U.S. patent application number 14/044185 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-30 for connection fitting.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEBR. KEMPER GMBH & CO. KG METALLWERKE. The applicant listed for this patent is Roland Blumenthal. Invention is credited to Roland Blumenthal.
Application Number | 20140026996 14/044185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39125228 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140026996 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blumenthal; Roland |
January 30, 2014 |
CONNECTION FITTING
Abstract
The present invention relates to a connection fitting for the
connection of a ring with at least one consumer to a storey or
rising main branch with inlet and outlet openings (2, 4) which can
be connected to the branch and an intervening merge opening (34)
for the ring main which is preceded in the flow direction (S) by a
cross-section constriction (16). The present invention also relates
to a water pipe system with at least one storey or rising main
branch to which several ring mains are connected via separation and
merge openings and a cross-section constriction provided between
the separation and merge openings of the assigned ring main in the
branch. The object of the present invention is to specify a
connection fitting which leads to improved flow characteristics in
the region of the ring main assigned to the connection fitting and
to provide a water pipe system which fulfils the practical
requirements in an improved manner. With this invention the object
is solved by suggesting a connection fitting and a water pipe
system of the prior known type, which are characterised in that
they comprise means (12, 28) for varying the passage area of the
cross-section constriction (V).
Inventors: |
Blumenthal; Roland;
(Erftstadt, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Blumenthal; Roland |
Erftstadt |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
GEBR. KEMPER GMBH & CO. KG
METALLWERKE
Olpe
DE
|
Family ID: |
39125228 |
Appl. No.: |
14/044185 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12668522 |
Apr 5, 2010 |
8578962 |
|
|
PCT/EP2008/005677 |
Jul 11, 2008 |
|
|
|
14044185 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/798 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03B 7/09 20130101; F16L
41/02 20130101; Y10T 137/9029 20150401; E03B 7/045 20130101; Y10T
137/87539 20150401; Y10T 137/86493 20150401; Y10T 137/776 20150401;
Y10T 137/87547 20150401; Y10T 137/87338 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/798 |
International
Class: |
F16L 41/02 20060101
F16L041/02 |
Claims
1. Connection fitting for a water pipe system for the connection of
a ring main with at least one consumer to a storey or rising main
branch with inlet and outlet openings which can be connected to the
branch, an intervening merge opening for the ring main which is
preceded in the flow direction by a cross-section constriction
acting as a Venturi nozzle, and means for varying a passage area of
the cross-section constriction in response of a pressure difference
generated by the Venturi effect from the cross-section
constriction.
2. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein the means for varying
comprises a movable throttle element, which can move relative to
the cross-section constriction (V).
3. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein when the means for
varying a passage area contacts the cross-section constriction, a
leakage flow (L) through the cross-section constriction is
possible.
4. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein the cross-section
constriction forms a conical surface and the means form a conical
counter surface that interacts with the conical surface.
5. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein the means is held by
a spring element against the cross-section constriction.
6. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein the means for varying
further comprises a guide element which movably holds the throttle
element.
7. The connection fitting of claim 6, wherein the guide element and
the means are coaxial and are aligned along a longitudinal axis of
the branch.
8. The connection fitting of claim 7, wherein the guide element is
formed as part of an insertion part which forms the cross-section
constriction.
9. The connection fitting of claim 8, wherein an external
circumference of the insertion part comprises locking means for
holding the insertion part in the housing of the connection
fitting.
10. The connection fitting of claim 9, wherein the locking means is
formed by a plurality of latching lugs, form one another in a
circumferential direction of the insertion part, and wherein
latching grooves are formed on an internal circumferential surface
of the housing to engage the latching lugs.
11. The connection fitting of claim 6, wherein the guide element
covers the merge opening, and wherein an outer wall of the guide
element has at least one ring main flow outlet.
12. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein the means have a
through hole running in a longitudinal direction, through which an
inner pipe can be passed.
13. The connection fitting of claim 12, further comprising an inner
pipe that movably guides the means.
