JOINING PART AND APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a bendable joint for conveying the rotating movement of a part forming a flow channel and for conveying a flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bendable and rotatable pipelines are used, e. g., for washing industrial processes. In such cases, a bendable and rotatable pipeline installed in the process equipment makes it possible to achieve a better cover of areas to be washed and a better washing result than using pipelines equipped with fixed elbows.

Published application WO 2008/034934 discloses a joining part that can be joined to pipes to be connected together. A joint structure included in the joining part enables conveying a rotating movement of a first joined pipe and a flow to another joined pipe when the joining part is bent. The disclosed joining part has two joint surfaces to be sealed. The maximum bending angle enabled by the disclosed joining part imposes restrictions in some areas of application for the joining part.

There is a need to provide a joining part that enables conveying a flow and a rotating movement at a large bending angle. In addition, there is a need to provide a joining part with simple sealing.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention, a joining part is implemented for conveying a rotating movement of a part forming a flow channel and a flowing substance, wherein the joining part comprises a first end part and a second end part enabling flow-through and the joining part is bendable between said end parts. The joining part comprises a flow turning part and a rotating movement conveying part, which are separate from each other and each of which is separately

connected to the first end part and the second end part at its ends.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the flow turning part comprises a ball part with a spherical surface and a cup-like part that comprises a sealing surface or a seal against which said spherical surface is fitted. Preferably, the ball part comprises within it a first flow-through channel and the cup-like part comprises within it a second flow-through channel.

Preferably, the ball part is fastened to the first end part in a manner enabling flow- trough with a preferably adjustable first fastening member, such as a first arm equipped with a thread.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cup-like part is fastened to the second end part in a manner enabling flow-through with a preferably adjustable second fastening member, such as a second arm equipped with a thread.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cup-like part includes an annular seal. Preferably, the seal is made of a flexible material, such as a compressible and self-restoring material.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the seal is equipped with suspension built in the seal or a spring is fitted between the cup-like part and the seal. Preferably, the seal is equipped with a distance adjustment member, such as a thread.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cup-like part comprises a continuous or discontinuous form that extends behind the maximum diameter of the spherical surface of the ball part and is smaller than said maximum diameter.

Preferably, the joining part comprises a force-exerting means that is internal to the ball part and the cup-like part and presses the ball part and cup-like part against each other.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating movement conveying part comprises a connecting part, wherein a first axis and a second axis are arranged crosswise at a 90° angle. Preferably, the first axis of the connecting part is arranged in a perpendicular position in relation to the axis of rotation of the first end part, and the second axis is arranged in a perpendicular position in relation to the axis of rotation of the second end part, and the first axis and the second axis pass through the center of the spherical surface of the ball part comprised by the flow turning part.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting part comprises an annular component, on the outer edge of which first power transmission arms are arranged at opposite sides on the first axis at their first ends and fastened to the first end part at their second ends, and on the outer edge of which second power transmission arms are arranged at opposite sides on the second axis at their first ends and fastened to the second end part at their second ends. Preferably, the first power transmission arms and/or the second power transmission arms comprise length adjustment.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating movement conveying part comprises a universal joint, a cross joint, or a gear.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating movement conveying part comprises a mechanism that enables bending the rotating movement conveying part in at least one direction and conveys a rotating movement.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating movement conveying part is outside the flow turning part.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotating movement conveying part is coaxial with the flow turning part.

According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is implemented that comprises a joining part according to one embodiment of the invention. Preferably,

the apparatus is an industrial process washing apparatus, such as washing piping, equipped with at least one rotatable spray pipe. Preferably, the apparatus is an apparatus of the food industry or the brewing industry or a dairy or the chemical industry or the paper and pulp industry or the mining industry or the shipyard industry or the shipbuilding industry or a fire-extinguishing system.

