The present disclosure generally relates to improved water closet flanges and methods for installing such water closet flanges. In one exemplary embodiment, an improved water closet flange apparatus includes an outer flange and a flexible conduit portion (i.e. sleeve) extending downwardly therefrom. The flexible sleeve has a sufficient degree of flexibility to accommodate connection between offset, misaligned, angled, or otherwise incongruous plumbing fixture discharges and waste drain pipe outlets. In one embodiment, the flexible sleeve includes at least one corrugated portion to aid the desired flexibility. An upper portion of the flexible sleeve may include an inwardly extending lip portion to accommodate the desired seal between the plumbing fixture discharge and the flange apparatus. Related methods for installing the disclosed flange apparatus between plumbing fixture discharges and waste drainpipes are also described.

A pipe element includes a pipe made of fiber-reinforced plastic and at least one metal connector, which is connected to the pipe in such a way that the connection can transmit torques and axial forces. The metal connector has a thread, in particular a conical thread, or a flange, by way of which thread or flange the metal connector can be screwed to another metal connector of an additional pipe element in order to connect two pipe elements. The metal connector surrounds the pipe on the outside by way of a connection region. A counter sleeve is present, which has contact with the inside of the pipe by way of a connection region. The metal connector and the counter sleeve each have a cylindrical thread, by way of which the metal connector and the counter sleeve are screwed to each other.

A pipe element includes a pipe made of fiber-reinforced plastic and at least one metal connector, which is connected to the pipe in such a way that the connection can transmit torques and axial forces. The metal connector has a thread, in particular a conical thread, or a flange, by way of which thread or flange the metal connector can be screwed to another metal connector of an additional pipe element in order to connect two pipe elements. The metal connector surrounds the pipe on the outside by way of a connection region. A counter sleeve is present, which has contact with the inside of the pipe by way of a connection region. The metal connector and the counter sleeve each have a cylindrical thread, by way of which the metal connector and the counter sleeve are screwed to each other.

A composite tapered tubular assembly includes a composite tapered tube extending between a first end and a second end and tapered so as to have a smaller radius R1 at the first end than a radius R2 at the second end. The assembly also includes a first internal annular wedge that is in contact with an inner surface of the tube at said first end and a first external annular wedge in contact with the outer surface of the tube at said first end. The assembly further includes a first nut provided at said first end that is configured to be connected to said first internal wedge and a second external annular wedge provided on an outer surface of the tube and a second internal annular wedge in contact with the inner surface of said composite tube at said second end, and a second nut connected to an internal surface.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: manufacturing a tubular pre-form which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C, the tubular pre-form comprising continuous circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement; manufacturing a continuous fibre pre-form net, the pre-form net comprising a support layer and continuous fibre reinforcement, the continuous fibre reinforcement being secured by being stitched to the support layer; placing the tubular pre-form and the pre-form net together into a mould to form a tubular hub portion from the tubular pre-form and a flange portion from the pre-form net, the flange portion extending from the hub portion at an angle to the central axis C; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to form a composite connector comprising the flange portion and the hub portion.

A method of manufacturing a connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: providing a first mould section comprising a hub-moulding portion which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C and a flange-moulding portion which extends from the hub-moulding portion at an angle to the central axis C; introducing fiber-reinforcement to the first mould section such that continuous circumferentially-oriented fiber-reinforcement lies in the hub-moulding portion, and continuous longitudinally-oriented fiber reinforcement extends from the hub-moulding portion into the flange-moulding portion; applying a second mould section over the first mould section to form a complete mould in which the fiber-reinforcement is confined; and introducing a polymer to the complete mould such that it permeates through the fiber-reinforcement to form a fiber-reinforced polymer connector; and extracting the connector from the mould.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector comprises: manufacturing a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C, the hub portion comprising a thermoplastic polymer reinforced with continuous, circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement; placing the hub portion into a mould featuring at least one cavity; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to fill the at least one cavity to form a flange portion around the hub portion.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector comprises: manufacturing a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C, the hub portion comprising a thermoplastic polymer reinforced with continuous, circumferentially-oriented fibre reinforcement; placing the hub portion into a mould featuring at least one cavity; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to fill the at least one cavity to form a flange portion around the hub portion.

A method of manufacturing a connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: manufacturing a tube which runs parallel to a central axis C from fibre-reinforced polymer, said tube comprising a hub portion 206 and a flange-forming portion 208 located adjacent to the hub portion 206, wherein the hub portion 206 comprises continuous circumferentially oriented fibre-reinforcement 210; and the hub portion 206 and the flange-forming portion 208 comprise longitudinally oriented fibre-reinforcement 212 which runs continuously from the hub portion 206 into the flange-forming portion 208; and bending the flange-forming portion 208 away from the central axis C such that it extends from the hub portion 206 at an angle to the central axis C.

A method of manufacturing a composite (e.g. fibre-reinforced polymer) connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: providing a tubular mandrel which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C; winding continuous fibre reinforcement, impregnated with a thermosetting polymer, around the mandrel to form a tubular hub portion which extends substantially parallel to the central axis C; curing the hub portion; placing the hub portion into a mould featuring at least one cavity; and introducing polymer into the mould so as to fill the at least one cavity to form a flange portion around the hub portion.