Modular pipeline connector

A system of elements for the formation of pipelines in units for channeling and distributing a gaseous or liquid fluid that is under pressure or under vacuum. The pipelines are created starting from an extruded section pipe with a four-sided cross section having at least one central longitudinal hole and gripping elements along the corners of its walls. A joint which can be inserted tightly into the hole of consecutive section pipes makes possible their connection with the transmission of fluid. A fixing clamp is mounted on the adjacent ends of the consecutive pipes and engages with the gripping elements to mechanically lock the pipes among one another.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention pertains in general to the units for channeling and
 distributing fluids which are either gaseous or liquid, under pressure or
 under vacuum, and it pertains more specifically to a system of elements
 for a modular connection, in line or at an angle, of pipelines which
 consist of extruded pipe sections for such units.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The use of extruded hollow bars made of aluminum or the alloys thereof as
 pipelines in the units for channeling and distributing gaseous or liquid
 fluids, such as air, gas, oils, water, etc. has already been proposed.
 These bars have usually at least one longitudinal hole and grooves along
 the sides of the perimeter defined by longitudinal beads or fins obtained
 from the extrusion. The bars thus shaped can be connected, in line or at
 an angle, with other identical hollow bars with the aid of round tubular
 joints, which are inserted in a fluid-tight manner into the hole of the
 adjacent bars and with connecting plates which are joined and are locked
 by means of screws in the outer grooves of the bars to be connected.
 However, such a method for constructing pipelines for fluids is complex,
 labor-intensive, burdensome and not without disadvantages. This method
 involves the use of extruded hollow bars that have a relatively large and
 elaborate cross section given the presence of the fins or the faces which
 must delimit the outer grooves for anchoring the connecting plates. Thus,
 the bars will be relatively bulky and heavy, and given their profile, are
 difficult, if not impossible, to bend, where necessary, without modifying
 the profile of the section in the bent part. In addition, the connecting
 plates are also complex and require counter-plates for the locking in the
 outer grooves of the section.
 SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
 The main object of the present invention is to propose a novel system for
 the modular joining of pipelines consisting of extruded pipe sections,
 which system is simpler, easier, faster and more economical to carry out
 and yet does ensure the maximum efficiency and reliability of the
 resulting unit.
 Another object is to propose a system for forming units for the channeling
 and distribution of fluids with the use of extruded section pipes, which
 have a simpler cross section, are less bulky and are lighter with the same
 central hole and fluid output as the prior-art bars and with the aid of
 locking means, which are simpler and more efficient.
 These objects are accomplished with a pipe connection system which in its
 basic form includes first and second pipe sections having longitudinal
 passages and outer walls. A joint is insertable into the longitudinal
 passages of the first and second pipe sections. A clamp means engages with
 a gripping means on the outer walls of the pipes for clamping the first
 and second pipe sections together, and mechanically locking the first and
 second pipe sections together with the clamp means.
 The gripping means of the pipe sections includes a plurality of
 longitudinal gripping shoulders, each gripping shoulder forming an acute
 angle with one of the flat outer walls to which the gripping shoulder is
 joined. The clamp means includes two blocks arranged side by side and
 connected transversely by locking screws.
 Each of the blocks have a dovetail face and have a sloped internal surface
 similar to the gripping shoulder. The dovetail faces engage with the
 gripping shoulders when the blocks are pressed together by the locking
 screws.
 The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are
 pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part
 of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its
 operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference
 is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which
 preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 In the drawings, an extruded pipe or pipe section made of aluminum or made
 of another extrudable material, which can be used as a pipeline in the
 formation of units for channeling and distributing any gaseous or liquid
 fluid, is designated by 11. The pipe 11 may have a single longitudinal
 hole 12 with a smooth surface (FIG. 1) or two or more longitudinal holes
 12', also having a smooth surface and, if necessary, the pipe 11 may be
 bent (FIG. 3).
 For the sake of simplicity, the description below concerning the joining of
 pipes for the formation of pipelines refers to a pipe section 11 with a
 single hole 12, but it also applies to pipe with two holes.
 The pipe 11 may have a preferably, but not exclusively four-sided, and
 especially square, cross section, with flat outer walls 13,
 longitudinally, in relation to the corners of the walls 13. The pipe 11
 has gripping means 14 for engaging with at least one fixing clamp 15 for
 mechanically joining the section pipes in line, at an angle, in the shape
 of a T, or for fixing accessory elements as explained above.
 In the example shown, the gripping means 14 are in the form of longitudinal
 shoulders formed by flanks of channel-like grooves 17, made from extrusion
 along the pipe 11 and open outward.
 Looking at a top or sectional view of the pipe, each shoulder 16 has a
 surface which is at least partly angled with respect to the flat lateral
 wall 13 to which it is joined, forming an acute angle with the respective
 flat lateral wall 13. In practice, on opposite sides of each outer wall 13
 of the section pipe 11, there are two shoulders 16 that are symmetrical
 and converge towards the inside of the pipe.
 However, it should be noted that although the angled configuration of the
 shoulders remains stationary, these shoulders 16 may be made in another
 way and may be provided only on some walls of the pipe 11, without going
 beyond the scope of the present invention.
 In each case, the pipe 11 has advantages: lightness, thanks to the
 materials with which it is produced from extrusion; low cost because of
 its low weight and structural simplicity; maximum strength which is
 ensured by the outer shoulders which also act as beads; a high output
 without loss of flow, thanks to the smooth surface of the hole; easy
 bending with pipe-bending tools.
 The pipe 11 may be preset or cut to any length and then be connected to
 other identical pipes or to other components.
