Patent Description:
In particular, the present invention relates to a pipe connecting system comprising:.

A pipe connecting system is described, for example, in <CIT>. Such a known system is not suitable where the first pipe and the second pipe are provided with flanges.

<CIT> discloses a pipe connecting system according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. A further pipe connecting system is disclosed in <CIT>.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pipe connecting system of the type described above but which is suitable for the case where the first pipe and the second pipe are provided with flanges.

A pipe connecting system according to claim <NUM> forms the subject of the invention. In such a pipe connecting system,.

According to one embodiment, at the second side of the connecting block, one of said first block part and second block part comprises a front portion covering a corresponding front surface of the other of said first block part and second block part.

At least one threaded insert may be inserted in said front portion for fastening said third pipe and fourth pipe to the connecting block by a relevant screw.

The third and fourth pipes are in particular inserted into respective inner enlarged diameter portions of the first pipe and second pipe, respectively. The third pipe and fourth pipe may be provided with at least one support portion laterally extending and carrying a through-hole adapted to receive a relevant screw for coupling to said at least one threaded insert.

The solution according to the invention makes it possible to connect pipes in a direct manner, i.e. without using a third element to achieve fluid continuity, and to make a pipe restraint that allows the first and second pipes (which specifically may be exchanger-side pipes) to be supported and fixed with respect to the motor vehicle, as well as connected to the third and fourth pipes (which specifically may be motor vehicle-side pipes). All this is essentially by means of a connecting block made of plastics material and a locking plate coupled to the connecting block.

Further features and advantages of the pipe connecting system according to the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, wherein.

<FIG> shows a heat exchanger of an air conditioning unit, such as an evaporator, collectively denoted by <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> is connected via a pair of pipes <NUM> and <NUM> made of metal material (one inlet into the heat exchanger and one outlet out of the heat exchanger) to a circuit for circulating a refrigerant fluid installed in a motor vehicle (not shown).

More specifically, the pipes <NUM> and <NUM>, which in the following will be designated as the first and second pipe, respectively, are connected to a connecting block <NUM>. <FIG> also shows a third pipe and a fourth pipe made of metal material, indicated by <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, which are also connected to the connecting block <NUM> and belong to the refrigerant fluid circuit to which the heat exchanger <NUM> is connected. Therefore, a first side <NUM> intended to receive the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM>, and a second side <NUM> opposite the first side <NUM> and intended to receive the third pipe and the fourth pipe <NUM>, <NUM> may be identified in the connecting block <NUM>.

<FIG> show in greater detail the pipe connecting system formed of the connecting block <NUM> and of the pipes connected thereto.

As may be seen in <FIG>, the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM> each comprise a flared end 2a, 3a. Each flared end 2a, 3a comprises a flare 2a', 3a' and, distal to the flare 2a', 3a', an enlarged diameter portion 2a", 3a". Each enlarged diameter portion 2a", 3a" has a larger diameter than the remaining part of the relevant pipe, and is connected to that remaining part by the relevant flare 2a', 3a'. In the present description, the terms "distal" and "proximal" mean "farther" and "closer", respectively, in relation to the entity with which the first pipe and the second pipe are associated, which in the example shown consists of the heat exchanger <NUM>.

Moreover, the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM> each comprise a flanged portion 2b, 3b extending radially outward and arranged close to the relevant flared end 2a, 3a, in a proximal position with respect thereto. The flared portion and flanged portion are obtained on the pipes by conventional pipe machining techniques.

Referring specifically to <FIG> and <FIG>, the connecting block <NUM> comprises a first block part <NUM> and a second block part <NUM> both made of plastics material. These block parts <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be fastened to each other around the flared ends 2a, 3a of the first and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM>. More precisely, when the first block part <NUM> and the second block part <NUM> are fastened to each other by closing the connecting block <NUM> around the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM>, they enclose not only the respective flared portions 2a, 3a, but also a segment of pipe comprised between the flared portions 2a, 3a and the respective flanged portions 2b, 3b. In the example shown, when the connecting block <NUM> is closed, the first block part <NUM> and the second block part <NUM> also enclose the flanged portions 2b, 3b.

The first block part <NUM> has a contact surface 13a that, when the connecting block <NUM> is closed, comes into contact with a corresponding contact surface 14a of the second block part <NUM>.

