COUPLING APPLICABLE TO PIPES AND CONDUITS

Abstract

A coupling applicable to pipes and conduits, consisting of a cylindrical body (6) with a passage (7) open at both ends (7a, 7b). The outer face of the coupling has a first annular depression (8), and each end has a second annular depression (9), while the inner face of the coupling is a smooth, continuous cylindrical surface. The first depression houses a thermally insulating ceramic material (12) upon which rests a segmented ring (13), the sum of the ceramic layer and the segmented ring being less than the height of the first depression.In each second depression (9) it houses an annular elastomeric body (16) with a trapezoidal cross-section whose base has a shorter length than the second depression, leaving a gap in said base, where the base of the said elastomeric body slides, the larger side of the trapezoid protruding from the outer face of the coupling, seating against the inner face of the conduit to be joined, determining a first condition of airtightness with each larger side facing the first depression.Each end (7a, 7b) of the coupling is housed within the respective conduit (1, 2), each section penetrating to a limit determined by a plurality of projections (15) integral with the segmented ring, creating a uniform annular space between the ends of the conduits to be joined. Within this space, the welding filler material and a welding gas dissipation chamber (14) are placed between the lower face of the conduits and the upper surface of the segmented ring. Each end of the coupling has a sealing paste that coats the elastomeric ring. Its inclined plane creates a pressure differential, forcing part of the sealing paste into the gap created by the displacement of the elastomeric ring towards the center of the coupling, thus forming a second hermetic seal.

Description

COUPLING APPLICABLE TO PIPES AND CONDUITS Field of application of the present inventor

[0001] The present invention finds its field of application in a coupling for the butt joint of two sections of a conduit.

[0002] The term “coupling” refers to a cylindrical sleeve which coaxially houses or is housed in two sections of a conduit arranged coaxially with each other to achieve a hermetic and watertight union.

[0003] The term “conduit” applies to any pipe of varying diameters for conveying any type of fluid, such as, but not limited to, pipes for conveying gas, water, oil, etc., from small diameters (0-20 mm) to large diameters (0-100 mm and up to values ​​measured in meters). These conduits can be made of rolled sheet metal or seamless metal pipes, without excluding other types of pipes or conduits. Art prior to the present invention and documentary background:

[0004] Having a cylindrical body open at both ends which is coupled to the respective ends of a first and a second conduit, to define a hermetic and watertight joint that allows the flow of a fluid carried by the first section of conduit to be carried by the second section of conduit without interruption, is a widely known and widely used resource.

[0005] These cylindrical bodies define coupling sleeves in which, in one of their known constructions, the ends of the first and second conduits are traditionally inserted into the coupling body and fixed therein by means of various solutions also known in the art. 1960466 of 10 example, the circular ends of each coupling end can be welded to the outer surface of the coupling, with interposed sealing rings. For this purpose, we can cite as an example patent publication AR 056940 A1, or patents GB 2,323,418 and US 2020 / 0316876 A1.

[0006] In other embodiments, the coupling sleeve is arranged internally to the two sections of both sections to be axially joined into a single conduit, as shown for example by patent JP S 5594085.

[0007] Of all these constructions, for the purposes of the present invention, only a coupling that is placed inside the respective meeting ends of the two sections of duct to be joined is of interest, and even more so, an internal coupling that allows the joining by circumferential welding of both sections arranged butt to butt with respect to each other is of particular interest for the purposes of the present invention.

[0008] Even more particularly, of particular interest to the present invention is a coupling coupling capable of being applied to a fluid conduction medium internally coated with a medium that allows preventing internal corrosion and increasing the reduction of the parasitic layer against the internal walls of the conduits, for example, by means of a layer of a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer, or a paint for this purpose.

[0009] As is known, in the act of welding the pipe ends to the coupling, high and localized temperatures are developed, which, for internally coated pipes, usually produce a localized deterioration of the aforementioned internal coating that determines discontinuities in said coating, with the consequent formation of corrosion centers and deterioration of the inside of the pipe.

