This is a U.S. National Stage Application of Application No. PCT/FR2006/000815 filed Apr. 13, 2006, claiming priority to FR 05 03856, filed Apr. 18, 2005, each of which is incorporated within by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a variable-angle tubular connection, of the type comprising:
the flange ring and end flange forming an axis of rotation, and
A variable-angle tubular junction of the aforementioned type is known from document AU-A-4896369.
A variable-angle tubular connection comprising a first tubular section and a second tubular section, each of which comprises a terminal flange ring is also known from document FR-A-1,469,425. The tubular connection also comprises two sliding flanges, which are separate parts from the flange rings, and are suitable for clamping the flange rings against each other by means of bolts. This connection comprises a large number of constituent parts, and, consequently, is difficult to manufacture and costly to assemble.
The aim of the invention is to provide a variable-angle tubular connection which is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and which will provide a reliable seal while allowing continuous angular variation and various connection possibilities at the free ends of the connection.
Accordingly, the invention relates to a tubular connection of the aforementioned type, characterised in that at least one of the tubular sections comprises a free end equipped with at least a first series of pins projecting radially outwards in relation to the central axis of this tubular section, said tubular section comprising a removable flange which is equipped with a passage recess for each of the pins in the first series of pins and which is designed for the assembly of the connection with an adjacent tubing element by a mechanical-type junction or by a flange junction, and in that, said removable flange can pivot in an angular range delimited by two first successive pins.
According to particular embodiments, the tubular connection according to the invention may comprise one or a plurality of the following characteristics:
The invention will be better understood on reading the description that follows, given solely as an example, and produced with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The tubular connection 2 comprises a first tubular section which is a male section 4, a second tubular section which is a female section 6, and clamping means 8 suitable for tightening the first section 4 against the second section 6. The tubular section 4 and 6 are produced in a rigid material, in particular in cast iron.
The first tubular section 4 defines a first central axis X-X and comprises a circular flange ring 10 which is oblique in relation to the central axis X-X forming an angle of 22.5° with this axis. The second tubular section 6 defines a second central axis Y-Y and comprises an end flange 12 which is oblique in relation to the central axis Y-Y forming an angle of 22.5° with this axis. The end flange 12 is fixed to the second tubular section 6 and in particular is integral with the tubular section 6. As can be seen in
The flange ring 10 and the end flange 12 are held against each other and together form an axis of rotation Z-Z. The tubular section 4 and the tubular section 6 can be turned in relation to each other without restriction about the axis of rotation Z-Z, thus modifying the angle of inclination of the axes X-X and Y-Y in relation to each other between relative angles of between 0° and 45°, and allowing any angular position within this range to be attained.
The tubular section 6 also comprises a grasping handle 18 which is fixed on the one hand to the end flange 12, and on the other hand to the current portion of the second tubular section 6. The grasping handle 18 is situated on the side opposite the rectilinear edge 16, such that, when the tubular connection 2 is placed on the ground, the handle 18 extends upwards. This makes it easier to grasp the connection 2.
Moreover, traversing orifices 20 are arranged in the end flange 12 and extend parallel to the axis of rotation Z-Z.
The clamping means 8 comprise two linking segments 22, produced in a rigid material, such as cast iron, and suitable for being applied against the surface of the flange ring 10 facing away from the end flange 12, and clamping screws 24, suitable for clamping the two linking segments 22 against the flange ring 10. It is also possible to envisage replacing the screws 24 by bolts, but it is then necessary to use two chuck keys.
The clamping screws 24 extend through the orifices 20 and are screwed in internal threads 26 of the linking segments 22. The clamping screws 24 are radially located entirely outside the flange ring 10 in relation to the axis of rotation Z-Z, thus allowing an unrestricted relative rotation of the flange ring 10 and the end flange 12 of 360° about the axis of rotation Z-Z.
Each linking segment 22 has the general form of a part polygon which is complementary to the polygonal form of the end flange 12. In addition, two interstices 28 remain between the two linking segments 22, thus saving material and contributing to reducing the weight of the tubular connection 2.
Referring more particularly to
Advantageously, the linking segments 22 have a graduation or scale 29A in the region of the male section 4 which, in combination with the fixed mark 29B integral with the male section 4 allows precise angular adjustment.
In addition, the end flange 12 comprises a hexagonal skirt 30 which surrounds the linking segments 22 and the flange ring 10. The skirt 30 covers axially at least in part the linking segments 22 and the flange ring 10, thus serving as an end stop to the segments 22. Moreover, this skirt 30 protects the linking segments 22 and the flange ring 10 from specks of dirt and stiffens the end flange 12.
As can be seen in
The housing 34 in which the gasket 32 is enclosed also allows the compression of the elastomer of the gasket 32 to be controlled because of the metallic contact at the end of clamping between the flange ring 10 of the male section 4 and the radial face opposite the end flange 12 of the female section 6, thus avoiding any risk of damage to the gasket 32 that could result from excessive compression of the elastomer. The flange ring 10 and the end flange 12 thus form an end stop which limits compression of the gasket 32 and thus ensures that it is not damaged.
