Dig tubes and fittings for tubulars
Dig tubes and fittings for tubulars
US20210332919A1
United States
- Inventor
Clint Scott van Berkel Chris Aron Wood Ricardo Januario - Current Assignee
- Vac Safe Solutions Ltd
Worldwide applications
Application US17/227,181 events
Priority claimed from US201662296066P
2020-09-22
2021-04-09
2021-10-28
Status
Pending
Description
[0001] Dig tubes and fittings for tubulars, particularly for a vacuum system, for example hydrovac system, flusher truck, air vac or other vacuum systems.[0002] Dig tubes are used in vacuum systems for example to assist in excavating holes in the ground, particularly where care must be taken to avoid damage to underground systems. For example in a hydrovac or flusher system, water is injected into the ground and the resulting slurry is vacuumed up using the dig tube. Dig tubes may be used for example to dig up pipelines without causing damage to the pipeline. Applicant proposes a new fitting for a dig tube.[0003] Disclosed are new male and female fittings for connecting tubing, particularly dig tube fittings for a vacuum system, and dig tubes incorporating the fittings.[0004] In one embodiment, a female fitting is disclosed comprising a tube having an end that includes an upset for receiving a male fitting, the upset having an outer circumference and an inwardly extending groove extending around the outer circumference for receiving a clamp or portion of a clamp and the upset having an end face and inner surface, the upset having an undercut between the end face and inner surface for receiving a flange of the male fitting.[0005] In another embodiment, a male fitting comprises a tube having an end part; and a transition between the tube and the end part, the transition comprising a flange extending radially outward from the tube and a radiused corner connecting the flange to the end part.[0006] In another embodiment, a tubular structure is disclosed comprising a male fitting and female fitting connecting tube parts.[0007] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a female dig tube fitting attached to a male fitting and with a clamp around the female dig tube fitting.[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the female dig tube fitting ofFIG. 1 without clamp or male fitting, showing a connection to a vacuum system part.[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the embodiment ofFIG. 2 .[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a male travis fitting with a narrow flange assembled into the female dig tube fitting ofFIG. 1 , with the female dig tube fitting shown in cross-section and the travis fitting provided in plan view.[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a male bandlock fitting with a narrow flange assembled into the female dig tube fitting ofFIG. 1 , with the female dig tube fitting shown in cross-section and the bandlock fitting provided in plan view.[0013] FIG. 6 is a section through the female dig tube fitting ofFIG. 6 with bandlock fitting inserted.[0014] FIG. 7 is a section through the female dig tube fitting ofFIG. 6 with travis fitting inserted.[0015] FIG. 8 is a side view of a male dig tube fitting welded to a portion of a vacuum systems, which may be a dig tube or vacuum tube.[0016] FIG. 9 is a section through the male dig tube fitting ofFIG. 8 .[0017] FIG. 10 is a side view of the male dig tube fitting ofFIG. 8 with a female fitting attached.[0018] FIG. 11 is a side view of a dig tube fitting in use connecting a hydrovac system to a dig tube.[0019] Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles “a” and “an” before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims.[0020] As shown inFIG. 1 , a femaledig tube fitting 10 for a vacuum system may be formed from atube 12 made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) having a density in the range of 0.93 to 0.97 g/cm3. The density may for example be 0.9490 g/cm3. Thetube 12 has anend 14. Theend 14 may be welded or otherwise secured to a dig tube, not shown inFIG. 1 , but seedig tube 60 inFIG. 6 . Thedig tube 60 may comprise multiple segments of connected tubing.[0021] As shown inFIGS. 1-8 , thefemale fitting 10 includes anupset 16 for receiving a male fitting such as a travis fitting 18B or bandlock fitting 18 of a vacuum tube of a vacuum system, for example a hydrovac vehicle.[0022] Theupset 16 has anouter circumference 20 and an inwardly extendinggroove 22 extending around theouter circumference 20 for receiving a clamp 24 (FIG. 1 for example). The clamp itself may be conventional. In another embodiment, the upset may have an annular ridge (not shown), in place of the inwardly extendinggroove 22, extending around theouter circumference 20 for receiving aclamp 24. In another embodiment, the upset may have both the inwardly extendinggroove 22 as well as an annular ridge (not shown) for receiving aclamp 24.[0023] As shown inFIG. 3 , theupset 16 has anend face 26 andinner surface 28, theupset 16 having an undercut 30 between theend face 26 andinner surface 28 for receiving a flange, rib orridge 32 or 32B respectively of a male fitting such as a bandlock fitting 18 (FIG. 4 ) or travis fitting 18B (FIG. 5 ). The undercut 30 may be radiused and concave to receive a bandlock fitting or other fitting having a radiused ridge such as in abandlock fitting 18. In another embodiment, upset 16 receives a wide-flanged travis fitting 18B with a wide flange, rib orridge 32B resting against theend face 26. Theflange 32 of the bandlock fitting 18 or theflange 32B of the travis fitting 18B may be formed or inserted at the end of thevacuum hose 42 of the vacuum system 40 (not shown inFIG. 3 , but seeFIG. 11 ).[0024] Theclamp 24 shown inFIG. 1 may be tightened around theouter circumference 20 by a hook and lever mechanism, as shown inFIG. 1 . Theclamp 24 may be different sizes and may be fitted in thegroove 22, or it may fitted partially in the groove and partially out of the groove, or it may be fitted entirely outside the groove. In an embodiment where thegroove 22 is supplemented or replaced with the annular ridge (not shown), theclamp 24 may be fitted over the annual ridge.[0025] The bandlock fitting 18 (FIG. 4 ) or travis fitting 18B (FIG. 5 ) respectively of avacuum tube 42 may have anouter circumference 21 with a diameter of for example 5.9-6.2 inches, and in o
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