Pipe arrangement of a Pipeline System of a Fire Extinguishing System, Pipe Connector for such Arrangement, and Method for Producing such a Pipe Arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe arrangement (1, 1, 1,1) of a pipeline system of a fire extinguishing system having interconnected media-conducting pipe sections, comprising a sleeve body (2, 2, 2) which has at least one first end section (4) and a second end section (4), in particular two pipe sections (6, 6), wherein each pipe section (6, 6) is accommodated on an end section (4, 4) of the sleeve body (2, 2, 2), and a sealing element (12, 12, 12) arranged between an inner side (8) of the sleeve body (2, 2, 2) and an outer surface (10) of the pipe section (6, 6), wherein a connecting means (14, 14) arranged between the inner side of the sleeve body (2, 2, 2) and the outer surface of the pipe section (6, 6).

According to the invention, it is proposed that the connecting means (14, 14) has a transport and/or storage state in which a relative movement between the pipe sections (6, 6) and the sleeve body (2, 2, 2) is possible, and which can be brought by means of activation from the transport and/or storage state into a connecting state, wherein, in the connecting state, the connecting means (14, 14) is configured to connect an outer surface (10) of the respective pipe end to the inner side (8) of the sleeve body (2, 2, 2) by material bonding.

Claims

1. A pipe arrangement of a pipeline system of a fire extinguishing system having interconnected media-conducting pipe sections, comprising a sleeve body which has at least one first end section and a second end section, two pipe sections, wherein each pipe section is accommodated on an end section of the sleeve body, and a sealing element arranged between an inner side of the sleeve body and an outer surface of the pipe section, wherein a connecting means arranged between the inner side of the sleeve body and the outer surface of the pipe section, and wherein the connecting means has a transport and/or storage state in which a relative movement between the pipe sections and the sleeve body is possible, and which can be brought by means of activation from the transport and/or storage state into a connecting state, wherein, in the connecting state, the connecting means is configured to connect an outer surface of the respective pipe end to the inner side of the sleeve body by material bonding.

2. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive or welded connection is formed between the sleeve body and the pipe sections by means of the connecting means.

3. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is an adhesive or weldable plastic applied on the inner side of the sleeve body and/or the outer surface of the pipe section.

4. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is a single- or multi-component adhesive, preferably a two-component adhesive.

5. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a section of a conically running connecting surface is in each case provided on the inner side of the sleeve body and on the outer surface of the pipe section.

6. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is covered by a removable protective layer, wherein the protective layer is configured to shield the connecting means from external influences in its transport and/or storage state.

7. The pipe arrangement of claim 6, wherein the protective layer is formed as a protective film that completely encloses the connecting means wherein preferably, the protective film is configured to be removed from the connecting means when the pipe section has already been pushed onto the end section of the sleeve body.

8. The pipe arrangement of claim 6, wherein the removable protective layer is at least one of: Air tight, Splash water repellent, or Impermeable to UV radiation.

9. The pipe arrangement of claim 6, wherein the connecting means is configured to transition into the connecting state with removal of the protective layer.

10. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element in arranged in a depression on the inner side of the sleeve body and/or on the outer surface of the pipe section.

11. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the inner side (8) of the sleeve body and the outer surface of the pipe section define a receiving space for receiving the connecting means, wherein an opening corresponding to the receiving space for the entry of the connecting means or an initiator or a component of the connecting means is provided on the sleeve body.

12. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, furthermore having a locking element for axially positioning the pipe sections with respect to the sleeve body.

13. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve body has at least one stop for the pipe sections pushed into the sleeve body, said stop preferably being designed as a radially inwardly projecting shoulder on the inner side of the sleeve body.

14. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting regions formed by means of the connecting means are at a distance from the respective end of the pipe section that is greater than the distance of the sealing element from the end of the pipe section.

15. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting regions formed by means of the connecting means are at a distance from the respective end of the pipe section that is smaller than the distance of the sealing element from the end of the pipe section.

16. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, in the circumferential direction of the pipe section, the connecting means has cooling ducts extending substantially in the axial direction.

