Pipe fitting

Abstract

A pipe fitting for conveying a medium, including an inlet at which the medium enters in a first direction perpendicular to an inlet cross section, and an outlet at which the medium leaves in a second direction perpendicular to an outlet cross section, wherein the two directions enclose an angle. The pipe fitting has three parts, wherein in each case two parts bearing against one another at a contact point, wherein in each case two parts at their contact point being rotatable relative to one another about the axis of the flow direction at the contact point in order to change the angle, and wherein the two contact points being spaced apart from one another in the flow direction.

Claims

1. A pipe fitting as part of a water pipe for conveying water, comprising: an inlet at which the water enters in a first direction perpendicular to an inlet cross section; an outlet at which the water leaves in a second direction perpendicular to an outlet cross section, wherein the two directions enclose an angle; three parts, wherein one of the three parts is arranged between the other two of the three parts, wherein in each case two of the parts bear against one another at a contact point, wherein in each case the two parts at their contact point are rotatable relative to one another about the axis of the flow direction at the contact point in order to change the angle, and wherein the two contact points are spaced apart from one another in the flow direction; and a circulation pipe arranged in the flow path for the water, wherein the parts being designed such that, in a first relative position, they have an essentially straight course of the flow path through the interior of the pipe fitting and such that, in a second relative position, they form a non-zero angle between the two directions, wherein the one part arranged between the two other parts produces a deflection of the water by a first partial angle, wherein the two parts adjacent to this part each produce a deflection of the water by a second partial angle which is different from the first partial angle.

2. The pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein the first partial angle is between 40° and 50°.

3. The pipe fitting according to claim 2, wherein the first partial angle is 45°.

4. The pipe fitting according to claim 2, wherein the second partial angle is 22.5°.

5. The pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein the second partial angle is between 20° and 25°.

6. The pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein the two parts arranged in the axial end region of the pipe fitting are formed identically.

7. The pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein the two parts lying against one another at a contact point are connected to one another by positive-locking connecting means.

8. The pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein the two parts lying against one another at a contact point are connected to one another by non-positive connecting means.

9. The pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein a portion of a part lying in an axial end region of the pipe fitting is configured for connection to a composite pipe or for connecting a pipe by a screw connection.

Description

(1) In the drawings embodiments of the invention are shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(2) FIG. 1 shows in a sectional side view a pipe fitting consisting of three parts and mounted in a first relative position of the individual parts,

(3) FIG. 2 shows in the view according to FIG. 1 the pipe fitting, which is now mounted in a second relative position of the individual parts,

(4) FIG. 3 shows in the view according to FIG. 1 the pipe fitting, which is now mounted in a third relative position of the individual parts,

(5) FIG. 4 shows detail “Z” according to FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 5 shows in a sectional side view the pipe fitting according to an alternative design, whereby the individual parts are in a position similar to FIG. 1 and whereby a circulation pipe is inserted into the pipe fitting,

(7) FIG. 6 shows the pipe fitting as shown in FIG. 5 (but now without the circulation pipe), whereby it is now brought into a position similar to FIG. 2,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the pipe fitting according to FIG. 5 (again without circulation pipe), whereby it is now brought into a position similar to FIG. 3,

(9) FIG. 8 shows in a sectional side view an alternatively designed pipe fitting consisting of three parts and mounted in a first relative position of the individual parts,

(10) FIG. 9 shows in the view shown in FIG. 8 the pipe fitting, which is now mounted in a second relative position of the individual parts,

(11) FIG. 10 shows in the view shown in FIG. 8 the pipe fitting, which is now mounted in a third relative position of the individual parts,

(12) FIG. 11 shows in a sectional side view the pipe fitting as shown in FIG. 8, into which a circulation pipe is inserted, showing a condition before completion of the assembly,

(13) FIG. 12 shows in the illustration according to FIG. 11 the pipe fitting including the circulation pipe, whereby the condition after completion of the assembly is shown,

(14) FIG. 13 shows a design of the pipe fitting according to the invention mounted on a T-piece of a water pipe,

(15) FIG. 14 shows schematically in the side view a different embodiment of the pipe fitting not according to the invention, which here consists of two parts, namely in a first relative position of the two parts, and

(16) FIG. 15 shows the pipe fitting according to FIG. 14 in a second relative position of the two parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(17) FIG. 1 shows a pipe fitting 1, for example, for conveying drinking water, which has an inlet 2 and an outlet 3.

