Connection arrangement between a fitting unit and a medium pipe

Abstract

A connecting arrangement for a fitting unit with a fitting housing (13). In the housing there is at least one bore (17, 18) for mounting a medium pipe (24, 36) by means of a threaded fitting 31, 34). The fitting may optionally be chosen as a nut (31) for squeezing a cutting sleeve 30) or as a soldering bushing (34) for mounting the medium pipe by soldering. Irrespectively whether there is a bore (17, 18) in the fitting housing or a bore in the soldering bushing 34), several parts with varying diameters would be provided so that medium pipes with different diameters can be fastened.

Claims

1. A connection arrangement, comprising: a valve for regulating flow of liquid or gas, the valve having a valve body; and a fitting housing; wherein the fitting housing comprises: a valve bore inside of which the valve body is positioned; a first bore and a second bore for sealing insertion of medium pipes, each of the first and second bores having a first diameter provided with a thread in the respective bore, a cylindrical second part with a second diameter which is less than the first diameter; and a third part with a third diameter which is less than the second diameter; wherein a conical tapering transition is provided in the first and second bores remotely from the thread at a location between the thread and the cylindrical second part for providing a first sealing contact surface; a cutting sleeve and wherein the second part of the bore has a smooth sealing abutment surface, wherein the first bore and the second bore are parallel and provided side-by-side; wherein the valve bore is cylindrical with a central axis that is parallel to the first and second bores, wherein the valve extends from the valve bore in a direction that is away from the first and second bores and along the central axis, and wherein the movement of the valve for opening and closing the fluid-flow communication is along the central axis wherein the third part of each of the first and second bore has an opening directed towards the valve bore for fluid-flow communication of gas or liquid between the first and second bores through the valve bore and the valve; the third part of the first bore being shorter than the third part of the second bore; wherein the valve body is configured with an end portion for directly closing off a passage between the valve bore and the third part of the first bore, but not closing the opening of the third part of the second bore that is directed towards the valve bore, wherein the first bore is a fluid inlet bore and the second bore is a fluid outlet bore.

2. A connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a right angular transition from the second diameter to the third diameter is provided between the cylindrical second part and the third part.

3. A connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fitting housing further comprises an abutment flange and a cylindrical part extending from the abutment flange, and wherein the first bore and the second bore are provided within the cylindrical part, and wherein the abutment flange is cylindrical with a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the cylindrical part.

4. A connection arrangement, comprising: a valve for regulating flow of liquid or gas, the valve having a valve body; and a fitting housing; wherein the fitting housing comprises: a valve bore inside of which the valve body is positioned; a first bore and a second bore for sealing insertion of medium pipes, each of the first and second bores having a first diameter provided with a thread in the respective bore, a cylindrical second part with a second diameter which is less than the first diameter; and a third part with a third diameter which is less than the second diameter; wherein the second part of the bore has a smooth surface for sealing abutment with an O-ring; wherein a conical tapering transition is provided in the first and second bores remotely from the thread at a location between the thread and the cylindrical second part for providing a sealing contact surface; and wherein the third part of each of the first and second bores is connected to the valve bore through an opening providing fluid-flow communication of gas or liquid between the first and second bores through the valve bore; wherein the valve bore is cylindrical with a central axis, wherein the valve body is configured for displacement along the central axis, the displacement along the central axis to an end position directly closing off communication between the valve bore and the third part of the first bore, but not closing the opening of the third part of the second bore that is directed towards the valve bore; and wherein the opening of the third part of the first bore is located in a wall of the valve bore at a position located laterally offset from said central axis, and wherein the first bore and the second bore are parallel and provided side-by-side; wherein the valve bore is cylindrical with a central axis that is parallel to the first and second bores, wherein the valve extends from the valve bore in a direction that is away from the first and second bores and along the central axis, and wherein the movement of the valve for opening and closing the fluid-flow communication is along the central axis.

5. A connection arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the third part of the first bore is shorter than the third part of the second bore, wherein the valve bore has a first part configured for receiving the valve body and a second part of a smaller diameter than said first part of the valve bore and in a circumferential wall of which said opening is located.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention will in the following be explained more closely with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic elementary sketch of fittings according to a prior art principle;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an elementary sketch corresponding to FIG. 1 by applying a connecting arrangement according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through a fitting housing for use in a connecting arrangement according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through a connecting arrangement where the fitting housing shown in FIG. 3 is used;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through a connecting arrangement where the fitting housing shown in FIG. 3 is used;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further connecting arrangement where the fitting housing shown in FIG. 3 is used;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a reduction cutting sleeve for use in a connection arrangement according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a cutting sleeve for use in a connection arrangement according to the invention;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a squeeze fitting for use in a connection arrangement according to the invention; and

(11) FIGS. 10A, 10B & 10C show, respectively, views from the side, from above and in perspective of a soldering bushing for use in a connection arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) Identical and corresponding elements will be designated with the same reference numbers in the following, and no specific explanation will be given to all details in connection with each single Figure.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a prior art arrangement for mounting fitting units. There is shown a fitting unit in the form of a tap 1 and a fitting unit in the form of an outlet 2. The tap 1 and the outlet 2 are mounted in a wall 3. The tap 1 includes a fitting housing 4 and the outlet 2 includes a threaded section 5. The fitting housing 4 is provided with a pipe section 6 for connecting to a supply line 7 via a double joint 8 of the two pipes. The housing 4 is furthermore provided with a pipe section 9 for connecting with a supply line 10 via a corresponding double joint 8. The double joints 8 are prior art fittings where the pipe ends are connected at each end by a fitting in a known way, e.g. by means of nuts. The supply line 10 is connected with the threaded section 5 in the shown embodiment via a double joint 11 to the threaded section. In each of the joints there will be a risk of leakage.

