AU617524B2

AU617524B2 - Fluid clamp-on outlet coupling

Info

Publication number: AU617524B2
Application number: AU41201/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Howard Archibald Treloar
Original assignee: Mining Supplies Minsup Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Mining Supplies Minsup Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-09-09
Filing date: 1989-09-08
Publication date: 1991-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-08
Also published as: AU4120189A

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AU AL Patents Act 1952-196v 2 4 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class I Form nt. Class Application Number Lodged Complete Application No. Specification Lodged Published Priority: Related art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT MINING SUPPLIES (MINSUP) PTY LTD 1086 SOUTH ROAD, EDWARDSTOWN STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Actual Inventor: Address for Service: COLLISON CO, PATENT ATTORNEYS 117 KING WILLIAM STREET, ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 5000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: us: ~Pt~: Z~ f PATENT, TRADE MARKS DESIGNS SUB-OFFICE -8 SEP1989 SOUTH AUSTRALIA

IL--

.i i if 2 This invention relates to a fluid clamp-on outlet coupling and in particular relates to a method and means for arranging a coupling to allow flow to an outlet from the coupling.

Clamp-on couplings are already known and these generally comprise two half members which clamp around the two ends of a pipe to which a coupling is made and provide the necessary seal against outflow from the pipe excepting through the coupling, the two halves being drawn together to form both a rigid interconnection of the two pipe ends as well as to the outlet and including resilient sealing means which prevent leakage from the join.

One of the problems with this type of construction is to be able to form a convenient type of outlet without having to shape the pipe ends to which the outlet is to be joined, and the object of this invention therefore is to provide a 1 5 simple and effective coupling which when clamped in position will hold the pipe ends as well as the outlet and will seal against outflow excepting through the outlet.

This is achieved according to the method of this invention by use of a separator member which fits between adjacent ends of two pipes to define a space therebetween through which fluid can pass, and by locating a resilient sealing ring over the adjacent ends of the pipes and the separator member by means of a coupling member which is formed in two halves adapted to engage over the two ends of the pipe and the sealing ring and separator member to hold the ends of the pipes together, one of the halves having an opening through its wall communicating through an opening in the sealing ring with the space between the ends of pipes at the join.

The method of this invention thus comprises the steps of fitting a separator 3 0 member into an internal annular cavity of a sealing ring to cause spaced offsets on the separator member to project from the inter face of the sealing ring at a generally medial plane; engaging the ends of a pair of pipes into the sealing ring, one from each side, to cause the end faces of the pipes to engage or to be adjacent to the offsets whereby to provide a space between the end faces of the pipes, the internal annular cavity having an outlet from it; positioning halves of a coupling member over the sealing ring to hold the sealing ring on the ends of I the pipes to prevent outflow from the space between the end faces of the pipes through the hollow excepting through an outlet from the hollow through the sealing ring which communicates with the outlet of one of the halves; and locking the halves together on the sealing ring and on the ends of the pipes.

The invention which forms the subject of this method comprises a coupling member formed in two halves adapted to clamp around two adjacent ends of pipes but forming an annular recess around the pipe ends, and in the recess an annular sealing ring having inwardly projecting edges adapted to sealingly 1 0 engage the pipes being joined, an opening through the wall, of the sealing ring and a complementary opening through the coupling member, and a separator member in the sealing ring having spaced offsets positioned between the ends of the pipes being joined to allow flow past the spaced ends of the pipes and into the hollow of the sealing ring and through the opening in the sealing ring and the coupling.

In order however that the invention will be fully appreciated, embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to details of which the invention need not be limited.

In the drawings; FIG 1 is a central transverse section of a coupling according to this invention the section being taken on a medial plane of the coupling, FIG 2 is an elevation of a separator member, FIG 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3-3 of FIG 1.

FIG 4 is a longitudinal section of the relevant components of the coupling member as shown in FIG 3 but separated, showing the separator member in the sealing ring and showing the flanged ends of the pipes to be joined, the arrows indicating the direction of assembly.

FIG 5 is a part sectioned elevation of the sealing ring showing the separator member in place therein, and Ii! 4 FIG 6 is a transverse section of part of a coupling of modified form.

The coupling member 1 is formed in two halves 2 and 3, adapted to be placed over the ends of the pipes 4 and 5 to clamp the two ends of the pipes 4 and firmly together, the pipes 4 and 5 having collars 6 at their ends to co-operate with appropriate steps in a hollow 7 in the coupling member 1 to prevent the pipes from moving apart under pressure.

