WO2011054469A1

WO2011054469A1 - Sleeve for establishing a connection between two pipe elements made of polymer material

Info

Publication number: WO2011054469A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/006569
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Sieber
Original assignee: Rehau Ag + Co
Priority date: 2009-11-03
Filing date: 2010-10-27
Publication date: 2011-05-12
Also published as: DE202009014843U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sleeve (10) for establishing a connection between a first and a second pipe element (12, 14) made of polymer material, wherein the sleeve (10) has a first and a second end section (18, 22), and wherein in order to establish the connection, the first end section (18) can be slid onto a connection end section (20) of the first pipe element (12) in a latching manner and the second end section (22) can be slid onto a connection end section (24) of the second pipe element (14) in a latching manner. The invention further relates to a line (16) for laying in the ground, comprising at least two pipe elements (12, 14) and at least one sleeve (10), wherein the pipe elements (12, 14) are interconnected by means of the sleeve (10).

Description

Cuff for making a connection between two tubular elements of polymer material

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a collar for establishing a connection between a first and a second tubular element of polymer material.

Known conduits intended for burial in the ground are laid in the ground in many cases in such a way that they are "driven" into a previously formed buried hole.These conduits usually consist at least partly of a polymer material and are also called plastic jacking pipes It is also known to use these lines as sewer pipes or sewage pipes or as rainwater pipes or rainwater pipes in that individual tubular elements made of polymer material or tubes made of polymer material are driven in succession into the previously formed borehole in succession in the axial direction, in accordance with the planned course or according to the course of the previously formed borehole, and joined together to form the conduit, w It is known, for example, from DE 3402 98 A1 for the formation of a protective line for the protection of electrical cables laid in the ground. The connection between the individual pipe elements is usually formed in the form of a plug connection or a latching connection. These and other known types of connection between tubular elements for the formation of pipes to be laid in the ground are inter alia from EP 1 375 114 A2, the

EP 1 705 418 A2, DE 200 17 639 U1, DE 195 36 703 A1 and DE 101 39 984 A1. The known, usually quite flexible connections between the tubular elements are exposed to high stresses, in particular in the case of strongly curved lines or strongly curved preformed boreholes. The connections therefore tend to leak, in particular in the case of bending and severe deformation, so that moisture or liquid can penetrate from the ground into the pipe or inner volumes of the pipe elements. This is particularly problematic if the line is provided for receiving current-carrying cables. This penetration of moisture or liquid into the pipe or inner volumes of the pipe elements is also referred to as infiltration. The infiltration by infiltration liquid or by infiltration penetrating water may be contaminated, for example, and thus cause, for example, corrosion on arranged in the line or recorded current-carrying cables. On the other hand, leakage of liquid or fluid from a pipe laid underground is referred to as exfiltration and relates to the applications where the pipe serves, for example, as a sewer pipe or rainwater pipe, that is to say for the flow through with a liquid or a fluid. Exfiltration due to a leak, for example, contamination of the soil may occur when, for example due to the exfiltration wastewater from industrial processes from the line enters the reach.

Effective sealing of the connections between the individual pipe elements by means of seals or sealing elements are also limited due to the pipe geometry, since the seals can only be installed very flat with a very limited compression due to the tube geometry.

If the pipe elements are pushed into one another in a known manner for connecting latching, it is possible that provided seals are moved or damaged by the usually heavy-duty locking process. The restoration of tightness turns out then usually quite difficult, since once engaged connections between pipe elements made of polymer material, especially after a long time, are difficult or at worst not solvable. Furthermore, the end sections of the tube elements to be connected by latching insertion or sliding can gap through the widening during the insertion process or latching process and / or deform plastically, together with a leak in the respective connection. Although known ungeraste- te connections between the pipe elements are usually easier solvable, but very flexible and not very tensile and thus quite prone to leaks. Finally, the individual pipe elements can be driven into the ground or into the previously formed ground hole are pre-damaged by stones or the like and then fail under continuous load.

