FR2777341A1 - Instantaneous quick-fit type connector for pipework e.g. water, central heating - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector for joining two ends of piping (8) consists of a sleeve (102) containing internal O-ring seals (106) in recesses at either end of anchorage rings (44,440) fixed to the internal surface of the sleeve (102). The connector also includes deformable teeth (52) which grip the outer surface of the pipe ends. A dismantling tool (50) is proposed which is circular in form and L shaped in section which when pushed under the locating teeth, lifts them so that the pipe end can be removed.

Description

The present invention relates to a connection device

  instantaneous for a pipe, in particular a pipe intended to conduct a liquid.

  The invention also relates to a tool for releasing a

  pipe connected in such a connection device.

  The field of application of the present invention is the connection of pipes intended to conduct fluids which are under a pressure of a few bars. It can for example be water pipes

  such as water pipes for sanitary use or heating.

  Connection devices are known in which it suffices to introduce the end of a pipe to be connected and to push it axially towards the interior of the device in order to produce a connection having good tightness and good mechanical strength. Such connection devices generally comprise an annular part having at its periphery teeth which extend radially inwards but which are all inclined, with respect to the transverse plane in which the annular part is located, towards the interior of the device. connection. The diameter measured at the free ends of the teeth is less than the outside diameter of the pipe to be connected. However, these teeth have a certain elasticity which, combined with the inclination of the teeth, makes it possible to introduce the pipe to be connected into the connection device. Once the end of the pipe has been inserted and engaged in the connection device, withdrawal of the latter is prevented by the teeth which then come to bear on the outside surface of the pipe and which come to brace themselves. The annular part and its teeth therefore provide the mechanical strength of the end of the pipe in the connection device. A

  (or more) joint (s) performs (s) sealing at this connection.

  Known fittings of this type include a socket in which a seal is generally mounted. An assembly comprising an annular part with elastic teeth is then mounted at one end of the sleeve. This assembly includes for example a stop to allow the axial positioning of the annular toothed part, the annular toothed part, a push button which serves firstly to release a connected pipe by acting on the elastic teeth to push them towards the inside of the bushing and on the other hand of a counter-stop to prevent a withdrawal of the annular toothed part when a traction is exerted on the pipe tending to take the pipe out of the connection device, as well as an outer ring allowing the fixing of the three pieces

  above on the connection socket.

  The drawback of this type of device is its relative complexity and therefore its relatively high cost price. Indeed, there is a set of several parts to come and assemble on a socket. The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a new connection device, of the instantaneous type. This new fitting will

  preferably simple and a low cost price.

  To this end, the device which it offers is an instantaneous connection device for a pipe, comprising a connection body hereinafter called a socket intended to possibly receive a seal, for example an O-ring, and a coupling ring provided with elastic teeth inclined with respect to a transverse plane, or possibly

radial.

  According to the invention, the hanging ring is fixed to the surface

inside of the socket.

  The fact of fixing the hooking ring on the internal surface of the sleeve makes it possible to greatly simplify the instantaneous connection. Indeed, it is then useless to provide a set of parts making it possible to hold the hooking ring in place relative to the bush. It is

  directly the sleeve which holds the hooking ring.

  This design therefore significantly reduces the number of parts used to make an instant connection. In addition, the fixing operation, for example by welding, gluing, crimping, etc., is industrially an "easy" operation to perform and can be automated. The cost price of a fitting according to the invention is thus

  lower than the cost price of previously known devices.

  Finally, thanks to the small number of parts used, it is possible to reduce the size of the fitting, which makes it possible to aim at

  miniaturization of devices incorporating fittings of this type.

  In a preferred embodiment, the hooking ring

is crimped into the socket.

  In one embodiment of the connection device according to the invention, the socket is advantageously metallic, for example made of a copper-based alloy. Such a material allows

make a good crimp.

  The socket can also be made of synthetic material. In this

  in this case, the attachment ring is then rather fixed by gluing.

  Likewise, it is advantageous for the attachment ring to be metallic, for example made of steel, in order to better be able to absorb the various mechanical stresses exerted during the crimping operation. As for the pipe to be connected, it can be either metallic, copper for example, plastic or even made

in a composite material.

  To limit the compressive forces exerted on the coupling ring during crimping, provision may be made for the connection device to further comprise a protective ring placed next to the coupling ring. Thus, the radial forces during crimping

  are collected by the hooking and protection rings.

  An advantageous embodiment of the protection ring provides that the latter is shaped as a washer with an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the coupling ring and an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the pipe to be connected. The protective ring then does not interfere with the introduction of the end of the pipe to be connected and, thanks to its larger outside diameter than that of the hooking ring, it protects the latter from any risk of crushing. In one embodiment, the protective ring is

  placed on the side of the base of the inclined teeth of the attachment ring.

