduit, and said slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth is arranged for retaining engagement with said flexible conduit and is operative to present an increasing cross section as said slidable inner facing tooth moves along said gerierally tapered portion towards said outwardly disposed peripheral tooth in response to application of a tension force on said flexible conduit relative to said base member, thereby tightening the engagement between said slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth and said flexible conduit.

2. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 1 and wherein said slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth is configured as a split ring.

3. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 1 and wherein said hollow, elongate base member defines an outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth adjacent first and second ends thereof and a generally tapered portion inwardly of each said peripheral tooth and characterized in that a cross sectional dimension of the tapered portion decreases with increased distance from said peripheral tooth.

4. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 2 and wherein said hollow, elongate base member defines an outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth adjacent first and second ends thereof and a generally tapered portion inwardly of each said peripheral tooth and characterized in that a cross sectional dimension of the tapered portion decreases with increased distance from said peripheral tooth.

5. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 1 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a sharp inner facing edge.

6. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 5 and wherein said base member is formed of polyacetal.

7. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 2 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a sharp inner facing edge.

8. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 7 and wherein said base member is formed of polyacetal.

9. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 3 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a sharp inner facing edge.

10. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 9 and wherein said base member is formed of polyacetal.

11. 1 1. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 4 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a sharp inner facing edge.

12. A flexible conduit connector according to claim .11 and wherein said base member is formed of polyacetal.

13. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 1 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a non-sharp inner facing edge.

14. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 13 and wherein said base member is formed of polyolefm.

15. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 2 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a non-sharp inner facing edge.

16. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 15 and wherein said base member is formed of polyolefin.

17. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 3 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a non-sharp inner facing edge.

18. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 17 and wherein said base member is formed of polyolefin.

19. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 4 and wherein said outwardly disposed inner facing peripheral tooth has a non-sharp inner facing edge.

20. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 19 and wherein said base member is formed of polyolefin.

21. A flexible conduit connector according to claim 1 and wherein said slidable inner facing generally peripheral tooth is constructed of stiffer material than the material of said base member.

22. A flexible conduit connector according to any of the preceding claims, substantially as shown and described hereinabove.