UNIVERSAL PIPE FITTING WITH CLEANING

A pipe fitting having a first end portion, a second end portion and a perforated portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. The perforated portion has an inner side wall and outer wall spaced from the inner side wall. A fluid receiving cavity extends between the inner side wall and the outer wall. The inner side wall defines a material flow passageway. Openings are provided in the inner side wall of the perforated portion. The openings have ends which open into the fluid receiving cavity. A port extends through the outer wall and into the fluid receiving cavity. In operation, fluid enters the port and flows through the fluid receiving cavity and through the openings into the material flow passageway to clear any material restrictions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a universal pipe fitting with a cleaning function. In particular, the invention relates to a fitting or coupling through which pressurized air, water or other cleaning solution is provided to an interior diameter of the pipe to remove blockages or restrictions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many manufacturing process, materials, whether liquid or solid, must be delivered from a holding tank or hopper to processing equipment, such as a mixer. The materials is often delivered by means of pipes or conduits which allow the material to flow from the hopper to the processing equipment. However, over time, the pipes may develop blockages or restrictions at various points in the pipe. The blockages or restrictions can cause significant issues in the final product, particularly in applications in which each of the materials must be precisely controlled. Consequently, it is often required to remove the blockages or restrictions manually and periodically. This process time is consuming, inefficient, and costly.

It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide a pipe fitting which can be integrated into the pipe at locations in which the blockage or restriction occurs. It would also be beneficial to provide the pipe fittings with an automated process to remove the blockage or restriction without then need to use the inefficient and costly manual process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment is directed to a pipe fitting having a first end portion, a second end portion and a perforated portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. The perforated portion has an inner side wall and outer wall spaced from the inner side wall. A fluid receiving cavity extends between the inner side wall and the outer wall. The inner side wall defines a material flow passageway. Openings are provided in the inner side wall of the perforated portion. The openings have ends which open into the fluid receiving cavity. A port extends through the outer wall and into the fluid receiving cavity. In operation, fluid enters the port and flows through the fluid receiving cavity and through the openings into the material flow passageway to clear any material restrictions.

An embodiment is directed to a system for delivering material from a feeding device to a processing device. The system includes a feeding device, a processing device, and a conduit. The feeding device stores and feeds material to the conduit. The processing device receives and processes the material. The conduit delivers the material from the feeding device to the processing device. The conduit has a fitting for cleaning material build-up in the conduit which causes restrictions in the delivery of material. The fitting includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a perforated portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. The perforated portion has an inner side wall and outer wall spaced from the inner side wall. A fluid receiving cavity extends between the inner side wall and the outer wall. The inner side wall defines a material flow passageway. Openings are provided in the inner side wall of the perforated portion. The openings have ends which open into the fluid receiving cavity. A port extends through the outer wall and into the fluid receiving cavity. A fluid delivery mechanism delivers pressurized fluid to the port. Wherein the fluid enters the port and flows through the fluid receiving cavity and through the openings into the material flow passageway to clear any material restrictions.

An embodiment is directed to a method for delivering material from a feeding device to a processing device. The method includes: moving material from the feeding device to the processing device through a conduit, the conduit having a fitting provided thereon; providing a pressurized fluid to a port of the fitting; and opening the port allowing the pressurized fluid to move through the port, into a fluid receiving cavity of the fitting, through openings in a perforated portion of the fitting and into a material flow passageway. The pressurized fluid interacts with a restriction in the material flow passageway to break down the restriction and cause the material forming the restriction to freely flow into the processing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features, the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

FIG. 1shows an illustrative system10in which one or more pipe fittings20of the present invention may be used. The illustrative system10shown includes a material holding tank or hopper12and a processing device14, such as, but not limited to, a mixer. One or more pipes or conduits16connect the hopper12to the processing device14. The conduits may have one or more pipe fitting20integrated therein. Other embodiments of the illustrative system10can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring toFIGS. 2 through 4, the illustrative pipe fitting20has a first end portion22, a second end portion24, and a perforated middle portion26which extends between the first end portion22and the second end portion24. The pipe fitting20has a generally cylindrical configuration with a side wall28extending about the circumference of the pipe fitting20. As shown inFIG. 3, the side wall28has an inner diameter40and an outer diameter42. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the inner diameter40and the outer dimeter42of the side wall28is consistent across the first end portion22, the second end portion24and the perforated portion26. However, in other embodiments the inner diameter40and/or the outer diameter42of the side wall28may vary across the first end portion22, the second end portion24and/or the perforated portion26. The inner diameter40defines a material flow passageway44.

