WO2002055917A1

WO2002055917A1 - Pipe connection

Info

Publication number: WO2002055917A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/000046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Anthony Davidson
Original assignee: Linkindex Limited
Priority date: 2001-01-09
Filing date: 2002-01-07
Publication date: 2002-07-18
Also published as: GB0100555D0

Abstract

A connector (1) for connecting the end of a pipe (7) to another pipe end (9), pipe fitting or the like, the connector (1) comprising a pipe end receiving sleeve having first and second sleeve elements (3, 21), the first sleeve element (3) providing a passage from the pipe end to another pipe end, pipe fitting or the like, the second sleeve (21) element being for holding the pipe end within the first sleeve element (3), said first and second sleeve elements (3, 21) being arranged for threaded engagement with each other.

Description

PIPE CONNECTION

This invention relates to the connection of pipes to other pipes or to other devices such as pipe fittings, taps and the like. The term pipe used herein in relation to the invention includes any form of tubular member.

Known connectors are typically compression joints with a substantial numbers of parts, some of which may be easily mislaid, particularly if work is carried out at night or, generally, in poor light. There is a need for a simple connector which can be easily assembled and disassembled whilst providing a strong connection with good sealing.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for connecting the end of a pipe to another pipe end, pipe fitting or the like, the connector comprising a pipe end receiving sleeve having first and second sleeve elements, the first sleeve element providing a passage from the pipe end to another pipe end, pipe fitting or the like, the second sleeve element being for holding the pipe end within the first sleeve element, said first and second sleeve elements being arranged for threaded engagement with each other.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention said first sleeve element is provided with an externally threaded section and said second sleeve element is provided with an internally threaded section so as to allow threaded engagement between said first and second sleeve elements.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention said the first sleeve element is provided with an internally threaded section and said second sleeve element is provided with an externally threaded section so as to allow threaded engagement between said first and second sleeve elements. Preferably, the first sleeve element is provided with two longitudinally spaced apart threaded sections and the connector includes two second sleeve elements, one for each said spaced apart threaded sections.

Preferably the connector further comprises a seal member located within the first sleeve element and providing sealing between the connector and the pipe end. The seal member may be, for example, an O-ring or, particularly in the case of a hygenic joint, a square or rectangular section circular ring or the like.

Preferably the pipe end is provided with one or more, or indeed a continuous, outwardly extending projection(s) which, in use, prevents the pipe end from being pulled out of the pipe connector due to engagement between said projection or projections and the end of the second sleeve element.

In another embodiment, the connector may be integrally formed into an item of equipment into which a pipe end is to be terminated.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a pipe connector in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a pipe connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 shows the second sleeve element of the pipe connector of Figure 1 or

Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in the form of an elbow connector between two pipes utilising the pipe connectors of Figures 1 or 2;

Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of a pipe connector in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a fifth embodiment of a pipe connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 shows the second sleeve element of the pipe connector of Figure 5 or 6; and

Figure 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention in the form of an elbow connector between two pipes utilising the pipe connector of Figures 5 or 6.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings a pipe connector 1 in accordance with the present invention includes a first sleeve element 3 which has a short central section 5 of internal diameter slightly less than that of the two pipes 7, 9 to be connected together. Section 5 provides an abutment against which each pipe end may be engaged. To each side of section 5, sleeve element 3 is essentially identical; the element being stepped outwardly to provide a section 7 which is a reasonably close fit around the pipe end. Adjacent section 11 and stepped outwardly therefrom is a further section 13 which accommodates an O-ring 15 and within which also lies an outwardly extending projection (or projections) 17 formed on the pipe end. The projection(s) may be formed by upsetting the pipe in two, four or more places for example. The or each projection 17 may be formed by means of a crimping tool, such as a special form of pliers for example.

The next adjacent section 19 of first sleeve element 3 is threaded internally and has an average diameter similar to that of section 13.

A second sleeve element 21 is in the form of a threaded bush or hollow plug. Bush 21 has an internal diameter substantially the same as that of section 11 of first sleeve element 3, that is to say, providing a relatively close fit about pipe end 7. Externally, bush 21 has a threaded section 23 extending from one end thereof along most of the length of the bush. This threaded section 23 corresponds to the internal threaded section 19 of the first sleeve element 3 and allows bush 21 to be screwed into element 3. Bush 21 is also provided with an enlarged integral end ring 25 which, when the bush is screwed fully into element 3, will abut the end of element 3.

It can be seen that, with pipe end 7 pushed into position within sleeve element 3 and bush 25 then screwed into sleeve element 3, a firm, sealed connection is made between the pipe connector 1 and the pipe end 7. Furthermore, the pipe cannot be easily pulled out of the pipe connector 1 due to engagement of projection (s) 17 with the end of bush 21.

Referring to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings a second embodiment of the pipe connector of the present invention is similar to that shown in Figure 1 and the same reference numerals will be used for those parts, which correspond.

The first sleeve element 3 differs from the corresponding sleeve element of the Figure 1 embodiment in having a central section 31 which has an internal diameter slightly less than that of the pipe ends, this section 31 being relatively long (compared with section 5 of the Figure 1 embodiment). Abutting each longitudinal edge of section 31 is a rectangular section circular sealing ring 33 against which the pipe end 7 abuts. In other respects the pipe connector is identical to that of the Figure 1 embodiment.