[0010] In turn, it has been found that the sealing rings usually employed, known as “O-rings”, being solid bodies, offer a circumferential portion of 1960466 of 10 limited contact, and they fail to settle correctly into position with the sealing pastes.

[0011] Another problem encountered in splicing couples is achieving a mechanical resistance in the splice at least equal to the resistance of the material of the sections of duct to be joined, while ensuring that the vibrations and flexures of the duct itself are absorbed by the splice, maintaining the conditions of airtightness or sealing. Objectives of the present invention:

[0012] Consequently, it becomes desirable to be able to provide, this being the objective of the present invention, a coupling for pipes or conduits for the conduction of fluids (liquids or gases) with an internal coating that defines a joining element of the ends of two tubes arranged consecutively butted together to achieve a pipeline transport line by means of an external annular weld that links both tubes, providing a continuity of the internal coating without deterioration in the same.

[0013] The objective of the invention is that the material of this coupling be made of the same material as that of the transport line (pipe), achieving the interposition of elastomeric rings of a particular design both in their geometry and in their seat, allowing the sealing paste disposed between the pipe and the coupling at both ends of the same to isolate the welded area ensuring the continuity of the internal coating of said pipes.

[0014] The objective of the present invention is that said elastomeric rings can achieve an effective seal closure, accommodating standard deformations and vibrations in the pipe thus joined. 1960466 of 10

[0015] The objective of the invention is that the splice coupling as a whole has a mechanical resistance at least equal to the resistance to stress of the conduits thus spliced.

[0016] It is a particular objective of the invention that the coupling be applied to the butt joint of internally coated pipes and conduits, providing continuity in said coating without contributing damage to it due to the welding action of said pipe ends to the aforementioned coupling. Review of the invention: [001 η COUPLING APPLICABLE TO PIPES AND CONDUITS, characterized by comprising a cylindrical body that defines within it a passage open at both ends; on the outer face of the side of said cylindrical body in an intermediate position between both ends there is a first annular depression, and in the vicinity of each end said outer face has respective second annular depressions, while the inner face of the side of the cylindrical body has a smooth and continuous cylindrical surface; the said first depression has a width between 20% to 30% of the total length of the coupling, with a depth between 40% to 70% of the distance from the outer face to the inner face of the coupling;In the first depression against the bottom of the same, there is a layer of thermally insulating ceramic material on which a segmented ring rests, leaving the sum of the thickness of the ceramic layer and the segmented ring an annular space with respect to the outer face of the coupling between 15% and 30% of the total height of the first depression; the width of each second depression has a range between 7% and 15% of the total length of the splice coupling, with a depth between 30% and 50% of the distance from the outer face to the inner face of the; 1960466 of 10 couple; in each second depression it houses an annular elastomeric body of trapezoidal cross-section whose base has a length between 10% and 20% of the length of said second depression, the larger side protruding from the outer face of the couple by a magnitude of 15 to 30% of the total height of the elastomeric ring, with each larger side arranged facing the first depression;Each end of the coupling couple determines an insertion portion within the respective section of conduit to be joined, penetrating each section to be joined to a limit determined by a plurality of integral projections of said segmented ring, creating a uniform annular space between the ends of conduits to be joined and a welding gas dissipation chamber between the lower face of the conduits and the upper surface of the segmented ring, the material of the coupling couple being equal to the constituent material of the pipe sections and the segmented ring. List of the attached figures of the present invention:

[0018] Figure 1 shows a diametral cross-section of the coupling couple with the two sections of conduit arranged butted on it and partially joined by welding, with the interposition of the layer of ceramic material and the segmented ring arranged between the sections of conduit to be spliced ​​and said coupling couple.

[0019] Figure 2 illustrates the isolated couple, seen in its lower half in diametral cut and the upper half illustrates the couple in side elevation.

[0020] Figure 3 shows the coupling in side elevation, devoid of the ceramic lining, segmented ring and elastomeric seal rings.

[0021] Figure 4 shows the segmented ring in perspective and isolated.

