SEALING MEANS, IMPROVED SLIP JOINT APPARATUS AND/OR METHODS OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

Sealing means are provided that includes a first surface which is arranged to contact a surface of an item in use, and one or more side wall surfaces extending away from the first surface. The first surface and/or said one or more side wall surfaces are arranged so as to allow a degree of pivotable and/or angular movement of at least the first surface of the sealing means with respect to the item surface with which it contacts in use.

Claims

1. Sealing means; said sealing means including a first surface which is arranged to contact a surface of an item in use; and one or more side wall surfaces extending away from the first surface; and wherein said first surface and/or said one or more side wall surfaces of the sealing means are arranged so as to allow a degree of pivotable and/or angular movement of at least the first surface of the sealing means with respect to the item surface with which it contacts with in use.

2. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means and/or the first surface of the sealing means is shaped, designed and/or dimensioned so as to provide a point contact with the item which the first surface is in contact with in use; is in the form of an apex; has a contact length of between about 0.1 mm+/?0.05 mm-3 mm+/?0.5 mm with the item surface in use, and/or has a contact length of approximately 0.75 mm+/?0.05 mm with the item surface in use.

3. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is a linear surface, substantially linear surface, a planar surface, a substantially planar surface, a flat surface and/or substantially flat surface.

4. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is curved, convexed, substantially curved, substantially convexed in shape, provides a hemispherical surface to the sealing means or provides a substantially hemispherical surface of the sealing means.

5. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means includes two or more side walls or two opposing side walls, and the two or more side walls or two opposing side walls protrude outwardly and away from the first surface; and/or an interior angle between the first surface and at least one of the side walls is greater than 90 degrees.

6. The sealing means according to claim 5, wherein an interior angle between the first surface and at least one of the side walls is the same, substantially the same, different or substantially different to an interior angle between the first surface and at least one other of the side walls.

7. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the total angle between two opposing side walls adjoining the first surface of the sealing means is between approximately 90-180 degrees; is less than 180 degrees, is less than or equal to 140 degrees, is less than or equal to 135 degrees, is less than or equal to 130 degrees, is less than or equal to 125 degrees, is less than or equal to 120 degrees, is less than or equal to 115 degrees, is less than or equal to 110 degrees, is less than or equal to 105 degrees, is less than or equal to 100 degrees, is less than or equal to 95 degrees, is less than or equal to 90 degrees.

8. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the first surface of the sealing means and a surface of an item on which the sealing means is located on in use is less than 90 degrees, is less than or equal to 85 degrees, is less than or equal to 80 degrees, is less than or equal to 75 degrees, is less than or equal to 70 degrees, is less than or equal to 65 degrees, is less than or equal to 60 degrees, is less than or equal to 55 degrees, is less than or equal to 50 degrees, or is less than or equal to 45 degrees.

9. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means and/or cross sectional shape of the sealing means is symmetrical, substantially symmetrical, asymmetrical or substantially asymmetrical.

10. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is planar, substantially planar, flat or substantially flat and the one or more side walls extend outwardly and away from the first surface; alternatively the first surface is curved, convexed or substantially curved and the one or more side walls extend inwardly and away from the first surface.

11. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means is any or any combination of annular or substantially annular in form; is a continuous or substantially continuous member; is a non-continuous member; is formed from graphite, rubber, stainless steel, metal, Mica, and/or Vermiculite; includes a graphite and stainless steel wire mesh construction; or is relatively softer and more compressible compared to steel.

12. The sealing means according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means is of such shape, design and/or dimensions that when used with slip joint apparatus in use, it provides a clearance or gap sufficient to allow axial and/or angular movement or movement in an axial and/or angular direction between a first conduit on which the sealing means is located in use and a second conduit which has a slip flare or flared end; and/or between the sealing means and the first conduit on which it is located in use.

