Improved Pipe Fitting for Expansion Tanks

Abstract

A pipe fitting for expansion tanks, suitable for the direct or indirect hydraulic connection with at least one duct of a hydraulic system to an expansion tank, includes a coupling body suited to be permanently constrained to a half shell of the expansion tank and mounted thereon, and an adapter body suited to be permanently constrained to the coupling body and also suited for the direct or indirect connection with the duct of the hydraulic system.

Claims

1. A pipe fitting (10) for expansion tanks, suitable for a direct or indirect hydraulic connection with a duct of a hydraulic system, said pipe fitting (10) comprising: a coupling body (20) adapted to be permanently constrained to a half shell (A) of an expansion tank and comprising a substantially cylindrical body (21) provided with a first axial hole (22); an adapter body (30) adapted to be permanently constrained to said coupling body (20), said coupling body being mounted on said half shell (A), wherein said adapter body (30) is adapted for the direct or indirect connection with said duct of the hydraulic system, wherein said coupling body (20) is made of a metallic material and is suited to be welded to the half shell (A) of the expansion tank, wherein said adapter body (30) is made of a plastic or metallic material, and wherein said adapter body (30, 30) comprises, a substantially cylindrical body (31) provided with a second axial hole (32) and comprising an engagement portion (33) adapted to be inserted in the first axial hole (22) of said coupling body (20), and a connecting portion (34, 34) adapted to be connected to the hydraulic system, wherein said connecting portion (34, 34) comprises shaped parts (38, 38) for the direct or indirect connection with the duct of the hydraulic system in which the expansion tank will be installed, said shaped parts (38, 38) being sized and shaped according to the duct to be connected.

2. The pipe fitting (10) according to claim 1, wherein said coupling body (20) comprises a substantially cylindrical body (21) which is holed axially (22) and has a first end (23) configured to be constrained to a hole (A1) of the half shell (A) of the expansion tank, and a second opposite open end (25) configured to project from said hole (A1) of the half shell and to receive said adapter body (30), and wherein said first end (23) comprises at least one radial annular edge (24) adapted to be welded to an edge (A2) of the hole (A1) of the half shell (A).

3. The pipe fitting (10) according to claim 1, wherein a diameter (310) of said second axial hole (32) of said adapter body (30, 30) is sized to define a passage through which a liquid flows.

4. The pipe fitting (10) according to claim 1, wherein said engagement portion (33) of said adapter body (30) and said coupling body (20) comprise mutual constraining means (35, 36, 37, 26, 17) adapted to prevent a withdrawal and a relative rotation between said adapter body (30) and said coupling body (20).

5. The pipe fitting (10) according to claim 4, wherein said engagement portion (33) of said adapter body (30) is equipped with longitudinal flexible tabs (35) provided with radial locking teeth (36) configured to interfere with parts or projections (26) located inside said first axial hole (22) of said coupling body (20).

6. The pipe fitting (10) according to claim 2, wherein said open end (25) of said coupling body (20), through which said adapter body (30) is inserted, is provided with longitudinal anti-rotational projections or tabs (27) configured to be fitted in corresponding seats made in corresponding parts or projections (37) defined in said adapter body (30).

7. The pipe fitting (10) according to claim 1, wherein said coupling body (20) and said adapter body (30) are assembled together in tight manner.

Description

[0036] In particular, said engagement portion is a standard element suited to be engaged into the coupling body, while said connecting portion is shaped and sized according to the needs. Said coupling body and said adapter body are tightly assembled together, for example through the interposition of an O-ring between said coupling body and said adapter body. The characteristics of the new pipe fitting will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description, making reference to the drawings which are attached hereto by way of non-limiting example.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the new pipe fitting (10), completely assembled and constrained to a half shell (A) of an expansion tank.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the new pipe fitting (10) in its separate parts (20, 30).

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the new pipe fitting (10) in its separate parts (20, 30), wherein the adapter body (30) is made with a connecting portion (34) shaped in a different manner.

[0040] The improved pipe fitting (10) which is the subject of the present patent is suited to be used in an expansion tank consisting of two half shells. In FIG. 1 a part of the half shell (A) to which said pipe fitting (10) is constrained is represented with broken lines.

[0041] The new pipe fitting (10) comprises a first coupling body (20) suited to be permanently constrained to the half shell (A) of the expansion tank, as well as a second adapter body (30) suitable for the direct or indirect connection with a duct of a hydraulic system.

[0042] Said adapter body (30) is suited to be permanently constrained to said first coupling body (20) once said coupling body (20) has been mounted on said half shell (A) of the expansion tank.

[0043] Said coupling body (20) comprises a substantially cylindrical body (21) provided with an axial hole (22).

[0044] Said coupling body (20) comprises a first end (23) suited to be constrained to the hole (A1) provided in the half shell (A) of an expansion tank, and a second opposite open end (25) suitable for the insertion of said adapter body (30).

[0045] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, said first end (23) is inserted in said hole (A1) provided in the half shell (A).

[0046] Said first end (23) comprises at least one flange or radial annular edge (24) which is suited to be welded to the inside or the outside of the edge (A2) of the hole (A1) provided in the half shell (A).

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, with the coupling body (20) welded to the half shell (A), a part of said coupling body (20) projects from the hole (A1) provided in the half shell (A), in such a way that its end (25) can be accessed for the insertion of said adapter body (30). Said adapter body (30) comprises a substantially cylindrical body (31) provided with a through axial hole (32) and comprising an engagement portion (33) suited to be inserted in said through axial hole (22) provided in said coupling body (20), as well as a connecting portion (34) suitable for connection with the hydraulic system.

[0048] The insertion of said adapter body (30) in said coupling body (20) forms the axial hole (11) of the pipe fitting (10), which places the outside of the expansion tank in communication with the inside of the same.

[0049] The useful diameter (110) of said axial hole (11) of the pipe fitting (10) is the useful diameter for the passage of the liquid.

[0050] In particular, said useful diameter (110) of the axial hole (11) provided in the pipe fitting (10) coincides with the diameter (310) of said axial hole (32) provided in said adapter body (30). Therefore, the diameter (210) of said coupling body (20) is larger than said useful diameter (110), since it has to allow for the insertion of said adapter body (30).

[0051] Said engagement portion (33) of said adapter body (30) is provided with flexible tabs (35) arranged longitudinally, that is, in the axial direction, and provided with radial locking teeth (36) suited to interfere with correspondingly shaped portions located inside said axial hole (22) of said coupling body (20).

[0052] For example, inside said axial hole (22) of said coupling body (20) there is an annular projection (26) which protrudes towards the inside of the hole itself (22) and is intended to be coupled with said teeth (36) of the adapter body (30).

[0053] Said connecting portion (34) comprises shaped parts (38) for the direct or indirect connection with the hydraulic system in which the expansion tank will be installed.

[0054] Said open end (25) of said coupling body (20), through which said adapter body (30) is inserted, is preferably provided with longitudinal anti-rotational projections or tabs (27), suited to be engaged in corresponding seats created in a corresponding portion of said adapter body (30), for example in an annular projection (37) created on said cylindrical body (31).

[0055] Said coupling body (20) and said adapter body (30), once assembled together, are tight, for example owing to the interposition of an 0 ring (40) between said coupling body (20) and said adapter body (30).

[0056] For example, said O ring (40) is arranged between said annular projection (26) inside the axial hole (22) provided in said coupling body (20) and an annular projection (39) created on said engagement portion (33) of said adapter body (30).

[0057] In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, said adapter body (30) comprises a connecting portion (34) shaped in a different manner, for example longer and provided with specifically shaped parts (38).

[0058] Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.