WO1991017324A1

WO1991017324A1 - Apparatus for closing mounting tubes watertightly

Info

Publication number: WO1991017324A1
Application number: PCT/FI1991/000126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reijo MÄLLINEN
Original assignee: Maellinen Reijo
Priority date: 1990-05-03
Filing date: 1991-04-30
Publication date: 1991-11-14
Also published as: FI910515A0; FI910515A; FI86321B; AU7749391A; FI86321C

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for closing mounting and casing tubes watertightly in buildings where water and/or heating lines (2) are mounted inside mounting and casing tubes (5) and where connection pieces (4), which are placed inside connection boxes (1), are used for connecting e.g. water fixtures to water lines. The connection box (1) contains a through opening (3) leading to at least one jointing element (6), by means of which a watertight jointing of the mounting and casing tube (5) can be accomplished. The connection box (1) is provided with a continuous circumferential shoulder (9) on the inside thereof for a washer (10) and the connection piece (4) is provided with a continuous circumferential flange (7). In the assembled form of the apparatus, said flange (7) is arranged to position against said shoulder (9) and the washer (10) therebetween is fitted to press against said elements and close the connection box (1) watertightly.

Description

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING MOUNTING TUBES WATERTIGHTLY

The invention relates to an apparatus for preventing leakage water from flowing out of a mounting and casing tube in a buildings where water and/or heating lines are placed inside mounting and casing tubes and where connection pieces, which are placed inside connection boxes, are used for connecting water fixtures and/or various implements to water or heating lines, wherein the connection box contains a through opening for accommodating the connection piece, which connects e.g. a water line to a water fixture, and wherein the opening leads to at least one jointing element, by means of which a watertight jointing of the mounting and casing tube can be accomplished. The invention also relates to the connection box and the connection piece which are used in the apparatus. The apparatus is used at those points of the plumbing system where the water or heating line must be led out of the mounting and casing tube e.g. at a water fixture.

The number of water damages has greatly increased since use of plastic pipes became prevalent in water and heating installations. This is due to the fact that joints of plastic pipes can come loose as a result of thermal movements. Movements of the surrounding structures can also move the pipes so much that joints are loosened.

It is a common practice to install those water and heating lines, which will remain inside structures like e.g. concrete structures, inside mounting and casing tubes. The casing tubes protect the water and heating pipes during casting of the surrounding structural part, e.g. the base floor. The mounting and casing tubes also make the subsequent repairing of the water lines easier. Normally, the mounting and casing tubes continue uniformly without any joints inside the structures but the ends of the tubes are open.

The mounting and casing tubes are made of a watertight material which withstands the water pressure of the water distribution system, generally of plastics. Thermal movements do not have so much effect on the mounting and casing tubes as they do on the water and heating pipes, which expand and contract depending on the temperature of the water flowing through the tubes. The air space between the mounting and casing tubes and the water or heating line functions as an effective isolation.

When a water or heating line breaks, the mounting and casing tube will be quickly filled with water and water will start flowing into the structures through the open ends of the mounting and casing tubes. Since the leaking point itself can be situated far from the place where water flows into the structures, it is understandable that it can be quite difficult to locate the leaking point inside the structures. In this case, it is usually necessary to dismantle some of the structures. Before the leakage point has been found and repaired, severe damage of the structures has normally already occurred so that they must at least partly be renewed.

It is the object of the present invention to present an apparatus by means of which the ends of the mounting and casing tubes can be sealed in such a manner that water cannot flow out into the structures and by means of which damaging of structures due to leaks in plumbing can be prevented. The apparatus is characterized in that the connection box is provided with a continuous circumferential shoulder on the inside thereof i.e. on the wall of the opening for a washer and that the connection piece is provided with a continuous circumferential flange, which protrudes from the outer surface thereof, and that, in the assembled form of the apparatus, said - flange is arranged to position against said shoulder and the washer therebetween is fitted to press against said elements and, at the same time, to close the connection box watertightly. The connection box is, however, characterized in that the connection box is provided with a continuous circumferential shoulder on the inside thereof i.e. on the wall of the opening for a washer against which the flange of the connecting piece is fitted to be pressed for closing the connection box watertightly. The connection piece is characterized in that the connection piece is provided with a continuous circumferential flange, which protrudes from the outer surface thereof, and that, in the assembled form of the apparatus, said flange is fitted to be pressed against said shoulder and the washer therebetween is fitted to press against said elements and, at the same time, close the connection box watertightly.

The invention will now be described referring to the enclosed drawings in which

figure 1 shows the connection box, figure 2 shows the connection piece and figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the connection box mounted on the end of a mounting and casing tube with the connection piece placed inside.

The connection box of figure 1 is a box-like form piece having essentially a rectangular cross-section. Since the connection box 1 is usually embedded in a structural part, normally in the floor during casting, its outer surface has a shape which promotes adhesion to the cast. In the shown embodiment, the connection box is also provided with holes for fastening the box with screws e.g. on the frame of the house. The connection box 1 is made of metal, plastics or e.g. fiberglass reinforced synthetic material.

