Expansion tank with improved pipe fitting

Abstract

An expansion tank includes two half-shells coupled to each other, an inner flexible membrane suited to divide the inside of the casing in two compartments, a counter cap made of a thermoplastic material, a pipe fitting suited to provide a connection and having a first tubular portion and a second portion in the shape of a flat ring that are made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the second ring-shaped portion is joined to the counter cap at the level of an opening in the tank.

Claims

1. An expansion tank (1) comprising: a first and a second half-shells (11, 12) coupled to each other to form a closed casing; an inner flexible membrane (13) sealingly dividing an inside of the closed casing into at least two compartments (A, B), of which a first compartment (A) is adapted to contain a compressible compensation fluid and a second compartment (B) is adapted to contain a non-compressible fluid subject to volume variations; at least one counter cap (14) made of a thermoplastic material substantially in contact with said second half-shell (12) and adapted to be directly in contact with the non-compressible fluid contained in said second compartment (B); at least one pipe fitting (2) adapted to connect said second compartment (B) to a system requiring compensation, said pipe fitting (2) being mounted at a level of an opening (15) made in said second half-shell (12) and in said counter cap (14), wherein said pipe fitting (2) comprises a first substantially tubular portion (3) housed in said opening (15) and projecting from said opening, and a second portion shaped as a flat ring (4) integral with one end (32) of said tubular portion (3), said second portion being substantially orthogonal to an axis of said tubular portion (3) and disposed to remain inside said second half-shell (12), said first portion (3) and said second portion (4) being made of a thermoplastic material, and wherein said second portion (4) is joined to said counter cap (14) at a level of said opening (15).

2. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first portion (3) and said second portion (4) of said pipe fitting (2) form a single body that is welded or mechanically and/or chemically joined to said counter cap (14).

3. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first portion (3) and said second portion (4) of said pipe fitting (2) are mechanically and/or chemically joined to each other, and wherein said second portion (4) is welded or mechanically and/or chemically joined to said counter cap (14).

4. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first portion (3) and said second portion (4) of said pipe fitting (2) form a single body with said counter cap (14).

5. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein said pipe fitting (2) further comprises a substantially tubular element (5) shaped as a bushing, fitted on said first portion (3) of said pipe fitting (2) from an outside of the expansion tank (1), and wherein portion of the second half-shell (12) that is in proximity of an edge (121) of said opening (15) is substantially interposed and constrained between said second portion (4) of the pipe fitting (2) and one end (52) of said substantially tubular element (5), thereby providing stability of the pipe fitting (2).

6. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 5, wherein said substantially tubular element (5) comprises at least one portion (55) that is externally threaded or shaped to provide a connection with at least one pipe of the system requiring compensation.

7. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 5, wherein said substantially tubular element (5) comprises a shaped annular part (53) having a cross section that is substantially polygonal or in any case adapted to be held with wrenches or tools.

8. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 5, wherein a connection between said first portion (3) and said substantially tubular element is sealingly tight due to one or more annular sealing gaskets (6) interposed and constrained between said first portion (3) and said substantially tubular element (5) and/or through interference.

9. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 5, wherein said substantially tubular element (5) is made of a metallic and/or plastic material.

10. The expansion tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein said second portion (4) of the pipe fitting (2) comprises at least one stiffening thicker part (41) facing towards an inside of the second compartment (B).

Description

(1) The characteristics of the new expansion tank with improved pipe fitting are illustrated in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the drawings that are attached hereto by way of non-limiting example.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view in partial cross section of the new expansion tank (1) with improved pipe fitting (2).

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the improved pipe fitting (2).

(4) FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the new expansion tank (1) with improved pipe fitting (2).

(5) The new expansion tank (1) comprises two half-shells (11, 12) coupled together in such a way as to form a closed casing and an inner flexible membrane (13) suited to divide the closed casing into two compartments (A, B) in a tight manner.

(6) Said half-shells (11, 12), for example, are made of a substantially rigid metallic material, for example steel, and/or of a plastic material, while said membrane (13) is made of a material resistant to corrosion and stress.

(7) The first compartment (A) is intended to contain the compressible fluid that compensates for the increase in the volume of the fluid present in the system, while the second compartment (B) is intended to contain the non-compressible fluid that is subject to volume variations and to be hydraulically connected to the system requiring compensation through at least one pipe fitting (2).

(8) At least inside said second half-shell (12) there is at least one counter cap (14) made of a thermoplastic material, suited to come directly into contact with the fluid contained in said second compartment (B) and thus to prevent said fluid from coming into contact with the second half-shell (12).

(9) Said counter cap (14), for example, substantially adheres to the internal surface of said second half-shell (12).

(10) Said second half-shell (12) and said counter cap (14) are provided with at least one opening (15) suited to house a pipe fitting (2) for connection to the system requiring compensation.

(11) Said opening (15) houses said pipe fitting (2), in turn comprising a first portion (3) that is substantially tubular or holed axially (31), preferably cylindrical, housed in said opening (15) and projecting from it, and a second portion in the shape of a flat ring (4), integral with an end (32) of said tubular portion (3) and orthogonal to the axis of said tubular portion (3) itself.

(12) Said ring-shaped portion (4) in turn is joined to said counter cap (14) in the second half-shell (12) at the level of said opening (15), thus placing the inside of said second compartment (B) in communication with the outside of the tank (1) through said tubular portion (3), which is thus substantially external to the tank (1).

(13) In the preferred solution illustrated in the drawings, said counter cap (14), said ring-shaped portion (4) and said tubular portion (3) of the pipe fitting (2) are substantially made in a single body or, however, are mechanically and/or chemically joined to each other in such a way as to guarantee continuity and tightness.

(14) Said counter cap (14), said ring-shaped portion (4) and said tubular portion (3) of the pipe fitting (2) are preferably made of the same thermoplastic or thermoformed material.

(15) The pipe fitting (2) comprises also a further element in the shape of a bushing (5) that is substantially tubular or axially holed (51) and fitted on said first tubular portion (3) of said pipe fitting (2).

(16) The part close to the edge (121) of said opening (15) of the second half-shell (12) is substantially interposed and constrained between said ring-shaped portion (4) and an end (52) of said element in the shape of a bushing (5), thus guaranteeing the stability of the pipe fitting (2) itself.

(17) Said ring-shaped portion (4) of the pipe fitting (2) comprises at least one stiffening thicker part (41), preferably in the shape of a ring and preferably facing towards the inside of the second compartment (B).

(18) Said element in the shape of a bushing (5) is preferably made of a metallic material and comprises at least one part (55) that is externally threaded or in any case shaped in such a way that it can be connected to at least one pipe of the system requiring compensation, and is preferably welded (57) to said second half-shell (12) in proximity to said opening (15).

(19) Said element in the shape of a bushing comprises also a shaped annular part (53) close to said end (52) facing towards the second half-shell (12), wherein the cross section of said shaped part (53) is substantially hexagonal or polygonal or in any case suited to allow said shaped part to be held with wrenches or tools.

(20) Said element in the shape of a bushing (5) comprises also one or more annular seats (54) made on its internal surface (56) and suited to house one or more annular sealing gaskets (6) suited to ensure tightness with respect to said tubular portion (3) of the pipe fitting (2). Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings the following claims are expressed.