COVERING DEVICE FOR COVERING A CONNECTION POINT OF MEDIA-LEARNING PIPE END SECTIONS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a covering device for covering a connection point of two or more media-carrying pipe end sections, in particular end sections of thermally insulated pipes, wherein the covering device comprises a plurality of connectable covering elements which can be mounted around the connection point to form a pipe sheathing that receives the connection point, wherein the covering device comprises at least one pipe covering section associated with a pipe end section, wherein an external sealing element is arranged at the end of the covering device for sealing the covering device against the pipe end section, wherein the external sealing element comprises a termination area and a passage area for the passage of the pipe end section.

[0002] Thermally insulated pipes, such as those used in district heating or long-distance heating systems, consist of an inner pipe carrying a medium through which a heated fluid flows to transport thermal energy from a source to a consumer. These pipes also include thermal insulation surrounding the inner pipe and an outer layer applied to the surface of the thermal insulation. To install a bend, branch, valve, or similar fitting, or to connect two pipes, the outer layer and thermal insulation are removed at the desired point, exposing the inner pipe. A fitting is then installed at the desired location, creating a fluid-tight connection. To restore the thermal insulation, a pipe sleeve is fitted around the resulting joint.This pipe casing can, for example, be formed in two parts from shells. The two shells are positioned around the joint and relative to each other and connected, for example, by means of a force-fit connection, in particular by means of snap-fit ​​or click-fit connections. A cavity is formed inside this pipe casing in which the joint is located. The cavity can then be filled with thermal insulation foam, for example, polymer foam, in particular polyurethane foam, thereby restoring the thermal insulation in this section. Alternatively, the cavity can also be filled with thermal insulation elements, for example, polymer foam beads, in particular polystyrene. An external sealing element serves to seal against the outside. Such a covering device is known, for example, from DE 10 2014 106 802 A1.Another covering device is shown in CH 710 028 A1.

[0003] A disadvantage of the cover device described in DE 10 2014 106 802 A1 and other cover devices available on the market is that adapting the respective cover devices to different pipe outer diameters requires a different variant of the external sealing element. This necessitates having a large number of variants of the corresponding external sealing element on hand at the construction site. The appropriate variant must then be transported to the installation site, which lengthens the installation process.

[0004] This is where the present invention comes in, which aims to provide a covering device that at least partially overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the covering device according to the invention should be usable for various pipe outer diameters without requiring large inventories. Furthermore, the covering device according to the invention should be easy and quick to install.

[0005] These and other problems are solved by a covering device with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the covering device according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the present invention, it has been found that the inventory of individual parts for a cover device can be significantly reduced by using a universally applicable external sealing element in the cover device. This is achieved according to the invention by making the external sealing element from an elastic material. The use of the elastic material alone makes the external sealing element suitable to a certain extent for different outside diameters of the pipe end sections. Furthermore, according to the invention, the passage area of ​​the external sealing element can be cut to length, in particular, trimmed, and thus adapted over a wide range to different outside diameters of the pipe end sections to pass through the passage area.Since this cutting to length can be done very quickly and easily, this results not only in a smaller number of articles to be stored for the cover device according to the invention, but also in a shorter assembly time.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention provides a cover device for covering a connection point of two or more media-carrying pipe end sections, in particular end sections of thermally insulated pipes, wherein the cover device comprises a plurality of connectable cover elements which can be mounted around the connection point to form a pipe sheathing that accommodates the connection point, wherein the cover device comprises at least one pipe cover section associated with a pipe end section, wherein an external sealing element is arranged at the end of this pipe cover section for sealing the cover device against the pipe end section, wherein the external sealing element comprises a termination area and a passage area for the passage of the pipe end section.wherein the outer sealing element is made of an elastic material and the passage area of ​​the outer sealing element is adaptable to the outer diameter of the pipe end section to be guided through the outer sealing element.

[0008] With regard to the cover device according to the invention, it may be preferred if the passage area of ​​the outer sealing element can be adapted to the outer diameter of the pipe end section to be guided through the outer sealing element by cutting off the end section. Such cutting of the end section can be carried out in particular by cutting.

[0009] According to the invention, the end area of ​​the outer sealing element is designed at least partially as a bellows.

[0010] This allows the end section of the external sealing element to at least partially adapt to the outer diameter of the pipe end section passing through the external sealing element. In this way, the variability of the outer diameter of the pipe end section passing through the external sealing element is significantly increased once again.

