Abstract:
A method to connect piping and a piping connection, having the features of a ring connector configured to snugly fit around an external diameter of a pipe; and a piping shield connected to the ring connector, the piping shield having at least one observation window cut into the shield, wherein the piping shield covers an abutment end of the pipe to be connected, wherein a joint between the ring connector and the piping shield forms a connection.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application seeks priority to Chinese Patent Application 200620150042.4 filed Nov. 28, 2006 and further contains all subject matter outlined within the priority document. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to piping connections. More specifically, the present invention provides a piping connection that provides a secure connection between the individual piping sections to be joined. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0003]    Connection of piping is an important function in creating a piping system. Piping systems may be used for mass transport for materials, such as fluids and gases. These piping systems may be manufactured of differing materials such as, plastic, iron, copper or other similar materials. 
         [0004]    Connection of piping materials can prove to be difficult. Conventional techniques include various crimping technologies that exert tremendous force upon the ends of piping but have a limited effect on providing a leak-free seal. Such connections often include provision of a spool piece inside the inner diameter of piping sections to be joined, wherein the outer piping system is then crimped around the spool piece to provide a mechanical connection. 
         [0005]    Although well intentioned, the conventional techniques used for creation of piping connections have significant drawbacks. Such significant drawbacks can include inaccurate crimping of the piping system, thereby allowing fluids, such as liquids and gases, to escape from the piping system. Additionally, a significant drawback includes use of highly specialized tools to prevent significant over crimping of the piping system. The specialized tools are extremely expensive and cumbersome and cannot be used in tight quarters or in areas of limited accessibility. 
         [0006]    To overcome these significant drawbacks, other conventional techniques include soldering and\or welding of pipe sections together. While welding of the individual piping sections is an acceptable technique for providing a proper mechanical connection, the costs associated with welding of the piping system can be extremely high. Thus, when a significant number of welds is to occur in a piping system, such as in a new home placement, or in an industrial setting, the cost of piping insulation can skyrocket leaving the owner of the piping system with little alternative but to pay for expensive mechanical connections. 
         [0007]    There is therefore a need to provide a mechanical connection that will connect different sections of a piping system. 
         [0008]    There is a further need to provide a mechanical connection that will connect different sections of the piping system in an economical manner. 
         [0009]    There is a still further need to provide a mechanical connection that may be installed in a piping system with a minimum of specialty tools. 
         [0010]    There is still further need to provide a simple connection for use in a piping system that may be used by installers without the need for special training. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is therefore an objective of an aspect of the present invention, to provide a mechanical connection that will connect different sections of a piping system. 
         [0012]    It is also an objective of an aspect of the present invention to provide a mechanical connection that will connect different sections of the piping system in an economical manner. 
         [0013]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the present invention to provide a mechanical connection that may be installed in a piping system with a minimum of specialty tools. 
         [0014]    Is a still further objective of an aspect of the present invention to provide a simple connection for use in a piping system that may be used by installers without the need for special training. 
         [0015]    The objectives of the present invention are achieved as illustrated and described. A piping connector is disclosed having the features of a ring connector configured to snugly fit around an external diameter of a pipe, and a piping shield connected to the ring connector, the piping shield having at least one observation window cut into the shield, wherein the piping shield covers an abutment end of the pipe to be connected, wherein a joint between the ring connector and the piping shield forms a connection. 
         [0016]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention a piping connector is presented such that the connection formed between the piping shield and the ring connector is a groove arrangement. 
         [0017]    In alternative embodiments, the piping connector may be made of plastic, copper or stainless steel materials. 
         [0018]    The piping connector may have two observations windows to aid in identification of positioning of the piping connector. 
         [0019]    The piping connector may also be constructed such that the piping shield has a front face that extends over the abutment end of the pipe. 
         [0020]    The piping connector may also be configured such that the groove arrangement further comprises a first step, a depression and a second step on the ring connector, and a ring abutment end, a shield groove and a posterior end on the pipe shield. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a method is presented to connect at least two pieces of pipe wherein the method comprises: 
         [0000]    placing a piping connector over an abutment end of a first piece of pipe, inserting a spool piece into the abutment end; and crimping the piping connector to deform the piping around the spool piece, wherein the piping connector has a ring connector configured to snugly fit around an external diameter of a pipe, and a piping shield connected to the ring connector, the piping shield having at least one observation window cut into the shield, wherein the piping shield covers the abutment end of the pipe to be connected, wherein a joint between the ring connector and the piping shield forms a connection. 
         [0022]    In another exemplary embodiment of the invention of the method provided, the connection between the piping shield and the ring connector is a groove arrangement. 
         [0023]    In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method may be accomplished when the piping shield is made of plastic. 
         [0024]    In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method may be accomplished such that a number of the observation windows is two. 
         [0025]    In a still further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method may be accomplished when the ring connector is made of stainless steel or copper. 
         [0026]    In another exemplary embodiment, the method may be accomplished such that the piping shield has a front face that extends over the abutment end of the pipe. 
         [0027]    In a stiff further exemplary embodiment of a method of the present invention, the groove arrangement may further comprise a first step, a depression and a second step on the ring connector, and a ring abutment end, a shield groove and a posterior end on the pipe shield. 
