Pipe connection unit

• US 5,098,134 A
• Filed: 12/21/1989
• Issued: 03/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter J.B. Monckton
• Original Assignee: Walter J.B. Monckton
• Inventors: Monckton, Walter J. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHACKELFORD, HEATHER CHUN
• Application Number:
  US07/454,415
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 285/38, 285/373, 285/419, 285/383, 285/421, 285/323, 285/242, 285/249, 285/255, 403/303, 403/310, 403/311, 403/313, 403/314
• US Class Current: 285/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/075 specially adapted for spigot-and-socket joints for pipes of the same diameter
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/007 clamped by a wedging action
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/14 Joints for pipes of different diameters or cross-section

Abstract

A connector for joining the ends of two pipes has a pair of half-sleeves, which fit around the pipe ends to form an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve has a tapered or conical outer surface, against which an outer sleeve presses. The outer sleeve is a single-piece sleeve with a tapered bore, the angle of the taper of which matches the angle of taper of the outer surface of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is slid over the inner sleeve and is clamped in intimate contact with the inner sleeve by a nut which is tightened onto a threaded end of the outer sleeve while an annular, inwardly - projecting flange of the nut bears against the ends of the half-sleeves. The surfaces of the half-sleeves are coated with adhesive before being placed around the pipe ends; this adhesive cures while the joint components are clamped together. Preferably each half-sleeve has a central rib at its mid-point, against which the ends of the pipes being joined abut.

Claims

1. Apparatus for connecting together the ends of two axially-aligned pipes, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of half-sleeves, each dimensioned to fit around substantially half of the outer curved surfaces of the ends of the pipes, whereby said pair of half-sleeves forms an inner sleeve of a connector said inner sleeve having (i) a bore which is substantially equal to, but fractionally less than, the outer diameter of the pipes, and (ii) an outer surface which is uniformly tapered in one direction for the entire length;

(b) an outer sleeve formed as single article, said outer sleeve having (i) a tapered bore, extending the entire length of said outer sleeve and the angle of taper of said tapered bore being substantially equal to the unidirectional angle of taper of the outer surface of the inner sleeve, and (ii) an externally threaded region at one end of the outer sleeve, said one end being the end of the outer sleeve where said bore of said outer sleeve has the maximum diameter;

(c) an annular nut, adapted to be threaded over the threaded end region of the outer sleeve, said annular nut having an inwardly projecting annular flange at one end thereof, said annular flange defining a circular aperture which has a diameter greater than the diameter of one of said pipe ends but less than the maximum diameter of the bore of the outer sleeve;

whereby, when said apparatus is used to connect together two pipe ends, the end of said inner sleeve which has the maximum outer diameter abuts against said annular flange so as to drive said sleeves in axial relation to one another thus wedging said sleeves into tight engagement with one another and so as to force said inner sleeve into tight engagement with said pipe.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each half-sleeve has an inwardly projecting rib at substantially its mid-point, to provide a location means for the ends of the pipes within the inner sleeve.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which each half-sleeve has at least one projection from the inner surface thereof, at substantially its mid-point, to provide locating means for the ends of the pipes within the inner sleeve.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which said rib is rectangular in cross-section.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said nut is provided with a plurality of ribs projecting from its outer lateral surface, to facilitate the manual rotation of the nut.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which the outer lateral surface of the outer sleeve is provided with ribs or flat regions or protrusions therefrom to facilitate the gripping thereof.

7. Apparatus-as defined in claim 1, in which said two axially-aligned pipes have different outer diameters, and the radius of curvature of the inner surface of each half-sleeve changes from a value substantially equal to the radius of the outer surface of one of said pipes to a value substantially equal to the radius of the outer surface of the other of said pipes at substantially the mid-point of the half-sleeve.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which each half-sleeve has an inwardly projecting rib at the change of radius of curvature of the inner surface of the half-sleeve.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said rib has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which at least one of said pipes is fabricated from a polyvinylchloride material.