DE102018101163B4 - pipe coupling system - Google Patents

Abstract

Pipe coupling system (1) with two pipes (2) to be connected, a coupling housing (3) and at least one sealing element (4), the pipes (2) each having a connecting section (5) on which an outer groove (6) is formed , wherein the two pipes (2) face each other with their connecting sections (5) in the assembled state, wherein at least one sealing groove (7) for receiving the at least one sealing element (4) is formed in the coupling housing (3), wherein the coupling housing (3) is formed in one piece and at least two inner grooves (8) corresponding to the outer grooves (6) of the connecting sections (5) are formed in the clutch housing (3), which together with the outer grooves (6) each form a circumferential groove (9), with at least two Shearing elements (10) are provided, and wherein in the assembled state of the pipe coupling system (1) one shearing element (10) is arranged in a circumferential groove (9) and the coupling housing (3) both n connecting sections (5), characterized in that at least one anti-rotation device (12) is formed in the coupling housing (3), so that rotation of at least one tube (2) relative to the coupling housing (3) can be blocked, that the anti-rotation device ( 12) an opening (13) in the clutch housing (3), the opening (13) having an internal thread (14) into which an anti-rotation element (15) with an external thread (16) corresponding to the internal thread (14) can be screwed in such a way, that a non-positive connection can be realized between the anti-twist element (15) and the tube (2) inserted into the coupling housing (3) in the region of the opening (13).

Description

The invention relates to a pipe coupling system with two pipes to be connected, a coupling housing and at least one sealing element, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Pipe coupling systems have been used to connect pipes end-to-end for many years. The most common type of connection, which has been used for decades, is the so-called shell coupling. For this purpose, the pipes to be connected are provided with a circumferential outer groove on one end area. The coupling for connecting the pipe ends consists of several segments that can be arranged around the pipes in the circumferential direction. Each of the segments includes keys that project radially inward toward the tubes for engagement with the circumferential outer splines. The coupling usually consists of two segments which are placed opposite one another on the pipe ends in such a way that the feather keys are brought into engagement with the outer grooves and the two segments as a whole enclose the two pipe ends. The two segments can be fastened to one another with screws, so that a positive connection is formed between the tubes and the coupling. The mount for the screws is on the side of the clutch housing, similar to a flange connection. In addition, a seal can be slid onto the pipe ends, for which a corresponding recess is provided in the segments of the shell coupling to accommodate the seal.

the EP 1 751 458 B 1 shows, for example, a pipe coupling of the type mentioned above, in which two segments of a coupling can be screwed together in order to form a positive connection with two pipe ends.

the U.S.A. 4,471,979 also discloses a quick connect coupling for light gauge tubing. Pipes with the same inner diameter but different wall thicknesses can be accommodated with this pipe coupling. A coupling member is designed to deform tubes of reduced wall thickness into a substantially elliptical condition. Screw blocks are provided on the coupling to achieve this. The screw blocks are spaced apart to cause deformation and a tight fit of the tubes when the coupling is tightened. Here, too, the pipe coupling has two segments which can be connected to one another by means of a screw connection, with the receptacles for the screws being arranged opposite one another on the outside of the pipe coupling.

A disadvantage of these pipe coupling systems is, on the one hand, that they only provide a connection with limited tensile strength. Pipes that are connected to one another via a pipe coupling system of the aforementioned type must always be attached to a wall in order to ensure a sufficiently strong connection. The space required for such a pipe connection is therefore correspondingly large.

the DE 10 2008 009 524 A1 discloses a pipe coupling system of the generic type, in which the two pipes each have a connecting section with an outer groove, the pipes facing each other with their connecting sections in the assembled state. In the clutch housing, which directly surrounds the two connecting sections, two sealing grooves are formed, each for receiving a sealing element, and two inner grooves corresponding to the outer grooves of the connecting sections. Together with the outer grooves in the connecting sections, the inner grooves each form a circumferential groove in which a shearing element is arranged in each case when the pipe coupling system is in the assembled state.