[0022] Figure 5 shows the segmented ring according to cut AA of Figure 6.

[0023] Figure 6 shows the segmented ring seen in front elevation, and 1960466 of 10

[0024] Figure 5 shows an enlarged detail of the cut in Figure 2 Detailed description of the present invention:

[0025] To illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the following drawings are attached, along with the description provided below. This example should be interpreted as one of many possible embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered limiting. The scope of protection of the invention includes any means equivalent to those illustrated. The full extent of the present invention is determined by the first claim in the corresponding Claims section. Furthermore, the references in these figures identify identical and / or equivalent means.

[0026] Figure 1 shows the end of a first section of duct (1) to be joined and adjacent to it the end of a second section of duct (2). Both sections conveniently have a chamfer at their ends (3a, 3b), so that both mutually facing chamfers form a throat (4) to be filled by the annular welding filler material (5).

[0027] The coupling of the present invention comprises a cylindrical body which (See Fig., 2 and 3) is indicated by the generic reference (6), and which defines within it a passage (7) open at both ends (7a, 7b).

[0028] On the outer face of the side of said cylindrical body of the coupling couple (6) in an intermediate position between both ends (7a, 7b) there is a first annular depression (8), and in the vicinity of each end said outer face has respective second annular depressions (9), while the inner face 1960466 of 10 (10) of the lateral! of the! cylindrical body (6) presents a smooth and continuous cylindrical surface.

[0029] By way of non-limiting example the aforementioned first depression (8) (See Fig. 3) has a width <l>between 20% and 30% of the total length <lt>of the coupling couple, with a depth <t>between 40% and 70% of the distance <r>(See Fig. 2) which extends from the outer face (11) of the coupling to its inner face (10). In said first depression (8), against its bottom, there is a layer of ceramic material (12) that covers the entire bottom of said first depression. This layer (12) constitutes a stratum of non-woven ceramic material or a sheet of ceramic material resistant to a temperature of 1,200 °C, that is, it is capable of thermally insulating the interior (10) of the coupling from the welding filler material (5).

[0030] A segmented metal ring (13) rests on this thermally insulating ceramic layer (12). This segmentation (14) allows the ring (13) to be placed on the ceramic layer, and preferably the metallic composition of (13) is the same as the metallic composition of the duct sections to be joined (1, 2), for example, SAE 1010 steel. The sum of the thickness of the ceramic layer (12) and the segmented ring (13) defines an annular space (14) located between the outer face (11) and the inner surface of the duct section to be joined. Preferably, this annular space (14) ranges from 15% to 30% of the total height <t>of the first depression and it determines a chamber for the expansion of welding gases (5).

[0031] The aforementioned segmented ring (13) has a series of angularly spaced projections (15), for example at 120° intervals, projecting radially outwards, against which the ends of the duct sections to be joined abut. Ideally (see Figs. 5 and 7) these projections (15) can be formed into stamped and bent sections. 1960466 of 10 under the shape of tongues, with a width <m>between 2 to 3 mm and a height <n>6 to 7mm, and its existence allows alignment with the longitudinal axis of the coupling and the sections of ducts to be joined.

[0032] The other fundamental aspect of the present invention is given by the existence of the second depressions (9). The width <o>(See Fig. 3) of each second depression (9) has a range between 7% to 15% of the total length <lt>of the coupling couple, with a depth between 30% and 50% of the distance <r>which measures from the outer face to the inner face of the splice coupling. In each second depression (9) it houses an annular elastomeric body (16) with a trapezoidal cross-section whose base <t>It has a length such that it leaves a longitudinal clearance at the base of the second depression between 10% and 20% of the length of said second depression, the longer side of the outer face of the couple protruding by a magnitude <s>from 15 to 30% of the total height of the elastomeric ring, with each longer side facing the first depression (8).