Underlying task

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a connection device for establishing a connection between two pipe elements for a pipe to be laid in the ground, with which it is possible to provide a connection between the two pipe elements, which compared to known solutions has a significantly higher tensile and compressive strength.

Inventive solution

This object is achieved according to the invention with a sleeve for establishing a connection between a first and a second tubular element made of polymer material, wherein the sleeve has a first and a second end portion, and wherein for the preparation of the compound, the first end portion latching on a connection Endab- section of the first tubular element and the second end portion can be pushed onto a connecting end section of the second tubular element in a latching manner.

According to the invention, the first end portion of the collar is latchingly slidable onto a connecting end portion of the first tubular member or the connecting end portion of the first tubular member is latchably inserted into the first end portion of the sleeve to make the connection, and the second end portion of the sleeve is latchingly locked to a connecting portion. End section of the second tube member pushed or the connecting end portion of the second tube member latchingly inserted into the second end portion of the sleeve.

By using a connecting device in the form of the sleeve according to the invention, a connection between the two tube elements can be created, which has a significantly higher tensile and compressive strength compared to known solutions. Because in contrast to known solutions in which tube elements are pushed into one another detentively, the tube elements deform during the latching process the sleeve according to the invention only minimally, so that a "gaping" and / or plastic deformation of the tubular elements or the pipe element ends can be largely avoided .In particular, the sleeve can preferably be designed so that this deformation of the tube elements during the latching process in comparison to known An undesired bending and deformation, as can occur, for example, when an obstacle occurs during the "driving" of the pipe elements or the pipe to be laid into the ground, can be achieved by using a connecting device in the form of the sleeve be avoided as far as possible. Provided seals are therefore charged only slightly.

Preferably, the sleeve is partially or entirely made of a metallic material, wherein the metallic material may be particularly preferably steel or stainless steel. A metallic material provides a high stability or tensile and compressive strength of the compound and avoids a high degree of adverse "gapping".

The cuff may e.g. also consist of a polymer material, wherein in a preferred embodiment, the sleeve consists partially or entirely of polyamide. Polyamide is characterized in that it can serve as a metal substitute, so that even a sleeve made of polyamide provides a high stability or tensile and compressive strength of the compound. A cuff made of polymaid can also be prepared by means of a conventional process for plastics processing, such as e.g. an injection molding process, are easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

If the sleeve is preferably partially or wholly made of a metallic material or polyamide, unlike known solutions, the locking can take place with relatively little effort, so that shifting or damaging of possibly seals can occur only rarely. This is a consequence of the material pairing of metal to polymer material or polymaid to polymer material, which is associated with comparatively low coefficients of friction. In known solutions, in which end sections of the tubular elements made of polymer material are pushed into one another, the friction coefficients associated with the material pairing of identical or similar plastics are in most cases significantly greater.

If the sleeve preferably consists partly or entirely of a metallic material, the sleeve can be released again after a certain period of use, in particular because a metallic cuff is not subject to the aging processes known for polymer materials, which in the case of known solutions has a disadvantageous effect on the solubility between two bonding partners of polymer material. This has the advantage that after a laying of the respective line in the ground in possibly necessary maintenance operations, if necessary, it is still possible to separate the pipe elements from each other again.

The invention further relates to a pipe for laying in the ground, comprising at least two pipe elements and at least one sleeve according to the invention, wherein the pipe elements are interconnected via the sleeve. In particular, in this case the line for laying in the ground, for example, comprise at least 3 and up to 10 or at least 3 and up to 20 connected pipe elements, the number may vary depending on the application. In a practical embodiment of the underground conduit, at least one main seal and at least one safety seal are disposed at each connecting end portion of the tubular members, the main seals being adapted to seal the connection with the collar against penetrating liquid, and the safety seals being made by contact activatable with liquid and intended to restore the tightness of the connection with the cuff in case of existing leakage.

