CONNECTION OF BRANCH CONDUITS TO AN EXISTING GAS- OR LIQUID-FILLED CONDUIT

Abstract: A valve for connection of branch conduits to an existing gas- or liquid-filled conduit (2) which valve (1) comprises a clamping connection (3) for tightly clamping the valve (1) on to the conduit (2) in such a way that the same partially and tangentially penetrates through an opening into a straight flow channel (5) comprised in the valve, one end portion of which channel ends in a connection piece (4) arranged on the clamping connection (3), to which connection piece (4) a tool housing (12) is intended to be connected and from which housing (12) a cutting means in the form of a piston (13) provided with a cutting edge could be operated inside the flow channel (5) in such a way that the cutting edge removes the portion of the conduit (2) which penetrates the flow channel (5). The portion of the surface of the flow channel (5) which surrounds the opening in the conduit being created by the cutting edge constitutes the bottom of a valve housing (8) in which a sealing body (9) fitting against said surface is arranged displaceable and could be brought to seal against the bottom of the valve housing constituted by the flow channel (5) and prevent fluid flow between the conduit (2) and the connection piece (4) of the valve. After the cutting operation and the closing of the valve, the removal of the tool housing (12) with the cut-out portion (17) of the conduit is carried out and the branch conduit is connected to the connection piece (4).

