CA1236779A - Dielectric fitting and method - Google Patents
Dielectric fitting and methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA1236779A CA1236779A CA000473679A CA473679A CA1236779A CA 1236779 A CA1236779 A CA 1236779A CA 000473679 A CA000473679 A CA 000473679A CA 473679 A CA473679 A CA 473679A CA 1236779 A CA1236779 A CA 1236779A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- lining
- nipple
- contact
- nonconductive
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)
Abstract
DIELECTRIC FITTING AND METHOD
Abstract of the Disclosure A dielectric fitting and method for reducing current flow and products of corrosion in the electrolyte of a fitting interconnecting two dissimilar metallic coupling members. The fitting and method are particularly adapted for use in industrial, commercial and residential piping systems. In the preferred embodiment the fitting comprises a nipple having a nonconductive passageway lining extending generally therethrough. The end wall of the nipple which is adapted to be in contact with a dissimilar metal of a first coupling member is, itself, provided with a nonconductive lining which is joined and sealed to the passageway lining. Fluid is, thus, prohibited from contact with the interface of dissimilar metals at the connection between the first coupling member and the nipple. The internal surface of the first coupling member in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of the second coupling member at the opposite end of the nipple by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow in the electrolyte in the nipple.
Abstract of the Disclosure A dielectric fitting and method for reducing current flow and products of corrosion in the electrolyte of a fitting interconnecting two dissimilar metallic coupling members. The fitting and method are particularly adapted for use in industrial, commercial and residential piping systems. In the preferred embodiment the fitting comprises a nipple having a nonconductive passageway lining extending generally therethrough. The end wall of the nipple which is adapted to be in contact with a dissimilar metal of a first coupling member is, itself, provided with a nonconductive lining which is joined and sealed to the passageway lining. Fluid is, thus, prohibited from contact with the interface of dissimilar metals at the connection between the first coupling member and the nipple. The internal surface of the first coupling member in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of the second coupling member at the opposite end of the nipple by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow in the electrolyte in the nipple.
Description
~LZ~7~
Dl}:Ll`CTR~C ~'ITTIN(: AND METilOD
~ackground of tl-e Inventlon Thla lnventlon i~ dlrected to a dlelectrlc fltting and method for reducing galvanlc current flow ln fluld llne.
When two dls~lmllar metals nre ln elec~rlcal S contact in the pre~ence of an electrolyte, galvanlc corro~lon of one take~ place whlle the other 1H
protected.
In industrlal plplng ~y~tems such au ~prinkler systems and the llke t the rlaer element~ of ~he ~y~tem lO may, ln some ca~es, be made up of galvanlzed iron plpe.
The branche~ ln the sprlnkler Rystem may be made up of copper pipe. Installatlon of the complete system, thus, nece~sltates the ~oinlng of two disslmilar m~tal~ ln the presence of an electrolyte, l.e., water, whlch is 15 carrled by the system.
In 8 typical household there is u~ually ln~talled a water heater having a ~errous ta~k. ~he plumblng ~ystem of the home may, ln ~ome ca~e~, be made up of copper plpe or galvanized iron plpe. The 20 lnterconnectlon of the water heater lnto the plumblng 0ystem thus necessltate~ the Jolnlng of two di~imllar metals in the precence of an electrolyte, l.e., potable water.
When there is an lnterconnectlon of dlsslmllar 25 metals in the presence of an electrolyte, there l~
generated a cathodic current ln the fittlng which results ln the 1e~B noble metal belng oxldl~ed and/or d1ssolved. In the ca~e sf a water heater havlng a ferrou~ tank, the ferrous metal 1B the leaat noble of 30 the metals present ln the home plumbing system and, as a re~ul~, corro~lon takes place at the lnterface of the copper and ferrou~ connectlon. A slmllar re~ult occurs ~ 23g~ 7~
ln industrlal a~d commercial plplng sy6tems. The rate of corroalon i9 proportlonal to the flow of electrlcal curre~t, A further consequence of the flow of electrlc~l current i8 the build-up of productc of S corrosion re~ulting la bloc~age ln the fitting.
Generally, the hlgher the flow of electrlcal current, the more rapid the blockage.
It followu that if current flow between the disulmllar metal~ of the flttlng element~ 1B mlnlml~ed, 0 the longer the plplng syutem wlll f~nction.
Dielectrl_ Fltti~g In order to u~dersta~d the purpoue and f~nctloa of the l~ventlon set forth herein, ~ t i8 first necesuary to deflae ~he term "dlelectric fltting". A dlelec~ric 15 fittl~ iR one whlch reduce~ the flow of current ln an electrolyte betwee~ two dluuimilar met21s. The definltlon lu, thus, a relative one alace there l~ no accepted lndu~try deflnltlon or cutoff polnt au to when a flttlng ~tarts or cease~ to be cla~uifi~d as a 20 dlelectric flttlng. As used hereln lt ~hould be under~tood, ~huu, that the term "dlelec~ric flttlng" hau relation to a fitting ln whlch there 1~ a reduction in current flow between two dl~uimllar metals la contact wl~h an electrolyte from that whlch ~lould occur uhould 25 the metal~ be connected dlrectly together ln the preueace of the electrolyte.
It uhould be underuLood that the term "dlelectric flttlng" hau reference ~o the flow of curreat ia the electrolyte whlch 1B cont~cted by ~he 30 reMpectlve dl~slmllar metalu. The term does not have reference to the flow of current ln the flttlng wallu themuelve8 .
In~ulatlng Flttlng The term ~lnuulating flttingn-l~ uometi~e~ u~ed 35 in the plumbil.g indu~try to deno~e a unlol- or otl~er ~3~
slmil~r flttlng ord1nsrlly u6ed for the purpose of transmlttlng gas. An ln6ulatlng flttlng provide~ for the introduction o an ln~ulator ln ~ ga~ line ~ th~t the flow of electriclty throu~h the llne will be 5 interrupted. When used ln a ga6 line and in~talled ln a proper ~anner, the ln6ulatl~g fittlng i~ effectlve to prevent the flow of electrlclty acro~a the flttln~
through the w~ thereof. However, lf the ga~ line 6hould be fllled wlth an electrolyte ~uch a~ potable 10 water, lt can be appreclated that the lnsulatlng qualitles of the fltting wlll be negated by the pre6ence of the electrolyte. The flow of electriclty ln a ll~e carrylng elec~rolytic fluld wlll not be lmpeded at an lnsulating fltting as the electrolytic fluld will 15 provlde ~ shunt for the flow of electriclty across the flttlng. In~ulating uulons are 60metlmes also called dielectric unlon~ (lmproperly 80~, but thi~ apaln relate~ to the electrical co~tlnulty in the plpe lin~
not in the waterway, It 1B due to the Euct that an "ln~ulu~ln~
flttin~ whlch csrrlec electrolytlc fluld provlde~ a ~hunt for the flow of electrlcity through the electrolytic fluld (the lnsulator ln the flttln~
otherwl6e lmpedlng the flow of electr1clty through the ~5 flttlng wall~ them~elveu) that there la a high degree o~
bulld-up of product~ of corro~lon ln ~n ln~ulating ittlng. Thi6 reduction in flow and even~ual blockage 1B a prlncipal obJectlon to the uae of ln~ulatlng flttlng6.
