PLASTIC PIPE COUPLING TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the innovations made in plastic pipe coupling utilized for interconnecting plastic pipes that are used for transmitting air, gas and fluid, in both underground and aboveground systems. Sealing properties are improved in plastic pipe connection, thanks to the modifications made in gasket compression member and upper dovetail locking apparatus (i.e. claw coupling) which are used in plastic pipe coupling according to the invention. Moreover, further studies have been carried out under the scope of the new invention for transferring not only water, but also various fluids (liquids), air and gas, achieving the required success.

PRIOR ART

The plastic pipes used in transmitting air, gas and any type of fluid in agricultural irrigation are of high lengths. Plastic pipes of high length are not provided as single piece. Therefore, single-piece plastic irrigation pipes are used after being interconnected by means of couplings.

Currently used plastic pipe couplings are used for distribution, rotating, diameter change and termination purposes in different diameters and dimensions. In the pipe couplings used, plastic gaskets are used for sealing. However, water leakage occurs in pipe coupling due to the high pressure of irrigation water. Because of the water leakage occurring in pipe coupling, pressure decreases are experienced in irrigation water and an efficient irrigation cannot be achieved.

In pipe couplings produced today, a complete sealing cannot be achieved; moreover, it causes problems while the plastic pipes to be connected are being mounted into and dismounted from coupling. The gasket used in current pipe couplings is only utilized by top compression method and it is needed to cut the end of the pipe at a certain angle. In this case, it becomes difficult to insert the plastic pipe into the coupling since the gasket is subject to crushing between the coupling and pipe, breaking off, and deformation. This, in turn, causes the one performing pipe connection to waste extra time.

In order to solve the problems experienced in plastic pipe connections regarding sealing and pipe connection, the pipe coupling disclosed in our patent application numbered TR 2010 07346 and titled "A NOVELTY IN O-RING CHANNEL AND MOUNTING/DISMOUNTING SYSTEMS IN PLASTIC PIPE COUPLINGS" has been developed. However, although such properties as sealing and easy insertion of the plastic pipe into connection body are provided in said pipe coupling disclosed in our former application, it is considered that sealing problems may be experienced due to the load on the pipe (soil, sand, etc.) in coiled pipes. Due to the physical structures of lower and upper locking apparatuses disclosed in said document, the coiled pipes exposed to loads can move inside the coupling, thereby leading to leakage. Moreover, further studies have been carried out under the scope of the new invention for transferring not only water, but also various fluids (liquids), air and gas, achieving the required success. Thanks to the newly developed product, leakages, which may result from the high pressure on the air, gas and liquid to be transmitted via the pipe, are avoided in pipe coupling, and pressure decreases that may occur due to these leakages are also prevented, thereby eliminating financial losses and above all, avoiding dangerous outcomes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The plastic pipe coupling according to the invention has been developed by our specialists, in order to eliminate the drawbacks regarding sealing, difficulty in mounting, etc. experienced in plastic pipe couplings utilized for interconnecting plastic pipes that are used for transmitting air, gas and fluid, in both underground and aboveground systems.

In gasket compression member used in the newly developed plastic pipe coupling, with the modifications made in upper dovetail locking apparatus and made by extending the body channel configuration upwards, this sealing problem occurring in coupling is totally eliminated and it becomes easy to mount and dismount the plastic pipe to and from the connection body since there is no such need to cut the pipe end at a certain angle. Furthermore, thanks to the newly developed upper dovetail locking apparatus, the plastic pipe is prevented from being displaced from the coupling due to the pressure therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 is the exploded view of the plastic pipe coupling

Fig. 2 is the cross-sectional view of the connection body

Fig. 3 is the overall view of the upper dovetail locking apparatus

Fig. 4 is the cross-sectional view of the upper dovetail locking apparatus Fig. 5 is the overall view of the gasket compression member/apparatus Fig. 6 is the cross-sectional view of the gasket compression member/apparatus

Fig. 7 is the overall view of the nut

Fig. 8 is the cross-sectional view of the nut

The corresponding parts of the numerals in figures are given below.

1. Nut

1.1. Upper Locking Lug Contact Surface

1.2. Gasket Compression Member Contact Surface

2. Upper Dovetail Locking Apparatus

2.1. Conical Joining Piece

2.2. Conical Lug

3. Gasket Compression Member

3.1. Upper Surface

4. O-ring Gasket

5. Connection Body

5.1. Gasket Passage Channel

5.2. Gasket Placing Channel

5.3. Conical Structure

6. Pipe DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The plastic pipe coupling according to the invention comprises a nut (1) provided with an upper locking contact surface (1.1) and gasket compression member contact surface (1.2) therein, an upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) surrounded by conical joining pieces (2.1) and conical lugs (2.2), a gasket compression member (3) having a flat upper surface (3.1), an o-ring gasket (4), and a connection body (5) which is provided with gasket passage channel (5.1), gasket placing channel (5.2) and conical structure (5.3) therein.

