Abstract:
An apparatus and method for assembling a piping system is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to interconnect individual pieces of piping to form a piping system and includes a conduit section having a first attachment end configured to connect the conduit section to a first pipe of the piping system. The apparatus further includes a spherical shell section connected to the conduit section. The spherical shell section includes at least one attachment point formed therein to connect a second pipe to the spherical shell section at a pre-determined angle relative to the first pipe, thereby securing the first pipe in flowing communication with the second pipe

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application relates to an apparatus and method for assembling a piping system and, more particularly, to pipe system fittings and their method of use to allow piping systems to be precisely run at various angles. 
         [0002]    Piping, conduit, or tubing (hereinafter, collectively referred to as piping) is used to form a piping system to run material inside of the piping system from a start point to an end point. The material may be a fluid such as oil or water, cabling, or any other material typically run through piping systems. The piping systems are assembled by inter-connecting multiple pieces of pipe with fittings. The fittings may be threaded, socket weld, or butt weld type fittings and include elbows, Tees, couplers, and other suitable types of fittings. For purposes of this application, the term weld or welding shall include adhesives in addition to the melting of materials for a secure connection. 
         [0003]    While fittings have been used for years and have been developed to permit piping systems to be run in a variety of situations, one draw back to current fittings is that they are manufactured to a pre-set configuration standard, i.e., elbows are produced in two configurations—90 degrees and 45 degrees. While the pre-set configurations are capable of handling a majority of piping system runs, there are times when it would be very beneficial to have a fitting that allows a user to assemble the piping system at an angle that is outside of the pre-set configurations, for example, an elbow fitting that turns the piping system 32 degrees instead of 45 degrees. 
         [0004]    With current fittings, when a non-preset configuration is desired, assemblers typically use multiple fittings to obtain the desired angle, resulting in a hodge-podge of fittings, or, in the case of flexible piping systems, they stress the piping system by flexing it to meet the angle that is desired. Accordingly, there is a need for a fitting that allows an assembler or user to easily run a piping system at any desired angle without using multiple fittings or stressing the piping system. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    These and other shortcomings of the prior art are addressed by the present invention, which provides an apparatus configured to allow a user to precisely run a piping system without the need to use multiple fittings. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus configured to interconnect individual pieces of piping to form a piping system includes a conduit section having a first attachment end configured to connect the conduit section to a first pipe of the piping system; and a spherical shell section connected to the conduit section, the spherical shell section having at least one attachment point formed therein to connect a second pipe to the spherical shell section at a pre-determined angle relative to the first pipe, thereby securing the first pipe in flowing communication with the second pipe. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method of interconnecting at least two individual pipes of a piping system includes the steps of providing an apparatus configured to interconnect at least two pieces of pipe. The apparatus includes a conduit section and a spherical shell section. The method further includes the steps of connecting a first pipe to the conduit section, determining a connection angle of a second pipe relative to the first pipe, forming a connection point in the spherical shell section at the determined connection angle, and connecting the second pipe to the connection point. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0008]    The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which: 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1-4  are a perspective views of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with an aperture formed in a spherical shell of the apparatus; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 6  showing an angle of the aperture with respect to a longitudinal center line axis; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows an angle of the aperture formed in the apparatus of  FIG. 6  with respect to a vertical center line axis; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a piping system using the apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 6  with an insert installed in the aperture formed therein to form an attachment point; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 10  showing the insert; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 6  with multiple pipes connected to the spherical shell of the apparatus to form a piping system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 13 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the drawings, an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The apparatus  10  is in the form of a pipe fitting and includes a conduit section  11  for connection to a first pipe  12  and an enlarged spherical shell section  13 , integrally formed with the conduit section  11 , for connection to a second pipe  14  of a piping system  16  (See  FIG. 9 ). For high pressure or high flow services or industrialized use such as oil lines, the apparatus  10  is formed of a composite material such as filament wound with fiberglass with epoxy resin. In lower pressure or lower flow services or residential use such as water services in a house or sewage services, the apparatus  10  may be formed of a Polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other suitable material. 
