Assembling pipe fitting components with crimped ferrule clamping a pipe to the fitting.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to pipe fitting constructions and to methods for assembling such pipe fittings.

Background of the Invention

When water pipe systems are being installed in new or existing buildings, the components of the system are generally laid out temporarily before finally securing them together to form a watertight installation. Typically, those components will comprise a range of pipe fittings which require assembly and which are used to join lengths of plastic pipe.

The pipe fittings may comprise a number of components which are initially loosely assembled before being securely fixed to the plastic pipe by a securement step. The securement step may comprise crimping a collar or ferrule over the pipe so as to force it into holding engagement with the pipe fitting.

The current commonly used systems typically suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, the loose assembly of pipe fitting components has a tendency to fall apart prior to the final fixing step. Furthermore, the pipe or fittings cannot be readily rotated for inspection purposes when placed loosely in position for fear of the assembly falling apart.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pipe fitting which obviates or ameliorates at least one of the aforesaid disadvantages.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention provides in one aspect a pipe fitting comprising, a tubular member having an open end, a retaining region provided around the outer surface of the tubular member at a position remote from the open end, a least one ridge having an effective outer diameter greater than the effective outer diameter of the retaining region, the at least one ridge being located on the tubular member between the open end and one side of the retaining region, a stop on the tubular member provided at an opposite side of the retaining region, a ferrule coaxially mounted on the tubular member and surrounding the at least one ridge, the ferrule being located and sized so as to allow an end of a pipe to be inserted over the open end to be sandwiched between the ferrule and the at least one ridge, and a necked portion of the ferrule held in the retaining region between the at least one ridge and stop.

The tubular member may typically comprise metal or plastic. In one embodiment it may comprise brass.

The pipe fitting may comprise a plurality of tubular members. For example, a linear pipe fitting may comprise two tubular members joined end to end with a stop therebetween. The at least one ridge of one of the tubular members may comprise the stop for the other of the two tubular members. Alternatively the tubular members may be joined to form an elbow shaped pipe fitting.

In another embodiment, three tubular members may be joined to form a T-shaped pipe fitting.

The retaining region may comprise a circular channel provided between the stop and one ridge.

Typically, there may be a plurality of ridges. They may be generally circular. They may have sharp edges to facilitate sealing of the ridges with an end of a pipe. Typically there will be at least four or more circular ridges arranged on the tubular member between the open end and the stop.

The ferrule may comprise a material which can be crimped to secure the end of the pipe to the pipe fitting. It may comprise copper. It may comprise stainless steel. It may comprise aluminium.

One or more viewing holes may be provided in the ferrule. The viewing holes may be positioned so as to view the insertion of the pipe over the tubular member. To ensure that the pipe is inserted sufficiently far over the tubular member, the viewing hole may be located close to the necked portion of the ferrule.

The stop may comprise a wall of the circular channel. It may be part of a joining portion between tubular members.

The ferrule may be secured to the tubular member by fitting it over the tubular member and pressing the circular end of the ferrule against the stop to bend the circular end inwardly to form the necked portion and to hold the necked portion of the ferrule in the retaining region. To this end, the circular end of the ferrule may be partially bent inwardly prior to being fitted over the tubular member. Alternatively, if the ferrule is in the form of a collar of constant diameter prior to fitting, the stop may be shaped in such a way as to form the necked portion when the ferrule is pressed against the stop.

In another alternative the necked portion of the ferrule may be formed by using a tool to deform it inwardly after the ferrule is inserted over the tubular member. The tool may act as a stop to bend the ferrule inwardly.

The pipe fitting according to the invention may be joined to a pipe by inserting the pipe end over the open end of the pipe fitting and crimping the ferrule so as to

provide a seal between the tubular member and the pipe. The ridges surrounding the tubular member may act to provide the seal when the ferrule is crimped thereon.

Preferred aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a T-fitting according to the invention having a sectioned ferrule mounted thereon and includes an expanded view of an encircled portion of the drawing;

Figure 2 shows the pipe fitting of Figure 1 mounted in a press arrangement for securing the ferrule;

Figure 3 shows a press for securing the ferrule to a pipe fitting; Figure 4 shows the ferrule of a pipe fitting being secured to a pipe by crimping; and

Figure 5 shows various pipe fittings according to the invention joined by sections of pipe.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The various elements identified by numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list.

Integer List

1 Pipe fitting

3 Tubular member

4 Open end 5 Ridge

7 Retaining region

8 Central portion

9 Stop

11 Ferrule

12 Viewing hole

13 Inwardly bent region

15 Necked in region

17 Anvil

21 Hammer

23 Press

25 Lever

27 Crimper

28 Pipe

29 Crimped portion

32 Linear fitting

33 Elbow fitting

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a pipe fitting according to the invention generally designated 1. The pipe fitting is a T-fitting provided with three tubular members 3 in communication with each other through the central portion of the fitting 8.

Typically the tubular members and central portion may be cast, machined or moulded as a single unit from a metal such as brass or a hard plastics material.

Each of the tubular members has an open end 4. A number of circumferential ridges 5 encircling each tubular member are provided to assist with sealing. The ridges may typically have sharp edges which assist with sealing the pipe fitting to a pipe.

Each of the tubular members 3 has a retaining region 7 in the form of a circular channel.

One side of the circular channel comprises a stop 9 for purposes to become apparent. The stop is simply the edge of the central portion 8 joined to each of the tubular members 3.

A ferrule 11 formed of a crirnpable material such as copper has been slid over the tubular member so that the inwardly bent region 13 provided at one end of the ferrule may be brought into abutment with the stop 9.

The ferrule is provided with viewing holes 12 near the inwardly bent region to allow a user to visually confirm that a pipe has been correctly located over the end of the tubular member as will be described hereinafter.

Referring to Figure 2 it can be seen that the pipe fitting shown in Figure 1 after it has been placed in a press 23 (shown in Figure 3) between the anvil 17 and hammer 21 of the press.

It is noted that the anvil 17 is a tubular anvil with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the tubular member 3 and slightly smaller than the diameter of the ferrule 11.

Operation of the lever 25 (see Figure 3) of the press causes the hammer to press the inwardly bent region 13 shown in Figure 1 between the anvil and the stop 9 thereby bending it further to form the necked in region 15 (see Figure 2). This causes the forward edge of the necked in region to be captured in the retaining region 7 between the stop and one of the ridges 5. The hammer is then released by operating the lever 25 (see Figure 3) of the press to lift the hammer.

Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen how a pipe 28 which has been fitted over a tubular member 3 in the gap between the ferrule and the tubular member is secured by means of a crimper 27. The crimper presses the ferrule onto the pipe, and the pipe is inturn pressed against the ridges 5. This creates a seal between the pipe and tubular member. As the ferrule 11 is made of a deformable material such as copper, the crimping action permanently deforms it. As a result the crimped portion 29 maintains the hold and seal between the pipe fitting and the pipe.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a typical arrangement in which a range of pipe fittings according to the invention comprising a T-fitting 1, a linear fitting 32 and an

elbow fitting 33 can be used to join various pieces of pipe 28 using a crimper as described with reference to Figure 4. It can also be joined to a host of other fittings which include the fitting design of the invention, including tap, shower and valve fittings etc.

It should be noted that the ferrule 11 which is captured in the retaining region 7 may be rotatable with the pipe 28 for inspection prior to the ferrule being crimped. As the ferrule is held to the pipe fitting the risk of the assembly falling apart when it is rotated is acceptably low..

Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.