14. The connection fitting of claim 12, wherein the insertion part
comprises a plurality of supporting ridges on a face-side end, the
ridges defining an external circumferential surface of the
insertion part and extending in the axial direction, and the ridges
forming a funnel shape.
15. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein when there is a
pressure difference (.DELTA.p) between the inlet and outlet
separation and merge openings of (i) about 20 millibar or less or
(ii) of about 30 millibar or more, the pressure difference
(.DELTA.p) has the following relationship: .DELTA.p.about.Q.sup.2,
where Q is the flow rate in the ring main.
16. The connection fitting of claim 1, wherein when there is a
pressure difference (.DELTA.p) between the inlet and outlet
openings of about 30 mbar or less or of about 20 mbar and more, the
pressure difference (.DELTA.p) has the following relationship:
.DELTA.p.about.Q.sup.n, where 0.6.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.1, and Q is the
flow rate in the ring main.
17. The connection fitting of claim 16, wherein n=2/3.
18. A water pipe system having a main branch to which a ring main
is connected via a separation opening and a merge opening, wherein
a cross-section constriction is provided between the separation
opening and the merge opening, and comprising means for varying a
passage area of the cross-section constriction.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/668,522, filed Apr. 5, 2010, which is a 371
of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2008/005677, filed Jul. 11, 2008,
which claimed priority to German Application No. DE
20-2007-009-832.4, filed Jul. 12, 2007. The entirety of each
application is fully incorporated by reference herein.
[0002] The present invention relates to a connection fitting for
the connection of a ring main with at least one consumer to a
storey or rising main branch with inlet and outlet openings which
can be connected to the branch and an intervening merge opening for
the ring main which is preceded in the flow direction by a
cross-section constriction.
[0003] In the field of potable water technology, in particular for
the prevention of microbial contamination in potable water pipes,
the provision is known of a connection fitting of the
aforementioned type which is positioned after a branch fitting in
the flow direction of the branch. At the branch fitting a partial
flow of the branch is led off and passed via a ring main to one or
several consumers. The ring main opens into the merge opening of
the connection fitting. In front of the merge opening in the flow
direction is a cross-section constriction, which acts as a type of
nozzle and causes a pressure difference between the junction and
the merge opening, through which with a flow in the branch, a flow
in the ring main is also produced. For the purpose of this
invention, a branch is taken to be any main pipe, irrespective of
whether it extends within a storey and within the storey several
plumbing units are arranged one behind the other, each supplied by
a ring main with drinking or service water, or as a rising main
branch, for example in several storeys, connecting plumbing units
together which are positioned one above the other.
[0004] From DE 39 19 074, for example, a connection fitting of the
aforementioned type is known as part of a high purity water supply
system. With this prior known connection fitting the ring main flow
passed back from the ring main into the branch is introduced at an
angle of about 90 degrees to the main flow direction into the
connection fitting. The main flow direction is taken to be that
direction in which the main flow runs, i.e. the flow within the
branch. The connection fitting known from DE 39 19 074 has a
cross-section constriction which acts as a type of venturi nozzle
and causes a pressure in the region of the merge opening, which is
lower than the pressure in the branch, so that in relation to a
point of the fitting in front of the cross-sectional constriction
in the flow direction, for example at the inlet opening, an
effective pressure loss occurs.
[0005] A further connection fitting is known from U.S. Pat. No.
5,622,203. The connection fitting forms part of a hot-water
circulation system and connects the hot-water circulation pipe to a
public potable water supply network. The connection fitting ensures
that with the extraction of hot water at an extraction point
connected to the system hot water is directly available. The
connection fitting acts as a type of venturi nozzle which comprises
a cross-section constriction, preceded in the flow direction by a
merge opening in the circulation pipe, realised by a gap and a
cross-section expansion positioned after the merge opening in the
flow direction. Due to the venturi effect, a lower pressure is
produced in the region of the merge opening (of the gap), through
which suction is generated, which allows the water from the
circulation pipe to flow via the gap at an angle approaching
90.degree. into the circulation pipe again, wherein the circulating
water can be mixed with the potable or service water from the
public potable water supply main.