Dlelectrlc Flttlng Compared With Insulatlng Fittlng _.
A dlelectric flttlng 1~ not de~lgned to function BC an iusulating flttlng. From what ha6 bèen deAcribed ~bove, lt ca~ be appreciated that lnlofar as electrolytic fluid Linea are concerned (i.e~, llne~
35 conducelng electrolytlc fluldA) an in~ulatlng flttlng 1 ~;~3~7~
lneffective ln~ofar as interrupting the flow of electrlcity through electrolytlc fluld~ Slmllarly, a dielectric fltting callnot be expected to in~ulate the flow of electrlclty among plplng components. Rather, the dlelectrlc flttlng functlon~ to reduce the flow of eletric curren~ ln the electrolyte between dl~lmllar metal plplng elements whlch are Jolned together in ~he pre~ence of such electrolyte. It 1~ the current flow ln the electrolyte that induce0 the lnternal corrosian lO re~ctlon and ~he rs~ul~ant pipe llne blockageO Thua, the dlelectrlf fitting whlch reducec curreut flow ln an electrolyte ~hould not be confused with an lnsulatlng fitting whlch stop6 the flow of electrlclty ln the wall~
of the plping material~.
In lndu~trial piplng aystema ufied for spr~nkler applicatlon~, lt l~ desirable to have a dielectrlc flttlng at the ~oint of galvani2ed lron plpe and coppcr plpe Hlnce the lnterconnection of these metals wlll result ln corrosion and product~ of corroslon in the 20 plpln~ ayatem at the inter~ace of the element~.
In a water heater interconnected inLo a home plumbing eystem, lt 1a de~lrable to h~ve B dielectrlc fltti.ng near the water heater ln thoae ca~es where the home plumblng ~y~tem conslnt~ of copper tubing or 2S galvanlzed plpe. Slnce copper tublng and galvanized pipe ~re dissimllar metals as compared to the ferr4u6 metal u~ed ln water heater~, the lnterconnectlon of the water heater lnto the home plumblng sy~tem wlll result in corro~lon snd blockage lu the plplng sy~tem at the 30 interconnectlon. The rate of corrosion and blockage wlll be directly proportional to the flow of electrical current ln the electrolyte.
Thi~ lnventlon i8 dlrected to a dlelectric fittlng snd method for reducing current flow betwee~
35 fltting me~her~ manufactur~d from di~ ilar me~als.
The lnventlon has p~rticular appllc~tlon to the lnterco~nectlon of dis~imllar metals in lndustrlal, commercial nnd re~ldentlal plplng sy~ems.
Summary of the Inventlon Thls luventlon 18 directed to a dlelectric flttlng and method for reduclng current flow in the slectrolyte of a flt$ing lnterconnectlng two disslmllar m~talllc plplng member~. The lnven~lon 1~ particularly adapted to the lnterconnectlon of dlssimilar metalc ln 0 plplng sy~tems for industrlal, comm~rcial and resldentlal u~e.
The fittlng of the preferred embodiment of the inventlon comprise~ a nlpple having a nonconductive pa~sageway llnlng eY~endlng generally therethrough. The 15 end wall of the nlpple whlch i~ adapted to be in contact wlth a dlsslmilar metal of a flrst coupllng member i8 prov~ded with a nonconductlve lining whlch 18 ~olned ~o and Healed wlth the pas~ageway llnlng. When the flttlng iB made up, fluid 1~ prohlblted from contact wlth the 20 lnterface of the dlsalmllar metals at the connectlon between the fir3t coupllng member and the ~lpple. As a result, corrosion whlch may be expected to take place at the interface of dlssimllar metals, 18 greatly reduced.
In ~ddltlon, the fitting of this lnventlon provldes ~or 25 a spaclng oP the dlssimllar metala of the plplng sy~tem ~t the lnterconnection of the metals wlth the fittlng.
Speciflcally, the internal surface of the first coupllng member o one metal ln contact wlth fluld i~ sep~rated from the lnternal surface of the second coupllng ~ember 30 of the other met~l by ~ dl~tance sufflclent to ~lgnlflcantly reduce current flow lu the electrolyte in the fittlng. Ae a consequence, corrosion 18 reduced.
De~crlptlon of the InYentlon :
~he lnvention wlll now be de~cribed wlth 35 reEerence to the accompany~ng drawlngo in which:
~3~'~7~
~ ICUR~ 1 1B A ~lde elevatlonal vlew, partly ln ~ectlon, and ~howl~ the lnterconnectlon of t}-e top wall of a water heater lnto a plumbing sy~tem and u~lng the preferred embodlment of the lnvPn~lDn;
PIGURE 2 18 a slde elevatlonal YieW~ partly ln oectlon, taken along the llue 2-2 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 18 a top elevaelonal vlew of the nonconductln~ rlng which 18 an eleme~t of the preferred eoebodl~eut of the lnventlon;
FIGURE 4 is a slde cross-Rectional vlew taken along the llne 4-4 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 5 1~ a side elevatlonal vlew, partly ln Hectlon, slmilar to FIGURE 2 but 6how1ng a modified form of the invention;
FIGURE 6 i6 a side elevatlonal vlew, parLly ln sectlon, showing a modlfled form of ths nlpple of the invention;
FIGURE 7 i8 a slde elevationul vlew, partly ln ~ectlon, ~howing the preferred embodiment of the nipple 20 of the invention;
FIGURE 8 1B a side elevatlonal exploded view, purtly in seceion, and ~howlng a still further modifled form of nipple;
FIGURE 9 ia a ~lde elevatlonal vlew, partly ln 25 ~ectlon, ehowln~ the nipple of FIGURE 8 in an a~sembled conditlon;
PICURE 10 i~ a slde elevatlonal sectlonal vlew of the inventlon ln~talled ln an lnduetrlal plping eystem and whereln the pipe Jolnt i~ of the ~pllt rlng 30 claoep type;
FICUR~ 11 1B a slde elevatlonal view, partly ln ~ection, ehowln~ a ~tlll further modlfled form of nlpple;
FICURE 12 1~ a top elevational view of thP
nonconductlng rlng whlch 1B an element of the nipple of 35 FICURE 11;
~2367~79 FIGURE 13 18 a sectlonal vlew taken along the llne 13-13 of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 14 1~ ~ eide elevational ~ection~l ~lew G the inventlon of thls appllcatlon l~corporated ln a S male female eYtension fittlng;
FIGURE 15 18 ~ slde elevatlonal vlew, partly in ~action, uhowlng a atlll further modified form of nlpple;
FIGURE 16 1~ a slde elevat1onal view, parely ln 10 sectlon, showl~g a ~tlll further modlfled form of nlpple; and, FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view~ partly ln eectlon, ehow1ng a still further ~odlfied form of the lnventlon l~sta11ed i~ a plping system.