The positioning of the gasket 32 also gives it an autoclave effect, the seal increasing with the pressure of the fluid circulating inside the connection.
Moreover, the linking end of the female section 6 also has a second inner shoulder 42 farther inside radially than the one for receiving the toric gasket 32, this second shoulder 42 serving as a housing for the adjacent end portion 40 of the male section 4 so as to guide the male section 4 in rotation around the female section 6.
The connection according to the invention is of the universal type since for each of the free ends 44, 46 of the sections 4, 6, there are different junction possibilities with the adjacent tubing elements. Each free end 44, 46 is therefore suitable to allow a choice of:
More precisely, the free end 44, 46 of each section 4, 6 has two series of pins projecting radially outwards for mounting a removable flange. In this particular case, the first series comprises four first pins 48 and the second series comprises four second pins 50, axially offset from the first pins towards the flange ring 10 and towards the flange 12 but aligned circumferentially with the first pins 48 (see
An annular removable flange 52 (
The removable flange 52 can therefore no longer be disassembled as long as the bolts 56 are in place in the recesses 54.
In the case of the mechanical junction 60 in
In the case of a flange junction 64, a flat sealing ring 72 made of elastomer is placed between the portion of the end 46 of the connection 2 and the fixed assembly flange 66 integral with the tubing element 62 to be assembled, and the assembly is sealed by axial compression of this ring 72 while tightening the bolts 56 which connect the fixed assembly flange 66 of the tubing element 62 to the removable flange 52 of the connection 2.
In the view in cross-section in
The introduction of the plain end of the element 58 in the end 44 of the connection 2 equipped with such a gasket then causes radial compression of the elastomer, thus sealing the junction. If, in addition to a seal, it is required to lock the automatic junction, the conventional gasket need only be replaced by a gasket provided with locking inserts embedded in the elastomer and toothed internally, such a gasket being known per se (see for example EP 526 373); by biting into the outer surface of the plain end, the metal inserts prevent separation of the plain end and the connection under the action of axial forces tending to disconnect these two elements.
In a variant, if locking the mechanical junction is required, the gasket need only be replaced by a gasket equipped with metal locking inserts designed to bite into the outer surface of the plain end. Advantageously, the mating flange 70 encompassing the gasket may be ready-mounted on the connection, thus obtaining a “ready-to-fit” device; it will then only be necessary to insert the plain-ended end into the connection on site, then carry out the final tightening of the bolts to seal the junction, thus greatly facilitating fitting of the connection.
In a variant, one of the removable flanges 52 of the connection 2 may be replaced by a fixed flange integral with one of the free ends 44, 46 of the connection, allowing mechanical junctions, which may or may not be locked, to be produced as well as flange junctions. However, the removable flange solution is advantageous since it offers the possibility, by pivoting the removable flange in an angular range delimited by two first successive pins, of aligning the position of the orifices of the removable flange with those of the adjacent end flange of a tubing element that requires precise positioning in the ground, such as a gate valve the handling rod of which must be substantially vertical, thus allowing fine adjustment of the position of the connection in relation to the position of the adjacent tubing element.
In this particular case, in the embodiment described, the first pins 48 are spaced by about 80° and the removable flange 52 may consequently rotate by about 80° about its central axis A-A, thus allowing the recesses 54 of the removable flange 52 to be made to coincide with the bolt passage holes arranged in the fixed flange integral with the end of an adjacent tubing element.
Therefore, in addition to the freedom of rotation over 360° of one tubular section 4, 6 in relation to the other offered by the central link between these two sections 4, 6, the fact that the removable flange 52 can pivot freely within a significant angular range around at least one of the free ends of the connection, further increases the assembly and adjustment possibilities of the connection with an adjacent tubing element that needs to be placed in a very precise position.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
05 03856 | Apr 2005 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/FR2006/000815 | 4/13/2006 | WO | 00 | 10/15/2007 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2006/111638 | 10/26/2006 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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826931 | Gordon | Jul 1906 | A |
960899 | Guyer | Jun 1910 | A |
1020839 | Niesen | Mar 1912 | A |
1605507 | Burke | Nov 1926 | A |
1880098 | Mair | Sep 1932 | A |
RE19132 | McGuirk | Apr 1934 | E |
1966039 | Muchnic | Jul 1934 | A |
2009650 | Claussen et al. | Jul 1935 | A |
2124474 | Scholtes | Jul 1938 | A |
2178240 | Pascale | Oct 1939 | A |
2342120 | Cartwright | Feb 1944 | A |
3387867 | Rogers | Jun 1968 | A |
4023833 | Wellard | May 1977 | A |
4484771 | Schulz | Nov 1984 | A |
4702274 | Kramer | Oct 1987 | A |
5437482 | Curtis | Aug 1995 | A |
6114631 | Gretz | Sep 2000 | A |
6932390 | Gretz | Aug 2005 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
4896369 | Jul 1970 | AU |
358329 | Sep 1922 | DE |
1 469 425 | Feb 1967 | FR |
2 830 070 | Mar 2003 | FR |
2 161 234 | Jan 1986 | GB |
WO 9922172 | May 1999 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080179880 A1 | Jul 2008 | US |