[0006] Practical experiments by the applicant have shown that in
particular with several ring mains arranged one behind the other in
the direction of the main flow, particular attention must be paid
to the dynamic flow design. Thus, not only should the pressure drop
within a ring main be minimised, but also too the pressure drop of
each individual connection fitting arranged one behind the other in
the main flow direction should be matched such that the desired
flushing effect of the ring mains can be reliably ensured to cause
flushing of all ring mains in the branch during water extraction by
a consumer. Here, in particular it should be ensured that the
pressure difference is maintained as low as possible for each
individual connection fitting without the desired through-flow of
the ring main stopping with a flow in the branch, for example due
to water extraction on a ring main following this ring main in the
main flow direction.
[0007] The present invention provides for a connection fitting of
the type mentioned in the introduction, which leads to improved
flow relationships in the region of the ring main assigned to the
connection fitting. Furthermore, with the present invention a water
pipe system with at least one storey or rising main branch, to
which several ring mains are connected via separation and merge
openings, and a cross-section constriction provided in the branch
between the separation and merge openings of the assigned ring
main, are specified, which fulfil the practical requirements in an
improved manner.
[0008] This object is solved according to the invention in the
first aspect by a connection fitting having the features as defined
in claim 1.
[0009] From the present invention it follows that the flow in the
ring main, which is caused by the pressure difference, can be
varied by the nozzle-type cross-section constriction in the branch
between the separation opening and the merge opening by a variable
passage area of the cross-section constriction, and namely in
particular in dependence of the volume flow in the branch, i.e. in
dependence of the effective pressure within the branch. With the
embodiment according to the invention, in dependence of the
position of a means of varying the cross-section constriction, any
flow characteristic, in particular any flow division, i.e. the
distribution of partial flows by the ring main on one hand and the
branch on the other, can be achieved. To achieve this, the means of
varying the profile area of the cross-section constriction can be
controlled by a motor. Any means of varying the passage area is
conceivable. The profile contraction can, for example, be realised
by a moving throttle element, which is relative to a stationary
cross-section constriction provided between the inlet and outlet
openings in the branch.
[0010] According to a preferred further development, this throttle
element is held in its initial position, which here gives the
position at which the maximum possible cross-section constriction
in the branch is obtained, in the region of the cross-section
constriction with the formation of a leakage flow gap. This
preferred embodiment ensures that even with relatively low volume
flow in the branch a partial flow passes through the branch so that
at no time can the total flow in the branch occur solely through
the ring mains and with the bypass of that longitudinal part, which
is located between the separation and merge openings of the
respective ring mains, which would lead to microbial contamination
of these flow sections. The aforementioned slight flows in the
branch can, for example, then be set if the branch is opened also
when not in use, for example, by a valve at one end, in order to
flush the respective branch and to drain stagnant or optionally
microbially contaminated water.
[0011] According to an alternative embodiment, this effect can also
be achieved in that a bypass permitting the leakage flow is
provided in the region of the cross-section constriction. With this
embodiment the throttle element can be located for sealing on the
cross-section constriction without the leakage flow being impaired.
Consequently, according to the further development of the present
invention only a means of leakage has to be provided which
facilitates the corresponding leakage flow through the branch, i.e.
a leakage flow excluding the ring main. With the use of a throttle
as the means of varying the passage area, the leakage should be
dimensioned such that up to an initial lifting of the throttle
element from the flow constriction, which is provided stationary
with respect to a connection housing, adequate flow both through
the ring main and also through the uninterrupted branch is
provided. Any small flow within the branch should accordingly lead
to a through-flow and thus a flushing both of the ring main and of
the branch.
[0012] According to a preferred further development of the present
invention the cross-section constriction, i.e. the embodiment
generally formed stationary to the housing of the connection
fitting, is formed by a cone, the front surface of which forms a
nozzle in the flow direction, i.e. the narrowest cross-section in
the branch, and the other conical surface of which is preferably
formed as a diffuser and forms a contact base for a conical counter
surface, formed by the throttle element. For the formation of a
certain conical surge characteristic the conical counter surface of
the throttle element and the conical surface of the double cone
must not have the same contour and/or slope. On the contrary both
surfaces can have contours and/or slopes which are different from
one another.
