Pipe arrangement with a tapping saddle

Abstract

Pipe assembly (1) with a tapping clamp (2) mounted on a pipe (3), comprising a clamping bracket (6) and a connection part (5) with a connection opening (13), wherein the clamping bracket (6) and the connection part (5) are detachably coupled to each other encompassing the pipe (3), and a connection spigot (8) rotatable relative to the tapping clamp (2) and / or the pipe (3) is provided in and / or on the connection opening (13) for coupling with a connecting pipe (4), wherein the connection spigot (8) is rotatably mounted in the connection part (5) and can be fixed in position relative to the connection part (5) for final assembly, and wherein a drill bit for tapping the pipe (3) with the tapping clamp (2) mounted on it can be guided through the connection opening (13), characterized in that the tapping clamp (2) has a slide seal (18).which seals the connection opening (13) after the pipe (3) has been drilled.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe arrangement with a tapping clamp according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] To create building connections, building connection lines are connected to already installed supply lines. For this purpose, supply lines that transport various media are usually laid upstream of the buildings or in the public road network. These can be gas lines, water lines, or district heating lines. Such a supply line therefore has a conduit through which a medium flows.

[0003] If the house connection is created independently, it is necessary to tap into the relevant pipes belonging to the utility company, particularly a water supply line, for example. However, this pipe is pressurized, so the utility company generally supplies not just one house connection through this pipe, but rather the pipe is part of an entire supply network. Thus, the flow of the medium, in this case water, can be completely stopped or shut off in one pipe, as this would lead to the other consumers connected to the supply network being deprived of service.

[0004] For this purpose, drilling clamps are known from the prior art, which are disclosed, for example, in DE 197 10 872 C1 or DE 43 09 941 A1. With such a drilling clamp, a connecting part is first placed on the existing pipe and securely fixed to it with another clamp or a tensioning bracket. A drill is then guided through a connection opening, drilling into the existing pipe and creating a corresponding passage opening for the medium conveyed through the pipe. After the opening, the drill is slowly moved out of the drilling clamp. There is a connection nozzle on the drilling clamp in order to then feed the medium tapped through the pipe via the drilling clamp into the building or for another use via a connecting line. Furthermore, a connection screw fitting with a rotatable connection nozzle is known from DE 34 33 631 A1.A similar connection screw is known from DE 88 12 318 U1.

[0005] A tapping clamp with a slide seal is known from DE 22 56 149 A.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to further develop a drilling clamp known from the prior art in such a way that a building connection to be produced therewith can be produced safely and properly, regardless of the location of the drilling of the pipe.

[0007] The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention with the features of a line arrangement in the patent claim.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are part of the dependent patent claims.

[0009] The line assembly with a tapping clamp for a conduit comprises a clamping bracket and a connecting part with a connection opening, wherein the clamping bracket and the connecting part can be releasably coupled to each other, encompassing the conduit. According to the invention, a connecting piece, rotatable relative to the conduit, is arranged at the connection opening for coupling to a connecting line.

[0010] According to the invention, this provides the advantage over connection arrangements known from the prior art that, in particular, the connecting line for establishing the building connection, hereinafter also referred to as the house connection line, does not have to be routed at a right angle from the conduit to the building. The rotatable design of the connecting piece makes it possible to select the connection to the conduit regardless of the relative position of the conduit and the building.

[0011] In the context of the invention, a conduit is understood to mean a conduit of a supply line. The connecting part and the clamping bracket are also known from the prior art as a connecting piece and holding piece in a tapping clamp. In particular, the connecting piece according to the invention is designed as a valve housing so that, on the one hand, a connecting line to the building can be connected to the connecting piece and, on the other hand, a valve can be inserted into this. The valve is preferably an operational shut-off device so that the respective building connection can be shut off at the drilling point, in particular at the connecting piece, thus preventing the entire connecting line from conveying any further medium.

[0012] The rotatability of the connection piece makes it possible to initially arrange the tapping clamp according to the invention on the conduit essentially perpendicular to the building and then to arrange the connecting line perpendicular from the conduit to the building. Should this not be possible due to local conditions, for example due to collisions between different connecting lines or problems during civil engineering, or should a different tapping point on the conduit be selected such that a shorter connecting line has to be led from the conduit to the building, then the angle at which the connection piece leads the connecting line away from the conduit can be chosen as desired within the scope of the invention. For example, the connecting line can initially run parallel to the conduit and then be led in a different direction due to an inherent curvature or an angle in the connecting line.

[0013] In the context of the invention, this means in particular that a distance is initially formed between the central longitudinal axis of the conduit and the central longitudinal axis of the connecting line, but the angle in plan view between the two pipes can then be selected as desired due to the rotatability of the connecting piece according to the invention.

