GB2126976A

GB2126976A - A device for protecting threaded pipe ends

Info

Publication number: GB2126976A
Application number: GB08318891A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arnold Jaeger
Original assignee: Jaeger Gummi GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Jaeger Gummi GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1982-07-17
Filing date: 1983-07-13
Publication date: 1984-04-04
Also published as: FR2530225A1; DE3226794A1; GB2126976B; GB8318891D0; FR2530225B3

Abstract

A device for protecting threaded ends of pipes comprises a layer of elastomeric material (6) disposed on a metal sleeve (1) and having a threaded portion for engagement with the pipe ends. An end of the metal sleeve is angled approximately at right angles to the threaded portion and the elastomeric material layer extends beyond the angled sleeve portion (3). A diametric recess (9) which is formed in the elastomeric material layer for attachment of a tool used to screw and unscrew the protecting device, is reinforced at or in the vicinity of lateral faces (11) of the recess (9) by one or a plurality of portions (10) bent up from the angled sleeve portion (3). The device may be adapted to protect externally or internally threaded pipe ends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for protecting the threaded portions at the ends of pipes The invention relates to a device for protecting the threaded portions at the ends of pipes, such a device comprising a metal sleeve and a layer of elastomeric material disposed on such metal sleeve and having a threaded portion for engagement with the threaded portions at the ends of pipes, wherein the free end of the metal sleeve is angled approximately at right angles to the threaded portion.

The above mentioned elastomeric material is used because it can absorb impacts and can therefore provide better protection for the threaded portion; such material can also be moulded, that is to say produced in a mould e.g.

an injection mould, a casting mould or a vulcanizing mould, but the material is disadvantageous in that it is not strong enough when tools and suitable recesses, for example, slots for the-attachment of such tools, are required for the mounting or removal of such a device. The elastomeric material is not hard enough and not strong enough to be able to absorb the forces required for such a purpose.

The invention seeks to improve the abovedescribed device so that said recesses or slots may also be formed when the elastomeric material is produced in a mould, but the elastomeric material is additionally provided with such strength that it cannot become damaged when the tools are attached.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the above-mentioned angled portion is provided with one or a plurality of bent portions disposed in the lateral faces or in the vicinity of such lateral faces, of the recesses formed in the ends of the device for the attachment of tools.

Accordingly, the angled portion of the metal sleeve extends at right angles to the threaded portion and is provided with a special configuration, in that it comprises one or a plurality of bent portions disposed in the region of the recesses for the tools. Such bent portions reinforce the elastomeric material in the region of the recesses to such an extent that intensive tool forces are possible.

These bent portions may be annular in shape and be hollowed-out in the region of the recesses, but it is also possible for the bent portions to be in the form of lugs or webs which also serve as reinforcement for the elastomeric material.

The present invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view through a cap-shaped device for protecting an external threaded portion; Fig. 2 is an end view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view through a stopper-shaped device for protecting an internal threaded portion; Fig. 4 is an underneath view of the device illustrated in Fig. 3 as viewed in the direction of arrow IV; and Fig. 5 is a partial, side elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 3, as viewed in the direction of arrow V.

The actual reinforcing member for the device is a steel sleeve 1 which substantially extends over the length of the device and the main portion 2 of such reinforcing member has a tubular, hollowcylindrical structure. At the free end of the device, the sleeve 1 is provided with an angled portion 3 which extends inwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the device. The collar which is thus formed and extends inwardly is provided with a predetermined, radial extension in such a manner that the collar also covers the threaded portion 4 of the pipe 5 to be protected. Axiai protection is thus achieved.

Elastically resilient plastics material in the form of a covering 6 is disposed on the inside surface of the sleeve 1, and the inside surface of such covering 6 is provided with a threaded portion 7 to permit engagement with the threaded portion 4. The covering terminates in a transverse wall 8 at its upper end that is to say at the free end of the device; accordingly, the hollow space of the pipe 5 is sealed. This transverse wall 8 has such a wall thickness that it protrudes upwardly beyond the angled portion 3. The portion disposed above the angled portion 3 is provided with a transverse slot 9 which serves for the attachment of a tool for screwing the device onto the pipe 5 or for unscrewing such device from the pipe 5.

The angled portion 3 has a bent portion 10 which is annularly circular, but has a correspondingly large hollowed-out portion in the region of the slot 9. The end faces 11' of the bent portion 10 thus formed are disposed in the lateral faces 11 of the transverse slot 9. This permits the operating tool to engage directly with the metal of the sleeve 1.

The screw forces are accordingly only partially absorbed by the elastomeric material of the transverse wall 8.

The angled portion 3 therefore not only protects the threaded portion 4 in the event of axial forces occurring, but also protects the transverse slot 9, via the bent portion 10, in the event of relatively high screw forces occurring.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, the external surface of the sleeve 1 is provided with an elastically resilient layer 12 of plastics material which has an external threaded portion 13 engaging in the internal threaded portion 14 of the pipe 1 5. The sleeve 1 is also provided with an angled portion 3 which extends outwardly, however, and which is also disposed in front of the threaded portion 14 (when viewed axially) to provide protection.

The angled portion 3 is a transversely protruding flange which has diametrically opposite lugs 1 6 which extend in the axial direction of the device and are bent away from the flange, one face of each lug 16 being disposed in the lateral face 11 of the transverse slot 9.

These faces of the lugs 1 6 are also referenced 1 1'. The tools abut these faces in order to achieve the desired reinforcing effect.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the sleeve 1 comprises a base with an opening 17 formed therein, and the plastics material 1 9 disposed on the base 18 is secured, in a form-fitting manner, to the tapering lateral faces of such opening 1 7.

It should be noted that transverse slots 9 are preferably used for the attachment of the tools, but it is also possible to replace these slots by differently formed recesses which also however, have to permit the use of tools. The term "elastomeric materials" also includes plasticized plastics materials which are softer than the sleeve 1 (for example, PVC).

Claims

1. A device for protecting the threaded portions at the ends of pipes, such a device comprising a metal sleeve and a layer of elastomeric material disposed on such metal sleeve and having a threaded portion for engagement with the threaded portions at the ends of pipes, wherein the free end of the metal sleeve is angled approximately at right angles to the threaded portion, in which the angled portion is provided with one or a plurality of bent portions disposed in the lateral faces or in the vicinity of such lateral faces of the recesses formed in the end of the device and serving for the attachment of tools.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the bent portion is annulariy circular and is hollowedout to correspond to the recesses.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the bent portion extends at least approximately in the axial direction of the device.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the bent portions are lugs which are angled-out from the plane of the bent portion.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the angled portion covers the threaded portion to be protected, when the device is viewed axially in the direction of the free end of such device.

6. A device for protecting the threaded portions at the ends of pipes, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying drawings.