Temporary closure of a water pipe

Abstract

A temporary closure for a water pipe (4) has a plug (1) with two end pieces (2, 3) separated by a partition (5). One of the end pieces (3) is shaped like a free end of the water pipe (4) and can be inserted into a socket (6) of the water pipe (4). The other end piece (2) is shaped like the socket (6) of the water pipe (4) and can be fitted onto the free end of the water pipe (4).

Description

The invention relates to plugs for temporarily closing a water pipe, wherein a plug has a first end piece for reaching over the free end of the water pipe and a second end piece for inserting into the water pipe. On construction sites, drinking water pipes, sewage pipes, or similar pipes are usually laid in excavation pits. These water pipes have a predetermined length and a socket at one end into which the end of the next pipe section is inserted. However, if construction work is interrupted, it is necessary to temporarily seal the open end of the water pipe. This prevents dirt or animals from entering the pipe. A sealing element for a hydraulic connection system is disclosed in German patent application DE 10 2013 206 104 A1. The sealing element has an outer surface and an inner surface and can therefore be used as a plug for a can opening and also as a cap for a plug-in element. The sealing element protects the can opening or the plug-in element from contamination. Existing contamination cannot be removed via the sealing element. From DE 197 00 889 B4, a protective cap for the ends of pipes or rods is known. The protective cap has an outer collar with an annular inner surface for sealing against an annular outer surface of the end of the pipes or rods. The invention is based on the problem of designing a closure of the type mentioned above in such a way that it is as simple as possible and allows for particularly easy closure of the open end of a water pipe and that contaminants in the water pipe can be easily removed via the plug. This problem is solved according to the invention by having at least one of the end pieces have a flushing water connection. This design allows the plug to be used as a single component to seal the water pipe, regardless of which open end needs to be closed. This makes sealing the open end of the water pipe particularly easy. Furthermore, such a plug has a very simple construction. Contaminants in the water pipe can be easily removed via the plug because at least one end has a flushing water connection. This design gives the plug a dual function: it prevents dirt from entering the water pipe and also allows for the removal of any dirt from the pipe. A disinfectant solution can also be introduced through the flushing water connection. Finally, a flushing process can be carried out.A pressure test, and thus a leak test of the water pipe, can also be performed via the flushing water connection by pressurizing the water pipe through this connection. The flushing water connection itself therefore offers a triple function – pressure testing, disinfection, and flushing – and is thus suitable for use at both ends. According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, a reliable closure of the water pipe is particularly easy to construct if the end piece for spanning the free end of the water pipe has a socket designed accordingly for water pipes. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, it helps to simplify the sealing of the free end of the water pipe if the end piece has a sealing ring for overlapping the free end of the water pipe. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, further simplifying the sealing of the free end of the water pipe is achieved if the end piece for insertion into the water pipe has a circumferential and protruding rim. This rim, together with the socket arranged at the free end of the water pipe, provides a seal. A permanent seal for the water pipe can be easily achieved according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention if the plug is made of a cast material. Such a seal is often desirable when work on a construction site is interrupted for an extended period. The plug can, for example, be made of cast iron and also have a cement lining or cement coating. Furthermore, the cast material can also be provided with a zinc coating or an epoxy resin lacquer. For applications requiring only a temporary seal on the water pipe, the plug design is particularly simple when made of plastic. This design is especially suitable for construction sites where work on the water pipe is paused, for example, overnight or over a weekend. Suitable plastics include POM, PE, PA66, Terez, and HDPE. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug is particularly compact when the two end pieces are separated from each other by a common partition. According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, disassembly of the plug is particularly simple if both end pieces each have a partition and if an elongated opening for the insertion of a removal tool is arranged between the partitions. In the simplest case, the removal tool is a wedge which removes the plug from the free end of the water pipe. Disassembly of the plug is particularly easy, especially in the case of those made of cast iron, according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, if a handle is arranged on the outside of the end piece that extends over the free end of the water pipe. The invention allows for numerous embodiments. To further illustrate its basic principle, two of these are shown in the drawing and described below. