The invention relates to a sealing device, more particularly to a device for sealing in fluid-tight manner a connection between two conduit parts which are aligned or are to be aligned at an angle relative to each other.

Misalignment between the conduits to be sealed can occur in different situations. When a wall plate for mounting of a tap on a wall is for instance installed askew, a connector mounted on this wall plate will in principle also be installed askew relative to the wall. It is however desirable for a tap to be arranged level to and perpendicularly of a wall. While this is difficult enough with taps having a single water conduit, this is made even more difficult when the fitter has to mount a mixer tap and the cold and/or hot water conduit do not emerge perpendicularly from the wall.

Although a mixer tap can in some cases be connected using a straight connector, so-called S-shaped connectors are generally used to connect mixer taps. These S-shaped connectors comprise a curved pipe part which can be rotated relative to the wall plate in order to obtain additional clearance and flexibility for positioning of the mixer tap.

A drawback of using S-shaped connectors is that they generally extend further from the wall plate than a straight connector, whereby application of S-shaped connectors reinforces an inclining position of the wall plate even more than is the case with straight connectors.

If the tap is installed perpendicularly of the wall and the wall plate is in an inclining position, the water conduit and the connection to the tap will be misaligned relative to each other. Obtaining a good water seal of the connection is often difficult, and sometimes even impossible. The fibre rings used to obtain a seal frequently provide insufficient clearance, and in the case of misalignment rubber sealing rings are regularly torn apart by tightening of the connectors.

There is therefore a need for a sealing device which can provide a fluid-tight seal between two lengths of pipe having a relative misalignment.

DE-A1-40 33 043 describes a connection of a mixing valve, wherein a spherical head and a corresponding spherical bearing mutually engage such that a possible misalignment of the water conduits can be compensated.

DE-U1-78 17 171 describes a mixing valve and addresses the problem of obtaining a reliable seal in the case of a misalignment between two conduits.

The available space is often limited because a fitter is for instance tied to an existing situation when doing renovation work. A compact sealing solution is therefore desired. An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing device wherein said drawbacks do not occur, or do so to at least lesser extent.

Said object is achieved according to the invention with the device for sealing in fluid-tight manner a connection between two conduit parts which are aligned or are to be aligned at an angle relative to each other, comprising:

- a first sealing part comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, a substantially flat side and a diverging side lying opposite the flat side and diverging from the inner wall toward the outer wall;

- a second sealing part comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, a substantially flat side and a converging side lying opposite the flat side and converging from the inner wall toward the outer wall; and

- wherein the diverging side of the first sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part have substantially the same chamfering and are configured to be arranged against each other such that the diverging side of the first sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part can be shifted along each other and the inner walls of the first sealing part and the second sealing part enclose a continuous recess through which a fluid can be transported.

It is noted that the diverging side diverges in the direction from the inner wall to the outer wall of the first sealing part and away from the opposite fiat side, whereby the distance between the flat side and the diverging side increases in outward direction.

It is noted that the converging side converges in the direction from the inner wall to the outer wall of the second sealing part and toward the opposite flat side, whereby the distance between the flat side and the converging side decreases in outward direction.

When the sealing device is installed between two conduits, the diverging side and the converging side will come to lie close-fittingly against each other. In the example mentioned in the preamble of an attachment between a tap and a water conduit, the distance between the tubular water connection of the tap and the water conduit will be reduced by tightening of a nut, whereby the first sealing part and the second sealing part are clamped against each other. The diverging side of the first sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part will shift relative to each other to an optimal relative sealing position under the influence of the clamping force exerted during the clamping.

Although the diverging side of the first sealing part and/or the converging side of the second sealing part can be deformable to some extent, whereby they come to lie close-fittingly against each other and provide a fluid-tight seal on their gripping surface when they are pressed against each other, it is particularly advantageous for the diverging side and the converging side to connect to each other optimally, irrespective of the inclining position. According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing device therefore has the features that the diverging side of the first sealing part comprises a concave form, the converging side of the second sealing part comprises a convex form, and wherein the concave side of the first sealing part and the convex side of the second sealing part have substantially the same curvature and are configured to be arranged against each other such that the concave side of the first sealing part and the convex side of the second sealing part can be shifted along each other.