  The connection device according to the invention described above does not include integrated means allowing the release of a pipe

connected in this device.

  The invention then also provides a tool for releasing a connected pipe in a connection device according to the invention, characterized in that it has a rounded blade which at least partially matches the outside surface of the connected pipe, a rounded shape whose diameter inside is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the connected pipe and the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the diameter of an opening in the socket, as well as means for holding the blade,

  allowing the blade to be inserted between the connected pipe and the socket.

  The tool is thus placed on the pipe connected to the outside of the connection device, the blade being oriented towards this device, and, by sliding the tool towards the device, the blade can penetrate the fitting, between the pipe and the socket, push the teeth of the hooking ring so as to tilt them even more towards the inside of the socket and thus release the action exerted by these teeth on the pipe. This

  the latter thus released can be easily removed.

  A first embodiment of the tool making it possible to release a pipe connected in a connection device, is in the form of a ring in two parts articulated with respect to each other around an axis parallel to the axis of the ring and located at the periphery thereof; the inside diameter of the ring corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the connected pipe, and one end of the ring has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the sleeve

  at its end intended to receive the pipe to be connected.

  According to another embodiment of the tool making it possible to release a pipe connected in a connection device according to the invention, this is in the form of a circular cylindrical sleeve, with an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the connected pipe, having on its outside face a shoulder so as to present on one side a thin wall of outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the sleeve at its end

intended to receive the pipe.

  In any case, the invention will be well understood using the

  description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing

  representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, connection devices according to the invention and tools for releasing a pipe

  fitted into these connection devices.

  Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a socket having at each of its ends a connection device according to the invention, the two connection devices being different at the two ends of the socket, Figure 2 shows another socket having two variants of a connection device according to the invention, Figure 3 shows the socket of Figure 1 into which have been introduced the ends of pipes to be connected and a tool for releasing a pipe fitted into the connection device, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a release tool, Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view along the section line VV of Figure 6, and Figure 6 is a front view of a release tool. Figure 1 shows a socket 2, for example made of copper, inside which is a first hooking ring 4, two

  O-rings 6, and a second attachment ring 40.

  The sleeve 2 has a generally cylindrical tubular shape of circular section. It has an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of a pipe 8 to be connected over most of its length (see FIG. 3). It has a larger internal diameter at the attachment rings 4 and 40 and the O-rings 6. Thus, the interior wall of the sleeve 2 has housings for receiving the attachment rings 4 and 40 and the O-rings 6 These are placed in a manner known to those skilled in the art in the

socket 2.

  The attachment rings 4 and 40 are, for their part, crimped into the sleeve 2. As can be seen in the figures, the left and right ends of the sleeve have a lip 10 folded inwards. Before crimping, the lips 10 are substantially parallel to the axis 12 of the sleeve 2. The internal surface of the sleeve 2 therefore has, at one end, a first zone 14 having an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the pipe 8 to be connected, then a widening 16 until an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the attachment ring 4 or 40 to be crimped, then a second zone serving as housing for the ring

  hooking 4 or 40 and finally the lip 10.

  The attachment ring 4 is a metal ring, for example made of steel, which has an outer annular part 4a at the inner periphery of which elastic teeth 4b are regularly attached. The outer annular part 4a is in the form of a small sleeve centered on the axis 12 of the sleeve 2. The teeth 4b are inclined towards the inside of the sleeve 2. The diameter measured at the free ends of the teeth 4b is smaller than the outside diameter of the pipe 8 to be connected. The outer annular part 4a has a

  inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of this pipe 8.

  As indicated above, before the attachment ring 4 is placed in the socket 2, the outer lip 10 is substantially parallel to the axis 12. The attachment ring can then be introduced into the socket 2. It comes into abutment against the enlargement zone 16. We then crimp this hooking ring 4 into the bushing 2 by pressing the inner wall of the bushing 2 against the outer annular part 4a of the hooking ring and by folding the lip 10 towards the axis 12 of the sleeve so as to prevent any removal of the ring

  hooking 4 out of the socket without deformation of the lip 10.

  The hooking ring 40 has an outer annular part 40a and elastic teeth 40b which extend radially towards the inside of the bush 2 while being inclined towards the inside of the bush. These teeth 40b are substantially identical to the teeth 4b of the attachment ring 4. The outer annular part 40a differs in turn from the outer annular part 4a of the attachment ring 4. In fact, it is no longer there. a sleeve but a washer which extends

  in a transverse plane of the socket 2.

  As for the installation of the hooking ring 40 inside the sleeve 2, it is produced in the same way as for the

snap ring 4.

  FIG. 2 shows two alternative embodiments of a connection device according to the invention for which, at the same time as the crimping of a hooking ring 44 or 440 is carried out, the crimping of a protective ring 120 inside a

socket 102.