[0013] To influence the respective flow proportions through the
ring main on one hand and through the branch on the other hand, the
throttle element is preferably held under tension by a spring
element, and namely such that the throttle element contacts the
cross-section constriction in the initial position. The spring
characteristic of the spring element can be adapted to take into
account the desired partial flows, and namely dependent on the
pressure or flow relationships in the branch with changing total
flow.
[0014] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the means also has a guide element which retains the
throttle element for movement. The guide element is preferably
supported on the internal circumferential surface of the housing of
the connection fitting, so that the throttle element is held and
guided in a defined manner within the housing. With regard to a
symmetrical flow through the branch, also in the region of the
cross-section constriction, in a further preferred embodiment of
the present invention it is suggested that the guide element and
the throttle element are aligned coaxially with respect to one
another and that their longitudinal axes align with the
longitudinal axis of the branch.
[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present
invention an insertion part is provided, which as well as the guide
element also forms a constriction section positioned in front of it
in the flow direction, which forms the cross-section constriction.
Accordingly, the means for varying the passage area of the
cross-section constriction can be installed and realised in the
form of a standardised insertion part in the branch. The means can
be used accordingly for retrofitting in normal, cylindrical branch
pipes from which ring mains branch off. The insertion part can here
be inserted into a piece of pipe in the branch.
[0016] In particular with the initial equipping of a connection
fitting it is preferable to provide locking means on the external
circumferential area of the insertion part, which are preferably
spaced with respect to one another in the circumferential
direction. The insertion part is held within the fitting housing
with these locking means. The locking means are preferably formed
by latching lugs which engage in latching grooves formed on the
internal circumferential surface of the fitting housing. Latching
grooves are taken to mean recesses which are provided in the
circumferential direction spaced from one another, each interacting
with a single latching lug. Of course, latching grooves of this
nature can be realised, formed together as a recess running around
the internal circumference of the fitting housing.
[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present
invention the guide element extends up to the region of the merge
opening, i.e. partially covering the merge opening in the region of
the connection fitting and forming a ring-main flow outlet, which
passes through the guide section so that the ring main flow can be
passed back through the guide element into the main flow in the
branch.
[0018] The further development given in claim 13 offers the
possibility of having a so-called inliner within the connection
fitting, which is normally provided as a circulation pipe for a
pipe-in-pipe circulation pipe and normally carries hot water to the
consumer. Accordingly, the connection fitting according to this
further development is particularly suitable for a hot-water
circulation system.
[0019] The inner pipe is used according to a further preferred
embodiment to guide the throttle element for movement. Here, for
example, between the external circumferential surface of the inner
pipe and the movable throttle element positioned over it, a leakage
flow can be permitted which also passes through the passage area of
the cross-section constriction when the throttle element is located
in its initial position.
[0020] To realise the ring main flow outlet, according to a further
preferred embodiment of the present invention it is suggested that
the guide element is provided with several supporting ridges on at
least one of its face-side ends, which specify the external
circumferential area and extend in an axial direction. Adjacent
supporting ridges in the circumferential direction form a gap,
through which the introduced ring main flow can pass the guide
element in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal
axis of the branch. On the face-side ends the corresponding
supporting ridges are preferably formed in a funnel shape by means
of which insertion of the inner pipe is simplified during the
assembly of the connection fitting.
[0021] Claims 16 and 17 specify preferred flow dimensions of the
connection fitting which have proven to be suitable as further
developments in practice.
[0022] The object is solved with regard to the water pipe system by
a system having the features as defined in claim 18. This comprises
means for varying the passage area of the cross-section
constriction. These need not necessarily be formed as part of a
connection fitting which forms the merge opening. However, these
means are assigned to the cross-section constriction, i.e. between
the respective separation opening and the respective merge opening
of an assigned ring main.
