| GB1260970A | 1972-01-19 | |||
| EP1176354A2 | 2002-01-30 | |||
| US2165163A | 1939-07-04 |
| 1. | The new'HALKIDIS'method described here is used for the coupling of copper tubing sections or tubing sections of any type of metal'2'which are prepared with the help of a specially made tool (press) 3'and then connected to their components'1' (elbows, connectors, etc. ) carrying specially formed groves and a sealing rubber O ring. In order to apply the new coupling method the technician cuts a pipe section to the desired length and uses the special tool (press) 3'to create two protuberances on the outer surface of the pipe'c'. The operational principle of the special press'3'is as follows: Firstly, the pipe'2'is inserted in the press'3', at the same time two diametrically opposite pistons'Z'located inside the press'3'enter the pipe'2'at suitable positions. Following this, and by pressing lever'M'which forms part of the press'3', the technician exerts pressure which is conveyed from the horizontal shaft 'K'to the component'N'or'N" (depending on the type of press used, Figure 8 or 9). This component, i. e.'N'or'N"pushes the two pistons'Z'so that they extend outwards and perpendicularly to the shaft axis from the inside the pipe and exert pressure on the inner surface of the pipe. This pressure is enough to deform slightly the wall of the pipe, thus, creating two diametrically opposite hemispherical protuberances'c'seen on the outside wall of the pipe. Press'3'shall have an inner diameter'Dl'equal to the external diameter of the pipe D1"but only in the area extending from pistons'Z'to the inside of the press, whereas in the area extending from pistons'Z'as far the point of entrance of the pipe the internal diameter of the press'D2'shall be larger than the external diameter of the pipe'Dl"in order to allow room for the formation of the two hemispherical protuberances'c'and extraction of the pipe from the press. In order to apply the new coupling method suggested here, special components shall be constructed (elbows, connectors, etc. ) and in such a way so that they carry a first ring grove'a'accommodating a rubber 0ring'e'for sealing purposes and a second ring grove'b'between the first ring grove'a'and the edge of the coupling end (as shown in the diagrams). Starting at the edge of the coupling end and as far as the second ring grove'b'there shall be two diametrically opposite semi cylindrical grove sections'b"perpendicular to the second ring grove'b'. Pipe section '2', which is to be coupled to the new component 1'carrying the two ring groves, already carries the two diametrically opposite protuberances'c' (hemispherical or dashlike in shape for greater degree of tightness) formed by the technician on the outer wall of the pipe near the edge of the coupling end. Once aligned with the in/out grove sections'b"perpendicular to the second ring grove'b', the said protuberances 'c'of the pipe shall be pushed in the guiding grove sections as far as the second ring grove'b'. By inserting the pipe section into the coupling end of the component, the protuberances'c'of the pipe shall be guided through the semicylindrical in/out grove sections'b"of the component into the second ring grove'b'. By rotating the pipe less than 180 degrees, the protuberances'c'shall also rotate in the second ring grove'b'. Upon rotation of the pipe, protuberances'c'of the pipe shall no longer be aligned with the in/out grove sections'b"perpendicular to the second ring grove'b'and, protuberances'c'shall not allow extraction of the pipe from the component. Decoupling of the pipe section and the component can easily be achieved but only if the pipe or the component is rotated so that protuberances'c'of the pipe and the perpendicular in/out grove sections'b"of the component are aligned anew and separated by pulling them away from each other. In order to prevent accidental rotation of either the pipe section or the component to a decoupling position, a wedgelike safety pin can be inserted inside one of the guiding in/out grove sections'b"and pushed in as far as the second ring grove'b'not allowing, therefore, accidental rotation of the protuberances'c'inside the second ring grove'b'. This wedgelike safety pin shall easily be removed when decoupling is required. Protuberances'c'shall be formed at a specific distance from the edge of the coupling end of the pipe so that, upon coupling of the pipe section and the component, the pipe reaches beyond the first ring grove'a'accommodating the sealing rubber Oring'e' and the desired tightness can be achieved. Should a greater degree of tightness be desired, the formation of larger dashlike protuberances'c'is suggested. The diagrams and the description of the method do not alter the concept of the method whichever form they may take. This new coupling method which necessitates the use of a special hand tool (press) can be applied in all pipe networks carrying liquids or gas supplies at high or low temperatures. This method is especially recommended in cases when the length of the pipe is not predetermined and the technician has to cut and mount pipe sections on the spot having prepared the coupling ends by means of the special press. |
The new'HALKIDIS'coupling method does not necessitate the use of any hot or cold soldering, the use of threads and sealing by means of Teflon tape or cannabis strands nor of a special wrench or press for the coupling of two pipe sections by pressing the two pieces together and deforming copper material.
The advantages ofthis method are as follows: A) Quick and simple coupling or release of tubing sections of any length.
B) It does not deform any ofthe components (elbows, connectors, etc. ) so that in case the piping configuration is changed later on the same components can be used again.
C) There is no need for a large, high-cost and cumbersome press (or special footprint wrench), however, a simple, low cost and versatile hand tool which forms part of this invention can be used, instead.
D) No need for the difficult task of thread cutting in pipes.
This patent describes the method used to join copper components with copper pipes and it should be performed as follows: Firstly, the technician or plumber shall use the special hand tool (press) described in this patent to suitably prepare the coupling ends of the length of a piece of tubing he has chosen to cut according to his needs.