  The sleeve 102 is made for example of brass. It has substantially the same characteristics as the socket 2. In fact, it is a socket 102 with an axis 112 inside which are arranged two O-rings 106 and at each end of which is a device for connection according to the invention. There is a first zone 114 for each connection device, the internal diameter of which corresponds substantially to the external diameter of the pipe 8 to be connected, a widening 116 making it possible to increase the internal diameter of the sleeve 102 to a value substantially equal to the external diameter. of the hooking ring 44 or 440, a second zone 118 serving to accommodate the hooking ring 44 or 440 and the

  protective ring 120 and a lip 110.

  The attachment ring 44 is comparable to the attachment ring 40 of FIG. 1. There is effectively an outer annular part 44a in the form of a washer lying in a plane transverse to the sleeve 102 and elastic teeth 44b, regularly distributed. on the inner periphery of the annular part 44a and inclined

  inward of socket 102.

  The attachment ring 440 is in turn close to the ring 4 of FIG. 1. It also comprises an outer annular part 440a in the form of a sleeve with an axis 112 and elastic teeth 440b inclined towards the inside of the sleeve 102 and placed inside the

annular part 440a.

  The protective ring is each time placed between the hooking ring 44 or 440 and an opening 122 of the socket 102 by

  which is introduced the end of the pipe to be connected 8.

  The protection ring has the shape of a washer. Its outside diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the hooking ring 44 or 440 and its inside diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the pipe to be connected 8. This protective ring is

for example made of steel.

  Before crimping, the lips 110 are substantially parallel to the axis 112 of the sleeve. It is then possible to introduce a hooking ring 44 or 440 and a protective ring 120 into the socket. The hooking ring 44 or 440 abuts against the enlargement zone 116 and the protective ring 120 comes to rest on the hooking ring 44 or 440. The crimping of the protective ring 120 and of the attachment ring 44 or 440 by pressing the inner wall of the sleeve 102 at the second zone 118 serving as housing for the protection ring and the attachment ring 44 or 440 against the external surfaces of these ci and by folding the lip 110 towards the axis 112 of the sleeve 102. With respect to the variant embodiments of FIG. 1, here there is a distribution of the forces produced during crimping between the protective ring and the hooking ring . The latter is therefore less used. The protective ring 120 serves, as its name indicates, to prevent excessive forces being exerted on the coupling ring during crimping. This ring 120 therefore protects the ring

  attachment with which it is associated with risk of crushing.

  Figure 3 shows the connection devices of Figure 2 when one end of a pipe to be connected 2 is engaged in the connection device. The connection of the pipe 8 is done in a known manner. Indeed, the inclination and the elasticity of the teeth of the attachment ring allow the introduction of the end of the pipe to be connected 8 inside the bushing without being an obstacle to this introduction. The O-ring

  106 allows sealing at the connection.

  When traction is exerted on the pipe to be connected 8 tending to cause the latter to come out of the socket 102, the frictional forces at the level of the teeth of the hooking ring and of the external surface of the pipe 8 tend to cause the teeth of the fastening ring in their rest position shown in Figure 2. However, the presence of

  the end of the pipe to be connected prevents this return. Teeth arches

  butt and hold the pipe like claws. This system of

  connection is known to those skilled in the art.

  Figure 3 shows in section a tool 50 for releasing a pipe fitted into the socket 102 and retained by a ring

  hanging. This tool 50 is shown in perspective in FIG. 4.

  This tool comprises a first part forming a blade 52 and a second part 54 allowing the tool to be grasped and manipulated. The blade 52 is rounded and is dimensioned so that when a pipe 8 is engaged in the socket 102, it can come to slide through the opening 122 of the socket by marrying the external surface of the pipe to be connected in order to push the teeth of the coupling ring which are in contact with the external surface of the pipe. The tool 50 has a general shape of revolution in which a slot 56 has been made, the width of which is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the connected pipe 8. The outside surface of this tool has a shoulder 58 which separates the blade 52 from the part 54 allowing gripping and handling of the tool 50. The part 54 has a larger outside diameter than the outside diameter of the blade 52 and a certain roughness can be provided on its outside surface

  made for example by knurling.

  To use the tool 50, just place it astride the connected pipe 8 near the socket 102 and then slide it towards the socket until the blade 52 comes to tilt even more towards the inside the teeth of the fastening ring holding the pipe 8. then you have to turn the tool 50 a little around the pipe 8

  to act also on teeth located at the level of the slot 56.

  Figures 5 and 6 show another tool for releasing

  a pipe 8 connected in a connection device according to the invention.

  The tool 60 shown in these figures has in the closed position a shape substantially identical to that of the tool 50 for which there would be no slot 56. There is therefore substantially a part having a shape of revolution with an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the connected pipe 8, an external surface having a shoulder 68, thus defining a first part of small external diameter forming a blade 62 and a second part of large external diameter forming a part 64 allowing the gripping and handling of the blade 62. The external surface of this part 64 can for example

  be knurled to facilitate gripping.

