U.S. patent application number 09/735221 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-21 for freezer head for pipe freezing devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to REMS - WERK Christian Foll und Sohne GmbH & Co.. Invention is credited to Wagner, Rudolf.
Application Number | 20010003908 09/735221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7932524 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010003908 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wagner, Rudolf |
June 21, 2001 |
Freezer head for pipe freezing devices
Abstract
A freezer head for pipe freezing devices has a casing having a
first exterior side with one or more first exterior depressions for
receiving a pipe section to be frozen. The casing has a second
exterior side with one or more second exterior depressions. The
casing has a hollow interior. The casing has at least one connector
configured to supply a cooling medium into the hollow interior. The
first depression has a bottom having at least a first bottom
portion and a second bottom portion, wherein each one of the first
and second bottom portions has a different radius of curvature. The
second depression has a bottom having at least a first bottom
portion and a second bottom portion, wherein each one of the first
and second bottom portions has a different radius of curvature.
Inventors: |
Wagner, Rudolf; (Stuttgart,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUDRUN E. HUCKETT, PATENT AGENT
P.O. BOX 3187
ALBUQUERQUE
NM
87190-3187
US
|
Assignee: |
REMS - WERK Christian Foll und
Sohne GmbH & Co.
|
Family ID: |
7932524 |
Appl. No.: |
09/735221 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 55/103 20130101;
F25D 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/293 |
International
Class: |
F25D 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 1999 |
DE |
199 60 126.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A freezer head for pipe freezing devices, said freezer head
comprising: a casing (1) having a first exterior side with one or
more first exterior depressions (7) configured to receive a pipe
section to be frozen; said casing (1) having a second exterior side
with one or more second exterior depressions (8); said casing (1)
having a hollow interior (27, 28); said casing (1) having at least
one connector (19) configured to supply a cooling medium into said
hollow interior (27, 28); wherein said first depression (7) has a
bottom (1 1) comprised at least of a first bottom portion (12) and
a second bottom portion (13), wherein each one of said first and
second bottom portions (12, 13) has a different radius of
curvature; wherein said second depression (8) has a bottom (14)
comprised at least of a first bottom portion (15) and a second
bottom portion (16), wherein each one of said first and second
bottom portions (15, 16) has a different radius of curvature.
2. The freezer head according to claim 1, wherein said first and
second bottom portions (12, 13) of said first depression (7) have a
transition into one another and wherein said first and second
bottom portions (15, 16) of said second depression (8) have a
transition into one another.
3. The freezer head according to claim 1, wherein said first bottom
portion (12) of said first depression (7) is centrally arranged in
said bottom (11) of said first depression (7) and wherein said
first bottom portion (15) of said second depression (8) is
centrally arranged in said bottom (14) of said second depression
(8).
4. The freezer head according to claim 3, wherein said second
bottom portion (13) of said first depression (7) is arranged on
opposite ends of said first bottom portion (12) of said first
depression (7) and wherein said second bottom portion (16) of said
second depression (8) is arranged on opposite ends of said first
bottom portion (15) of said second depression (8).
5. The freezer head according to claim 4, wherein said second
bottom portion (13) of said first depression (7) is comprised of
two individual first areas separated by said first bottom portion
(12) of said first depression (7) and wherein said two individual
first areas are located on a common imaginary circular arc, and
wherein said second bottom portion (16) of said second depression
(8) is comprised of two individual second areas separated by said
first bottom portion (15) of said second depression (8) and wherein
said two individual second areas are located on a common imaginary
circular arc.
6. The freezer head according to claim 3, wherein said radius of
curvature of said first bottom portion (12) of said first
depression (7) is smaller than said radius of curvature of said
second bottom portion (13) of said first depression (7), and
wherein said radius of curvature of said first bottom portion (15)
of said second depression (8) is smaller than said radius of
curvature of said second bottom portion (16) of said second
depression (8).
7. The freezer head according to claim 1, wherein said first and
second exterior sides are positioned opposite one another and
wherein said first exterior side has one said first exterior
depression (7) and wherein said second exterior side has one said
second exterior depression (8).
8. The freezer head according to claim 1, wherein said casing (1)
has a casing bottom (2) and a casing sidewall (3) connected to an
edge of said casing bottom (2) and projecting transversely from
said casing bottom (2).
