Reinforcing ring with sleeve

Abstract

A compression collar is used for reinforcing an interference fit between a piping end and a fitting. The compression collar comprises a reinforcing ring having a tubular geometry with a radially-inward facing surface and a radially-outward facing surface. A sleeve is received around, at least in part, a portion of the radially-outward facing surface of the reinforcing ring and this sleeve wraps around one axial end of the reinforcing ring to form a stop edge thereon.

Claims

1. A compression collar for reinforcing an interference fit between a piping end and a fitting, the compression collar comprising: a reinforcing ring having a tubular geometry with a radially-inward facing surface and a radially-outward facing surface, the reinforcing ring configured to remain in place about the piping end after expansion of the compression collar due to expansion of the piping end; and a sleeve received around, at least in part, a portion of the radially-outward facing surface of the reinforcing ring and wrapping around one axial end of the reinforcing ring and extending radially inwardly beyond the radially-inward facing surface of the reinforcing ring to form a stop edge thereon, the sleeve including a perforation such that the sleeve is configured to tear upon expansion of the compression collar due to expansion of the piping end.

2. The compression collar of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a different material than the reinforcing ring.

3. The compression collar of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a polymeric material configured to shrink when exposed to heat.

4. The compression collar of claim 3, wherein the polymeric material configured to shrink when exposed to heat is PVC.

5. The compression collar of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises two perforations positioned parallel to one another.

6. The compression collar of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing ring is at least one of polyolefin, cross-linked polyolefin, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, PEX, PEX-a, PEX-b, PEX-c, and PERT.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is an axial end view of a reinforcing ring.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the reinforcing ring of FIG. 1, taken along cut line 2-2.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sleeve.

(4) FIG. 4 is an axial end view of a compression collar including the assembled ring and sleeve.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the compression collar of FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is an axial end view of a compression collar taken from the opposite axial end shown in FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the compression collar of FIG. 6 received over the end of a pipe.

(8) FIG. 8 is a process diagram describing an exemplary process for manufacturing a compression collar such as the compression collar illustrated in FIGS. 4-7.

(9) FIG. 9 is a process diagram describing the process of installing a compression collar, such as the compression collar illustrated in FIGS. 4-7.

(10) Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to a number of illustrative embodiments shown in the attached drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.

(12) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a reinforcing ring 20 that may be used as part of a compression collar (e.g., the compression collar 100, shown in FIG. 4). The reinforcing ring 20 may be formed from extrusion material comprising polyolefin, cross-linked polyolefin, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, PEX, PEX-a, PEX-b, PEX-c, PERT, and/or any other material exhibiting memory properties such that at room temperature the material may be stretched and immediately or shortly thereafter begin shrinking back down to the material's previous shape before the stretching operation. Reinforcing rings 20 formed of material(s) having memory properties can be advantageously used to create interference or frictional fits or joints using the forces exerted by the material on any object that is larger than the material's normal shape, and over which the material is stretched, placed, and allowed to shrink. Thus, depending on the amount of stretching and the thickness of the material, strong squeezing forces exerted by the material on an object may cause the object to remain in place and resist becoming dislodged by other forces. Additionally, the flexibility of the material allows for elastic stretching rather than cracking or tearing.

(13) The reinforcing ring 20, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, can have a tubular geometry, as shown. The cylindrical shape may be produced in a number of different manufacturing methods, such as for instance extrusion or injection molding. In some embodiments, the reinforcing ring 20 can be extruded as a continuous tube (not shown), and then cut or otherwise manipulated to a desired length L. The reinforcing ring 20 can have a nominal inner diameter 21 defining a radially-inward facing surface 22 and an outer diameter 23 defining a radially-outward facing surface 24. The desired length L of the reinforcing ring may be based on the inner and outer diameters 21, 23 of the reinforcing ring 20 and/or the intended use. For example, the nominal inner diameter 21 of the reinforcing ring 20 may range from about 0.635 cm (0.25 inches) to about 15.24 cm (6 inches). The reinforcing ring 20 can then fit or slide over the outer diameter of standard cold-expansion plumbing piping for residential or commercial applications when the reinforcing ring 20 is expanded. Additionally, the reinforcing ring 20 can be certified under the ASTM 1960 standard and may be used with standard manual pipe expanders or even automatic expander power tools. For example, the M12 12V Cordless Lithium-Ion ProPEX Expansion Tool by Milwaukee Electric Tool can be used to expand the reinforcing ring 20. Similarly, the outer diameter 23 of the reinforcing ring 20 may range from about 0.794 cm (0.3125 inches) to about 30.48 cm (12 inches), or even greater. The thickness t of the reinforcing ring 20 can be chosen based on a desired seal specification, material used, tooling used for installation, or other reasons.