Preferably, the flowing substance to be conveyed in the joining part and the apparatus is a liquid flowing substance, such as water or washing water or detergent or oil or grease or other lubricant, or a gaseous flowing substance, such as air or oxygen, or a combination of liquid and gas.

The disclosed joining part enables implementing large bending angles and simultaneously conveying a flow and a rotating movement of pipes. A simple sealing technique can be applied in connection with the disclosed joining part. According to some preferred embodiments of the invention, the flow channel is bent at one position, whereby the bending position of the flow channel only comprises one surface to be sealed. According to some embodiments of the invention, it is easy to adjust the sealing of the joining part and to compensate for the wear of the sealing, and the seal preferably used as necessary is easy to change. Advantageously, the work phases required for manufacturing the joining part represent simple machining technique, such as turning and drilling, and simple assembly technique. Advantageously, the components of the joining part do not require complicated, time-consuming and expensive machining operations. Other advantages will become apparent from the following description and claims.

Various embodiments of the present invention will only be or have only been described in connection with one or some of the aspects of the invention. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that any embodiment of an aspect of the invention may be applied in the same aspect and other aspects alone or in combination with other embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a joining part according to one embodiment of the invention bent in one direction, and

Figure 2 shows the joining part presented in Figure 1 in a cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like references refer to similar parts. It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that they mainly serve the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show side views of a joining part 1 bent in one direction. The joining part 1 is shown without a suitable protective cover to be fitted around the moving parts of the joining part 1 , such as a cover or bellows made of a flexible material, e. g., rubber. The joining part 1 can be used to connect together a first pipe 2 and a second pipe 3 so that a flow passing through the first pipe 2 is conveyed to the second pipe 3 or in the opposite direction and that the rotating movement R of the first pipe 2 is translated via the joining part 1 into the rotating movement R' of the second pipe 3, and vice versa.

The first pipe 2 is connected to a first end part 23 of the joining part 1 with, e. g., a first end flange 2' and screws 8, and the second pipe 3 is connected to a second end part 24 of the joining part 1 with, e. g., a second end flange 3' and screws 8. The first end part 23 and the second end part 24 may be flanges having the necessary fastening holes for the first and second end flange 2', 3' for fastening the pipes.

For example, the joining part 1 is used as part of a flow channel in such locations as industrial process washing piping to enable the running and operation of a bendable and rotatable pipeline composed of pipes 2, 3 and the joining part 1. In such cases, a bendable and rotatable pipeline installed in the process equipment,

e. g., within it, makes it possible to achieve a better cover of areas to be washed and a better washing result than using pipelines equipped with fixed elbows. The flow channel to be connected using the joining part 1 , such as the pipe 2, 3, may be a closed pipe for conveying a flowing substance forward, e. g., through a next joining part 1 to the next pipe, or the flow channel to be connected may be a washing pipe, which may comprise washing nozzles for spraying a flowing liquid to the object of washing. The flow channel to be connected using the joining part 1 may also be in an actuator providing the flow and the rotating movement.

The joining part 1 comprises a flow turning part 4, 6 and a rotating movement conveying part 20, 25, 26, which are composed of separate components. Thereby, flow channels 9, 10 pertaining to the flow conveying parts 4, 6 can be formed to be bendable at as large a bending angle as possible. As the flow channels 9, 10 can be independently optimized for bending, the optimization of the parts 20, 25, 26 of the rotating movement conveying part does not interfere with the optimization of the bending properties of the flow channels 9, 10. The flow conveying members 4, 6 are preferably surrounded by the parts independently conveying the rotating movement, but separate from them.

The joining part 1 enables conveying the flow of the flowing substance and the rotating movement R, R' of the pipes in a number of directions during bending. The bending direction of the joining part 1 (thus of both the flow turning part and the rotating movement conveying part) is not restricted; rather, as shown in Figure 2, the joining part 1 can be bent from the straight position A to any direction in a conical angle sector S. Preferably, the maximum bending angle of the joining part 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is 40°, depending on the required amount of flowing substance to be carried through the flow channel system and thus the size of the flow channels.

