Pipe joints or couplings – With indicator – alarm or inspection means
Patent
1992-07-15
1994-05-24
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With indicator, alarm or inspection means
285256, 285345, 285379, F16L 3500
Patent
active
053142101
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
Patents FR-A-1 558 355, DE-A-3 815 168 and DE-A-3 914 645 in particular already disclose a device for connecting a flexible pipe on a rigid tubular joining piece, such a device essentially comprising a rigid tubular assembly fixed in tight manner to the end of the flexible pipe, this assembly being provided with sealing means and with assembly and/or locking means cooperating with elements complementary of the rigid joining piece. More precisely, the tubular assembly fixed to the end of the flexible pipe comprises two coaxial rigid tubular elements disposed respectively inside and outside the end of the flexible pipe, adapted to receive the rigid joining piece. In the more particular case of the German Patents mentioned above, these two tubular elements embrace the free end of the flexible pipe in the form of a bead and simultaneously ensure seal and mechanical strength of the assembly, thanks to radial deformations revealing cylindrical portions of different diameters on each of the inner and outer tubular elements. Furthermore, in order to ensure seal of the connection, an 0-ring, capable of coming into contact with the outer piece of the rigid joining piece, is disposed in a housing made on the inner surface of the inner tubular element by its portion of larger diameter. The housing is closed, towards the outside in the axial direction, by a radial annular wall, connected to the outer tubular element, whose inner diameter is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the inner tubular element. At least one of said tubular elements comprises assembly and/or locking means cooperating with complementary means provided in register on the rigid joining piece.
The known connecting devices of the type in question present several drawbacks despite their efficiency.
On the one hand, they comprise relatively heavy and/or voluminous members, sometimes difficult to place in position, which in practice prevent their being used for certain applications, particularly if the assembly must be effected by means of machines such as robots, which can generally effect only translations.
On the other hand, and in consequence of these first drawbacks, the known devices are relatively expensive, both due to the nature or structure of the parts which constitute them and to the time necessary for positioning them.
Finally, particularly in the case of the two German Patents mentioned above, the fastening of the rigid tubular assembly on the end of the flexible pipe requires a considerable deformation of the latter, in particular in order to reveal, inside said assembly, a housing for the 0-ring with the joining piece. Such deformations may bring about creeping of the flexible pipe, highly detrimental to the correct holding of the device.
It may be recalled here that, in the particular case of the hydraulic cooling circuits for vehicle motors, the flexible pipes must be equipped, before being connected together, with the tubular assembly intended to be fitted and fixed on the rigid joining piece; this latter itself generally forms a part of an apparatus, such as a heat exchanger previously placed in position. The operation of assembly of the pipe and of its tubular end assembly as well as the operation of connection proper must be as simple as possible and necessitate only a number of parts as small as possible. In particular, the addition or manipulation of parts in the final phase of connection must be avoided.
The numerous technical and commercial requirements which have just been recalled have led Applicants to seek a device for connecting a flexible pipe on a rigid joining piece, of the type described in the Patents cited above, which eliminates the drawbacks thereof whilst presenting various advantages.
According to the invention, the cylindrical portions of larger diameter of the inner tubular element and of the outer tubular element (constituting what has been called "the tubular assembly" fixed to the end of the flexible pipe), preferably made of thin metal sheet, are located, in the radial direction, opposite the termi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4703957 (1987-11-01), Blenkush
patent: 4969667 (1990-11-01), Sauer
patent: 4969668 (1990-11-01), Sauer
patent: 5040829 (1991-08-01), Sauer
patent: 5082315 (1992-01-01), Sauer
patent: 5094493 (1992-03-01), Sauer
Calmettes Lionel
Detable Pascal
Arola Dave W.
Etablissements Caillau
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