[0023] Further advantages and details of the present invention are
given in the following description of an embodiment in conjunction
with the drawing.
[0024] This shows the following:
[0025] FIG. 1 a perspective view of an insertion part of the
embodiment with the flow input in the initial position of the
throttle element;
[0026] FIG. 2 a perspective side view according to FIG. 1 in the
fully open position of the insertion part;
[0027] FIG. 3 a perspective side view of the insertion part
illustrated in FIG. 1 with the flow output;
[0028] FIG. 4 a longitudinal section through a part of a branch in
the region of the connection fitting with a throttle element in the
initial position;
[0029] FIG. 5 the view illustrated in FIG. 4 with a fully open
throttle element;
[0030] FIG. 6 the detail C circled in FIG. 5 in an enlarged
illustration and
[0031] FIG. 7 a graph comparing the flow characteristic in the ring
main in relationship to the pressure difference between the
separation and merge openings.
[0032] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an insertion part 2, which can be
formed from metal or plastic and which is formed with a cylindrical
external circumferential surface essentially corresponding to a
cylindrical internal circumferential surface of a fitting housing,
which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 where it is identified with
the reference numeral 4. The arrow S drawn in FIGS. 1 to 3
indicates the flow direction of a main flow passing through the
branch, the said main flow being identified in FIGS. 4 and 5 with
the reference letter H. The flow through the ring main is
identified with the reference letter H.
[0033] At its front end in the flow direction the insertion part 2
has several ridges 6 distributed around the circumference, which
continue the cylindrical external circumferential surface and which
at their free end are aligned inwards in a funnel shape. The end
remote from the flow also has a corresponding embodiment. Here, the
ridges are identified with the reference numeral 8.
[0034] This region of the insertion part 2 forms a guide element 10
for a throttle element 12. Between the front ridges 6 and the rear
ridges 8 the insertion part 2 has an annular section 14, the
internal circumferential surface of which is formed as a conical
surface 16, which interacts with a conical counter surface 18 of
the throttle element 12. In the sectioned illustration a nozzle
cross-section formed by the annular section, which forms a
cross-section constriction V in relation to the main flow H, is
protruded from radially inwards by the ridges 6. In other words the
nozzle has at its narrowest point a larger diameter than the ridges
6 which are drawn inwards and which form a limit stop for the
throttle element 1.
[0035] In the region of the rear end of the annular section 14 in
the flow direction several latching lugs 20 are formed on the
external circumferential surface, which engage the latching grooves
22, which are recessed on the internal circumferential surface of
the fitting housing 4. Downstream from the latching lugs 20 and
held by every second of the rear ridges 8 a ring 24 is provided,
which comprises and circumferentially guides the throttle element
12, and forms a supporting surface 26 for a spring element 28,
which extends between this ring 24 and an annular surface 30 of the
throttle element 12, which follows in the flow direction
immediately after the conical counter surface 18 of the throttle
element 12.
[0036] In the illustrated embodiment the conical inward projecting
free ends of the ridges 6, 8 form a funnel shaped opening, which
facilitates the insertion of an inner pipe 32 of an inliner
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This funnel shaped opening has a
diameter approximately corresponding to the outer diameter of the
inner pipe 32. The inner diameter of the nozzle at its narrowest
point is about 15 to 25% larger than the diameter of the funnel
shaped opening.
[0037] The inner pipe 32 passes through a central hole in the
throttle element 12. This is here guided by the internal
circumferential surface of the ring 24 and the ridges following in
the flow direction S. Selected ridges can engage axial grooves
which can be formed on the external circumferential surface of the
throttle element 12, by means of which the throttle element 12 is
prevented from turning.
[0038] As can be seen from FIGS. 4 to 6, the insertion part 2 with
its guide element 10 is located in the region of a merge opening 34
of a ring main, which is not illustrated in further detail and
which leaves the branch with a separation opening upstream of the
insertion part 2, leading to one or several consumers, for example
a plumbing unit in a hotel, and is passed back into the branch in
the region of the connection fitting. In this respect the
circumferentially spaced rear ridges 8 form a ring-main flow outlet
38, through which the ring main flow can flow radially inwards to
combine with the main flow H.