[0014] First, however, for installation, a section of the pipe, which is usually laid underground, is exposed and the tapping clamp is attached. For this purpose, a seal is arranged on the tapping clamp, which seals a surface section of the pipe through the positive coupling of the tapping clamp and clamp in such a way that no medium can escape. A drill is then guided through the connection opening, which is used to drill into the pipe. In this case, the tapping clamp according to the invention is used in particular to access drinking water pipes up to PN16 or, alternatively, gas supply lines, in particular with an operating pressure of up to five bar. Since the drill has created a corresponding opening in the pipe, the tapping device seals the opening to prevent the fluid from escaping. If the drill were then removed, the fluid would flow unhindered through the opening created in the pipe and then out of the connection opening.

[0015] For this purpose, a slide seal is arranged in the connection opening so that the drill bit is moved slightly out of the connection opening. The slide seal, which is designed in particular as a windable flat slide seal, is then moved into the connection opening and seals it off from the environment. The medium cannot escape through the drill bit, which is still in the connection opening, and any further flowing medium is ultimately prevented from escaping by the flat slide seal.

[0016] It is then possible for the connecting piece according to the invention to be arranged on the connecting part during the drilling process, or at least partially engages the connecting piece in a form-fitting manner. This is where the essential advantage of the invention lies. Regardless of the location of the building, the direct discharge direction of the connecting line from the conduit can now be selected thanks to the rotatability of the connecting piece. For example, the connecting line can initially be arranged in sections parallel to the conduit, in particular above or below the conduit, or can be discharged at any angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the conduit.This avoids, in particular, stress conditions caused by a slight angulation of sometimes only one or two degrees of the connecting pipe relative to the fixed connecting piece, which can lead to microcracks or leaks in the long term. In on-site civil engineering, this can be caused by even a few mm or even cm of offset in the connecting pipe, but this problem is avoided thanks to the rotatable connecting piece. Furthermore, the invention allows the connecting piece to be rotated 360 degrees relative to the drilling point as required.

[0017] The connecting line itself can be inserted into the connecting piece with a form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection and secured in a fluid-tight manner. The connecting line can be a plastic pipe or a metal pipe, such as a steel pipe, copper pipe, or light metal pipe. In particular, the connecting lines are connected in a fluid-tight manner using a coupling method known from the state of the art, such as a plug-in seal or a clamp seal. This depends largely on the medium to be transported and the associated specified standard of the pipeline.

[0018] Furthermore, the connecting piece is particularly preferably rotatably and fluid-tightly coupled to the connecting part. For this purpose, the connecting piece particularly comprises a pipe socket, wherein the pipe socket is positively received in a socket receptacle or bore of the connection opening. Furthermore, at least one radially circumferential seal is particularly preferably arranged on the pipe socket; particularly preferably, two radially circumferential seals, for example, O-rings, are arranged on the pipe socket. This ensures a fluid-tight coupling between the connecting piece and the connecting part.

[0019] Now, especially for the secure positioning of the pipe arrangement produced in this way, but also when using an auxiliary shut-off device, for example, by using a valve, it is necessary that the connecting piece and the connecting part be arranged in a relatively secure position relative to each other. Within the scope of the invention, this is possible by means of both a force-fitting and a form-fitting and / or a fluid coupling.

[0020] A combined positive and non-positive coupling is preferred, whereby the connecting piece is initially mounted on and / or in the connecting part, at least partially rotatable by 360 degrees. Then, after positioning, and optionally before, during, or after coupling the connecting line to the connecting piece, it is possible to establish a positive and non-positive connection between the connecting piece and the connecting part using a coupling means such that both parts are firmly and securely fixed to each other.

[0021] In particular, the coupling means is designed as a plate, very preferably in the form of a U-shaped clamp or a clamping bracket. The clamping bracket surrounds the pipe socket of the connecting line, in particular in a groove, so that the clamping bracket can be pushed laterally over the pipe socket when the tapping clamp according to the invention is assembled and, in doing so, accommodates the groove of the pipe socket in its U-shaped cutout. This creates an axial positive fit. The U-shaped clamp or the clamping bracket is then preferably fixed in position to the connecting part, in particular via screw connections, and by further tightening the screw connections, the connecting socket is moved axially towards the line pipe, finally establishing a force-fitting connection between the connecting socket and the connecting part.In particular, an axial and / or radial clamping takes place so that a combined positive and non-positive connection is created and the connecting piece is fixed in the relative position in the connecting part and thus also fixed in position relative to the line pipe.