In the contact surface 13a of the first block part <NUM>, a pair of parallel-extending grooves 13b, 13c is obtained between the first side <NUM> and the second side <NUM> of the connecting block <NUM>. These grooves 13b, 13c have a semicircular cross-section, and are intended to receive the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. Each of these grooves comprises, in the direction that runs from the first side <NUM> to the second side <NUM> of the connecting block <NUM>, a stepped segment intended to receive the relevant flanged pipe portion 2b or 3b, a smaller diameter segment intended to receive the relevant pipe portion between the flanged portion and the flared portion, a flared segment intended to receive the relevant flare 2a' or 3a', and an enlarged diameter segment intended to receive the relevant enlarged diameter pipe portion 2a" or 3a". In <FIG>, x1 and x2 denote the axes of the first pipe <NUM> and the second pipe <NUM>, respectively.

In the contact surface 14a of the second block part <NUM>, a pair of parallel-extending grooves 14b, 14c is obtained between the first side <NUM> and the second side <NUM> of the connecting block <NUM>. These grooves 14b, 14c have a semicircular cross-section along almost their entire extension, and, when the first block part <NUM> and the second block part <NUM> are fixed together by closing the connecting block <NUM>, they are intended to form, together with the grooves 13b, 13c of the first block part <NUM>, the holes or seats in which the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM> are accommodated, respectively. Each of the grooves 14b, 14c of the second block portion <NUM> comprises, in the direction that runs from the first side <NUM> to the second side <NUM> of the connecting block <NUM>, a stepped segment intended to receive the relevant flanged pipe portion 2b or 3b, a smaller diameter segment intended to receive the relevant pipe portion between the flanged portion and the flared portion, a flared segment intended to receive the relevant flare 2a' or 3a', and an enlarged diameter segment intended to receive the relevant enlarged diameter pipe portion 2a" or 3a".

On the second side <NUM> of the connecting block <NUM>, the second block part <NUM> comprises a front portion 14d that, when the first block part <NUM> and the second block part <NUM> are fixed together, covers a corresponding front surface 13d of the first block part <NUM>. A pair of holes 14e, 14f, which are a continuation of the grooves 14b, 14c and are intended to receive the rim end of the enlarged diameter pipe portions 2a", 3a", is obtained on this front portion 14d.

The second block part <NUM> further comprises a plurality of hook-shaped lateral retaining portions <NUM>, arranged on opposite lateral sides of the contact surface 14a. These lateral retaining portions <NUM> are configured to engage respective lateral edge portions <NUM> of the first block part <NUM> in such a way as to fasten the first block part <NUM> and the second block part <NUM> to each other. In practice, the coupling of these parts is achieved through a slide system that requires relative sliding of the two parts, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Initially, the block parts <NUM> and <NUM> are brought against each other, establishing the contact between the contact surfaces 13a, 14a, and placing the lateral retaining portions <NUM> of the second block part <NUM> next to the lateral edge portions <NUM> of the first block part <NUM>. Note in <FIG> that the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM> were preliminarily placed in the grooves 13b and 13c of the first block part. Therefore, by sliding the second block part <NUM> in the axial direction (as indicated by the arrow in <FIG>) relative to the first block part, the lateral retaining portions <NUM> of the second block part <NUM> are brought to straddle the lateral edge portions <NUM> of the first block part <NUM>, thus obtaining the coupling between the block parts. The relative movement of the two parts stops when the front portion 14d of the second block part <NUM> comes to rest against the front surface 13d of the first block part <NUM> and, simultaneously, when the more advanced lateral retaining portions <NUM> of the second block part <NUM> come to rest against respective stop portions <NUM> obtained on the first block part <NUM>. It should be noted that the flared segment of the grooves 14b, 14c of the second block part <NUM> is positioned axially offset from the flared segment of the grooves 13b, 13c of the first block part <NUM>. This makes assembly possible between the block parts with the pipes <NUM> and <NUM> already placed in the grooves 13b, 13c of the first block part <NUM>.

The pipe connecting system further comprises a locking plate <NUM> made of metal material, which comprises an engaging portion 15a configured to engage simultaneously the flanged portions 2b, 3b of the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM>. A pair of lugs 15b, 15c having transverse dimensions slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe <NUM> and the second pipe <NUM>, respectively, but smaller than the outer diameter of the flanged portions, 2b and 3b, respectively, is obtained in the locking plate <NUM>. This allows the locking plate <NUM> to be assembled to the pipes <NUM> and <NUM> and moved along those pipes until it is brought to engage with the flanged portions 2b and 3b. In practice, the engaging portion 15a provided by the locking plate <NUM> is comprised of portions of the surface of that plate facing the connecting block, which are arranged around the edges of the lugs 15b, 15c.

