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Title:
DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR CONNECTING TUBES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/135887
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Connecting device and process between a first tube (9) and a second tube (10) of a larger diameter than the first tube (9). They are based on a tubular conical element (2), the internal surface (3, 35) of which is coupled to the external surface (91) of said first tube (9) by pressure and the external surface (4, 46) of which is coupled to the internal surface (101) of said second tube (10) by pressure.

Inventors:
GAYA ALTIRRIBA JOSEP MARIA (ES)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2009/055502
Publication Date:
November 12, 2009
Filing Date:
May 06, 2009
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
POREC IRRIGATION SYSTEMS S L (ES)
GAYA ALTIRRIBA JOSEP MARIA (ES)
International Classes:
F16L25/14
Foreign References:
DE20219220U12003-02-27
USRE20782E1938-07-05
DE20315084U12003-12-18
US20060157972A12006-07-20
DE8804358U11988-05-19
US5143408A1992-09-01
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GALLEGO JIMÉNEZ, José Fernando (421 2, Barcelona, ES)
Download PDF:
Claims:

CLAIMS

1. Device for connecting tubes (1 ) that comprises assembling means (2) between a first tube (9) and a second tube (10) of a larger diameter than the first tube (9), characterized in that said assembling means comprise a tubular conical element (2) the internal surface (3, 35) of which is coupled to the external surface (91 ) of said first tube (9) by pressure and the external surface (4, 46) of which is coupled to the internal surface (101 ) of said second tube (10) by pressure.

2. Device for connecting tubes (1 ), according to claim 1 , characterized in that the internal surface (3, 35) of the tubular conical element (2) that is coupled by pressure to the external surface (91 ) of the first tube (9) and the external surface (4, 46) of the tubular conical element (2) that is coupled by pressure to the internal surface (101 ) of the second tube (10) are smooth.

3. Device for connecting tubes (1 ), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular conical element (2) comprises a first narrower end (5) to the internal surface (35) of which the external surface (91 ) of the first tube (9) is coupled by pressure and a second wider end (6) to the external surface (46) of which the internal surface (101 ) of the second tube (10) is coupled by pressure.

4. Device for connecting tubes (1 ), according to claim 3, characterized in that the internal surface (35) of the first end (5) and the external surface (46) of the second end (6) are parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the tubular conical element (2).

5. Device for connecting tubes (1 ), according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the tubular conical element (2) comprises an external wall (P) that extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of said tubular conical element (2), said external wall (P) being located next to the external surface (46) of the tubular conical element (2) that is coupled by pressure to the internal surface (101 ) of the second tube (10).

6. Device for connecting tubes (1 ), according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a ring (1 1 ) the internal surface of which is coupled to the external surface of the second tube (10) by pressure, in the area corresponding to the internal surface (101 ) of said second tube (10) that is coupled to the external surface (46) of the tubular conical element (2) by pressure.

7. Device for connecting tubes (1 ), according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the second tube (10) is a porous material tube.

8. Connection process between a first tube (9) and a second tube (10) of a larger diameter than the first tube (9), characterized in that it comprises the following steps of:

- Placing a tubular conical element (2), - Introducing the first tube (9) inside said tubular conical element (2) and coupling the external surface (91 ) of said first tube (9) to the internal surface (3, 35) of said tubular conical element (2) by pressure, and introducing the tubular conical element (2) inside the second tube (10) and coupling the internal surface (101 ) of said second tube (10) to the external surface (4, 46) of said tubular conical element (2) by pressure.

9. Connection process, according to claim 8, characterized in that the first tube (9) is introduced inside the tubular conical element (2) through the wider end (6) of said tubular conical element (2), until the external surface (91 ) of said first tube (9) remains coupled to the internal surface (35) of the narrower end (5) of said tubular conical element (2) by pressure, and the narrower end (5) of the tubular conical element (2) is introduced into the second tube (10) until the internal surface (101 ) of said second tube (10) remains coupled to the external surface (46) of the wider end (6) of said tubular conical element (2) by pressure.

