Distributor pipe for a distributor pipeline

Abstract

A distributor pipe (1, 12, 12) for a distributor pipeline to distribute water to various places in a building structure. The distributor pipe has a through bore (15, 23) and two or more connections (3, 4, 24, 25) for connection of metal or plastic lubes or a valve (28), on the upper and/or the lower side of the 5 distributor pipe. The distributor pipe (1, 12, 22) connections (3, 4, 24, 25) are arranged in fluid communication with the through bore (15, 23) of the distributor pipe (1, 12, 22) on both sides of the distributor pipe through bore (15, 23) so that the centre axis of the bore of the connections (21) is situated outside of the through bore (15, 23). The connections (3, 4, 24, 25) on both sides of the 10 through bore are displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to each other.

Claims

1. A tap water distributor pipe for a distributor pipeline for the distribution of water to various places in a building structure, the tap water distributor pipe comprising: a through bore and two or more connections for connection of metal or plastic tubes or a valve, to at least one of the upper side and the underside of the distributor pipe, the connections protruding from, but being in fluid communication with, the through bore on respective sides of the through bore such that the center axis of the bores of the connections are not in line with the center axis of the through bore, and that the connections on either side of the through bore are displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction; wherein the connections are placed such that the center axis of the through bore of the connections are arranged outside of the through bore of the distributor pipe; and wherein the connections have connections facing both upwards and downwards when the distributor pipe is in an installed state.

2. The tap water distributor pipe according to claim 1, wherein at least two distributor pipes are configured to be coupled together to a continuous distributor pipeline.

3. The tap water distributor pipe according to claim 1, wherein the distributor pipe is configured to be coupled with a mixing valve having a valve body with a through bore and with connections protruding from the through bore of the valve body, and the connections having through bores with a center axis arranged outside of the through bore of the valve body.

4. The tap water distributor pipe according to claim 1, wherein the connections are arranged such that the distance from one connection to the adjacent connection arranged on the opposite side of the through bore is substantially the same as the distance to the closest connection on the same side of the through bore.

5. The tap water distributor pipe according to claim 1, wherein the distributor pipeline has one connection for each tap point in a water installation.

6. The tap water distributor pipe according to claim 1, wherein: the tap water distributor pipe is coupled to or forms part of the distributor pipeline; and the distributor pipeline is one continuous distributor pipeline arranged in one cabinet, thereby providing a correspondingly low building height of the cabinet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a prior art distributor cabinet with distributor pipes,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a prior art distributor pipe,

(3) FIGS. 3a, b, c and d show a distributor pipe according to the invention respectively in planar view, longitudinal section and two different cross sections,

(4) FIGS. 4a and b show a distributor pipe according to the invention mounted in a cabinet, in front elevation view and cross-sectional view, respectively,

(5) FIGS. 5a, b and c show a distributor pipe with a stopcock for each outlet from the pipe, in front elevation view, longitudinal section and cross section, respectively, and

(6) FIG. 6 shows an injection moulded or forged distribution pipe in isometric view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIGS. 3a, b, c and d show a distributor pipe 1 with a through bore 15 and two connections 3 protruding from the through bore 15 of the distributor pipe 1 on one side of the bore 15 and two connections 4 arranged protruding from the through bore in the distributor pipe 1 at the opposite side of the through bore 15. In other words, the bore of the connections 21 having a centre axis that is not in line with the centre axis of the through bore 15, but in fact the centre axis of the connections is arranged outside of the through bore 15. The bore 21 of the connections 3, 4 are, however, in fluid communication with the through bore 15 in an overlap region 34 between the through bore 15 and the connections 3, 4. The connections 3 and 4 are also displaced sideways so that the centre distance between each connection 3, 4 is preferably the same as between the connections in FIG. 2, e.g. 55 mm. This provides the same space for the tools necessary to make up or break the connection as for the prior art solution. Despite this, it is possible to fit up to twice as many connections within the same length of the distributor pipe 1.

(8) The distributor pipe 1 is in one end connected to a thermostatic mixing valve 2 at a connection 8 between the distributor pipe 1 proper and a separate pipe 1b for inlet connections. The mixing valve 2 is coupled to a wheel 33 to adjust the mixing of hot and cold water. The inlet pipe 1b has connections 5, 6, 7 for attachment to cold water at connection 6, hot water at connection 5 and circulation lines at connection 7. The inlet pipe 1b with the mixing valve 2 has a through bore 20, which is arranged concentric with the through bore 15 in the distributor pipe 1. All the connections 5, 6, 7 are arranged protruding from the inlet pipe through bore 20, for maximum space utilization. However, the bores 21 of the connections 5, 6, 7 are in fluid communication with the through bore 20 in an overlap region 34 between these; in principle as for the distributor pipe 1 and the connections 3, 4. The connections 5, 6, 7 are in the shown embodiment facing downwardly when arranged in the cabinet. This will be the case in most installations, since the water supply and hot water tank are usually in the basement of a building.