The locking plate <NUM> is fixed to the connecting block <NUM> by at least one screw <NUM> (in the example, two screws) to hold the first pipe and the second pipe <NUM>, <NUM> between the connecting block <NUM> and the locking plate <NUM>. For this purpose, through-holes are obtained in the connecting block <NUM> that allow the positioning of the screws <NUM>, while threaded through-holes 15d are obtained in the locking plate, the threads of which through-holes are engaged by the threads of the screws <NUM>. In this way, the screws <NUM> act as tie rods that allow the locking plate <NUM> to be tightened against the flanged portions 2b, 3b of the pipes <NUM>, <NUM>, thus tightening these flanged portions against the connecting block <NUM>. It should be noted that no other screws are required for the integrity of the pipe connecting system than those used for fixing the locking plate <NUM> to the connecting block <NUM>.

In the example shown, two through-holes <NUM>, 14n, arranged intermediately between the holes 14e and 14f, are obtained in the second block part <NUM> to accommodate the screws <NUM>. The first of these through-holes, <NUM>, spans the entire thickness of the first block part between the first side <NUM> and the second side <NUM> of the connecting block. The second of these through-holes, 14n, spans the thickness of only the front portion 14d of the first block part <NUM>, and is aligned with a corresponding through-hole 13n obtained in the first block part.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, the ends of the third pipe <NUM> and the fourth pipe <NUM> are inserted into the respective enlarged diameter portions 2a" and <NUM> a" of the first pipe <NUM> and the second pipe <NUM>, respectively. Between the radially outer surface of each of the third pipe and fourth pipe <NUM>, <NUM> and the radially inner surface of the respective enlarged diameter portions 2a" and 3a", respective gaskets <NUM> are interposed. It should be noted that since there is a direct coupling between the first and third pipe, and between the second and fourth pipe, no additional gaskets are required.

The third pipe <NUM> and the fourth pipe <NUM> are provided with at least one support portion 4a, 5a (in the example, one support portion each) laterally extending and carrying a through-hole suitable for receiving a relevant screw 4b, 5b for coupling to the connecting body <NUM>. More specifically, threaded inserts <NUM> are inserted at the front portion 14d of the second block part <NUM> for fixing by the screws 4b, 5b of the third pipe <NUM> and the fourth pipe <NUM> to the connecting block <NUM>. These threaded inserts <NUM> may be inserted into the second block part <NUM> during the molding process of the second block part <NUM>, or they may be set into the second block part <NUM> at a stage following the molding thereof.

Claim 1:
A pipe connecting system comprising:
a first pipe (<NUM>) and a second pipe (<NUM>), each comprising a flared end (2a, 3a);
a connecting block (<NUM>) having a first side (<NUM>) intended to receive the first pipe (<NUM>) and the second pipe (<NUM>), and a second side (<NUM>) opposite the first side (<NUM>) and intended to receive a third pipe (<NUM>) and a fourth pipe (<NUM>), wherein the connecting block (<NUM>) comprises a first block part (<NUM>) and a second block part (<NUM>) made of plastics material and configured to be fastened to each other around the flared ends (2a, 3a) of the first pipe (<NUM>) and second pipe (<NUM>);
wherein one of said first block part and second block part comprises a plurality of hook-shaped lateral retaining portions (<NUM>) configured to engage respective lateral edges (<NUM>) of the other of said first block part and second block part in such a way as to fasten the first block part (<NUM>) and the second block part (<NUM>) to each other;
wherein the first pipe (<NUM>) and the second pipe (<NUM>) each comprise a flanged portion (2b, 3b) arranged close to the respective flared end (2a, 3a);
wherein the pipe connecting system further comprises a locking plate (<NUM>) which comprises an engaging portion (15a) configured to engage simultaneously the flanged portions (2b, 3b) of the first pipe (<NUM>) and second pipe (<NUM>),
said connecting system being characterized in that the locking plate (<NUM>) is made of metal material and is fixable to the connecting block (<NUM>) by at least one screw (<NUM>) to hold the first pipe (<NUM>) and the second pipe (<NUM>) between the connecting block (<NUM>) and the locking plate (<NUM>).