Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
  • F16L37/084—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking
  • F16L37/092—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking by means of elements wedged between the pipe and the frusto-conical surface of the body of the connector
  • F16L37/0925—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking by means of elements wedged between the pipe and the frusto-conical surface of the body of the connector with rings which bite into the wall of the pipe

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the technical field of conduits, pipes or tubes, used to convey energy in electrical, optical or fluid form.
• the construction of such transport networks, often underground or underwater therefore requires the juxtaposition and connection of a set of elements, such as tubes to make the connection between two joints.
• connection devices resistant to strong traction, having compact dimensions and not requiring a long connection time so as not to immobilize the machines for too long, is therefore particularly sought after.
• Connection devices which make it possible to connect two ends of tubes in a leaktight manner, comprising a body, substantially cylindrical and having two symmetrical and opposite portions for the engagement of the respective ends of tubes, each of the portions comprising hooking means for retaining the tube in the connector, and sealing means for such a connection, said means for hooking each portion comprising:
• a split ring whose ends are arranged on either side of the longitudinal rib, said ring being provided with an internal thread, the external shape of said ring being chosen so that at least part of its peripheral surface comes to bear against the frustoconical chamber after the engagement of the end of the tube, so as to cause the blocking of the tube by any traction on said tube in opposite direction to its direction of engagement
• connection device for metal pipes in which a clamping ring is subjected to the action of springs integrated in said device.
• Such an embodiment intended for a particular application to metal pipes, has a complexity of design and construction, a drawback making its manufacture difficult and expensive.
• plastic tubes are generally wound before their installation, generating significant bending stresses.
• the object of the present invention is a compact connection device, provided with a quick coupling system for the tubes to be connected and which is removable without specific tools.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a connection device capable of adapting to a possible deformation or ovalization of the circular section of the tubes, and of ensuring a reliable and leaktight assembly.
• the ring in a connection device of the type concerned, is on the one hand disposed freely in the frustoconical chamber and on the other hand, elastically deformable, the inside diameter of the ring being smaller than the outside diameter of the tube in an unstressed or deformed state of said ring, so as to deform elastically and to grip onto the tube during the introduction of said tube.
• the ring has grooves extending over part of its length starting from one end and distributed radially so as to form between each pair of grooves, a radial tongue on the side of the 'end
• the internal thread of each ring has a sharp edge capable of fitting into the periphery of the tube
• This arrangement facilitates the positioning of each tube in the fitting and improves the tube-ring connection, since it adds a notch to the tightening exerted by the ring.
• This arrangement is also advantageous during disassembly of the device because by rotation in opposite direction of the body it allows the longitudinal and simultaneous release towards the outside of the body of the two ends of the tube.
• the body has a central circular rib whose diametrical faces form abutments for the end face of each tube.
• the engagement of each tube in the bodies is limited by a stop on the rib, and contact with the stop informs the operator that he can complete the connection by pulling the tubes outwards to obtain the complementary tightening of the Tubes by retraction of the rings cooperating with the wall of the corresponding frustoconical chamber.
• the invention also relates to an underground or underwater installation conduit comprising at least two installation tubes and at least one connection device
• connection device according to the invention lies in particular in its great simplicity of construction and in a reduced number of component parts.
• connection device according to the invention representing embodiments of the connection device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples in which - Figure 1 is an exploded view of a connection device according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a connection device according to the invention - Figure 3 shows an enlarged element of Figure 2
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 when the device connects two ends of tubes.
• FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view along V-V of Figure 4.
• FIG. 6 and 7 are respectively side and front views of another embodiment of a ring of a connection device according to the invention.
• Figure 1 shows an exploded connection device.
• the connection device consists of a substantially cylindrical main body 1 and having two portions 2a, 2b symmetrical with respect to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said main body 1.
• the first portion 2a has, following the longitudinal axis from the outside towards the central part of the connection device, an inlet chamfer 3 and an extreme cylindrical surface 4 in which a first circular groove 4a is formed.
• the first portion 2a is extended by a frustoconical chamber 5 whose large base partially delimited by a shoulder 6 is located towards the center of the connection device.
• a longitudinal rib 7 also projects inside the frustoconical chamber 5.