~efore deacriblng the preferred embodlmeut of the l~ventl~n, reference will flr~t be ~ade tD FIGURE 1 wherein there ls shown the top wall of ~ water heater generally deslgnated 12 and whlch contaln~ an opening 14. Openlng 14 i8 ~ultable for use either for 20 lutroductlon o f cold water lnto the water heater or~
~lternately, the withdrawal of hot w~ter therefrom.
Secured to the top wsll 12 16 a 6pud 16 which 16 provlded with lnternal threads 18 for the purpo6e of receivlng nlpple 2~. Nipple 20 1~ provided wlth 25 external threads 22,24 at ~he e~d~ thereof. Thread6 24 are adapted to be recelved wlthl~ internal thresds 18 of the apud. The spud ln FICURE l 18 ~ecured to the top wall of the water heater by meun9 of a weld 26. Other attachme~t mean~ for connectlng the ~pud to the water 30 hestar may be advantageou~ly used.
With 6till further reference to FIGURE l, the nlpple 20 is ~hown received wlthln coupllng member 28 whlch lnclude~ internal threads 30 which are adapted to recelve threads 22 of the nlpple 20.
~6'7'7~
The general configuratlon of element~ ~hown ln FIGURE 1 for lnterconnec~lng a water hea~er ln~o a home plu~blng ~ystem has bee~ in uae by the l~duetry for ~o~e yeArs. Typlcally, the water heater top wall 12, spud 16 5 and nlpple 20 sre fabrlcated from ferrous msterial~.
Coupliug member 2B may be fabrlcated from slther copper materlal or zlnc plated ferrous materlal.
A~ will be evldent from FIGURE 1, ~he threaded interconnectlon between nlpple 20 and the coupling 10 member 28 proYlde~ a dlrect interface of two disaimll~r metal~ (l.e., ferrou~ and copper or ferrou~ snd ~lnc coated ferrou~). A~ ~ater pa~ses through the cnupling member 28, nlpple 20 and spud 16, there 1~ thus lntroduced an electrolyte lnto the system which come~
15 lnto contact with the ln~erface of dissimllar metsl~.
As a consequence, there 1~ induced a current ~low in ~he electrolyte wlth the re~ult that corro01On of the nlpple takes place in thP viclnity of the thread~ 22.
It has been found that corro~ion in the fittlng 20 ele~ent8 of the type shown in FICURE 1 may be reduced lf (1) ~he lnte~face between disEimilar metsl~ 1~ ln~ulated from the electrolyte through the introductlon of a nonconductlve linlng ln in~ernal portlon~ of the fittlng ~d (2) the dl~lmllar me~al~ of the fittln~ ln con~aet 25 wlth the electrolyte are ~eparated by ~ waterway or pa~sgewsy whlch la lined by a nonconductlve linlng and which llnlng placea oome dl~tance betwesn the eleetrolyte imm2rsed disslmllar metala.
The implemeutatlon of the deslgn atr~tegy 30 outllned abnve la ~hown in FIGURE 2 ~hereln the p~a~erred embodlment ol the inventlon wlll now be de~crlbed.
Wlth reference to FrGuRE 2, the top wall 12, openlng 14 snd ~pud 16 ~re a~ de~crlbed above ln 35 conn~ction wiLtl lT(,lll~E 1 Spud 16 l~ own ~ec~red ~o ~3~j7t~
top wall 12 of the water heater by mea~a of weld 26 in PIGURE 2. Alternate attachment meaus for ~ecuring the spud to th~ water heater ghould be con~ldered wlthin the 0pirlt of thlA lnventlon. Nlpple 40 of FIGUR~ 2 iB
5 ~hown threaded lnto ~pud 16. Thl~ lnventlon ~hould ~luo be considered to lnclude ~ threaded lnterconnectlon of the ~lpple 40 dlrectly into the openlng 14 of the top wall 12 of the water heater.
Nlpple 40 1~ generally cylindrlcal ln lO couflguratlon and lncludes an lnternal wall 42 whlch deflne~ ~ p~ageway through the nlpple. The eYternal uurface 44 of the nipple lnclude0 threads 4~ and 48 at elther end therPof. As ahown ln FIGURE 2, thread~ 48 are received ln compllmentary threads 18 of ~he ~pud 15 16. Thread~t 45 are ~hown wlthln co~pllmentary thresd~
50 of the coupllng member 52.
Inuofar a~ the ~election of materlal~, the top wall 12, ~pud 16 and nlpple wall 54 of FIGURE 2 are all fabrlcated from ferrou~ materlals~ The coupllng member 20 52 iu fabricated from elther copper or zlnc coated ferrou~t m~terlal dependlng on whether the ey~tem utilize~ copper tublng or zlnc coated plpe.
Thiu lnventlon iu alao applicable to syutemu ln which the nlpple lu f~brlcated from materlalu other than 25 ferrou~ m~terialu. Nippleu abrlcated from copper, brass or ~luminum can C1AO be used.
With ~ttill further reference to FIGUBE 2, i~
wlll be ~een that B nonconductive llning 32 is provlded ~dJacent the lnternal wall 42 of the nlpple 40. In the 30 ambodlment of the lnventlon B~ uhown ln FICUUE 2, the nonconductlve llnlng 32 is made of plastlc although other materialu uhould be con~idered withln the ~plrlt and ucope of the invention lncludlng rubber~, elauto~rs, compouites, resins, and the llkeO
The nonco~ductlve llning 32 of FI~URE 2 eYtend~
the entire length of the nlpyle and ha0 an es~entlally cyli~dric~l inter~al wall which defl~e~ ~ fluld pa~Hage~ay 34. The fluld pa~sageway 34 functlons to tranBmit f1u1tl throu~h the nlpple but yet out of contact with the internal wall 42 of the nlpple.
Wlth fur~her reference to FIGURE 2, lt wlll he seen that the upper end of the nipple 40 whlch iB
adJacent threade 46 lnclude~ an end wall 56 which is lO gener~lly tran~ver~e to the axls of ~lpple 40 and which co~acta the coupling member 52 when the coupllng member and nlpple ~re lnterconnected in the manner ~hown ln YIGUR~ 2.
It iB the threaded interconnection of the 15 nipple 40 wlth the coupllng member 52 (at threads 46,50) whlch provldes for a~ lnterface of two di~sl~ilar metals. In order to prevent the e~try of electrolytic fluld lnto the lnterface at threads 46,50, there 1B
provided ~d~acent end wall 56 a nonconductlve llning
Dl}:Ll`CTR~C ~'ITTIN(: AND METilOD
~ackground of tl-e Inventlon Thla lnventlon i~ dlrected to a dlelectrlc fltting and method for reducing galvanlc current flow ln fluld llne.
