PIPES SPACER FOR FLUID TRANSPORT

DESCRIPTION The object of the present invention is a spacer for fluid-conveying pipes. The fluid-conveying pipes are usually constituted by an inner pipe, (preferably) made of steel or a plastic material, inserted into an outer pipe (preferably) made of steel or concrete. The inner pipe is kept centered with respect to the outer pipe by means of a plurality of spacers which are applied to the outer surface of the inner pipe, before inserting it into the outer pipe.

"Collar-like" spacers are known and available on the market, having an inner diameter substantially coincident with the outer one of the inner pipe and a plurality of radial spacing tongues. The usually used spacers are constituted by open collars, each one thereof is applied to the inner pipe in a pre-fixed position and it is kept on site by locking therebetween (in a known way) the faced ends of the collar.

The collar can be constituted by a plurality of members coupled therebetween to adapt the inner diameter thereof to the outer one of the inner pipe.

Such type of spacer is described, for example, by the European Patent Nr. 1.262.700 in the name of the Applicant.

The known spacers with open collar have some disadvantages, thereamong it can be mentioned, by way of example, the fact that: - they request an adjustment mechanical system to perfectly adhere to the inner pipe;

- the collar (each one of the members composing it, respectively) must have means for locking the ends thereof (those of two adjacent members, respectively) thereat the spacing tongues are not present or, however, are not spaced uniformly: in such areas, then, the weight of the inner pipe does not distribute uniformly between the spacing tongues;

- the base body bearing the spacing tongues must have a suitable thickness for bearing the adjustment means and the locking means and, however, a greater thickness than the one requested for bearing the spacing tongues only. Strip-like spacers for fluid-conveying pipes are known and available on the market as well: the strip-like spacers subject of the European Patent Application Nr. 1.477.716 in the name of the Applicant are mentioned by simple way of example and not for limitative purpose, comprising:

- a plane and strip-like body, sufficiently thin to bend to wind the inner pipe therefrom a plurality of spacing tongues project (in direction orthogonal to the plane of the base body);

- a pair of clips apt to clamp the base body around the inner pipe, each clip being placed at one end of the base body between the ends of the spacing tongues and of the projections placed along the edge of the base body.

The known strip-like spacers have at least the disadvantage of requesting the use of (relatively) expensive and ad-hoc implemented fastening members (the clips), the implementation thereof requests a certain period of time and a qualified operator to position them correctly. The object of the present invention is to obviate the limits and/or drawbacks mentioned above shown by the known spacers, further allowing to reduce the storage, conveying and implementation costs of the spacer. This object is achieved by means of a spacer implemented according to the present invention, having the characterizing members illustrated in claim 1 ; additional advantageous features of the invention form the subject of the depending claims.

Additional features of the invention will appear clearer from the following detailed description, referred to embodiments by simple way of example, and therefore not with limitative purpose, illustrated in the enclosed figures, wherein:

- figures 1a and 1b show schematically a top view and a side view of a spacer implemented according to the invention;

- figures 2 and 3 show schematically two steps for applying the spacer of figure 1a to an inner pipe; - figure 4, similar to figure 2, shows schematically an additional embodiment of a spacer implemented according to the invention partially applied to an inner pipe;

- figure 5 shows schematically a bottom view of an additional embodiment of a spacer implemented according to the invention; - figure 6 shows schematically a bottom view of an additional embodiment of a spacer implemented according to the invention;

- figure 7 shows schematically a side view of the spacer of figure 6;

- figures 8a to 8d show schematically and respectively a top view, a side view, a front view and a section view of an additional embodiment of a spacer according to the invention;

- figure 9 shows schematically a top view of an additional embodiment of a spacer implemented according to the invention;

- figure 10 shows schematically a top view of two spacers of the type illustrated in figure 9 hooked therebetween; - figure 11 shows schematically a side view, a top view and a bottom view of a spacing tongue belonging to a spacer according to the invention, showing the outer profile of the spacing tongues. In the enclosed figures, the same members are identified by the same reference numerals. A spacer implemented according to the present invention comprises a substantially strip-like plane body, generally with rectangular plan shape, bearing a plurality of spacing tongues, fastened to the inner pipe by means of at least a strip-like adhesive body (preferably constituted by a piece of adhesive tape) applied at least partially onto one of the opposite edges of the base body and at least partially onto the inner pipe.

Preferably, along at least one of the opposite edges of the base body there is a plurality of projections coplanar to the base body and the portion of the strip-like adhesive body applied aboye said projections penetrates into the gaps between the two adjacent projections and it adheres alternatively to the spacer and to the inner pipe, by fastening more tightly the spacer to the inner pipe.