[0011] It can also be helpful if the outer sealing element is connected to the associated pipe cover section via a connecting element, preferably designed as a separate component. This simplifies the assembly of the cover device according to the invention. For this purpose, the outer sealing element preferably has a circumferential engagement element on its section facing the associated pipe cover section, which can be engaged, in particular by being inserted, clipped, or snapped into, a corresponding pipe cover section engagement element arranged on the pipe cover section and cooperating with the engagement element, or vice versa.

[0012] It is advantageous that, within the scope of the present invention, the material of the outer sealing element can be selected from elastomeric materials, for example ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), ethylene propylene copolymer rubber (EPM), fluoropolymer rubber (FKM, FPM), perfluorinated rubber (FFKM, FFPM), fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ), isoprene rubber (IR), butyl rubber (IIR), butadiene rubber (BR), nitrile rubber (NBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), rubber (NR), silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), as well as mixtures, copolymers and blends of the aforementioned materials. By using these materials for the outer sealing element, it can be provided according to the technical specifications regarding flexibility, hardness, inertness and other mechanical, chemical and physical factors.Within the scope of the present invention, it can also prove advantageous if the outer sealing element is provided to consist of or contain different materials in sections. For example, it can be beneficial if the sections of the outer sealing element intended to act as a seal are selected from a material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the sections of the outer sealing element that are not intended to contribute to the sealing effect, but rather fulfill a stabilizing and load-bearing function. In this way, a particularly high fluid tightness can be achieved in the area of ​​the sealing sections. This measure can also reduce the material costs for such an outer sealing element.

[0013] According to the invention, at least one pipe cover section of the cover device according to the invention is provided with such an external sealing element. However, more than one pipe cover section of the cover device according to the invention can also have such an external sealing element. In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, all pipe cover sections of the cover device according to the invention have such a cuttable external sealing element.

[0014] According to the invention, at least one of the pipe cover sections is axially subdivided into sections and comprises at least one section on the connection side and one section opposite the connection point, wherein the connection-side section and the opposite section are connected to each other via a hinge element. This allows mechanical stresses in the pipe end sections, which are caused by the rigidity of the cover devices known in the prior art and, in particular, their pipe cover sections, to be compensated. A reduction in this rigidity of the pipe end sections also reduces the mechanical stresses in the pipe end sections inside the pipe cover device. The angular position of the connection-side section relative to the opposite section of the pipe cover section is variable via the hinge element.This allows angular deviations in the pipe end sections to be compensated for by adjusting the angle of the section on the connection point relative to the section on the opposite side of the pipe cover section, thus reducing mechanical stress in the pipe end sections. This facilitates the creation of pipe connections inside the cover device. Furthermore, the reduced stress on the pipe end sections makes the cover device easier to close and allows for better foam filling.

[0015] It is preferred if more than one pipe end section, in particular all pipe end sections of a pipe cover device according to the invention, are each subdivided into sections along their longitudinal axis and each comprise at least one section on the connection point side and one section opposite the connection point, wherein the section on the connection point side and the section opposite the connection point are each connected to each other via a corresponding hinge element. The hinge elements can be identical or different for the individual pipe cover sections. The pipe end sections can, independently of one another, comprise further sections in addition to the section on the connection point side and the section opposite the connection point.

[0016] According to the invention, one component of the joint element is assigned to the section of the pipe cover section facing the connection point, and another component of the joint element is assigned to the section of the pipe cover section facing away from the connection point. This enables a particularly simple design and facilitates the manufacture of the pipe cover device according to the invention. It is particularly preferred if the individual components of the joint element are connected to their respective sections. In this context, it is especially preferred if the component of the joint element assigned to the section facing the connection point is formed integrally with the section facing the connection point, and / or if the component of the joint element assigned to the section facing away from the connection point is formed integrally with the section facing away from the connection point.

[0017] According to the invention, the component of the joint element associated with the section facing the connection point and the component of the joint element associated with the section facing away from the connection point are designed as spherical shell sections rotatable relative to each other. Such a design of the joint element in a spherical element type enables a particularly high degree of adaptability of the cover device according to the invention.

[0018] In preferred embodiments of the cover device according to the invention, at least one sealing element is arranged between the component of the joint element associated with the section facing the connection point and the section facing away from the connection point. This sealing element is preferably one or more sealing rings. Such a sealing element serves to seal the interior of the seal according to the invention to the outside.