When choosing the radius of the curvature of the co-acting concave side of the first sealing part and the convex side of the second sealing part, the skilled person will have to determine an optimum for the specific application. While a smaller radius of curvature provides for a greater adjustment range, a large radius of curvature conversely provides the advantage of a compact overall thickness through a flatter curvature. If the curvature becomes flatter the height variation during lateral shifting will after all be more limited, and a sufficiently large sealing surface is also obtained in an inclining position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer wall of the second sealing part comprises a smaller cross-sectional distance D _2o than the cross-sectional distance D _lo of the outer wall of the first sealing part, at least in the adjusting direction in which the first sealing part and the second sealing part can be shifted relative to each other. The sealing device hereby has some ability to shift in the adjusting direction before the outer wall of the second sealing part will move substantially outside the outer wall of the first sealing part. As a result hereof the misalignment compensation of the sealing device is even preserved when it is enclosed, for instance by an inner wall of a conduit part in which the sealing device is arranged.

Sufficient ability to shift in the adjusting direction before the outer wall of the second scaling part will move substantially outside the outer wall of the first scaling part is guaranteed if according to a further preferred embodiment the cross-sectional distance D _2o of the outer wall of the second sealing part is at least 5%, and preferably at least 10%, smaller than the cross-sectional distance D _l0 of the outer wall of the first sealing part.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the inner walls of the first sealing part and the second sealing part have substantially the same cross-sectional distance D _H , D ₂ ;, at least in the adjusting direction in which the first sealing part and the second sealing part can be shifted relative to each other. The inner walls of the first sealing part and the second sealing part connect substantially flush when the cross-sectional distance is substantially equal in a straight position of the sealing device. A 'straight position of the sealing device' refers to the position in which there is no misalignment compensation through a shift between the concave and convex side. If the concave and convex side are however shifted relative to each other, the inner walls of the first sealing part and the second sealing part will still enclose a continuous recess through which a fluid can be transported. If according to yet another preferred embodiment the first sealing part comprises on the concave side a flat edge close to the outer wall, at least in the adjusting direction in which the first sealing part and the second sealing part can be shifted relative to each other, the edge between the outer wall of the first sealing part and the concave side of the first sealing part is prevented from being able to extend beyond the flat side of the second sealing part. If the concave side of the first sealing part were to continue to the outer wall of the first sealing part, the edge between the concave side and the outer wall of the first sealing part would have a pointed shape. Particularly when the first sealing part is embodied in a hard material, such as stainless steel, brass or steel, could a pointed edge of the first sealing part, if it were to protrude beyond the flat side of the second sealing part in an inclining position, result in damage to a surface to be sealed, against which this flat side of the second sealing part is arranged.

The flat side of the first sealing part is arranged during use against a surface to be sealed, for instance of a flange or an S-shaped connector. If the inner diameter of this surface to be sealed is smaller than the inner diameter of the first sealing part of the sealing device in the case of a round configuration, the situation could occur that the converging surface of the second sealing part protrudes outside the flat side of the first sealing part. Particularly when the second sealing part is embodied in a hard material, such as stainless steel, brass or steel, could the edge between the inner wall of the second sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part damage the surface to be sealed. In order to prevent this the inner wall of the first sealing part comprises according to yet another preferred embodiment a thickness such that, in the case of an inclining position of a = 1° of the second sealing part relative to the first sealing part, the converging side of the second scaling part is located wholly on the side of a surface defined by the flat side of the first sealing part and facing toward the second sealing part.

Still more preferably, within a range in which the inclining position is up to a = 2° the converging side of the second sealing part is located wholly on the side of the surface facing toward the second sealing part and defined by the flat side of the first sealing part. The above stated condition is still more preferably met in an inclining position of up to a = 3°.

According to an alternative embodiment, the inner diameter of the second sealing part is greater than the inner diameter of the first sealing part. Even with a inclining position and a very limited thickness Tj of the inner wall of the first sealing part, the edge of the second sealing part is hereby prevented from extending beyond the flat side of the first sealing part. The difference in inner diameters is preferably such that, in the case of an inclining position of a = 1 ° of the second sealing part relative to the first sealing part, the converging side of the second sealing part is located wholly on the side of a surface defined by the flat side of the first sealing part and facing toward the second sealing part. The inclining position within which this condition is met is once again at least a = 2°, and more preferably at least a = 3°. Misalignment compensation in all directions, whereby the sealing device is furthermore freely displaceable, is obtained when according to yet another preferred embodiment at least the concave side of the first sealing part and the convex side of the second sealing part are rotation-symmetrical.

In the case of a single connection, such as in a tap with a single water conduit, a sealing device wherein at least the concave side of the first sealing part and the convex side of the second sealing part are rotation-symmetrical provides compensation for misalignment in all directions, in accordance with a ball joint.

