FITTING WITH RING NUT FOR FIXING A BRANCH PIPE OF AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A description is given of an internally hollow fitting for the passage of a liquid, in particular water, with a component to restrain unmovably a pipe of an irrigation system, wherein restraining component of the pipe is carried by a ring nut screwing on an external thread of the at least one end of the fitting.

Claims

1. Internally hollow fitting for the passage of a liquid, provided at at least one end thereof with means able to immovably restrain a pipe of an irrigation system, said means of restraining of the pipe being carried by a ring nut screwing on an external thread of said at least one end of the fitting, wherein said ring nut has an internal tubular protrusion, having a slight conicity, which is placed against a bevelled or conical section of the wall of the internal cavity of the fitting, creating an excellent seal of the ring nut on the fitting.

2. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein said pipe restraining means are made up of a conical section provided inside the ring nut which narrows in the direction of the fitting creating a sharp edge designed to bite on the pipe once inserted in the fitting, preventing the exiting thereof.

3. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein said fitting has a hollow tubular shape with an external thread involving almost entirely a length of the hollow tubular shape and a widened base at one end suitable for insertion in a hole formed in a pipe of an irrigation system, where the widened base remains locked by screwing of a ring nut which is tightened on the fitting, the other end of the fitting receiving said immovable fixing ring nut (20).

4. The fitting according to claim 1, having a rectilinear tubular shape with both ends externally threaded to receive respective pipes fixed by means of corresponding ring nuts.

5. The fitting according to claim 1, having an L, T, cross shape or the like, provided with a ring nut on at least one end of one branch.

6. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein said ring nut has an external knurling for screwing by means of a tool provided with a hole with internal protrusions.

7. Method of immovable fixing of a pipe to a fitting for the transport of a liquid in an irrigation system, comprising the following steps: screwing of a ring nut onto an external thread of at least one end of the fitting; insertion of the pipe in said ring nut, where the pipe remains locked through engagement with a sharp edge provided inside the ring nut, suitable for biting on the pipe.

8. The fitting according to claim 2, wherein said fitting has a hollow tubular shape with an external thread involving almost entirely a length of the hollow tubular shape and a widened base at one end suitable for insertion in a hole formed in a pipe of an irrigation system, where the widened base remains locked by screwing of a ring nut which is tightened on the fitting, the other end of the fitting receiving said immovable fixing ring nut (20).

9. The fitting according to claim 2, having a rectilinear tubular shape with both ends externally threaded to receive respective pipes fixed by means of corresponding ring nuts.

10. The fitting according to claim 2, having an L, T, cross shape or the like, provided with a ring nut on at least one end of one branch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description that follows, referring to its purely illustrative, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] FIGS. 1a and 1b are, respectively, a plan view and a median section along line A-A of FIG. 1a of a possible fitting with fixing ring nut according to the invention mounted in a main pipe, from which a branch pipe branches off;

[0018] FIGS. 2a and 2b are, respectively, a plan view and a median section along line B-B of FIG. 2a of a fitting suitable for accommodating two in-line pipes;

[0019] FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 4a, 4b are views similar to FIGS. 2a, 2b, showing further successive stages of fixing of the pipes to the fitting;

[0020] FIGS. 5a, 5b show by way of an example, in axonometric views, two other possible fittings with fixing ring nuts according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 6 is an axonometric view of a possible tool or spanner that can be used to tighten the ring nut.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring to these drawings, a fitting with a ring nut for fixing a pipe of an irrigation system according to the invention is now described, which can assume the most varied conformations, without prejudice to the features that allow the mounting of the ring nut for the fixing of the pipe.

[0023] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a fitting mounted in a flexible pipe as described in Italian patent application no. 102020000009964 in the name of the same Applicant Teco srl, filed on May 5, 2020 and not yet published.

[0024] In these drawings, the flexible pipe has been denoted by reference numeral 1 and is presented in flattened form, unwound from a roll, before installation, and takes on the cylindrical shape shown in FIG. 1b after the feeding of the fluid, in particular water.

[0025] The fitting according to the invention, which will always be denoted by reference numeral 10, has a hollow tubular shape with at least one external end thread 12. In this case, the fitting 10 has a shank almost entirely externally threaded and a widened base 13 suitable for being inserted in a hole formed in the pipe 1, where it remains locked through the screwing of a ring nut 2 which is tightened on the fitting 10, for example using the tool or spanner 4 shown in FIG. 6, which has a hole 5 with internal protrusions 6 suitable for engaging an external knurling 3 of the ring nut 2.

[0026] According to the aforementioned patent application, attached to the fitting 10 is an adapter, with or without shut-off valve, for the connection of a branch pipe for the irrigation of plants by means of a series of nozzles, drippers or holes distributed along its extension.

[0027] According to the present invention, a branch pipe 15 is directly attached to the fitting 10 by means of a special ring nut 20, which will be described here below with reference also to the other drawings.

[0028] The fitting 10 shown in FIGS. 2a to 4b has a rectilinear tubular shape with both ends externally threaded 12 to accommodate respective pipes 15 fixed by means of corresponding ring nuts 20.

[0029] This fitting can be used, for example, to extend an existing pipe 15 or to repair a leaking pipe, cutting the damaged portion and joining with it the head ends of the cut pipe.

[0030] The ring nut 20 for the fixing of the pipe 15 to the fitting 10 has an internal thread 21 for screwing onto the external thread 12 of the fitting 10, and an internal tubular protrusion 22, having a slight conicity, which is placed against a bevelled or conical section 14 of the wall of the internal cavity of the fitting, resulting in an excellent seal of the ring nut on the fitting.

[0031] The mouth 23 of the tubular protrusion 22 has a conical shape which narrows in the direction of the fitting 10, resulting in a sharp edge 24 capable of biting on the pipe 15 once inserted into the fitting, preventing the exiting thereof.

[0032] FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate the phases of mounting of the pipes in the fitting.

[0033] Firstly, the ring nut 20 is screwed onto the fitting 10, if necessary tightening it with the tool 4, previously illustrated (FIGS. 3a, 3b), which grips the external knurling 26 of the ring nut, and subsequently the pipe 15 is inserted in the fitting with ring nut (FIGS. 4a, 4b), where it remains firmly locked due to the engagement of the sharp edge 24 therewith.

[0034] In fact, any tractions carried out on the pipe increase the gripping of the sharp edge 24 which further locks the pipe.

[0035] FIGS. 5a, 5b illustrate two further examples of fittings with ring nuts according to the invention.

[0036] The fitting of FIG. 5a has four branches, on each of which a ring nut 20 is placed for the fixing of a corresponding pipe.

[0037] The fitting of FIG. 5b is with three branches, on two of which are placed corresponding ring nuts 20 for the fixing of respective pipes, while on the third one a different ring nut 30 is provided, for example for the attachment to a water tap.

[0038] Naturally, innumerable configurations and combinations of fittings provided with at least one ring nut 20 are possible, as described above, for the fixing of a pipe 15.

[0039] From what has been disclosed, the advantages of the fitting according to the invention, which allows for multiple applications and is of a reusable type, appear clear.

[0040] In fact, should it be necessary to remove a pipe 15 inserted in the fitting, it can be extracted by unscrewing the ring nut. If this is not possible because the pipe is stuck in the fitting, it can be cut at the end and then unscrewed from the ring nut, recovering the fitting and the ring nut for subsequent use, with obvious economic advantages.

[0041] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but numerous detailed changes may be made thereto, within the reach of the person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention itself, as defined in the appended claims.