[0019] It can also be advantageous if the section furthest from the connection point can be at least partially accommodated within the section closest to the connection point. This significantly reduces the storage and transport volume of the cover device according to the invention. At the point of use, the section furthest from the connection point can be removed from the section closest to the connection point and connected in a way that points away from it, thereby giving the cover device according to the invention its actual shape in its operational state.

[0020] In preferred embodiments, the cover device according to the invention has a substantially T-shaped or a substantially Y-shaped overall geometry. While a T-shaped overall geometry allows for a substantially right-angled pipe branch, a substantially Y-shaped overall geometry can save space in tight installation situations.

[0021] The assembly of the cover device according to the invention is carried out as follows: The pre-insulated pipe is first partially stripped of its thermal insulation layer and outer layer at the end to be inserted into the cover device according to the invention, for example by cutting, knocking off, breaking, or milling. The end of the exposed pipe is then inserted into the opening of the outer sealing element. The opening of the outer sealing element is adapted to the outer diameter of the pipe end section with its existing thermal insulation layer and outer layer by appropriately cutting off the end section. The pipe end section is then pushed through the opening until the end is positioned in the area of ​​the pipe connection to be made. This process is carried out accordingly for each pipe end section to be inserted into the cover device according to the invention.Subsequently, a fluid-conducting and fluid-tight pipe connection is created between the pipe end sections using a suitable connecting element. The cover element according to the invention is then closed, thereby forming a pipe sheath that accommodates the connection point, and the interior of the cover device according to the invention is filled, for example, with an expanding polymer foam, thereby restoring the thermal insulation in the areas of the pipe connection and the pipe end sections with the removed thermal insulation layer and outer layer.

[0022] The cover device according to the invention, as well as individual parts thereof, can also be manufactured line by line or layer by layer using a line-by-line or layer-by-layer manufacturing process (e.g. 3D printing).

[0023] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further important features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the figures, and the accompanying figure description.

[0024] The present invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the figures. It is understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figures. Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a pipe connection with three pipe end sections, which is received in a cover device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint element of the Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows a cover device according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a section of a pipe cover element facing away from the connection point, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, with a pipe end section that is not straight; Fig. 4a shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cover device according to a further embodiment of the present invention in the transport and storage state; and Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the cover device shown in Fig. 4a. Fig. 4a The illustrated cover device according to the invention in its state of use.

[0025] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows the schematic structure of a cover device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and the schematic structure of a pipe connection with a connecting element 3, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a T-piece for connecting three pipe end sections 4, 4, 4", wherein the pipe connection is arranged at a connection point 2 in the cover device according to the invention.

[0026] In the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the cover device 1 according to the invention comprises three pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11", each assigned to one of the pipe end sections 4, 4', 4". Overall, the device shown in Fig.1 The illustrated embodiment of the cover device 1 according to the invention has a T-shaped overall geometry. This T-shaped overall geometry corresponds to the geometry of the connecting element 3, which is designed as a T-piece and to which the three pipe end sections 4, 4', 4'' are connected. This T-shaped overall geometry allows a branch from a substantially continuous pipeline, which is formed by the pipe end sections 4 and 4'. The branch, however, is formed substantially at a right angle through the pipe end sections 4".

[0027] In alternative embodiments, the cover device 1 according to the invention can also have a different overall geometry, in particular a Y-shaped overall geometry. In such a Y-shaped overall geometry, the three pipe end sections 4, 4', 4" enclose approximately equal angles of about 120° in pairs.

[0028] In the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the cover device 1 according to the invention comprises three pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11", each assigned to one of the pipe end sections 4, 4, 4". Overall, the device shown in Fig.1 The illustrated embodiment of the cover device 1 according to the invention has a T-shaped overall geometry. This T-shaped overall geometry corresponds to the geometry of the connecting element 3, which is designed as a T-piece and with which the three pipe end sections 4, 4, 4" are connected.

[0029] Each of the three pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11" is subdivided along its longitudinal axis into two sections 12, 12', 12", 13, 13', 13", namely a section 12, 12', 12" on the side facing the connection point and a section 13, 13', 13" on the opposite side. The sections 12, 12', 12" on the side facing the connection point are integrally joined, forming a T-shaped geometry. The resulting element consists of two connectable half-shells. Fig. 1 The open state, i.e., a half-shell, is shown.

[0030] In contrast, the sections 13, 13', 13" facing away from the connection point are in the Fig. 1 The illustrated embodiment is formed around the circumference and thus in one piece.