10. Connection process, according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises the additional step of:

- Coupling by pressure a ring (1 1 ) through its internal surface to the external surface of the second tube (10), in the area corresponding to the internal surface (101 ) of said second tube (10) that is coupled by pressure to the external surface (46) of the tubular conical element (2).

Description:

DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR CONNECTING TUBES

The present invention relates to a device and a process for connecting tubes, in a specific way, tubes of a different diameter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the art there are accessories and devices for connecting known feed tubes. In a more specific way, some connection devices for tubes of a different diameter are known.

The most known type of connection is an assembling rigid piece with two cylindrical end openings having a different diameter that are coupled to the internal surface of the respective tube ends. The external diameter of each cylinder corresponds essentially to the internal diameter of each respective tube, although it is lightly larger in order to remain coupled by the pressure to said tube.

This type of connexion presents various drawbacks. Firstly, the disclosed coupling by pressure between the cylindrical ends from the connecting device and the tubes involves exerting a considerable force in order to maintain said elements correctly connected. When substantially flexible tubes are used, the application of a significant force on the same for their coupling to the connection element turns out to be difficult or impossible, as they tend to bend.

In order to reduce the necessary force to carry out the connection, said assembling devices often present a series of external ribs in their cylindrical ends that reduce the friction between the tube and the device itself. Nevertheless, it has been proved that said ribs produce leaks, especially in flexible and porous tubes, as they open the pores of said tubes more than it is necessary, and make the liquid circulating through the ducts come out in a undesirable manner. Another type of known connection device is an assembling element similar to the one previously disclosed, although in this case it is formed by two independent elements that can be joined to each other by screwing. Each one of said elements includes a cylindrical end opening with a determined diameter, which is coupled by pressure to the internal surface of the respective tube end.

By means of independent elements that can be joined to each other by screwing, said device allows to easily bond two elements of different sizes for assembling two tubes having a corresponding diameter, in such a manner that it is not necessary to produce a specific assembling device for a combination of tubes having a specific diameter.

However, said connection device still presents the same disadvantages as the previous device, with the additional drawback that it is more expensive and voluminous.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks presented by the devices known in the art, providing a tube connection device that comprises assembling means between a first tube and a second tube of a larger diameter than the first tube, characterized in that said assembling means comprise a tubular conical element, the internal surface of which is coupled by pressure to the external surface of said first tube and the external surface of which is coupled by pressure to the internal surface of said second tube.

Through these characteristics, a device that allows the connection of two tubes of a different diameter by means of a single conical piece, having a very simple structure and ease of use, that takes up minimum space and allows the coupling of the tubes by means of a progressive and guided movement, without the need to apply significant forces onto the latter. The device conical element is very easy to produce, and is perfectly integrated into the tubes. Preferably, the internal surface of the tubular conical element that is coupled by pressure to the external surface of the first tube and the external surface of the tubular conical element that is coupled by pressure to the internal surface of the second tube are smooth. Said smooth surfaces, in combination with the conical geometry of the connection element, allow the connection device of the invention to be specially adapted for its use with, low stiffness, flexible and porous tubes, as the force that must be applied to connect the tubes to the connecting element is

substantially reduced and said tubes are guided automatically by the conical shape of the device until these remain coupled to the same.

Likewise, the absence of ribs or projections in said surfaces avoid the formation of liquid leaks in the contact areas with the tubes. In a favourable manner, the tubular conical element includes a first narrower end, to whose internal surface the external surface of the first tube is coupled by pressure, and a second wider end to whose external surface the internal surface of the second tube is coupled by pressure.

Also in a favourable manner, the internal surface of the first end and the external surface of the second end are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular conical element.

Said parallel surfaces allow a better adjustment of the element to the tubes, by increasing the contact area between said element and said tubes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tubular conical element comprises an external wall that extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular conical element, said external wall being located next to the external surface of the tubular conical element that is coupled by pressure to the internal surface of the second tube.

Said external wall acts as a stopper of the second tube, while making the arrangement of the latter in the tubular conical element easier, by avoiding said element to be overly introduced in said tube and by making the posterior disassembly of the device easier.