If two of such sealing devices are applied adjacently of each other, as will be the case in a mixer tap, one rotational degree of freedom is imposed by the double mounting.

It is noted that, where mention is made in the foregoing of 'at least in the adjusting direction in which the first sealing part and the second sealing part can be shifted relative to each other', the specific measure in this rotation-symmetrical embodiment applies over the whole periphery. The first sealing part thus preferably comprises on the concave side a flat edge running all around in order to provide the advantages of such a flattened edge in all adjusting directions.

Although the invention is not limited thereto, conduits will generally have a round cross-section. According to yet another preferred embodiment, the first sealing part and the second sealing part are therefore annular. When round conduits are aligned at an angle relative to each other, the axes of the round conduit parts lie at an angle relative to each other.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, at least one of the diverging side of the first sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part is provided with a seal recess configured to receive a seal. A reliable seal can be obtained by providing the contact surface between the diverging side of the first sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part with a seal, such as an O-ring. The seal is moreover no longer dependent on the sealing properties of the materials from which the first sealing part and the second sealing part are manufactured. A reliable seal can hereby even be obtained when sealing parts are of poorly sealing materials, such as stainless steel or steel.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the substantially flat side of the first sealing part and/or the substantially flat side of the second sealing part comprises a seal recess configured to receive a seal. Tn similar manner as described above, a reliable seal which does not depend on the material from which the sealing part is manufactured can thus also be obtained on the substantially flat sides.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the seal recess runs all around and is provided with an O-ring.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, at least one of the inner wall of the first sealing part and the inner wall of the second sealing part comprises a stop edge configured to allow a filter to lie thereagainst. This filter is preferably slightly oversized, whereby it can be received in a sealing part in clamping manner.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the stop edge is arranged close to the substantially flat side of the second sealing part and the stop edge is configured to lie against the filter on the side of the stop edge facing toward the converging side of the second sealing part. When the sealing device according to the invention is placed in typical manner, this configuration ensures that the filter will be pressed against the stop edge by the flow direction of the fluid. The filter is hereby prevented from coming loose.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the first sealing part and/or the second sealing part are manufactured from plastic, preferably POM. Plastic is corrosion-resistant, and by using a reasonably hard plastic a wear-resistant sealing device is obtained which is not susceptible to being torn apart - as is the case with rubber - when the first sealing part and the second sealing part are clamped against each other. For the manufacture it is advantageous if the plastic material is furthermore short-chipping and/or can be injection-moulded. Polyacetal (POM) has these properties.

According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the first and/or the second sealing part comprise one or more peripheral recesses in which a seal, such as an O-ring, can be received. Such peripheral recesses are preferably arranged in the flat side of the first sealing part, the flat side of the second sealing part, and at least one of the diverging side of the first sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part. Providing at least one of the diverging side of the first sealing part and the converging side of the second sealing part with such a recess enables a seal arranged therein to seal the scaling surface between the converging side and the diverging side. Applying such recesses with seals makes it possible to embody the sealing device in any random material, including materials such as stainless steel and steel, which per se have limited sealing properties. Although it is not corrosion-resistant, a steel sealing device can be applied for a less sensitive pipe or pump connection, such as in dredging installations.

According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the first sealing part and/or the second sealing part are manufactured from a corrosion-resistant metal, preferably brass. A metal variant is more expensive than a plastic variant, but is particularly suitable for specialist applications which make high demands of the load-bearing capacity, as is the case in the processing industry.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further elucidated in the following description with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective and partially cut-away view of a mounting of a mixer tap on a wall; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mixer tap shown in figure 1 , wherein a sealing device according to the invention is arranged;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a sealing device according to the invention as arranged in the mixer tap connector in figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first sealing part of the sealing device shown in figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second sealing part of the sealing device shown in figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the sealing device shown in figure 2;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing device shown in figure 2 in a straight position;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing device shown in figure 2 in an inclining position;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative sealing device in a straight position;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative sealing device of figure 9 in an inclining position;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the tap shown in figure 1 in installed position, wherein the sealing device is in the inclining position shown in figure 8;

Figure 12 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a sealing device according to a further preferred embodiment; and

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing device shown in figure 12 in a straight position.