9. The freezer head according to claim 8, wherein said casing
sidewall (3) comprises said first and second exterior sides such
that said first and second depressions (7, 8) are located in said
casing sidewall (3).
10. The freezer head according to claim 8, wherein said casing
sidewall (3) delimits said hollow interior (27, 28).
11. The freezer head according to claim 8, comprising a transverse
stay (21) arranged in said hollow interior, wherein said hollow
interior comprises two chambers (27, 28) separated from one another
at least partially by said transverse stay (21).
12. The freezer head according to claim 11, wherein said transverse
stay (21) is connected to said casing bottom (2) and projects
transversely form said casing bottom (2).
13. The freezer head according to claim 12, wherein said casing (1)
has a cover (4) connected to said casing sidewall (3) opposite said
casing bottom (2) and closing off said hollow interior (27, 28),
wherein said transverse stay (21) ends at a spacing from said cover
(4).
14. The freezer head according to claim 13, further comprising two
stays (24, 25) connected to said cover (4) and projecting into said
hollow interior (27, 28) at a lateral spacing to said transverse
stay (21), wherein said two stays (24, 25) project in a direction
toward said casing bottom (21) past an end of said transverse stay
(21).
15. The freezer head according to claim 14, wherein said two stays
(24, 25) and said transverse stay (21) from a labyrinth passage
(26).
16. The freezer head according to claim 11, wherein said transverse
stay (21) has a through opening (22) configured to accommodate a
line supplying the cooling medium into said hollow interior (27,
28).
17. The freezer head according to claim 11, wherein said first
depression (7) and said second depression (8) are positioned
opposite one another and wherein said transverse stay (21) is
connected between said first and second depressions (7, 8).
18. The freezer head according to claim 1, further comprising at
least one insert (29-31) configured to be inserted into at least
one of said first and second depressions (7, 8), wherein said at
least one insert (29-31) has a receiving part (32-34) configured to
receive a pipe section to be frozen, wherein the receiving part
(32-34) is configured to accommodate a pipe section having a
diameter larger than a diameter of pipe sections accommodated in
said first and second depressions (7, 8).
19. The freezer head according to claim 18, wherein said receiving
part (32-34) is bracket-shaped.
20. The freezer head according to claim 18, wherein said receiving
part (32-34) has an inner side (36-38) having at least one
part-circular bottom area.
21. The freezer head according to claim 20, wherein said bottom
(36-38) has two bottom areas of different curvature.
22. The freezer head according to claim 18, wherein said insert
(29-31) has an insertion member (35) configured to engage one of
said first and second depressions (7, 8).
23. The freezer head according to claim 22, wherein said insertion
member (35) has an outer side (39-41) matching a curved inner side
of one of said first and second depressions (7, 8).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a freezer head for pipe freezing
devices comprising at least one depression provided in an exterior
side of the freezer head for receiving a pipe section and with at
least one connector for supplying a cooling medium into the hollow
interior of the freezer head.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Such freezer heads are used to freeze the contents of a
pipe, for example, of a heating pipe in order to be able to repair
the pipe or exchange individual pipe sections. The freezer head is
provided with a depression and is placed with the depression onto
the pipe section so that the bottom of the depression rests areally
on the pipe. The cooling medium introduced into the freezer head
evaporates so that heat is removed from the pipe section and its
contents is frozen.
[0005] In a known freezer head (DE 196 17 619 C2) several
depressions are provided at the circumference. They are separated
from one another by wing-like stays which extend radially outwardly
from a central area of the freezer head. The bottom areas of the
depressions have different radii of curvature so that the freezer
head can be placed with a matching depression onto the
corresponding pipe section. However, because of the wing-shaped
stays, the freezer head has a complex configuration. Moreover, the
radially extending stays, in particular, when the depressions are
relatively deep, are narrow so that there is the risk that these
stays will be damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to develop a
freezer head of the aforementioned kind such that it is of a
compact design, has a high stability, and can still be used for
different pipe sections.
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved
in that the freezer head is provided at another exterior side with
at least one additional depression and that the bottom of the
depressions has two bottom portions, respectively, which bottom
portions have different radii of curvature.