When two dls~lmllar metals nre ln elec~rlcal S contact in the pre~ence of an electrolyte, galvanlc corro~lon of one take~ place whlle the other 1H
protected.
In industrlal plplng ~y~tems such au ~prinkler systems and the llke t the rlaer element~ of ~he ~y~tem lO may, ln some ca~es, be made up of galvanlzed iron plpe.
The branche~ ln the sprlnkler Rystem may be made up of copper pipe. Installatlon of the complete system, thus, nece~sltates the ~oinlng of two disslmilar m~tal~ ln the presence of an electrolyte, l.e., water, whlch is 15 carrled by the system.
In 8 typical household there is u~ually ln~talled a water heater having a ~errous ta~k. ~he plumblng ~ystem of the home may, ln ~ome ca~e~, be made up of copper plpe or galvanized iron plpe. The 20 lnterconnectlon of the water heater lnto the plumblng 0ystem thus necessltate~ the Jolnlng of two di~imllar metals in the precence of an electrolyte, l.e., potable water.
When there is an lnterconnectlon of dlsslmllar 25 metals in the presence of an electrolyte, there l~
generated a cathodic current ln the fittlng which results ln the 1e~B noble metal belng oxldl~ed and/or d1ssolved. In the ca~e sf a water heater havlng a ferrou~ tank, the ferrous metal 1B the leaat noble of 30 the metals present ln the home plumbing system and, as a re~ul~, corro~lon takes place at the lnterface of the copper and ferrou~ connectlon. A slmllar re~ult occurs ~ 23g~ 7~
ln industrlal a~d commercial plplng sy6tems. The rate of corroalon i9 proportlonal to the flow of electrlcal curre~t, A further consequence of the flow of electrlc~l current i8 the build-up of productc of S corrosion re~ulting la bloc~age ln the fitting.
Generally, the hlgher the flow of electrlcal current, the more rapid the blockage.
It followu that if current flow between the disulmllar metal~ of the flttlng element~ 1B mlnlml~ed, 0 the longer the plplng syutem wlll f~nction.
Dielectrl_ Fltti~g In order to u~dersta~d the purpoue and f~nctloa of the l~ventlon set forth herein, ~ t i8 first necesuary to deflae ~he term "dlelectric fltting". A dlelec~ric 15 fittl~ iR one whlch reduce~ the flow of current ln an electrolyte betwee~ two dluuimilar met21s. The definltlon lu, thus, a relative one alace there l~ no accepted lndu~try deflnltlon or cutoff polnt au to when a flttlng ~tarts or cease~ to be cla~uifi~d as a 20 dlelectric flttlng. As used hereln lt ~hould be under~tood, ~huu, that the term "dlelec~ric flttlng" hau relation to a fitting ln whlch there 1~ a reduction in current flow between two dl~uimllar metals la contact wl~h an electrolyte from that whlch ~lould occur uhould 25 the metal~ be connected dlrectly together ln the preueace of the electrolyte.
It uhould be underuLood that the term "dlelectric flttlng" hau reference ~o the flow of curreat ia the electrolyte whlch 1B cont~cted by ~he 30 reMpectlve dl~slmllar metalu. The term does not have reference to the flow of current ln the flttlng wallu themuelve8 .
In~ulatlng Flttlng The term ~lnuulating flttingn-l~ uometi~e~ u~ed 35 in the plumbil.g indu~try to deno~e a unlol- or otl~er ~3~
slmil~r flttlng ord1nsrlly u6ed for the purpose of transmlttlng gas. An ln6ulatlng flttlng provide~ for the introduction o an ln~ulator ln ~ ga~ line ~ th~t the flow of electriclty throu~h the llne will be 5 interrupted. When used ln a ga6 line and in~talled ln a proper ~anner, the ln6ulatl~g fittlng i~ effectlve to prevent the flow of electrlclty acro~a the flttln~
through the w~ thereof. However, lf the ga~ line 6hould be fllled wlth an electrolyte ~uch a~ potable 10 water, lt can be appreclated that the lnsulatlng qualitles of the fltting wlll be negated by the pre6ence of the electrolyte. The flow of electriclty ln a ll~e carrylng elec~rolytic fluld wlll not be lmpeded at an lnsulating fltting as the electrolytic fluld will 15 provlde ~ shunt for the flow of electriclty across the flttlng. In~ulating uulons are 60metlmes also called dielectric unlon~ (lmproperly 80~, but thi~ apaln relate~ to the electrical co~tlnulty in the plpe lin~
not in the waterway, It 1B due to the Euct that an "ln~ulu~ln~
flttin~ whlch csrrlec electrolytlc fluld provlde~ a ~hunt for the flow of electrlcity through the electrolytic fluld (the lnsulator ln the flttln~
otherwl6e lmpedlng the flow of electr1clty through the ~5 flttlng wall~ them~elveu) that there la a high degree o~
bulld-up of product~ of corro~lon ln ~n ln~ulating ittlng. Thi6 reduction in flow and even~ual blockage 1B a prlncipal obJectlon to the uae of ln~ulatlng flttlng6.
Dlelectrlc Flttlng Compared With Insulatlng Fittlng _.
A dlelectric flttlng 1~ not de~lgned to function BC an iusulating flttlng. From what ha6 bèen deAcribed ~bove, lt ca~ be appreciated that lnlofar as electrolytic fluid Linea are concerned (i.e~, llne~
35 conducelng electrolytlc fluldA) an in~ulatlng flttlng 1 ~;~3~7~
lneffective ln~ofar as interrupting the flow of electrlcity through electrolytlc fluld~ Slmllarly, a dielectric fltting callnot be expected to in~ulate the flow of electrlclty among plplng components. Rather, the dlelectrlc flttlng functlon~ to reduce the flow of eletric curren~ ln the electrolyte between dl~lmllar metal plplng elements whlch are Jolned together in ~he pre~ence of such electrolyte. It 1~ the current flow ln the electrolyte that induce0 the lnternal corrosian lO re~ctlon and ~he rs~ul~ant pipe llne blockageO Thua, the dlelectrlf fitting whlch reducec curreut flow ln an electrolyte ~hould not be confused with an lnsulatlng fitting whlch stop6 the flow of electrlclty ln the wall~
of the plping material~.
In lndu~trial piplng aystema ufied for spr~nkler applicatlon~, lt l~ desirable to have a dielectrlc flttlng at the ~oint of galvani2ed lron plpe and coppcr plpe Hlnce the lnterconnection of these metals wlll result ln corrosion and product~ of corroslon in the 20 plpln~ ayatem at the inter~ace of the element~.
In a water heater interconnected inLo a home plumbing eystem, lt 1a de~lrable to h~ve B dielectrlc fltti.ng near the water heater ln thoae ca~es where the home plumblng ~y~tem conslnt~ of copper tubing or 2S galvanlzed plpe. Slnce copper tublng and galvanized pipe ~re dissimllar metals as compared to the ferr4u6 metal u~ed ln water heater~, the lnterconnectlon of the water heater lnto the home plumblng sy~tem wlll result in corro~lon snd blockage lu the plplng sy~tem at the 30 interconnectlon. The rate of corrosion and blockage wlll be directly proportional to the flow of electrical current ln the electrolyte.