(14) The reinforcing ring 20 can have a first axial end 26 and a second axial end 28. During the formation process, both ends may be identical, or can vary. In some embodiments, the reinforcing ring 20 is cut from an extruded tube. In such embodiments, the first axial end 26 may be a formed edge and the second axial end 28 may have a cut edge having a different surface quality. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to alter at least one of the first and second end 26, 28 to create a substantially flat surface. This process may include sanding, grinding, milling, lathing, or other suitable processes for removing material from a material exhibiting memory properties. However, it should be understood that any post-formation machining process is entirely optional and may be omitted.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a sleeve 30 that can be used in conjunction with a reinforcing ring 20 to form a compression collar. In the illustrative embodiment, the sleeve 30 has a receiving end 32 and a radially inward extending seat 34. The receiving end 32 has an outer diameter 36 and an inner diameter 38. In some embodiments, the inner diameter 38 of the receiving end 32 is slightly larger than the outer diameter 23 of the reinforcing ring 20 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), such that at least a portion of the reinforcing ring 20 can be received within the sleeve 30. In some embodiments, the inner diameter 38 of the receiving end 32 of the sleeve 30 is about 0.127 cm (0.05 inches) larger than the outer diameter 23 of the reinforcing ring 20, or even more, such that the reinforcing ring 20 can be easily received within the sleeve 30.

(16) A sleeve outer surface 40 and a sleeve inner surface 42 extend away from the receiving end 32 towards the seat 34. In some embodiments, the sleeve outer surface 40 and the sleeve inner surface 42 maintain a substantially constant distance from one another, such that the sleeve 30 has a constant material thickness throughout. For example, the thickness of the sleeve 30 may be between about 0.005 cm (0.002 inches) and about 1.3 cm (0.5 inches), or more preferably, about 0.008 cm (0.003 inches). However, other thicknesses may be used as well. Alternatively, the thickness may vary throughout the part. In some embodiments the seat 34 may be either thicker or thinner than other parts of the sleeve 30.

(17) The sleeve outer surface 40 extends to the seat 34. The seat 34 has an outer diameter 44 and an inner diameter 46. In some embodiments, the seat outer diameter 44 will be substantially similar to the receiving end outer diameter 36, and may be concentric with the receiving end outer diameter 36. The seat inner diameter 46 may be smaller than the reinforcing ring inner diameter 21 (especially after the heat shrinking operation step described below which places the sleeve 30 around the ring 20). The difference between the sleeve inner surface 42 and seat inner diameter 46 creates a seat surface 48 that can be used to axially locate the sleeve 30 relative to the ends of the reinforcing ring 20 and a pipe received centrally therein. The seat surface 48 may be placed in contact with the reinforcing ring first end 26 or the second end 28, such that the axial end of the pipe and the first end 26 or second end 28 of the reinforcing ring 20 will be flush with one another.

(18) The sleeve 30 may be comprised of a polymeric material, such as polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymeric materials. The sleeve 30 may optionally be comprised of the same materials as the reinforcing ring 20, or may be comprised of different materials. In some embodiments, the sleeve 30 may be comprised of materials that have shrinking qualities. For example, the sleeve 30 may be comprised of a material that shrinks when it is exposed to heat, such as PVC. Also, it should be appreciated that the sleeve may be comprised of multiple materials. For example, in some embodiments, the seat 34 may be comprised of a different material than the sleeve outer surface 40 and the sleeve inner surface 42.

(19) In view of the fact that the sleeve 30 can be formed from a heat shrinkable material, it should be appreciated that the radially inward extending portion of the sleeve 30 (e.g., the seat 34) might be formed in part or in whole as the result of differential shrinking of the sleeve precursor material over an axial end of the ring 20. Put another way, it is contemplated that the sleeve precursor material could be substantially tubular and the seat portion 34 could be formed only after the heat shrinking has occurred. However, it is also contemplated that the seat portion of the sleeve could be formed in the sleeve precursor material prior to heat shrinking the sleeve 30 onto the ring 20.

