SEALING INSERT FOR A CORRUGATED-PIPE SCREW FASTENING SYSTEM, CORRUGATED-PIPE SCREW FASTENING SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR FITTING A CORRUGATED PIPE

Abstract

A sealing insert for a corrugated-pipe screw fastening system includes a cutout for receiving a corrugated pipe, first and second end faces, a first external wall portion having a first outer diameter, and a second external wall portion having a second external diameter. An internal wall delimiting the cutout includes at least one partially circumferentially extending rib. The first external wall portion is adjacent to the first end face and extends along a longitudinal axis of the sealing insert up to the second external wall portion. The second external wall portion is adjacent to the second end face and extends along the longitudinal axis up to the first external wall portion. The first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter. An anti-rotation structure is arranged on an outer shell of the sealing insert. The anti-rotation structure is associated with the second external wall portion.

Claims

1. A sealing insert for a corrugated-pipe screw fastening system, the sealing insert comprising: a cutout for receiving a corrugated pipe; first and second end faces; a first external wall portion having a first outer diameter; and a second external wall portion having a second outer diameter; wherein: an internal wall delimiting the cutout comprises at least one circumferential rib that extends in a circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis about at least a portion of a circumference of the inner wall; the first external wall portion is adjacent to the first end face and extends along a longitudinal axis of the sealing insert up to the second external wall portion; the second external wall portion is adjacent to the second end face and extends along the longitudinal axis up to the first external wall portion; the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter; the first and second external wall portions are each configured to be cylindrical; an anti-rotation structure is arranged on an outer shell of the sealing insert; and the anti-rotation structure is associated with the second external wall portion.

2. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein the at least one circumferential rib comprises at least two circumferential ribs.

3. The sealing insert according to claim 2, wherein the at least two circumferential ribs are uniformly spaced apart from one another.

4. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein the at least one circumferential rib is trapezoidal, rectangular, triangular, arc segment-shaped or at least partially oval in cross-section.

5. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein: the internal wall comprises a first internal wall portion and a second internal wall portion, the first internal wall portion comprises the at least one circumferential rib, the second internal wall portion does not comprise a rib.

6. The sealing insert according to claim 5, wherein the first internal wall portion is associated with the first end face or the second end face.

7. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein at least one circumferential rib is flush with the first end face or the second end face.

8. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein at least one slit passes through from the first end face to the second end face.

9. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein a material thickness of the sealing insert decreases towards the first end face and/or towards the second end face.

10. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein: the internal wall comprises a first internal wall portion and a second internal wall portion, the first internal wall portion comprises the at least one circumferential rib, the second internal wall portion does not comprise a rib, and the material thickness of the sealing insert decreases only in the second internal wall portion towards the first or the second end face.

11. The sealing insert according to claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation structure comprises a plurality of latching elements arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sealing insert.

12. A corrugated-pipe screw fastening system comprising: a pressing screw; a screw fastening body; and the sealing insert according to claim 1.

13. The corrugated-pipe screw fastening system according to claim 12, wherein the screw fastening body comprises an anti-rotation structure corresponding to the anti-rotation structure of the sealing insert.

14. The corrugated-pipe screw fastening system according to claim 12, wherein the screw fastening body comprises a stop surface for the pressing screw.

15. A method for fitting a corrugated pipe having a plurality of corrugation troughs to a connection geometry, the method comprising the steps of: threading a pressing screw onto the corrugated pipe; inserting the corrugated pipe into the cutout of the sealing insert of claim 1 in such a manner that at least one circumferential rib is in engagement with a corresponding corrugation trough of the corrugated pipe; inserting a screw fastening body into the connection geometry; inserting the sealing insert with the corrugated pipe into the screw fastening body, wherein the anti-rotation structure of the sealing insert is brought into engagement with an anti-rotation structure of the screw fastening body and the sealing insert protrudes with the first external wall portion from the screw fastening body; and screwing the pressing screw onto the screw fastening body in such a manner that a material displacement of a material of the sealing insert is created by the pressing screw, wherein the material rests at least partially sealingly against the corrugated pipe.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the pressing screw is screwed on up to a stop surface of the screw fastening body.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the corrugated pipe is inserted into the sealing insert in such a manner that it protrudes beyond the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system on a side of the pressing screw and on a side of the screw fastening body in a fitted state.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0073] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0074] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sealing insert according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0075] FIG. 2 is an end view of the sealing insert of FIG. 1;