17. The pipe arrangement according to claim 1, wherein insulation is arranged on the outer surface of the sleeve body.

18. A fire extinguishing system with a pipeline system consisting of a plurality of media-guiding pipelines which are connected to one another in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein the connecting region of at least two interconnected pipelines is formed by means of a pipe arrangement according to claim 1.

19. A pipe connector for a pipe arrangement of a pipeline system of a fire extinguishing system, said system having a plurality of interconnected fluid-conducting pipe sections, wherein the pipe connector comprises: a sleeve body that comprises a first end section for receiving a first pipe section of the pipe arrangement and a second end section for receiving a second end pipe section of the pipe arrangement, wherein the sleeve body comprises an inner side, and a sealing element arranged on the inner side, wherein the sleeve body comprises a connecting means that is arranged on the inner side of the sleeve body, said connecting means being configured to connect to an outer surface of the respective pipe section, wherein the connecting means has a transport and/or storage state in which a relative movement between the pipe sections and the sleeve body is possible, and which is configured to be activated from the transport and/or storage state into a connecting state, wherein, in the connecting state, the connecting means is configured to connect to an outer surface of the respective pipe section by material bonding.

20. A method for producing a pipe arrangement of two pipelines, to be connected to each other, of a pipeline system of a fire extinguishing system, comprising: providing at least one pipe section and a sleeve body for receiving at least sections of the pipe section, joining the pipe section to the sleeve body, activating a connecting means, which is arranged on an inner side of the sleeve body and/or on an outer surface of the pipe section, before or after the joining and transfer of the connecting means from a transport and/or storage state into a connecting state such that the inner side of the sleeve body is at least partially connecting in a material bond to the outer surface of the pipe section by means of the activated connecting means.

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising the step: fixing the pipe section and the sleeve body with respect to each other after the joining of the pipe section to the sleeve body until the at least partial material bond between the inner side of the sleeve body and the outer surface of the pipe section is set.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein, in order to activate the connecting means before or after the connection of the pipe sections to the sleeve body, one, more than one or all of the following steps are carried out: a) removing a protective layer covering the connecting means, b) generating heat at the connecting means such that the connecting means liquefies, and subsequently cooling the connecting means in order to solidify the connecting means, and c) entering the connecting means or an initiator or a component of the connecting means into a receiving space, which is formed between the inner side of the sleeve body and the outer surface of the pipe section, for receiving the connecting means via an opening corresponding to a receiving space.

23. A system for pipe installation, with a pipe connector according to claim 19 and an apparatus for fixing at least one pipe section and a sleeve body of the pipe connector to be connected to the pipe section, with at least one fixing means which acts on the pipe section and the sleeve body and is configured to secure the pipe section and the sleeve body in the axial direction and/or in the circumferential direction of the mutually facing inner side and outer surface at least temporarily with respect to each other.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the fixing means is designed as a clamping device which is configured to apply a clamping force to an outer surface of the sleeve body and to an inner side of the pipe section arranged substantially congruently to the outer surface of the sleeve body, or to mutually opposite outer surfaces of the sleeve body (such that a surface pressure is brought about in at least one contact region between the inner side of the sleeve body and the outer surface of the pipe section.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the fixing means has a tensioning means which can be placed around the outer circumference of the sleeve body, preferably a tensioning chain, wherein the tensioning element is assigned a tensioning device which can change the tensioning length of the latter, and wherein at least one locking part is arranged along the tensioning element, said locking part penetrating the sleeve body at least in regions in the thickness direction upon tensioning of the tensioning device, and acting on the outer surface of the pipe section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The invention will be described in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures, in which:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a pipe arrangement according to a first exemplary embodiment in section;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a pipe arrangement according to the invention according to a second exemplary embodiment in section;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a pipe arrangement according to the invention according to a further embodiment in section;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a pipe arrangement according to the invention according to a further embodiment in section, and

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for fixing a pipe arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a pipe arrangement 1 with a sleeve body 2 which has mutually opposite end sections 4, 4. A pipe section 6, 6 is accommodated in a sealing manner in each of the end sections 4, 4. A sealing element 12, 12, by means of which in particular the media-conducing sealing of the pipe arrangement 1 is ensured, is in each case arranged on an inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 and an outer surface 10 of a respective pipe section 6, 6. Furthermore, a connecting means 14, 14 is arranged between the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 and the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6. The pipe sections 6, 6 are in each case locked relative to the sleeve body 2 by means of the connecting means 14, 14.