Sealing ring 1 is elucidated on the basis of an embodiment of the installation of a mixer tap 56 which is mounted on a wall 44 with screws 42 using a (double) wall plate 40. In figure 1 the cold water conduit 48 is shown in broken lines behind wall 44 and the warm water conduit 46 is shown in a cut-away part of wall 44. Warm water conduit 46 runs through the facing of wall 44 via an S-shaped connector 50 mounted on wall plate 40. S-shaped connector 50 is provided on its side remote from wall plate 40 with an external screw thread 52, on which a warm water connection 58 of a mixer tap 56 can engage using a nut 60 with an internal screw thread 62. Mixer tap 56 further has a cold water connection 64 which is likewise provided with a nut 66. Warm and cold water mixed in the mixer tap can be discharged via a water outlet 68 of mixer tap 56. In an installed position the passage of S-shaped connector 50 through the facing of wall 44 is concealed from view by a cover plate 54, also referred to as decorative rosette. A sealing device 1 according to the invention is arranged in water connections 58, 64 of mixer tap 56 in order to be able to compensate for a possible inclining position of wall plate 40 relative to the wall 44, so that mixer tap 56 itself can be arranged level to and perpendicularly of the wall. Figure 2 shows the hot water connection 58 with a sealing device 1.

A preferred embodiment of sealing device 1 is shown in detail in figure 3 and comprises a first sealing part 4 and a second sealing part 24. The first sealing part 4 comprises a substantially flat side 6 and a concave diverging side 8 lying opposite the flat side, an inner wall 10 and an outer wall 14. The second sealing part 24 comprises a substantially flat side 26 and a convex converging side 28 lying opposite the flat side, an inner wall 30 and an outer wall 34. Concave side 8 of the first sealing part 4 and convex side 28 of the second sealing part 24 have substantially the same curvature K and are configured to be arranged against each other such that diverging side 8 of first sealing part 4 and converging side 28 of second sealing part 24 can be shifted along each other. Inner walls 10, 30 of first sealing part 4 and second sealing part 24 enclose a continuous recess through which a fluid, such as cold or warm water, can be transported.

In the case of a 'straight position of the sealing device', i.e. when there is no misalignment compensation through a shift between the concave diverging side 8 and convex converging side 28, axis ¾ of first sealing part 4 coincides with axis H ₂ of second sealing part 24. This situation is shown in figure 3.

As is clearly visible in the assembled situation of figure 3, outer wall 34 of the second sealing part comprises a smaller cross-sectional distance D _2o than the cross-sectional distance D _lo of outer wall 14 of first sealing part 4. Because the shown preferred embodiment is rotation-symmetrical and comprises an annular first sealing part 4 and an annular second sealing part 24, it is the case that the diameters differ, wherein the outer diameter D _2o of the annular second sealing part 24 is smaller than the outer diameter Di ₀ of the annular first sealing part 4.

It is noted that it is possible to envisage the first sealing part 4 and the second sealing part 24 according to an alternative embodiment taking a curved or diverging/converging form in only one direction, whereby misalignment compensation is only possible in one direction. In such an embodiment outer wall 34 of second sealing part 24 comprises a smaller cross-sectional distance D _2o than the cross-sectional distance D _lo of outer wall 14 of first sealing part 4, at least in the adjusting direction in which first sealing part 4 and second sealing part 24 can be shifted relative to each other.

First sealing part 4 and second sealing part 24 are shown individually and in detail in figures 4 and 5. First sealing part 4 comprises a flat edge 16.

Although only a first adjusting direction Ij and a second adjusting direction I ₂ are shown in the assembled cross-section of figure 6, it is noted that the sealing device 1 shown in figure 6 operates according to the principle of a ball joint, and thus in fact has an infinite number of adjusting directions. The cross-section of figure 7 shows how the curvature K of both concave side 8 of first sealing part 4 and convex side 28 of second sealing part 24 have a radius R relative to a common centre of rotation C.

The situation in which first sealing part 4 and second sealing part 24 have been shifted along each other over the concave diverging side 8 and convex converging side 28 lying against each other is shown in figure 8, where an inclining position of a = 3° is compensated. The inner walls 10, 30 of first sealing part 4 and second sealing part 24 still enclose a continuous recess through which a fluid can be transported, also in the case of an inclining position.

