LENGTH COMPENSATOR

Abstract

A length compensator for pipelines, preferably plastic pipelines, containing two connecting components, preferably made from plastic, a compensating element made from an elastic material, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and a supporting pipe, wherein the compensating element is arranged between the two connecting components and the compensating element ends are connected to the connecting components, wherein the outer lateral surface of the compensating element is suitably encompassed by the inner lateral surface of the supporting pipe around its entire circumference, wherein the supporting pipe has a circular cross-sectional area and the compensating element expands and contracts exclusively in the axial direction.

Claims

1. A length compensator (1) for pipelines containing two connecting components (2) comprising: a compensating element (3) made from an elastic material, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and a supporting pipe (4), wherein the compensating element (3) is arranged between the two connecting components (2) and the compensating element ends (8) are connected to the connecting components (2), wherein the outer lateral surface of the compensating element (3) is suitably encompassed by the inner lateral surface of the supporting pipe (4) around its entire circumference, wherein the supporting pipe (4) has a circular cross-sectional area and the compensating element (3) expands and contracts exclusively in the axial direction.

2. A longitudinal compensator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting components (2) is connected to the respective compensating element end (8) by means of a material-fitting connection, preferably by means of butt welding, especially preferably by WNF welding, sleeve welding, electric sleeve welding or a bonded connection.

3. A longitudinal compensator (1) according to claim 2, wherein the connecting components (2) are connected to the respective compensating element end (8) by means of a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection.

4. A longitudinal compensator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting components (2) and the compensating element (3) are connected to one another in a two-component injection moulding process and a respective connecting component (2) is injection moulded to the ends of the compensating element (3).

5. A longitudinal compensator (1) according to claim 1, wherein a friction-reducing layer is arranged on the outer lateral surface of the compensating element (3), preferably the friction-reducing layer is formed by grease or oil, in particular PTFE or silicone.

6. A longitudinal compensator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the friction-reducing layer is formed by dry lubrication, in particular a coating of the inner lateral surface of the supporting pipe (4) is preferably formed by an anti-friction coating or a metal coating.

7. A longitudinal compensator according to claim 1, wherein the friction-reducing layer is formed by rings or a fabric, wherein the friction-reducing layer forms the outer lateral surface of the compensating element.

8. A longitudinal compensator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal compensator (1) has a stop element (11), wherein the stop element (11) is arranged at an end of the supporting pipe (4).

9. A longitudinal compensator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the supporting pipe (4) is encompassed by an insulation layer.

10. A method for producing a length compensator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the compensating element (3) and the connecting components (2) are connected to one another in an injection moulding method or the connecting components (2) are injection moulded onto the compensating element ends (8).

11. A compensating element for a length compensator, preferably according to claim 1, wherein the compensating element (3) has a cylindrical hollow body (31) made from plastic and a helical element (33), preferably made from plastic, is arranged on the outer lateral surface (32) of the cylindrical hollow body.

12. A compensating element according to claim 10, wherein the outer lateral surface (32) of the cylindrical hollow body (31) has a profile, preferably a helically extending web.

13. A compensating element according to claim 10, wherein the helical element (33) is arranged inside the profile (34) of the cylindrical hollow body (31).

14. A method for producing the compensating element (3) according to claim 10, wherein the cylindrical hollow body (31) and the helical element (33) are produced by means of a two-component injection moulding method or the helical element (33) is screwed to the cylindrical hollow body (31).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the figures, wherein the invention is not restricted only to the exemplary embodiments. The figures show:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a length compensator according to the invention, with a material-fitting connection at the end faces of the connecting components,

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a length compensator according to the invention, with an insulation layer,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a length compensator according to the invention, with a form- and force-fitting connection between the compensating element and the connecting components,

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section through a length compensator according to the invention, with a compensating element according to the invention,

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a compensating element according to the invention for a length compensator and

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a cylindrical hollow body of a compensating element according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0040] The drawing illustrated in FIG. 1 shows a length compensator 1 according to the invention in a possible embodiment in longitudinal section. The length compensator 1 serves for accommodating or compensating the change in length of a pipeline, which is caused, for example, by changes in temperature. The length compensator 1 has two connecting components 2, which are fastened between the mutually opposing free ends of a pipeline. The two mutually opposing end faces of the connecting components 2 in the supporting pipe 4 are connected to one another by means of a compensating element 3 at the compensating element ends 8, wherein alternative connection options are also conceivable. The connections are preferably inseparable and are produced, for example, by a material fit, such as welding or by means of an injection moulding method, which ensures that the connection is tight.