(9) The distributor pipe 1 is illustrated having both upwardly and downwardly facing connections, but it is also possible to arrange these, for example, only downwardly facing, for use, e.g., in the ground floor of a house where all pipes are arranged in the floor.

(10) The connection 8 can be a conical connection or a screw connection. Pipelines 11 coupled to the connections 4 are guided downwards into the floor on the same floor as the distribution cabinet is mounted. Pipelines 10 coupled to the connections 3 are guided upwards from the floor where the distribution cabinet is mounted to respective tap point at the floors above.

(11) The connections 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are equipped with appropriate fittings 9 for connection of the pipelines 10, 11.

(12) FIG. 3c shows a cross section through the inlet pipe 1b with the mixing valve 2 at the line c-c in FIG. 3b. As is evident from this cross-section, there is a completely open communication for water flow between the bore 21 in the connections 5 and 6 and the through bore 20, as indicated by the overlap region 34.

(13) FIG. 3d shows a cross section through the distributor pipe 1 at the line d-d in FIG. 3b. As is evident from this cross-section, there is a completely open communication for water flow between the bore 21 of the connections 3 and 4 and the through bore 15, as indicated by the overlap region 33.

(14) The FIGS. 4a and 4b show a distributor pipeline mounted firmly in a cabinet 14, respectively in the front elevation view and in a cross-sectional view through the cabinet. The distributor pipeline comprises a first distributor pipe 1 and a second distributor pipe 12, which are coupled to one another through a connection 8. The distributor pipeline is attached to the cabinet 14 by means of attachments 13 in an end wall of the cabinet 14. It is also coupled to a thermostatic mixing valve (not shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, but as shown by reference number 2 in FIGS. 3a and 3b). Together, these components form a complete distributor pipeline, which, for example, can be of 500 mm length, for a hot water cabinet 14 with, e.g., fifteen pipe outlets 4 downwards to the floor and twelve outlets 3 upwards to the floor above. If fewer pipelines are required, the connections 9 may be are sealed with cap nuts.

(15) The height of the cabinet can thus be reduced by approximately 30% compared with a distributor pipeline according to prior art, having the same number of pipes.

(16) The distributor pipelines 1 and 12 can be used in both hot and cold water cabinets, cabinets for floor heating, or cabinets arranged outside.

(17) FIGS. 5a, b, c show a distribution pipeline 22 in front elevation view, longitudinal section and cross section along the line c-c (see FIG. 5b), respectively. The distributor pipeline 22 has a through bore 23 and connections 24 and 25. The connections have an interface 31, such as a threaded stub. The connections have a cavity 26 that is arranged with its centre axis outside of the through bore 23 but is in communication with the through bore in an overlap region 34.

(18) The cavities 26 have a respectively seat 30 which provides the possibility to mount a stopcock 28 for each pipe 29 via the interface 31.

(19) The distributor pipe 22 can also be used in a cabinet for floor heating with several pipe loops that with variable lengths can be mounted in the floor, and where a balanced amount of water can be controlled with the stopcock 28.

(20) FIG. 6 shows an injection moulded or forged distribution pipe 1 in perspective view and illustrates the connections 3, 4 having bores 21. The connections 3,4 are arranged with the centre line of their bores 21 placed outside of the main bore 15 of the distribution pipe 1. The distances between each connection 3, 4 are equal for the right and left side, and between each side. As for the distribution pipes above, the bore 21 of a connector 3a and the main bore 15 of the distribution pipe 1 are overlapping in an overlap region, which provides a complete flow between the bores 21 and the main bore 15.

(21) The distribution pipe 1 and 12 with e.g. four or eight sockets for pipelines upwards and downwards have up to double capacity compared to the prior are distributor pipe of the same length. With only one distributor pipeline it will provide a 30% lower height cabinet and less space requirements inside a divisional wall in a house or an apartment.

(22) The distribution pipe 22 have connections 31 that are only pointing downwards and a stopcock 28 for controlling the amount of water. The distribution pipe 22 has twice the number of connections downward for pipelines 29 compared to the embodiment of FIGS. 3a-d and can be used for both consumption water and for circulation of water for heated floors.