In this practical embodiment, in addition to the main seals, which are intended to seal the connection with the sleeve or the connection of the respective connecting end portion with the collar against penetrating liquid, safety seals are provided which restore the tightness in the event of leakage. For this purpose, the safety seals can be activated by contact with liquid. Preferably, at least one safety seal partially or wholly consists of a swellable material. It is particularly preferred if each safety seal of the line for laying in the ground partially or entirely consists of a swellable material. By using a swellable material, which may in particular be a swellable elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer composite (such as e.g.

Q-TEC known by AWADOCK), the tightness can be restored. The source capable of material swells on contact with liquid, which by this swelling the tightness is recoverable. Source volume, source pressure and source start are preferably adjustable. A safety seal, which consists partly or wholly of a swellable material, adapts itself by its increase in volume and flexibility almost any shape and can thus seal leaks.

The liquid which would penetrate into the pipe element or the pipe elements and thus thus into the inner volume of the pipe element or the inner volumes of the pipe elements in the event of leakage without the safety seal is in particular water or moisture from the soil. This liquid can penetrate, in particular as a result of failure of at least one of the main seals or as a result of leakage of at least one main seal to the safety seals and / or to activate them to restore tightness. Even if an unwanted bending and deformation, as stated above, by

Use of a connecting device in the form of the sleeve can be largely avoided, but can not be completely ruled out that in a particular case, a failure or leakage of a main seal due to slippage or damage to the main seal during the joining of the tubular elements occurs, even with the utmost care the laying works. This applies in particular if the individual pipe elements are subjected to high mechanical loads, in particular with components perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe element, in accordance with the planned course or according to the course of the previously formed ground hole when "driving" into the earth Safety seal or the safety seals the risk for a leak in the finished manufactured and laid line in contrast to known solutions significantly or greatly reduced.

The main seal may preferably be made partly or wholly of EPDM (abbreviation for ethylene-propylene-diene rubber) or NBR (abbreviation for nitrile rubber) or SBR (abbreviation for styrene-butadiene rubber) or a TPE (abbreviation for thermoplastic) Elastomer).

At least one main seal may preferably be designed in the form of an O-ring seal, wherein it may be particularly preferred in this case if each main seal of the line is designed for laying in the ground in the form of an O-ring seal. Preferably, at least one main seal in the form of a lip seal may be formed, wherein it may be particularly preferred if each main seal of the line is designed for installation in the ground in the form of a lip seal. Both the O-ring seal and the lip seal are practical and effective seal shapes.

Preferably, at least one safety seal in the form of an O-ring seal may be formed, wherein it may be particularly preferred if each safety seal of the line is designed for installation in the ground in the form of an O-ring seal.

Alternatively, the safety seal and main seal may have any cross-sectional shape configured to provide a sufficient sealing effect.

In a preferred embodiment of the conduit for laying in the ground at least one identification element is attached to an inner wall of at least one tubular element.

The identification element is preferably detectable out of the inner volume of the tubular element, wherein the inner volume of the inner wall of the tubular element is limited. The identification element is provided with data or information which preferably relates to the pipe element or the pipe laid in the ground, ie data or information such as serial numbers, material information, data required by standards or laws, manufacturer information, date of manufacture, type of pipe, pipe material, etc The data or information may be in the form of characters or symbolic characters. The data or information can be detected by using control devices which can be introduced into the inner volume of the tubular element or into the inner volume of the laid line, such as, for example, cable inspection cameras, so that they can be made available to a user. In practice, this is also referred to as a channel TV tour. Particularly preferably, the identification element is designed in the form of an RFID chip. With an RFID chip, data stored on the RFID chip, which are preferably data which are stored in the pipe element or in the ground wirelessly read so that the use of control devices, such as cameras for line inspection, can be dispensed with.