The tubing section, which has been chosen for coupling to a component, shall be inserted in the special press, at the same time two diametrically opposite pistons, which shall be located inside the press, shall enter the tubing section at a suitable position from the end of the pipe. Then, the pistons shall be forced radially outwards by means of a lever on the press in order to deform the inner wall of the pipe slightly and form two diametrically opposite hemispherical protuberances'c'seen on the outer surface of the pipe. The press shall have an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the pipe but only in the area extending from the pistons and towards the inside of the press, whereas in the area extending from the pistons as far as the point of entrance of the pipe the internal diameter of the press shall be larger than the external diameter of the pipe in order to allow enough room for the formation of the protuberances'c'as well as extraction of the pipe from the press.
Following this, the components (elbows, connectors, etc. ) shall carry two semi- cylindrical ring groves running along the inner circumference of the pipe, the inner grove shall carry a rubber O-ring which shall provide sealing during the coupling of pipes and components. If this new coupling method is to be applied, the components shall also carry a second ring grove running along the inner circumference of the component with two other semi-cylindrical grove sections (for insertion and/or extraction of the pipe from the component) perpendicular to the second ring grove and reaching as far as the edge of the coupling end of the component. These semi-cylindrical groves shall be formed at diametrically opposite places, i. e. at the ends of a diameter of the pipe's coupling end's opening. The two hemispherical protuberances of the pipe shall be aligned with the said semi-cylindrical grove sections and guided into the component's second inner ring grove. The protuberances may even have the form of a dash if a higher degree of tightness is desired. The protuberances made by the technician by means of the special tool (press) which is part of this invention shall be formed at such a distance from the end of the pipe that the desired degree of tightness can be achieved when the pipe is inserted into the sealing O-ring located at the component coupling end. At the same time, by pushing the pipe into the component the said protuberances shall be guided through the perpendicular semi-cylindrical (in/out) grove sections into the second semi- cylindrical ring grove and they shall be turned around so that a correct fit is ensured.
Once the protuberances reach the second semi-cylindrical ring grove, the pipe cannot be pushed further in the component because this is not allowed by the walls of the second ring grove and the protuberances.
Following that, the pipe shall be turned compared to the component less than 180 degrees. In doing so the protuberances shall be located inside the ring grove and move away from the two semi-cylindrical (in/out) grove sections. The result of this will be that the pipe can no longer be extracted from the component since the protuberances will be prevented from moving in/out of the component by the walls of the second ring grove. In order to prevent an accidental turn of the pipe and alignment of the protuberances with the two perpendicular (in/out) grove sections, when the pipes are not supported, a wedge-like pin of suitable length can be used as a safety device. The wedge-like pin shall be inserted into one of the perpendicular (in/out) grove sections as far as the second ring grove thus preventing any accidental alignment of the protuberances and in/out grove sections.
Should a stronger fit be desired, it is suggested that the pipe should carry two hemispherical or dash-like protuberances of a larger size, in which case the connector shall also carry two semi-cylindrical grove sections in diametrically opposite positions in order to accommodate the said protuberances when inserting or extracting the pipe.
The coupling method is shown in detail in the schematic diagrams 1 to 7. In these diagrams the component is depicted as'1'and the copper pipe as'2'. The rubber 0-ring is represented by letter'e', whereas the first semi-cylindrical ring grove running along the inner circumference of the component and housing it is shown as'a'.
The second ring grove is depicted as'b'. The perpendicular semi-cylindrical (in/out) grove sections are depicted by letter'b". The protuberances formed by the technician by means of the special tool are shown as'c'.
Figure 1 : it shows the cross-section of a component after it has been coupled to a pipe.
The ring groves of the component, the hemispherical protuberances of the pipe as well as the sealing rubber O-ring are visible.
Figure 2: it shows the same as figure 1, except that the cross-section of the component is smaller.
Figure 3: the complete component is clearly visible. The pipe section inside the component after coupling is also visible.
Figure 4: it shows a 3-D view of the typical component clearly depicting the perpendicular semi-cylindrical (in/out) grove sections,'b".
Figure 5: it shows a top view of the typical component.
Figure 6: it shows a 3-D view of the typical component along with the two ring groves 'a'and'b'as well as the perpendicular semi-cylindrical (in/out) grove sections'b".
Figure 7: it shows a side view of the typical component along with ring groves'a'and 'b'.
Figures 8 (a, b, c) and 9 (a, b, c) show the cross-section of two different versions of the press which can be used by the technician to form protuberances,'c', on the pipe.
Number'3'in these diagrams represents the press, the lever of the press to be pressed by the technician is symbolized by letter'M', the shaft'K'conveys the pressure to the pistons'Z', and letter'L'represents the springs which are necessary for pushing the moving parts of the press back to their original place. Letters'D1'and'D2'symbolize the two different inner diameters whereas letter'D1"represents the external diameter of the pipe.
In Figure 8, letter'N'represents a cylinder of elliptical cross-section which transforms the rotational movement of the shaft,'K', into piston movement'Z', perpendicular to the shaft axis. In Figure 9, letter'N"represents a conical component which turns the horizontal movement of the shaft into the piston movement perpendicular to the shaft axis.
The diagrams and the description of the method do not alter the concept of the patent whichever form they may take. This invention applies to all types of tubing made of any material.
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