[0031] In each of the pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11" the connection-side section 12, 12', 12" is according to the embodiment shown. Fig. 1 The pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11" are connected to the corresponding section 13, 13', 13" facing away from the connection point via a hinge element 15, 15', 15". In preferred embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11" has such a hinge element 15, 15', 15". However, it is preferred that all pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11" are provided with a hinge element 15, 15', 15".

[0032] The structure of the individual joint elements 15, 15', 15" is shown in Fig. 2 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge element 15 is shown. The hinge element 15 is designed in two parts. It comprises a component 16 associated with the section 12 on the side of the connection point and a further component 17 associated with the section 13 on the side opposite the connection point. In the Fig, 2 In the illustrated embodiment of the cover device 1 according to the invention, the component 16 of the hinge element 15 associated with the connection-side section 12 is formed integrally with the connection-side section 12. Regardless of this, according to the Fig, 2 In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the further component 17 of the joint element 15, associated with the section 13 facing away from the connection point, is formed integrally with the section 13 facing away from the connection point. The components 16, 17 of the joint element 15 are designed as spherical shell sections rotatable relative to each other. The further component 17 associated with the section 13 facing away from the connection point is partially rotatably received in the component 16 associated with the section 12 facing the connection point. In this way, the joint element 15 constitutes a ball joint, thus ensuring a high degree of compatibility between the section 12 facing the connection point and the section 13 facing away from the connection point. Finally, two sealing elements 18, 18' are arranged between the two components 16, 17 of the joint element 15, which are located in the Fig. 2 In the embodiment of the present invention shown, each joint element is designed as an O-ring. The two other joint elements 15', 15" of the joint element shown are designed as O-rings. Fig. 1 The cover device 1 shown according to the invention corresponds to the joint element 15.

[0033] As in Fig. 1 As can be seen, the pipe end section 4 enters the cover device 1 according to the invention in a curved manner. If the pipe cover section 11 assigned to the pipe end section 4 were rigid, this would lead to mechanical stresses. Due to the hinge element 15, the pipe end sections 11, 11', 11'' of the cover device 1 according to the invention are able to compensate for this angled entry of the pipe end section 4 by means of the hinge element 15, which rotates the section 12 on the connection point side relative to the section 13 on the opposite side. Thus, the pipe end section 4 runs stress-free in the cover device 1 according to the invention. This makes it easy to close and to fill the cover device 1 according to the invention with expanding foam. Furthermore, the stress-free pipe end sections 4, 4', 4'' can be easily connected to each other using the connecting element 3.In the illustrated embodiment, the two other pipe cover sections 4', 4'' enter the cover device 1 according to the invention, so that the problem of mechanical stresses does not occur there.

[0034] The pipe connection consisting of connecting element 3 and pipe end sections 4, 4', 4" received in the cover device 1 according to the invention is in Fig. 1 not shown in cross-section.

[0035] The termination of the section 13, 13', 13" facing away from connection point 2 is formed for each pipe cover section 11, 11', 11" by an external sealing element 20, 20', 20''. The structure and function of this external sealing element 20, 20', 20" are described in relation to Fig. 3 explained, which shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the section 13 facing away from the connection point with the outer sealing element 20.

[0036] The outer sealing element 20 serves to seal the cover device 1 according to the invention against the pipe end section 4 guided through the outer sealing element 20 to the outside.

[0037] The outer sealing element 20 is made of an elastic material. It comprises a closing section 21 and a passage section 22. The closing section 21 separates the pipe cover section 11 from the outside. The passage section 22, on the other hand, serves to allow the pipe end section 4 to pass through the outer sealing element 20. To adapt to the outer diameter of the pipe end section 4, the closing section 21 can be easily shortened, in particular cut off. This makes the cover device 1 according to the invention suitable for media-carrying pipes with different outer diameters, without the need to maintain a different embodiment of the outer sealing element 20 for each possible pipe diameter. Compared to the prior art, the cover device 1 according to the invention is therefore universally applicable. The closing section 21 of the outer sealing element 20 is in Fig. 3 designed as a bellows, which further increases the adaptability of the outer sealing element 20 to the outer diameter of the pipe end section 4 and to the insertion direction of the pipe end section 11.

[0038] According to the in Fig. 3 In the illustrated embodiment of the cover device 1 according to the invention, the outer sealing element 20 is connected to the associated pipe cover section 11 via a connecting element 23.