Grooves and sets are formed and in edge portions of the connection body (5) and in the nut (1) used in the plastic pipe coupling according to the invention. Thus, mounting of the nut (1) onto the connection body (5) from both sides is performed by screwing thereof.

In the newly developed plastic pipe coupling, before placing the pipes (6) to be interconnected into the coupling, o-ring gasket (4) is placed in gasket passage channel (5.1) provided in the connection body (5). Afterwards, the gasket compression member (3) is located in connection body (5) such that its lower side will put pressure on o-ring gasket (4). The upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) is placed on the upper surface (3.1 ) of the gasket compression member (3) in flat form, and then the nut (1) is connected to the connection body (5) such that it will surround the upper locking apparatus (2). The nut (5), having been connected to the connection body (5) by being screwed, is loose before being inserted into the connection body (5) that is to be connected. The pipe (6), whose end is not needed to be cut at a certain angle, is inserted into the nut (1 ), upper dovetail locking apparatus (2), gasket compression member (3) and connection body (5), respectively, and subsequently the nut (1) is tightened and the pipe (6) is allowed to be fixed inside the connection body (5) and pipe (6) connection has thus been provided. Here, as the nut (1 ) is tightened by being screwed on the connection body (5), upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) compresses the pipe (6). Upon tightening of the nut (1) on the connection body (5), the gasket compression member (3) pushes the o-ring gasket (4) into the gasket placing channel (5.2) provided in connection body (5) by means of using the conical structure (5.2) positioned between gasket passage channel (5.1 ) and gasket placing channel (5.2), with the pressure applied by gasket compression member contact surface (1 .2) in the nut (1 ) to the gasket compression member (3). Thus, the pipe (6) located in the connection body (5) is prevented from being displaced from the connection body (5) due to the fact that upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) rotates the pipe (6) in a rigid manner, and sealing is provided by means of o-ring gasket (4).

Thanks to the conical joining pieces (2.1) and conical lugs (2.2) surrounding the outer surface of the upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) developed in the plastic pipe coupling, the upper locking apparatus (2) is allowed to contact with the nut (1 ) in a tighter manner, and said apparatus (2) is prevented from being displaced from the nut (1 ). While conical joining pieces (2.1 ) assure a tighter contact with the nut (1 ), the upper locking apparatus (2) is prevented from being displaced from the nut (1 ) due to the tight contact of the conical lugs (2.2) with the upper locking contact surface (1 .1 ) within the nut (1 ). Thus, the pipe (6) whose connection has been performed is permitted to be tightly rotated by the upper dovetail locking apparatus (2), thereby achieving a more efficient pipe (6) connection.

A flat upper surface (3.1 ) is formed on the gasket compression member (3) used in the newly developed plastic pipe connection apparatus. Since no wall structure is provided on the sides of the upper surface (3.1 ), the force applied by the upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) located on the gasket compression member (3) to the gasket compression member (3) is eliminated. The force likely to be applied by the upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) to the gasket compression member (3) while the nut (1 ) is being applied leads to problems in positioning of the o-ring gasket (4). However, the effect of the upper dovetail locking apparatus (2) on the gasket compression member (3) is eliminated thanks to the flat surface (3.1 ) of the gasket compression member (3) developed herein. Moreover, joining pieces are not used inside the newly developed gasket compression member (3) and the inner wall of the apparatus (3) is configured in flat form. Hence, the contact of the gasket compression member (3) with the connected pipe (6) becomes stronger and the pipe (6) is prevented from moving in the connection body (5). The lower edge of the gasket compression member (3) developed is in flat form, not in a conical structure. Thus, the gasket compression member (3) is not too high. Thanks to the gasket compression member (3) which has a structure shorter than the compression members used within the state of the art, the apparatus (3) is prevented from stretching inside the connection body (5), just as the o-ring gasket (4) is prevented from moving and being displaced.

Since there is no wall configuration on the upper surface (3.1) of the gasket compression member (3) used in the plastic connection apparatus according to the invention, the distance between the upper locking contact surface (1.1) provided in the developed nut (1) and gasket compression member contact surface (1.2) is elongated. Thus, the grooves and sets inside the nut (1) allow a shorter distance tightening of the nut (1), thereby shortening the time spent while connecting the pipe.