Thi~ lnventlon i8 dlrected to a dlelectric fittlng snd method for reducing current flow betwee~
35 fltting me~her~ manufactur~d from di~ ilar me~als.
The lnventlon has p~rticular appllc~tlon to the lnterco~nectlon of dis~imllar metals in lndustrlal, commercial nnd re~ldentlal plplng sy~ems.
Summary of the Inventlon Thls luventlon 18 directed to a dlelectric flttlng and method for reduclng current flow in the slectrolyte of a flt$ing lnterconnectlng two disslmllar m~talllc plplng member~. The lnven~lon 1~ particularly adapted to the lnterconnectlon of dlssimilar metalc ln 0 plplng sy~tems for industrlal, comm~rcial and resldentlal u~e.
The fittlng of the preferred embodiment of the inventlon comprise~ a nlpple having a nonconductive pa~sageway llnlng eY~endlng generally therethrough. The 15 end wall of the nlpple whlch i~ adapted to be in contact wlth a dlsslmilar metal of a flrst coupllng member i8 prov~ded with a nonconductlve lining whlch 18 ~olned ~o and Healed wlth the pas~ageway llnlng. When the flttlng iB made up, fluid 1~ prohlblted from contact wlth the 20 lnterface of the dlsalmllar metals at the connectlon between the fir3t coupllng member and the ~lpple. As a result, corrosion whlch may be expected to take place at the interface of dlssimllar metals, 18 greatly reduced.
In ~ddltlon, the fitting of this lnventlon provldes ~or 25 a spaclng oP the dlssimllar metala of the plplng sy~tem ~t the lnterconnection of the metals wlth the fittlng.
Speciflcally, the internal surface of the first coupllng member o one metal ln contact wlth fluld i~ sep~rated from the lnternal surface of the second coupllng ~ember 30 of the other met~l by ~ dl~tance sufflclent to ~lgnlflcantly reduce current flow lu the electrolyte in the fittlng. Ae a consequence, corrosion 18 reduced.
De~crlptlon of the InYentlon :
~he lnvention wlll now be de~cribed wlth 35 reEerence to the accompany~ng drawlngo in which:
~3~'~7~
~ ICUR~ 1 1B A ~lde elevatlonal vlew, partly ln ~ectlon, and ~howl~ the lnterconnectlon of t}-e top wall of a water heater lnto a plumbing sy~tem and u~lng the preferred embodlment of the lnvPn~lDn;
PIGURE 2 18 a slde elevatlonal YieW~ partly ln oectlon, taken along the llue 2-2 of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 18 a top elevaelonal vlew of the nonconductln~ rlng which 18 an eleme~t of the preferred eoebodl~eut of the lnventlon;
FIGURE 4 is a slde cross-Rectional vlew taken along the llne 4-4 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 5 1~ a side elevatlonal vlew, partly ln Hectlon, slmilar to FIGURE 2 but 6how1ng a modified form of the invention;
FIGURE 6 i6 a side elevatlonal vlew, parLly ln sectlon, showing a modlfled form of ths nlpple of the invention;
FIGURE 7 i8 a slde elevationul vlew, partly ln ~ectlon, ~howing the preferred embodiment of the nipple 20 of the invention;
FIGURE 8 1B a side elevatlonal exploded view, purtly in seceion, and ~howlng a still further modifled form of nipple;
FIGURE 9 ia a ~lde elevatlonal vlew, partly ln 25 ~ectlon, ehowln~ the nipple of FIGURE 8 in an a~sembled conditlon;
PICURE 10 i~ a slde elevatlonal sectlonal vlew of the inventlon ln~talled ln an lnduetrlal plping eystem and whereln the pipe Jolnt i~ of the ~pllt rlng 30 claoep type;
FICUR~ 11 1B a slde elevatlonal view, partly ln ~ection, ehowln~ a ~tlll further modlfled form of nlpple;
FICURE 12 1~ a top elevational view of thP
nonconductlng rlng whlch 1B an element of the nipple of 35 FICURE 11;
~2367~79 FIGURE 13 18 a sectlonal vlew taken along the llne 13-13 of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 14 1~ ~ eide elevational ~ection~l ~lew G the inventlon of thls appllcatlon l~corporated ln a S male female eYtension fittlng;
FIGURE 15 18 ~ slde elevatlonal vlew, partly in ~action, uhowlng a atlll further modified form of nlpple;
FIGURE 16 1~ a slde elevat1onal view, parely ln 10 sectlon, showl~g a ~tlll further modlfled form of nlpple; and, FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view~ partly ln eectlon, ehow1ng a still further ~odlfied form of the lnventlon l~sta11ed i~ a plping system.
~efore deacriblng the preferred embodlmeut of the l~ventl~n, reference will flr~t be ~ade tD FIGURE 1 wherein there ls shown the top wall of ~ water heater generally deslgnated 12 and whlch contaln~ an opening 14. Openlng 14 i8 ~ultable for use either for 20 lutroductlon o f cold water lnto the water heater or~
~lternately, the withdrawal of hot w~ter therefrom.
Secured to the top wsll 12 16 a 6pud 16 which 16 provlded with lnternal threads 18 for the purpo6e of receivlng nlpple 2~. Nipple 20 1~ provided wlth 25 external threads 22,24 at ~he e~d~ thereof. Thread6 24 are adapted to be recelved wlthl~ internal thresds 18 of the apud. The spud ln FICURE l 18 ~ecured to the top wall of the water heater by meun9 of a weld 26. Other attachme~t mean~ for connectlng the ~pud to the water 30 hestar may be advantageou~ly used.
With 6till further reference to FIGURE l, the nlpple 20 is ~hown received wlthln coupllng member 28 whlch lnclude~ internal threads 30 which are adapted to recelve threads 22 of the nlpple 20.
~6'7'7~
The general configuratlon of element~ ~hown ln FIGURE 1 for lnterconnec~lng a water hea~er ln~o a home plu~blng ~ystem has bee~ in uae by the l~duetry for ~o~e yeArs. Typlcally, the water heater top wall 12, spud 16 5 and nlpple 20 sre fabrlcated from ferrous msterial~.
Coupliug member 2B may be fabrlcated from slther copper materlal or zlnc plated ferrous materlal.
A~ will be evldent from FIGURE 1, ~he threaded interconnectlon between nlpple 20 and the coupling 10 member 28 proYlde~ a dlrect interface of two disaimll~r metal~ (l.e., ferrou~ and copper or ferrou~ snd ~lnc coated ferrou~). A~ ~ater pa~ses through the cnupling member 28, nlpple 20 and spud 16, there 1~ thus lntroduced an electrolyte lnto the system which come~
15 lnto contact with the ln~erface of dissimllar metsl~.