[0033] The peculiarity of this arrangement of the eiastomeric rings (16) is that the sealing paste (17) placed annulusally on the respective ends (7a, 7b) when the sections (1, 2) to be joined are introduced, causes the rings (16) sectioned in the shape of a regular trapezoid to be drawn towards the center of the joint with the vertex of the trapezoid of its longer side in contact with the inner face of the corresponding section of duct to be joined, thereby the sealing paste (17) is introduced into the gap <z>ensuring the primary airtight seal relationship produced by the forced contact of the aforementioned vertex of the right trapezoid.

[0034] A particular advantage of the present invention is given by the fact that if the conduit to be joined has an inner lining, to ensure its continuity and without deterioration caused by the annular welding (5), the inner face of the coupling 1960466 of 10 of splice has the same coating, which is protected by the ceramic layer (12) that provides a thermal shield to the coupling.

[0035] Each respective end of the coupling has a sealing paste which covers annularly from the end of the coupling to the elastomeric ring, creating the inclined plane of the trapezoidal section of said ring a drag plane of said sealing paste with a pressure differential that forces said material to enter into the housing of the elastomeric ring when the section of duct is introduced onto said coupling, determined by the displacement of the elastomeric ring towards the center of the coupling, forming a second condition of airtight sealing. 1960466 of 10 ERNESTO MATÍAS SCHAMANN - 20256701767 Digitally signed by PORTALTRAMITES - INPI Date: 2022.09.19 09:43:36 -03:00 Reason: Digitally Signed by the INPI Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina 1960466< / z> < / s> < / t> < / r> < / lt> < / o> < / n> < / m> < / t> < / r> < / t> < / lt> < / l>

Claims

1. A coupling applicable to pipes and conduits, inserted within the respective butted ends for the axial joining of said two ends of cylindrical conduit sections, creating a hermetic and mechanically resistant joint, which includes the introduction of a coupling defined by a cylindrical body (6) that inside offers an open passage at both ends (7a, 7b); housed within the ends of the conduit to be joined; said coupling has respective second annular seats (9) adjacent to its ends where it houses retained an elastomeric annular element in contact with the inner wall of the conduit section, and a first central annular depression (8) intermediate between both second depressions, corresponding to the weld bead (5); housing within said depression a mantle (12) of a heat-insulating material, such as a ceramic material;having flat annular pieces with protruding projections that are housed within the weld bead, becoming integral with it, and comprising between the splice coupling and the elastomeric element a sealant (17) carried by said elastomeric element towards the end of the splice coupling, characterized in that against the flat annular bottom of said first depression (8) it houses the layer of thermally insulating ceramic material (12) on which rests a segmented annular ring (13) the sum of the thickness of the ceramic layer (12) and of the segmented ring (13) determining a height less than the depth of said first flat-bottomed depression, which determines above said segmented ring (13) an annular space (14) with respect to the external face of the coupling;in each second depression (9) it houses an annular elastomeric body (16) with a cross-section in the shape of a right trapezoid whose shorter side is the base which has a length less than the length of the said second depression, leaving a gap (Z) in said base, sliding the base of said elastomeric body on the bottom of the second depression, the longer side of said elastomeric trapezoid protruding from the outer face of the coupling seating against the inner face of the corresponding section of duct to be joined determining a first condition of hermeticity, with each longer side arranged facing the first depression determining an inclined plane with a slope turned towards the end of the joining coupling; the segmented ring defines a body of cylindrical surface with a plurality of integral projections (15) projecting outwards;The aforementioned annular space (14) defines a welding gas dissipation chamber between the lower face of the conduits and the upper surface of the segmented ring; each respective end of the splice coupling has a sealing paste (17) in contact with the elastomeric ring, the inclined plane of the straight trapezoid of said ring creating a pressure differential acting against the respective section of conduit, housing part of said sealing paste in the gap (Z) determined by the displacement of the elastomeric ring towards the center of the coupling, forming a second hermetic sealing condition; the outer surface of the splice coupling at each end has a gradual reduction in diameter creating an increasing annular space where it houses the bead of insulating material carried by the inclined plane of the elastomeric ring;resulting in the segmented ring (13) linked to the weld bead simply supported against the aforementioned thermally insulating blanket. Six claims follow;