NZ201444A - Fluid tight pipe joint - Google Patents

Description

201444 _ '4j t WJUU983 -l- NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 19 5 3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL NO: 201444 DATED: 30 July 19 82 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SEALING ARRANGEMENTS WE, WELLCOME NEW ZEALAND LIMITED, a New Zealand (✓*#' -731-737 company of J Great South Road, Auckland, New Zealand, av\ do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 201444 This invention relates to a sealing arrangement and has particular application to the sealing of components so as to permit a substantially gas or liquid tight seal.

Up until this time, in order to provide substant-5 ially gas or liquid tight seals, especially between moulded components, it has been necessary to use undercuts in for example a female member of a connection; alternatively, or additionally to move cores in injection moulding tools.

The present invention however sets out to provide a straight forward and efficient sealing arrangement which attempts to overcome these problems and which also provides for a substantially gas or liquid tight seal for example in assemblies of elastomeric or low 15 strength materials with ;a high mechanical strength of joint.

The present invention also sets out to provide a sealing arrangement which is capable of relatively straight forward moulding and formation; the resultant 20 sealing arrangement allowing for straight forward assembly and a strong seal capable of withstanding high forces.

The present invention also provides for a straight forward and efficient snap fitting arrangement. 25 It is envisgaged that the present invention will have particular, though not exclusive, application to the attachment of members one to the other for forming substantially gas or liquid tight seals, such as 201444 for example in pump diaphragms, closures or connections between containers, sealing diaphragms, tap seals and the like.

These are however by way of example.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a sealing arrangement including at least an inner and an outer members; the outer member defining an opening at one end; a step being formed inwardly of said opening on an inner surface of the outer 10 member and a slot or groove being provided in said step; spaced apart slots being provided in and about the outer member between the opening and the step; the inner member including an end portion for location within the groove; spaced apart lugs being provided on and about an outer 15 surface of said inner member; the inner member being located within the outer menfoer such that an end of the inner member engages within said groove; the lugs of the inner member engaging within the slots in said outer member.

The invention will now be described by way of 20 example only, and with reference to the accompanying.^ drawing, wherein: Figure 1: is a sectional view of a sealing A. arrangement according to one form^ of the invention. \\<£ In the present form of the invention shown as x^'/v Figure 1 of the drawing, the sealing arrangement is provided between inner and outer members 1 and 2 which are joined together to provide for location of 201444 a diaphragm 3, between the first and second members. It should be appreciated however that this is by way of example only and that inner and outer members can be connected by utilising the same invention, to provide 5 for the location of any appropriate seal and/or connection. Alternatively, the present invention can be used to connect together adjacent members, such as for example substantially co-axial pipes or tubes. The invention is not in any way limited to the provision 10 of the mounting or provision of such a diaphragm 3.

Referring therefore to Figure 1, the outer member 2 is seen to be a length of a suitable plastics material which is substantially circular in cross section, and which is open at one end 4. It is desired to attach 15 to one end thereof, an appropriate diaphragm connection 3, housed within and connected to, the inner member 1.

The outer member 2 is provided with the open end 4 which extends into side wall 5, the side walls leading, inwardly of the open end 4, into an area of greater width or thickness, forming a step 6 inwardly of the side wall 5. of the outer member 2. inwardly of, and spaced apart from th The step 6 of the outer member The step 6 is provided in its u; with at least one slot or groove 7 of an appropriate depth, the groove 7 being preferably a circumferential groove 201444 The wall 5 of the outer member 2 is formed or provided with a plurality of holes or slots 10, around and about its outer surface, the holes or slots 10 being spaced apart one from the other and preferably being 5 circumferentially spaced apart.

The holes or slots 10 are preferably provided so as to be spaced apart inwardly of the open end 4 of the outer member 2 and substantially intermediate the open outer end 4 and the step formation 6. Thus, the holes 10 or slots 10 are spaced apart from the open end 4 and the step formation 6.

An inner member 1 is provided also formed of an appropriate plastics material for tight and friction location and engagement within the outer member 2. 15 The inner member 1 is provided with a side wall 12 the longitudinal axis thereof aligning substantially with the longitudinal axis of the outer member 2.

The butt or lower end 15 of the inner member 1 is of a width or thickness sufficient to engage within 20 the slot or groove 7, in the step 6 of the outer member 2. The lower or butt end 15 is in one form angled, pointed or chamfered, this assisting in location within the groove 7. It has also been found to increase the effective seal within the groove, in that it tends 25 to flex on axial pressure being applied, this increasing the sealing nature of the connection.

The inner member 1 is preferably substantially or at least partially flexible and is forced axially within the opening 4 or bore of the outer member 2 and 201444 pushed downwardly, such as by a press, tool or appropriate pressure, until the end 15 of the inner member 1 engages within the groove 7, and until the ends thereof are sealed against and abutt against the lower end 5 surface of the groove 7.

The inner member 1 is provided on its outer surface thereof, and spaced apart upwardly from the end of the inner member 1, with a plurality of outwardly extending lugs 16 which extend outwardly from the outer surface of the inner member 1 and are preferably substantially circumferentially spaced apart.

Preferably, the number and location of the lugs 16 of the inner member 1 correspond substantially to the number and location of the holes or slots 10 in the out- er member 2, Thus, on axial force or pressure being applied to the inner member 1 and on it passing down into the outer member 2, and on the end 15 thereof engaging within the groove 7 of the outer member 2, the lugs 20 or gripping members 16 will be deformed until they reach and engage within the holes or slots 10 in the outer member 2. Following this, the inner and outer members 1 and 2 will be then securely engaged one with the other in a sealing engagement and due to the compression 25 of the wall of the inner member 1, during location, a residual axial force will maintain the seal.

In situations where a diaphragm 3 is provided (such as the diaphragm 3 shown in Figure 1 of the drawing), such a secure engagement and sealing arrange- 201444 ment will permit movement and flexing of a diaphragm 3 without this affecting the seal.

As described hereinbefore however, it should be appreciated that the invention is in no way limited to 5 the provision of such a diaphragm but that the invention provides for the straight forward and efficient inter -^ connection of inner and outer members to provide for a secure and sealed engagement.

The present invention has been described with 10 reference to the use of plastics material. This is by way of example only, and other materials can also be used to advantage.

The invention has been described by way of example. Modifications and improvements may be made 15 without departing from the scope or spirit thereof, as defined by the claims. 201

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A sealing arrangement including at least an inner and an outer member, the outer member defining an opening at one end thereof; a step being formed inwardly of said opening on an inner surface of the outer member; a slot or groove being provided in said step; spaced apart slots being provided in and about the outer member, between the opening and the step; the inner member including an end portion for location within the slot or groove; spaced apart lugs being provided on and about an outer surface of said inner member; the inner member being located within the outer member such that an end of the inner member engages within said groove; the lugs of the inner member engaging within the slots in said outer member.

2. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein a butt end of the inner member is angled or chamferred.

3. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inner member is at least partially flexible.

4. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal axis of the inner member is substantially co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the outer member.

5. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer member is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slots in the wall thereof. " " 201444

6. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inner member is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart lugs extending outwardly from the side wall thereof. 5

7. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, formed of a plastics material.

8. A sealing arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. 10 WELLCOME NEW ZEALAND LIMITED By Thein Attorneys, Baldwin/ son- & carey.