As a consequence, there 1~ induced a current ~low in ~he electrolyte wlth the re~ult that corro01On of the nlpple takes place in thP viclnity of the thread~ 22.
It has been found that corro~ion in the fittlng 20 ele~ent8 of the type shown in FICURE 1 may be reduced lf (1) ~he lnte~face between disEimilar metsl~ 1~ ln~ulated from the electrolyte through the introductlon of a nonconductlve linlng ln in~ernal portlon~ of the fittlng ~d (2) the dl~lmllar me~al~ of the fittln~ ln con~aet 25 wlth the electrolyte are ~eparated by ~ waterway or pa~sgewsy whlch la lined by a nonconductlve linlng and which llnlng placea oome dl~tance betwesn the eleetrolyte imm2rsed disslmllar metala.
The implemeutatlon of the deslgn atr~tegy 30 outllned abnve la ~hown in FIGURE 2 ~hereln the p~a~erred embodlment ol the inventlon wlll now be de~crlbed.
Wlth reference to FrGuRE 2, the top wall 12, openlng 14 snd ~pud 16 ~re a~ de~crlbed above ln 35 conn~ction wiLtl lT(,lll~E 1 Spud 16 l~ own ~ec~red ~o ~3~j7t~
top wall 12 of the water heater by mea~a of weld 26 in PIGURE 2. Alternate attachment meaus for ~ecuring the spud to th~ water heater ghould be con~ldered wlthin the 0pirlt of thlA lnventlon. Nlpple 40 of FIGUR~ 2 iB
5 ~hown threaded lnto ~pud 16. Thl~ lnventlon ~hould ~luo be considered to lnclude ~ threaded lnterconnectlon of the ~lpple 40 dlrectly into the openlng 14 of the top wall 12 of the water heater.
Nlpple 40 1~ generally cylindrlcal ln lO couflguratlon and lncludes an lnternal wall 42 whlch deflne~ ~ p~ageway through the nlpple. The eYternal uurface 44 of the nipple lnclude0 threads 4~ and 48 at elther end therPof. As ahown ln FIGURE 2, thread~ 48 are received ln compllmentary threads 18 of ~he ~pud 15 16. Thread~t 45 are ~hown wlthln co~pllmentary thresd~
50 of the coupllng member 52.
Inuofar a~ the ~election of materlal~, the top wall 12, ~pud 16 and nlpple wall 54 of FIGURE 2 are all fabrlcated from ferrou~ materlals~ The coupllng member 20 52 iu fabricated from elther copper or zlnc coated ferrou~t m~terlal dependlng on whether the ey~tem utilize~ copper tublng or zlnc coated plpe.
Thiu lnventlon iu alao applicable to syutemu ln which the nlpple lu f~brlcated from materlalu other than 25 ferrou~ m~terialu. Nippleu abrlcated from copper, brass or ~luminum can C1AO be used.
With ~ttill further reference to FIGUBE 2, i~
wlll be ~een that B nonconductive llning 32 is provlded ~dJacent the lnternal wall 42 of the nlpple 40. In the 30 ambodlment of the lnventlon B~ uhown ln FICUUE 2, the nonconductlve llnlng 32 is made of plastlc although other materialu uhould be con~idered withln the ~plrlt and ucope of the invention lncludlng rubber~, elauto~rs, compouites, resins, and the llkeO
The nonco~ductlve llning 32 of FI~URE 2 eYtend~
the entire length of the nlpyle and ha0 an es~entlally cyli~dric~l inter~al wall which defl~e~ ~ fluld pa~Hage~ay 34. The fluld pa~sageway 34 functlons to tranBmit f1u1tl throu~h the nlpple but yet out of contact with the internal wall 42 of the nlpple.
Wlth fur~her reference to FIGURE 2, lt wlll he seen that the upper end of the nipple 40 whlch iB
adJacent threade 46 lnclude~ an end wall 56 which is lO gener~lly tran~ver~e to the axls of ~lpple 40 and which co~acta the coupling member 52 when the coupllng member and nlpple ~re lnterconnected in the manner ~hown ln YIGUR~ 2.
It iB the threaded interconnection of the 15 nipple 40 wlth the coupllng member 52 (at threads 46,50) whlch provldes for a~ lnterface of two di~sl~ilar metals. In order to prevent the e~try of electrolytic fluld lnto the lnterface at threads 46,50, there 1B
provided ~d~acent end wall 56 a nonconductlve llning
2~ whlch i~ the embodlment of FIGURE 2 ie deflned by rlng 58.
R~ng 58 1B ~hown ln enlarged vlew ln FICURES 3 and 4. Wlth reference, flr~t, to FIGURE 3, it will be aeen that rlng 58 i~ generally circular ln eYterual 25 configuratlo~. Wlth reference ~o ~ICURE 4, rlng 58 include~ A perlpheral llp 60, a bottom wall 62, internAl wall 64, slopln~ sidewall 66, outer ~all 68 and upper ~:nd w~ll 70.
Referrlng ~gsln to FICURES 2 aud 4, lt wlll be 30 ~een thst bottom wBll 62 of rlng 58 ge~erally conforms ~c~ ~nct wn~l 56 of nipple 40. It ~ill al~o be ~een that ~loping ~ldew~ll 66 generally conforma ~o the thresd form of thread~ 46. In additlon, the internal wall 64 of rlng 58 1~ of sub~tantlally the ~me dlameter ss lnternal w~l1 4? of nlpple 40.
~2~ 7~
AB W111 be obs~rved f:rom FIGURE 2, the upper end 72 of llnlng 32 1B turned over the rl~g 58 BO that ~he liuer e~d makea cont~ct wi~h the upper end wall 70 of rlug 58. The upper end 72 of the llner 32 i~ ~olaed 5 and sealed to the rlng 58> ln the embodlment of PIGURE
2, by me~ns of a hot weld.
In the e~bodlment of the inventlon of FIGURE 2, the ring 58 1B fsbrlcated from pla~ic materlal of the ~ame type B~ i~ used to fabricate the llner 32. ~B wlth 10 the ll~er, the ring 58 may be fabrlcated from many dl~ferent type~ of noncoaduc~ing materisls ln additlon to plastic ~uch as rubber~, ela~tomer~ compo~it~, re~in~, etc.
The llner 32> liner end 72 and rlng 58 of 15 ~IGU~E 2 functlo~ to isolate or separAte the l~terface of the dlsslmllar metsls of the cuupling ~ember 52 and the nlpple 40 from contact wlth electrolytic fl~id pre~eat la pa~ageway 34 of the nlpple snd pas~ageway 74 of the coupling member 52. IHO1~t10~ of the lnterface 20 betweea the diB~lmllar metalB 18 accompllshed, in the embodlme~t of FIGURE 2, becau~e of the hot weld between the llner end 72 and the ring 58, as well aa the interengagement of ~he sloplng sldewall 66 and perlpheral lip 60 of the rlng 58 wlth the threads 50.
