WO2020120443A1

WO2020120443A1 - Tube connection assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2020120443A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/084357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhard Heinrich
Original assignee: Rehau Ag + Co
Priority date: 2018-12-12
Filing date: 2019-12-10
Publication date: 2020-06-18
Also published as: DE202018107107U1; EP3894732A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube connection assembly (1), comprising: a tube (2) having at least one tip end; a further tube (3) having at least one socket end (4), wherein the tip end of the tube (2) is introduced into the socket end (4) of the further tube (3); and a tube connection device (7) for securing the two tubes (2, 3) in the longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the tube connection device (7) has at least one annular retaining element (7) that can be secured to the at least one socket end (4) for integrally securing the tubes (2, 3) to the further tube (3), wherein at least two retaining element connection elements (9, 9') are arranged on the retaining element (7), which are engaged with corresponding tube connection elements (21, 21') of the tube (2).

Description

Pipe connection arrangement

The invention relates to a pipe connection arrangement comprising a pipe with at least one spigot end, a further pipe with at least one socket end, the spigot end of the pipe being inserted into the socket end of the further pipe, and a pipe connection device for fixing the two pipes in the longitudinal direction thereof the pipe connec tion device has at least one annular holding element which can be fixed to the further pipe with the at least one sleeve end for the form-fitting fixing of the pipes.

Such pipe connection arrangements and pipe connection devices used therein are known from the prior art. The pipe connection devices are used to axially fix the pipe connection arrangements before inadvertent pulling apart of the components, which is particularly necessary in the case of large head heights and pressure de-watering (lifting systems, vacuum roof drainage). According to the prior art, metallic claws or clamps are placed on the connection in pressurized water pipes, these claws or clamps having a high spatial demand and being designed such that they can only be used in pipes with large walls. In contrast, drainage pipes made of plastic are thin-walled and only a very limited space is available for their installation, which excludes the use of clamps or claws known in the prior art.

For use in plastic drainage pipes, DE 20 2005 019 635 U1 therefore proposes a pipe connection device for the positive connection of two plastic pipes, one of which comprises a socket end or a push-in socket and the other a spigot end inserted into the socket end, the pipe connection device comprising two half-shell-like holding elements comprises which encompass at least a portion of the socket end and the tip end and can be braced against one another, the holding element being made of plastic and at least one claw protruding radially inwards over a part-cylindrical bearing surface which can be placed against the outer surface of the tip end element. Such a connecting device damages the pipe walls during assembly and thus leads to a pipe weakening.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved pipe connection arrangement with a pipe connection device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the pipe connection arrangement according to the invention is intended to achieve high operational reliability of a pipe system comprising the pipe connection arrangement, in particular a house drain pipe system. In addition, the pipe connection arrangement according to the invention should be easy and mountable with a small space requirement and should not lead to any damage to the pipe wall.

These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a pipe connection arrangement with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the prior invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, it was recognized that such a pipe connection arrangement can be assembled more easily and with less space requirement if the pipe with the spigot end already has pipe connection elements with which cooperating connection elements can be connected to the holding element to be assigned to the holding element. For this purpose, the holding element is annular and serves for the form-fitting fixing of the pipes in the area of their joint. The holding element is on one side of a circumferential increase in the sleeve end, for example a bead for receiving a sealing ring or a sleeve crack, angeord net. The holding element connecting elements belonging to the holding element overlap the joint of the pipes to be connected and interact with the cooperating pipe connecting elements, for example by latching with them. An unintentional exit of the tip end from the sleeve end is prevented by this fixation in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe connection arrangement without damaging the pipe walls. In addition, the holding element takes up little space, so that the pipe connection arrangement according to the invention can be assembled easily and with only a small space requirement.

Accordingly, the present invention resides in the provision of a pipe connection arrangement which comprises a pipe with at least one spigot end, a further pipe with a min. at least one socket end, the tip end of the pipe being inserted into the socket end of the further pipe, and comprising a pipe connection device for fixing the two pipes in the longitudinal direction thereof, the pipe connection device having at least one annular holding element which is used for the positive connection of the pipes to the other Pipe can be fixed with the at least one sleeve end, and is characterized according to the invention in that at least two holding element connecting elements are arranged on the holding element, which are connected to corresponding pipe connecting elements of the pipe.

As used herein, the term "pipe" is intended to include "pipe fittings" such as branches, T-pieces, bends, or the like. The term "butt joint" is intended to describe the area of the pipe connection arrangement where the pipes abut or the one pipe enters the other if the pipes overlap at the ends.