Inner wall 10 of first sealing part 4 has a thickness Tj such that, even in the inclining position of a = 3° of second sealing part 24 relative to first sealing part 4 shown in figure 8, the convex converging side 28 of second sealing part 24 is located wholly on the side of a surface defined by flat side 6 of first sealing part 4 and facing toward the second sealing part 24. In figure 4 the convex converging side 28 of second sealing part 24 is therefore located to the right of flat side 6 of first sealing part 4. During use the flat side 6 of first sealing part 4 is arranged against a surface to be sealed, for instance of a flange or an S-shaped connector (see figure 11). Because the convex converging side 28 of the second sealing part 24 is located wholly on the side of a surface defined by flat side 6 of first sealing part 4 and facing toward the second sealing part 24, the edge 36 between inner wall 30 of second sealing part 24 and convex converging side 28 of the second sealing part is prevented from being able to damage the surface to be sealed. Particularly if the second sealing par t 24 were embodied in a hard material, such as stainless steel, brass or steel, would this edge 36 be able to damage the surface to be sealed.

Figures 9 and 10 show an alternative sealing device 1 in respectively a straight position (in accordance with figure 7) and an inclining position (in accordance with figure 8). In this embodiment the inner diameter D ₂ i- of second sealing part 24 is greater than the inner diameter Da of first sealing part 4. Edge 36 of second sealing part 24 is hereby prevented from extending beyond the flat side 6 of first sealing part 4, even in the inclining position of 3° shown in figure 10 and in the absence of a thickness Tj of inner wall 10 of first sealing part 4. The embodiment according to figures 7 and 8 has the advantage relative to the embodiment of figures 9 and 10 that the sealing surface between diverging side 8 of first sealing part 4 and converging side 28 of second sealing part 24 can be larger.

Finally, figure 1 1 shows a cross-section of an assembled state. Nut 60 is mounted on warm water connection 58 of mixer tap 56 with a determined amount of clearance. The internal screw thread 62 of this nut 60 does not serve to seal but to pull warm water connection 58 of mixer tap 56 tightly against the S-shaped connector. The seal is provided by sealing device 1.

The diverging concave side 8 of first sealing part 4 and the converging convex side 28 of second sealing part 24 will shift relative to each other to an optimal relative sealing position under the influence of the clamping force exerted during clamping. In figure 11 the space between first sealing part 4 and second sealing part 24 is more limited on the underside than on the upper side. First sealing part 4 and second sealing part 24 will as a result thereof shift relative to each other during clamping such that, as shown in figure 11 , second sealing part 24 shifts in upward direction relative to first sealing part 4. An optimal seal is hereby created all around the connection to be sealed between the conduits lying at an angle relative to each other, wherein the additional space on the upper side is compensated by the relative shifting of sealing parts 4, 24 of sealing device 1.

A further preferred embodiment of a sealing device 1 according to the invention is shown in figures 12 and 13. Converging side 28 of second sealing part 24 is provided with a seal recess 78 in which a seal 80, such as an O-ring, is received. It is noted that a skilled person will appreciate that in order to obtain a reliable seal it suffices for at least one of the diverging side 8 of first sealing part 4 and the converging side 28 of second sealing part 24 to be provided with a seal recess 78 configured to receive a seal 80.

Sealing device 1 shown in the figures is provided on both flat side 6 of first sealing part 4 and flat side 26 of second sealing part 24 with a seal recess, respectively seal recess 72 of first sealing part 4 and seal recess 82 of second sealing part 24. Seal recesses 72, 82 are each configured to receive a corresponding seal 74, 84, such as an O-ring.

In the shown embodiment the second sealing part 24 is provided close to the substantially flat side 26 thereof with a stop edge 86. This stop edge 86 is configured to lie against a filter 88 on the side of stop edge 86 facing toward converging side 28 of second sealing part 24. Filter 88 is preferably an oversized filter which can be received clampingly against inner wall 30 of second scaling part 24.

Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended only to illustrate the present invention and not to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Measures of the different embodiments can be combined. An example is a combination of an inner wall 10 of first sealing part 4 with a thickness Tj (see for instance figures 7 and 8) with a difference in inner diameters between the first sealing part and the second sealing part in accordance with figures 9 and 10. It is further possible to envisage one or more of the O- ring seals 74, 80, 84 according to figures 12 and 13 being applied separately from the optional filter 88 likewise shown in these figures, and vice versa.

The skilled person will appreciate that, although the invention is shown on the basis of an embodiment with a double wall plate and S-shaped connectors, the seal according to the invention can also be applied in taps with a single conduit and/or taps mounted with a straight connector.

It will also be apparent to the skilled person that, although the invention is shown on the basis of an embodiment of a sanitary tap, the invention has many other uses. The sealing device can thus for instance be applied in different dimensions in the processing industry, such as in flange couplings.

When measures in the claims are followed by reference numerals, such reference numerals serve only to contribute toward understanding of the claims, but are in no way limitative of the scope of protection. The rights described are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.