The half 2 of the coupling member 1 has an outlet 8 which communicates with the space between the ends of the pipes 4 and 5, but the outlet junction is made through a sealing ring 9 which extends around the two ends of the pipes 4 and and which as shown as edges 10 arranged to be forced against the outer surface of the pipes 4 and 5 by water pressure flowing through a gap between '5 end faces of the pipes 4 and 5, the sealing ring having an internal annular cavity 11 to define the sealing edges The outlet 8 is adapted to receive a branch pipe (not shown) which is shaped to firmly lock to the sealing ring 9 to prevent outflow of liquid therefrom excepting 2 0 into the branch pipe. The branch pipe may be locked by a keeper (not shown) which can engage the threads 12 shown in FIGS 1 and 3 and The sealing ring 9 has an opening 13 through its wall which may include a reinforcing ring 14, or an ring may be used, the opening 13 communicating with the internal annular cavity 11 of the sealing ring 9.

The sealing ring 9 has a wedge shaped external cross section a complementary internal annular recess 15 inside of the two halves 2, 3 of the coupling member 1.

The internal annular cavity 11 of the sealing ring 9 is formed by extending the side walls of the sealing ring 9 inward and then toward each other to provide the edges 10. These edges 10 do not meet so that flow of fluid passing around the ends of the pipes can enter the internal annular cavity 11 through the gap between the two edges 10 allowing the separator member 16 to be positioned in the internal annular cavity 11 and allowing offset portions to project freely to between the ends of the two pipes.

The hollow 11 of the sealing ring 8 are formed by extending the wall of the sealing ring inward and then toward each other to provide the edges 9. These edges 9 do not meet so that flow of fluid passing around the ends of the pipes can enter the hollow 11 through the gap between the edges 9 to allow flow to the opening 13, the gap between the two edges 9 allowing the separator member 15 to be positioned in the hollow 11 and allowing the offset portions to project freely to between the ends of the two pipes.

The invention resides particularly in the separator member 15 which is shaped to fit between the two ends of the pipes 4 and 5 and to be retained in position between the ends, but to allow flow of water through the gap 10 into the hollow 11 and thus through the opening 13 to the outlet 7.

1 The hollow 7 in each half 2 or 3 of the coupling member has steps 15 to engage behind the collar 6 of the respective pipes 4 and SThe invention resided particularly in the separator member 16 which is shaped to fit between the two ends of the pipes 4 and 5 and to be retained in position between the end faces to allow flow of water through the gap between the ends of the two pipes 4 and 5 and into the internal annular cavity 11 and thus through the opening 13 to the outlet 8.

The separator member 16, as will be noted, has circular portions 17 which engage the sealing member 9 to in the internal annular cavity 11 locate it concentrically within the join of the pipes 4 and 5, but has spaced apart offsets 18 and 19 which extend inwardly to engage the ends of the pipe 3 and 4 but do not project into the bore of the pipes, these offsets 18 and 19 ensuring that the two end faces of the pipes will remain correctly separated under all conditions so as to allow flow to the outlet 8 at all times through the gap between the end faces to the internal annular cavity 11 and thence to the outlet 8.

The said separator member 16 as shown is of generally circular form and has the offset 17 formed by shaping the material, while the offset 19 is formed by interning the one end, but the expression "offset" includes attachment to the ring as well as the members formed by shaping the ring.

As shown in figures 1 to 5, one one of the separator member 16 is turned inwards to also form the offset 18 which engages between the two end faces of the pipes 4 and 5 to retain the separation, but as shown in FIG 6 both ends of the separator ring 16 may be turned inwards and these may have washers engaged on the ends to ensure that the ends are held outwards sufficiently to prevent interference with the flow through the pipes 4 and 5. The ends in figure 6 are designated 19A and it will be realised that as the washers 20 are confined 1 0 in the internal annular cavity 14, they will limit movement of the end of the separator member 16 into the pipe space.

In use the two halves 2-3 of the clamp-on outlet coupling member 1 are placed into position after the sealing ring 9 has been positioned with the separator 1 5 member 16 in position, and the two halves 2-3 are then pulled together by means of the clamping bolts 21 to tightly lock the coupling 1 into position on the pipes 4 and 5 and at the same time to provide the outlet 8 for a branch pipe or the like.

