Pipe Coupling

This invention relates to a coupling for a pipe and more particularly but not solely to a pipe coupling enabling a central heating radiator to be pivoted away from a wall.

Central heating radiators are generally mounted parallel to a wall or other structure by two or more brackets or so-called hangers having upwardly-directed hooks which engage complimentary formations on the rear of the radiator. The opposite side edges of the radiator are respectively provided with outwardly-directed ports at their lower ends for respectively coupling to inlet and outlet pipes of the central heating system.

A problem with central heating radiators is that it is difficult for inexperienced persons to remove the radiator in order to clean or decorate the wall behind the radiator.

In order to overcome this problem, it has been proposed to provide a coupling for connecting between each radiator port and the inlet and outlet pipes of the central heating system. The couplings allow the radiator to be pivoted away from the wall about a horizontal axis without disconnecting the pipes. However, to pivot the radiator, it must first be lifted vertically off the hangers. Hitherto, in order to achieve this, the pipes connected to the radiator have to move vertically. This is undesirable because the pipes are not designed to move and hence the pipes, or the joints between the pipes can fracture or become damaged. Furthermore, the pipes may be physically prevented from moving, with a result that the radiator cannot be lifted off its hangers.

We have now devised a pipe coupling which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention, as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a pipe coupling comprising first and second body portions each provided with a coupling means for respectively connecting to the inlet and outlet of a fluid flow path, the body portions carrying respective portions of a through-flow passage extending between said coupling means, the first and second body portions being rotationally coupled to each other to permit relative rotation of said portions of the flow passage about their respective flow axis, wherein the coupling between said first

and second body portions further permits relative movement of said portions flow passage in a direction normal to the access of rotation.

The coupling in accordance with the present invention can be connected between each radiator port and the respective pipes central heating system. In order to clean or decorate behind the radiator, the radiator can be lifted off its hangers in an unhindered manner and without damaging or breaking any pipes due to the fact that one of the portions of the flow passage of each coupling is able to move transversely of itself and normal its longitudinal axis. The couplings then permit the radiator to be hinged down in a normal way.

Preferably the first and second body portions are interconnected at their respective inner ends by a union, which comprises a lip on the inner end of the first body portion which is embraced by a shoulder on the inner end of the second body portion.

Preferably the inner end of the second body portion comprises a flange having a flat outer face against which the inner end of the first body portion seals, the face lying normal to the rotational axis of the body portions.

Preferably said shoulder is disposed around the periphery of the flange and extends outwardly therefrom.

Preferably the shoulder provides an aperture through which said first body portion extends.

Preferably the aperture is elongated in the one direction to allow movement of the first body portion in one direction and to constrain movement in a direction perpendicular thereto. In use, the coupling is fitted to a radiator such that the elongated portion of the aperture extends vertically.

Preferably the aperture comprises straight side edges extending in the direction of elongation.

In one embodiment, the width of the elongated aperture is less than the diameter of the lip of the first body portion in at least one direction, such that the lip is captively retained inside the shoulder.

In an alternative embodiment, the first body portion comprises an inner member rotationally coupled to an outer member on which a said coupling means is provided, the inner member being journalled in the aperture. The use of the inner member provides a stronger connection between the first and second body portions. Preferably the inner member comprises opposite straight longitudinal side edges which slidably engage respective straight sides of the aperture.

Preferably a seal is disposed between said first and second body portions.

Preferably the flange and the shoulder of the second portion comprise separate members which are interconnected during manufacture to constrain the first body portion.

The flange and shoulder may be interconnected by screws or by a fastening fitted around the periphery thereof.

Preferably a support arm extends radially outwardly from one of the body portions. In use, the coupling is arranged such that the body portion with the support arm is connected to the pipe and the other body portion connected to the radiator. The support arm is engaged with the floor or other surface before the radiator is lifted off its hangers. Once off its hangers, the weight of the radiator is borne by the support arm not by the pipes. In this manner, damage caused to the pipes by supporting heavy radiators is avoided.

Preferably the arm is detachable.

Preferably the arm is adjustable in length, means preferably being provided for adjusting the length in-situ. Preferably the adjustment means comprises a rotary member which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the arm.

Preferably the arm comprises a bifurcated upper end which embraces the body portion.

Also in accordance with this invention, as seen from the first aspect, there is provided a central heating radiator assembly comprising a central heating radiator having outwardly-directed inlet and outlet ports on respective opposites sides thereof for respectively coupling to inlet and outlet pipes of a central heating system, wherein each port is connected to a respective coupling as hereinbefore defined.

Preferably, each coupling is disposed between a valve and the respective port of the radiator.

Also in accordance with this invention, as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a central heating radiator assembly comprising a central heating radiator having outwardly-directed inlet and outlet ports on respective opposites sides thereof for respectively coupling to inlet and outlet pipes of a central heating system, wherein the radiator is supported on said opposite sides by respective support arms.

Preferably each port is connected to a coupling arranged to permit the radiator to pivot about a rotational axis extending through the ports or parallel thereto, said support arms extending radially from respective couplings.

Preferably the arms are detachable.

Preferably the arms are adjustable in length, means preferably being provided for adjusting the length in-situ. Preferably the adjustment means comprises a rotary member which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the arm.

Preferably the arms comprise a bifurcated upper end which embraces a portion of the coupling. Preferably the upper end is arranged to permit rotation of the coupling therein.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an inner end view of an embodiment of radiator coupling in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line N-Il of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an outer end view of the coupling Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of radiator coupling when fitted to a central heating pipe;

Figure 5 is an inner end view of the coupling of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line Vl-Vl of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line VII-VII of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an outer end view of the coupling of Figure 4

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a coupling for fitting to one port of a radiator. An identical coupling is fitted to the other port of the radiator.

