WO1993017929A1

WO1993017929A1 - Tube and protector with clamp

Info

Publication number: WO1993017929A1
Application number: PCT/NL1993/000041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes Cornelis Das
Original assignee: Das Consultancy & Trading
Priority date: 1992-03-02
Filing date: 1993-02-25
Publication date: 1993-09-16
Also published as: NL9200379A

Abstract

The invention concerns a protector for tube ends to be used to protect the machined ends of tubes against damage. The protector ring (2) is placed inside the tube (1). In this stage the ring is open where the ends (9), (10) fit over each other. To protect the welding edge (6), (8) the ring is bent outwards in an angle of about 140 degrees. The end of the bent part is conical and rests against the butt end of the tube (1). This creates a hollow space (7) around the narrow and vulnerable welding edge (8). If the tube (1) is hit accidentally on the butt end the protector ring (2) could be dented without touching and damaging the welding edge (8) itself. The protector ring (2) can be attached into the tube (1) in different ways. One end (10) is provided with a tongue (11) which is long and curved towards the inside and which, when pressed flat, pushes against a hook (13) on the other end (9) and tightens the protector ring (2) in tube (1). For large diameters the protector ring (2) can be equipped on both ends (9), (10) with a hook (13), (16) and tightened with a zig-zag spring (15). A third possibility is to make use of slits (18) in end (9) into which a tongue (19) of the other end (10) fits and where in the circumference of the ring (2) resilient lips (20) are formed which press against the inner wall of the tube (1).

Description

Tube end protector with clamp.

The invention concerns a protector ring which serves to protect the machined ends of tubes which have to be welded together against damage in transport or storage. The protector ring is placed on the inside of the tube. In this stage the ring is open and the ends fit over each other. To protect the welding edge the ring is bent outwards in an angle of about 140 degrees. The end of the bent part is conical and rests against the butt end of the tube. This way a hollow space is created around the narrow and vulnerable welding edge. If the tube is hit on the butt end the protector ring could be damaged but will deform without touching the vulnerable welding edge. The protector ring can be attached into the tube in different ways. One end is provided with a long inward curved tongue which, when pressed flat, pushes against a hook on the other end and tightens the protector ring in the tube. For large diameters the protector ring can be equipped on both ends with a hook in between which a zig-zag spring is positioned. A third possibility is to make use of slits in one end in which a tongue of the other end fits and where in the circumference of the protector ring resilient lips are formed which press against the interior of the tube. It is known to protect tube ends with an internal ring with a flange which reaches beyond the welding edge and whereby a tongue (welded onto the ring) clamps the ring through deforming.

It has been found that this type of ring provides hardly any protection. It is of the utmost importance that the welding edge, mostly having a width of no more than one or one and a half millimeter, fits without obstructions clearly and precisely to the welding edge of the connecting tube. An obstruction can cause welding beads on the inside of the tube. It is also possible that when automatic welding machines are used obstructions cause melting of the whole welding edge requiring costly repairs. In most cases protectors have openings between ring ends which allows for possible damage to the welding edge.

The invention provides a protector ring which creates a hollow space around the welding edge preventing nearly all damage in case of bumping. Furthermore the invention provides for overlapping ring ends to protect the entire butt end of the tube. The invention concerns also diverse lips and hooks which are formed out of the material of the ring. The invention will be described with the help of the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a eras section of the tube end with the protector ring.

Fig. 2 shows view according arrow I.

Fig. 3 shows view according arrow II.

Fig. 4 shows view according arrow I using a spring_*

Fig. 5 shows view according arrow III.

Fig. 6 shows in perspective the system with resilient lips. In Fig. 1 the to be protected tube is indicated with (1). In tube (1) is attached protector ring (2). Protector ring (2) fits with a cylindrical part (3) in tube (1). Attached to the cylindrical part (3) is a flange (4) which is bent outwards with an angle (5) further than 90 degrees in such a way that the flange (4) makes an angle of about 145 degrees to the cylindrical part (3). When the protector ring (2) is placed into the tube (1) flange (4) will rest against the machined surface (6). This way a hollow space (7) is created. The welding edge (8) is thus completely protected by the bent flange (4). When, for instance during transport the tube (1) is bumped the protector ring has to be considerably dented before the welding edge (8) is damaged. To prevent damaging the tube (1) through an opening in the protector ring (2) the ends (9) and (10) are made overlapping. For this purpose the end (10) is bent outwards slightly and flange (4) is made wider. In view of the often large diameters and tolerances of tube (1) it is necessary to provide the protector ring (2) with a fastener which will clamp the protector ring (2) In tube (1). In Fig. 2 and 3 is a long tongue (11) cut at end (10) which is bent towards the center of tube (1). Tongue (11) carries a back bent part (12) which fits against hook (13) which in turn is cut and bent out of end (9). This hook (13) reaches through opening (14) which is created by cutting tongue (11) and which cares for fitting the two ends (9) and (10). By pressing tongue (11) flat the protector ring (2) will be spread and locked into the tube (1).

Fig. 4 and 5 show a variant where a zig-zag spring (15) is positioned between hook (13) and a hook (16) which is formed by bending the end of opening (17) at the end (10). By compressing spring (15) more or less it is possible to adjust the force of the spring in degrees. Fig. 6 shows a variant whereby slits (18) are cut out of end (9) into which tongue (19) fits. By selecting anyone of the slits (18) the protector ring (2) can be set to the diameter of the tube (1) which facilitates the protector ring (2) to be placed into the tube (1). Cut-out resilient lips (20) take care of the locking attachment in tube (1).

Claims

Claims.

1] Tube-end protector with clamp to protect machined tube-ends characterised in that the protector ring (2) is provided with a cylindrical part (3) which fits inside the tube (1) and carries a flange (4) which is bent in the direction of the outside diameter of the tube (1) with an angle between 130 and 160 degrees in reference to the cylindrical part (3) where the bent part has a conical flange (4) resting against the machined surface (6) of tube (1) and where one end (10) of protector ring (2) is widened and fits slidingly over end (9).

2] Tube-end protector with clamp to protect machined tube-ends as in claim 1 characterised in that the protector ring (2) is locked into the to be protected tube (1) by pressing flat a curved tongue (11) which is cut-out of the material of end (10) and where the curved tongue (11) rests against a lip in the farm of a hook (13) which in turn is formed out of the material of the other end (9) of the protector ring (2).

3] Tube-end protector with clamp to protect machined tube-ends as in claim 1 and 2 characterised in that the protector ring (2) is locked in tube (1) by means of a "S"-shaped spring (15) which is placed between hooks (13), (16) in both ends (9) and (10) of protector ring (2).

4] Tube-end protector with clamp to protect machined tube-ends as in claim 1, 2 and 3 characterised in that the protector ring (2) which is provided with slits (18) in end (9) and provided on end (10) with a tongue (19) which fits into the slits (18) and whereby in the circumference of the protector ring (2) resilient lips (20) are cut-out which press against the inner wall of tube (1) by the force of a spring.