[0039] In the initial position illustrated in FIG. 4, where the
conical counter surface 18 of the throttle element 12 contacts the
conical surface 16 of the cylindrical section 14, a leakage flow
gap remains between the adjacent conical surfaces 16, 18, so that
with a pressure difference acting over the maximum cross-section
constriction a certain leakage flow is possible even with
contacting conical surfaces 16, 18. The cross-section constriction
can also be formed such that with minimum pressure difference the
main flow H is cut off and the remaining volume flow passes solely
through the ring main.
[0040] With increasing pressure difference over the cross-section
constriction the throttle element 14 is forced backwards in the
flow direction against the force of the spring element 28. In this
way the cross-section constriction V is enlarged until the throttle
element is brought up against the face-side end of the guide formed
by the guide element 10. Here, this is formed by hook shaped radial
protrusions 40 from the rear ridges 8.
[0041] The flow characteristic in the ring main produced in this
manner is illustrated in FIG. 7 in comparison to a conventional
flow characteristic K of a constant throttle. With a very small
pressure difference in the branch of about 10 to 20 mbar a leakage
flow, identified with L, occurs. With pressure changes in this
region a flow curve corresponding to a conventional throttle
arises. However, this is due to a constant flow cross-section,
which is formed by the leakage flow gap.
[0042] At higher pressure differences the relative movement between
the throttle element 12 and the insertion part 2 begins, which is
possible up to a pressure difference of about 30 mbar. A higher
through-flow in the ring main is produced, overall comparing to a
nozzle with a constant cross-section constriction. It is only at a
pressure difference above 30 mbar that the throttle element 12
reaches its end position, i.e. it contacts the end surface of the
guide, so that a further increase in the pressure difference
between the separation opening and the merge opening in the ring
main leads to a conventional flow curve K. In a pressure difference
range where the throttle element increasingly moves away from the
conical surface 14, the flow curve is approximately linear. There
is a correlation with which the pressure difference and the flow in
the ring main correlate as follows: .DELTA.p.about.Q.sup.2/3 with
.DELTA.p=pressure difference between the separation opening and
merge opening and Q=flow rate in m.sup.3/h in the ring main. This
characteristic is identified with D in FIG. 7. Below this region,
i.e. in the region of the leakage flow and with a pressure
difference of below about 13 mbar the relationship becomes
.DELTA.p.about.Q.sup.2. As already indicated above, this region is
identified with L. Above this section of the curve D a
corresponding dependence arises, but it is due to the now maximum
cross-section constriction with the maximum withdrawal of the
throttle element 12 with a significantly smaller rise in the flow
rate in the ring main for increasing pressure difference (curve
K).
[0043] The continuous curve K from the origin of the graph
according to FIG. 7 at the zero point corresponds otherwise to the
conventional characteristic of a nozzle for generating forced flow
in the ring main, for example according to DE 39 19 074.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0044] 2 Insertion part [0045] 4 Fitting housing [0046] 6 Ridges
[0047] 8 Ridges [0048] 10 Guide element [0049] 12 Throttle element
[0050] 14 Annular section [0051] 16 Conical surface [0052] 18
Conical counter surface [0053] 20 Latching lugs [0054] 22 Latching
grooves [0055] 24 Ring [0056] 26 Supporting surface [0057] 28
Spring element [0058] 30 Annular surface [0059] 32 Inner pipe
[0060] 34 Merge opening [0061] 36 Separation opening [0062] 38
Ring-main flow outlet [0063] 40 Radial protrusions of the ridges 8
[0064] D Flow characteristic for variable passage area [0065] K
Conventional flow characteristic with constant passage area [0066]
H Main flow [0067] L Flow characteristic for leakage flow [0068] R
Ring main flow [0069] S Flow [0070] V Cross-section
constriction
* * * * *