[0076] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing insert of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

[0077] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative sealing insert according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0078] FIG. 5 is a top view of a second end face of the sealing insert of FIG. 4;

[0079] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing insert of FIG. 4 taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

[0080] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a corrugated-pipe screw fastening system according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0081] FIG. 8 is an end view of a pressing screw of the fitted corrugated-pipe screw fastening system of FIG. 7;

[0082] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fitted corrugated-pipe screw fastening system of FIG. 7 taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8; and

[0083] FIG. 10 is another corrugated-pipe screw fastening system according to the principles of the present disclosure.

[0084] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0085] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0086] FIG. 1 shows a sealing insert 10 having a first end face 12 and a second end face 14. The sealing insert 10 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a cutout 16 passing completely therethrough. An outer shell 18 of the sealing insert 10 comprises a first external wall portion 20 and a second external wall portion 30, wherein the first external wall portion 20 is adjacent to the first end face 12 and the second external wall portion 30 is adjacent to the second end face 14. An outer diameter of the first external wall portion 20 is larger than that of the second external wall portion 30, the latter being discretely adjacent to each other by a step 15.

[0087] The second external wall portion 30 includes an anti-rotation structure 40 configured as a multiplicity of axially parallel latching elements 42 distributed on the circumference of the second external wall portion 30, not all of which are denoted by reference signs for clarity. The anti-rotation structure 40 is adjacent to the first external wall portion 20 and, in this form, protrudes in its longitudinal extent to approximately the middle of the second external wall portion 30.

[0088] The sealing insert 10 comprises a slit 19 passing completely through from the first end face 12 to the second end face 14. By way of the slit, the sealing insert 10 can be bent open and attached onto a corrugated pipe not shown here.

[0089] FIG. 1 further shows that the sealing insert 10 has at least one circumferential rib 62 on an internal wall 60 of the cutout 16.

[0090] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the second end face 14 of the sealing insert 10 of FIG. 1. The anti-rotation structure 40 has a plurality of axially parallel latching elements 42, which are in particular uniformly arranged on an outer circumference of the second external wall portion 30. This view also shows a rib 62 arranged in the cutout 16 passing completely through the sealing insert 10.

[0091] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2. The cutout 16 passing completely therethrough in the direction of a longitudinal axis 11 comprises the internal wall 60 forming a first internal wall portion 64 and a second internal wall portion 66. The second internal wall portion 66 has a conical configuration. It is adjacent to the first end face 12 and is associated with the first external wall portion 20. In particular, the internal wall 60 narrows in the second internal wall portion 66 towards the first internal wall portion 64 or, respectively, the internal wall 60 widens towards the first end face 12. An internal cross-section of the internal wall 60 in the second internal wall portion 66 thus enlarges towards the first end face 12 of the sealing insert 10. The second internal wall portion has a material thickness that decreases towards the first end face 12. The cutout 16 is designed to be conical in the second internal wall portion 66.

[0092] The first internal wall portion 64 comprises four ribs 62.1 to 62.4 circumferentially extending in the circumferential direction, wherein the rib 62.1 corresponds to the rib 62 which is the only one clearly visible in FIG. 1. The first internal wall portion 64 is adjacent to the second end face 14. The first internal wall portion is associated with the second external wall portion 30.