[0008] The bottom of each depression of the freezer head according
to the invention is provided with two differently curved bottom
portions. According to the different radii of curvature of the
bottom portions, the depressions can receive pipe sections of
different diameters. Since the depressions are provided on
different exterior sides of the freezer head, preferably at
opposite exterior sides, the freezer head according to the
invention is of a compact configuration. In particular, it has no
wing-like stays which can be easily damaged. Accordingly, the
freezer head has a high strength which makes it suitable, in
particular, for the rough use on construction sites.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] In the drawing:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an end view of the freezer head according to the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an end view of the casing of the freezer head of
the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a section along the line III-III of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cover of the freezer head
according to the invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of a first embodiment of an insert
according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of an insert
according to the invention; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side view of a third embodiment of an insert
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The freezer head is a component of a pipe freezing device
with which the pipe contents, usually water, can be frozen.
[0019] For this purpose, two freezer heads are fastened to the pipe
section. Lines are attached to the freezer heads which connect the
freezer heads to a cooling device which usually comprises a
compressor, a condenser and a blower. A cooling medium which is
introduced via the lines into the freezer heads is circulated under
pressure within the cooling system. The liquid cooling medium which
is pressurized under high pressure is introduced via a thin
capillary tube into the freezer heads. When exiting the thin
capillary tube, the cooling medium evaporates so that heat is
absorbed from the neighboring area of the pipe to be frozen. This
has the results that the pipe contents will freeze. The cooling
medium vapor is removed via an outer pipe of the lines surrounding
the capillary tube to the cooling device and returned to the
compressor in which the cooling medium vapor is compressed. The
cooling medium vapor which is now under high pressure is then
cooled by means of the condenser and optionally by the blower and
is thus returned into the liquid phase. The liquid cooling medium
is then again recirculated in the described manner into the freezer
heads. The operation of this cooling system is known and is
therefore not explained in more detail in this context.
[0020] The freezer head has a casing 1 with a casing bottom 2
having connected thereto a perpendicularly extending peripheral
casing sidewall 3. The casing 1 also comprises a cover 4 which has
the same contour shape as the casing 1 and closes off the hollow
interior of the casing 1. As is illustrated in FIG. 3, the cover 4
with its peripheral edge 5 rests at least with a portion of its
height at the inner wall 6 of the sidewall 3 of the casing 1. The
casing 1 and the cover 4 are advantageously connected by welding
and are comprised of a material with good heat-conducting
properties, such as metal.
[0021] The freezer head is provided at two oppositely positioned
longitudinal sides with groove-shaped depression 7 and 8,
respectively. The pipes or pipe sections 9 and 10 (FIG. 1) to be
frozen are inserted into these depressions 7, 8. The depression 7
has a curved inner side or bottom 11 which is comprised of two
bottom portions 12 and 13 of different curvature. The central
bottom portion 12 has a smaller radius of curvature than the
adjoining bottom portion 13. In the disclosed embodiment the
central bottom portion 12 has a radius corresponding to a
three-quarter inch pipe. Accordingly, the freezer head can be
placed with the depression 7 onto a pipe having a diameter of
three-quarter inch. The freezer head then rests with its bottom
portion 12 areally (with its surface area) against the
corresponding pipe section 10 (FIG. 1). The width of the bottom
portion 12 measured in the direction of curvature is selected such
that the contents of the pipe section 10 is frozen within a short
period of time.
[0022] The freezer head can be positioned with its depression 7
also on a pipe section 10 having a greater diameter. In the
illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 1 this larger pipe has a
diameter of 1 inch. In this case, the freezer head is positioned
with its bottom portion 13 areally on the circumference of the pipe
section 10 with the larger diameter. It is understood that the
bottom portion 13 is comprised of two individual areas adjoining
the bottom portion 12. The two areas are located on a common
imaginary circular arc or a cylinder mantle surface. The bottom
portion 13 has such a length in the direction of curvature that a
quick heat transmission from the freezer head to the pipe section
10 is ensured.
[0023] The oppositely positioned depression 8 has also a curved
inner side or bottom 14 with two bottom portions 15 and 16 of
different curvature. The bottom portion 15 is provided centrally in
the depression 8 and has a smaller radius of curvature than the
adjoining individual areas of the bottom portion 16. The radii of
curvature of the bottom portions 15 and 16 are moreover smaller
than the radii of curvature of the bottom portions 12, 13 of the
oppositely positioned depression 7.
