Pipe inlet/outlet flow enhancement device

Abstract

The pipe inlet/outlet device is a molded fitting that is attached to the inflow end of a pipe conduit. The pipe inlet/outlet device has a neck portion and a rounded or smoothly curving mouth extending from the neck portion. The neck portion is a hollow cylinder that is open at both ends. The neck portion has an outside diameter sized to fit snugly in the open end of a pipe. The rounded mouth is integral with and extends from the neck portion, gradually curving outward and away from the neck and terminating at a lip, forming a skirt disposed around the inlet that may be filled with grout. The pipe may be an outlet from a tank, such as a manhole or catch basin. The pipe inlet/outlet device is inserted into the open end of the pipe for reducing head losses at the open end.

1 . A pipe inlet/outlet device, comprising a tubular body having a hollow neck portion defining a longitudinal axis, the neck portion having an open first end with an outside diameter adapted for fitting snugly in an inflow end of a pipe, and a rounded rim integral with and extending from the neck portion opposite the first end, the rim defining a mouth opening into the neck portion, the rim curving outward and rearward from the mouth and forming a skirt terminating in a lip, a recess being defined between the skirt and the neck portion.  
   
   
       2 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein said neck portion is cylindrical, the mouth of the pipe inlet/outlet device being substantially circular, the recess being annular.  
   
   
       3 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim is rounded with a constant radius of curvature as viewed in a plane containing the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       4 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 3 , wherein the constant radius of curvature is about one-eighth of the outside diameter of the neck portion.  
   
   
       5 . The pipe inlet/outlet device of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of said pipe inlet/outlet device includes boundary layer turbulators.  
   
   
       6 . The pipe inlet/outlet device of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of said pipe inlet/outlet device defines a fluid pathway, said pipe inlet/outlet device further comprising a plurality of ribs extending into said fluid pathway for affecting fluid flow through said pipe inlet/outlet device.  
   
   
       7 . The pipe inlet/outlet device of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of said pipe inlet/outlet device defines a fluid pathway, said pipe inlet/outlet device having a plurality of grooves extending into said fluid pathway for affecting fluid flow through said pipe inlet/outlet device.  
   
   
       8 . The pipe inlet/outlet device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouth of the tubular body has a trumpet bell shape.  
   
   
       9 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim is rounded with a radius of curvature gradually decreasing from the mouth to the lip of said skirt as viewed in a plane containing the longitudinal axis, thereby defining a spiral shape.  
   
   
       10 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is made from plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is made from high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       12 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is made from metal.  
   
   
       13 . The pipe inlet/outlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion of said tubular body is dimensioned and configured for friction fit into an inflow end of a storm drainage pipe disposed in a tank.  
   
   
       14 . A fluid handling system, comprising: 
 a retention tank;    a pipe extending from the retention tank, the pipe having an inflow end for receiving the fluid from the tank;    a pipe inlet device having: 
 a tubular body having a hollow, cylindrical neck portion defining a longitudinal axis, the neck portion having an open first end fitting snugly into the inflow end of the pipe, and a rounded rim integral with and extending from the neck portion opposite the first end, the rim defining a mouth opening into the neck portion, the rim curving outward and rearward from the mouth and forming a skirt terminating in a lip, an annular recess being defined between the skirt and the neck portion.  
   
   
   
       15 . The fluid handling system according to  claim 14 , wherein the rim is rounded with a constant radius of curvature as viewed in a plane containing the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       16 . The fluid handling system according to  claim 14 , wherein the constant radius of curvature is about one-fourth of an inside radius of said pipe.  
   
   
       17 . The fluid handling system according to  claim 14 , wherein said tank is selected from the group consisting of a manhole and a catch basin.  
   
   
       18 . The fluid handling system according to  claim 14 , wherein said tubular body is made from high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       19 . A method of increasing a fluid handling capacity of a pipe, the method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a pipe inlet device comprising a neck portion having a neck portion adapted for fitting snugly in an inflow end of the pipe and a rounded rim integral with and extending from the neck portion opposite the first end, the rim defining a mouth opening into the neck portion, the rim curving outward and rearward from the mouth and forming a skirt terminating in a lip, a recess being defined between the skirt and the neck portion;    attaching the pipe inlet device to the inflow end of the pipe.    
   
   
       20 . The method of increasing fluid handling capacity according to  claim 19 , wherein said attaching step further comprises the steps of: 
 applying adhesive to an outside of the neck portion; and    inserting the neck portion into the inflow end of the pipe.