[0060] In one embodiment, the connecting means 14, 14 is configured in order, in addition to locking the pipe sections relative to the sleeve body, to seal the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 with respect to the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6. The connecting means 14, 14 are brought or transferred by means of activation from a transport and/or storage state into a connecting state in order to bring about a connection between the inner side 8 and the outer surfaces 10.

[0061] In a possible embodiment, the connecting means 14, 14 are designed as an adhesive applied to the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 and/or to the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6 or as an applied, weldable plastic. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the connecting means 14, 14 are arranged at a distance from the end of a respective pipe section 6, 6 that is greater than the distance of the sealing elements 12, 12 from the end of a respective pipe section 6, 6. Furthermore, insulation 16 is provided which is arranged on an outer surface 18 of the sleeve body 2.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a pipe arrangement 1 according to the invention which likewise comprises a sleeve body 2 and pipe section 6, 6 accommodated therein on the end side. In the present embodiment, the end sections 4, 4 of the sleeve body 2 are arranged coaxially. In another embodiment, the sleeve body can also be angled, and therefore the center axes of the end portions 4, 4 run at an angle of between 1 and 90 with respect to each other.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve body can also be designed as a T connector or X connector, wherein a T connector in particular has three end sections for receiving a respective pipe section and an X connector has four end sections, running at angles to one another, for receiving pipe sections.

[0064] By contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the connecting means 14, 14 are arranged at a distance from the end of a respective pipe section 6, 6 that is smaller than the distance of the sealing elements 12, 12 from a respective end of the pipe sections 6, 6. The connecting means 14, 14 are therefore arranged in front of the sealing elements 12, 12 in the push-direction of the pipe sections 6, 6. In the present embodiment, the sleeve body is not enclosed by insulation, but this is possible in one embodiment.

[0065] The connecting means 14, 14 shown in FIG. 2 can also be transferred from a transport and/or storage state into a connecting state by corresponding activation, and therefore the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 is connected to the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6. Although not illustrated in detail, the connecting means 14, 14 from FIG. 2 can have through-ducts running in the axial direction, and therefore the fluid flowing through the pipe sections, in particular an extinguishing fluid, enters into contact with the sealing elements 12, 12 arranged between the outer surfaces 10 and the inner side 8 behind the connecting means 14, 14 in the outflow direction of the extinguishing fluid.

[0066] As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, the sealing elements 12, 12 are each arranged in groove-like depressions 20 on the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6. The connecting means 14, 14 can also be accommodated, for example, in similar depressions on, for example, the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections and/or regions of the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2. In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting means 14, 14 can be a two-component adhesive, wherein the first component is in each case supplied to the outer surface 10 of a respective pipe section 6, 6 and the second component of the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2.

[0067] Furthermore, for the activation of the connecting means, which is an adhesive, the connecting means can be covered in the transport and/or storage state by a removable protective layer 15 which is simply removed in order to activate the connecting means. The protective layer 15 can be removed before the pipe sections 6, 6 are inserted into the sleeve body 2 or only after the pipe sections are inserted into the sleeve body. Alternatively, in the case of a weldable plastic as the connecting means, heat acts on an associated region of the sleeve body 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a locking element 32 is in each case provided on each pipe section 6, 6, said locking element interacting with a section of the sleeve body 2 and engaging in recesses 34, 34 in the form of an annular groove, on the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 with respect to the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a pipe arrangement 1 according to the invention which comprises a sleeve body 2. Pipe sections 6, 6 are likewise inserted on the end sides of the sleeve body 2. The sleeve body 2 has a stop 22 which is formed approximately halfway along in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve body. The stop 22 is a material projection 24, which protrudes on the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2, in the form of a shoulder on the inner side 8 of the sleeve body. The insertion depth for the pipe sections 6, 6 is limited via the stop 22.