         [0022]    As shown, the conduit section  11  includes a first attachment end  20  configured for connection to the first pipe  12 . The first attachment end  20  may be male ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) or female ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) and may be a threaded attachment ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) or a socket style attachment ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). It should be appreciated that the first attachment end  20  may be any suitable style of attachment to allow the apparatus  10  to be used in a piping system. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a passageway  21  extends through the apparatus  10  from the first attachment end  20  through the conduit section  11  and into the spherical shell section  13  where a cavity  22  is formed. The passageway is configured to allow a fluid to flow through the apparatus once connected into the piping system  16 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , the spherical shell section  13  is configured to allow the second pipe  14  to be connected to the apparatus  10  at various angles theta (θ) ranging from about forty-five (45°) degrees to three-hundred and fifteen (315°) degrees from a longitudinal center line axis of the apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the angle θ is approximately one-hundred and fifteen (115°) degrees. In addition, the second pipe  14  may be connected to the apparatus  10  at various angles alpha (α) ranging from zero (0°) degrees to three hundred and sixty (360°) degrees from a vertical centerline of the apparatus  10 . See  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the angle α is approximately forty-five (45°) degrees. Together, the angles θ and α position the second pipe  14  at a compound angle relative to the apparatus  10 . Thus, unlike a typical fitting such as a ninety (90°) degree elbow, a user is not strapped with making a pre-determined fitting work in a piping system. 
         [0025]    In use ( FIG. 15 ), a user connects the apparatus  10  to the first pipe  12  or to a support, Block  50 , and determines the angles needed for the piping system  16 , Block  51 , for example, the angle θ may be one hundred and five (105) degrees and the angle α may be forty-five degrees. Once the angles are chosen, the user drills a hole or aperture  23  into the spherical shell section  13 , Block  52 , at the pre-determined angles to form an attachment point  24  for the second pipe  16 . In the case of a threaded connection, the aperture  23  is then tapped to allow the second pipe  14  to be threaded into the spherical shell section  13 , Block  53 . Alternatively, a pre-configured insert  26  (threaded or socket configurations) may be secured in the aperture  23 , Block  53 , to allow for connection to a pipe, See  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The second pipe  14  may then be connected to the attachment point  24 , Block  54 , to form the piping system  16 , Block  55 . While the description above discusses drilling an aperture in the field, it should be appreciated that pre-drilled apparatuses  10  may also be supplied to eliminate field drilling. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , another benefit of the enlarged spherical shell section  13  is that it provides an increased surface area to allow for more than one connection. As shown, the spherical shell section  13  allows a user to drill more than one aperture for connection to more than one pipe. This is particularly useful when a user needs to split a single pipe run into two or more pipe runs running at various angles. For example, a first pipe  30  might extend at an angle θ of one hundred and five (105) degrees from the longitudinal center line axis of apparatus  10  and the second pipe  31  might also extend at an angle θ of one hundred and five (105) degrees from the longitudinal center line axis of apparatus  10 . In addition, the first pipe  30  might need to be positioned at an angle α of forty five (45) degrees from the vertical center line axis and the second pipe  31  might need to be positioned at an angle α of three hundred and fifteen (315) degrees from the vertical center line axis. As can be seen, the spherical shell section  13  allows a user multiple configurations. 
         [0027]    An apparatus according to another aspect of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14  and shown generally at reference numeral  100 . Like apparatus  10 , apparatus  100  includes a conduit section  111 , an enlarged spherical shell section  113 , an attachment end  120 , an aperture  123  and attachment point  124 , a passageway  121 , and a cavity  122 . Unlike apparatus  10 , apparatus  100  is of a two piece construction. As shown, the spherical shell section  113  is configured to rotate with respect to the conduit section  111 . By allowing the spherical shell section  113  to rotate, the aperture  123  can self-align with the pipe  114  along the vertical center line axis to help eliminate any stresses on the pipe  114  caused by improper alignment. A seal  133  is positioned between the conduit section  111  and the spherical shell section  13  at a connection point  134  to prevent leakage therebetween. The seal may be of an O-ring construction or any other suitable type of seal construction. 
         [0028]    The foregoing has described an apparatus and method for assembling a piping system. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.