13. The sealing means according to claim 12, wherein the clearance or gap is between 1-3 mm+/?0.5 mm, or 1.5 mm+/?0.5 mm and is between a first conduit on which the sealing means is located in use and a second conduit which has a slip flare or flared end; or the clearance or gap is equal to or substantially equal to the height between the first surface and the opposite end or surface of the side wall adjoining the first surface.

14. Slip joint apparatus, said slip joint apparatus including a first item having a first end; and a second item having a second end; the second end of the second item being arranged so that it can be moved into overlapping engagement with the first end of the first item in use; and sealing means, and wherein the sealing means includes a first surface which is arranged to be located on an outer surface of the first item in use and one or more side wall surfaces extending away from said first surface; and wherein the first surface and/or the one or more side walls surfaces of the sealing means are arranged so as to allow a degree of pivotable and/or angular movement of at least the first surface of the sealing means with respect to the outer surface of the first item on which it is to be provided on in use.

15. A method of using sealing means; said method including the steps of moving a first surface of the sealing means into contact with a surface of an item such that one or more side wall surfaces of the sealing means extend away from the first surface of the item; and wherein said first surface and/or said one or more side wall surfaces are arranged so as to allow a degree of pivotable and/or angular movement of at least the first surface of the sealing means with respect to the item surface with which it contacts.

Description

[0073] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0074] FIG. 1a (PRIOR ART) is an exploded perspective view of an example of a conventional slip joint assembly;

[0075] FIG. 1b (PRIOR ART) is a cross sectional view of the conventional slip joint assembly in an assembled condition;

[0076] FIG. 2a is a cross sectional view of slip joint apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 2b is the same cross sectional view of the slip joint apparatus in FIG. 2a with the direction of forces that might be applied to the slip joint apparatus in use illustrated;

[0078] FIG. 2c is the same cross sectional view of the slip joint apparatus in FIGS. 2a and 2b with angles shown.

[0079] FIGS. 3a-3f show non-exhaustive list of examples of different shaped sealing gaskets that could be used according to different embodiments of the present invention.

[0080] Referring to FIGS. 2a-2c, there is illustrated a cross sectional view of slip joint apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention used for the joining together of two cylindrical conduits 4, 6 as previously described. The same reference numerals have been used to describe the same features as for FIGS. 1a and 1b. The apparatus of the present invention is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b but with the exception of a different sized and/or shaped gasket used in the present invention.

[0081] Sealing means in the form of a gasket 102 is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The gasket 102 has a first or base surface 104 that faces the inlet pipe 4 and engages with an outer surface of the same when the slip joint apparatus 100 is assembled. First and second opposing side walls 106, 108 of the gasket are joined to opposite ends of the base surface 104 and protrude upwardly (away) and outwardly from the base surface. A further side wall 110 joins the first and second opposing side walls together. At least part of the further side wall 110 is opposite base surface 104 in this example. However, it will be noted that the side walls 106, 108 could also be arranged to be opposite the base surface in one example.

[0082] The base surface 104 has been designed such that a relatively smaller contact surface area is provided with inlet pipe 4 compared to prior art sealing gasket arrangements. In addition, the opposing side walls 106, 108 joining with the base surface 104 are angled upwardly and outwardly at the same or substantially the same angle. More particularly, in this example, the angle a between opposing side walls 106 is approximately 90 degrees. The angle b between the base surface and each adjoining side walls 106, 108 is approximately 135 degrees. The angle c between the adjoining side wall 106 and the outer surface of the inlet pipe 4 is approximately 45 degrees. This arrangement allows the sealing gasket 102 to be pivotably movable or undergo angular movement about the base surface 104 in use. The angles a, b, c could vary but still allows the same angular and/or axial movement as required.