[0022] An alternative or supplementary design variant provides additional positive coupling means, for example in the form of a toothing. For example, this toothing can be designed axially or radially so that the connecting piece can be arranged in steps or tooth by tooth in any angular arrangement relative to the conduit. For example, with 36 toothings, an offset of one tooth can cause a pivoting movement of 10 degrees. Alternatively, a finer toothing or a coarser toothing can be designed, for example, allowing angular ranges of 25 degrees, 45 degrees, 75 degrees and / or 90 degrees. This prevents additional adjustment by means of a screw connection and / or a clamping bracket, or it also prevents the connecting piece from being forced out of the connecting part due to the pressure of the conduit.The connection piece can also be fixed in position with a grub screw, for example.

[0023] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred to provide a corresponding seal in the axial direction at the front end of the pipe socket. This seal then performs two functions in the receiving recess for the pipe socket within the connection opening. Firstly, the axial seal creates a further fluid-tight coupling; secondly, the axial seal creates a frictional connection between the front end of the pipe socket and the corresponding groove base in the connection opening receptacle, which prevents the connection socket from twisting when a corresponding force is applied.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention, it is particularly preferred to produce the tapping point, the clamping bracket, and the connecting piece as a cast component. This enables particularly cost-effective production, especially for high volumes. However, within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable for the above-mentioned components to be manufactured from any metallic material or even from a plastic material. It is also possible for the tapping collar and the connecting piece to be manufactured using a machining process, a plastic casting process, or a plastic injection molding process. However, a ductile iron process is preferred, in particular according to the EN-JS-1050GGG50 standard.

[0025] The non-metallic seals are made, in particular, of an elastic material, preferably rubber, and most preferably of a caoutchouc material. Within the scope of the invention, however, it is also particularly conceivable for a metallic seal, for example, made of brass or copper, to be used for the axial seal.

[0026] When metallic materials are used, which offer a particularly cost-effective way of manufacturing the tapping sleeve in terms of processability as a cast component, especially in high quantities, they are particularly preferably coated with an anti-corrosive coating. In particular, an epoxy resin-based anti-corrosive coating, which is applied using a powder coating process, is used here. A layer thickness of at least 250 µm is particularly preferably applied to the surface of the corresponding metallic outer surfaces. This ensures that the tapping sleeve according to the invention provides a secure and fluid-tight connection to the line pipe even for decades. Within the scope of the invention, it is also possible for the anti-corrosive coating to be applied to the inside and / or outside.Preferably, a corrosion protection coating is applied to an inner and outer side. As an alternative to the epoxy resin-based corrosion protection coating, it is possible within the scope of the invention to apply an enameled surface. Here, too, a layer thickness of between 200 µm and 300 µm is preferably applied, most preferably 250 µm.

[0027] Further advantages, features, properties, and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description. These serve to facilitate understanding of the invention. All features mentioned above and listed below can be combined with one another as desired within the scope of the invention without departing from the overall disclosure content. Preferred embodiments are illustrated in schematic figures. They show: Fig. 1 line arrangement according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 2 the line arrangement in a cross-sectional view, Fig. 3 a U-shaped plate according to the invention and Fig. 4 a schematic plan view of a line arrangement according to the invention.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a line arrangement 1 according to the invention, wherein a tapping clamp 2 is attached to a line pipe 3 and a connecting line 4 is arranged leading away from the tapping clamp 2. The tapping clamp 2 has a connecting part 5 and a clamping bracket 6 which is positively coupled to the connecting part 5, wherein the clamping bracket 6 and the connecting part 5 are arranged so as to surround the outer surface 7 of the line pipe 3 in a form-fitting manner. According to the invention, it is now provided that a connecting piece 8 is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the connecting part 5 in the direction of rotation D. In the variant shown here, the connecting piece 8 is designed so as to be freely rotatable through 360 degrees relative to the connecting part 5. In order to fix the connecting piece 8 in position relative to the connecting part 5 after installation or even during installation, a U-shaped plate 9, also shown in Fig. 3, mounted on the connecting part 5 by means of screw connections 10.