Also the DE 10 2007 039 582 A1 discloses a pipe coupling system comprising two pipes to be connected, a coupling housing surrounding the two connection sections, a sealing element and two shearing elements arranged in circumferential grooves formed by internal grooves in the coupling housing and corresponding external grooves in the pipes. The wall of the clutch housing has a special multi-layer structure, with a fiber-reinforced plastic layer being arranged between an outer wall and an inner wall.

A pipe coupling system with two pipes to be connected, a coupling housing surrounding the two connecting sections of the pipes, two sealing elements and several shearing elements is also known from WO 2008/062443 A2 famous.

It is the object of the present invention to propose a pipe coupling system which has increased tensile strength and minimizes the space requirement and is also easier to handle.

In the case of the pipe coupling system described at the outset, this object is achieved with the features of patent claim 1 . The clutch housing is designed in one piece, with at least two inner grooves corresponding to the outer grooves of the connecting sections being formed in the clutch housing, which together form a circumferential groove. Next are at least two shearing elements are provided, wherein in the assembled state of the pipe coupling system one shearing element is arranged in a circumferential groove and the coupling housing immediately surrounds the two connecting sections. In this way, a connection with high tensile strength is achieved, which at the same time reduces the dimensions of the clutch housing, since no external receptacles for screws or other fastening means are required. The shearing elements can be inserted radially or tangentially into the clutch housing through openings. The circumferential groove for receiving the shearing element is composed of an inner groove formed in the coupling housing and a corresponding outer groove formed in the connecting section of a pipe, the inner groove and the outer groove usually being of substantially the same design, ie approximately the same depth and a approximately the same cross-section, in particular have the same radius of curvature. The two grooves can each be composed of an arcuate receiving area and a straight inclined surface, so that when the two pipes are subjected to axial tensile loading, the shearing elements are increasingly wedged between the two opposing receiving areas.

According to the invention it is provided that at least one anti-rotation device is formed in the coupling housing, so that a rotation of at least one tube relative to the coupling housing can be blocked. The anti-rotation device is designed as an opening in the coupling housing, the opening having an internal thread into which an anti-rotation element with an external thread corresponding to the internal thread can be screwed in such a way that a non-positive connection can be realized between the anti-rotation element and the pipe inserted into the coupling housing in the area of the opening .

An anti-twist device ensures that a pipe attached to the coupling housing cannot be rotated relative to the coupling housing and any components arranged on the pipe are no longer positioned in the desired orientation relative to the pipe. In addition, an anti-twist device prevents torsional forces from being transmitted, for example, to the sealing elements, as a result of which the sealing elements can be displaced or damaged and thus cause the pipe coupling system to leak. An anti-twist device is preferably provided for both pipes connected to the coupling housing.

By pressing the anti-rotation element against the pipe wall, it is ensured that a non-positive or frictional connection between the coupling housing and the pipe is provided indirectly via the anti-rotation element. No further conversion measures are necessary on the respective pipe. It would also be conceivable that an anti-twist element is already formed on a tube.

The anti-rotation element can be arranged in the form of a projection on the respective tube or formed out of the tube. An axial recess corresponding to the projection, which extends in the form of a groove in the longitudinal direction of the coupling housing, can be formed on the coupling housing, so that the projection is brought into engagement with the anti-rotation element when the coupling housing is pushed onto the respective pipe. In this way, a stop is also provided at the same time, which prevents the pipe from being inserted too far into the coupling housing or the coupling housing from being pushed too far onto the pipe. As soon as the anti-rotation element hits the end of the recess, the tube can no longer be moved further relative to the coupling housing.

In order to ensure adequate tightness of the pipe coupling system, one embodiment of the invention provides for the sealing groove to be positioned in the coupling housing in such a way that, in the assembled state, it surrounds a contact section in which the two opposite connecting sections touch. In this embodiment, the pipe coupling system has only one sealing element, which is accommodated by the sealing groove. The seal is thus located in the immediate vicinity of the contact section in which the two pipe ends or connection sections touch, which promotes sealing of the pipe connection.

