Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for connecting pipe sections of a pipe fitting or pipe. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a first and second inlets for receiving a piping section, a first and second O-ring internally disposed within recesses, a first and a second inlet disposed on the housing and configured to open into an interior region of the apparatus, wherein the second inlet may be disposed 180-degrees from the first inlet, and an integrally formed push-fit connection assembly comprising a teeth ring having a plurality of teeth directed generally radially inwardly and generally toward the interior region.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to pipe connections, and more particularly to connecting pipes by push-fitting. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Fittings or connectors for the connection of sections of pipes are known in a number of design types. Perhaps the simplest form of pipe connector is a sleeve for connecting two pipes together. The sleeve may fit around an end of each pipe and be sealed in position to effectively make the two pipes one. This type of connection fitting is often practiced in domestic plumbing, where the sleeve is usually formed of copper and soldered onto copper pipes. 
         [0004]    More complex connectors tend to rely on some kind of compression fit. For example, a sleeve may be fitted onto the end of a pipe that squeezes around the outside of the pipe to form a seal. Often, a sealing component, such as an O-ring seal, is provided between the pipe and the sleeve. This type of seal is used in some more modern domestic plumbing systems and is often referred to as a “press-fit” or “push-fit” connector. In known push-fit type connectors typically a mechanical locking element ensures that a pipe section maintains a position with respect to the pipe to which it is joined. It is desirable to prevent the pipe from changing its position, which may occur due to rotational or lateral movement relative of the pipe section due to internal or external forces, to prevent the pipe from decoupling. 
         [0005]    It can be appreciated that certain stresses and forces act upon the fitting during use. Certain types of pipe may also inherently shrink and expand under environmental conditions. In particular, if a connector is fitted to a pipe that subsequently expands the stress the connector applies to the pipe will increase, which may lead to the seal between the connector and pipe breaking or the pipe distorting around the O-ring. These connectors also tend to have multiple additional components, which can make them prone to break or wear out. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there exists a need to increase the durability of the connection seal in a push-fit pipe connector. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An apparatus is disclosed for connecting pipe sections of a pipe fitting or pipe. The apparatus includes a housing comprising a first and second inlets for receiving a piping section, a first and second O-ring internally disposed within recesses, a first and a second inlet disposed on the housing and configured to open into an interior region of the apparatus, wherein the second inlet may be disposed 180-degrees from the first inlet. In one embodiment a push-fit connection assembly comprising a teeth ring having a plurality of teeth directed generally radially inwardly and generally toward the interior region is used to couple a piping section to the apparatus. A further embodiment of the apparatus including a pipe engaging section configured to crimp into a piping section thereby coupling the piping section to the apparatus. The interior region opens at least partially to at least one O-ring and is configured to accept a sealant through the first or second inlet that seals the O-ring to the apparatus and the piping section when applied. 
         [0008]    This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a pipe connector, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of a pipe connector connecting a first and second piping section, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of a pipe connector, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the pipe connector, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the pipe connector with pipe sections connected, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the pipe connector depicting a further embodiment of a pipe connection means, in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the pipe connector depicted in  FIG. 6  with the connection means engaging a pipe, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the depictions are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  shows a side view of a pipe connector  10 . The pipe connector  10  includes first and second receiving ends  2  and  4 , respectively. The receiving ends may be adapted to receive various pipes and fittings and the disclosure herein is therefore not intended to be limited thereby. In one embodiment, the receiving ends may be threaded. Although in the preferred embodiment, the first end  2  is configured to receive a pipe or fitting having the same outside diameter as the second end  4 , the pipe connector  10  may be configured to receive different sized pipes as will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of a pipe connector  10  connecting a first and second piping section  6  and  8 , respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the pipe connector  10  is formed of metal and is intended to receive copper piping, although other materials may be used for the pipe connector  10  and for the piping or other fittings to be connected. For example, the piping received by the at least one inlet and outlet of the pipe connector  10  are preferably copper, but may also be CTS, PVC or CPVC. The pipe connector  10  may also be used with pipe or tubing of polybutylene or PeX (cross-linked polyethylene) but the use of PeX tubing may require the use of an adapter which is provided within the PeX tubing to stiffen the end of the PeX tubing received by the pipe connector  10 . The adapter comprises an annular ring which has an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the uncompressed PeX tubing. The adapter prevents the PeX tubing from being unduly compressed by teeth of the press-fit connection arrangement. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the pipe connector  10 . The pipe connector  10  includes a push-fit connection arrangement  50  having a first component  12  and a second component  14 , which are generally cylindrical in shape. The second component  14  is preferably threaded into the first component  12 , however, various known coupling processes may be applied and the disclosure herein is therefore not intended to be limited thereby. The receiving ends  2  and  4  of the pipe connector  10  which are positioned axially preferably have tapered ends  64  so as to facilitate insertion of a pipe end or fitting into the pipe connector  10 . In this way, the tapered ends  64  act as a guide to direct the pipe end or fitting into the pipe connector  10 . 
