GB2349437A

GB2349437A - A pipe connection arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2349437A
Application number: GB9909709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Didier Bergougnoux
Original assignee: Draftex Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Laird Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1999-04-27
Filing date: 1999-04-27
Publication date: 2000-11-01
Also published as: GB9909709D0

Abstract

A pipe connection arrangement for sealingly connecting first and second pipe means together with an end of the first pipe means 10 extending into an enlarged end of the second pipe means 12. The arrangement also includes locking means 16 positioned around the outside of the two pipe means, that supports first flexible clip means 48, 49 extending over the outside of and clippingly engageable with the outside of the first pipe means. The locking means also includes second clip means 53, 54 extending in the opposite direction, and clippingly engageable with the outside of the enlarged end of the second pipe means. Sealing means 28, 36 are positioned within the enlarged end of the second pipe means, and act between the enlarged end of the second pipe means and the outside of the first pipe means, so that the sealing means is at least partially held axially in position by the locking means. The arrangement may be used for connecting a pipe connector to a pipe stub, eg for use in motor vehicles for carrying fuel, water, oil, or air. Once in place the pipe connection arrangement may be disconnected by the application of an external force onto a flexible collar 46.

Description

PIPE CONNECTION ARRANGEMENTS The invention relates to pipe connection arrangements. Pipe connection arrangements embodying the invention, and to be described in more detail below by way of example, can be used for connecting a pipe or hose to a pipe stub. The pipe and the pipe stub may be made of any suitable material, such as elastomeric or plastics material or a composite material comprising metal and an elastomeric and/or a plastics material. Such pipes may, for example, be used in motor vehicles for carrying various fluids such as fuel, water, oil or air.

According to the invention, there is provided a pipe connection arrangement for sealingly connecting first and second pipe means together with an end of the first pipe means extending into an enlarged end of the second pipe means, comprising locking means positioned around the outside of the two pipe means and supporting first flexible clip means extending over the outside of and clippingly engageable with the outside of the first pipe means and supporting second clip means extending in the opposite direction and clippingly engageable with the outside of the enlarged end of the second pipe means, and sealing means positioned within the enlarged end of the second pipe means and acting between the enlarged end of the second pipe means and the outside of the first pipe means and at least partially held axially in position by the locking means.

Pipe connection arrangements embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diametric drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through one of the connection arrangements, taken on the line I-I of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 1 and shows a modification, Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 1 and shows another modification; Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 1 and shows a further modification, and Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 1 and shows yet another modification.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the pipe connection arrangement is for connecting a pipe stub 10 to a pipe connector 12. The pipe connector 12 is provided with serrations 14. In use, a flexible pipe or hose (not shown) is forced over the serrations 14 and secured on the pipe connector 12 by a suitable circular clamp. The pipe stub 10 and the pipe connector 12 may be of a standardised type. For connecting the pipe stub 10 and the pipe connector 12 together, a locking member 16 is provided.

The pipe connector 12 has an enlarged open end 18 which provides three cylindrical portions of successively increasing diameter with shoulders 20 and 22 between them. The diameter of the innermost portion 24 is sized to receive the distal end of a tubular part 26 of the pipe stub 10. A sealing ring 28 is positioned in the intermediate diameter portion 30 which is separated from the outermost portion 32 by a sleeve 34 having a flange which seats on the shoulder 22. A second sealing ring 36 is positioned around the outermost portion cylindrical 32.

The locking member 16 comprises an annular flange 38 sized to receive the tubular part 26 of the pipe stub 10 and from which extend wall parts 40 and 41 embracing the outside of the enlarged end 18 of the pipe connector 12. Two flexible arms 42 and 44 extend integrally in the opposite direction from the annular flange 38 and terminate in a collar 46. The collar 46 supports two clips 48 and 49 with outwardly facing inclined surfaces 50 and 51. As shown in Figure 1, the clips 48,49 engage a flange 52 integrally formed on the outside of the tubular part 26 of the pipe stub 10.

As shown in Figure 2, the walls 40,41 of the locking member 16 support clips 53,54 (see Figure 2) which engage in recesses 56 and 58 in the external surface of the enlarged end 18 of the pipe connector 12.

In this way, the locking member 16 is locked to the pipe stub 10 by the clips 48 and 49 and is locked to the pipe connector 12 by the clips 53 and 54 (Figure 2). The pipe stub 10 and the pipe connector 12 are thus securely locked together in a fluid-tight manner with sealing being provided by the seals 28 and 36. The flange 38 of the locking member 16 closes off the end of the annular space in which the seals 28 and 36 are positioned.

During assembly of the pipe connection, the sealing ring 28 is placed in position against the shoulder 20 inside the enlarged end part 18 of the pipe connector 12. The sleeve 34 is then placed in position against the shoulder 22 and thereafter the seal 36 is placed in position. The locking member 16 is then pressed over the outside of the enlarged end part 18 so that sloping surfaces 58 and 60 of the clips 53 and 54 can slide over inclined surfaces 62 and 64 on the outside of the enlarged part 18, the wall parts 40 and 41 of the pipe connector 16 flexing outwardly until the clips 53 and 54 thereafter resile into the recesses 56 and 58. The locking member 16 is now immovably locked to the pipe connector 12. The resultant assembly is then slid over the outside of the tubular part 26 of the pipe stub 10, with inclined surfaces 50 and 51 of the clips 48 and 49 engaging the flange 52 so as to flex the arms 42 and 44 outwardly until the clips 48 and 49 resile into the position shown in Figure 1, thus locking the locking member 16, and thus also the pipe connector 12, to the pipe stub 10.