In an alternative embodiment of the pipe coupling system, two sealing grooves are provided in the coupling housing and the sealing grooves are positioned in such a way that in the assembled state one sealing groove surrounds part of a connecting section. Consequently, two sealing elements are also provided. The sealing members are each arranged at a connecting portion so that each tube is sealed by a sealing member such as an O-ring. The sealing grooves are formed so deep in the coupling housing that it is still possible to slide the coupling housing onto a pipe end or a connecting section without great effort. Alternatively, such an elastic sealing material can be used that the sealing element moves when the coupling housing is pushed on or when the pipe is pushed into the The coupling housing is elastically deformed, which means that it can be pushed on or pushed in without much effort. In this case, the sealing groove does not have to be formed excessively deep in the coupling housing, but only so far that the sealing groove can accommodate the sealing element without the sealing element being able to slip when the coupling housing is slid on or when a pipe is pushed in.

For an optimal arrangement of the at least one sealing element, it is provided that the at least one sealing groove is arranged between the inner grooves of the clutch housing. In this way, the sealing groove is brought closer to the contacting portion of the two pipes where the risk of leakage is greatest. Since the shearing element can be moved in the circumferential groove, there is a small amount of play between the circumferential groove and the shearing element, and a medium from the pipes could possibly enter into the space between them. In the case of corrosive media, this may result in damage to the shear element or to the pipe coupling system in general. With an arrangement of the sealing groove between the outer grooves of the coupling housing and thus closer to a point where medium can possibly escape, the risk of a leak in the pipe coupling system can be minimized.

In order to simplify the assembly of the pipe coupling system, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the coupling housing has an inner diameter over its entire length that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the two pipes, so that the coupling housing can be attached to the pipe from both sides Pipes can be pushed or the pipes can be pushed into the coupling housing from both sides. Due to the configuration with two shearing elements, one shearing element being arranged between a connecting section of a first pipe and the clutch housing and the other shearing element between the connecting section of the second pipe and the clutch housing, axially acting forces can be absorbed by the clutch housing. In such a configuration of the pipe coupling system, axial forces are thus transmitted from one pipe to the coupling housing via a shearing element.

For easier handling and at the same time to ensure a stable connection between the pipes and the coupling housing, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the shearing elements each consist of a flexible core, in particular a steel cable, and a plurality of shearing bodies, in particular steel rollers, threaded onto the core . The individual shearing bodies preferably have a length that is significantly less than 1/10 of the circumference of the circumferential groove accommodating the shearing element. As a result, the shearing bodies, in conjunction with the flexible core, can be easily pushed into the circumferential groove or pulled out again when the two connecting sections and the clutch housing are in the plugged-in state. For the design of the shearing element, it is also conceivable that the shearing element is designed as a flexible spring bar or as a flexible plastic solid bar.

In order to make the pipe coupling system more space-saving, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the coupling housing has a circular outer contour and that the outer diameter D1 of the pipe coupling system corresponds to the outer diameter D2 of the coupling housing. When attaching the pipes with a slip-on coupling housing, which is connected to the pipes with shearing elements in a tension-resistant manner, no flange connections or other screw connections of the coupling housing are necessary. The coupling housing can thus be designed to be extremely space-saving and has a not much larger diameter than the pipes themselves, depending on the wall thickness of the coupling housing.

In order to also be able to connect pipes at an angle to one another, one embodiment provides that the coupling housing has a curvature so that the pipes are arranged at an angle to one another. The angle is different from 180 degrees, preferably less than 135 degrees, in particular about 90 degrees. In this case, the pipes do not touch when connected to the coupling body, they are merely adjacent to, but not inserted into, the area where the coupling body is curved. It is conceivable that in the area in which the clutch housing is curved, an inner lining of the clutch housing is provided, which is applied to the inner wall. It would also be possible for a pipe section made of the same pipe material as the pipes to be connected to be inserted into the curved area of the coupling housing. The pipe section can be equipped with additional sealing elements at the inlet and outlet end, which can be accommodated by further sealing grooves in the coupling housing. In this way, a medium always flows through the same material, even in the area where two pipes are connected.

