Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch – Leaf spring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-07-03
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
Leaf spring
C285S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254145
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a joining and connecting component for corrugated pipes with at least one hollow core space encompassed by a casing, with an insertion opening for receiving a pipe end, at least one breach in the jacket of the casing for receiving an additional locking element and at least one locking element, which can be shifted-in or shifted-out radially with respect to the jacket of the casing, with parts which engage the jacket of the corrugated pipe.
Swiss Patent CH 684 293 discloses a connecting component of this type which comprises releasable locking elements for connecting the connecting component with the end of a corrugated pipe. In this connecting component a hollow core space with an insertion opening for receiving a pipe end is provided in the casing of the connecting component. In the jacket of the casing is at least one breach which is intended for receiving the locking element. The locking element in this known disposition is comprised of a radially swiveling pivot wing which is connected at one end via a hinge with the casing of the connecting component. At the other end of the pivot wing a holding element is formed which, when the pivot wing is in the closed position, engages a corresponding holding rib on the casing. On the inside face, directed toward the hollow core space of the casing, of the pivot wing are disposed radially directed, rigid locking cleats, which, when the pivot wing is closed, engage at least one of the corrugation valleys at the end of the corrugated pipe. Connecting this known connecting component with the end of a corrugated pipe takes place such that the corrugated pipe is inserted into the hollow core space and subsequently the pivot wing is swiveled into the breach on the jacket of the casing and closed and the holding elements are latched. In this position of the pivot wing a secure and firm connection is formed between the connecting component and the end of the corrugated pipe. This connection can only be released with an auxiliary tool. When such joining and connecting components are applied in practice the requirement is often made that the joining and connecting components are completely prepared before they are connected with the end of the corrugated pipe and that, after the insertion of the pipe end, no additional steps are necessary. Closure of the pivot wings after they are installed often is difficult or can be overlooked by the assembly personnel.
A further connecting fitting with a locking element detachable from the casing is disclosed in German Patent DE 29 08 337. In the case of this connecting fitting a breach through the jacket is also provided in the casing into which a C-form locking element can be inserted in the radial direction. On this locking element on the inside face, directed toward the hollow core space, of the casing are disposed rigid ribs which, when the locking element is installed, engage the corrugation valleys at the end of the corrugated pipe and block it. At both free ends of the C-form locking element are disposed stop cams which engage locking ribs on the casing of the connecting fitting. This locking element is radially inserted and moved into the locking position only after the pipe end has been inserted into the hollow core space of the connecting fitting. Since the locking element is independent of the casing of the connecting fitting, it can be lost. In the case of an unfavorable position of the connecting fitting, the correct installation of the locking element in the assembly position is also often made difficult. The releasing of the locking connection in this solution also takes place with an auxiliary tool by means of which the locking element is detached from the casing of the connecting fitting and is subsequently moved radially outwardly. The pipe end can subsequently be pulled out without hindrance from the hollow core space of the connecting fitting without the corrugations engaging any part of the locking element. This permits the simple and interference-free separation of the pipe end from the connecting fitting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the task of the present invention to provide a joining and connecting component or fitting in which the locking element can be moved or swiveled completely out of the jacket in the radial direction and simultaneously the insertion of the pipe end into the connecting component is possible with the locking element shifted-in or closed. A preassembled connecting fitting or connecting component is to be provided in the case of which, after the pipe end has been inserted into the hollow core space of the casing, no additional steps are necessary in order to establish the locking connection.
This task is solved through the characteristics defined in the characterizing clause of the claims. Advantageous further developments of the invention are evident based on the characteristics of the dependent patent claims.
Compared to known fittings, the joining and connecting component according to the invention has the advantages demanded according to the task formulation. The locking splice-clips disposed on the inside face, directed toward the hollow core space of the casing, of the locking element are not oriented radially but rather substantially axially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connecting component or of the hollow core space. This makes possible the secure connection of one of the ends of the locking splice-clip with the locking element and the free movability of the other second end region. The entire locking splice-clip or only a partial region can be implemented so as to be resilient. Between the freely movable second end region of the locking splice-clips and a groove face on the inside face of the locking element, a free interspace is implemented which ensures the movability of the free end region. To secure the end of the corrugated pipe inserted into the hollow core space of the casing, on the movable end region of the locking splice-clips lock pawls are formed which in the locked state engage one of the corrugation valleys on the jacket of the corrugated pipe. When sliding the corrugated pipe into the hollow core space of the casing these lock pawls are displaced outwardly which is possible due to the elasticity of the locking splice-clips and the free interspace behind the locking splice-clips. When placing load onto the corrugated pipe against the direction of insertion, i.e. when the pipe and the fitting are mutually loaded under tension, the lock pawls on the locking splice-clips catch in the jacket of the corrugated pipe and become clawed into the corrugation valleys, it is no longer possible to pull the pipe from the fitting since the form of the lock pawls prevent a radial yielding and clawing occurs due to the spring effect. Releasing the lock connection is only possible if the locking element is swiveled or moved radially out of the jacket of the joining or connecting component. This is possible in known manner with the aid of an auxiliary tool and specifically if the locking element is developed as pivot wing, as well as also as C-form supplementary element or in another form which can be radially shifted-out from the casing.
The implementation according to the invention of the joining and connecting fitting permits the closing or the shifting-in of the locking element with the casing before the pipe end is inserted into the hollow core space. This permits the preassembly of the corresponding fittings without additional assembly step and it is no longer necessary to move the locking elements into the locking position after the pipe end is inserted into the fitting. In the case the locking element is implemented as supplementary element the advantage is also obtained that this supplementary element can no longer be lost during transportation, storage and installation of the fitting since it is already installed in or shifted into the fitting and in the locking position is releaseably connected with it. With the implementation according to the invention, cons
Kleeb Ralf
Schwarz Ernst
Luu Teri Pham
Notaro & Michalos P.C.
PMA AG
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