GB1584365A - Pipe connection - Google Patents

Description

(54) PIPE CONNECTION (71) We, WAVIN -B.V., a Dutch Corporate Body of Handellaan.251, .Zwolle, Holland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may -be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to pipe connections.

According to the invention there is provided a pipe connection comprising a first member connectable to a first pipe or pipes and a second, tubular member extending from the first member for connection to another pipe extending transversely of said first pipe or pipes, wherein the second member is provided with a bellows portion, which comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves each having sides of unequal length as measured in an axial plane, whereby said second member can be axially extended or contracted or bent to facilitate connection to said other pipe.

In order that the invention may be well understood, two embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a pipe connection; Figure 2 is a view along the line A-A in Figure 1 showing bellows portion of the connection in a normal and a contracted condition; Figure 3 is a fragmentary view along the line A-A in Figure 1, but showing the bellows portion of the connection in a bent condition; and Figures 4, 5 and6 are views corresponding to the views of Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively of a modified pipe connection.

Each of the illustrated pipe connections 1 is formed as a T-connection and comprises a first member 2 of tubular configuration which is adapted to be connected at each of its ends 3 to a respective pipe (not shown). To this end, the illustrated member 2 is provided at -its ends with means formed as grooves comprising part threads 4 extending substantially half way around the -member enabling the pipes to be connected thereto with threaded coupling members (not shown). Two axially spaced apart stiffening ribs 5 are formed in the member 2.

-A second member 6, also tubular in construction, extends from the first member intermediate the ends of the first member, and the interiors of the two members 2 and 6 and are in communication with each other such that another pipe (not shown) connected to the free end 7 of the second member will be in communication with the pipes connected to the ends 3 of the first member. Means such as part threads 8 similar to part threads 4 may be formed at the end 7 of member 6 for use in the connection thereof to a pipe as in the first embodiment (Figures 1 to 3), or as presently preferred, the end 7 may be formed with a threaded formation comprising complete turns as shown in the modified connection of Figures 4 to 6. The member 6 includes a bellows portion 10 which, as illustrated, extends to the end 11 of the member 6 connected to the member 2. The bellows portion 10 comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves 12 having sides 13 and 14 of unequal length as measured in an axial plane and movable relative to each other so that the end 7 of the member 6 can be moved relative to the member 2 to facilitate connection of the end 7 to the pipe to be connected thereto. In the normal condition of the bellows portion (see particularly Figure 1) the sides 13 and 14 of each groove 12 are typically mutually perpendicular, but the angle between the sides may become obtuse when the member 6 is axially extended (not illustrated), acute when the member 6 is axially contracted (compare the right-hand side of Figure 2 with the left-hand side thereof), or both when the member 6 is bent (see Figure 3). The bending ability of the bellows portion is greatly assisted by the pro vision of the groove sides 13 and 14 being of unequal length.

As will be appreciated, the provision of the bellows portion greatly facilitates formation of a connection since neither the exact length nor the lay of the pipe to be connected to member 6 is crucial. Furthermore, the bellows portion enables the end 7 of the member 6 to be manoeuvred relative to the end of the pipe to be connected thereto during connection.

The illustrated pipe connection is preferably formed by blow-moulding from a plastics material, such as polyethylene, it being understood that the resilience of the material enables the relative movement of the sides 13 and 14 of the bellows portion to take place.

The above-described T-connection may be used for connecting a pipe transversely to an existing pipe by removing a section of the existing pipe so that the member 2 can be inserted therein. Alternatively, a modified connection in the form of a saddle connection could be used. In such a saddle connection, the member 2 is replaced by a saddle member comprising a portion of the illustrated member 2 adjacent the member 6, which portion locates over and is connectable to a portion of the outer surface of the existing pipe.

In particular, as illustrated in Figure 1, central longitudinal sections 15 of the member 2 can be removed to leave a saddle portion 16 connected to the bellows portion. A lower saddle portion 17 of the member 2 can be used to facilitate connection of the connection to the pipe, the two saddle portions being located on opposed sides thereof and then secured together.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 4, a bottom longitudinal section 18 can be removed from the member 2 to leave a saddle portion 19 connected to the bellows poriton.