• the shoulder 6 is then extended by a central cylindrical bearing in which is also formed a second circular groove 8a.
• connection device according to the invention also comprises O-rings 1 0 which are received in the internal grooves 4a and 8a.
• the connection device according to the invention also comprises a split ring 1 1 disposed in each frustoconical chamber 5.
• This split ring 1 1 has at its slot two ends 1 1 a, 1 1 b opposite which rests on the longitudinal rib 7 thus allowing said split ring 1 1 to slide longitudinally along said longitudinal rib 7 and to block in rotation said split ring 1 1 relative to the main body 1
• the ring 1 1 is thus arranged free, along the longitudinal axis yy 'of the connection device, in the frustoconical chamber 5 Its positioning at the interior of the frustoconical chamber 5 is only determined by the end of a tube 20, during its movement in the direction of engagement or in the opposite direction to the direction of engagement in the connection device A rotation of the main body 1 or more precisely of the connection device therefore also rotates the split ring 1 1
• the latter is advantageously extendable by spreading the ends 1 1 a and 1 1 b more or less, as is the case during the introduction of a tube 20 into the connection device and passing through the split ring 1 1
• the ring 1 1 is made for example with a plastic or metallic material whose elasticity allows, starting from an unstressed or non-deformed state of the ring 1 1 in which its internal diameter is smaller than the external diameter of the tubes 20 , to deform elastically and to grip onto said tube 20 during its introduction into said device
• the main body 1 can be provided with external longitudinal ribs 1 a, 1 b intended to facilitate gripping and handling of the connection device. It is thus easier to turn the connection device according to the invention manually with or without specific tool
• the body 1 advantageously has a particularly resistant central zone This central zone, located between the frustoconical chambers 5, having an increased thickness and the longitudinal external ribs 1 a makes it possible to reinforce the body 1, which can withstand high pressures, for example of the order of 50 bars, according to a given embodiment
• the split ring 1 1 is provided internally with a thread 1 2 having a diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the tubes 20 intended to be connected
• the split rings 1 1 therefore come bear on the tubes intended to be connected as soon as they are engaged in the connection device
• the split rings 1 1, disposed respectively in the frustoconical chambers 5 of the portions 2a and 2b have a thread in the opposite direction
• the main body 1 being produced for example by mirror welding of two half-shells obtained for example by injection of plastic material, therefore generates only burrs along the joint plane of said half-shells.
• said split ring 1 1 is provided with two diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves 1 3 which are positioned on this joint plane so as to remove all tightening problem or possible jamming.
• the body 1 consists of two identical molded half-shells.
• one of the half-shells is pivoted by 180 ° along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis y-y ', to form a second frustoconical chamber 5 provided with a longitudinal rib 7.
• Each half-shell therefore has only one longitudinal rib 7 ( Figure 1, for example)
• the split ring 1 1 advantageously has a peripheral surface 14 of convex shape.
• This peripheral surface 14 has for example a curvature of the spherical type allowing a tightening of said ring 1 1 without jamming in the frustoconical chamber 5.
• the tightening of said split ring 1 1 is obviously obtained by a longitudinal displacement of said split ring 1 1 along the longitudinal rib 7 starting from the large cone base materialized by the shoulder 6.
• Figures 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the ring 1 1.
• Figure 7 is a view along arrow F of Figure 6.
• the ring 1 1 has longitudinal grooves 14a, extending over a portion of its length from an end 1 4b.
• the grooves 14a completely pass through the radial thickness of the ring 1 1 and open outwards at the end 14b
• the grooves 14a are distributed radially so as to delimit a set of radial tongues 14c on the side of the end 14b , each radial tongue 14c thus being delimited by a pair of grooves 14a.
• the ring 1 1 can thus be perfectly adapted to slightly deformed tubes or ovalized, thanks to the presence of grooves 14a and radial tongues 1 4c. The latter therefore facilitate the introduction of the tube 20 into the ring 1 1, in particular when said tube 20 has a section which is no longer perfectly circular.
• Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the connection device according to the invention in which the split ring 1 1 on the left, that is to say that located in the portion 2a bears against the shoulder 6 and on the rib longitudinal 7
• a line 20 has been shown by a dashed line engaged in the connection device and more specifically in the portion 2b
• the tube 20 is engaged to abut against the shoulder formed by the central circular rib 9 and therefore crosses the split ring 1 1 The latter therefore deviates slightly to come into abutment or approach the internal wall 5a of the frustoconical chamber 5.
• the outer peripheral surface 14 of the split ring 1 1 which thus comes towards the cone formed by the frustoconical chamber
• the spacing of the split ring 1 1 causes a initiation or the beginning of incrustation of the internal thread 1 2 in the mast component of said tube 20.
• the internal thread 1 2 of the split rings 1 1 has for example a section with sharp angles of the right triangle type to form helical notches opposing any withdrawal of the tube 20 when said internal thread 1 2 s' is embedded in the periphery of said tube 20.
• An example of such an internal thread 1 2 is represented for example in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 4 shows a completed connection between two tubes 20 thanks to the connection device.
• FIG. 4 shows a completed connection in which the tubes 20 are definitively immobilized using the connection device. A slight pulling movement on each tube 20 makes it possible to drive out the split rings 1 1, which come to tighten further around the tubes 20 by the cooperation between the internal wall 5a of the frustoconical chambers 5 and the external surfaces 14
• connection device With the connection device according to the invention, the ends of the tubes 20, after having undergone a slight withdrawal movement for blocking (see Figure 4), remain in the area located between the frustoconical chambers 5, namely the reinforced area.
• connection of two tubes 20 is thus effected by engaging parallel to the longitudinal axis yy '(see Figure 2) the ends of said tubes 20.
• the abutting against the central circular rib 9 is achieved by a rotational movement of the main body 1 in the opposite direction to that corresponding to the uncoupling.
• the latter is obtained by imparting to the main body 1 a rotational movement so as to gradually release the ends of the tubes 20 from the internal threads 1 2.
• This is possible thanks to the longitudinal ribs 7 which make it possible to rotate the split rings 1 1 .
• the ends of the tubes 20 are thus simultaneously pushed towards the outside of the connection device.
• the complete uncoupling is obtained after a certain number of rotations of the body 1 and this thanks to the internal thread 1 2 in the opposite direction of the two split rings 1 1.
• connection of the connection device with the ends of the tube 20 is effected by engaging each end in the corresponding ring 1 1, possibly with a relative rotation of the tube 20 relative to the ring 1 1, then, at the end of engagement, by exerting traction on the tube 20 to move the ring 11 in its frustoconical chamber 5 and obtain additional tightening on the tube 20.
• connection device according to the invention is advantageous insofar as the connection of two tubes 20 takes place extremely quickly, and the reliability of such a connection is not impaired.
• the presence of the central circular rib 9 makes it possible to indicate to the user of such a connection as far as it is necessary to introduce the ends of the tubes 20 to obtain a satisfactory connection.
• the longitudinal cylindrical surfaces 4 and 8 allow a longitudinal guidance of the tubes 20 and their relatively large dimensions ensure a seal even under strong radii of curvature to which the assembly consisting of tubes 20 and the connection device can be subjected
• the seals 1 0, for example O-rings, make it possible to ensure this seal in cooperation with the bearing surfaces 4 and 8
• connection device and more particularly the tapered shape of the body 1, also allows its use in a strand of tubes, which is particularly advantageous. Its use on single-tube and multi-tube landfill machines is thus possible without difficulty.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Joints That Cut Off Fluids, And Hose Joints (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8846385

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (3)

• 2000
  • 2000-01-26 FR FR0001066A patent/FR2804196B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-01-22 BR BR0101637-7A patent/BR0101637A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-01-22 WO PCT/FR2001/000204 patent/WO2001055631A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-01-22 TN TNTNSN01010A patent/TNSN01010A1/fr unknown
  • 2001-01-22 CA CA002342733A patent/CA2342733A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-01-22 MX MXPA01002851A patent/MXPA01002851A/es unknown
  • 2001-01-22 AU AU2001235579A patent/AU2001235579A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-01-22 CN CN01804090A patent/CN1396997A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-01-22 EP EP01907666A patent/EP1250548A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-01-22 IL IL15086101A patent/IL150861A0/xx unknown

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events