         [0028]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the spool piece has a ridged surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of the piping connection installed on a piping system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the piping connection of  FIG. 1A  in an installed condition on a pipe. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the ring connector of the piping connection of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0032]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of the ring connector of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 2C  is a exploded view of a groove of the ring connector of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0034]      FIG. 3A  is a front view of a piping shield of the piping connection of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of the piping shield of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0036]      FIG. 3C  is an exploded view of the connection section of the piping shield of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0037]      FIG. 4A  is front view of the piping connection of  FIG. 1A  in an uninstalled condition. 
           [0038]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the piping connection of  FIG. 1A  in an uninstalled condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a piping connector  10  is provided. The piping connector  10  is used to connect multiple pieces of a piping system through the use of an inserted spool piece  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, the inserted spool piece  18  is configured with a ridged surface. Other configurations such as a smoothed or patterned surface may be used. The piping connector  10  allows for connection of piping through deformation of the pipe  16  around the spool piece  18 . The deformation allows for a friction increase between the spool piece  18  and the pipe  16 , thereby preventing removal of the spool piece  18  from the pipe  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the spool piece is configured with ridges that will accept material from the pipe  16  during compression from a crimping tool, thereby allowing for a mechanical interlock between the pipe  16  and the spool piece  18 . 
         [0040]    The piping connector  10  is placed over an abutment end of a piece of pipe  16  to be connected. The outer spool piece section  20  is moved in relation to the pipe such that it contacts the piping shield  12 , thereby creating a sandwich of material of the outer spool piece  20 —piping shield  12 —and pipe  16 . To ensure that the piping connector  10  is fully inserted onto the abutment end of the pipe  16  an observation window  22  is provided that allows an installer to accurately locate the abutment end with relation to the inside of the piping shield  12 . Once the installer identifies that the piping connector  10  is fully installed, the spool piece  18  is fully inserted through the front face of the piping connector  10 . The front face of the piping connector  10  may be configured to overhang the abutment end of the pipe such that the pipe  16  is encapsulated on the outer diameter and the abutment edge. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C, a ring connector  14  is illustrated. In  FIG. 2A , the ring connector  14  is illustrated in a frontal position. In figure to be, a ring connector is illustrated from a side position. In  FIG. 2C , the groove arrangement  24  of the ring connector  14  is illustrated in exploded view. The purpose of the ring connector  14  is to allow a material to be cramped around the exterior diameter of a pipe  16  for ultimate connection to a spool piece  18 . Thus, the ring connector  14  is provided with a first step  28  that allows for forces from a crimping tool to be applied to the ring connector  14  that are in turn transferred to the pipe  16  to be connected. To prevent marring of the pipe surface  16 , the first step  28  is provided with a deformable material to allow the ring connector  14  to be collapsed around the exterior of the pipe  16 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the ring connector  14  is made of a copper material. Other exemplary modern is allow for plastic or stainless steel materials. Adjacent to the first step  28  is a groove arrangement  24 . In  FIG. 2C , the groove arrangement  24  is provided in exploded view. An end to step  29  is first provided and is followed by a depression arrangement  30  followed by a second step  32 . Thus formed, the groove arrangement  24  allows for a groove to allow interconnection to ah alternate mating surface described later. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, a piping shield  12  is illustrated. The piping shield  12  is connected to the ring connector  14  to provide an entire piping connector  10 . The piping shield  12  has an inner open diameter  34  that allows for insertion of the spool piece  18 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 3B , the piping shield  12  is located around a central axis  40 . The piping shield is configured with a front face  38  for contact with the spool, piece  18  previously described. The piping shield  12  is also configured with a mating surface  36 . Referring to  FIG. 3C , the mating surface  36  is configured with an abutment end  42  that in turn is connected to an area with a shield groove  44  that in turn is connected to a posterior end  46 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a completed piping connection  10  is illustrated in an uninstalled position. The piping connection  10  has the piping shield  12  connected to the ring connector  14  through the connection established through the junction of the abutment end  42 , shield groove  44  and posterior end  46  of the piping shield  12  and the end step  29 , depression  30  and second step  32  of the ring connector  14 . The completed piping connection  10  has multiple numbers of observation windows  22  installed in the piping shield  12 . In illustrated embodiment, two observation windows  22  are presented. Other numbers of observation windows are permitted to allow an installer to identify full insertion of a pipe  16  within the piping connector  10 . 
         [0044]    The present invention provides a mechanical connection that will connect different sections of a piping system. Although listed as connecting piping, other components, such as tubing as a non-limiting example, may be connected by the method and apparatus described. These connections can be through spool pieces such that two, three or other numbers of pipe can be connected to a central hub that provides the number of spool pieces required. 
         [0045]    The present invention also provides a mechanical connection that will connect different sections of the piping system in an economical manner and eliminates the need for expensive welding of piping systems. 
         [0046]    The present invention provides a mechanical connection that may be installed in a piping system with a minimum of specialty tools. A simple crimping device will allow for quick connection of spool pieces to the piping system, thereby economically saving installers economic expense. 
         [0047]    The present invention also provides a simple connection for use in a piping system that may be used by installers without the need for special training, thereby allowing less skilled laborers the opportunity to quickly and efficiently install piping systems.