[0024] As is illustrated in FIG. 1 in an exemplary fashion, the
freezer head can be placed with the depression 8 onto a pipe
section having a diameter of a 1/4inch. In this case, the freezer
head with the bottom portion 15 rests areally against this pipe.
The freezer head can be placed with the bottom portion 16, which
adjoins both ends of the bottom portion 15 and whose two areas are
positioned on a common imaginary circular arc or cylinder mantle
surface, onto a pipe section 9 having a larger diameter which can
be, for example, a diameter of 1/2inch. In each case it is ensured
by means of the bottom portions 15, 16 located on circular arcs
that the freezer head will rest against the respective pipe with
areal contact.
[0025] The two depressions 7, 8, which are provided on oppositely
positioned longitudinal sides of the freezer head, have two
differently curved bottom portions 12, 13 and 15, 16 in the
illustrated embodiment. It is possible in a simple variation to
provide one or the other depression or both depressions 7, 8 with
more than two differently curved bottom portions. In this case, the
freezer head can be placed onto a corresponding number of pipe
sections of different diameters. Since the different bottom
portions of each depression 7, 8 are positioned on imaginary
circular arcs, the freezer head will rest areally on the respective
pipe sections 9, 10 so that an optimal heat transmission is
ensured. Since the freezer head has only one depression 7, 8 on
each longitudinal side, it has a very compact configuration. The
freezer head can therefore also be placed onto the pipes in narrow
spaces. Despite this compact configuration, the freezer head can be
placed optimally onto pipes or pipe section 9, 10 having different
diameters because of the differently curved bottom portions 12, 13;
15, 16 provided on the freezer head.
[0026] Narrow sides 17 and 18 adjoin the longitudinal sides of the
freezer head and are inclined in opposite directions so as to
extend toward one another (see FIG. 1). The narrow sides 17, 18
diverge from the longitudinal side having the depression 8 in the
direction toward the longitudinal side with the depression 7. This
slanted position of the narrow sides 17, 18 relative to the
longitudinal sides contributes to a compact configuration and
provides for a simple handling of the device. As a result of this
slanted position of the narrow sides 17, 18, the freezer head is
narrower in the area of the smaller depression 8 which is
configured to receive pipes of smaller diameters than the
depression 7 at the opposite side.
[0027] The narrow side 17 has a connector 19 to which a line 20
(FIG. 1) for the cooling medium is connected. It comprises in a
manner known in the art a capillary inner tube, via which the
cooling medium is introduced into the freezer head, as well as an
outer pipe, which surrounds the inner capillary tube and in which
the cooling medium vapor can be transported out of the freezer head
back to the cooling device.
[0028] The two depressions 7, 8 are positioned opposite one another
on the two longitudinal sides of the freezer head. Accordingly, the
freezer head has its smallest width in the area between the deepest
locations of the depressions 7, 8 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5).
Advantageously, the casing sidewall 3 has over its periphery a
constant thickness. The casing sidewall 3 is thicker only in the
area of the connector 19. In order to ensure an optimal heat
transmission to the pipe section 9, 10, the casing sidewall 3 is
advantageously thin. It is, of course, also possible that the
casing sidewall 3 has different thicknesses about its
circumference. In this connection, it is advantageous when the
casing sidewall 3 in the area of the bottoms 11, 14 is of a
thin-walled construction in order to provide a good heat
transmission. The casing sidewall 3 can have a greater wall
thickness in the other areas.
[0029] The differently curved bottom portions 12, 13; 15, 16 are
provided in the sidewall 3 of the casing 1. The depressions 7, 8
extend over the entire height of the casing sidewall 3.
[0030] In the area of the deepest location of the two depressions
7, 8, the opposite portions of the casing sidewall are connected by
a transverse stay 21. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the transverse stay
21 extends from the casing bottom 2 of the casing 1 perpendicularly
in the direction toward the cover 4. In the vicinity of the casing
bottom 2, the transverse stay 21 is provided with a through opening
22 whose axis is aligned with the axis of the through opening 23 in
the connector 19. The through opening 22 provided in the transverse
stay 21 has a significantly smaller diameter than the through
opening 23 of the connector 19 because only the capillary tube (not
illustrated) for supplying the pressurized liquid cooling medium
must pass through the through opening 22. The transverse stay 21
ends at a spacing to the cover 4 (FIG. 3). It essentially divides
the hollow interior of the freezer head into two chambers 27, 28.