(18) Inlet 2 has an inlet cross section Q1, to which, standing perpendicular, a first direction R1 results, in which the medium to be pumped enters the pipe fitting.

(19) Similarly, outlet 3 has an outlet cross section Q2, to which in turn, standing perpendicular, a second direction R2 results, in which the medium to be pumped exits the pipe fitting.

(20) The pipe fitting 1 consists of three parts 4, 5 and 6, namely a centrally arranged part 5, which is followed by an end part 4 or 6. Two adjoining parts contact each other at a contact point 7 or 8. As can be seen in FIG. 1, a contact point 7 or 8 has to be understood as the axial end of a part 4 or 6 with which it is seated in part 5.

(21) To connect two adjacent parts, connecting means 9 are available, which are described in detail in FIG. 4 below.

(22) Two adjacent parts 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 can be rotated relative to each other in the area of contact point 7 or 8; the axis of rotation is therefore defined by the flow direction S1 or S2 at contact point 7 or 8.

(23) Thus, different relative positions of the parts can be realised, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

(24) To illustrate this, an angle has been entered in FIGS. 2 and 3, which results from the position of the first and second directions R1 and R2. In FIG. 1 this angle is 0°, i.e. the directions R1 and R2 are identical.

(25) However, in the constellation shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the adjacent parts 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 have been positioned so as to form an angle of 45° in the case of FIG. 2 and 90° in the case of FIG. 3.

(26) In order to provide the various adjustment possibilities mentioned above, both the central part 5 and the two identical end parts 4 and 6 have a first partial angle b1 and a second partial angle b2 as shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment, for the central part 5 of the pipe fitting 1 the partial angle b1 is 45°, while the two end parts 4 and 6 each have a partial angle b2 of 22.5°. These partial angles thus indicate the angle by which the pumped medium is deflected when it flows through the parts 4, 5 and 6 in question.

(27) As can be seen from the overview of FIGS. 1 to 3, the proposed design makes it very easy to vary and adjust the angle a, which indicates the total deflection of the pumped medium through the entire pipe fitting 1.

(28) FIG. 4 shows one possible design of the connecting means 9. According to this, part 5 is to contain an annular groove into which a retaining element 14 is inserted; the retaining element can be designed in the form of a retaining spring, a tilt or a snap ring. In part (4 or) 6 there is a corresponding annular groove in which the retaining element 14 can engage when the two parts 4 and 5 or 6 and 5 are inserted and pushed together. Seals 12 and 13 are provided to ensure tightness; these can be designed as O-rings. In this way, a snap connection can be realized in a simple way, for example, with which two adjacent parts 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 can be reliably and tightly connected to each other.

(29) The positioning of the seals 12 and 13 or the retaining element 14 is possible in any way in the interacting and connecting parts 4 and 5 or 5 and 6. An arrangement in the middle part 5 is preferred. An arrangement in the middle part 5 has advantages, e.g. protection against direct wear or destruction by external influences on the seals or on the retaining element. The material requirement is also lower in this case.

(30) The retaining element 14 can be designed as a detachable connection (for example with springs) or as a non-detachable connection.

(31) The proposed design of the pipe fitting 1 is particularly advantageous if a circulation pipe 10 is to be installed inside the pipe fitting 1, as shown in FIG. 5. The main difference to the pipe fitting 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is that the ends of parts 4 and 6 facing away from the middle part 5 are provided with threads which serve to connect corresponding pipes by means of a screw connection.