 Two pipes 11 may be connected in line by placing a straight joint 18
 between the two pipes 11 and by means of a fixing clamp 15 that is
 likewise straight (FIG. 4).
 The straight joint 18 has two opposite cylindrical branches 18', which are
 separated by a central raised collar 18". Each branch 18' has at least one
 seal 19 on its periphery, and is dimensioned so as to be inserted with
 precision into the holes 12' of the two pipes 11 to be connected.
 The clamp 15 comprises two blocks 15', which are arranged side by side and
 are connected transversely by two or more locking screws 20. Each of the
 blocks 15' has a dovetail face 15" with a sloped internal surface (when
 viewed in cross section) similarly to the gripping shoulder 16 on the
 sides of each section pipe 11. The faces 15" of the blocks are essentially
 dimensioned for passing in two parallel grooves 17 of the section pipes to
 engage with two respective shoulders 16 when the clamp 15 is pressed by
 means of the locking screws 20 (FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 10, the clamp is
 arranged and mounted on the adjacent ends of the section pipes to be
 connected after the joint 18 has been inserted there.
 It should also be noted that the heads of the locking screws 20 are fitted
 in the corresponding holes 21 provided in a block 15' of the clamp 15, and
 that, to improve the locking of the assembled parts both in the
 longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, an opening 21' is
 provided on the bottom of each of the holes. Through this opening the head
 of the screw (FIG. 9) will be fitted and will bear upon the corner of the
 shoulder of the pipe 11, directly or through a tooth inside one block 15'.
 The pipes 11 may also be arranged and be connected at an angle by placing
 an elbow joint 22 between them (FIG. 5). This elbow joint 22 has two
 angled cylindrical branches 22', which extend from an intermediate body
 22", each of which has a seal 23, and which are threaded or inserted in
 the adjacent end of the two pipes to be connected. The two pipes 11 are
 fixed at an angle in this case with a square clamp 115. This square clamp
 115 also comprises two blocks 115', which are arranged side by side and
 are connected by cross screws 120 and each block has a dovetail face 115",
 which is intended for being inserted into the grooves 17 of the pipes 11
 for engaging tightly with the shoulders 16, in the same manner as for the
 linear connection of the pipes 11 described above.
 The pipes 11 may also be arranged and be connected in the shape of a T or a
 cross. In the T-arrangement example shown in FIG. 6, the connection is
 carried out by placing between the pipes a three-path joint 24, having
 three cylindrical branches 24', which extend from three sides of an
 intermediate body 24", each of which has a seal 25, and which are threaded
 in the adjacent ends of the three pipes 11 to be connected. The fixing of
 the pipes is then carried out by means of two square clamps 115, which are
 completely similar to and used in the same manner as the square clamp 115
 for connecting two pipes 11 at an angle described above.
 A pipe 11 may also be provided, if necessary, with a terminal cap or pipe
 fitting that is blind, has a male thread, has a female thread, or etc. A
 terminal pipe fitting 26 having a male thread 26' and a terminal pipe
 fitting 27 having a female thread are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,
 respectively. Each of the pipe fittings 26 and 27 has a main body 28
 having the same profile, i.e., having the same gripping shoulders 16, as
 the section pipe, and besides the respective threaded part 26' or 27', it
 has a cylindrical branch 28' with a seal 29 that is intended for being
 inserted into the end of the pipe 11. The terminal pipe fitting 26 or 27
 is fixed to the section pipe by means of the straight clamp 15 described
 above, which is arranged so as to engage with the pipe 11 and with the
 main body 28 of the pipe fitting 26 or 27 simultaneously.
 The advantages of the joining of the section pipes to one another and/or of
 the end pipe fittings to pipes with the use of joints and of clamps
 mentioned above may be characterized by the simplicity and the low cost of
 the components, by the great strength and reliability of the locking, by
 the hermetic sealing of the fluid under pressure and by the ease of
 assembly.
 Furthermore, the pipe 11 may be provided with one or more lateral outlets
 for the intake of fluid (FIGS. 11 and 12). Therefore, on any side and zone
 of the pipe is a hole 30 can be provided, corresponding to which a bush is
 fixed. This bush has a threaded hole 31' and, at its base, a seal 32. This
 seal is intended for resting on the outer surface of the pipe around the
 outlet hole 30.
 Around its base, the bush 31 has a collar 31" that is used for fixing the
 bush to the pipe 11. The fixing is achieved with a clamp 215 that is
 similar to the linear clamp 15 for connecting two pipes, but where the
 blocks that comprise it are shaped on the inside for enclosing and
 engaging with the collar 31", and for locking the bush on the pipe when
 the clamp is tightened. The fluid intake outlet is therefore easy to
 embody at any point of the pipeline with the special advantage of the
 interchangeability of the bush 31.
 The gripping means 14, or the shoulders 16, of the pipe 11, are also used
 for connecting a self-locking hanging support 33 to the pipe (FIG. 13).
 This support 33 comprises a fork-shaped body 34 made of plastic material
 that is provided with terminal hooking teeth 35 and with a bottom elastic
 part 36 for the self-locking. The hooking teeth 35 are made to engage with
 the shoulders 16 on one side of the pipe 11, while the bottom elastic part
 36 resting against the opposite side of the pipe ensures the tight
 joining. The support may be fixed before-hand by means of an expandable
 cap 37, for example, and makes possible an easy hanging of the pipe with
 the possibility of making it slide for positioning and of keeping it
 isolated from the wall to which it is attached.
 The features described in specification, drawings, abstract, and claims,
 can be used individually and in arbitrary combinations for practicing the
 present invention.
 While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described
 in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the
 invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied
 otherwise without departing from such principles.