In an alternative manner, the device for connecting the tubes of the present invention comprises a ring, the internal surface of which is coupled by pressure to the external surface of the second tube, in the area corresponding to the internal surface of said second tube that is coupled by pressure to the external surface of the tubular conical element.

Said ring forms a secondary element that allows to improve the sealing between the tube of a large diameter and the tubular conical element, and to increase the mechanical resistance of the connection between both elements.

Preferably, the second tube is a porous material tube. As it has been disclosed previously, the connection device of the present invention is particularly

appropriate for this type of tube, mainly used for irrigating cultures by means of the droplet method.

In another aspect of the present invention, a connection process is disclosed between a first tube and a second tube of larger diameter than the first tube, characterized in that it comprises the following steps consisting of:

- Setting out a tubular conical element,

- Introducing the first tube inside said tubular conical element and coupling the external surface of said first tube to the internal surface of said tubular conical element by pressure, and introducing the tubular conical element inside the second tube and coupling the internal surface of said second tube to the external surface of said tubular conical element by pressure. Preferably, the first tube is introduced inside the tubular conical element through the wider end of said tubular conical element, until the external surface of said first tube is coupled to the internal surface of the narrower end of said tubular conical element by pressure, and the narrower end of the tubular conical element is introduced into the second tube until the internal surface of said second tube is coupled to the external surface of the wider end of said tubular conical element by pressure.

As it can be seen, the embodiment of the disclosed connection method turns out to be easy and rapid. Through the conical shape of the connection device, both tubes can be coupled by means of a simple operation, by applying low force.

In a favourable manner, the connection process includes the additional step consisting of:

- Coupling a ring through its internal surface to the external surface of the second tube by pressure, in the area corresponding to the internal surface of said second tube that is coupled under pressure to the external surface of the tubular conical element.

As it has been disclosed previously, the arrangement of said ring improves the sealing and the mechanical resistance of the connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to make the description easier as it has been exposed previously, some drawings have been enclosed, wherein, diagrammatically and only as a non limitative example, a practical case of embodiment of the tube connection device of the invention, wherein: The figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4 are upper and lower perspective views, in elevation and in the longitudinal section of the tubular conical element that is part of the device for connecting tubes of the present invention;

The figures 5 to 12 are a series of diagrammatical views, in perspective and longitudinal section, that show the operation of the device for connecting tubes of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As it can be appreciated in figures 1 to 4, the main component of the device for connecting tubes 1 of the present invention is a tubular conical piece 2, that presents an internal surface 3 and an external surface 4 both essentially smooth.

The conical piece 2 comprises a first end 5 and a second end 6, the first end 5 being narrower than the second end 6. The piece 2 is hollow, and it presents some longitudinal openings 7 and 8 on the ends 5 and 6, respectively. As it can be noticed on the figures, the internal surface 35 corresponding to the first end 5 of the conical piece 2 is parallel to the longitudinal axis L of said piece 2. Likewise, the external surface 46 corresponding to the second end 6 of the conical piece 2 is also parallel to the longitudinal axis L of said piece 2. Said surfaces 35, 46 present these characteristics in order to allow a better coupling of tubes, as it will be explained as following.

The conical piece 2 further comprises a perimetrical external wall P arranged on the end 6 that extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis L of said piece 2. The object of the device 1 of the present invention is to allow the connection of two tubes of a different diameter in a fast and simple manner. Following, the operation of the tube connection device 1 of the present invention will be explained in detail, with reference to figures 5 to 12.

In figures 5 and 6 the connection device 1 of the present invention can be observed, a first tube 9 and a second tube 10 of larger diameter than the first tube

9. Preferably, the second tube 10 will be a porous material tube, for example, like those used in drip irrigation. The disclosed embodiment further includes a ring 1 1 , the function of which will be explained hereinafter.

As it can be seen, the conical piece 2 is firstly placed longitudinally aligned with respect to the first tube 9, then, one of the ends of said tube 9 is introduced into the piece 2 through the opening 8, until the external surface 91 of said tube end 9 comes into contact with the internal surface 35 of the end 5 of the piece 2 and reaches the opening 7 (figures 7 and 8).

