GB2274887A - Pipe connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns connectors for use with cooling assemblies. Connectors in accordance with the present invention comprise an elongate tubular portion (1) and a gripping member (2). The tubular portion (1) of the connector is specially adapted so as to be insertable into pipes forming part of the cooling assembly, whilst the gripping member (2) serves to retain the connector in position. <IMAGE>

Description

CONNECTORS The invention relates to connectors, and particularly, though not exclusively, to connectors for cooling assemblies.

Cooling circuits, and circuits under liquid pressure in general, require connectors which are capable of withstanding the back pressures of the liquids which they are intended to conduct. Often, connectors are needed for circuits in which the liquid is pulsed by the turning on or off of some part of the circuit. Such pulsing can place considerable strain on the integrity of the connection and lead to leakages.

It is also desirable for a connector to be of a simple construction, easy to manufacture, and capable of straight forward fitment. It is common practice to use Jubilee clips but it is time consuming to fit these and the positioning of equipment may not always permit the necessary screw driver access.

Accordingly, the invention provides a connector for use with a liquid circuit, the connector comprising an elongate tubular portion, a first end of which is attachable to a first part of the liquid circuit and a second end of which is adapted to be inserted into a pipe forming a second part of the liquid circuit; and a gripping member, associated to the tubular portion, having a first region attachable to the tubular portion, a second region for gripping the pipe and means for linking the two regions together.

Preferably, the pipe is a push fit onto the second end of the tubular portion. The second end may have a concentrically formed groove for reception of a sealing member.

The gripping member may be such that it readily permits pushing of the pipe onto the tubular portion but resists its subsequent removal.

The first end of the tubular portion may have an internally, or externally, threaded region for connection to a complementary threaded portion of the first part of the liquid circuit. Part of the tubular portion may be contoured for engagement with a tool, such as a spanner, for aiding the rotational engagement of the first end of the tubular portion, and the first part of the liquid circuit. The contoured part may be in the form of a collar.

The means linking the two regions together may comprise a body region.

The second region of the gripping member may comprise two substantially equal in length arms, which extend from the body region substantially co-axially to the tubular portion. Preferably the arms have a reverse curved section at their free ends such that the second region may be pushed down over the pipe and the pipe held firmly between the two arms.

The arms may each have a notch or other formation to resist removal of the pipe from the second end of the tubular portion.

The first region of the gripping member may have an aperture formed therein, such that the first end of the tubular portion may be inserted into the aperture and the first region of the gripping member may abut against the collar.

The gripping member may be a pressing, preferably formed from stainless steel.

The tubular portion may be moulded or cast, and is preferably made of nylon.

Alternatively, the connector may be a one-piece connector, in which case the first region of the gripping member would form an integral part of the tubular portion.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled connector in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a nipple portion of the connector of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a gripping member of the connector assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the gripping member; Figure 5 is a plan view of the gripping member; and Figure 6 is an end view of the gripping member.

Figures 4 and 5 show additional details of the gripping member of Figure 3.

In Figure 1, there is shown a connector for use with cooling circuits and the like. The connector is formed from two parts, a nipple 1 and a clip 2. The nipple 1, as best illustrated in Figure 2, has a threaded end 3 and a smooth end 4. The smooth end has a groove 5 formed in it for reception of an O-ring seal (not shown) and a multifaceted dividing portion 6.

Figures 3 to 6 show the clip of Figure 1 in more detail. The clip is a stainless steel pressing having two curved opposing arms 7 and 8 linked to a waster portion 9 by means of an elongate body portion 10. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the arms 7 and 8 each have a notched portion, 11 and 12, pressed into them.

The connector is used as follows.

The waster portion of the clip is passed over the threaded portion 3, so as to show the assembly as it appears in Figure 1. The connector assembly may then be screwed into the cooling circuit wherever it is required, by engagement of the screw thread with the appropriate part of the circuit. The thread may be tightened by using an appropriately sized spanner on the dividing portion 6. At this stage, an O-ring seal may be placed on the nipple and an appropriately sized flexible pipe pushed onto the end of the nipple.

In order to secure the pipe onto the nipple, it may be necessary to bend back the clip, before pushing the pipe onto the nipple. Once the pipe is in place, then the clip may be bent back into the correct position, the arms being forced apart by means of reverse curved portions 13 and 14 bearing down upon the outer surface of the pipe (not shown). Once the reversed curved portions 13 and 14 have passed the mid point of the pipe, the resilient nature of the arms 7 and 8 will pull the clip into position.

Once the above operations have been operated, the cooling circuit may be put into operation.

The notches 11 and 12 assist in retaining the pipe in position. Back pressure from a liquid supply tends to try and force the flexible pipe away from the nipple 1, but movement of the pipe is restrained by coming into contact with the notches 11 and 12 and constricting the pipe material.

As best seen in Figure 5, the notched portions are angled so that as the pipe tends to move off the nipple, the notched portions dig in to the pipe more increasing the resistance to movement.

Whilst the preferred material for the nipple is nylon, and the clip is preferably made of steel, other materials may of course be employed.

Although the nipple and clip are shown as separate entities, the connector of Figure 1 could be formed as a one-piece assembly.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (20)

1. A connector for use with a liquid circuit, the connector comprising: an elongate tubular portion, a first end of which is attachable to a first part of the liquid circuit and a second end of which is adapted to be inserted into a pipe forming a second part of the liquid circuit; and a gripping member, associated to the tubular portion, having a first region attachable to the tubular portion, a second region for gripping the pipe and means for linking the two regions together.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the pipe is a push fit onto the second end of the tubular portion.

3. A connector according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the second end has a concentrically formed groove for reception of a sealing member.

4. A connector according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the gripping member is such that it readily permits pushing of the pipe onto the tubular portion but resists its subsequent removal.

5. A connector according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first end of the tubular portion includes an internally, or externally, threaded region for connection to a complementary threaded portion of the first part of the liquid circuit.

6. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein part of the tubular portion is contoured for engagement with a tool for aiding rotational engagement of the first end of the tubular portion, and the first part of the liquid circuit.

7. A connector according to claim 6, wherein the contoured part is in the form of a collar.

8. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for linking the two regions together comprises a body region.

9. A connector according to claim 8, wherein the second region of the gripping member comprises two substantially equal in length arms, which extend from the body region substantially co-axially to the tubular portion.

10. A connector according to claim 9, wherein the arms have a reverse curved section at their free ends such that the pipe can be pushed over the second region and the pipe held firmly between the two arms.

11. A connector according to claim 10, wherein the arms each have a notch or other formation to resist removal of the pipe from the second end of the tubular portion.

12. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first region of the gripping member includes an aperture formed therein.

13. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the aperture is formed so as to enable insertion of the first end therein and permit the gripping member to abut against the collar.

14. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping member is a pressing.

15. A connector according to claim 14, wherein the pressing is formed from stainless steel.

16. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular portion is cast.

17. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular position is moulded.

18. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular portion is formed from nylon.

19. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connector is a one-piece connector and the first region of the gripping member forms an integral part of the tubular position.

20. A connector substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.