GB2342420A - Means in a pipe or hollow body to prevent damage by over-pressure - Google Patents

Abstract

The pipe or body, e.g. radiator contains a flexible tube containing gas or compressible, re-expandable foam to accommodate expansion of a substance within the pipe or body, such as water turning to ice and thus avoid excess pressure and damage to the pipe or body. The tube 3 can be central, with radial support spikes 5, or is annular and surrounds the flow passage in the pipe.

Description

DEVICE TO PROTECT FREEZING WATER PIPES FROM DAMAGE This invention relates to a pressure relief system for ice formation in pipework systems and otlier containers.

Water pipes sometimes freeze and burst, causing damage and expense Much expense and effort is expended to prevent water pipes from freezing and bursting, but unexpected cold spells still cause damage despite precautions.

In this invention there is provided a collapsible, re-expandable structure which incorporates sufficient'safety'space for expansion of a substance within a contained space, such that excess pressure which might cause damage is prevented. For example a structure which incorporates a collapsible, re-expandable space to accommodate the expansion that occurs when water turns to ice and then reclaiming that space when the ice melts. Allowing such a safety space for the increased volume prevents the ice from exerting undue pressure on the pipe or other container such as a radiator or other fitting, thus preventing damage. The space may be provided by a flexible, collapsible material such as plastic foam or by a tube made of appropriately flexible material that may be partitioned and contains a gas or by a linina or sheath of such material on the inner surface of the pipe or other container. The important features are that the structure or material compresses sufficiently to take up the extra volume and then re-expands when the pressure is reduced, thus automatically re-establishing the safety space On a tube means are provided, such as flanges or spikes for keeping the tube in the required position and shape. The structure may be fitted in situ to an existincX pipework or container system or included as part of the pipe or container manufacturing process or after manufacture but before the building or fitting of the pipework or container system.

Two specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which : Figure 1 shows a longitudinal and a horizontal cross section of a pipe containing a tube of gas or foam.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal and a horizontal cross section of a pipe containing a lining or sheath on the inner surface Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a pipe 1 containing water 2. A tube like structure 3, containing a gas or plastic foam 4 runs down the centre of the pipe in the water Spikes or ranges 5 keep the tube in position and in shape where it bends. Fig. 2 shows a pipe 1 lined with compressible material 3 and containing water 2.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1 system whereby a pipe, radiator, fitting or other container is relieved of undue pressure by means of a structure or other means by which a'safety space'is created inside the container.

   A flexible, compressible and re-expandable structure inside a container, such that a'space'is provided for the expansion of a substance inside the container.

   3 A tube or sheath cf foam, gas pockets or partial vacuum to provide the in Claims 1 and 2.

   4 Means of positioning and maintaining the required position and shape of the structure in the above Claims.

   5 The material of the structure as claimed in the above Claims is re-expandable, such that it automatically recovers its original size when the excess pressure is removed The material in the above Claims is able to survive the required extremes of temperature and pressure due to freezing and as found in central heating systems thus providing damage protection over many occurrences of the excess pressure.

   7 The structure as claimed in the above Claims is added at any time in the life cycle of the pipe or container.