         [0020]    The second component  14  may include a release collar  16  configured to selectively engage a piping engaging member  18 , i.e., a teeth ring or a split grab-ring. The release collar  16  is in coaxial alignment with the piping engaging member  18 . The second component  14  may have an inner diameter which is slightly larger than an outside diameter of the pipe or fitting to be received. The second component  14  is preferably formed as to be threaded into the first component  12  to maintain the piping engaging member  18  in position on an annular shoulder  30 . 
         [0021]    The piping engaging member  18  includes a plurality of individual teeth  19  pointed generally inwardly toward first and second sealing members  20  and  22 , respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the sealing members are O-rings but other suitable sealing members could be used in place of the O-ring. For example, an annular lip seal, or gasket. The teeth  19  have a generally flat end so as to securely grip an outer surface of a pipe or fitting without piercing or damaging the outer pipe surface. The piping engaging member  18  is preferably formed of spring steel but other materials may be used for the piping engaging member  18  depending upon the composition of the pipe or other fitting to be received by the piping engaging member  18 . The piping engaging member  18  is directed radially inwardly and toward the first and second O-rings  20  and  22  preferably forming a series of generally V-shaped segments so as to form the individual teeth  19 . A sealant may be applied to the piping engaging member  18  and interior surface areas of the second component  14  to permanently affix the piping engaging member  18  within the pipe connector  10 . 
         [0022]    The first component  12  includes a shoulder  30  that abuts an outermost portion of the second component  14  and thereby limits the position of the second component  14  relative to the piping engaging member  18 . In this way, the second component  14  creates a receiving space for the piping engaging member  18 . In addition, the portion of the second component  14  that abuts the first component  12  has a corresponding cross section so as to direct the teeth radially inwardly and generally toward the O-rings  20  and  22 . The axially innermost portion of the second component  14  also prevents the teeth  19  from bending away from the O-rings  20  and  22 , i.e., if the pipe or fitting is being pulled out of the pipe connector  10 . The shoulder  30  is further adapted to receive an O-ring protector component  24 , axially positioned within the second component  14  to abut the first O-ring  20 . The O-ring protector  24  is configured to hold the first O-ring  20  in position within an O-ring shoulder  26 . 
         [0023]    The O-ring shoulder  26  has a diameter along an axial surface  28  which is slightly less than the cross-sectional diameter of the O-ring  20  so that the O-ring  20  will be compressed when the pipe or fitting is received within the pipe connector  10 . The O-ring shoulder  26  also has an annular, radial surface  29  which has a width which is slightly less than the diameter of the O-ring  20  again so that the O-ring  20  is compressed when the pipe connector  10  receives the pipe or fitting. The shoulder  26  and the O-ring protector component  24  form a recess  23  for containing the first O-ring  20 . A second recess  27  is formed to contain the second O-ring  22 . 
         [0024]    A pipe stop  40  is formed to position a first pipe and a second pipe within the pipe connector  10 . The pipe stop  40  forms a first and second piping shoulder  48  and  49 , respectively, to receive the first and second pipes or pipe fittings. The piping shoulders  48  and  49  have a diameter along an axial surface  42  which corresponds to and is slightly larger than an outside diameter of a pipe or tubing to be connected to the pipe connector  10 . The first piping shoulder  48  has an annular, radial surface  44  which limits axial movement of the pipe or tubing when engaged by the pipe connector  10 . The second piping shoulder  49  has an annular, radial surface  45  which limits axial movement of the pipe or tubing when engaged by the pipe connector  10 . The pipe stop  40  is preferably a protrusion defined by the radial surfaces  44  and  45  and a top surface  46 . The top surface  46  preferably protrudes at least as a width of an inserted pipe and is preferably flush with an interior surface thereof. For example, the pipe stop  40  is configured to receive a pipe or fitting having the same inside diameter as the top surface  46  and preferably the same annular-shape. 