[0029] The functionality is in Fig. 2 is clearly shown within the cross-sectional view. Here, it can be seen that the U-shaped plate 9, by means of the screw connections 10, presses the rotatable connecting piece 8 downward in the axial direction A toward the center of the image and exerts a clamping force on it. As a result, a pipe socket 11 of the connecting piece 8 is positively coupled, particularly in the radial direction R, and non-positively fixed in position in a receptacle 12 of the connection opening 13. Two radial seals 14, here in the form of O-rings, are arranged around the outside of the pipe socket 11.An axial seal 15 is arranged at the end of the pipe socket 11, wherein the axial seal 15 can also be used to generate a clamping force against a groove base 16 on the end face 17 of the pipe socket 11. A support shoulder surface 24 on the connecting part 5 and a clamping web 25 projecting beyond the pipe socket 11 can, as an alternative to the clamping between the groove base 16 and the end face 17 or in addition to this, be clamped together in the axial direction A in such a way that a rotational movement D about the rotation axis Da of the connecting socket 8 is prevented. Also shown is a flat slide seal 18 which can be extended in the radial direction R and thus at least temporarily closes the borehole 19 created in the conduit 3 so that a medium M located in the conduit 3 cannot initially escape from the conduit 3 during the installation process.Furthermore, a valve 20, here in the form of an operational shut-off valve, is arranged at an upper end of the connecting piece 8. With the aid of the valve 20, it is possible to block off external access (not shown in detail here coming from above in relation to the image plane), the connecting piece 8, in particular the connection opening 13 within the connecting piece 8. This can be done, for example, to replace the connecting line 4, or during initial commissioning, the valve 20 can initially be closed and then opened after the connecting line 4 has been installed. The connecting line 4 is shown here coupled to the connecting piece 8 with a screw connection 21. Also shown is a distance a between the central longitudinal axis 22 of the connecting line 4 and the central longitudinal axis 23 of the conduit 3.

[0030] Shown in Fig.4 is a plan view of a line arrangement 1 according to the invention. The inventive function of the rotatable connecting piece 8, which is coupled to the tapping clamp 2 according to the invention, is clearly visible here. This makes it possible to rotate the connecting piece 8 in the direction of rotation D such that a desired angle β can be set between the central longitudinal axis 23 of the line pipe 3 and the central longitudinal axis 22 of the connecting line 4. Thus, the prior art makes it possible to lead the connecting line 4 not only perpendicularly from the line pipe 3 or the central longitudinal axis 23 of the line pipe 3, i.e., at an angle of 90 degrees, but also at any angle β, which can be selected in the range between 0 degrees and 360 degrees. Reference symbol: 1 Line arrangement 2 tapping clamps 3 Conduit 4 connecting cable 5 Connection part 6 clamps 7 Outer surface to 2 8 connecting pieces 9 plate 10 screw connection 11 pipe sockets 12 recordings 13 Connection opening 14 Radial seal 15 Axial seal 16 Groove base 17 front face to 11 18 Flat slide seal 19 borehole 20 valve 21 Screw connection 22 Central longitudinal axis to 4 23 Central longitudinal axis to 3 24 Support shoulder surface 25 clamping bar D Direction of rotation The axis of rotation A axial direction R Radial direction M Medium a distance β angle

Claims

[1] Line arrangement (1) with a tapping clamp (2) which is attached to a conduit (3), comprising a clamping bracket (6) and a connecting part (5) with a connection opening (13), wherein the clamping bracket (6) and the connecting part (5) are detachably coupled to one another enclosing the conduit (3), and a connecting piece (8) which is rotatable relative to the tapping clamp (2) and / or the conduit (3) is provided in and / or on the connection opening (13) for coupling to a connecting line (4), wherein the connecting piece (8) is rotatably mounted in the connection part (5) and can be fixed in position relative to the connection part (5) for final assembly of the connecting piece (8), and wherein a drill for drilling into the conduit (3) with the tapping clamp (2) mounted thereon can be guided through the connection opening (13), characterized bythat the tapping clamp (2) has a slide seal (18) which seals the connection opening (13) after the pipe (3) has been drilled. [2] Line arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the connecting piece (8) is rotatable and fluid-tightly coupled to the connecting part (5). [3] Line arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting piece (8) can be fixed in position to the connecting part (5) in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner. [4] Line arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting piece (8) can be coupled to the connecting part (5) in a force-locking manner via a coupling means. [5] Line arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized bythat the coupling means is designed as a plate (9), in particular as a U-shaped plate (9), so that it engages around a pipe socket (11) of the connecting socket (8) which is received in a form-fitting manner in the connecting part (5). [6] Line arrangement according to claim 5, characterized by that the coupling means is coupled to the connecting part (5) via a screw connection (21) and by tightening the screw connection (21) between the pipe socket (11) and the connecting part (5) a frictional connection is formed. [7] Line arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a valve (20) is arranged in or on the connecting piece (8), with which the connecting piece (8) can be closed. [8] Line arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, characterized bythat at least one radially circumferential seal (14) is arranged on the pipe socket (11), in particular two radially circumferential seals (14) are arranged on the pipe socket (11). [9] Line arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, characterized by that a seal (15) is arranged at the end of the pipe socket (11) between its end face (17) and the connection opening (13).

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