(20) Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a compression collar 100 is shown in which the reinforcing ring 20 is received within the sleeve 30, which has been heat shrunk therearound. The second end 28 of the reinforcing ring 20 is positioned on or adjacent to the seat surface 48, which can prevent further axial movement of the reinforcing ring 20 relative to the sleeve 30 in that axial direction. The seat surface 48 wraps around the second end 28 of the reinforcing ring 20 and extends beyond the radially-inward facing surface 22 of the reinforcing ring 20, creating a stop edge 50. The reinforcing ring 20 and the sleeve 30 may be coupled together in a number of ways, including adhesively or mechanically. However, in some embodiments, including the one illustrated, the sleeve 30 is exposed to heat. The heat shrinks the sleeve 30 around the reinforcing ring 20, bonding the sleeve 30 to the reinforcing ring 20.

(21) In some embodiments, a portion of the reinforcing ring 20 is received within the sleeve 30. In some embodiments, the sleeve 30 may wrap around about a quarter of the reinforcing ring 20, half the reinforcing ring 20, or more. In some embodiments, the entire reinforcing ring 20 may be received within the sleeve 30. It is also contemplated that the sleeve may not comprise a full cylindrical inner surface 42. For example, in some embodiments, the sleeve may comprise a 180 degree arc instead of a full cylinder. In such embodiments, the seat 34 may comprise only a half circle commiserate with the amount of angular extension of the sleeve 30. Additionally, other arc sizes may be used and are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.

(22) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a compression collar 100 having a sleeve 30 that contains perforations 52 and 54. The sleeve seat 34 can have one or more perforations 52, 54 that can be used to indicate a status of the compression collar 100 or the usage state of the compression collar 100. In some embodiments, the perforation or perforations 52, 54 may be located on the sleeve outer surface 40 and the sleeve inner surface 42, and can extend from the receiving end 32 to the seat 34. In the illustrative embodiment, the sleeve seat 34 has two parallel perforations 52 and 54. Other orientations and geometries can be used, such as, for example, circumferential perforations. A single perforation line could also be used. Additionally, it is contemplated that there could be two or more perforation lines 52, 54 which may have various geometric relationships with one another. In the illustrative embodiment, the area between the perforations 52 and 54 forms an indication band 56 that can be used to determine whether or not the compression collar 100 has been previously expanded. For example, when the compression collar 100 is initially expanded, the sleeve 30 will also expand as the reinforcing ring 20 is expanded. The radial expansion of the collar 100 can cause the perforations 52 and 54 to tear, such that indication band 56 is separated from at least a portion of the seat 34. This feature can then communicate to an installer that a pipe and compression collar 100 were previously expanded. Additionally or alternatively, this design could permit for the sleeve 30 to be removed entirely from the collar 100 after the primary function of the sleeve 30 has been performed (that is, after the sleeve 30 as functioned as an axial stop for a pipe 60 on the collar 100 as the collar 100 is received over the pipe 60 and the seat 34 of the sleeve 30 has to some extent inhibited the axial translation of the collar 100 down the pipe 60 when both are cold expanded).

(23) Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 and with special reference being made to FIG. 7, a stop edge 50 is illustrated. The stop edge 50 can assist in the locating of the compression collar 100 on an end 66 of a pipe 60. The sizing and location of sleeve inner diameter 46 at the stop edge 50 can be chosen such that a portion of the seat surface 48 extends radially inward beyond at least a portion of the inner diameter 21 of the reinforcing ring 20 at one of the axial ends 26, 28 of the reinforcing ring 20. The sleeve material extending radially inward beyond a portion of the inner diameter 21 of the reinforcing ring 20 forms a stop edge 50 that can then be used to prevent, or at least inhibit, the compression collar 100 from moving further axially along the pipe 60 in one direction when the collar 100 is received on an end 66 of the pipe 60. This may help in the installation process, as the compression collar 100 may be readily positioned to a desired location on a pipe end 66 by sliding the compression collar 100 over a pipe end 66 until the pipe end 66 comes into contact with the stop edge 50, as seen in FIG. 7.

(24) The stop edge 50 can have many different orientations. In some embodiments, the stop edge 50 may not extend radially inward beyond an inner diameter 62 of the pipe end 66. In some embodiments, the stop edge 50 extends radially inward beyond the inner diameter 62 of a portion of pipe end 66. In other embodiments, the stop edge 50 may extend radially inward so that only a portion of the pipe end 66 may come into contact with the stop edge 50 when the compression collar 100 is placed over the pipe end 66.