With still furth0r reference to FIGURE 2, lt wlll be see~ that the bottommo~t portloa of nipple 40 1B
provlded wlth a llner ead 76 which i~ turned about the lower rlng 5~'. Lower rlng 58' i~ identlcal to upper rlng 58~ The relation~hip of lower rlng 5B' to the li~er ead 76 1B ide~tlcal to that of ring 58 and ll~er end 72.
The structure of FIGURE 2 serves the two de~ign coa~iderations ideatlfied above. Flrst, the llaer 32, liuer end 72 snd rlng 58 prohlblt electrolytlc fluid contact wlth the interconuectlon of the dl~cimilar ~3~7t~3 metals comprl~lng the nlpple 40 snd the coupllng member 52. Second, the lnter~al ~urface 78 of the coupllng ~ember 52 (which 1~ ln contact ~lth ~lectrolytlc fluid) i~ separated from the lnternal surface 80 of the spud 16 5 (whlch 1~ a1BO ln contact wlth electrolytic fluid) by 8 dlstance which ia ge~erally desl~nated Ud" ln FIGURE 2.
Dlctance "d" thu~ deslgnatee the spaclng between surfacea of di~lmllar ~etals whlch are in contact with electrolytlc fluid. Sta~ed ln other word~, the di~tance 10 "d" of FIGURE 2 roughly deflne~ the effec~lve length of the no~conductlve linlng 32.
Dlatance rd~ i~ al~o roughly equivalent to the length of nlpple 40.
In the embodlment of FIGURE 2, thP ~ipple 15 length or dlstance "d~ 1B appro~lmately 3~. It has been found that for a nlpple diameter of between l/2" and l"
thi~ dl0tance sl~nlflcantly reducea current flow in the electrolyte between the eYpo~ed internal surface6 of spud 16 snd the expo~ed lnternal ~urfacefi of coupllng 20 member 52. Optlmum 0paclng between electrolyte eYposed di~slmllar metal ~urface~ wlll depend on many fsctore includinK the elec~rolytlc quallty of the water whlch i8 pas0ed through the flttlng, temperstur2, the nature of the metal~ deflnlng the spud 16 and coupllng member 52 25 and other factor~. It i~, thu~, not possible to ~is the op~imum dlst~nce "d" ~0 denoted in FIGURE 2 wlthout knowing the lndlvlduallzed factor~ identifled abuve.
For ~o~t condition0, a spacing of approYimstely 3" wlll produce ~ olgnlflcant reductlon ln current flow between 30 the diu01mllar metallic ~urfa~es ln contact with electrolytic fluid ln ~ nipple dlsme~er of between 1/2"
and l".
A~ nipple dlameter lncrease~, the dl~t~nce "d"
simllarly lncrea~es. ~or nlpple dlameter~ of between l 35 l/4" and 3 1/2", ~ ulpple len~th of 4" 1~ u~ed. ~or nipple dlameter of 4", a ~lpple le~gth of 6~ i~ u~ed.
~3~ 7~
Alternate Embodlments _ The e~bodiment of FIGURE 5 differs from the embodi~e~t of FIGURE 2 in two reapect~. P~rBt, ~he apud 16' o~ YIGURE 5 ha~ a shorter helght than the 6pud 16 of FIGU~F. 2. ~ a conae~uence, the nipple 40' of FIGUR~ 5 5 e~tenda completely through the spud 16' and lnto the ope~ing 14 of the top wall 12 of the water heater.
The aecond aapect of the modlfled embodiment of FIGUR~ 5 ~as compared to FICURE 2), reside~ in the design of the lower par~ of the nonconducttve llnlng 10 32. In the embodlment of FIGURE 5, the nonconductlve llnlng 32' ia pro~lded with an e~ten~lon 82 which proJects out of the nlpple 40'. In contra~t to tbe embodlment of FIGURE 2, there 1B no r~ng 58' provlded at the lower portion of the nipple ad~acene the spud in the embodiment of FIGURE 5. Rather, ln the embodiment of FIGURE 5, the llning 32' extends out of the nlpple lower end to defl~e an e~tension 82 which proJects lnto the water heter. The e~ten~ion 82 ehus provide~ some ~hlelding ln the area of the opening 14 of ehe top wall 20 o~ the water heater. 5uch shleldlng aforded by the eYteusion 82 aerve~ ~o lengthen the conductlve pa~h from the metal deflning the top wall 12 to the di~simllar ~etal deflning the coupling member 52. A lengthenlng of the conductlve path aer~ea to reduce current flow between the diasi~ilar metal~ immersed in electrolytlc fluid wlth a re~ultlng reducelon of corro~lon~
VMrlation~ ln length of the eYtenaion 82 ~ay be uaed r~ng~nU ~om relati~ely ehort e~te~alono to relatlvely long ~YtenslonsO
Slnce the lnterconnectlon between the nipple 40 and the apud 16 at compllmentary threads 18,48 of FIGURE
2 1~ an lnterconnectlon between ~lmilar ~etal~, the corroalon problem due to electrolytic actIon whlch i~
preaent at the interconnection between ulpple 40 and ~,3~
coupling member 52 18 avolded. As a consequ~nce, there 1B no Atrlct necesslty to lnclude A ~econd or lower rlng 5~ the structure of ~IGURE 2. I~ fact~ euch ~
second rlng has been ellmlnated ln the embodiment of 5 PIGURE 5 ~s ha~ been deacrlbed above. However, the embodiment of FIGURE 2 does afford ~he advantage of ~voidlng all error in in~t~llAtlon ~ by lnstallin~ the nipple upslde down. The nlpple of FIGURE 2 can be lnatalled wlth elther one of the thre~ded ends of the 10 nlpple lnaerted into the 8pud 16. The nlpple of FICURE
2 thus lend~ ltself ~o "do-it~yourself~ applicatlonA or those ln~tall~tlo~ made by le~s experienced perso~nel.
0~ th~ other hand, the embodiment of nipple 40' of FIGURE 5 requires that the ln~tallatlo~ be made with the 15 nlpple oriented ln the posltlon ~hown ln ~IGURE 5 wlth the e~te~slon 82 pro~ecting ln~o the openlng 14.
In both embodlments of FICURES 2 ~nd 5~ the nonconductlYe llnlng 32 (32' ln FIGURE 5) 18 ret~lned in pl~ce by m~anc of a groo~e 84 whLch i8 cau~ed to be 20 rolled lnto the outer ~urfnce 44 of nlpple 40 (40' ln FIGURE 5) thui deforming somewhat the portion of the lining which le ln contact with that part of the nlpple deformed by the groo~lng operatlon. Whlle groovlng iF~
deairable for purpo~e~ of ret~ln~ng the nonconductlve 25 lining within the nipple, lt is not ab~olutely neces~sry. AB will be ~een ln ~IGURE 2, the use of a paLr of rlng~ 58, 58' aud the Jolnlng of the rings to the nonconductlve llnlng effectively ~erveA to retaln the nonconductive llnlng wlthln the nipple. The u~e of 30 the groove 84 ln the embodlment of FIGURE 2 1~, thus, not atrlctly necesaary.