Although the term T-connection has been used it is to be understood that the embodiment is in no way limited to connecting mutually perpendicular pipes, and, in fact, as illustrated in Figure 2, the preferred embodiment is capable of connecting a pipe extending at 45" to another pipe or pipes.

Whilst the preferred embodiment is a Tconnection it is to be understood that the pipe connection could be formed as an elbow connection wherein the second member, which has the bellows portion is connectable to a pipe extending transversely to another pipe to connect all of the flow from one of the pipes to the other pipe.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A pipe connection comprising a first member connectable to a first pipe or pipes and a second, tubular member extending from the first member for connection to another pipe extending transversely of said first pipe or pipes, wherein the second membe is provided with a bellows portion, which comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves each having sides of unequal length as measured in an axial plane, whereby said second member can be axially extended or contracted or bent to facilitate connection to said other pipe.

2. A pipe connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sides of each respective groove are substantially mutually perpendicular when said bellows portion is in a normal condition.

3. A pipe connection as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said bellows portion extends to the end of the second member connected to the first member.

4. A pipe connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second member extends from the first member intermediate the first member's ends such that said connection forms a T-connection.

5. A pipe connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said first member is tubular.

6. A pipe connection as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first member comprises a saddle member.

7. A pipe connection substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or 4 to 6 of the accompanying draw ings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. vision of the groove sides 13 and 14 being of unequal length. As will be appreciated, the provision of the bellows portion greatly facilitates formation of a connection since neither the exact length nor the lay of the pipe to be connected to member 6 is crucial. Furthermore, the bellows portion enables the end 7 of the member 6 to be manoeuvred relative to the end of the pipe to be connected thereto during connection. The illustrated pipe connection is preferably formed by blow-moulding from a plastics material, such as polyethylene, it being understood that the resilience of the material enables the relative movement of the sides 13 and 14 of the bellows portion to take place. The above-described T-connection may be used for connecting a pipe transversely to an existing pipe by removing a section of the existing pipe so that the member 2 can be inserted therein. Alternatively, a modified connection in the form of a saddle connection could be used. In such a saddle connection, the member 2 is replaced by a saddle member comprising a portion of the illustrated member 2 adjacent the member 6, which portion locates over and is connectable to a portion of the outer surface of the existing pipe. In particular, as illustrated in Figure 1, central longitudinal sections 15 of the member 2 can be removed to leave a saddle portion 16 connected to the bellows portion. A lower saddle portion 17 of the member 2 can be used to facilitate connection of the connection to the pipe, the two saddle portions being located on opposed sides thereof and then secured together. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 4, a bottom longitudinal section 18 can be removed from the member 2 to leave a saddle portion 19 connected to the bellows poriton. Although the term T-connection has been used it is to be understood that the embodiment is in no way limited to connecting mutually perpendicular pipes, and, in fact, as illustrated in Figure 2, the preferred embodiment is capable of connecting a pipe extending at 45" to another pipe or pipes. Whilst the preferred embodiment is a Tconnection it is to be understood that the pipe connection could be formed as an elbow connection wherein the second member, which has the bellows portion is connectable to a pipe extending transversely to another pipe to connect all of the flow from one of the pipes to the other pipe. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A pipe connection comprising a first member connectable to a first pipe or pipes and a second, tubular member extending from the first member for connection to another pipe extending transversely of said first pipe or pipes, wherein the second membe is provided with a bellows portion, which comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves each having sides of unequal length as measured in an axial plane, whereby said second member can be axially extended or contracted or bent to facilitate connection to said other pipe.

2. A pipe connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sides of each respective groove are substantially mutually perpendicular when said bellows portion is in a normal condition.

3. A pipe connection as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said bellows portion extends to the end of the second member connected to the first member.

4. A pipe connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second member extends from the first member intermediate the first member's ends such that said connection forms a T-connection.

5. A pipe connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said first member is tubular.

6. A pipe connection as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first member comprises a saddle member.

7. A pipe connection substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or 4 to 6 of the accompanying draw ings.