[0069] Groove-like depressions 20, 26 are in each case provided on the outer surfaces of the pipe sections 6, 6 and the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2. In particular receiving spaces 28, 28 for the sealing elements 12, 12 and the connecting means 14, 14 are formed by means of the depressions 20, 26. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve body 2 has an opening 30, which penetrates the wall of the sleeve body, in the region of the depression 26 forming the receiving space 28, 28 for the connecting means. After the pipe arrangement 1 has been assembled, the connecting means 14, 14 can be entered into the receiving space 28, 28 via the opening 30.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a pipe arrangement 1 according to the invention with a sleeve body 2, into which two pipe sections 6, 6 have been pushed in each case on the end sides into the end sections 4, 4 thereof. The inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 is then at least partially in contact with the outer surface 10 of a respective pipe section 6, 6. Contrary to the previous embodiments, the sleeve body 2 has a centrally arranged sealing element 12 which simultaneously provides sealing in relation to both ends 13 of the pipe sections 6, 6. After the pipe sections have been inserted into the sleeve body 2, the connecting means 14, 14 between the inner side 8 of the sleeve body 2 and the outer surfaces 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6 is activated.

[0071] In order to avoid axial displacement of the pipe sections 6, 6 relative to the sleeve body 2 or a rotation of the pipe sections in the circumferential direction in the sleeve body 2, the pipe sections 6, 6 and the sleeve body 2 are fixed relative to each other during the setting of the at least partial material bond between the sleeve body and the pipe sections.

[0072] As indicated in FIG. 4, the sleeve body 2 can be fixed relative to the pipe sections 6, 6 by means of one or more locking parts 42. In one embodiment, the sleeve body 2 can have a material strength which is penetrated at least in regions in the thickness direction by the spike-like locking parts 42. The locking parts 42 are then preferably directly operatively connected to the outer surface 10 of the pipe sections 6, 6. In one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve body 2 can also have premanufactured recesses running in its wall surface in the thickness direction, for the locking parts 42 to reach through.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a possible embodiment of a fixing apparatus 40 which is used and which has at least one tensioning element 44 which can be placed around the outer circumference of the sleeve body 2 and on which a plurality of locking parts 42 are arranged at predetermined distances along the tensioning element. The fixing apparatus 40 furthermore comprises an adjustable tensioning device 46 with a movably mounted tensioning pin 48 which exerts a compressive force from one side on the sleeve body 2, around which the tensioning element is wrapped. As a result, the sleeve body 2 is pressed against the locking parts 42 of the tensioning element 44. The tensioning pin 48 is moved by means of a drive unit (not illustrated specifically), such as, for example, an adjustable piston.

[0074] Instead of a previously described fixing apparatus 31, it is also possible to use a type of securing tong in order to fix the pipe sections 6, 6 and the sleeve body relative to each other. The securing tongs are preferably used to produce a clamping force on the inner side of a pipe section 6, 6 and an approximately opposite outer surface of the sleeve body 2, by means of which the region of the inner side of the sleeve body and the outer surface of the corresponding pipe section are secured by means of the effective surface pressure.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0075] 1, 1, 1, 1 pipe arrangement

[0076] 2, 2, 2 sleeve body

[0077] 4, 4 end section

[0078] 6, 6 pipe section

[0079] 8 inner side

[0080] 10 outer surface

[0081] 12, 12, 12 sealing element

[0082] 13 end

[0083] 14, 14 connecting means

[0084] 15 protective layer

[0085] 16 insulation

[0086] 18 outer surface

[0087] 20, 20 depression

[0088] 22 stop

[0089] 24 material projection

[0090] 26 depression

[0091] 28, 28 receiving space

[0092] 30 opening

[0093] 32 locking element

[0094] 34, 34 recess

[0095] 40 fixing apparatus

[0096] 42 locking part

[0097] 44 tensioning element

[0098] 46 tensioning device

[0099] 48 tensioning pin