         [0025]    Between the O-rings  20  and  22 , first and second holes, i.e., inlets  60  and  62 , respectively, are disposed from a surface of the pipe connector  10  to the interior. The first inlet  60  is preferably larger than the second inlet  62 . The first and second inlets  60  and  62  are configured to enable a user to insert a sealant suitable as a pipe adhesive such as an epoxy into the pipe connector  10  as described herein below. In one preferred embodiment, the first inlet  60  is configured to receive the sealant, while the second inlet  62  is configured to view the sealant within the pipe connector  10 . To enable a user to view the epoxy, but inhibit sealant from exiting the pipe connector  10 , the second inlet  62  is preferably configured with a smaller opening than the inlet size of the first inlet  60 . In one embodiment, the size of the second inlet  62  may be adapted for a particular sealant to advantageously apply surface tension properties, i.e., the opening is configured to be large enough to view the sealant, but configured size constrained to inhibit leakage. 
         [0026]    Interior walls of the pipe connector  10  are sized to receive piping and fitting. The pipe connector  10  has an interior diameter along an axial surface  63  and  65  to correspond to an exterior diameter of a pipe or fitting. A second axial surface  61  includes a diameter formed to create a space or cavity between the pipe or fitting section and the second axial surface  61 . The diameter of the second axial surface  61  is preferably greater than the diameter associated with the axial surfaces  63  and  65 . In this way, a user may inject sealant through the opening  60  and into a cavity space as described herein below. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the pipe connector  10  having a second push-fit connection arrangement  100 . The second push-fit connection arrangement  100  is a mirror structure of the first push-fit connection arrangement  50  described herein above. The second push-fit connection arrangement  100  is configured to receive a second piping section and engage the piping section in a push-fit type coupling. As described herein above, the pipe stop  40  is configured to abut the pipe or pipe fittings within the pipe connector  10 . As  FIG. 4  shows, the pipe stop  40  will abut inserted pipes or pipe fittings upon the first push-fit connection arrangement  50  receiving a first piping component and the second push-fit connection arrangement  100  receiving a second piping component. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the pipe connector  10  with the exemplary piping section  6  and  8  connected therein. As  FIG. 5  shows, an exemplary piping section  6  is inserted into the first end  2  of the pipe connector  10  and the second piping section  8  is inserted into the second end  4 . The O-rings  20  and  22  are compressed when receiving the piping section  6 . The first piping section  6  is engaged by the first push-fit connection arrangement  50  as described herein above. Subsequent to insertion of the first piping section  6 , a user may inject a sealant  80  into the pipe connector  10 . The sealant  80  flows around the piping section  6  into the recesses  23  and  27  of the first and second O-rings  20  and  22 . In this way, the sealant fortifies the fitting of the piping section  6  against the O-rings  20  and  22  creating a more durable and long-lasting fit. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of a crimp fitting embodiment of the pipe connector  10  having a piping section  6  inserted within. The pipe connector  10  includes a connection means having a surface  11  configured to crimp into a piping section when pressed by tool. In a preferred crimp fitting embodiment, at least one O-ring is configured to crimp into a piping section and at least one O-ring is configured to receive a sealant. As  FIG. 6  shows, the pipe connector  10  has an interior diameter along an axial surface  92  to correspond to an exterior diameter of a pipe or fitting. A second axial surface  60  includes a diameter formed to create a space or cavity between the pipe or fitting section and the second axial surface  90 . The diameter of the second axial surface  90  is preferably greater than the diameter associated with the axial surface  92 . In this way, a user may inject sealant through the opening  60  and into a cavity space as described herein above. The cavity space is positioned within the pipe connector  10  to include an O-ring  22 , leaving at least one O-ring such as O-ring  20  without a cavity space for sealant injections. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the pipe connector  10  depicted in  FIG. 6  with the connection means engaging a pipe. As  FIG. 7  shows, the surfaces  11  are crimped into the piping section  6 , securing the piping section  6  within the pipe connector  10 . One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the pipe connector  10  as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7  may additionally include multiple additional O-rings including both crimping connection means and sealant connection means. 
         [0031]    The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.