The perforated portion26has multiple openings46which extend through the side wall28from the inner diameter40to the outer diameter42. In the embodiment shown, the openings46are arranged in rows48which extend about the circumference of the side wall28. Also, in the embodiment shown the openings46are positioned in columns50. However, the arrangement of the openings46may vary without departing from the scope of the invention.

The openings46in each pipe fitting20are generally consistent. The preferred diameter of the openings46for a particular pipe fitting20is determined based on many variables, including, but not limited to, the size of the pipe fitting, the amount and the type of material which flows through the material flow passageway44, and/or the type of cleaning fluid used.

As shown inFIG. 3, the openings46in rows48aare angled downward at an angle52, and the openings46in rows48bare angled upward at an angle54. The angles52and54may have the same measurement or may have different measurements. In the embodiment shown the perforated portion26has three rows48aand two rows48b, however other configurations may be used. While the angles52,54shown are 45 degrees, other angles may be used, including, but not limited to, angles in the range of 30 degrees to 90 degrees.

Rows48aof openings46are spaced apart a distance56. Rows48bof openings46are spaced apart a distance58. In the embodiment shown distance56and distance58are equal, however, in other embodiments the distances56,58may be different. In the embodiment shown, the distance60between a bottom row of the two rows48band a top row of the three rows48ais greater than the distances56,58. However, in other embodiments, the distance60may be equal or less than one or more for the distances56,58.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the openings46are spaced apart approximately 30 degrees from each other, thereby providing 12 openings46in each row48of openings46. However, other spacing and other numbers of openings46may be provided in each row48without departing from the scope of the invention.

The perforated portion26has a fluid receiving flange or member62which extends from and integrally attached to the side wall28of the perforated portion26. The fluid receiving member62has an outer wall64with an inner surface66and an outer surface68. End walls70extend from the inner surface66of the outer wall64in a direction away from the outer surface68. The end walls70engage are integrally attached to the side wall28. The outer wall64is spaced from the side wall28to form a fluid receiving cavity72therebetween.

One or more ports74extend through the outer wall64and into the fluid receiving cavity72. Each port74is configured to allow fluid, such as, but not limited to, air or water, to flow through the port74and into the fluid receiving cavity72when an appropriate source92is connected to the port74by flexible or rigid hoses94or the like (FIG. 1). In various illustrative embodiments, a check valve may be provided. The port74is configured to prevent the flow of fluids from the fluid receiving cavity72through the port74. The port74may have threads to allow connection to a supply line (not shown). Alternative methods of securing the supply line to the port may also be used.

The fluid receiving cavity72extends about the entire circumference of the perforated portion26. Each of the openings46has an end which opens into the fluid receiving cavity72.

In the illustrative embodiment shown inFIG. 1, a first pipe fitting20ahas the first end portion22attached to an end80of the pipe or conduit16using known methods or devices of attachment, such as, but not limited to, adhesive, threads or a clamp. The second end portion24of the first pipe fitting20aextends into a conduit receiving opening84of the processing device14. The second end portion24is dimensioned to have a diameter less than a diameter of the opening84, thereby allowing the second end portion24to be positioned in the opening84while allowing the second end portion24and the and the first pipe fitting20ato move relative to the opening84. A baffle or gasket (not shown) may be provided in the opening84to prevent the material from exiting through the opening84and to control the movement of the second end portion24of the first pipe fitting20arelative to the opening84. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the baffle or gasket is made from a compliant material, such as rubber.

In the illustrative embodiment shown inFIG. 1, a second pipe fitting20bis positioned in a joint or bend86of the pipe or conduit16. The second pipe fitting20bhas the first end portion22attached to a portion88of the pipe or conduit16using known methods or devices of attachment, such as, but not limited to, adhesive, threads or a clamp. The second end portion24of the second pipe fitting20bis attached to another portion90of the pipe or conduit16using known methods or devices of attachment, such as, but not limited to, adhesive, threads or a clamp. Alternatively, second end portion24may be connected to a baffle or gasket which is connected to the portion90of the pipe or conduit16.