In this way the spacer keeps radially separated two pipes inserted one into the other one and (preferably) coaxial therebetween. In the embodiments described in figures 1 , 4, 5 and 9 the base body is obtained by cutting to length members with length not shorter than the outer circumference of the inner pipe, the (possible) projections are present along both opposite edges of the base body and the adhesive tape is applied along both the opposite edges of the base body; but, without departing from the scope of the invention, the base body can be obtained by cutting to length a continuous strip (in case coil-wound), the (possible) projections can be present along only one of the opposite edges of the base body and/or the adhesive tape can be applied along only one of the opposite edges of the base body. In the present description, the term "cut to length" means that the base body is cut so that the length thereof corresponds to the outer circumference of the inner pipe.

Figure 1 shows schematically a top view (figure 1a) and a side view (figure 1 b) of a spacer 1 implemented according to the present invention, comprising a base body 2 (preferably a plane and strip-like base body, as well as with a length not shorter than that of the outer circumference of the inner pipe 6; figure 2) bearing a plurality of spacing tongues 5; the tongues project radially from the plane defining the base body so as to allow to space apart the inner pipe from the outer one upon use. Along both opposite edges (2', 2") of the base body 2 there is a plurality of projections 3 with squared or rectangular shape.

By sake of graphic representation simplicity, in the enclosed figures only one of the projections (3, 3', 3") and of the spacing tongues (5, 5') has been marked with the respective reference numeral. Figures 2 and 3 show schematically two steps for applying the spacer 1 of figure 1 to an inner pipe 6.

Figure 2 shows the spacer 1 partially wound onto the inner pipe 6, whereas figure 3 shows the spacer 1 wholly wound onto the inner pipe 6 and partially fastened to the inner pipe 6 by means of adhesive tape 4. As shown in figure 3, the adhesive tape 4 is applied partially onto one of the opposite edges (2', 2") of the base body 2 and partially onto the inner pipe 6, it keeps joined the ends (2'", 2"") of the base body 2, it penetrates into the gaps between two adjacent projections 3 and, by adhering to the spacer 1 and to the inner pipe 6, it fastens the spacer 1 to the inner pipe 6. Preferably, the height of the portion of adhesive tape 4 applied onto one of the opposite edges (2', 2") of the base body 2 is about half of the height of the tape 4.

In other words, the system for constraining the spacer to the inner pipe provides the use of a fastening member suitable to engage to at least one of the opposite edges of the base body and to the outer surface of the inner pipe.

Such fastening member (strip-like adhesive body 4) engages at least partially along the development thereof (and preferably along the whole circumference) the edge (2', 2") of the base body 2 which is destined to wind the pipe 6.

Still in other words, the base body 2 which is defined by a wall with a substantially rectangular shape will be wound onto the pipe so that two of the opposite sides thereof are one at the other one (ends 2'" and 2""), whereas the fastening member(s) 4 will engage the additional opposite sides (edges 2' and 2").

Figure 4, similar to figure 2, shows schematically an additional embodiment of a spacer 1 implemented according to the present invention, which differs from the one shown in figures 1-3 mainly due to the fact of not having the projections 3. The spacer 1 of figure 4 is fastened to the inner pipe 6 in analogous way to what illustrated in figure 3: the adhesive tape 4 is applied partially onto opposite edges (2', 2") of the base body 2 and partially onto the inner pipe 6, it keeps joined the ends (2'", 2"") of the base body 2 and, by adhering to the spacer 1 and to the inner pipe 6, it fastens the spacer 1 to the inner pipe 6.

Figure 5 shows schematically a bottom view of an additional embodiment of a spacer 1 , which differs from the one illustrated in figure 1 due to the fact that the projections 3' have the shape of rounded peduncles. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the projections (3, 3') can assume any other shape (different from the ones shown in figures 1 , respectively 5) considered each time more advantageous to meet specific requirements.

Figure 6 shows schematically a top view of an additional embodiment of a spacer 1 , which differs from the one illustrated in figure 5 mainly due to the fact of further comprising coupling means constituted by a row of pins 7 placed along an end of the base body 2 and apt to engage in corresponding holes 8 existing along the other end of the base body 2 which allow locking temporarily in the operation position the spacer 1 to be able to apply thereto more easily the at least a piece of adhesive tape 4.