The opening diameter 7, i.e., of the internal surface 35, will be lightly inferior to the external diameter 91 of the tube 9, in order to obtain a pressure coupling between the external surface 91 of the tube 9 and the internal surface 35 of the piece 2. In this way, the tube 9 and the piece 2 stay secured in such a sealed and safe way, as shown in figures 7 and 8.

Next, as it can be seen in figures 9 and 10, the end 5 of the piece 2 is introduced in the second tube 10 until the internal surface 101 of said second tube 10 comes into contact with the external surface 46 of the end 6 of piece 2 and the end of said second tube 10 forms a stopper with the wall P. The wall P makes the arrangement of the tube 10 easier, avoiding the piece 2 being overly introduced into the same, which could be detrimental to the quality of the connection and its posterior disassembling. The diameter of the external surface 46 of the piece 2 will be slightly superior to the internal diameter 101 of the tube 10, in order to obtain a pressure coupling between the internal surface 101 of the tube 10 and the external surface 46 of the piece 2. In this way, the tube 10 and the piece 2 remain fastened in a sealed and secured way

Once the described assembling operations have been carried out, both tubes 9 and 10 remain connected in a secured and sealed way through the conical piece 2, as it can be noticed in figures 9 and 10. In order to improve the fixing of the tube 10 to the piece 2, a retention ring 1 1 can be mounted around the tube 10, which press the area wherein the internal surface 101 of said tube 10 and the external surface 46 of the piece 2 remain

coupled by pressure (see figures 1 1 and 12). In the case that the tube 10 is a porous tube, said ring 1 1 allows to improve the sealing of the tube 10 in said area, which tends to suffer more liquid leaks.

As it can be seen from the above mentioned, the device for connecting tubes 1 of the present invention allows to connect two tubes 9, 10 of a different diameter in a fast and effective manner. The internal 3 and external 4 conical surfaces of the connection piece 2 allow to easily drive the tubes 9, 10 until these remain coupled to said surfaces by pressure.

Likewise, once mounted, the connection device 1 takes up a reduced space and is perfectly integrated with tubes 9, 10, in such a way that it can be used in almost any situation. Although in the above described embodiment, the piece 2 comprises an external perimetrical wall P, said wall could be omitted in another embodiment, so that the piece 2 and the device 1 would even takes up less space.

Moreover, as the internal 3 and external 4 surfaces of the conical piece 2 are smooth, instead of having ribs or projections, this avoids leak formation, as the contact area between the tubes and the piece is larger and the pressure is divided in a more even manner. Furthermore, the conical shape of both surfaces 3, 4 makes a gradual and progressive coupling with the respective tubes easier, while avoiding the exertion of significant forces to achieve said coupling and, as a consequence, the presence of ribs or projections previously mentioned. This combination of characteristics makes the utilization of the device 1 of the present invention suitable for the connection of flexible and porous tubes.

Furthermore, the rapidity and simplicity allowing the carrying out of the connection between both tubes 9, 10, results in the utilization of the connection device 1 of the present invention which is especially appropriate in provisional connections that require a maximum rapidity of assembly.

Although in the present description the tube of less diameter 9 is the first to be coupled to the piece 2, the order for coupling said piece 2 and the tubes could be reverse, i.e., the tube of larger diameter 10 could be the first being coupled to the piece 2, the tube of lesser diameter 9 being subsequently coupled to said piece 2.

The conical piece 2 will present a purely conical shape, in other words, without the presence of either surfaces 35 and 46 nor perimetrical external wall P, for purposes of simplicity in its production.

Likewise, in the case of flexible tubes, it will be possible to use a unique conical piece 2 for connecting small tubes of different diameters and large tubes of different diameters, within an interval of determined tolerances. Thus, due to the tube flexibility and to the conical shape of the internal 3 and external 4 surfaces of the conical piece 2, it would be possible to carry out a connection between a first tube 9 with an external diameter comprising between the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter of the internal surface 3 of said piece 2 and a second tube

10 with an internal diameter comprising between the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter of the external surface 4 of said piece 2.

It will be possible to make the conical piece 2 from any suitable material, for example, from plastic, such as polypropylene or polythene.