Preferably, several, at least two to four pipe elements of the pipe for laying in the ground - provided that it comprises more than four pipe elements - provided with at least one identification element on the inner wall. Particularly preferably, at least the two outermost tubular elements are each provided with an identification element on the inner wall. The provision of multiple identification elements facilitates line inspection, in particular for relatively long laid lines, in particular if certain pipe elements or line sections are not accessible. In this respect, it is particularly preferred if a plurality of identification elements are distributed uniformly over the entire line to the inner walls of the tubular elements. In a further preferred embodiment of the pipe for laying in the ground at least one pipe element is provided with a wear-resistant outer layer. Particularly preferably, all pipe elements of the line are provided with a wear-resistant outer layer. The wear-resistant outer layer prevents damage to the pipe element, preferably damage to a supporting inner layer of the tubular element on which the outer layer is preferably applied, along with additional security when driving or introducing the pipe element or the pipe into the soil.

Brief description of FIG. 1

An embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying Fig. 1 will be explained in more detail. The figure shows a schematic sectional view of a conduit 16 according to the invention for burying in the ground, which comprises a first tubular element 12, a second tubular element 14 and a sleeve 10 according to the invention, wherein the tubular elements 12, 14 are connected to each other via the sleeve 10, in such a way in that a first end section 18 of the sleeve 10 is latchingly pushed onto a connecting end section 20 of the first tubular element 12 and a second end section 22 of the sleeve is latchingly pushed onto a connecting end section 24 of the second tubular element 14. Each end portion 18, 22 of the sleeve 10 has a latching projection 32, engages in each case a corresponding latching recess 34 of the respective connecting end portion 20, 24. Alternatively, any number of such latching projections and locking recesses may be provided. With the sleeve 10, a stable or tension and pressure-resistant connection between the tubular elements 12, 14 is provided, which in particular allows a connection of the inner volumes of the tubular elements 12, 14.

At each connection end section 20, 24 of the tube elements 12, 14, a main seal 26 in the form of a lip seal and a safety seal 28 in the form of an O-seal are provided.

Rings arranged, which are each received in annular grooves 30. The main seals 26 are intended to seal the connection with the sleeve 10 against the ingress of liquid, and the safety seals 28 are activatable by contact with liquid and intended to restore the tightness of the connection with the sleeve 10 in the event of a leak. The figure shows schematically on the right the formation of the main seals 26 and the safety seals 28 in an unloaded state.

- Claims -

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 cuff

12 first pipe element

14 second pipe element

16 cable for laying in the ground

18 first end portion cuff

20 connecting end portion first pipe element

22 second end portion cuff

24 connecting end portion second pipe element

26 main seal

28 safety seal

30 ring groove

32 locking projection

34 detent recess

Claims

claims

A cuff (10) for establishing communication between first and second tubular members (12, 14) of polymeric material, said cuff (10) having first and second end portions (18, 22), and wherein for making said connection the first end portion (18) is latchingly slidable onto a connecting end portion (20) of the first tubular member (12) and the second end portion (22) is slidably slidable onto a connecting end portion (24) of the second tubular member (14).

2. Cuff according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve consists partially or entirely of a metallic material.

3. Cuff according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve consists partly or wholly of polyamide.

4. line (16) for installation in the ground, comprising at least two pipe elements

(12, 14) and at least one sleeve (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tube elements (12,14) via the sleeve (10) are interconnected.

5. conduit (16) according to claim 4, characterized in that at each connection end portion (20, 24) of the tubular elements (12, 14) at least one main seal (26) and at least one safety seal (28) are arranged, wherein the main seals (26) are provided to seal the connection with the sleeve (10) against ingress of liquid, and wherein the safety seals (28) are activatable by contact with liquid and provided for the tightness of the connection with the sleeve (16) restore existing leakage.

6. conduit (16) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one safety seal (28) partially or wholly of a swellable material. Line (16) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one main seal (26) is designed in the form of an O-ring seal.

Line (16) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at least one main seal (26) is designed in the form of a lip seal.

Line (16) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that at least one safety seal (28) is designed in the form of an O-ring seal.

Line (16) according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that at least one identification element is attached to an inner wall of at least one tubular element (12, 14).

Line (16) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that at least one pipe element (12, 14) is provided with a wear-resistant outer layer.