[0093] The outer shell 18 of the sealing insert 10 comprises the first external wall portion 20 and the second external wall portion 30. The first external wall portion 20 has a first outer diameter 22 which is larger than a second outer diameter 32 of the second external wall portion 30. As a result of this, a step 15 is formed which, as can be seen for example in FIG. 9, inhibits an insertion too far into a screw fastening body 74 shown in FIG. 9, which is formed as a double nipple.

[0094] The lengths of the external wall portions 20, 30 and of the internal wall portions 64, 66 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 11 are selected such that the first external wall portion 20 is shorter than the second internal wall portion 66, the second internal wall portion 66 is shorter than the first internal wall portion 64, and the first internal wall portion 64 is shorter than the second external wall portion 30. However, independently from each other, these lengths can be selected differently as desired.

[0095] FIG. 4 shows an alternative configuration of a sealing insert 10. The sealing insert 10 has a slit 19 that allows to bend the sealing insert 10 open in order to secure it to a corrugated tube that is not shown. The sealing insert 10 has a first end face 12 and a second end face 14. Furthermore, the sealing insert 10 has inner circumferentially extending ribs 62.1, 62.2, and 62.3. The circumferential rib 62.1 is flush with the first end face 12. In particular, a flank of the rib 62.1 at least partially forms the first end face 12. An anti-rotation structure 40 is arranged on the outer shell 18.

[0096] FIG. 5 shows a view on the second end face 14 of the sealing insert 10 of FIG. 4. In detailed view V, it can be seen that the anti-rotation structure 40 has axially parallel latching elements 42 which have a flank angle a of about 70°.

[0097] FIG. 6 shows the sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5. The sealing insert 10 comprises a first internal wall portion 64 of the cutout 16 and a second internal wall portion 66 of the internal wall of the cutout 16. The first internal wall portion 64 having the inner circumferentially extending ribs 62.1 to 62.3, is adjacent to the first end face 12, with the inner circumferentially extending rib 62.1 being flush with the first end face 12. The first internal wall portion 64 of the cutout 16 is associated with a first external wall portion 20 adjacent to the first end face 12. The second internal wall portion 66 of the cutout 16 is associated with a second external wall portion 30 adjacent to the second end face 14. A step 15 is formed between the first external wall portion 64, which has a larger outer diameter than the second external wall portion 66, as in the configurations according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0098] The lengths of the external wall portions 20, 30 and of the internal wall portions 64, 66 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 11 are selected such that the first external wall portion 20 is as long as the first internal wall portion 64 and shorter than the second internal wall portion 66, and the second internal wall portion 66 is as long as the second external wall portion 30. However, independently from each other, these lengths can be selected differently as desired.

[0099] FIG. 7 shows a corrugated-pipe screw fastening system 70 having a pressing screw 72 and a screw fastening body 74 onto which the pressing screw 72 can be screwed. A sealing insert 10, formed similarly to the sealing insert 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 and having a slit 19 is placed in the screw fastening body 74. An O-ring 84, which is arranged on the screw fastening body 74 formed as a double nipple, seals the latter against a connection geometry which is not shown. The screw fastening body 74 has an inner anti-rotation structure 76 corresponding to an anti-rotation structure 40 of the sealing insert 10. The individual axially parallel latching elements, designated by 42.1 and 42.2 as an example, of the anti-rotation structure 40 of the sealing insert 10 engage in the gaps between the axially parallel latching elements, designated by 78.1 and 78.2 as an example, of the anti-rotation structure 76 of the screw fastening body 74.

[0100] In particular, an inner diameter D of the screw fastening body 74 is smaller than a first outer diameter 22 of the sealing insert 10. The sealing insert 10 is thus only partially insertable into the screw fastening body 74 so that a first external wall portion 20 and a first end face 12 of the sealing insert 10 protrude beyond the screw fastening body 74. When the pressing screw 72 is screwed onto the screw fastening body 74, it presses on the sealing insert 10 and causes a displacement of material there, in particular in the region of the first external wall portion 20, for sealing against the corrugated pipe which can be fed through the sealing insert 10.

