NZ553449A - Diagonal brace for pipe elbow or tee joint - Google Patents

Abstract

A plumbing connection (10) that includes first (11), second (13), and third pipes (15) is disclosed. The first pipe has a first end portion (12) that is fluidly connected to a second pipe (13) having a second pipe end portion, by an intermediate third pipe or elbow (15). To provide the connection (10) with firmness and prevent the connection from failing, the connection (10) further includes a brace assembly (18) that is connected to the first pipe end portion (12) and the second pipe end portion (14).

Description

5 3 k k 9 A PLUMBING CONNECTION This invention relates to a plumbing connection and a connector.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to a plumbing connection for connecting two divergent water pipes together and a connector for use in the construction of said 5 connection, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to same.

Typically pipes used to supply water, whether they be for a residential dwelling, a commercial building or other structure, are usually buried underground. Accordingly, when constructing the water supply system, a trench is dug in which the pipes are subsequently laid. ^ Where there will be a change in the direction of the flow of water, such as where two divergent pipes are connected by a curved piece of pipe that is sometimes referred to as an "elbow" or a "T" shaped fitting known as a "tee", regulations stipulate that the elbow or tee must be supported by a thrust block that in use shall prevent movement of the elbow relative to either one or both of the pipes to which it is connected.

The thrust block usually comprises a large mass of concrete and wherein the construction 15 of the thrust block typically involves the removal of earth from the trench wall located immediately behind the elbow so as to form a recess into which the concrete is poured. ^ Often if it rains, the trench will fill with water. Consequently before covering the trench with earth or pouring the concrete used to construct the thrust block, the water must be removed. Further, if the walls of the recess that are to be used to support the concrete lack firmness due to 20 the presence of the water, some of this sodden earth more earth may need to be excavated from the walls of the recess in order to provide firm, stable, walls that are capable of supporting the wet concrete. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the removal of this additional earth from the recess is both time consuming and delays the completion of the water system. Further, it will also be appreciated that if the recess used in the construction of the thrust block must be enlarged, the additional concrete required to complete the thrust block will also add to the cost of the intellectual property office of n.z. 2 3 NOV 2007 RFnciwcn 2 overall construction costs of the water system.

The present invention aims to alleviate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages and to provide a plumbing connection and a connector which will be reliable and efficient in use.

With the forgoing in view, this invention in One aspect resides broadly in a plumbing connection including: a first pipe having a first pipe end portion; a second pipe having a second pipe end portion that is adjacent said first pipe end portion, said first and second pipes extending away from one another in divergent directions; a third pipe having third pipe first and second end portions, said third pipe being located intermediate and fluidly connected to said first and second pipes whereby said first pipe end portion is engaged with said third pipe first end portion and said second pipe end portion is engaged with said third pipe second end portion, and a brace that provides firmness to the connection between said first and second pipes, said brace being located between said first and said second pipes and wherein said brace includes a brace first end portion that is secured to said first pipe and a brace second end portion that is secured to said second pipe.

Preferably the brace is rigid.

The brace may be constructed from any suitable material. For example, the brace may be constructed from various metal or plastics materials.

Preferably the connections between the brace first end portion and the first pipe and between the brace second end portion and the second pipe do not permit movement of the brace relative to either said first or said second pipe when the brace is connected to both said first and second pipes and said first and second pipes are fluidly interconnected by the third pipe.

Preferably each brace end portion includes attachment means for connecting said end intellectual property office- of n.z 2 3 NOV 2007 RF^civcn 3 portion to an adjacent pipe. The attachment means may be integral with or connected to the brace. Where the attachment means is connected to the brace, preferably the connection is a rigid connection that does not permit relative movement of the end portion relative to the pipe to which it is connected.

The attachment means may include a clamp. Alternatively, the attachment means may include a ring or a sleeve to which there is attached a flange that is capable of being sectored to an end portion of the brace.

Preferably the first, second and third pipes are all rigid.

^ The first, second and third pipes may be constructed from any suitable material. For example, the first, second and third pipes may be constructed from various metal or plastics materials.

The third pipe in one embodiment may be curved and may include two opposing end portions. The curved third pipe is preferably adapted to connect two divergent pipes together and wherein preferably the angle the two divergent pipes make with the other may be either 22.5 15 degrees, 45 degrees or 90 degrees.

In another aspect, this invention relates to a connector for maintaining a first pipe that is ^ connected to a divergent second pipe by an intermediate third pipe, said connecter including: a brace that includes a brace first end portion having a first attachment means for attaching said brace first end portion to the first pipe and a brace second end portion having a 20 second attachment means for attaching said brace second end portion to the second pipe.

Preferably the brace is rigid.

The brace may be constructed from any suitable material. For example, the brace may be constructed from various metal or plastics materials.

The attachment means may be integral with or connected to the brace. Where the intellectual property office of n.z. 2 3 NOV 2007 RFPPIVFD 4 attachment means is connected to the brace, preferably the connection is a rigid connection that does not permit relative movement of the brace end portion relative to the pipe to which it is connected.

The attachment means may include a clamp. Alternatively, the attachment means may include a ring or a sleeve to which there is attached a flange that is capable of being secured to an end portion of the brace.