The use of a rectangular section sealing element 33, in the manner described above, provides a hygenic joint, that is to say, one in which food cannot get trapped within the joint.

Referring to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, there is depicted in greater detail the bush 21 of use in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2.

The embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 show a straight connection between two pipe ends. Referring to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, an alternative embodiment in accordance with the presence invention is in the form of an elbow joint between two pipe end. In this case the sleeve section 41 provides the right angled connection, pipe ends 43 and 45 being introduced into elbow section 41 and being held in place by bushes 47 and 49.

Referring to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, a fourth embodiment of the pipe connector of the present invention similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated, accordingly the same reference numerals will be used for those parts which correspond. It is of note, however, that in the embodiment depicted in Figure 5 the embodiment differs from that depicted in Figure 1 or 2 in that the bush 21 of pipe connector 1 is provided with an internal thread 50 and first sleeve element 3 is provided with an externally threaded section 51. Effectively this represents a converse threading configuration of said two elements. End 25 of bush 21 is screwed on so as to abut projection 17, this abutment end of bush 21 being the opposite of that described in Figure 1. In other respects the embodiment of Figure 5 effects its connection in a similar manner as hereinbefore described, in that O-ring 15 is accommodated in section 13 which is defined by section 11, projection 17 and an unthreaded section of first sleeve element 3. However this particular embodiment of the invention bush 21 substantially provides the external or exposed surface and first sleeve element 3 is only marginally, if at all, exposed at area 52, thus improving the hygienic capability of the connection.

Referring to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, a fifth embodiment of the pipe connector of the present invention similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, is illustrated, accordingly the same reference numerals will be used for those parts which correspond. It is of note that in this embodiment, as with that of Figure 5, bush 21 is provided with an internal thread 50 and first sleeve element 3 is provided with an externally threaded section 51. Furthermore, the first sleeve element differs from that depicted in Figure 5 and is similar to that depicted in Figure 2, in that central region 31 is relatively long as compared to section 5 of Figures 1 and 5. Abutting each longitudinal edge of section 31 is a rectangular cross-section annular sealing ring 33, against which end. of pipes 9 and 7 abut.

With reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, there is depicted in greater detail bush 21 for use in the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, this embodiment is similar to that of Figure 3 differing in the internal positioning of thread region 50 and is afforded the same reference numerals for those parts which correspond. Embodiments of Figures 5 and 6 illustrate straight connection between two pipe ends. However with reference to Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings, an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention is in the form of an elbow joint between the pipe ends. In this embodiment, which is similar to that depicted in Figure 4, reference numerals for those parts which correspond are used. In this case the sleeve section 41 provides the right angled connection and is provided with areas of external threading at 53 A and B, pipe ends 43 and 45 being introduced into elbow section 41 and being held in place by internally threaded bushes 54 A and B.

It will be appreciated that elbow 41 may be provided as a "T" junction or any other configuration that is desired to connect a selected and multiple number of pipes together.

A pipe connector in accordance with the present invention may be used together with pipes of any appropriate material, particular thin walled pipes of plastics or metal. The first sleeve element may be made of plastics, metal or other suitable material and the bush may be made of plastics, stainless steel, brass or other suitable material.

A pipe connector in accordance with the present invention may be used for forming any sort of connection between a pipe and another pipe or between a pipe and another device. For instance, it may be in the form of a tee connector. Whether a straight connector, an elbow connector or a tee connector, it may be in the form of a reducer, connecting together two or more pipes of different diameter.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting the end of a pipe to another pipe end, pipe fitting or the like, the connector comprising a pipe end receiving sleeve having first > and second sleeve elements, the first sleeve element providing a passage from the pipe end to another pipe end, pipe fitting or the like, the second sleeve element being for holding the pipe end within the first sleeve element, said first and second sleeve elements being arranged for tlireaded engagement with each other.

I. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first sleeve element is provided with an externally threaded section and said second sleeve element is provided with an internally threaded section so as to allow threaded engagement between said first and second sleeve elements.

>. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first sleeve element is provided with an internally threaded section and said second sleeve element is provided with an externally threaded section so as to allow threaded engagement between said first and second sleeve elements.

k A connector as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the first sleeve element is provided with two longitudinally spaced apart threaded sections and the connector includes two second sleeve elements, one for each said spaced apart threaded sections.

i. A connector as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the connector further comprises a seal member located within the first sleeve element and providing sealing between the connector and the pipe end.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the seal member comprises an O- ring, a square or rectangular section circular ring or the like.

7. A connector as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the pipe end is provided with one or more, or a continuous, outwardly extending projection(s) which, in use, prevents the pipe end from being pulled out of the pipe connector due to engagement between said projection or projections and the second sleeve element.

8. A connector as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the second sleeve element has the form of a threaded bush.

9. A connector as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the connector is provided as a straight connector, an elbow connector or a tee connector or other configuration to connect a multiple number of pipes together.

10. A connector as claimed in any one preceding claim wherein the connector is integrally formed into a device into which, in use, a pipe end is to be terminated.