It can prove to be helpful if the holding element connecting elements are in positive engagement with the pipe connecting elements of the pipe, in particular are locked with them. As a result, the pipe connection device can withstand high pull-out forces in the axial direction of the pipe to be clamped.

It can prove to be practical if the pipe connecting elements are designed as connecting lugs molded onto the further pipe. Pipes with such connecting straps are easy to manufacture, in particular by injection molding the connecting straps onto the further pipe during its production by extrusion or, in particular, in the case of tubular molded parts by injection molding. In addition, such connection tabs allow compensation for the thermal expansion of the pipes during the intended use of the pipe connection arrangement according to the invention.

It may prove to be advantageous if the holding element connecting elements are designed as connecting tongues. This represents a particularly simple embodiment of the Hal teelementverbindungselemente, which also contributes to easy assembly.

It can be practical if the pipe connection device between an arrangement opened in the circumferential direction, in which the pipe connection device can be arranged on the further pipe with the at least one socket end, and one in the circumferential direction. device closed arrangement in which the pipe connection device is fixed to the further pipe with the at least one sleeve end can be transferred. As a result, the pipe connection device is also suitable for repeated use and the pipe connection device can subsequently be installed on the pipe connection arrangement.

It can also be preferred if the holding element connecting elements are detachably connected to the holding element. As a result, different holding element connecting elements, in particular holding element connecting elements of variable length and / or with different connecting means to the tube, can be connected to a holding element. As a result, the number of articles to be kept by the installer and thus his storage can be reduced.

It can be useful if the holding elements are designed as injection molded plastic parts. As a result, large quantities can be produced easily and inexpensively.

It can be practical if the holding element connecting elements are identical to one another. As a result, the production of the pipe connection device can be considerably simplified and the production costs can be significantly reduced.

In preferred embodiments of the pipe connection according to the invention, the pipe connection device is at least partially made of recycling material, that is to say the holding element and / or the holding element connecting elements. The use of recycling material contributes to environmental protection and represents a way of reducing costs.

Each pipe preferably has a socket end at one end and a matching spigot end at the other end, so that pipe chains can be formed from pipes of identical construction.

The pipes used according to the invention are preferably plastic pipes for the passage of waste water. In particular, plastic tubes of this type are constructed from a base tube and extruded, band-like layers arranged on the inner and / or outer surface of the base tube. The band-like layers are preferably spaced apart from one another. Preferably the density of the Base pipe material on the density of the material of the band-like layers. Such plastic pipes for the passage of waste water are known from DE 10 2006 020 375 A1, the content of which is explicitly referred to in terms of structure, material and manufacture of the plastic pipes. The pipes can be cut to the required pipe length at the place of use.

It can be helpful if a lubricant is applied to the outer surface of the pipe on the pipe with the pointed end in the area of the pointed end. Applying a lubricant makes it easier to insert the tip end of the pipe into the socket end of the other pipe. In addition, a relative movement of the tip end and the sleeve end is facilitated due to different thermal expansion, which leads to a sound reduction when using the pipe connection arrangement.

The pipe connection arrangement according to the invention as well as individual parts thereof can also be produced line by line or layer by layer using a line-building or layer-building manufacturing process (e.g. 3D printing), but production by means of extrusion or, in the case of pipe-shaped parts by means of injection molding, is preferred.

In the following, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. Show:

Figure 1 is a view of a pipe connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of a pipe connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a view of a pipe connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a view of a pipe connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a view of a pipe connection arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a view of a pipe connection arrangement 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the pipe connection arrangement 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises two connected pipes 2, 3 and a pipe connection device 7 mounted above the joint 4 of the pipes 2, 3.

The pipes 2, 3 are preferably plastic sewage pipes, for example polypropylene (PP), preferably with a diameter of 40 to 160 mm and a wall thickness of 1.8 to 3.9 mm. The end of the further pipe 3 is designed as a sleeve end 4 or push-in sleeve and has a bead 5. A spigot end of the pipe 2 is inserted into the sleeve end 4, the gap between the pipe 2 and the further pipe 3 being sealed by a radially circumferential sealing ring arranged in the bead 5. The abutment point 6 marks a mouth of the sleeve end 4 or the point at which the pipe 2 enters the further pipe 3. The tube 2 can have a circumferential increase (not shown) that does not fit through the mouth of the sleeve end 4 and thus limits the insertion length of the tube 2. This increase in circumference can be a circumferential collar, or can be formed by a plurality of cam-like elevations, and is for example molded on during manufacture or subsequently attached, for example glued or welded on. In addition, the tube 2 comprises two tube connecting elements 21,

21 ^' . The pipe connecting elements 21, 21 ^' are arranged diametrically to each other along the pipe circumference and designed as tabs. The pipe connecting elements 21, 21 ^' are preferably molded onto the pipe 2 during the manufacturing process. Each pipe preferably has a socket end at one end and a matching spigot end at the other end, so that pipe chains can be formed from pipes of identical construction.