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a plug with two flushing water connections, Figure 2 shows the plug from Figure 1 in a state inserted into a socket of a water pipe, Figure 3 shows the plug from Figure 1 in a state overlapping one end of the water pipe, Figure 4 shows the plug from Figure 1 in a side view, and Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a plug. Fig. 1 shows a plug 1 with two end pieces 2, 3 for temporarily closing a water pipe 4 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The two end pieces 2, 3 are separated from each other by a partition 5. One of the end pieces 2 has the shape of a socket 6 of the water pipe 4 as shown in Fig. 2. A sealing ring 7 is inserted in the end piece 2 that has the shape of the socket 6 of the water pipe 4. The other end piece 3 has the shape of a free end of the water pipe 4. The end piece 3 that has the shape of the free end of the water pipe 4 has a circumferential and protruding rim 8. Each of the end pieces 2, 3 has a flushing water connection 9, 10 directly adjacent to the partition 5. Flushing water lines (not shown) for flushing the water line 4 shown in Figures 2 and 3 can be connected to the flushing water connections 9, 10. The flushing water connections 9, 10 can also be temporarily closed with a plug (not shown). The flushing water connections can have an internal thread for this purpose. Fig. 2 shows a section of the plug 1 from Fig. 1 used to close one end of the water pipe 4, which has a socket 6. The plug 1 is inserted into the socket 6 with one end piece 3, which has the shape of the free end of the water pipe 4. A sealing ring 11 of the socket 6 seals the water pipe 4 against the end piece 3. The circumferential and protruding rim 8 bears against a radially inwardly projecting rib 12 of the socket 6. This axially secures the position of the plug 1 relative to the water pipe 4. Fig. 3 shows a portion of the plug 1 from Fig. 1 when used to close the free end of the water pipe 4. The end piece 2 of the plug 1, which has the shape of a socket, overlaps the free end of the water pipe 4. The closure is sealed by the sealing ring 7 arranged in the plug 1. In this embodiment, a radially inwardly projecting rib 13 of the socket-shaped end piece 2 is supported against a circumferential rim 14 of the water pipe 4. Fig. 4 shows a side view of the plug 1 from Fig. 1. It can be seen that handles 15 are arranged on the outer circumference of the plug 1. This embodiment is particularly suitable for heavy, cast iron plugs 1. Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of a plug 101 in longitudinal section with two end pieces 102, 103. Each of the two end pieces 102, 103 has a partition 105, 105'. One of the end pieces 102 has a relatively large diameter and is used to fit onto the free end of the water pipe 4 shown in Fig. 3. The other, relatively small-diameter end piece 103 is used to insert into the socket 6 of the water pipe 4 shown in Fig. 2. A neck 116 with an elongated opening 117 is arranged between the partitions 105, 105'. The opening 117 serves to insert a release tool when the small-diameter end piece is inserted into the socket 6 of the water pipe 4. In the simplest case, this plug 101 can be manufactured from plastic using injection molding.

Claims

Temporary closure of a water pipe (4), wherein a plug (1) has a first end piece (2, 102) for extending over the free end of the water pipe (4) and a second end piece (3, 103) for insertion into the water pipe (4), characterized in that at least one of the end pieces (2, 3) has a flushing water connection. Temporary closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the end piece (2, 102) for reaching over the free end of the water pipe (4) has a socket (6) designed accordingly for water pipes (4). Temporary closure according to at least one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the end piece (2) has a sealing ring (7) for overlapping the free end of the water pipe (4). Temporary closure according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end piece (3) for insertion into the water pipe (4) has a circumferential and protruding rim (8). Temporary closure according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plug (1, 101) is made of a cast material. Temporary closure according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plug (1, 101) is made of plastic. Temporary closure according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the two end pieces (2, 3) are separated from each other by a common partition (5). Temporary closure according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the two end pieces (102, 103) each have a partition (105, 105') and that an elongated opening (117) for attaching a release tool is arranged between the partitions (105, 105'). Temporary closure according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a handle (15) is arranged on the outside of the end piece (2) which overlaps the free end of the water pipe (4).

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