SPECIFICATIONHub joint for coupling parts of tubular structures, in particular for hose cartsThe objct of the present invention is a hub joint for coupling parts of tubular structures, in particular for hose carts.
Hose carts are known in which the rotating drum designed to receive the hose is supported by a metal tubular structure formed of a base part optionally equipped with wheels and a top part functioning as the handling element.
The two tubular structural parts which are shaped like the letter U with appropriately located bends are joined together and to the revolving axle of the hose-winding drum at a pair of joints generally made of plastic material placed at the two sides of the drum. Each of said joints receives one end of each of the two parts of the tubular structure and the revolving hub of the drum perpendicularly thus creating a single supporting structure for the drum.
Hub joints made of plastic material formed of two identicai bodies placed side by side and each having a blind-hole seat to receive the end of a corresponding part of the tubular structure and a perpendicular through half-set working in conjunction with the corresponding half-seat of the other body of the joint to receive the revolving drum hub are known at present.
The two joined ends of the tubular structure are thus nonaligned but parallel in a plane perpendicular to the drum rotation axis.
The object of the present invention is to accomplish a hub joint for coupling parts of tubular structures, in particular hose carts, which would fulfill the same function as the above described joints but making use of a form which is simpler, more functional and easier to fabricate and assemble.
In accordance with the invention said object is achieved by means of a hub joint characterized in that it consists of a single elongated body having at its ends aligned blind-hole seats for receiving the ends of couplable parts of a tubular supporting structure and traversed centrally by a perpendicular hole to receive arevolving hub.
It is obviously a joint of extremely simpleconstruction which can be assembled easilyand quickly to join parts of tubular structuresand support a revolving hub such as that of the revolving drum of a hose cart.
An example of a practical embodiment of the hub joint in accordance with the inventionis illustrated for greater clarity in the annexeddrawings in whichFigure 1 shows a front view of a hub jointin accordance with the invention,Figure 2 shows a partial cutaway view alongthe axis of said hub joint rotated 90" in relation to Fig. 1,Figure 3 shows a top view of said hub joint as illustrated in Fig. 2, andFigure 4 shows an example of the employment of the hub joint of Figs. 1-3 in a hose cart.
With reference to Figs. 1-3 there is shown a hub joint 1 which consists of a single elongated body 2 made of plastic material the ends of which have aligned cylindrical seats with blind bottoms 3-4 in which can be received the ends 5-6 of the coupling parts of tubular structures.
Said ends have locking tabs 7-8 protruding from threaded male parts 9-10 on which can be screwed locking ring-nuts 11-12 having converging surfaces 13-14 capable of acting on the locking tabs 7-8 to force them into engagement with the tubular element 5 or 6.
The upper ring-nut 11 is omitted from Fig. 3 for drawing convenience.
The single body 2 is also traversed in its centre by a perpendicular cylindrical hole 15 designed to receive a revolving hub as indicated with reference number 16 in Fig. 2.
The hub joint of Figs. 1-3 is designed in particular for use with a hose cart such as the one shown in Fig. 4 which is designed for garden sprinkling purposes.
Said cart comprises a revolving central hose-winding drum 17 and a tubular support structure made up of a base part 18 provided with wheels 19 and of a top part 20 functioning as a handiing element.
The two tubular structural parts 18 and 20 have a U shape with appropriate bends 21 and 22 near the wheels 19 and near the top of the drum 17 respectively.
Two hub joints 1 are employed at the two sides of the revolving drum 17 to join together the free ends 6 and 5 of the tubular structural parts 18 and 20 and act as supports for the end hubs 16 of the drum 17.
1. Hub joint for coupling parts of tubularstructures, in particular for hose carts, characterized in that it comprises an elongated bodyhaving at its ends aligned blind-bottom seats for coupling the ends of couplable parts of a tubular support structure and traversed in thecentre by a hole for receiving a revolving hub.
2. Hub joint in accordance with claim 1characterized in that said ends have lockingtabs protuding from threaded male elementson which can be screwed locking ring-nutshaving converging surfaces capable of actingon said locking tabs to force them into engagement with the tubular elements to be joined together.
3. A hub joint for coupling parts of tubularstructures, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.
4. A tubular structure having at least 2 tu
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