(25) Turning now to FIG. 8 with continued reference to FIGS. 1-7, a method 200 for manufacturing a compression collar, such as compression collar 100, which can reinforce an interference fit between a piping end and a fitting is provided. The method 200 may first include forming a reinforcing ring (e.g., reinforcing ring 20) from a cold expansion material according to step 202. Acceptable cold expansion materials might include polyolefin, cross-linked polyolefin, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, PEX, PEX-a, PEX-b, PEX-c, PERT, and/or any other material exhibiting memory properties as discussed above. The forming process 202 may occur in a number of ways as well. In some embodiments, the reinforcing ring 20 can be formed by an extrusion process. Pipe of a desired finished inner and outer diameter may be extruded and then cut into individual reinforcing rings 20 of desirable size, through a number of cutting processes. For instance, pipe cutters could be used to cut the extruded pipe to a desired size. In other embodiments, the pipe may be molded through an injection molding process or other molding process suitable for producing reinforcing rings, such as the reinforcing ring 20 discussed above.

(26) If the reinforcing ring 20 has been formed without an acceptable shape, one or more surfaces of the formed reinforcing ring 20 can be altered to provide a potentially desirable flat edge. Such altering processes may include sanding, grinding, milling, lathing, or other suitable processes for removing material from a material exhibiting memory properties. However, it should be understood that any post-formation machining process is entirely optional and may be omitted.

(27) A sleeve 30 can be provided or formed at step 204, which will surround a portion of the reinforcing ring 20. The reinforcing ring 20 can be located within the sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 may be comprised of a polymeric material, such as polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymeric materials. In some embodiments, the sleeve 30 may be comprised of materials that have shrinking qualities. For example, the sleeve 30 may be comprised of a material that shrinks when it is exposed to heat, such as PVC. Also, it should be appreciated that the sleeve 30 may be comprised of multiple materials. The sleeve may be manufactured in a number of ways as well, such as blow molding, for example.

(28) The sleeve 30 may then be coupled to the reinforcing ring 20 at step 206. The coupling may occur in a number of ways. For example, in some embodiments, the sleeve 30 may be adhesively coupled to the reinforcing ring 20. In some embodiments, the sleeve 30 may be exposed to heat, which can cause the sleeve 30 to shrink around a portion of the reinforcing ring 20. The reinforcing ring 20 and the sleeve 30 may be exposed to heat in a number of ways. In some embodiments, the reinforcing ring 20 and the sleeve 30 may be placed in an oven, where the heat causes the sleeve 30 to shrink and tightly grasp around the reinforcing ring 20. In other embodiments, a heat gun may be used. Optionally, the process of heating a sleeve 30 comprised of a shrinking material may be performed at the location of installation.

(29) It is contemplated that, in the most abstract way, when both the ring 20 and sleeve 30 are obtained through third parties or pre-fabricated, the method 200 may merely include the step 206 of coupling the sleeve around the reinforcing ring.

(30) Turning now to FIG. 9 with continued reference to FIGS. 1-7, a method 300 of installing a compression collar, such as compression collar 100, for reinforcing an interference fit between a piping end and a fitting is provided. The method 300 may first comprise placing a compression collar 100 over an end 66 of a pipe 60 at step 302. The compression collar 100 may be slid or placed over the piping end 66 until the piping end 66 comes into contact with the stop edge 50 provided by the sleeve 30 of the compression collar 100.

(31) Once the compression collar 100 is in place over the piping end 66, the compression collar 100 may be expanded at step 304 by expanding the piping end 66. Manual or automatic pipe expanding tools may be used, such as the M12 12V Cordless Lithium-Ion ProPEX Expansion Tool by Milwaukee Electric Tool, for example.

(32) Once the compression collar 100 has been expanded, a fitting (not shown) may be placed within the piping end at step 306. The step 306 would occur prior to the expanded pipe 60 and compression collar 100 returning to their previously unexpanded shape. The type of fitting placed within the pipe end 66 can vary, and may include any desirable fitting to be placed in communication with a piping end 66.

(33) After the fitting is placed within the piping end 66, the piping end 66 and the compression collar 100 will attempt to return to their original shape. Assuming the fitting has a diameter greater than the relaxed inner diameter 62 of the pipe end 66, the piping end 66 is unable to return to a fully relaxed position. As the inner diameter 21 of the compression collar reinforcing ring 20 is sized to be very similar to the outer diameter 64 of the piping end 66, the inner diameter 21 of the reinforcing ring also cannot return to a fully relaxed state, and applies a constant pressure to the outer circumference of the piping end 66 to couple the pipe 60 to the fitting and form a seal (such as a water tight seal) therebetween. As such, the method creates a tight interference fit between the fitting and the piping end 66 which is further assisted by the compression collar 100 surrounding the piping end 66.

(34) It should be appreciated that various other modifications and variations to the preferred embodiments can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the described embodiments. To ascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims should be referenced.