Two stays 24 and 25 extend perpendicularly from the inner side of
the cover 4 and are positioned laterally spaced relative to the
transverse stay 21 on opposite sides of the transverse stay 21 (see
FIG. 3). The two stays 24, 25 have a length extending past the free
end of the transverse stay so that they overlap the transverse stay
when viewed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension
of the stays 21, 24, 25 (FIG. 3). Accordingly, between the
transverse stay 21 and the two stays 24, 25 provided at the cover
4, a labyrinth passage 26 is formed via which the cooling medium
vapor can flow from the chamber 27 into the chamber 28. The liquid
cooling medium is introduced via a capillary tube (not shown)
passing through the through opening 22 into the chamber 27 which is
separated by the transverse stay 21 from the chamber 28 into which
the connector 19 opens. The pressurized liquid cooling medium
evaporates in the chamber 27 when exiting the capillary pipe, and
the resulting cooling medium vapor flows via the labyrinth passage
26 into the chamber 28 from which it is removed via the outer pipe
(not shown) of the line 20. The transverse stay 21 which is
provided in the central area of the freezer head provides a high
strength to the freezer head. The stays 24, 25 have a rectangular
contour (FIG. 4) in a plan view and are formed as narrow tongues
which are advantageously monolithic parts of the plate-shaped cover
4.
[0031] The transverse stay 21 with the labyrinth passage 26
contributes to an optimal evaporation of the cooling medium and an
optimal cooling. The cooling medium vapor cannot pass from the
chamber 27 immediately into the chamber 28. It is held back by the
labyrinth passage 26 and can thus only slowly flow into the chamber
28. In this way, an excellent heat transmission is ensured, in
particular, independent of the position of the freezer head.
[0032] The two chambers 27, 28 have essentially the same contour
but are mirror-symmetrically positioned relative to one another
(FIG. 2).
[0033] In order to be able to use the freezer head also for pipes
of a larger diameter, inserts 29 to 31 (FIG. 6 to 8), which are
substantially of identical design and differ only with respect to
their receiving parts 32 to 34, can be inserted, for example, into
the depression 7. Each insert 29 to 31 has an insertion member 35
which is advantageously of a solid (not hollow) construction and
has a contour matched to the contour of the depression 7. The
insertion members 35 of the inserts 29 to 31 are of identical
configuration and rest in their position of use areally on the
bottom 11 of the depression 7. The receiving part 32 to 34 of the
inserts 29 to 31 adjoins the bracket-shaped insertion member 35.
The inner sides 36 to 38 of the receiving parts 32 to 34 are curved
like a circular arc and extends approximately about 180.degree.,
respectively. The inner side 36 has the smallest and the inner side
38 the greatest radius of curvature. The radii of curvature of the
inner sides 36 to 38 are selected such that the insert 29 is
suitable for a pipe having a diameter of 11/4in., the insert 30 for
a pipe having a diameter of 11/2in., and the insert 31 for a pipe
having a diameter of 2 in. The freezer head rests with its inner
side 36 to 38 of the receiving part 32 to 34 of the respective
insert 29 to 31 areally on the respective pipe. The exterior 39 of
the insertion member 35 has a transition into an outwardly
extending, advantageously planar, outer side 40,41 of the receiving
part 32 to 34, respectively. With this outer side 40, 41, the
insert 29 to 31 rests against the longitudinal side of the freezer
head provided with the depression 7. By means of the inserts, the
range of application of the freezer head is expanded. The inserts
29 to 31 are comprised of a material of good heat-conducting
properties, preferably of metal.
[0034] The inner sides 36 to 38 of the receiving part 32 to 34 can
have differently curved bottom portions corresponding to the design
of the bottoms 11, 14 of the depressions 7, 8. Accordingly, the
receiving part 32 to 34 can also receive pipes of different
diameters.
[0035] The freezer head is fastened before the freezing process on
the respective pipe section 9, 10 by means of holders (not shown),
which are, for example, in the form of tightening straps to be
wrapped around the pipe and the freezer head. The pipe sections 9,
10 to be frozen can be comprised of steel, copper, plastic
material, or a composite material.
[0036] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
* * * * *