(32) Otherwise, FIG. 5 shows how the circulation pipe 10 has been inserted in a position of parts 4, 5 and 6 where the two directions R1 and R2 (see FIG. 1) do not yet form an angle and therefore the insertion of circulation pipe 10 is possible without any problems. Then the individual parts 4, 5, 6 of the pipe fitting 1 can be turned into the positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, whereby the circulation pipe (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) follows the course of pipe fitting 1.

(33) FIG. 8 shows a pipe fitting 1 according to an alternative design. The general design corresponds to the prescribed solution.

(34) Again, pipe fitting 1 consists of the three parts 4, 5 and 6. Two adjoining parts contact each other again at a contact point 7 or 8. To connect two adjoining parts, connection means 9 are available here as well, which, however, are formed by a union nut that interacts with a corresponding thread.

(35) Two adjoining parts 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 can be rotated relative to each other in the area of contact point 7 or 8; the axis of rotation is again defined by the flow direction S1 or S2 present at contact point 7 or 8. This relative rotation is possible as long as the connecting means 9 are not yet effective (i.e. as long as the union nut has not yet been tightened in this embodiment). As long as said relative rotation of parts 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 is still possible, different relative positions of the parts can be realised, which is illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

(36) The same applies to the angular relationships as explained in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3.

(37) Thus, as can be seen from the synopsis of FIGS. 8 to 10, the proposed design makes it very easy to vary and adjust the angle a, which indicates the total deflection of the pumped medium through the entire pipe fitting 1.

(38) This is again particularly advantageous when a circulation pipe 10 is to be installed inside the pipe fitting 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Referring again to EP 2 606 285 B1, the insertion of circulation pipe 10 is problematic if this is to be done with a classic pipe fitting, especially since circulation pipe 10 usually consists of a relatively stiff plastic pipe.

(39) However, if the position of the proposed pipe fitting 1 (with the union nuts not yet tightened) is set first, as shown in FIG. 11, the circulation pipe 10 can be inserted through the pipe fitting without any problems, as this results in a substantially straight flow path through the inside of the pipe fitting. Once circulation pipe 10 is inserted, parts 4 and 5 or 5 and 6 are rotated relative to each other to the desired position, as shown in FIG. 12. Now, with a given deflection (by the angle a) the union nuts are tightened so that the arrangement as shown in FIG. 12 is achieved.

(40) FIG. 13 shows an application in which pipe fitting 1 was connected to a T-piece 11. Again, a circulation pipe 10 is provided here, which can be easily inserted into pipe fitting 1 in the manner described (analogous to the illustration in FIGS. 11 and 12).

(41) The proposed principle for the design of a pipe fitting can be further simplified as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The simplest possibility of designing a pipe fitting, that is not in accordance with the invention, is depicted here. Pipe fitting 1 consists of two parts 4 and 5, which can be rotated relative to each other.

(42) FIG. 14 shows a situation where there is a zero degree angle between the first direction R1 and the second direction R2, while in FIG. 15 there is a 90° deflection.

(43) Thus, in this simplest case, the pipe fitting consists of the two parts 4 and 5, which allows easy adjustment at a 90° angle. In other positions there are edges and stagnation areas; the inner free diameter is restricted here. This requires that the sealing and connecting parts must be correspondingly larger.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(44) 1 Pipe fitting

(45) 2 Inlet

(46) 3 Outlet

(47) 4 Part of the pipe fitting

(48) 5 Part of the pipe fitting

(49) 6 Part of the pipe fitting

(50) 7 Contact point

(51) 8 Contact point

(52) 9 Connection means

(53) 10 Circulation pipe

(54) 11 T-piece

(55) 12 Seal (O-Ring)

(56) 13 Seal (O-Ring)

(57) 14 Retaining element (retaining spring/tilt/snap ring)

(58) R1 First direction

(59) R2 Second direction

(60) Q1 Inlet cross section

(61) Q2 Outlet cross section

(62) S1 Flow direction

(63) S2 Flow direction

(64) a Angle

(65) b1 First partial angle

(66) b2 Second partial angle