The tight connection of two pipes with a coupling housing is not limited to the connection of two pipes with the same diameter limited. The clutch housing can also be designed in such a way that the clutch housing has an inlet end and an outlet end, with the inner diameter of the clutch housing being larger at the inlet end than at the outlet end. With such a reducing adapter, pipes of different sizes can also be connected to one another. In addition, more than two tubes can also be connected to one another. For example, the coupling housing can be designed with three receptacles, for example in the form of a T-piece, so that two pipes can be connected in alignment with one another and another pipe can be connected orthogonally to the two pipes.

• 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Rohrkupplungssystems mit einer Dichtungsnut,
• 2 das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 1 mit einer Verdrehsicherung,
• 3 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Rohrkupplungssystems mit zwei Dichtungsnuten,
• 4 das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 3 mit einer Verdrehsicherung,
• 5 einen Querschnitt durch das Rohrkupplungssystem,
• 6 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Rohrkupplungssystems mit einer Verbindung von zwei Rohren in einem Winkel zueinander und
• 7 verschiedene Ausführungsbeispiele der Kontur eines Dichtelements.

In detail, there are now a large number of possibilities for designing and developing the pipe coupling system according to the invention. Reference is made both to the patent claims subordinate to patent claim 1 and to the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. Show in the drawing

• 1 an embodiment of a pipe coupling system with a sealing groove,
• 2 the embodiment according to 1 with an anti-twist device,
• 3 an embodiment of a pipe coupling system with two sealing grooves,
• 4 the embodiment according to 3 with an anti-twist device,
• 5 a cross section through the pipe coupling system,
• 6 an embodiment of a pipe coupling system with a connection of two pipes at an angle to each other and
• 7 various exemplary embodiments of the contour of a sealing element.

1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pipe coupling system 1 in which two pipes 2 are connected to one another via a coupling housing 3 . A sealing element 4 is arranged in the clutch housing 3 . The tubes 2 each have a connecting section 5 in which a peripheral outer groove 6 is formed. A sealing groove 7 for receiving the sealing element 4 is formed in the clutch housing 3 . In addition, inner grooves 8 corresponding to the outer grooves 6 of the tubes 2 are formed in the clutch housing 3 . The outer grooves 7 of the tubes 2 and the inner grooves 8 of the clutch housing 3 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that they together form a circumferential groove 9 . At each connecting portion 5 of a pipe 2, a circumferential groove 9 is formed by an outer groove 6 and an inner groove 8 of the clutch housing 3. A shearing element 10 is arranged in the circumferential groove 9 , which wedges in the circumferential groove 9 when there are tensile forces acting on the pipes 2 or the coupling housing 3 , and thus ensures a connection of the two pipes 2 in the coupling housing 3 with high tensile strength. The sealing element 4 and the sealing groove 7 are arranged centrally in the coupling housing 3 so that the sealing element 4 encloses a contact section 11 in which the pipes 2 touch with their connecting sections 5 . In this way, a good seal of the pipe coupling system 1 is guaranteed. The sealing element 4 and the sealing groove 7 are arranged between the two shearing elements 10 .

2 shows the embodiment according to FIG 1 with an anti-rotation device 12. The anti-rotation device 12 is formed by an opening 13 in the clutch housing 3, which extends approximately orthogonally to the longitudinal extent of a pipe 2. The opening 13 has an internal thread 14 into which an anti-rotation element 15 in the form of a screw element with an external thread 16 corresponding to the internal thread 14 can be screwed. The anti-rotation element 15 is screwed into the opening 13 until the anti-rotation element 15 abuts one of the tubes 2 laterally. Screwing in further creates a frictional connection between the clutch housing 3 and the pipe 2 , which is transmitted via the anti-twist element 16 . A rotation of a tube 2 relative to the clutch housing 3 is no longer easily possible.