The separator member 16 is preferably made of a single length of spring material, but it could be made of any rigid material which will maintain offsets 18 and 19, and of course it is possible to vary the shape of this member provided it does not form an undue obstruction to flow through the gap between the end faces of the pipes 4 and 5, or to flow to the outlet 8.

The thickness of the separator member 16 can of course be varied according to the amount of flow which is to be allowed through the outlet 8, and the offsets 18 and 19 preferably do not project into the plane of the bores of the pipes 4 and so that they form no obstruction to flow along the pipes.

Claims

1. The method of applying a clamp-on outlet coupling to pipes which comprises the steps of fitting a separate member (16) into an internal annular cavity (11) of a sealing ring to cause spaced offsets (18,19) on the separator members (16) to project from the inner face of the said sealing ring(9) at a generally medial plane, engaging the ends of a pair of pipes into the sealing ring one from each side to cause the end faces of the said pipes 1 0 to engage or to lie adjacent to the said offsets (18,19) whereby to provide a space between the end faces of the said pipes the said internal annular cavity (11) having an outlet from it, positioning halves of a coupling member over the said sealing ring to hold the said sealing ring on to the ends of the said pipes to prevent outflow from the space between the said 1 5 end faces of the said pipes through the said internal annular cavity (11) excepting through an opening (13) from the said internal annular cavity (11) through the said sealing ring which communicates with the outlet of one of the said halves (2 or and locking the said halves together on the said sealing ring and on the ends of the said pipes

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the said sealing ring is formed by forming the said internal annular cavity (11) to have side walls inwardly extending with the edges (10) thereof extending toward each other to define the internal annular cavity (11) to open part of the said edges and positioning the said separator member (16) in said cavity (11) with the offsets (18,19) projecting through a space between the said edges

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the said pipes have collars formed on their adjacent ends and positioning the said collars within hollows in the said two halves of the said clamp-on outlet coupling (1) and inward movement by the interposed separator member (16). lll~ 9Lll~ C ll~ I i

4. A fluid clamp-on outlet coupling comprising two halves (2-3) adapted to clamp around two adjacent ends of pipes and including an annular hollow in each of said halves and sealing means in the said annular hollow to prevent outflow of fluid excepting to an outlet through the said coupling characterised in that the sealing means comprises a ring having an internal annular cavity (11) formed by inwardly projecting edgec adapted to sealingly engage the ends of the pipes being joined, an opening 1 0 (13) through the wall of the sealing ring and complementary outlet (8) through the said coupling and a separator member (16) in the said internal annular cavity (11) of the sealing ring having spaced offset portions (18,19) positioned between the end faces of the pipes and into the internal annular cavity (11) of the sealing ring and through the opening (13) in the i 15 sealing ring and through the outlet of the coupling A fluid clamp-on outlet coupling according to claim 4 wherein the sealing ring is formed to have side walls inwardly extending with the edges thereof extending toward each other to define an internal annular cavity (11) past the said edges (10) to a space between the end faces of the said ii pipes whereby to cause pressure fluid to press the said edged (10) on to the said pipes to prevent a fluid leakage past the outer surfaces of the said i pipes 25 6. A fluid clamp-on outlet coupling according to claim 4 and i wherein the said separator member (16) of generally circular form and disposed in this aid annular cavity (11) in the sealing ring and projecting from the said iV annular cavity (11) past the said edges (10) of the said sealing ring

7. A fluid clamp-on outlet coupling according to claim 6, wherein the Ssaid offsets (18.19) comprise intermediate offsets (18) spaced around the said separator member (16) and at least an end of the separator member (16) is bent to form a further offset (19).

8. A fluid clamp-on outlet coupling according to claim 7 wherein a washer (20) is positioned on the said further offset 19 to limit projection of the said offset inwards by confining the washer (20) in the said internal annular cavity (11).

9. A fluid clamp-on outlet coupling according to claim 4 wherein the said hollow in each said half (2 or 3) has steps to engage a collar on the 1 0 said pipes on to limit outward movement of the said pipes in the said coupling. Dated this 4th day of September 1991. MINING SUPPLIES (MINSUP) ;PTY. LTD. 2 0 By their Patent Attorneys, COLLISON CO. M SS I Q a j 0 0 Ia