WO2006106255A2

WO2006106255A2 - Flangeless and seamless elastomeric compensating sleeve for assembling two smooth tubes

Info

Publication number: WO2006106255A2
Application number: PCT/FR2006/050282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yves Levivier
Original assignee: Yves Levivier
Priority date: 2005-04-04
Filing date: 2006-03-31
Publication date: 2006-10-12
Also published as: WO2006106255A3; FR2883951A1; DE112006000732T5; CN100570199C; CN101147021A; FR2883951B1; DE112006000732B4

Abstract

The invention concerns a flangeless and seamless sleeve for smooth tubes comprising a self-locking device associated with each tube and a flexible bellows whereof each end is locked on the end of a tube and in the self-locking device, the self-locking device consisting of a shell with peripheral opening having one edge capping the edge of the bellows and pressing it against the tube as well as a peripheral housing open towards the tube and receiving an anchoring member terminated by claws pressed against the tube to lock the assembled and pressed shell therein, said shell consisting of at least two peripheral parts. Each shell (11) of the locking device (1) comprises ribs (14) in its entry region designed to overlap the end of the tube and the bellows (2) comprises, at each of its two ends, an inner surface provided with ribs and an outer surface provided with grooves, the corrugations of the ribs and of the grooves being oppositely offset, the recess of one corresponding by a diametrical plane to the recess of the other and reciprocally.

Description

Non-flange-free elastomeric compensating sleeve for joining two smooth tubes Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a sleeve without flange and seamless for smooth tubes comprising a self-locking device associated with each tube and a flexible bellows whose each end is locked on the end of a tube and in the self-locking device, the self-locking device is component of a peripheral opening shell having an inner edge capping the edge of the bellows and clamping it against the tube and at least one peripheral housing open towards the tube and receiving an anchor member terminated by claws applied against the tube to block the shell assembled and tight, this shell being formed of at least two peripheral parts.

Such a sleeve for smooth tube or similar equipment is already known according to FR 98 13 118. Aim of the invention

The present invention aims to develop this type of assembly and allow the realization of a sleeve lighter and easier to install. Description and advantages of the invention

For this purpose, the invention relates to a sleeve of the type defined above characterized in that each shell of the locking device comprises ribs in its inlet area intended to overlap the end of the tube and the bellows comprises, at each at its ends, an inner surface provided with ribs and an outer surface provided with grooves, the undulations of the ribs and grooves being offset in opposition, the hollow of the corresponding one by a diametral plane in the hollow of the other and vice versa.

The ribs of the shell combined with the ribs and grooves of the end of the bellows allow an excellent locking of the bellows on the tube with a lighter set of shells so that, overall, the sleeve connecting two tubes or the end of a apparatus such as a valve, terminated by a tube and another tube or two devices whose ends are terminated by a tube, may be lighter. This results in both a weight gain for transported equipment and a gain in material. According to another advantageous characteristic, the top of the ribs protrude from the internal contour of the bellows engaged on the sleeve tube.

This gap between the top of the ribs and the top of the grooves, creates a generally sinusoidal profile, facilitating and improving the attachment of the end of the bellows on the end of the smooth tube clamping by the shell. The ribs sink into the outer surface of the bellows by creating a linear contact between the top of the shells and the bellows, favorable to the good attachment of the bellows in the shell and a good support for hooking the peaks of the undulations of the ribs of the bellows on the surface of the smooth tube; the ribs of the shells can thus effectively transmit the clamping forces to the frame of the bellows which also promotes the attachment of the bellows to the tube.

To facilitate the engagement of the bellows on the end of the tube, the inlet has a peripheral ramp.

The implementation of the sleeve and especially the clamping of the half-shells on the anchor member and on the end of the bellows is facilitated if the fastening member consists of two parts each corresponding to a half-ring. This embodiment avoids that the two shells have to slide over the ring itself provided with attachment asperities, at the time of closure of the assembly.

This also facilitates the beginning of the introduction of the two shells on the tube and the bellows since each half-ring can be placed in its housing of the shell, the ends of each half-ring being set back with respect to the junction plane. of each half-shell.

Under these conditions, the clamping of the two shells will not be hindered by the presence of a continuous portion of the ring which is located between two half-shells. According to another embodiment, for fluid lines subjected to relatively high pressures, it is advantageous that each end of the bellows is terminated by a bead and the shells each comprise a peripheral housing of section corresponding to that of the bead. This further promotes the attachment of the bellows sleeve avoiding that it is pulled out of the sleeve under the effect of a very intense pressure shock, for example a water hammer. Conversely, at identical pressure, this makes it possible to reduce the dimensioning of the sleeve both at the level of the shell and the bellows for the same extreme pressure.