The flow turning part comprises a ball part 4 with a spherical surface and a cup- like part 6. The spherical surface of the ball part 4 is fitted to the cup-like part 6 in a manner that leak-tightly conveys the flow. The ball part 4 is equipped with a lead- through first fastening member 5 for fastening the ball part 4 to the first end part 23

of the joining part 1. The fastening member 5 of the ball part 4 is preferably adjustable and equipped with, e. g., a threaded first arm 5 for adjusting and maintaining a suitable distance of the ball part 4 and, particularly, its spherical sealing surface from the first end part 23 of the joining part 1. The cup-like part 6 is equipped with a second fastening member, such as a (as necessary adjustable) second arm 6' for fastening the cup-like part 6 and for adjusting and maintaining a suitable distance from the second end part 24 of the joining part 1. The ball part 4 comprises within it the first flow channel 9, and the cup-like part 6 comprises within it the second flow channel 10 (Figure 2), which constitute a continuous flow channel 9, 10 when the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 5 are joined together at different bending angles S.

Thus, as described above, the flow turning part comprises two ends: the end of the first fastening member 5 of the ball part 4, which end is fastened to the first end part 23, and the end of the second fastening member 6' of the cup-like part 6, which end is fastened to the second end part 24.

The larger the implementation of the ball part 4, the larger the first flow channel 9 may be. Naturally, the dimensions of the cup-like part 6 will thereby also increase, due to which it may be necessary to implement the fastening member 6' of the cup-like part 6 with a smaller outer dimension than that of the actual sealing surface of the cup-like part 6. This provides sufficient for the rotating movement conveying part to be described below (including the conveying part 20) during the rotating bending movement. When the dimensions of the ball part 4 and the cup- like part 6 are increased, the first flow channel 9 may be provided with proportionately smaller dimensions, whereby the maximum bending angle of the joining part 1 may be increased.

Preferably, the cup-like part 6 is equipped with a seal 7, which is fitted tightly to, e. g., the end of the cup-like part 6 facing the ball part 4. The seal 7 is preferably annular and comprises the necessary seal shapes for sealing the movable joint between the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 and for sealing the joint between the cup-like part 6 and the seal 7. The sealing material of the seal 7 is preferably

Teflon or other suitable process piping sealing material, which is suitably wear, pressure, temperature and ageing resistant. The seal 7 is preferably made of a flexible material, more preferably of a compressible and self-restoring material in order to achieve a good fitting and to compensate for small gaps during sealing. The seal 7 is preferably equipped with a spring feature, which may be a first spring T built in the seal 7, or a second spring 7" may be fitted between the cup-like part 6 and the seal 7. The seal 7 is preferably equipped with a distance adjustment member 7'" in relation to the cup-like part 6, such as a thread, in which case the cup-like part 6 also houses a thread, in order to adjust the gap between the seal 7 and the ball part 4 and/or to compensate for any wear of the seal 7. The material of the first and the second spring is preferably acid-proof metal material.

In order to ensure the leak-tightness of the flow turning part included in the joining part 1 , i. e., to ensure that the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 are kept sealed against each other, a suitable mechanism is arranged, the purpose of which is to prevent the ball part 4 and cup-like part 6 from becoming separated so that the flowing substance could leak. The ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 as a whole constitute a sealed "ball joint". According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, for a first mechanism, the rotating movement conveying part is utilized, another function of which is to convey the rotating movement of the first pipe 2 to the second pipe 3 and vice versa. Preferably, by means of the rotating movement conveying part, the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 are kept in suitably close contact, which is not lost during the use of the joining part 1.