(14) In FIG. 2 appear corresponding elements. In this embodiment, the pipes 7 and 10 are connected with the fitting housings 4 and 5 via integrated joints 12 which are designed according to the present invention. As it is seen, by this arrangement there will be a reduced number of leakage risks which are limited to the points of the integrated joint. Furthermore, it appears that the fitting unit 1 according to FIG. 2 has a limited size, as it does not include the permanently connected pipes 6, 9 (cf. FIG. 1). Furthermore, it is also noted that the system illustrated in FIG. 1, besides risks of leakage at the double joints, will also have a risk of leakage in the connection established between the pipe sections and the fitting housing.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a section through a fitting housing 13. This fitting housing has a boring 14 for receiving a valve body 58 (see FIGS. 4-6). The fitting housing 13 has an abutment flange 15 and a cylindric part 16 that may optionally be provided with thread for receiving a nut or be provided with other means for use in clamping the fitting housing 13 in a mounting aperture in a mounting plate.

(16) The fitting housing 13 comprises a first boring 17 and a second boring 18. At their outer end, each of these borings is provided with a thread which is provided with a part 20 of the boring with a first diameter 21. Each of the borings include a further part 22 with a second diameter 23 which is less than the first diameter 21. The second part 22 of the boring is smooth and intended for mounting a medium pipe 24 (see FIG. 4) by soldering (in FIG. 4 soldering is not shown).

(17) The boring 17 is furthermore provided with an inner third part 25 with a third diameter 26 which is less than the second diameter 23. The third part 25 is smooth and intended for connecting gas and liquid to a valve in the boring 14.

(18) FIG. 4 illustrates how medium pipes 24 are mounted in the borings 17 and 18. In the innermost end of the medium pipes, there is provided a support bushing 27 consisting of a tubular cylindric part 28 and an outwards directed cylindric collar 29 resting on the end face of the medium pipe 24.

(19) The medium pipe 24 is mounted in the boring 17 and 18 by means of a cutting sleeve 30 and a nut 31 having a thread 32 which interacts with the thread 19 in the borings 17 and 18. The medium pipe 24 will preferably be copper pipes, flexible hoses, reinforced rubber hoses or PEX pipes.

(20) FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment where medium pipes 33 are mounted in the borings 17 and 18. The medium pipes 33 are copper pipes. Also here the pipes 33 are mounted by means of a cutting sleeve and an interacting nut 31. In this embodiment, no support bushings have been provided. Alternatively, it is, however, possible to use support bushings in connection with the copper pipe, but this depends on the strength of the pipes 33.

(21) FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment where in the borings in the fitting housing 13 there is screwed a soldering bushing 34 which is provided with a thread 35 interacting with the thread 19 in the borings. In each soldering bushing 34 there is connected a medium pipe 36 of metal and which is mounted by soldering.

(22) Each soldering bushing is provided with a boring 37 having a first part 38 with a fourth diameter 39. A further part 40 of the boring 37 is provided with a fifth diameter 41 which is less than the fourth diameter 39. Furthermore, the soldering bushing has an innermost part 42 with a sixth diameter 43 which is less than the fifth diameter 41.

(23) In the soldering bushing, each of the parts 38, 40 and 42 are smooth, and the diameters have a size adapted to mount medium pipes 36 by soldering. The shown soldering bushing 34 may thus be used for medium pipes with three different diameters. In order to ensure sealing between the soldering bushings 34 and the bends in the fitting housing 13, the soldering bushings are provided with an annular groove 44 accommodating a sealing element, preferably an O-ring 45.

(24) FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a reduction cutting sleeve 46 for use in reducing the diameter of a medium pipe. The reduction cutting sleeve includes a first tubular bushing 47, which is used for squeezing a medium pipe, and a second bushing member 48, which is displaceable in relation thereto. The first and second bushing members 47 and 48 have conical parts for engaging each other in order to provide the sealing when a nut presses the bushing member 48 against the bushing member 47.

(25) FIG. 8 illustrates a traditional cutting sleeve 49 having an outer surface 50 with a largely plane center part 51, and two edge parts 52 sloping in relation thereto.

(26) FIG. 9 shows a nut 53 for use together with the cutting sleeve 49 shown in FIG. 8. The nut 53 includes a threaded part 54 for interacting with the thread 19 in the boring in the fitting housing 13 and a second end part 55 with bearing faces for interacting with a tool in the shape of a spanner, an adjustable wrench or similar for screwing on the nut, thereby establishing a medium tight connection.

(27) FIG. 10 shows as view A a side view of a soldering bushing 34, as view B a view of the soldering bushing 34 seen from above, and as view C a perspective view of the soldering bushing 34.

(28) The soldering bushing includes a threaded part 35 for interacting with the thread 19 in the fitting housing 13. An outer end 56 of the soldering bushing is provided with contact surfaces for a clamping tool in the form of a spanner or similar, and with an innermost end 57 having a smaller diameter in order to protrude into the further part of the boring of the fitting housing having less diameter than the first diameter at the thread 19. The soldering bushing is furthermore provided with a groove 44 for receiving a sealing element.

(29) In view B appear generatrices for the various diameters of the soldering bushing 34, as explained with reference to FIG. 6.