The pipe connection arrangement 1 further comprises the pipe connection device 7 for connecting the two pipes 2, 3, which in turn comprises a holding element 8 and two holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the holding element 8 is annular and is arranged on the side of the bead 5 facing away from the joint 6. The holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' are formed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as connecting tongues and along the circumference of the holding element 8 arranged diametrically to one another. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' are integrally formed on the holding element 8 and guided over the joint 6 of the tubes 2, 3. At their end facing away from the holding element 8, the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^'have locking projections 10, 10 ^' . The latching projections 10, 10 ^' engage behind the tube connecting elements 21, 21 ^{' of} the tube 2 which are designed as tabs, thereby preventing the tip end of the tube 2 from being pulled out unintentionally from the sleeve end 4 of the further tube 3.

In other embodiments of the pipe connection arrangement 1 according to the invention, the pipe connection device 7 can also have more than two, in particular three, four, five or more holding element connecting elements, which are preferably arranged at the same distance along the circumference of the annular holding element 8. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, the pipe has a number of pipe connection elements corresponding to the number of holding elements which are arranged along the circumference of the holding element 8 on the circumference of the pipe 2 in accordance with the respective position of the holding element connecting elements.

In addition, the holding element 8 can be arranged between an arrangement which is open in the circumferential direction, in which the holding element 8 can be arranged on the further pipe 3 with the socket end 4, and an arrangement which is closed in the circumferential direction, in which the holding element 8 on the further pipe 3 with the socket end 4 is set to be transferable. For example, the holding element 8 can preferably be connected via a joint, e.g. a film hinge, can be divided into two sub-elements that can be connected to each other, in particular locked together. This enables a subsequent fixation of a connection of the pipes 2, 3 by the corresponding pipe connection device 7 with Hal teelement 8 from sub-elements.

Furthermore, the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' need not necessarily be connected in one piece to the holding element 8. In alternative examples, the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^'can also be connected only to the holding element 8. An example of this would be the retaining element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' , which are fastened to their position along the circumference of the annular retaining element 8 via a latching connection or a plug connection. The pipe connection device 7 is preferably produced by means of injection molding. Suitable materials for the pipe connection device 7 are mainly plastics, in particular polyacetal, for example polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyamide. Corresponding materials can also be modified with fillers / reinforcing materials. The Rohrverbindungsvor direction 7 is preferably formed from glass fiber reinforced plastic, preferably polyamide-66 with a glass fiber content of 60% (PA66-GF60). Alternatively, the pipe connection device 7 can also be made of suitable metallic materials, such as steel, spring steel, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum die-casting alloys, zinc die-casting alloys or aluminum-zinc die-casting alloys. The wall thickness of the holding element 7 is, for example, 2 mm to 5 mm, preferably 3.5 mm.

The assembly of the pipe connection arrangement 1 is described with reference to the figures as follows: On the socket end 4 of the further pipe 3, the Rohrverbindungsvorrich device 7 is pushed on from the tip end of the further pipe 3. Then the tubes 2, 3 are plugged together with an interposed sealing ring 4. The opposing retaining element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' are guided through the tube connecting elements 21, 21 ^{' designed} as tabs until the locking projections 10, 10 ^'of the retaining element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' engage behind the tabs. The ring-shaped holding element 8 is then arranged on the side of the bead 5 facing away from the joint 6. The tip end of the pipe 2 is spaced from a sleeve base of the sleeve end 4 of the further pipe 3 that a thermal expansion of the pipes 2, 3 occurring when the pipe connection arrangement according to the invention is used as intended can be compensated for without causing deformation or breaks of pipes 2, 3 even occur. An unintentional exit of the tip end of the pipe 2 from the sleeve end 4 of the further pipe 3 is prevented by this fixation in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipe connection arrangement 1 without damaging the pipe walls. The pipe connection device 7 requires only little space, so that the pipe connection arrangement 1 according to the invention can be assembled easily and with only a small space requirement.