The rotating movement conveying part comprises a mechanism arranged between the first end part 23 and the second end part 24, at suitable distances from said end parts 23, 24, which enables simultaneous bending in more than one direction. This enables conveying a rotating movement by means of the joining part 1 when the joining part 1 is bent both in a vertical and a lateral direction. This mechanism may be a universal joint, a cross joint or another suitable joint, or a gear, which enables bending the rotating movement conveying part in at least one direction and conveys a rotating movement. The mechanism comprised by the rotating movement conveying part is preferably outside the flow turning part 4, 6.

Preferably, the mechanism of the rotating movement conveying part is coaxial with the flow turning part 4, 6.

The rotating movement conveying part shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of the "cardan" type, wherein a first axis 21 , 21 ' and a second axis 22, 22', which are arranged in the connecting part 20 crosswise at a 90 angle, convey the rotating force to power transmission arms connected to the first axis 21 , 21 ' and the second axis 22, 22' during the bending movement of the joining part 1. Said power transmission arms comprise first power transmission arms 25 fitted to the first axis 21 , 21' with a rotatable bearing, such as a ball joint 25', and second power transmission arms 26 fitted to the second axis 22, 22' with a rotatable bearing, such as a ball joint 26'. Using ball joints for power transmission arms is preferable as they are available as standard components and, for example, absence of clearances in the bearing can be provided by utilizing the spring property of a suitable spring-loaded ball joint.

The connecting part 20 preferably comprises an annular component, on which the first axis 21 , 21' and the second axis 22, 22' are fitted, preferably extending outwards from the outer edge of the ring 20. The first power transmission arms 25 are arranged on the conveying part 20, preferably at opposite sides at the outer edge of its annular component, and, correspondingly, the second power transmission arms 26 are arranged on the conveying part 20, preferably at opposite sides at the outer edge of its annular component. The first axis 21 , 21' enables the joining part 1 to be bent up and down in the direction of the presentation plane of Figures 1 and 2, and the second axis 22, 22' enables the joining part 1 to be bent up and down in the vertical direction in relation to the presentation plane of Figures 1 and 2.

The first power transmission arms 25 are fastened to the first end part 23 at a required distance from it at their second ends opposite to their first ends 25' fitted with bearings. Preferably, the first power transmission arms 25 are fastened to the end part 23 in a manner providing adjustable length with, e. g., a screw joint, whereby this adjustable joint enables lengthening or shortening the first power transmission arms 25 so that the first axis 21 , 21' passes through the center of the

spherical surface of the ball part 4 and a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first end part 23, i. e., is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first end part 23.

The second power transmission arms 26 are fastened to the second end part 24 at a required distance from it at their second ends opposite to their first ends 26' fitted with bearings. Preferably, the second power transmission arms 26 are fastened to the second end part 24 in a manner providing adjustable length, e. g. , with a screw joint, whereby this adjustable joint enables lengthening or shortening the length of the second power transmission arms 26 so that the first axis 22, 22' passes through a perpendicular plane in relation to the axis of rotation of the second end part 24. In addition, by adjusting the length of the second power transmission arms 26, it is possible to influence the (axial) position of the spherical surface of the ball part 4 in relation to the cup-like part 6 (the seal 7) via the conveying part 20, the first power transmission arms 25, the first end part 23, and the fastening member 5 of the ball part 4, the cup-like part 6 having a fixed (adjustable) connection to the power transmission arms 26 via the second end part 24.

As described above, the rotating movement conveying part comprises two ends: a first end of the rotating movement conveying part composed of the second ends of the first power transmission arms 25 and connected to the first end part 23 of the joining part 1 , and a second end of the rotating movement conveying part composed of the second power transmission arms 26 and connected to the second end part 24 of the joining part 1.