[0039] According to this embodiment, the connecting element 23 is designed as a clip-in ring. On its side facing the associated pipe cover section 11, this ring has a circumferential engagement element which can be engaged with a corresponding pipe cover section engagement element arranged on the pipe cover section 11 and cooperating with the engagement element, preferably by insertion, clipping, or snapping.

[0040] A further advantageous embodiment of the covering device 1 according to the invention is in Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b depicted. This shows Fig. 4a The storage and transport state of the cover device 1 according to the invention. For this purpose, the central part of the cover device 1, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises the integrally connected connection-side sections 12, 12', 12" of three pipe cover sections 11, 11', 11'' and is constructed from two connectable half-shells, is shown open. The connection-side sections 13, 13', 13" are received into the connection-side sections 12, 12', 12" such that the ends of the connection-side sections 13, 13', 13" that encompass the outer sealing element 20 point towards the future connection point 2, i.e., into the interior of the cover device 1 according to the invention. In this storage and transport state, the volume occupied by the cover device 1 according to the invention is greatly reduced.In this state, the cover device 1 according to the invention can therefore be stored and transported to the intended place of use, occupying only a reduced volume. At the place of use, one half-shell of the central area is removed and the three sections 13, 13', 13'' facing away from the connection points are rotated by 180° such that the ends of the sections 13, 13', 13'' facing away from the connection points, which encompass the outer sealing element 20, point outwards. This state is in . Fig. 4b The cover device 1 according to the invention has a significantly larger volume. The removed half-shell of the central area can be replaced and secured.

[0041] The present invention has been described by way of example with reference to the embodiments of the present invention shown in the figures. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures, but that the scope of the present invention is defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A covering device (1) for covering a connection point (2) of two or more mediacarrying pipe end portions (4, 4', 4"), wherein the covering device (1) comprises a plurality of covering elements that are connectable to one another and are mountable around the connection point (2) to form a pipe sheathing that accommodates the connection point (2), wherein the covering device (1) comprises at least one pipe covering portion (11, 11', 11") assigned to a pipe end portion (4, 4', 4"), with an outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") disposed at the end of said pipe covering portion for sealing the covering device (1) with respect to the pipe end portion (4, 4', 4"), wherein the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") comprises a termination region (21) and a passage region (22) for the passage of the pipe end portion (4, 4', 4"), wherein the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") is made of an elastic material, and the passage region (22) of the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") is adaptable to the outer diameter of the pipe end portion (4, 4', 4") to be guided through the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20"), wherein at least one of the pipe covering portions (11, 11', 11") is divided in the axial direction into portions (12, 12', 12", 13, 13', 13") and comprises at least one connection-point-side portion (12, 12', 12") and a connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13"), wherein the connection point-side portion (12, 12', 12") and the connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13") are connected to each other via a joint element (15), wherein the joint element (15) is formed in two parts, wherein one component (16) of the joint element (15) is assigned to the connection-point-side portion (12, 12', 12") of the pipe covering portion (11, 11', 11"), and a further component (17) of the joint element (15) is assigned to the connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13") of the pipe covering portion (11, 11', 11"), characterised in that the component (16) of the joint element (15) assigned to the connection-point-side portion (12, 12', 12") and the component (17) of the joint element (15) assigned to the connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13") are configured as ball shell portions that are rotatable relative to each other and the termination region (21) of the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") is formed as a bellows at least in portions.

2. The covering device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the passage region (22) of the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") is adaptable to the outer diameter of the pipe end portion (4, 4', 4") to be guided through the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") by cutting the termination region (21) to length.

3. The covering device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the outer sealing element (20, 20', 20") is connected to the assigned pipe covering portion (11, 11', 11") via a connection element (23), which is preferably formed as a separate component.

4. The covering device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the component (16) of the joint element (15) assigned to the connection-point-side portion (12, 12', 12") is formed in one piece with the connection-point-side portion (12, 12', 12") and / or the component (17) of the joint element (15) assigned to the connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13") is formed in one piece with the connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13").

5. The covering device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 4, characterised in that at least one sealing element (18, 18') is disposed between the component (16) of the joint element (15) assigned to the connection-point-side portion (12, 12', 12") and the connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13").

6. The covering device (1) according to claim 1, claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that the connection-point-remote portion (13, 13', 13") is at least partially accommodatable in the connection-point-side portion (12, 12', 12").

7. The covering device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the covering device (1) has a substantially T-shaped overall geometry or a substantially Y-shaped overall geometry.