Patent Application
20140062078
This disclosure relates to pipe connections, and more particularly to connecting pipes by push-fitting.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Fittings or connectors for the connection of sections of pipes are known in a number of design types. Perhaps the simplest form of pipe connector is a sleeve for connecting two pipes together. The sleeve may fit around an end of each pipe and be sealed in position to effectively make the two pipes one. This type of connection fitting is often practiced in domestic plumbing, where the sleeve is usually formed of copper and soldered onto copper pipes.
More complex connectors tend to rely on some kind of compression fit. For example, a sleeve may be fitted onto the end of a pipe that squeezes around the outside of the pipe to form a seal. Often, a sealing component, such as an O-ring seal, is provided between the pipe and the sleeve. This type of seal is used in some more modern domestic plumbing systems and is often referred to as a “press-fit” or “push-fit” connector. In known push-fit type connectors typically a mechanical locking element ensures that a pipe section maintains a position with respect to the pipe to which it is joined. It is desirable to prevent the pipe from changing its position, which may occur due to rotational or lateral movement relative of the pipe section due to internal or external forces, to prevent the pipe from decoupling.
It can be appreciated that certain stresses and forces act upon the fitting during use. Certain types of pipe may also inherently shrink and expand under environmental conditions. In particular, if a connector is fitted to a pipe that subsequently expands the stress the connector applies to the pipe will increase, which may lead to the seal between the connector and pipe breaking or the pipe distorting around the O-ring. These connectors also tend to have multiple additional components, which can make them prone to break or wear out.
Therefore, there exists a need to increase the durability of the connection seal in a push-fit pipe connector.
An apparatus is disclosed for connecting pipe sections of a pipe fitting or pipe. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a first and second inlets for receiving a piping section, a first and second O-ring internally disposed within recesses, a first and a second inlet disposed on the housing and configured to open into an interior region of the apparatus, wherein the second inlet may be disposed 180-degrees from the first inlet. In one embodiment a push-fit connection assembly comprising a teeth ring having a plurality of teeth directed generally radially inwardly and generally toward the interior region is used to couple a piping section to the apparatus. A further embodiment of the apparatus including a pipe engaging section configured to crimp into a piping section thereby coupling the piping section to the apparatus. The interior region opens at least partially to at least one O-ring and is configured to accept a sealant through the first or second inlet that seals the O-ring to the apparatus and the piping section when applied.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the depictions are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
The second component 14 may include a release collar 16 configured to selectively engage a piping engaging member 18, i.e., a teeth ring or a split grab-ring. The release collar 16 is in coaxial alignment with the piping engaging member 18. The second component 14 may have an inner diameter which is slightly larger than an outside diameter of the pipe or fitting to be received. The second component 14 is preferably formed as to be threaded into the first component 12 to maintain the piping engaging member 18 in position on an annular shoulder 30.
The piping engaging member 18 includes a plurality of individual teeth 19 pointed generally inwardly toward first and second sealing members 20 and 22, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the sealing members are O-rings but other suitable sealing members could be used in place of the O-ring. For example, an annular lip seal, or gasket. The teeth 19 have a generally flat end so as to securely grip an outer surface of a pipe or fitting without piercing or damaging the outer pipe surface. The piping engaging member 18 is preferably formed of spring steel but other materials may be used for the piping engaging member 18 depending upon the composition of the pipe or other fitting to be received by the piping engaging member 18. The piping engaging member 18 is directed radially inwardly and toward the first and second O-rings 20 and 22 preferably forming a series of generally V-shaped segments so as to form the individual teeth 19. A sealant may be applied to the piping engaging member 18 and interior surface areas of the second component 14 to permanently affix the piping engaging member 18 within the pipe connector 10.
The first component 12 includes a shoulder 30 that abuts an outermost portion of the second component 14 and thereby limits the position of the second component 14 relative to the piping engaging member 18. In this way, the second component 14 creates a receiving space for the piping engaging member 18. In addition, the portion of the second component 14 that abuts the first component 12 has a corresponding cross section so as to direct the teeth radially inwardly and generally toward the O-rings 20 and 22. The axially innermost portion of the second component 14 also prevents the teeth 19 from bending away from the O-rings 20 and 22, i.e., if the pipe or fitting is being pulled out of the pipe connector 10. The shoulder 30 is further adapted to receive an O-ring protector component 24, axially positioned within the second component 14 to abut the first O-ring 20. The O-ring protector 24 is configured to hold the first O-ring 20 in position within an O-ring shoulder 26.
The O-ring shoulder 26 has a diameter along an axial surface 28 which is slightly less than the cross-sectional diameter of the O-ring 20 so that the O-ring 20 will be compressed when the pipe or fitting is received within the pipe connector 10. The O-ring shoulder 26 also has an annular, radial surface 29 which has a width which is slightly less than the diameter of the O-ring 20 again so that the O-ring 20 is compressed when the pipe connector 10 receives the pipe or fitting. The shoulder 26 and the O-ring protector component 24 form a recess 23 for containing the first O-ring 20. A second recess 27 is formed to contain the second O-ring 22.
A pipe stop 40 is formed to position a first pipe and a second pipe within the pipe connector 10. The pipe stop 40 forms a first and second piping shoulder 48 and 49, respectively, to receive the first and second pipes or pipe fittings. The piping shoulders 48 and 49 have a diameter along an axial surface 42 which corresponds to and is slightly larger than an outside diameter of a pipe or tubing to be connected to the pipe connector 10. The first piping shoulder 48 has an annular, radial surface 44 which limits axial movement of the pipe or tubing when engaged by the pipe connector 10. The second piping shoulder 49 has an annular, radial surface 45 which limits axial movement of the pipe or tubing when engaged by the pipe connector 10. The pipe stop 40 is preferably a protrusion defined by the radial surfaces 44 and 45 and a top surface 46. The top surface 46 preferably protrudes at least as a width of an inserted pipe and is preferably flush with an interior surface thereof. For example, the pipe stop 40 is configured to receive a pipe or fitting having the same inside diameter as the top surface 46 and preferably the same annular-shape.
Between the O-rings 20 and 22, first and second holes, i.e., inlets 60 and 62, respectively, are disposed from a surface of the pipe connector 10 to the interior. The first inlet 60 is preferably larger than the second inlet 62. The first and second inlets 60 and 62 are configured to enable a user to insert a sealant suitable as a pipe adhesive such as an epoxy into the pipe connector 10 as described herein below. In one preferred embodiment, the first inlet 60 is configured to receive the sealant, while the second inlet 62 is configured to view the sealant within the pipe connector 10. To enable a user to view the epoxy, but inhibit sealant from exiting the pipe connector 10, the second inlet 62 is preferably configured with a smaller opening than the inlet size of the first inlet 60. In one embodiment, the size of the second inlet 62 may be adapted for a particular sealant to advantageously apply surface tension properties, i.e., the opening is configured to be large enough to view the sealant, but configured size constrained to inhibit leakage.
Interior walls of the pipe connector 10 are sized to receive piping and fitting. The pipe connector 10 has an interior diameter along an axial surface 63 and 65 to correspond to an exterior diameter of a pipe or fitting. A second axial surface 61 includes a diameter formed to create a space or cavity between the pipe or fitting section and the second axial surface 61. The diameter of the second axial surface 61 is preferably greater than the diameter associated with the axial surfaces 63 and 65. In this way, a user may inject sealant through the opening 60 and into a cavity space as described herein below.
The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