The peripheral housing of the shells is adapted to the section of the bead. These two sections are substantially equal, that of the housing being slightly smaller than that of the bead so as to create a compression effect.

The tightening is further improved in the case of a bellows provided with a bead or heel if the bottom of the peripheral housing of the shell has a rib which sinks into the heel and increases the pressure thereon and consequently on the armature of the bellows and that of the bellows on the end of the tube.

It also facilitates the closure of the shells by avoiding injuring the bellows if the end of the ribs of the shell at the junction plane is inclined or in the form of leave. drawings

The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve without flange and without welding according to the invention for a bellows provided with end beads,

FIG. 2 is an inward perspective view of another embodiment of shells,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a two-part ring-shaped anchoring element,

FIG. 4 is a view in partial axial section of a first embodiment of a sleeve according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is an axial section of the bellows of the sleeve of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a view in partial axial section of an alternative embodiment of the sleeve of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view in partial axial section of another embodiment of a sleeve according to the invention,

FIG. 8 is an axial section of the bellows of the sleeve of FIG. 7,

FIG. 8A is a detailed view of part A of the bellows of FIG. 8.

Description of embodiments

According to FIG. 1, the invention relates to a sleeve without flange and without welding intended to join two smooth tubes or equipment ending with smooth tubes for the passage of fluid (liquids, vapors, gases).

This sleeve consists of two self-locking devices of which only one HA is shown as well as a bellows 2, symmetrical, terminated by two ends 21 intended to cooperate each with the self-locking device and separated by a bulge 22 to absorb the defects of alignment or angle between the axis the two ends of tubes to join.

Each end 21 of the bellows 2 engages the end of a tube not shown and the assembly is capped by the locking device 1 which, on the one hand, clamps the end 21 of the bellows against the tube and on the other hand, clings directly into the end of the tube, beyond the bellows to lock on the tube and avoid sliding relative thereto when the bellows is subjected to tensile or thrust forces, the bellows directly absorbing these efforts by contraction or lengthening.

The self-locking device 1 is formed of two shells 11; in the case of tubes of large diameter, it can also be formed of three shells or a higher number of shells assembled to each other.

The shells 11 have a symmetrical or identical shape with respect to the axis XX of the assembly, which limits the description to a shell. This shell 11 appears in a first variant in Figure 1 and in another variant HA in Figure 2. Each shell 11, HA consists of a curved portion substantially representing a fraction of a circle, for example a semicircle, completed on each side by lugs 12, 12A of assembly with two or more holes 13, 13A for the passage of bolts 3. Internally on the side of the bellows, the shell 11 consists of a zone 14, 14A provided with several ribs 141 , 14 IA, for example three veins of triangular section with rounded apex or trapezoidal section. These ribs are primed at the junction plane by an inclined surface or a leave 142, 142A not to hurt the bellows 2 at the time of tightening the shells 11. Beyond the zone 14, 14A provided with ribs, the shell 11, HA has a housing 15, 15A of rectangular section to receive the heel 23 of the bellows 2. The section of this housing is, of Preferably, slightly less than that of the heel to accentuate the locking and clamping effect.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the peripheral housing 15 receiving the heel has a simple rectangular section while in the variant 15A of Figure 2, the housing is internally lined with a rib 15 IA of triangular or trapezoidal section, with rounded top, intended to create an additional effort applying to the top of the heel 23 of the bellows.

Beyond the housing of the end of the bellows (whether or not there is a heel), there is a peripheral housing 16, 16A of substantially triangular section which receives an anchoring member 4 in particular in two parts 41 as the one shown in perspective in FIG.

The housing 16, 16A is internally smooth. In the case of a two-part anchoring member 41 in the form of a ring according to the invention, each portion substantially corresponds to a semicircle (preferably an arc length less than this). The half-anchoring member 41 is placed in the peripheral housing 16, 16A of the shell 11, HA and by its edge formed of protruding tabs 411, this anchoring member is hooked into the wall of the tube when the shell is tight against this one.

FIG. 4 shows the installation of the sleeve 1, 2 described above on the end of two tubes T1, T2, the left part showing the sleeve at the plane of the joint of two half-shells 11 and the right part, the outside of the sleeve.

This view shows in particular the shape of the bellows 2 and its armature 24 shown in dashed lines. The end of the bellows 2 is clamped between the outer surface of the tube T1 and the ribs 141 of the shell 11, the ribs 141 crushing the material of the bellows above and below its armature 24 as shown by the displacement of the reinforcement in the thickness of the wall of the bellows. This figure also shows the attachment of the anchoring member 4 in the end of the tube T1.