The general assembly of the pipe coupling system 1 is initially carried out by pushing the pipes 2 into the coupling housing 3 or by sliding the coupling housing 3 onto the pipes 2. For easier assembly, the inside diameter 17 of the coupling housing 3 is consistently slightly larger than the outside diameter 18 of the pipes 2. Position the tubes 2 in such a way that the outer grooves 6 of the tubes 2 and the inner grooves 8 of the coupling housing 3 lie on top of each other and form the circumferential groove 9. The shearing element 10 can then be inserted radially into the circumferential groove 9 . In 5 an embodiment of a shearing element in the form of a flexible core 19, for example a steel cable 20, is shown on which several shearing bodies 21 are threaded. The shearing elements 10 can be connected by an in 2 not shown shearing element opening 22 are inserted. If the shearing elements 10 are inserted into the circumferential groove, the shearing elements wedge themselves in the circumferential groove under tensile forces as well as compressive forces if the pipe ends do not touch in the assembled state, which means that the pipe coupling system 1 can only be dismantled if the shearing elements 10 are first reinserted be removed from the circumferential grooves 9. The pipes 2 can then be pulled out of the coupling housing 3 or the coupling housing can be pushed over the pipes 2 . This makes it possible to remove a tube 2 after the release of the high-tensile connection and the pushing back of the coupling housing 3 without the tube 2 having to be displaced axially beforehand.

3 shows an embodiment of a pipe coupling system 1 with two sealing elements 4. Two sealing grooves 7 are formed in the coupling housing 3 accordingly. The sealing elements 4 can be introduced into the sealing grooves 7 in the form of O-rings. The sealing elements 4 are arranged between the shearing elements 10 . Due to the arrangement of the sealing elements 4 between the shearing elements 10, the sealing elements are positioned close to the contact section 11 of the pipes 2 in order to ensure good tightness of the pipe coupling system 1. Each connecting section 5 is consequently sealed with its own sealing element. If the pipe coupling system 1 is dismantled, in which only one pipe 2 is to be removed or replaced, a medium or residues of a medium that flows through the pipes 2 can only escape on the side of the removed pipe 2 and not within the Spread out the clutch housing further. A distribution, for example, of a corrosive medium within the coupling housing 3, for example in the circumferential groove 9 and directly to the shearing elements 10, could damage the shearing elements 10 or damage the entire pipe coupling system 1.

4 shows the exemplary embodiment of the pipe coupling system 1 according to FIG 3 with an anti-rotation device 12 as in the embodiment according to 2 already shown.

5 shows a cross section through a pipe coupling system 1 according to the invention in the area of a circumferential groove 9, with the illustration in 5 the shearing element 10 is about to be inserted into the circumferential groove 9 through a shearing element opening 22 . The shearing element 10 consists of a flexible core 19, for example a steel cable, and a plurality of disc-shaped shearing bodies 21 threaded onto the core 19. The individual shearing bodies 21 have a length that is significantly less than the circumference of the circumferential groove 9, so that the shearing element 10 has sufficient flexibility and can therefore be easily inserted into the circumferential groove 9 or pulled out of the circumferential groove 9 again through the shearing element opening 22 to release the axial connection.

Both 1 until 5 it can be seen that the coupling housing 3 has a circular outer contour and that the outside diameter D1 of the pipe coupling system 1 corresponds to the outside diameter D2 of the coupling housing 3 . Because the connection of the pipes 2 is formed within the coupling housing 3 by means of the shearing elements 10, no further elements are required outside, on the outside of the coupling housing 3, which serve to fasten the pipe ends or to stabilize the coupling housing 3. The overall outside diameter of the pipe coupling system 1 is therefore not noticeably larger than the outside diameter of the pipes 2 to be connected.

6 shows an embodiment of a pipe coupling system 1 with a connection of two pipes 2 at an angle to each other. The clutch housing 3 is in contrast to the embodiments according to 1 until 5 designed curved. In this way the tubes 2 can be connected at an angle to each other. In 6 it can be seen that the tubes 2 are oriented at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to one another.

