Articulated tubular conduit arm for sucking gaseous fluids

• US 4,540,202 A
• Filed: 02/08/1982
• Issued: 09/10/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andre Amphoux, Jean M. Carbon
• Original Assignee: Andre Amphoux, Jean M. Carbon
• Inventors: Amphoux, Andre, Carbon, Jean M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/346,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 285/114, 285/184, 285/185, 285/226, 285/223, 285/181, 285/235, 15/314, 403/111
• US Class Current: 285/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 15/002 using a central suction system, e.g. for collecting exhaust gases in workshops removing dust from textile machines D01H11/00; ventilation of mines, galleries or tunnels, e.g. traffic tunnels, E21F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/0857 with hinge and bellows sealing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/015 using articulated- or supple-guiding elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 454/903 Flexible ducts used for carrying air
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32541 Rotatable members resiliently biased to one position

Abstract

This suction arm for gaseous fluids comprises a tubular articulated conduit consisting of at least one flexible sleeve (5) disposed between two rigid tubes (8). These tubes (8) are interconnected at either end of the flexible intermediate sleeve (5) by mechanical holding means (9) comprising each at least one pair of first and second members (10a, 10b) pivotally interconnected centrally of the flexible sleeve and rigidly assembled in side by side relationship by distance-pieces (15) under the control of a spiral return spring (13) and detent-positioning means (16, 17, 18), whereby the two rigid tubes (8, 8) are constantly urged to their relative angular position matching that of the ends of the intermediate flexible sleeve (5).

Claims

1. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes an interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, and spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, said spring means being a helicoidal coil spring comprising turns coaxial with said pivot axis and free end portions rigidly connected to said arms.

2. The suction conduit of claim 1, wherein said coil spring is placed on and at right angles to the inner faces of said arms.

3. The suction conduit of claim 1, wherein at least one braking member is interposed between said holding members and consists of a slip-action friction disc acting continually, the braking force being adjustable by means of a tightening screw constituting the pivot axis between said arms.

4. The suction conduit of claim 1, wherein said articulation means are disposed against or in close vicinity of and along the conduit, irrespective of the conduit position, therefore without increasing the spatial requirement of the conduit.

5. The suction conduit of claim 4, wherein said arms, particularly the pivoted ends thereof, are disposed laterally and at right angles to the flexible sleeve for laterally protecting said sleeve and said spring means.

6. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, at least one device for temporarily locking said arms in at least one predetermined relative angular position being provided in said articulation means, and spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other.

7. The suction conduit of claim 6, wherein each of said arms is rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

8. The suction conduit of claim 6, wherein said locking device comprises a ball carried by one of said arms and urged by resilient means into at least one recessed hole formed in the other arm.

9. The suction conduit of claim 8, wherein each of said arms is rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

10. The suction conduit of claim 8, wherein said locking ball is located on the inner face of the outer arm, and said recessed hole or holes is or are formed in the outer face of the inner arm.

11. The suction conduit of claim 10, wherein each of said arms is rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

12. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, and spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, each of said arms being rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

13. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, and a suction nuzzle being provided at the inlet end of the conduit and connected through a flexible sleeve to the adjacent rigid tube of the conduit, said nozzle and adjacent rigid tube being interconnected by second mechanical articulation means comprising a frame rigidly connected to said adjacent rigid tube, a support member rigidly connected to said nozzle and a member interconnecting said support member and said frame.

14. The suction conduit of claim 13, wherein the terminal opening of said nozzle is inclined in relation to the nozzle axis.

15. The suction conduit of claim 13, wherein said frame forms a handle connected to said adjacent rigid tube in the region of its connection with said flexible sleeve connected to said nozzle, said frame projecting above said rigid tube and said flexible sleeve and being inclined with respect to the tube axis.

16. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, and spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, said spring means being a coil spring comprising turns coaxial with said pivot axis and free end portions rigidly connected to said arms, said coil spring being placed on and at right angles to the inner faces of said arms, each of said arms being rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

17. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, at least one braking member interposed between said arms, said at least one braking member including a slip-action friction disc acting continually, the braking force being adjustable by means of a tightening screw constituting the pivot axis between said arms, each of said arms being rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

18. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, and spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, said articulation means being disposed against or in close vicinity of and along the conduit, irrespective of the conduit position, therefore without increasing the spatial requirements of the conduit, each of said arms being rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

19. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, and spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, said spring means being a coil spring comprising turns coaxial with said pivot axis and free end portions rigidly connected to said arms, each of said arms being rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.

20. An artificial suction conduit for gaseous fluids, comprising at least two rigid tubes, a flexible sleeve disposed between and tightly connected to said tubes, mechanical articulation means comprising at least two arms rigidly connected one to each of said tubes and interconnected for pivoting about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of said tubes, and spring means connected between said arms to urge said arms towards a position wherein said rigid tubes are aligned with each other, said articulation means being disposed against or in close vicinity of and along the conduit, irrespective of the conduit position, therefore without increasing the spatial requirement of the conduit, said arms being disposed laterally and at right angles to the flexible sleeve for laterally protecting said sleeve and said spring means, each of said arms being rigidly connected by its end portion to the end portion of the rigid tube, said end portion of the arm being situated at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube, the longitudinal axis of said arm being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said rigid tube on the side of the inside angle formed by the two adjacent rigid tubes.