Each coupling comprises first and second body portions 10, 11 which are generally tubular in construction and which are coupled together at their respective inner ends by a union 12. A flow passage extends longitudinally through each of the body portions 10, 11. The outer end of the first body portion 10 comprises an internal screw-thread 13 for connecting to the externally threaded portion of a radiator valve, which is in turn connected to the inlet or outlet pipe of the central heating system. A peripheral lip 14 projects radially from the side wall of the first body portions 10 at the inner end thereof. An elastomeric sealing ring 15 is seated in an annular channel formed in the inner end wall of the first body portion 10. An internally screw-threaded formation 16 is disposed on the outer side wall of the first body portion 10 adjacent its outer end. The outer side wall of the first body portion 10 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed flat regions 27 which lie in parallel planes. The flat region 27 form opposed surfaces which can be gripped by a spanner or a wrench when fitting the coupling to the valve.

The outer end of the second body portion 1 1 comprises an externally screw-threaded portion 17 for engaging with the internally screw-threaded port of the radiator. A peripheral enlarged flange 18 projects radially from the side wall of the second body portion 11 at the inner end thereof. The outer end face of the flange 18 is flat and lies in a plane normal to the through axis of the coupling. A generally annular shoulder member 19 is fitted to the outer end face of the flange 18 around the periphery thereof. The shoulder member 19 comprises tubular side wall 20 which is connected at its outer end to a radially inwardly-directed wall 21 that defines an aperture 22. The radial width of the wall 21 is varied and form an elliptical aperture 22 having a minimum diameter D1 , which is marginally greater than the diameter of the main part of the first body portion 10 but which is less than the diameter of the lip 14, such that the lip 14 is captively retained by the shoulder member 19 and such that the gasket 15 is pressed against the outer end wall of the flange 18 in a sealingly tight manner around the flow passage through the second body portion 11. The aperture 22 has a maximum diameter D2 which is orthogonal to the minimum diameter D1 and is substantially greater than the diameter of the main part of the body portion 10, in order to allow the body portion 10 to move transverse its longitudinal axis in direction A. The inner side wall of the second body portion 10 is hexagonal in section to receive an Allen key for use in fitting the second body portion 11 to the port of the radiator.

The coupling is assembled by passing the outer end wall of the first body portion 10 through the aperture 22 in the shoulder member 19 prior to fitting the latter to the flange 18. The shoulder member 19 is then secured in place by screws 26 to captively retain the lip 14 in-situ against the second body portion 11.

In use, the couplings are fitted to each port of the radiator, such that the apertures 22 lie with their maximum diameter D2 extending vertically and parallel to the side edges of the radiator. The first body portion 10 is arranged such that the formation 16 faces downwardly.

In order to clean or decorate behind the radiator, the radiator is lifted vertically upwards off its hangers by a distance of about 10mm, wherein the inner end faces of the second body portion 1 1 of the coupling slide upwardly across the inner end face

of the first body portion 10, the latter being fixed against lateral movement by the central heating pipe to which it is fixed. It will be appreciated that the coupling has to be positioned such that the through axis of the second body portion 11 is in line with or below the through axis of the first body portion 10 when the radiator is seated on its hangers.

Once lifted, the radiator can be pivoted downwardly, whereupon the inner end of the second body portion 11 rotates relative to the inner end of the first body portion 10.

Large radiators are extremely heavy, especially when full of water, and in order to avoid the weight being applied to the pipes, a supporting arm (not shown) can be fitted to the formation 16 on the first body portion 10, the arm being extendable to engage the floor or other structure and thereby to take the weight of the radiator.

Referring to Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings, there is shown an alternative coupling 50 which is similar to the coupling of Figures 1 to 3 and like parts are given like reference numerals. The coupling comprises an external-screw thread 51 on the first portion 10 for engaging with an internally screw-threaded port of a radiator. The coupling comprises an internal-screw thread 52 on the second portion 1 1 for engaging with an externally screw-threaded port of a radiator valve 53.

The first portion 10 comprises an outer tubular member 54 on which the external- screw thread 51 is provided and an inner member 55 which is slidably retained inside the aperture 22 of the second portion. The inner member 55 is captively rotationally mounted to the outer member 54 and comprises opposite lipped parallel side edges which are straight and which engage under respective straight side edges of the elongated aperture 22. It will be appreciated that this arrangement increases the area of inter-engagement between the first and second portions 10,11 over that of the first embodiment.

The shoulder member 19 is secured to the flange 18 by screws 26 and/or by fitting a collar 56 around the coupling to engage into grooves which extend around the circumference of the shoulder 19 and flange 18.

A pair of support arms e.g. 60 are provided for engaging respective couplings 50. The arms 60 each comprise upper and lower elongate portions 61 ,62. The lower end of the upper portion 61 comprises an external screw thread 63 which engages into an internal screw thread in the upper end of the lower portion 62. A hand wheel 64 is keyed to the upper end of the lower portion 62. The lower end of the lower portion 62 is rotationally mounted to a base 65. The upper end of the upper portion 61 comprises a pair of arms 66 defining a u-shaped socket.

In use the arms 66 are engaged around a waisted portion on the outer tubular member 54 of the first portion 10 of the coupling: this waisted portion preferably comprises diametrically opposite flat regions on its external surface to enable a spanner to be engaged for use in tightening the coupling to the radiator port.

The hand wheels 64 are then turned to extend the arms 60 and to thereby lift the radiator off its hangers. The radiator can then be pivoted downwardly with the arms 60 acting to support the weight of the radiator.

A radiator coupling in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet enables radiators to be pivoted downwardly without any risk of damaging or straining the pipes.