Pipe coupling and method of joining materials

Claim 2

A pipe fitting for joining together piping material, the pipe fitting (2) comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body portion (3) having an inner diameter which is substantially the same as an inner diameter of said piping material (1) to be joined; first and second cylindrical portions (4, 6) extending from said main body portion (3) in a given direction, said first and second portions (4, 6) each having an inner diameter larger than that of said main body portion (3), said second portion (6) being joined to said main body portion (3) at a distal end of said second portion (6); an outwardly extending annular portion (5) defining an annular space for receiving therein a sealing material (8), said annular portion being located between said first and second portions (4, 6) and extending outwardly relative to said first and second portions (4, 6); said second portion (6) having a clearance (9) of not less than 100 μm between the outer surface of said piping material (1) to be joined and the inner surface of said second portion (6), to prevent crevice corrosion at said inner surface of said second portion (6) and at the outer surface of said piping material (1) to be joined; and wherein: said second portion (6) has a length (L1) as measured from said annular portion (5) to the distal end of said second portion (6); said first portion (4) has a length such that a recess (13) formed therein is at a distance (L2) measured from said annular portion (5), wherein said length (L1) is substantially equal to said distance (L2); said first portion (4) has a main substantially cylindrical portion and an outwardly tapered annular portion (7) formed at a distal end portion of said first portion (4); and said tapered annular portion (7) has a degree of taper such that an annular entrance clearance is formed between an internal surface of the distal end of the tapered portion (7) and an external surface of the piping material (1) to be joined; and said annular entrance clearance is substantially equal to a wall thickness of the pipe fitting.

Claim 3

The pipe fitting according to claim 1, comprising a sealing material received in said annular portion (5), said sealing material (8) comprising a ring-shaped sealing member.

Claim 4

The pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein said recesses extend into said piping material (1) to be joined, and form depressions in an inner wall surface portion of said piping material (1) to be joined.

Claim 5

The pipe fitting according to claim 1, further comprising additional first and second cylindrical portions (4, 6) extending from said main body portion (3) in a direction other than said given direction, said additional first and second portions (4, 6) each having an inner diameter larger than that of said main body portion, said additional second portion (6) being joined to said main body portion (3) at a distal end of said additional second portion (6); an additional outwardly extending annular portion (5) defining an annular space for receiving therein a further sealing material (8), said additional annular portion (5) being located between said additional first and additional second portions and extending outwardly relative to said additional first and second portions; said additional second portion (6) having an additional clearance (9) of not less than 100 μm between the outer surface of said piping material (1) to be joined and the inner surface of said additional second portion (6), to prevent crevice corrosion at said inner surface of said additional second portion (6) and at the outer surface of said piping material (1) to be joined; and wherein: said additional second portion has a length (L1) as measured from said further annular portion (5) to the distal end of said additional second portion (6); and said additional first portion (4) has a length such that an additional recess formed therein is at a distance (L2) measured from said additional annular portion (5), wherein said length (L1) is substantially equal to said distance (L2); said additional first portion (4) has a main substantially cylindrical portion and an outwardly tapered annular portion formed at a distal end portion of said main portion of said additional first portion (4); and said tapered annular portion (7) of said additional first portion (4) has a degree of taper such that an annular entrance clearance is formed between an internal surface of the distal end of the tapered portion (7) of said additional first portion (4) and an external surface of the piping material (1) to be joined; and said annular entrance clearance of said additional first portion (4) is substantially equal to a wall thickness of the pipe fitting.

Claim 6

The pipe fitting according to claim 4, comprising a sealing material received in said further annular portion (5), said sealing material (8) of said further annular portion (5) comprising a ring-shaped sealing member.

Claim 7

The pipe fitting according to claim 4, wherein said recesses extend into said piping material (1) to be joined, and form depressions in an inner wall surface portion of said piping material (1) to be joined.

Claim 8

A combination of a piping material and a pipe fitting for joining to the piping material, the combination comprising: an elongated cylindrical piping material (1) and a pipe fitting (2) comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body portion (3) having an inner diameter which is substantially the same as an inner diameter of said piping material (1); first and second cylindrical portions (4, 6) extending from said main body portion (3) in a given direction, said first and second portions (4, 6) each having an inner diameter larger than that of said main body portion (3), said second portion (6) being joined to said main body portion (3) at a distal end of said second portion (6); an outwardly extending annular portion (5) defining an annular space for receiving therein a sealing material (8), said annular portion being located between said first and second portions (4, 6) and extending outwardly relative to said first and second portions (4, 6); said second portion (6) having a clearance (9) of not less than 100 μm between an outer surface of said piping material (1) to be joined and the inner surface of said second portion (6), to prevent crevice corrosion at said inner surface of said second portion (6) and at the outer surface of said piping material (1); and wherein: said second portion (6) has a length (L1) as measured from said annular portion (5) to the distal end of said second portion (6); said first portion (4) has a length such that a recess (13) formed therein is at a distance (L2) measured from said annular portion (5), wherein said length (L1) is substantially equal to said distance (L2); said first portion (4) has a main substantially cylindrical portion and an outwardly tapered annular portion (7) formed at a distal end portion of said first portion; and said tapered annular portion (7) has a degree of taper such that an annular entrance clearance is formed between an internal surface of the distal end of the tapered portion (7) and an external surface of the piping material (1) to be joined; and said annular entrance clearance is substantially equal to a wall thickness of the pipe fitting.