According to one embodiment of the invention, as a second mechanism for keeping the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 in suitably close contact, which is not lost or which does not open during the use of the joining part 1 , a force- exerting means internal to said parts or a relative movement restricting means is provided (not shown in the figures). The force-exerting means may be fitted to the first flow channel 9 and the second flow channel 10, for example. The force- exerting means may be fastened to the ball part 4 at its first end and to the cup-

like part 6 at its second end, respectively, or, correspondingly, to the first end part 23 and the second end part 24 directly or via intermediate parts so that the sealing surface of the ball part 4 and the sealing surface of the cup-like part 6 (as necessary, the sealing surface of the seal 7) remain sealed against each other. The force-exerting means is preferably a bendable wire or rope, e. g., a steel rope or a rope of fiber material, equipped with suspension at its other end, which may also be equipped with at least one guide means to prevent the force-exerting means from unnecessarily contacting the inner walls of the flow channels 9, 10. The force-exerting means may also have a rod structure, wherein, for example, a first rigid rod is connected to a second rigid rod by means of a bendable ball joint conveying a tensile force.

When using the above-mentioned force-exerting means in the joining part 1 to keep the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 in suitably close and bendable contact, a mechanism that does not necessarily provide a connection enabling sealing between the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 or a mechanism that does not cause a force pressing the sealing surface of the ball part 4 and the sealing surface of the cup-like part 6 against each other can be used as the rotating movement conveying part. Therefore, it is possible to arrange a gear (not shown) having tooth that are sufficiently long to contact each other when the joining part 1 is straight and when the joining part 1 is bent at its maximum bending angle S to serve as the rotating movement conveying mechanism. The teeth may be finger- like, and the tooth rings, preferably fastened to the first 23 and the second end part 24, may be composed of, e. g., meshing, interlocking rods arranged in the form of a ring.

According to one embodiment of the invention, as a third mechanism for keeping the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 in suitably close contact, which is not lost or which does no open during the use of the joining part 1 , a ball-joint-type structure that comprises within it a continuous flow channel 9, 10 and in which the cup-like part 6 comprises a shape that bendably holds the ball part 4 so that the spherical surface of the ball part 4 adheres to the sealing surface of the cup-like part 6 (the seal 7) is provided. The cup-like part 6 may include an edge or a shape (not

shown) extending behind the maximum diameter of the spherical surface of the ball part 4. This edge or shape may be continuous or discontinuous and smaller than said maximum diameter behind the maximum diameter of the spherical surface.

The ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 of the joining part 1 are made of the same or different material, which preferably is suitable for difficult industrial environments and resistant to strong chemicals. The material of the ball part 4 and the cup-like part 6 is preferably material that is corrosion, pressure, ageing and wear resistant, as well as resistant to high and low temperatures, such as acid-proof material (e. g., acid-proof steel) or suitable polymer material. The components forming the rotating movement conveying part of the joining part 1 are made of the same or different material, which is load-resistant, preferably suitable for difficult industrial environments and resistant to strong chemicals, such as corrosion, pressure, ageing and wear resistant, as well as resistant to high and low temperatures, e. g., acid-proof steel.

An apparatus according to the invention comprises a joining part 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. Preferably, the apparatus is an industrial process washing apparatus, such as washing piping, equipped with at least one rotatable spray pipe. Advantageously, the apparatus and the joining part are suitable for use as an apparatus and joining part of the food industry or the brewing industry or a dairy or the chemical industry or the paper and pulp industry or a fire-extinguishing system.

Preferred areas of application for the apparatus and joining part also include the mining, shipyard and shipbuilding industries. In addition to washing water/detergents, the apparatus and the joining part are also suitable for conveying other flowing substances, e. g., oils, greases or other lubricants. The apparatus and joining part may be used for conveying almost all liquid and also gaseous substances (e. g., air and oxygen), as well as combinations of liquids and gases.

The description given above provides non-limiting examples of some embodiments of the invention. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that the invention is not confined to the details presented above, but that the invention may also be implemented in other equivalent ways.

Some features of the embodiments presented may be utilized without employing other features. The above description must be regarded as an explanatory account describing the principles of the invention and not as limiting the invention. Thus the scope of the invention is only limited by the appended claims.