In use, material flows from the holding tank or hopper12through the pipes or conduits16and into the processing device14. Material generally passes through the pipes or conduits16freely, as not blockage or restriction is provided in the interior of the pipes or conduits16. However, in areas where the pipes bend or where there is a joint, such as such as represented by joint or bend86, the rate of flow of material across the entire cross-section of the pipe or conduit16is not consistent, which may cause material to accumulate to form a blockage or restriction, similar to that shown as76inFIG. 5.

Similarly, in areas where the pipe end, such as represented by end90, the rate of flow of material across the entire cross-section of the pipe or conduit16may not be consistent, which may cause material to accumulate to form a blockage or restriction, such as shown at76. In addition, as the processing device14is operated, material may be forced back toward the end90, causing material to accumulate as the end90, as shown as76inFIG. 5.

The accumulation of material results in the pathway from the holding tank or hopper12to the processing device14being blocked or restricted. Any such restriction prevents the proper amount of material from being presented to the processing device14, which can cause the processed material from having improper quantities of material, which in turn can cause the final product produced from the processed material to fail. It is, therefore, important to provide a device and method for keeping the pathway from the tank or hopper12to the processing device14free of significant accumulation of material. The use of the pipe fitting20of the present invention prevents the significant accumulation of material in the pipe or conduit16.

As shown inFIG. 1, the pipe fitting20is positioned in one or more locations in the pipes or conduits16, as was previously described. The one or more ports74are connected to a fluid supply device94by a hose or other delivery mechanism. The fluid98supplied by the fluid supply device94may be a liquid, such as water, or a gas such as air. The fluid supply device94may be a compressor, a pump or other known device which can deliver the fluid to the ports74and the pipe fitting20under pressure. The pressure may be varied depending upon many variable, including, but not limited to, the size of the system10, the size of the pipes or conduits16, the type of the material being delivered from the tank or hopper12to the processing device14.

As periodic times or intervals, the ports74are opened to allow the pressurized fluid98, as represented by the arrows98inFIG. 5, to move through the ports74, into the fluid receiving cavity72, through the openings46in the perforated portion26of the pipe fitting20and into the material flow passageway44. As the fluid98is pressurized as it enters the ports74, and as the size of the fluid receiving cavity72and the openings46are controlled, the fluid98entering the material flow passageway44interacts with any blockage or restriction76to break down the blockage or restriction76and cause the material forming the blockage or restriction76to freely flow into the processing device14.

In order to prevent significant blockages or restrictions, and in order to ensure that all of the material from the tank or hopper12is moved to the processing device14, the ports74may be opened one or more times as the material flows through the material flow passageway44to allow the liquid98to interact and clean any restrictions that may be forming. In so doing, any blockages or restrictions are prevented.

Referring toFIG. 6, a first alternate illustrative pipe fitting20′ has a first end portion22′, a second end portion24′, and a perforated middle portion26′ which extends between the first end portion22′ and the second end portion24′. The pipe fitting20′ has a generally cylindrical configuration with a side wall28′ extending about the circumference of the pipe fitting20′. An inner diameter40′ of the pipe fitting20′ defines a material flow passageway44′. The perforated portion26′ has multiple openings46′ which extend through the side wall28′.

The perforated portion26′ has a fluid receiving flange or member62′ which extends from and integrally attached to the side wall28′ of the perforated portion26′. One or more ports74′ extend from the fluid receiving flange or member62′.

The operation of the first alternate illustrative pipe fitting20′ is similar to that described above with respect to the pipe fitting20.

Referring toFIG. 7, a second alternate illustrative pipe fitting20″ has a first end portion22″, a second end portion24″, and a perforated middle portion26″ which extends between the first end portion22″ and the second end portion24″. The pipe fitting20″ has a generally cylindrical configuration with a side wall28″ extending about the circumference of the pipe fitting20″. An inner diameter40″ of the pipe fitting20″ defines a material flow passageway44″. The perforated portion26″ has multiple openings46′ which extend through the side wall28″.

The perforated portion26″ has a fluid receiving flange or member62″ which extends from and integrally attached to the side wall28″ of the perforated portion26″. One or more ports74″ extend from the fluid receiving flange or member62″.

The operation of the first alternate illustrative pipe fitting20″ is similar to that described above with respect to the pipe fitting20.