Description: CONNECTION OF BRANCH CONDUITS TO AN EXISTING GAS- OR LIQUID- FILLED CONDUIT TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a valve for connection of branch conduits to an existing gas- or liquid filled con¬ duit which valve comprises a clamping connection for tightly clamping the valve on to the conduit in such a way that the same partially and tangentially penetrates through an opening into a straight flow channel comprised in the valve, the at least one end portion of which channel ends in a connection piece arranged on the clamping connection for connection of a branch conduit to which connection piece a tool housing is intended to be tightly connected at the mounting of the valve and from which housing a cutting means in the form of a piston provided with at least one cutting edge could be operated inside the flow channel in such a way that the cutting edge creates an opening in the conduit by removing the portion of the conduit which pene¬ trates the flow channel. BACKGROUND ART Several methods and means for connecting branch conduits via valves to conduits in systems filled with gas or liquid are previously known. According to a method described in the Swedish patent No. 425185 the valve is connected to the conduit in such a way that its flow channel will be tangen¬ tial to the conduit. By means of a completely tight tool fixed to the connection piece of the valve a piston could be moved into the flow channel by means of applied forces. The front end of the piston which is shaped as, or provided with, a separate cutting edge also comprises a portion formed as a hook. During the axial movement of the piston through the flow channel its front end provided with the cutting edge will cut an opening in the conduit. By means of the special design of the piston with a portion formed as a hook the cut-out portion of the conduit will be caught by and maintained in the piston. When the cutting operation has been finished the piston is brought back to its initial position, the valve is closed and the tool fixed to the connection piece of the valve is removed together with the cut-out portion of the conduit. The tool is now replaced by means of a branch conduit, the valve is opened and the fluid could flow out into the branch. According to another method described in the Swedish Patent 456522 the same type of valve as in the first mentioned patent is used, i.e. a valve which is clamped on to the conduit in such a way that the conduit partially penetrates the flow channel of the valve. The difference between the two methods is due to the design of the tools. According to the method described in the last mentioned patent the tool is constituted by a piston having a cutting recess with an edge arranged in the envelope surface of the piston. The piston is positioned in the flow channel of the valve be¬ fore the valve is mounted on the conduit the cutting recess being arranged so that the same will surround the portion of the conduit which at the mounting of the valve pene¬ trates into its channel. When the piston then is pulled into the tool the edge arranged in the cutting recess cuts the portion of the conduit which is penetrating into the flow channel of the valve. The cut-out portion of the con¬ duit is maintained in the cutting recess and is removed to¬ gether with the tool after the closing of the valve. The branch conduit is then connected as described above. The valve which is used in the methods here described for connection of a branch conduit to an existing conduit could be described as a ball-valve the one connection piece of which has been replaced by a clamping connection for tightly clamping the valve on to a conduit which clamping means as such also comprises a prolongation of the flow channel of the valve. The use of this type of valve has many times created obvi¬ ous drawbacks and limited the usefulness of the method. As many pipings are carried out in narrow spaces of different kinds it has, even if the valve has had enough space, been impossible to reach the valve with the tool the space re¬ quirement of which depending on the design of the tool cor¬ responds to 2-3 times the length of the flow channel. An¬ other drawback is that you are referred to working with the tool oriented in the direction intended for the branch con¬ duit. A further drawback is that when the valve has been mounted and the branching has been made it will be impossible to change the direction of the branch conduit or to connect a second branch conduit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is on one hand to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks of the known type of valve by proposing a valve which makes it possible to use a more practical tool, on the other hand to propose a valve by which the cutting and the branching could be car¬ ried out in directions opposite to each other. These and other advantages will be achieved by means of a valve hav¬ ing the characterising features of the enclosed patent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES One embodiment of the invention will be described more in detail in connection to the enclosed drawing on which fig¬ ure 1, partly in section, shows a valve arranged on a con¬ duit with a cutting tool connected to the connection piece of the same in its initial position for cutting and figure 2 shows the same valve and tool as in figure 1 but after the cutting operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In figure 1 is shown, partly in section, a valve 1 mounted on an existing conduit 2 shown in cross section and a cut¬ ting tool 6 also in section, connected to the connection piece 4 of the valve 1. The valve 1 comprises a clamping connection 3 by means of which the valve is tightly clamped on to the conduit 2 by means of a clamp 7. In the waist portion of the clamping connection 3 is arranged a straight flow channel 5 the one end portion of which in the embodi¬ ment shown here is closed and the other end portion of which ends in the connection piece 4. In the lower wall of the flow channel 5 an opening is arranged through which a portion of the clamped conduit 2 penetrates into the chan¬ nel 5. On the upper side of the clamping connection 3 oppo¬ site the opening in the wall of the flow channel 3 a cylin¬ drical valve housing 8 is arranged in which a sealing body 9 is displaceable between two end positions, an upper one shown in figure 1 and a lower one shown in figure 2. The cutting tool 6 comprises a tool housing 12 which is sealed against the connection piece 4. The cutting tool as such which has the form of a piston 13 having a cutting re- cess 14 with a cutting edge arranged in the envelope sur¬ face of the piston is shown in figure 1 in the initial po- sition for cutting. In order to end up in this position in which the cutting recess 14 is arranged astride the portion of the conduit which penetrates into the flow channel the piston 13 must be positioned in the flow channel 5 before the valve is clamped to the conduit 2. The piston 13 com¬ prises a weaker portion 15 which is threaded and protrudes from the tool housing 12 and on which protruding portion a nut 16 is arranged. By means of tightening the nut 16 the piston 13 is pulled so far into the tool housing that the sealing body gets clear thereby cutting away the portion of the conduit positioned in the cutting recess and the seal¬ ing body can be tightened against the portion of the flow channel around the just created opening in the conduit which portion works as a valve seat. In figure 2 the piston 13 is shown retracted into the tool housing 8 and the sealing body 9 which has the form of half a cylinder and is made of elastic material is shown in the closed position of the valve. The cutting tool 6 with the cut-away portion 17 from the cutting operation can now be removed and a branch conduit can be connected to the con¬ nection piece 4. In an embodiment, not shown, the valve has connection pieces at both end portions of the flow channel making it possible to work with the tool in a direction opposite the one intended for the branch conduit if the space on this side of the valve is more suitable. The branch conduit can in that case, if suitable, be connected before the cutting operation. The connection piece which is not used is closed by means of a cover provided with a tread. The valve pro¬ vided with two connection pieces also makes it possible to connect two branch conduits.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A valve for connection of branch conduits to an exist- ing gas- or liquid filled conduit (2) which valve (1 ) com¬ prises a clamping connection (3) for tightly clamping the valve (1) on to the conduit (2) in such a way that the same partially and tangentially penetrates through an opening into a straight flow channel (5) comprised in the valve, the at least one end portion of which channel ends in a connection piece (4) arranged on the clamping connection (3) for connection of a branch conduit, to which connection piece (4) a tool housing (12) is intended to be tightly connected at the mounting of the valve and from which hous- ing (12) a cutting means in the form of a piston (13) pro¬ vided with at least one cutting edge could be operated in¬ side the flow channel (5) in such a way that the cutting edge creates an opening in the conduit by removing the por¬ tion of the conduit which penetrates the flow channel (5), characterised in that the portion of the surface of the flow channel (5) which surrounds the opening in the conduit being created by the cutting edge constitutes the bottom of a valve housing (8) in which a sealing body (9) fitting against said surface is arranged displaceable and could be brought to bear on and seal against the bottom of the valve housing constituted by the flow channel (5) thereby pre¬ venting fluid flow between the conduit (2) and the connec¬ tion piece (4) comprised in the valve. 2. Valve according to claim 1, characterised in that the flow channel (5) of the valve (1) comprises connection pieces (4) arranged at both its ends thereby making it pos¬ sible to connect a first branch conduit to one of the con- nection pieces (4) of the valve before the cutting opera¬ tion, and after the closing of the valve and the removal of the tool housing from the other connection piece (4) the same could be alternatively closed or connected to a second branch conduit.

Inventors: BAUMBACH THORKILD, BAUMBACH, THORKILD
Applicants: BAUMBACH THORKILD, BAUMBACH, THORKILD
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F16L55
IPC codes: F16L41