More acute or obtuse angles are also conceivable. As in the other exemplary embodiments, a pipe 2 with the respective connecting section 5 is pushed into the coupling housing 3 or the coupling housing 3 is pushed onto the pipe 2, with the pipe 2 and the coupling housing 3 being connected to one another with high tensile strength by means of the shearing element 10.

7a until 7c show different configurations of the sealing element 4 7c the sealing element 4 has a U-shape with a U-back 23 and two U-legs 24, extensions 25 being arranged on the U-legs 24, which extend in the direction of the opening of the U-shape. the 7b shows the sealing element 4 with a U-shape according to FIG 7a , wherein an additional projection 26 is formed in the U-ridge 23, which extends towards the U-opening. 7c shows a sealing element 4 with a U-shape and a projection 26 according to FIG 7b , wherein the projection 26 protrudes beyond the extensions 25 and emerges from the U-opening.

Reference List

1

pipe coupling system

2

pipe

3

clutch housing

4

sealing element

5

connection section

6

outer groove

7

seal groove

8th

inner groove

9

circumferential groove

10

shear element

11

touch section

12

anti-rotation device

13

opening

14

inner thread

15

anti-rotation element

16

external thread

17

inner diameter

18

outer diameter

19

soul

20

steel cable

21

shear body

22

shear element opening

23

U back

24

U leg

25

appendages

26

head Start

Claims (8)

Pipe coupling system (1) with two pipes (2) to be connected, a coupling housing (3) and at least one sealing element (4), the pipes (2) each having a connecting section (5) on which an outer groove (6) is formed , wherein the two pipes (2) face each other with their connecting sections (5) in the assembled state, wherein at least one sealing groove (7) for receiving the at least one sealing element (4) is formed in the coupling housing (3), wherein the coupling housing (3) is formed in one piece and in the clutch housing (3) at least two inner grooves (8) are formed which correspond to the outer grooves (6) of the connecting sections (5) and which together with the outer grooves (6) each form a circumferential groove (9), with at least two Shearing elements (10) are provided, and in the assembled state of the pipe coupling system (1) a shearing element (10) is arranged in a circumferential groove (9) and the coupling housing (3) the be iden connecting sections (5), characterized in that in the coupling housing (3) at least one anti-rotation device (12) is formed, so that a rotation of at least one pipe (2) relative to the coupling housing (3) can be blocked, that the anti-rotation device ( 12) there is an opening (13) in the clutch housing (3), the opening (13) having an internal thread (14) into which an anti-rotation element (15) with an external thread (16) corresponding to the internal thread (14) can be screwed in such a way that a non-positive connection can be realized between the anti-twist element (15) and the tube (2) inserted into the coupling housing (3) in the region of the opening (13). Pipe coupling system (1) according to claim 1 , with a sealing element (4), characterized in that the sealing groove (7) is positioned in the clutch housing (3) in such a way that, in the assembled state, it surrounds a contact section (11) in which the two opposite connecting sections (5) touch. Pipe coupling system (1) according to claim 1 , with two sealing elements (4), characterized in that two sealing grooves (7) are provided in the clutch housing (3) and that the sealing grooves (7) are positioned in such a way that in the assembled state each sealing groove (7) forms part of a connecting section (5) surrounds. Pipe coupling system (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the at least one sealing groove (7) is arranged between the inner grooves (8) of the clutch housing (3). Pipe coupling system (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the coupling housing (3) has an inside diameter (17) over its entire length which is slightly larger than the outside diameter (18) of the two pipes (2), so that the coupling housing (3) can be pushed onto the Pipes (2) can be pushed on or the pipes (2) can be pushed into the clutch housing (3) from both sides. Pipe coupling system (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the shearing elements (10) each consist of a flexible core (19), in particular a steel cable (20), and a plurality of shearing bodies (21), in particular steel rollers, threaded onto the core (19). Pipe coupling system (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the coupling housing (3) has a circular outer contour and that the outer diameter of the pipe coupling system (1) to the outside diameter of the clutch housing (3). Pipe coupling system (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the coupling housing (3) has a curvature, so that the tubes (2) are arranged at an angle other than 180 degrees to each other.

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