The row of pins 7 and corresponding holes 8 can be advantageously used to connect therebetween two spacers 1 , by obtaining a spacer apt to be applied to an inner pipe, the outer circumference thereof be longer than the length of each one of the spacers 1. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the coupling means can comprise at least a pin 7 and at least a hole 8.

The embodiments of a spacer 1 illustrated in figures 1 , 4 and 5 too can have coupling means comprising at least a pin 7 and at least a hole 8. Still without departing from the scope of the invention, the coupling means can be omitted and the spacer 1 (in the embodiments thereof illustrated in figures 1 , 4, 5 and/or 6) can be locked temporarily in the operation position by constraining by means of an elastic band (or other functionally equivalent reversible coupling means) the spacing tongues 5 adjacent to the ends (2'", 2""); figure 3 and 4) of the base body 2. Figure 7 shows schematically a side view of the spacer 1 shown in figure 6, therefrom it can be seen that the end 2'" of the base body 2 having the at least a slot 8 is lifted-up with respect to the base body 2 to overlap the end 2"" of the base body 2 bearing the at least the pin 7. Figure 8 shows schematically a top view (figure 8a), a side view (figure 8b), a front view (figure 8c) and a section view (made along the segment of B-B of figure 8a; figure 8d) of an additional embodiment of a spacer 1 , which at one end of the base body 2 has at least a tongue 9 apt to be inserted in at least a seat 10 (figure 8c) implemented in the spacing tongues (designated in figure 9 with the reference numeral 5') adjacent to the other end of the base body 2. The tongues 9 and the seats 10 will not be described in this context as known on themselves, for example from the European Patent 1.262.700 in the name of the Applicant.

Figure 9 shows schematically a top view of an additional embodiment of a spacer 1 implemented according to the invention which differs from the one illustrated in figure 1 due to the fact that:

- the base body 2 further has first coupling means comprising a plurality of pins 12 placed along the opposite edges thereof (2', 2") at the projections (3"); (in wholly equivalent way they could be defined by holes);

- along the side edges of the projections 3" there are second coupling means comprising a plurality of holes 13; (in wholly equivalent way they could be defined by pins);

- at the basis of each projection 3", an area 11 , for example a weakening 5 area, is provided which allows to fold up (preferably, but not necessarily, by 90°) the projection 3".

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the base body 2 can have at least a pin 12 placed along at least one of the opposite edges (2', 2") of the base body 2 at at least one of the projections 3", along at o least a side edge of at least a projection 3" there is at least a hole 13 and the area 11 which allows to fold-up by 90° a projection 3" is present at least at the basis of the at least a projection 3" which has at least a hole 13. Still without departing from the scope of the invention, the projections 3" s can have at least a pin 12 apt to engage in at least a hole 13 existing along at least one of the opposite edges (2', 2") of the base body 2. By sake of graphic representation simplicity, in figures 9 and 10 only one of the areas 11 , of the pins 12 and of the holes 13 has been marked with the respective reference numeral. ₀ Figure 10 shows schematically a top view of two spacers 1 of the type described in figure 9, hooked temporarily therebetween by folding-up by 90° at least a projection 3" of one of the spacers 1 and by inserting at least a pin 12 belonging to the other spacer 1 in at least a hole 13 of the projection 3" folded-up by 90°. ₅ Figure 11 shows schematically a side view, a top view and a bottom view of a spacing tongue 5 belonging to a spacer 1 implemented according to the invention, which advantageously has an arched outer profile which makes easier inserting the inner pipe 6, bearing the spacer 1 into the outer pipe as it allows the spacer 1 to overcome more easily possible o obstacles (such as, for example, welding seams and/or small

misalignments between two pieces of adjacent outer pipes) possibly existing onto the inner surface of the outer pipe.

With respect to the spacers for known pipes, the spacer 1 subject of the present invention has several advantages, thereamong: s - a greater speed and implementation convenience: the spacer is implemented by winding thereon the adhesive tape at least once, easily found,

- by implementing the spacers as a continuous strip to be wound, for example, like a coil and to be cut to length, it is not necessary to supply o with spacers with different length to adapt to the diameter of the inner pipe thereon the spacers are to be applied time by time and there is a huge reduction in the scraps and in the implementation time of the spacers;

- the projections (3, 3', 3") improve the efficiency of the fastening action s performed by the adhesive tape;

- the implementation of the spacer does not require the use of tools, therefore it is easier to be made and it can be performed by a not particularly qualified operator.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, a person skilled in the o art can introduce to the previously described spacer all modifications and improvements suggested by the usual experience and/or by the natural evolution of the art.