In Figures 2 to 5 further embodiments of the Rohrver connection arrangement 1 according to the invention are shown in corresponding views. In order to avoid repetitions, only the differences from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be discussed. The same reference numerals designate the same elements. The related 1 also applies accordingly to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

The pipe connection arrangement 1 according to the invention in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in particular in that the sleeve end 4 of the further pipe 3 is smooth, i.e. it has no bead for inserting a sealing ring. The seal between the tubes 2, 3 is carried out by a sealing ring which is injected or inserted into a circumferential area on the inside of the tube res 2 with a reduced wall thickness. The holding element 8 of the pipe connection device 7 is arranged on the side facing away from the joint 6 of the sleeve jump 12. The socket jump 12 is the area of the further pipe 3 in which its outer radius increases towards the socket end 4. This sleeve jump 12 can be there with a gradual transition from the normal pipe diameter of the further pipe 3 to the diameter of the sleeve end 4 or the expansion of the further pipe 3 can also take place abruptly, i.e. the diameter increases abruptly from the normal pipe diameter of the further pipe 3 to the diameter of the sleeve end 4.

The holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' are also shown in FIG. 2 straight out over the joint 6 of the pipes 2, 3, because at the socket end 4 of the further pipe 3 no bead has to be overcome.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the pipe connection arrangement 1 according to the invention differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in addition to the differences according to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 in particular in that the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' with the pipe connecting elements 21, 21 ^' cooperating areas 13, 13 ^' with reduced wall thickness. The positive connection between the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' and the pipe connecting elements 21, 21 ^' , which are in turn formed as brackets, is brought about by the fact that between the outwardly pressing holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' and the pipe connecting elements 21, 21 ^' in the areas 13, 13 ^' a locking connection is generated.

The embodiment of the pipe connection arrangement 1 according to the invention according to FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in addition to the differences according to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 further in particular in that the locking projections 10, 10 ^'of the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^{' are} vertical to the longitudinal axis of the Pipes 2, 3 are directed outwards and protrude through corresponding recesses in the pipe connecting elements 21, 21 ^' , which in turn produces snap connections, thereby ensuring that the pipes 2, 3 are fixed in their longitudinal direction.

The tube connection arrangement 1 according to the invention in the embodiment according to FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in particular in that the tube connection elements 21, 21 ^{'are designed} as radially outwardly directed locking projections. These formed as locking projections pipe connecting elements 21, 21 ^' protrude to form a respective locking connection by corresponding recesses in the holding element connecting elements 9, 9 ^' . As a result, the positions of the tubes 2, 3 are fixed in their longitudinal direction.

The present invention has been explained in detail by way of example with reference to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the figures. It is understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, but that the scope of the present invention results from the claims.

Claims

1. Pipe connection arrangement (1), comprising:

a tube (2) with at least one spigot end,

a further pipe (3) with at least one socket end (4), the tip end of the pipe (2) being inserted into the socket end (4) of the further pipe (3), and

a pipe connection device (7) for fixing the two pipes (2, 3) in their longitudinal direction, the pipe connection device (7) having at least one annular holding element (7) which is used for the form-fitting fixing of the pipes (2, 3) to the further pipe ( 3) can be fixed with the at least one sleeve end (4), characterized in that on the holding element (7) at least two holding element connecting elements (9, 9 ^' ) are arranged, which with corresponding pipe connecting elements (21, 21 ^' ) of the pipe (2) are engaged.

2. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding element connecting elements (9, 9 ^' ) with the pipe connecting elements (21, 21 ^' ) of the tube (2) are in positive engagement, in particular are locked with them.

3. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the pipe connection elements (21, 21 ^' ) are formed as molded onto the pipe (2) connecting tabs.

4. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element connecting elements (9, 9) are designed as connecting tongues.

5. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (8) between an opening in the circumferential direction th arrangement, in which the holding element (8) on the further pipe (3) with the at least one sleeve end ( 4) can be arranged, and a closed arrangement in the circumferential direction, in which the holding element (8) on the further pipe (3) with the at least one sleeve end (4) is fixed, can be transferred.

6. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe connection device (7) are designed as an injection molded part made of plastic.

7. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element connecting elements (9, 9 ^' ) are detachably connected to the holding element (10).

8. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element connecting elements (9, 9 ^' ) are identically formed.

9. Pipe connection arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe connection device (7) is at least partially made of recycling material.