In another aspect this invention relates to a method of connecting s first pipe having a first pipe end portion to a divergent second pipe having a second pipe end portion, said method including: providing a third pipe having third pipe first and second end portions; locating the third pipe between the first and second pipes whereby the first pipe end portion is engaged with the third pipe first end portion and the second pipe end portion is engaged with the third pipe second end portion; providing a brace having a brace first end portion that includes first attachment means and a brace second end portion that includes second attachment means; positioning the brace between the first and second pipes; using the first attachment means to attach the brace first end portion to the first pipe, and using the second attachment means to attach the brace second end portion to the second pipe.

Preferably the brace is of the type described above and the first, second and third pipes are rigid.

Preferably the connections between the brace first end portion and the first pipe and between the brace second end portion and the second pipe do not permit movement of the brace relative to either said first or said second pipe when the brace is connected to both said first and intellectual property office of m.z 2 3 NOV 2007 pprciw F D second pipes and said first and second pipes are fluidly connected to one another by the third pipe.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawing: FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a plumbing connection that has been constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a plumbing connection 10 of a water supply system, or such like, that includes a first pipe 11, having a first pipe end portion 12, and a divergent second pipe 13, having a second pipe end portion 14. The angle which the first pipe makes with the second pipe is approximately 90 degrees.

The two pipes 11 and 13 are fluidly connected by an arcuate third pipe or elbow 15 that is located between said pipes 11 and 13. The third pipe has opposing third pipe first and second end portions 16 and 17 respectively and wherein the third pipe first end portion 16 is fluidly connected to the first pipe end portion 12 and the third pipe second end portion 17 is fluidly connected to the second pipe end portion 14.

The first and second pipes 11 and 13 are each manufactured from a rigid plastics material. The third pipe or elbow 15 is manufactured from cast iron.

The plumbing connection 10 also includes a brace assembly 18 including a rigid, flat, elongate, brace member 18a, that is manufactured from stainless steel. The brace assembly 18 is used to provide firmness to the connection 10 between the first and second pipes thereby maintaining the first pipe end portion 12 in engagement with the third pipe first end portion 16 and the second end portion 14 in engagement with the third pipe end portion 17.

The brace member 18a includes a brace first end portion 19, in which there is formed two mounting apertures 20, and a brace second end portion 21, in which there is formed two intellectual property" office of n.z. 2 3 NOV 2007 r F r. FIV EJ) 6 mounting apertures 22.

The brace assembly 18 also includes two stainless steel clamps 23 and 24 that are adapted to wrap about the exterior of a pipe and which include a mounting flange 26 having two mounting apertures 27 formed therein.

Bolts, not shown, each having a stem that extends through aligned mounting apertures are used to secure the clamp 23 to the first brace end portion 19 and the clamp 24 to the brace second end portion 21, as shown.

In use, instead of constructing a thrust block behind elbow 15, it is proposed that the elbow 15 is maintained in fluid communication with the divergent pipes 11 and 13 by connecting a clamp 23 to pipe 11 and a clamp 24 to pipe 13. The clamps 23 and 24 are then connected to respective ends portions 19 and 21 of the brace 18a using a plurality of threaded fasteners or bolts.

It is believed that the brace assembly 18 will obviate the need for a thrust block and accordingly will overcome at least some of the problems associated with the construction of same.

It will also be appreciated that the above example is given as an illustration only of the present invention and that all such modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as herein defined in the appended claims. intellectual property office of N.Z 2 3 NUV 2007 rfofived

Claims (8)

7 * - THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A plumbing connection including: a first pipe having a first pipe end portion; 5 a second pipe having a second pipe end portion that is adjacent said first pipe end portion, said first and second pipes extending away from one another in divergent directions; a third pipe having third pipe first and second end portions, said third pipe being located intermediate and fluidly connected to said first and second pipes whereby said first ^ pipe end portion is engaged with said third pipe first end portion and said second pipe end 10 portion is engaged with said third pipe second end portion, and a brace that provides firmness to the connection between said first and second pipes, said brace being located between said first and said second pipes and wherein said brace includes a brace first end portion that is secured to said first pipe and a brace second end portion that is secured to said second pipe. 15

2. A plumbing connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein said brace is rigid.

3. A plumbing connection as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said brace includes a first brace end portion and associated first attachment means for attaching said first brace 20 end portion to said first pipe and a second brace end portion and associated second attachment means for attaching said second brace end portion to said second pipe.

4. A plumbing connection as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connections between said first brace end portion and said first attachment means and between said second brace end 25 portion and said second attachment means are both rigid connections. intellectual property office-of N.Z 2 3 NOV 2007 R F r FI v E D 8

5. A plumbing connection as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said first and said second attachment means are both clamps.

6. A plumbing connection substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7. A method of connecting a first pipe having a first pipe end portion to a divergent second pipe having a second pipe end portion, said method including: providing a third pipe having third pipe first and second end portions; locating the third pipe between the first and second pipes whereby the first pipe end portion is engaged with the third pipe first end portion and the second pipe end portion is engaged with the third pipe second end portion, the arrangement of all three pipes once so interconnected enabling a fluid flow connection between said first pipe and said second pipe to be established; providing a brace having a brace first end portion that includes first attachment means and a brace second end portion that includes second attachment means; positioning the brace between the first and second pipes; using the first attachment means to attach the brace first end portion to the first pipe, and using the second attachment means to attach the brace second end portion to the second pipe.

8. A method substantially as herein before described. — intellectual property ofrce of N.Z. 2 3 NOV 2007 r F r. t= l V E D