Figure 5 is an axial sectional view of the bellows 2 of the sleeve showing the armed structure of the sleeve with the plies of the armature 24 integrated in the mass of the material of the sleeve. At each end, in the portion intended to overlap a tube, the bellows 2 has an outer surface provided with grooves 211 and its inner surface comprises an area provided with ribs 212. The ribs project from the inner contour 213 of the end 21 of the bellows 2.

The inlet of the bellows is also provided with a ramp 215 facilitating its engagement on the tube and allowing a very tight dimensioning of the inner section of the bellows, while compensating for the irregularities of the outer surface of the tube related to its manufacture.

The shape of the end of the bellows is shown, in a particular case, on an enlarged scale, separately in FIG. 8A. The end IB IB bellows 2B shown is that of a simple variant of the bellows without heel. But the structure cooperating with the ribs and the shells and the wall of the tube is the same in the various embodiments, except the presence or absence of the heel and the heel housing in the shells of the self-locking devices. This figure shows the offset of the grooves 21 IB and ribs 212B: a groove corresponds each time to the top of a rib which gives a generally corrugated profile, favorable both to the attachment of the shell on the bellows and the bellows on the tube when the set is tight.

According to Figure 5, the bellows 2 is terminated by a heel 23 of rectangular section.

The bellows 2 is unsymmetrical relative to the axis XX of the assembly but also symmetrical with respect to a median plane PM: the two ends 21 of the bellows 2 identical will not be described separately. Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the sleeve, concerning the shape of the housing 15A receiving the heel 23 of the bellows 2. The shell HA of the sleeve is that of Figure 2. This housing 15A is internally provided with a rib IA. The housing is enlarged to have substantially the same sectional area as the ear of the shell 12 of the bellows 2. This rib deforms the heel trapped in the housing and promotes the attachment of both the heel and its clamping on the tube.

Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the sleeve according to the invention. This sleeve is simpler than the previous sleeve because the HB shells do not include a housing for a bellows heel and the bellows 2B does not have a heel. The ends IB of the bellows are straight. The other elements of this embodiment are identical to those previously described and carry the same references completed by the suffix B without their description being repeated again.

Figure 8 shows the shape of the bellows without its heel. The detail A of the bellows is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 8A. This detail view underlines the offset of the hollows and reliefs of the outer surface and the inner surface of the end of the bellows: the grooves 21 IB made in the outer surface are located in the same plane as the vertices of the ribs 212B ce which gives a generally sinusoidal profile. This figure also highlights the protrusion (d) of the top of the ribs 212B with respect to the inner contour 213B of the bellows 2B.

This structure of the end 2 IB of the bellows 2B is the same as that of the bellows 2 with heel (Figure 5).

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T IO N S

1 °) Compensating elastomeric sleeve without flange and seamless for smooth tubes comprising a self-locking device associated with each tube and a flexible bellows whose end is locked on the end of a tube and in the self-locking device, the self-locking device consisting of a peripheral opening shell having an inner edge capping the edge of the bellows and clamping it against the tube as well as at least one peripheral housing open towards the tube and receiving an anchor member terminated by claws applied against the tube for locking the assembled and tight shell, this shell being formed of at least two peripheral parts, characterized in that each shell (11, HA) of the locking device (1, IA) comprises ribs (14, 141, 14A, 141A) in its entry zone intended to overlap the end of the tube and the bellows (2, 2B) has, at each of its ends, an inner surface (21 3, 213B) provided with ribs (212, 212B) and an outer surface provided with grooves (211, 211B), the corrugations of the ribs and grooves being offset in opposition, the hollow of the corresponding one by a diametrical plane in the hollow on the other and vice versa.

2) sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the top of the ribs (212) exceeds (d) of the inner contour (213) of the bellows engaged on the sleeve tube.

3 °) sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet of the bellows (2B) is provided with a ramp (215, 215B).

4 °) sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a anchoring member (4) in two parts (41) each corresponding to a half-ring.

5 °) Sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that each end of the bellows is terminated by a heel (23) and the shell (11, HA) has a peripheral housing (15, 15A) of section corresponding to that of the bead.

6 °) sleeve according to claim 5, characterized in that the bottom of the peripheral housing for the bead comprises a rib.

7 °) sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the end of the ribs (141, 141B) of the shell (11, HA) at the junction plane is inclined or in the form of fillet (142, 142A).