Claim 9

A combination of a piping material and a pipe fitting for joining to the piping material, the combination comprising: an elongated cylindrical piping material (1) and a pipe fitting (2) comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body portion (3) having an inner diameter which is substantially the same as an inner diameter of said piping material (1); first and second cylindrical portions (4, 6) extending from said main body portion (3) in a given direction, said first and second portions (4, 6) each having an inner diameter larger than that of said main body portion (3), said second portion (6) being joined to said main body portion (3) at a distal end of said second portion (6); an outwardly extending annular portion (5) defining an annular space for receiving therein a sealing material (8), said annular portion being located between said first and second portions (4, 6) and extending outwardly relative to said first and second portions (4, 6); said second portion (6) having a clearance (9) of not less than 100 μm between an outer surface of said piping material (1) to be joined and the inner surface of said second portion (6), to prevent crevice corrosion at said inner surface of said second portion (6) and at the outer surface of said piping material (1); and wherein: said second portion (6) has a length (L1) as measured from said annular portion (5) to the distal end of said second portion (6); said first portion (4) has a length such that a recess (13) formed therein is at a distance (L2) measured from said annular portion (5), wherein said length (L1) is substantially equal to said distance (L2); said first portion (4) has a main substantially cylindrical portion and an outwardly tapered annular portion (7) formed at a distal end portion of said first portion; and said tapered annular portion (7) has a degree of taper such that an annular entrance clearance is formed between an internal surface of the distal end of the tapered portion (7) and an external surface of the piping material (1) to be joined; and said annular entrance clearance is substantially equal to a wall thickness of the pipe fitting.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7, comprising a sealing material received in said annular portion (5), said sealing material (8) comprising a ring-shaped sealing member.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7, wherein said elongated cylindrical piping material is a straight piping material having a straight pipe end to be inserted into said pipe fitting, said straight pipe end having no inwardly or outwardly deformed portions thereof.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7, wherein the portion where said second portion (6) joins to said main body portion (3) defines a sloping portion extending between said second portion (6) and said body portion (3), and wherein said piping material has an end which is inserted into said pipe fitting such that said end of said piping material contacts an internal surface of said sloped portion.

Claim 13

A method of joining together piping materials, using the pipe fitting according to claim 1, the method comprising: fitting a sealing material (8) in said annular space of said annular portion (5); inserting a piping material (1) into said pipe fitting (2) through said first portion (4) which has a main substantially cylindrical portion and an outwardly tapered annular portion (7) formed at a distal end portion of said main portion, by inserting said piping material (1) into said pipe fitting (2) through said outwardly tapered annular (7) until an end of said piping material (1) reaches an end surface at said distal end of said second portion (6), said piping material (1) having an outer diameter which is not less than 100 μm smaller than the inner surface of said second portion (6) so as to provide a clearance (9) therebetween not less than 100 μm; pressing a compressing tool (10) on said pipe fitting (2) to compress the annular outwardly extending portion (5) at least at a maximum diameter portion thereof to compress the sealing material (8) between the pipe fitting and the piping material (1), and to compress a portion of said first portion (4) at said distance (L2) from said annular portion (5) to form a plurality of recesses (13) along a circumference of said first portion (4), which recesses (13) extend inwardly into the piping material (1) to lock the piping material (1) to the piping fitting, and wherein said pressing is conducted so as to maintain said clearance (9) of not less than 100 μm between the inner surface of said second portion and the facing outer surface of said piping material.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11, wherein said step of fitting a sealing material in said annular space comprises fitting a ring-shaped sealing member into said annular space of said annular portion (5).

Claim 15

The method of claim 11, wherein said end surface at said distal end of said second portion (6) comprises a sloping portion, and wherein said piping material (1) is inserted into said pipe fitting (2) until said end of such piping material (1) reaches said sloping end surface of said second portion (6).

Claim 16

The method of claim 11, wherein said pipe fitting comprises an end portion of a piping material to be joined to another piping material.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11, wherein said fitting comprises further first and second cylindrical portions and a further outwardly extending annular portion arranged as said first-mentioned first and second cylindrical portions and annular portion, and comprising inserting a further piping material into said further first and second cylindrical portions and said outwardly extending annular portion, and pressing a compressing tool on said further first and second portions and said further outwardly extending annular portion to compress a sealing material in said further outwardly extending annular portion against said further piping material.

Claim 18

The method of claim 11, wherein said step of inserting a piping material comprises inserting a substantially straight piping material having a straight end portion which has no inwardly or outwardly deformed portions thereof into said pipe fitting (2).

Claim 19

The method of claim 12, wherein said step of inserting a piping material comprises inserting a substantially straight piping material having a straight end portion which has no inwardly or outwardly deformed portions thereof into said pipe fitting (2).