[0101] FIG. 8 shows the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system 70 of FIG. 7 in a top view of the pressing screw 72.

[0102] FIG. 9 shows the sectional view taken along line IX-IX from FIG. 8. The pressing screw 72 has an internal circumferential pressing contour 73 that presses on the first external wall portion 20 and the first end face 12 of the sealing insert 10 when the pressing screw 72 is screwed onto the screw fastening body 74. The pressing screw 72, independent of the corrugated pipe, which is not shown here, in particular within certain dimensional tolerances of a diameter of the corrugated pipe, has a circumferential end face 71 so that the pressing screw 72 can be screwed on until the end face 71 of the pressing screw 72 comes into contact with a stop surface 80 of the screw fastening body 74. In this form, the stop surface 80 is formed by a key support structure 79 formed on the screw fastening body 74. Such a screw fastening is called a screw fastening against block and has the advantage that an accidental loosening, for example due to temperature fluctuations or vibrations, does not occur so quickly, since in this case the thread geometries of the pressing screw 72 and the screw fastening body 74, which are not described in more detail, are braced against each other. Due to the conical configuration of an internal wall 60 in an upper internal wall portion, corresponding to the second internal wall portion 66 of the configuration according to FIGS. 1 to 3, of the cutout 16 of the sealing insert 10, the material of the sealing body 10 can be moved up to the corrugated pipe, which is not shown here, without the corrugated pipe being damaged and, respectively, a uniform contact pressure of the sealing element on the corrugated pipe is achieved. The sealing insert 10 is deformed under the pressure of the pressing screw 72 and, with regard to its material and its dimensions, can advantageously be formed in such a manner that a screw fastening against block is made possible. The O-ring 84 is arranged in an annular groove, which is not described further, below the key contact structure 79 of the screw fastening body 74.

[0103] FIG. 10 shows another alternative configuration of the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system 70′. It comprises a pressing screw 72′ that is screwable onto a screw fastening body 74′ formed as a double nipple, and a sealing insert 10′ that is configured in two parts but otherwise configured similar to the sealing insert 10 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. Two slits are made for the two-piece configuration of the sealing insert 10′, which are not described further here. Furthermore, the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system 70′ has an O-ring 84′ attached onto the screw fastening body 74′.

[0104] The sealing insert 10′ has four inner circumferentially extending ribs 61.1′ to 61.4′ distributed substantially uniformly over the full length 50′ of an internal wall 60′, which is a significant difference of the sealing insert 10′ of this form from that of FIGS. 4 to 6. Thus, the sealing insert 10′ has only a first internal wall portion 64′. It can also be seen from the configuration shown that the circumferential rib 61.1′ is flush with a first end face 12′ of the sealing insert 10′.

[0105] The corrugated-pipe screw fastening system and the sealing insert inserted therein differ from the fittings for corrugated pipes previously known from the prior art. In particular, the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system makes it possible to achieve a very high degree of tightness while at the same time taking up very little installation space. The corrugated-pipe screw fastening system also makes it possible to provide a direct connection to a connection geometry, for example a housing wall or a connector system, without the need for further components, as would be desired with fittings, for example. A corrugated pipe can also be fed further inside the corrugated pipe screw fastening system such that it protrudes beyond both sides thereof. This simplifies the fitting process considerably; in particular, there is no need to dimension or precisely cut the corrugated pipe to length before fitting it with the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system according to the present disclosure, since this can be done subsequently to the fitting of the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system, if desired. Moreover, the sealing effect is improved compared to known corrugated-pipe fastening systems, in which a corrugated pipe end is received in a system component and thus the corrugated pipe ends in the known system, since the end of the corrugated pipe with its often unclean cutting edge as well as the position in the system component does not exert any influence on the sealing effect in the corrugated-pipe screw fastening system according to the present disclosure.

[0106] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word “about” or “approximately” in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability.

[0107] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

[0108] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.