[0041] For example, the compensating element ends 8 are overmoulded and the connecting components 2 are formed by means of a two-component injection moulding process, with other connection types also being conceivable, such as form- and/or force-fitting connections, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The compensating element 3 is surrounded by the supporting pipe 4, and the connecting components 2 are also at least partially surrounded by the supporting pipe 4. As a result of the compensating element 3 being suitably surrounded by the supporting pipe 4, this serves for the support thereof and absorbs the internal pressure which is generated by the medium. Owing to the surrounding supporting pipe 4, the compensating element 3 is unable to expand radially. The compensating element 3 expands and contracts only in the axial direction, whereby the change in length of the pipeline is compensated and the length compensator 1 also still withstands the required internal pressure according to the pipeline specification.

[0042] As a further embodiment, FIG. 2 shows an insulated length compensator 1. It is in turn clearly shown here that the supporting pipe 4 suitably encompasses the compensating element 3 and both an expansion and a contraction are only possible in the axial direction. In this illustrated embodiment, an insulation layer 5 is arranged on the outer circumference of the supporting pipe 4. This possible configuration is applied to insulated pipeline systems and, in addition to the length compensation of the pipeline system, ensures rapid installation without having to subsequently apply separate insulation to the length compensator.

[0043] Moreover, a possible connection of the length compensator 1 or the connecting components 2 to the pipeline is shown in FIG. 2, wherein this can also be implemented for length compensators without an insulation layer. As an example, a coupling 6 is attached directly to a connecting component 2, wherein this coupling is formed as an electric welding sleeve here, although other couplings are also conceivable. The electric welding sleeve is welded directly to the connecting component 2 on one side and to the pipeline on the other side. As an alternative example, the connecting component 2 is welded to a connecting piece 7 at the end face on the other side of the length compensator 1, preferably by means of WNF welding or another material-fitting connection technique. This connecting piece 7 is then in turn connected to a coupling 6, again an electric welding sleeve 6 here. This is only an exemplary representation; there are further possible ways in which the connecting components 2 can be connected to the pipeline.

[0044] A further alternative embodiment of a length compensator 1 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the compensating element ends 8 are fastened to the connecting components 2 by means of a form-and force-fitting connection 9, wherein, to this end, a clamp is used in FIG. 3, although other known connection techniques can also be used for this purpose.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a length compensator 1 according to the invention with a compensating element 3 according to the invention. As in the other embodiments in which a simple tube is used as a compensating element, the length compensator 1 has a respective connecting component 2 at the two compensating element ends 8, which connecting components are connected by material-, form- and/or force fit, as already mentioned. One of the connecting components 2 is preferably fixed securely to the supporting pipe 4 or axially to the supporting pipe 4 so that the length compensator 1 or the connecting component 2 only shifts axially on one side. To delimit the axial expansion, the length compensator 1 has a stop element 11 on the opposite side of the connecting component 2 fixed to the supporting pipe 4.

[0046] The compensating element 3 according to the invention is illustrated separately in FIG. 5. The inner cylindrical hollow body 31 is shown, which is preferably produced from an elastic material, preferably a plastic. Arranged on its outer lateral surface 32 is a helical element 33, which, by means of its outer lateral surface, forms a friction-reducing layer in order to exhibit the least possible resistance with respect to the inner lateral surface of the supporting pipe. The helical element 33 is preferably produced from a plastic. For a defined arrangement on the inner cylindrical hollow body 31, this latter has a profile 34 on its outer lateral surface 32. The helical element 33, which is arranged inside the profile, is thus unable to shift in terms of its arrangement and a uniform expansion of the compensating element 3 is ensured. The profile 34 is preferably formed as a helically extending web along the outer lateral surface 32 of the cylindrical hollow body 31.

[0047] The cylindrical hollow body 31 preferably has a wall thickness increase towards the end faces. This ensures a wider distribution of the stress which occurs under tension and ensures that a connection with a greater load-bearing capacity is present between the compensating element or the cylindrical hollow body 31 and the connecting components 2.

[0048] The cylindrical hollow body 31 is illustrated separately in FIG. 6.

[0049] The compensating element 3 can be produced via separate production of the cylindrical hollow body 31 and separate production of the helical element 33 and a subsequent assembly procedure, whereby the helical element 33 is assembled and screwed on the cylindrical hollow body 31, or via a two-component injection moulding process, whereby the cylindrical hollow body 31 and the helical element 33 are injection moulded together, thereby enabling an assembly process for the two components to be omitted. Production via the two-component injection moulding method can also generate a material fit between the two components in addition to a form- and force-fit.