GB2248898A

GB2248898A - A pipe union

Info

Publication number: GB2248898A
Application number: GB9022502A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Paul Maitland Murday; Brian Jenkinson
Original assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
Current assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
Priority date: 1990-10-17
Filing date: 1990-10-17
Publication date: 1992-04-22
Also published as: GB9022502D0

Abstract

A pipe union generally indicated at 10 comprises a male 12 and a female 14 union member which are mounted on respective ends of two pipes (not shown) to be joined. The male 12 and female 14 union members cooperate so that a first 16 and a second 18 fluid passage therethrough are placed in fluid communication. Sealing is effected at a line of contact 34 between the exterior part spherical surface 24 of the male union member 12 and the interior conical surface 30 of the female union member 14. A further fluid seal is effected by radial compression of the resilient member 28 between the circumferential recess 26 in the exterior surface 20 of the male union member 12 and the interior surface 32 of the female union member 14. <IMAGE>

Description

A PIPE UNION The present invention relates to a pipe union and in particular to a union for joining pipes in a fluid tight manner.

Conventional pipe unions consist of a male and a female union member which are attached to the respective ends of the pipes to be joined. Each of the union members has a fluid passage therethrough which is in fluid communication with the associated pipe.

The male union member has an exterior surface which is spherical at its distal end whilst the female union member has a longitudinally flared interior surface which is conical. The male and female union members cooperate so that a line on the exterior spherical surface of the male union member abuts a line on the interior surface of the female union member which is conical. Sealing is effected at the line of contact between the spherical and conical surfaces.

A problem with such an arrangement is that sealing is only effected at the single line of contact between the spherical and conical surfaces and leakage of a fluid may occur therethrough.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved pipe union of this known construction which has increased sealing capacity.

According to the present invention a pipe union for joining pipes in a fluid tight manner comprises a male and a female union member adapted to be mounted on respective ends of the pipes to be joined, the male union member has a first inner passage and an exterior surface which is ~ part spherical, the exterior surface of the male union member has a circumferential recess with a resilient sealing member disposed therein, the female union member has a longitudinally flared interior surface which is conical and which defines a second inner fluid passage, the male and female union members cooperate when joined together so that the first and second fluid passages are placed in fluid communication with one another and a fluid tight seal is formed at a line of contact between the exterior part spherical surface of the male union member and the interior conical surface of the female union member, a further fluid tight seal is formed therebetween by compression of the resilient sealing member between the circumferential recess in the male union member and the interior of the female union member.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the exterior of the male union member has a straight portion in which the circumferential recess is located, the straight portion of the exterior extends from the end of the male union member which is mounted on the respective end of a pipe, to the exterior spherical portion at the distal end of the male union member.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the interior of the female union member may have a straight portion which extends from the longitudinally interior flared conical surface of the female union member to its distal end. The resilient member may then be compressed between the circumferential recess in the exterior surface of the male union member and the straight portion of the interior surface of the female union member. The resilient member is preferably an 'O' ring seal.

Preferably there is provided means for clamping the male and the female union members together to prevent longitudinal separation thereof. The clamping means may be a nut adapted to threadingly engage with the male and female union members.

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows a cross-sectional view of a pipe union in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, a pipe union generally indicated at 10 comprises a male union member 12 and a female union member 14 which are mounted on the respective ends of two pipes (not shown) which are to be joined. The male 12 and female 14 union members each have a fluid passage 16 and 18 therethrough which are in fluid communication with the associated pipes (not shown). The male 12 and female 14 union members may be permanently attached to the respective ends of the pipes by welding or brazing or they may be threadingly engaged with the ends of the pipes so that they can be detached quickly and easily.

The male union member 12 has a first fluid passage 16 therethrough and a contoured exterior surface. The exterior surface of the male union member 12 is contoured such that there is a straight portion 20 which interconnects a flange 22, at the end of the male union member 12 which is attached to the end of the associated pipe (not shown), to the distal end 24 of the male union member 12. The external surface of the distal end 24 of the male union member 12 is spherical.

The male union member 12 has a circumferential recess 26 in the straight portion 20 of its exterior surface. A resilient sealing member 28, such as an '0' ring seal, is located in the circumferential recess 26.

The female union member 14 has a longitudinally flared interior surface 30 which is conical and which defines a second fluid passage 18 therethrough. The interior conical surface 30 of the female union member 14 interconnects the end of the female union member 14 which is attached to the end of the associated pipe (not shown) to its distal end 32.

The distal end 32 of the female union member 14 has a substantially straight interior surface 33.

The male union member 12 cooperates with the female union member 14 so that the first and second fluid passages 16 and 18 respectively, are placed in fluid communication.

The male union member 12 is inserted into the female union member 14 until a line on the exterior spherical surface 24 of the male union member 12 abuts the interior conical surface 30 of the female union member 14. A fluid seal is then effected at the line of contact 34 between the male exterior spherical surface 24 and the female interior conical surface 30.

When the male union member 12 is inserted into the female union member 14 they cooperate so that a further fluid seal is effected by radial compression of the '0' ring 28. The '0' ring 28 is compressed between the circumferential recess 26 in the exterior surface 20 of the male union member 12 and the substantially straight portion 32 on the interior surface of the female union member 14.

Compression of the '0' ring seal prevents leakage occurring from the union 10 in the event that fluid passes through the point of contact 34 between the external spherical surface 24 of the male union member 12 and the interior conical surface 30 of the female union member 14. Incorporation of the resilient sealing member 28 increases the sealing capacity of the pipe union 10.

A locking nut 40 is provided to prevent longitudinal separation of the male 12 and female 14 union members. The locking nut 40 includes an axially threaded bore 42 which cooperates with corresponding threads, 44 and 46, on the exterior of the female union member 14 and the exterior of the flange of the male union member 12, respectively.

Claims

claims:

1. A pipe union for joining pipes in a fluid tight manner, comprising a male and a female union member adapted to be mounted on respective ends of the pipes to be joined, the male union member having a first inner fluid passage and an exterior surface which is part spherical, the exterior surface of the male union member having a circumferential recess with a resilient sealing member disposed therein, the female union member having a longitudinally flared interior surface which is conical and which defines a second inner fluid passage, the male and female union members cooperating when joined together so that the first and second fluid passages are placed in fluid communication with one another, and a fluid tight seal is formed at a line of contact between the exterior part spherical surface of the male union member and the interior conical surface of the female union member, a further fluidtight seal being formed therebetween by compression of the resilient sealing member between the circumferential recess in the male union member and the interior of the female union member.

2. A pipe union as claimed in claim 1 in which the exterior of the male union member has a straight portion in which the circumferential recess is located, the straight portion of the exterior extending from the end of the male union member which is mounted on the respective end of a pipe, to the exterior part spherical portion at the distal end of the male union member.

3. A pipe union as claimed in claim 2 in which the interior of the female union member has a straight portion which extends from the longitudinally interior flared conical surface of the female union member to its distal end.

4. A pipe union as claimed in claim 3 in which the resilient member is compressed between the circumferential recess in the exterior surface of the male union member and the straight portion of the interior surface of the female union member.

5. A pipe union as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is further provided a means for clamping the male and female parts together to prevent longitudinal separation thereof.

6. A pipe union as claimed in claim 5 in which the clamping means is a nut adapted to threadingly engage with the male and female union members.

7. A pipe union as claimed in any preceding claim in which the resilient member located in the circumferential recess on the exterior surface of the male union member is an 'O' ring.

8. A pipe union as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.