The pipe connector 12 can be disconnected from the pipe stub 10 by the application of an externally constricting force to the collar 46, this force being applied to the collar as shown at F in Figure 2 at positions lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the clips 48 and 49. Because of the flexibility of the material of the collar 46, the application of the force F causes the clips 48 and 49 to move outwardly and to disengage from the flange 52.

Various modifications may be made, some of which are shown by way of example only in Figures 3 to 6.

In Figure 3, the serrations 14 of the pipe receiving element 12 are replaced by an enlarged end or olive 70.

In Figure 4, a modification in which only one sealing ring 36 is used. This provides a further simplification and is particularly suitable where a gaseous rather than a liquid fluid is to be transported.

In Figure 5, the pipe receiving element 12 extends through a 90 bend.

In Figure 6, the separate sealing rings 28 and 36 and the intermediate sleeve 34 shown in the other Figures (except Figure 4) are replaced by a cylindrical seal 80 comprising enlarged sealing portions 82 and 84 integrally attached by a thin flexible wall 86. This provides a sealing efficiency corresponding to that provided by the separate sealing rings 28 and 36 but, by omitting the sleeve 34, simplifies assembly.

Claims

1. A pipe connection arrangement for sealingly connecting first and second pipe means together with an end of the first pipe means extending into an enlarged end of the second pipe means, comprising locking means positioned around the outside of the two pipe means and supporting first flexible clip means extending over the outside of and clippingly engageable with the outside of the first pipe means and supporting second clip means extending in the opposite direction and clippingly engageable with the outside of the enlarged end of the second pipe means, and sealing means positioned within the enlarged end of the second pipe means and acting between the enlarged end of the second pipe means and the outside of the first pipe means and at least partially held axially in position by the locking means.

2. A pipe connector arrangement according to claim 1, in which the first clip means comprises at least one clip positioned at a particular circumferential point on a resilient collar and resiliently urged in a radially inward direction for engaging a formation on the outside of the first pipe means, whereby a radially inward force applied to the collar at a position circumferentially displaced by 90 from the clip causes the clip to be forced radially outwards to disengage from the formation.

3. A pipe connection arrangement according to claim 2, in which there are two clips supported by the resilient collar at substantially diametrically opposite points thereon for engaging respective formations on the outside of the first pipe means, whereby the application of radially inwardly directed forces to the collar on a diameter thereof which is displaced by 90 from the clips forces the clips outwardly away from the formations.

4. A pipe connector arrangement according to claim 3, in which the formations are different points on a circumferential shoulder of the first pipe means.

5. A pipe connector arrangement according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the or each clip has an inclined surface facing away from the locking means for contacting the or the respective said formation as the locking means with the second pipe means secured thereto by the second clip means is forced axially along the first pipe means, thereby forcing the or each clip in a radially outward direction against the resilience of the collar to enable the clip thereafter to resile and engage the formation.

6. A pipe connection arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which the second clip means comprises at least one clip resiliently mounted for engaging a recess on the outside of the enlarged end of the second pipe means.

7. A pipe connection arrangement according to claim 6, in which the or each clip of the second clip means has an inclined surface facing away from the locking means for slidingly contacting a mating inclined surface on the outside of the enlarged end of the second pipe means as the locking means is forced axially over the outside of the enlarged end of the second pipe means whereby the or each clip of the second clip means clip is forced radially outwards and then resiles into the or the respective recess.

8. A pipe connection arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which the first pipe means and the enlarged end of the second pipe means together define an annular space between them, and including annular sealing means within the space for sealing between the first and second pipe means.

9. A pipe connection arrangement according to claim 8, in which the annular sealing means comprises two separate annular sealing rings.

10. A pipe connection arrangement according to claim 9, including an annular sleeve surrounding the first pipe means and positioned between the two annular seals.

11. A pipe connection arrangement according to claim 8, in which the annular sealing means comprises two annular seals integrally interconnected by a cylindrical wall.

12. A pipe connection arrangement according to any one of claims 8 to 11, in which the locking means closes off the distal end of the annular space.

13. A pipe connection arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which the first pipe means comprises a pipe stub and the second pipe means comprises a tubular connector for receiving the end of a flexible hose.

14. A pipe connection arrangement according to claim 13, in which the external surface of the tubular connector has one or more protrusions for frictionally gripping the hose.

15. A pipe connection arrangement according to claim 13 or 14, in which the tubular connector has an extension angularly displaced from the axis of the first pipe means.

16. A pipe connection arrangement, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A pipe connection arrangement, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings as modified by any one of Figures 3,4,5 and 6.