The connection box 1 contains a through opening 3. A connection piece 4 for connecting a water fixture, e.g. a faucet or the like, to the water or heating line 2 is mounted in the opening 3. This kind of connection piece 4 is shown in figure 2. The orifice of the connection box 1, through which the water or heating line 2 is to be led in, is provided with a jointing element 6 for connecting the mounting and casing tube 5 protecting the water or heating line 2. In the exemplary case, the jointing element 6 is a collar-like part which protrudes from the connection box 1 and forms an extension to the opening 3. To this collar¬ like part, the mounting and casing tube 5 is attached waretightly by means of a sealing ring 11 as in the exemplary case of figure 3. To obtain a detachable joint, the jointing element 6 can also be provided with a threaded sleeve, onto which the mounting and casing tube 5 is detached. Since each mounting and casing tube 5 is provided with one jointing element 6, the connection box 1 may have several e.g. two or three jointing elements 6.

On the wall of the opening 3 i.e. on the inside of the connection box 1, there is provided a continuous circumferential shoulder 9. The shoulder 9 is purposed to function as a backing for a washer 10 and, when the connection box 1 is closed, to receive the compression due to the connection piece 4 which connects the water fixture to the water or heating line 2.

The connection box 1 is arranged to be closed by means of a connection piece 4 shown in figure 2. Therefore, the connection piece 4 is provided with a continuous circumferential flange 7 which has essentially a form corresponding to the shoulder 9 and which protrudes from the outer surface of the connection piece 4. The flange 7 is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connection piece 4. When the flange 7 of the connection piece 4 is pressed against the shoulder 9 o-f the connection box 1, the washer 10 between the flange 7 and the shoulder 9 is also pressed tightly against said parts thus closing the connection box 1 watertightly as shown in figure 3. The compression of the flange 7 and shoulder 9 is obtained by means of a mounting ring 8 which is screwed to the opening 3. Therefore, the outer surface of the lower part of the mounting ring 8 as well as the corresponding inner surface of the opening 3 are threaded as shown in figure 3.

The connection box 1 functions not only as a connection box but also as a sealing box in that it prevents a possible leakage water which leaks from the water line into the mounting and casing tube 5 from flowing out.

Since it is always possible that, in case of a breakdown in the plumbing, the mounting and casing tubes 5 as well as the connection box 1 are filled with water, said parts and their connections must withstand the water pressure of the water distribution system.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments but it can be varied within the limits of the enclosed claims. For instance, apparatuses for various purposes can be obtained through varying the shape and dimensions of the connection box.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preventing leakage water from flowing out of a mounting and casing tube (5) in buildings where water and/or heating lines (2) are placed inside mounting and casing tubes (5) and where connection pieces (4) , which are placed inside connection boxes (1) , are used for connecting water fixtures and/or various implements to water or heating lines (2) , wherein the connection box (1) contains a through opening (3) for accommodating the connection piece (4) , which connects e.g. a water line (2) to a water fixture, and wherein the opening (3) leads to at least one jointing element (6) , by means of which a watertight jointing of the mounting and casing tube (5) can be accomplished, characterized in that the connection box (1) is provided with a continuous circumferential shoulder (9) on the inside thereof i.e. on the wall of the opening (3) for a washer (10) and that the connection piece (4) is provided with a continuous circumferential flange (7) , which protrudes from the outer surface thereof, and that, in the assembled form of the apparatus, said flange (7) is arranged to position against said shoulder (9) and the washer (10) therebetween is fitted to press against said elements and, at the same time, to close the connection box (1) watertightly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that pressing of the washer (10) against said elements (7,9) is effected by a mounting ring (8) screwed onto the opening (3).

3. Connection box (1) for use in the apparatus according to claim 1 for connecting water fixtures and/or various implements to water or heating lines (2) , wherein the connection box (1) contains a through opening (3) for accommodating a connection element (4) , which connects e.g. a water line (2) to a water fixture, and wherein the opening (3) leads to at least one jointing element (6) , by means of which a watertight jointing of the mounting and casing tube (5) of said water line (2) can be accomplished, characterized in that the connection box (l) is provided with a continuous circumferential shoulder (9) on the inside thereof i.e. on the wall of the opening (3) for a washer (10) against which the flange (7) of the connecting piece (4) is fitted to be pressed for closing the connection box (1) watertightly.

4. Connection box according to claim 3 characterized in that the jointing element (6) comprises a jointing sleeve onto which the mounting and casing tube (5) is detachably mounted.

5. Connection box according to claim 3 characterized in that it is made of metal, plastic or e.g. fiberglass reinforced synthetic material.

6. Connection piece for use in an apparatus according to claim 1 for connecting a water or heating line to a water fixture or the like, which connection piece (4) is purposed to be placed inside a connection box (1) of the apparatus, wherein the connection box (1) is provided with a through opening (3) for accommodating the connection piece (4) and wherein the opening (3) leads to at least one jointing element (6) , by means of which a watertight jointing of the mounting and casing tube (5) of e.g. a water line can be accomplished, characterized in that the connection piece (4) is provided with a continuous circumferential flange (7) , which protrudes from the outer surface thereof and which, in the assembled form of the apparatus, said flange (7) is arranged to position against said shoulder (9) of the connection box (1) whereupon the washer (10) therebetween is fitted to press against said elements and, at the same time, close the connection box (1) watertightly.

7. Connection piece according to claim 6 characterized in that the flange (7) is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connection piece (4) .