[0083] In addition, the shape and dimensions of the sealing gasket 102 are arranged such that a clearance or gap 110, 112 is provided between the inwardly facing surface of the slip flare adjacent end 14 and the outwardly facing surface of the inlet pipe 4, and between the inwardly facing surface of the outlet pipe 6 and the outwardly facing surface of the inlet pipe 4 respectively. The combination of the clearance or gaps 110, 112 and the reduced contact surface of base surface 104 with inlet pipe 4 allows the slip joint apparatus 100 to undergo pivotable movement, as shown by arrow 114, as well as axial movement, as shown by arrow 116. This allows the slip joint apparatus 100 of the present invention to absorb initial tolerance stacks and to move during service due to thermal expansion and/or vibration for example. This further reduces the stress placed on the mating pipes 4, 6 compared to when a conventional slip joint is used. The dynamic angular or pivotable movement that is allowed with the slip joint apparatus of the present invention can absorb initial misalignment when the slip joint apparatus is first assembled but can also withstand dynamic angular movement during service or use of the apparatus.

[0084] The reduced contact area of base surface 104 with pipe 4 in the present invention compared to prior art arrangements is that it allows for increased contact pressure for any given applied load. In turn, this allows for a lower sealing force being provided by the sealing gasket 102 and means the joint apparatus can move more easily while maintain the seal.

[0085] Preferably the contact point of the gasket 102 ends at the radius transition 118 of the slip flare 8 between skirt 14 and the joining section 120 with skirt 12. Thus, the point at which side wall 106 of the sealing means is joined to the side wall 110 of the sealing means is provided at this radius transition 118 of the slip flare in one embodiment. This could, if required, be provided to allow sealing means of the present invention.

[0086] FIG. 2b shows the forces that are applied to the slip joint apparatus of the present invention in use. As the clamp 22 located around the sealing means is tightened in use, a radially inward force is applied by the clamp 22 onto the slip flare 8 and the flared end 7 of the pipe 6, as shown by arrows 122. This causes the slip flare 8 and the flared end 7 of pipe 6 to apply an inward force that is normal to their angular flank surfaces, caused by the well established welding principle that applies to clamps, and preferably V-clamps, as shown by arrows 124. Subsequent compression of the sealing gasket 102 causes the contact base surface 104 to form a seal with the outer surface of inlet pipe 4, as shown by arrows 126.

[0087] The side wall 110 of sealing gasket 102 (i.e. the wall opposite to the base surface) is shaped so as to conform or substantially conform to the shape of the inner surfaces of the slip flare 8 and the flared end 7 of the outlet pipe 6. This allows the gasket to be compressed with minimal spaces for the sealing gasket to compress other than towards the inlet pipe 4. In the illustrated example, the side wall 110 therefore conforms substantially to the inwardly facing V-shape of the clamp arrangement. The base surface 104 of the sealing gasket 102 is shaped so as to optimally transfer the forces of the clamp to the contact sealing surface it makes with the inlet pipe 4 at 104.

[0088] FIGS. 3a-3f illustrate a non-exhaustive set of examples of how the sealing gasket could be formed in order to still provide the advantages of the present invention. In FIG. 3a, the base surface 104 of the sealing gasket 102 is flat and the adjoining side walls 106, 108 are curved. In FIG. 3b, the entire base surface 104 of the sealing gasket 102 is curved or convexed and the adjoining side walls 106, 108 are provided to protrude upwardly and inwardly of the curved base surface. In FIG. 3c, the base surface 104 of the sealing gasket 102 and the side walls 106, 108 are curved such that the cross sectional shape of the gasket is circular or substantially circular. In FIG. 3d, the base surface 104 and the side walls 106, 108 of the sealing gasket are shaped so as to form a lozenge like shape, but it could also be oval, substantially oval, elliptical, substantially elliptical and/or the like. In FIG. 3e, the base surface 104 of the sealing gasket forms an apex or point. In FIG. 3f, the shape of the sealing gasket 102 is similar to that of the sealing gasket in FIGS. 2a-2c but the side walls 106, 108 adjoining base surface 104 are at a larger angle with respect to the base surface 104. It will be appreciated that other shapes and arrangements could be provided for the sealing gasket whilst still providing the advantages set out herein.