PIPE COUPLING

Abstract

A pipe coupling for connecting two pipes, wherein the pipe coupling comprises at least one injection outlet for injecting lubricant. The invention further relates to a method, which is designed to be connected to a further pipe by way of such a pipe coupling, to a pipe union, to a method for injecting lubricant, and to a method for producing a pipe coupling.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling for connecting two pipes, the pipe coupling comprising: at least one injection outlet for injecting a lubricant, wherein the lubricant is injectable such that the same can be applied to the pipe coupling and/or the pipes.

2. A pipe configured to be connected to a further pipe by the pipe coupling according to claim 1.

3. The pipe according to claim 2, wherein the pipe has at least one recess at an end face, which is designed so as to at least partially receive the at least one injection outlet of the pipe coupling.

4. A method for jacking a pipe union through a tunnel, wherein the pipe union includes a first pipe, a second pipe, and a pipe coupling, wherein the first pipe is connected with the second pipe via the pipe coupling, said pipe coupling including at least one injection outlet for injecting a lubricant, wherein the lubricant is injectable such that the lubricant is applied to the pipe coupling and/or the first pipe and/or the second pipe, the method comprising: applying the lubricant on an outer side of a wall of the pipe coupling and/or the first pipe and/or the second pipe through the at least one injection outlet of the pipe coupling.

5. A method for producing a pipe coupling for connecting two pipes, wherein the pipe coupling comprises at least one injection outlet for injecting lubricant, the method comprising: introducing at least one opening into a wall of the pipe coupling, and sealingly fastening the at least one injection outlet in the at least one opening.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one injection outlet is sealingly fixed in the at least one opening by welding and/or is sealingly laminated into the at least one opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] In the drawings:

[0036] FIGS. 1 to 4 schematically show a pipe coupling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] FIGS. 5 to 8 schematically show a pipe union according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0038] FIGS. 9 to 12 schematically show a pipe union according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] In the various figures, identical parts are always denoted by the same reference numerals and therefore are generally only cited or mentioned once.

[0040] FIGS. 1 to 4 schematically show a pipe coupling 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a side view of the pipe coupling 1. FIG. 2 shows a top view onto the pipe coupling 1. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pipe coupling 1. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail of the pipe coupling 1.

[0041] The pipe coupling 1 can be made of steel, in particular stainless steel, or GFRP. The pipe coupling 1 has a circular ring shape and extends along the longitudinal axis X thereof, the lateral direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and the vertical direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the lateral direction Y. In the present embodiment, the pipe coupling 1 has three injection outlets 2, 3, 4. The pipe coupling 1 accordingly has three openings in the wall 5 thereof, in which the injection outlets 2, 3, 4 are fastened, such as by way of welding and/or laminating.

[0042] The injection outlets 2, 3, 4 are distributed across the circumference of the pipe coupling 1 spaced equidistantly from one another. The pipe coupling 1 is designed rotation-symmetrically to the longitudinal axis X thereof at least in regions. As can be seen in the enlarged sectional view in FIG. 4, the injection outlet 2 comprises a flow pipe 6, which is sealingly connected to the wall 5 by way of welding and/or laminating. The longitudinal axis L of the flow pipe 6 extends perpendicularly to the surface of the wall 5. The flow pipe 6 is designed as a hollow cylinder and rotation-symmetrically to the longitudinal axis L thereof. The flow pipe 6 ends flush with the outer surface (outer side) of the wall 5. A through-passage, through which a lubricant can flow during operation, extends continuously through the flow pipe 6 along the longitudinal axis L.

[0043] In the present exemplary embodiment, the flow pipe 6 comprises an internal thread 7. A closure piece 8, which is provided with a corresponding external thread, is screwed into this internal thread 7. The through-passage is thus closed, so that no lubricant can flow through the through-passage. A sealing ring 9 seals the space between the flow pipe 6 and the closure piece 8.

[0044] At the end face, the closure piece 8 comprises a recess 10, which has a hexagon socket shape, so that the recess can receive a tool so as to screw the closure piece 8 into the flow pipe 6 or unscrew the same from the flow pipe 6.

[0045] In the present exemplary embodiment, the flow pipe 6 comprises an external thread 12, onto which a nut 11 having a corresponding internal thread can be screwed. At the end face, the nut 11 ends flush with the closure piece 8. At the other end face of the nut 11, a further sealing ring 13, which in the screwed-on state sealingly ends with a protruding region 14 of the wall 5, is disposed in a recess of the nut 11.

[0046] FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 schematically show a section of a pipe union 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The pipe union 50 comprises a first pipe 51 and a second pipe 52, which are connected to one another via a pipe coupling 1 according to the invention, as it is described in FIGS. 1 to 4, for example.

[0047] The pipe coupling 1 comprises three injection outlets 2, 3, 4, which are disposed equidistantly across the circumference of the pipe coupling 1. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through the pipe union 50 at the plane of the injection outlets 2, 3, 4. FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis L through the pipe union 50. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view. The pipes 51, 52 are connected to the pipe coupling 1 via connecting means 55. In the present exemplary embodiment, the two pipes 51, 52 each comprise a recess 53, 54 at the end faces for each of the three injection outlets 2, 3, 4, the recesses receiving the injection outlets 2, 3, 4 between one another in the connected state. To this end, the two pipes 51, 52 make contact at the end faces. In addition, reference is made to the comments provided for FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0048] FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 schematically show a section of a pipe union 90 according to a further exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a side view of the pipe union 90. FIG. 10 shows a cross-section through the pipe union 90 at the plane of the injection outlets 2, 3, 4. FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the pipe union 90 along the longitudinal axis X. FIG. 12 shows the pipe union 90 in a perspective view. In principle, reference is made to the comments made with regard to the pipe union 50 from FIGS. 5 to 8. The two pipes 91, 92 are connected via a pipe coupling 1, for example as described in FIGS. 1 to 4. In contrast to the embodiment from FIGS. 5 to 8, the two pipes 91, 92 do not make contact at the end faces when connected, and the pipes 91, 92 thus do not comprise any recesses at the end faces. An insert ring 94, which is disposed inside the pipe coupling 1, is located between the end faces of the pipes 91, 92. The injection outlets 2, 3, 4 are at least partially disposed in the insert ring 94. The end faces of the pipes 91, 92 abut or make contact with the two end faces of the insert ring 94. Toward the inside, the insert ring 94 ends flush with the inner walls of the pipes 91, 92. In addition, reference is made to the comments above.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0049] 1 pipe coupling [0050] 2, 3, 4 injection outlet [0051] 5 wall [0052] 6 flow pipe [0053] 7 internal thread [0054] 8 closure piece [0055] 9 sealing ring [0056] 10 recess [0057] 11 nut [0058] 12 external thread [0059] 13 sealing ring [0060] 14 protruding region [0061] 50 pipe union [0062] 51, 52 pipe [0063] 53, 54 recess [0064] 55 connecting means [0065] 90 pipe union [0066] 91, 92 pipe [0067] 93 connecting means [0068] 94 insert ring [0069] X longitudinal axis of the pipe coupling [0070] Y lateral axis [0071] Z vertical axis [0072] L longitudinal axis of the injection outlet