  The tool 60 is formed by two jaws 60a and 60b articulated around an axis 70. This axis 70 is parallel to the axis of revolution of the tool and is located at the level of the part allowing the maintenance and the

handling the tool 60.

  FIG. 6 shows in solid line and from the front the tool 60 in position

  closed and in phantom the tool 60 in the open position.

  To release a pipe 8 fitted into a connection device according to the invention, using the tool 60, it suffices to open the latter, to introduce the pipe to be released inside the tool, close the jaws 60a and 60b on the pipe so that the blade 62 is on the side of the bushing then slide the tool 60 towards the bushing until the blade 62 comes to tilt the teeth of the ring attachment, and finally remove the pipe 8 which is then no longer retained by the teeth of the attachment ring. Compared to the known connection device comprising

  a coupling ring comparable to the coupling rings described above

  above, the device according to the invention has some advantages.

  A first advantage is economic. Indeed, the crimping operation is easy to perform and does not use complex tooling. The cost price of a connection device according to the invention is therefore low. In the devices of the prior art to the invention, it is necessary to produce a first sub-assembly comprising the hooking ring which is then mounted in a socket. In addition to the fact that the number of parts is higher in the devices of the prior art, it should also be considered that in these devices numerous manipulations and orientations of parts are necessary. This requires a succession of mounting steps while for the device according to the invention these steps are very limited. A connector according to the invention can be mounted automatically, which is not possible with most

  instant fittings of the prior art.

  In addition, thanks to the small number of parts necessary to make an instant fitting according to the invention, the size of this fitting is reduced. This space saving is important in the current context

  o there is an increasing trend towards miniaturization of devices.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of a connection device and of a tool described above by way of nonlimiting examples; on the contrary, it embraces all

  variants within the scope of the claims below.

  Indeed, other forms of sockets, attachment rings, seals, protective rings are possible. The forms described above are given only as examples. Similarly, the tools according to the invention may have different shapes. The parts of these tools used for gripping them could for example

  have a polygonal or other exterior surface.

  The relative position of the hooking ring and the protection ring can be changed. We could have for example a protection which, relative to the hooking ring, would be inside the bushing, while in the figures the protective ring is outside of the hooking ring. We could also plan

  a protective ring on each side of the hanging ring.

  The materials indicated for the various elements constituting a connector according to the invention are given for information and can be

  modified according to the area of use of the fitting.

he

Claims (10)

  1. Instant connection device for pipe (8), comprising a socket (2; 102) intended to possibly receive a seal, for example an O-ring (6; 106), and a coupling ring (4; 40; 44 ; 440) provided with elastic teeth (4b; 40b; 44b; 440b) inclined with respect to a transverse plane, or possibly radial, characterized in that the hooking ring (4; 40; 44; 440) is   fixed on the inner surface of the socket (2; 102).   2. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hooking ring (4; 40; 44; 440) is crimped in the socket (2; 102).   3. Connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a protective ring (120) placed at   side of the hooking ring (44; 440).   4. Connection device according to claim 3, characterized in that the protective ring (120) is shaped as a washer with an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the hooking ring (44; 440) and an inside diameter greater than the diameter   outside of the pipe (8) to be connected.   5. Connection device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the protective ring (120) is placed on the side of the   base of the inclined teeth (44b; 440b) of the attachment ring.   6. Connection device according to one of claims 1   to 5, characterized in that the socket (2; 102) is metallic, for example   made of a copper-based alloy.   7. Connection device according to one of claims 1   to 6, characterized in that the hooking ring (4; 40; 44; 440) is   metallic, for example made of steel.   8. Tool (50; 60) for releasing a connected pipe (8)   in a connection device according to one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that it has a rounded blade (52; 62) conforming at least partially to the external surface of the connected pipe, rounded shape whose internal diameter is substantially equal to the external diameter of the connected pipe (8) and whose external diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of an opening (122) of the sleeve (2; 102), as well as means (54; 64) for holding the blade (52; 62), allowing   introduce the blade between the connected pipe (8) and the sleeve (2; 102).   9. Tool according to claim 8 for releasing a pipe connected in a connection device, characterized in that it is in the form of a ring in two parts (60a, b) articulated one with respect to the other around an axis (70) parallel to the axis (12; 112) of the ring and located on the periphery thereof, in that the inside diameter of the ring corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the connected pipe (8), and in that one end of the ring has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the sleeve (2; 102) at   its end intended to receive the pipe to be connected.   10. Tool according to claim 8 for releasing a pipe (8) connected in a connection device, characterized in that it is in the form of a circular cylindrical sleeve, of internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the pipe to be connected, comprising on its outside face a shoulder (58) so as to present on one side a thin wall with an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the socket (2; 102) at its   end intended to receive the pipe (8).