Pipes and tubular conduits – Distinct layers – With intermediate insulation layer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-12
2001-03-06
Brinson, Patrick (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Distinct layers
With intermediate insulation layer
C138S141000, C138S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196272
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pipes and conduits, and more particularly to prefabricated pipes and conduits having a covering of temperature insulation adhered thereto. The novel insulated conduits are formed in a variety of configurations, such as straight and bent. In one embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a kit comprising individual members of different configurations. The invention finds utility in construction of plumbing and other fluid handling conduit systems. In particular, the invention assists mechanics in installing and assembling such systems in new construction, renovation, repair, maintenance, of buildings. Construction and modification in other applications, such as industrial and commercial conduit systems, may also benefit from the invention.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heating, plumbing, industrial and commercial liquid handling systems occasionally require insulation. In typical construction, renovation, and repair work, a system of conduits, such as pipes, is first assembled and subsequently insulated. This process is feasible when access to individual conduits and sections of conduits is available. However, in some situations, access is so severely limited that insulation cannot feasibly be installed after the conduit system is complete.
An example is seen in renovation of residential buildings wherein pipes are routed through walls and floors. Individual conduits may possibly pass through and near structural members such as joists, electrical and mechanical objects such as wiring, other pipes, ducts, fans and their housings, and the like. Proximity to such objects may render the usual methods of insulating impossible or nearly so without requiring dismantling of the interfering object or system. Yet there may be sufficient space in the building to accommodate the conduit and an insulating jacket.
The prior art has proposed insulated conduits. U.S. Pat No. 5,722,462, issued to Hamadi Dridi et al. On Mar. 3, 1998, describes a flexible insulated conduit having a conduit at its core, a wound insulating covering, and an external protective casing. By contrast, the present invention lacks an external protective casing, has an insulating covering which is not limited to wound construction, and has exposed portions of the conduit which extend outside the insulating cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,379, issued to William L. Manofsky et al. On Jul. 7, 1998, describes preformed insulating material which can be slipped over a conduit for the purpose of insulating the conduit. By contrast, the present invention includes a conduit disposed within the insulating cover, with the insulating cover adhered to the conduit. The insulating cover in the present invention cannot be pulled longitudinally along the conduit, as is practiced with the device of Manofsky et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,380, issued to David D. Onan et al. on Aug. 11, 1998, describes a construction wherein several pipes are bundled together and insulated. The present invention provides, by contrast, one conduit having its own insulating cover. Each section of insulated conduit in the present invention extends beyond the insulating cover. These characteristics are not seen in the bundled pipe of Onan et al.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention sets forth modular insulated sections of conduit which can readily be joined into a system or network of piping or other conduit. Individual modules have exposed conduit stubs at each end, thereby enabling ready connection. The exposed joined stubs can be insulated after assembly of the system.
The insulation comprises a sleeve adhered to the conduit The insulated conduit is tubular in cross section, and of constant diameter along its insulated length. This configuration enables pre-insulated sections of conduit to be inserted into small or limited spaces which may not accommodate manual installation of insulation by traditional methods. It is thus possible to construct an insulated system of pipes or other conduit where either insulating the pipe after assembly of the piping system is not feasible or wherein substantial disassembly of existing building elements would be required to afford access for insulating the piping after the piping is installed and assembled.
One application for the present invention is repair or renovation of existing buildings. Piping may be run through tight quarters, such as interstitial floor spaces, in crawl spaces, attics with low roof structure, and other highly obstructed areas wherein it would not be feasible or economical to remove obstacles to construction of plumbing or other piping systems.
Preferably, the conduit and insulation are selected to be suitable for a wide range of temperatures. The same insulated piping may then be employed for different purposes. For example, maintenance of temperature in domestic hot water systems may accomplished in commercial buildings being updated without having to rely upon constant recirculation of hot water. Freeze protection equipment may possibly be obviated by replacing existing plumbing with the same novel pre-insulated piping employed in the hot water system. Condensation problems may possibly be forestalled in older homes being renovated by assembling new domestic cold water plumbing employing the same novel pre-insulated conduit as a stock building material. The present invention finds application wherever plumbing or other piping systems are being modified for repair, replacement, and other purposes in an existing structure.
There is no requirement that the conduit be rigid, as is typical of metallic piping. The conduit may comprise flexible hose. Rigid and non-rigid pre-insulated conduit types may be mixed in a single installation. This practice may enable a new piping system to be built around an old piping system being abandoned in place. Frequently, there is sufficient space for the first piping system, but the first piping system renders available space inadequate for construction of a superseding piping system unless considerable demolition is undertaken. The present invention allows piping to be fit into irregular spaces which would not necessarily be possible when building a plumbing or piping system from rigid metallic piping and tubing.
The modular set incudes fittings such as adapters and connectors to make transitions in direction from one modular conduit to another, to branch, to make transition in nominal conduit size, and the like.
Insulation is supplemented by a reflective barrier which is located selectively over or beneath the insulating sleeve.
Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide conduits such as pipes in pre-insulated, modular form.
It is another object of the invention to provide modular conduits in kit form, wherein plural sections of modular conduits may be obtained packaged together.
It is a further object of the invention that the insulation resist being displaced from the conduit being insulated.
Still another object of the invention is that ends of the conduit extend beyond the insulation, thereby being accessible for connection.
An additional object of the invention is to enable insulated piping to be slipped into tight quarters, thereby obviating necessity of wrapping piping with insulation under adverse conditions of accessibility and working space.
It is again an object of the invention to provide fittings enabling ready connection of one section of insulated conduit to another.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide the modular insulated conduit in rigid form.
A further object of the invention is to provide the modular insulated conduit in flexible form.
Still another object of the invention is to enhance insulation by providing a reflective barrier.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependab
Davis Mary Maureen
Holcomb Larry W.
Brinson Patrick
Siemens Patent Services LC
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