In the embodiment of the lnventlon as Aho~n ln FIGUR~ 2, the nonconductive llnlng 32 1A molded or extruded ~a a F~leeve whlch 18 lnAerted lnto the nlpple 35 4~ d r~L~1L~ by m~a~ ~f Lhe 8roovl~g ~.3$7~
operatlon de~cribed ~bove in connec~ion wlth groove 84.
After groovlng, the rin8s 58~58' are put in place ~nd, thereafter, the end~ oP the sleeve are turned over i~to contact wlth the reapectlve rlngs a~ 72,76 at whlch tlme 5 a hot plate 1~ brought lnto contac~ wlth the turned ends 72, 76 produclng a hot weld sealing llnlng 32 to the rlng~ 58,58'. Make-up of the flttirLg 1B then completed a~ the nipple 40 i~ threadedly advanced lnto the ~pud 16 snd the coupllng member 52 i8 thre~dedly advanced over o the nlpple, V~rlous structural modificatlons Por lnsulatlng and llning the internal wall of the ~lpple and the nlpple end wall are pos~ible and wlll ~ow be described wlth reference to FIGURES 6-9.
In FI~URE 6, a modified for~ o~ nlpple 1~ fihown ln whlch a nonconductive lining 86 includea a turred over end portlon 88 whlch i8 trimmed or formed to be ~lush wlth the crest of threads 90. I~ additlon~ a thread form 92 i~ lmparted to the end portion 88 co as to lnaulate and ~eal the end wall 94 and prevent contact of electrolytlc fluld ~lth end wall 94 of the nlpple.
The turned over end portlon 88 preventD entry of fluld into the area of interengaglng ~hread~ 90 of the nlpple wlth the ~pud or coupllng member. Whlle the thre~d form 25 92 of the turned over end portlo~ 88 i~ de~irable, it i8 not ab~olutely necessary. The turned over end portion B8 may be used wlthout provlding a thread Porm ~hereon iP de~lred.
The lining 86 o' FIGURE 6 m~y be lnltlally 30 molded aB a cyllrLdrical ~leeve. Onc~ l~serted lnto the nlpple, the cleeve may be tur~ed over at ~he end 88 and cut or otherwi~e ~haped to deflne the thread form shown in FIGURE 6. Alternstely, the liner 86 and the end portion 88 may be ln~ert molded directly into the ~ipple 35 a~ a unltary ~lded ~tructure havlng the conflguratlo~
shown in FTCUR~ 6.
.
~ ~3~t7~
In the embodlment shown in PIGURE 7, the preferred embodiment, the nonconductl~g ll~er 96 10 dlme~sloned ao as to l~clude an e~te~ion 98. A rl~g 100 in the orm shown ln FIGURE 4 1B dlBpOBed about the 5 eYtensiOn 98 ln order ~o contact ~he end wall 102 ol the nipple. Thereafter, the ring 100 and llner 96 are Joined by means of a ~eld at 104.
I~ the embodlment sho~n ln ~IGURES 8 ~nd 9, ri~8 106 1B ultraBonlcally bo~ded to llner 108. A~
10 shown ln FIGURE 8, the llner 108 eYtends to a poiition appro~lmately flush with the end wall 110 of the nipple The rlng 106 i~ essentially coufigured as that shown ln FIGURE 4 with the additlon of pro~ectlon 112 whlch 0er~e~ ae ~ ~onic ener~v dlrector. Thu~, when the 15 rlng 106 of FIGURE 8 1~ brought lnto contact with the ~lpple ~d llner as show~ 1~ FIGURE 9, the appll~atlon of ultra~ound to the resultlng as~embly wlll cau~e the rlng 106 tD become fused to the liner 108.
Wl~hln the cpirit of thl~ lnYentlon ~hould be 20 considered other mean~ and structures for Jolnlng the nonconductlve rlng of FICURES 2,5,7,8 and 9 to the llner lncluding the use of adheAlves, ~pln weldlng or heat formirlg techr,iques and oth~r attachment techniques known to those ~kllled ln th~ ~rt.
~5 With reference to FIGURE 16, a still further e~bodiment of the inventlon wlll be de~cribed. This lnventlon contempla~es the u~e of nonconductlve coatlnga npplied to the entire lnternal wall ~urface of the nlpple, the end wall o~ the nlpple and, lf deslred, ~ome 30 or all of the e~ternal threads of the nlpple adJscent the end wall. Thus, wlth reference to FIGURE 16, the liner 114 and the end portion llb could be deflned by a nonconductlve coatlng applled to the nipple by pslntlng, electrostatlc spraying or fluldl~ed bed coatlng. Such 35 coating could ~ur~hcr extelld Lo the flrst ew thre~ds on ~3~7~
the eYter~al 0urface of ~he nlpple at 118 sd~ace~t the end wall 120. A paintlng or coatlng of the type Just de0cribed ~ould ~erve the s~me purpose as the ll~er 86 and turned o~er end portion 88 0hown ln FIGURE 6, l.e., 5 to lsolate the lnterface of the dl~imilar metal lnterco~Aectlon between the nlpple a~d coupllng member from elec~rolytlc fluld.
Wlth further reference to FIGURE 4, it haa prevlou~ly been ~oted that the preferred embodimeAt of 10 the l~ve~tlon utiLlzes a nonconductln~ rlng having a t~pered conflguration whlch lncludec a sloplng ~idewall 66. Thl~ sloplng sldewall ha~ been prevlouely de~cribed ~a generally conformlng to the thread ~hape of the nlpple wlth the reculting be~eflt that electrolytlc fluid 1~ mai~talned out of contact ~ith the interace of dls~imilar me~als~ In alterna~e embodlment~ of the i~ventlon, ~ nonconducting rlng wlth a non-tapered conflguration m~y be used. Alternate e~bodlmeAte of the rlng may lnclude conflg~ratlons in whieh portlon0 of the rlng are caus2d to be deformed a~ the ring lc caught between l~terengaglng threads during make-up of the fittlng. Such an alternate co~flgur~tlon a0 ~hown ln FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 wherein an ee~e~tlally cqu~re cut rin8 122 1~ utilized. In sectlon, as ~hown in FIGURE
13, rlng 122 ha~ parallel wall0 and deflne~ a Rener~lly rectangular 0hape. The outer radl~l wall 124, a~ shown ln FIGUR~ i0 about the ~ame helght as the crect of thread0 126. A~ a con~equence, when the ~ipple 123 of FIGURE 11 is threadedly advanced into a female member, ~he outer wall L24 ~111 be caught ln the lnterengaglng thread0 durlng make up of the flttlng~ thus provlding nddltional aealing.
A further modific~tion of the lnYention iB
~hown in FICURE 14 where~n a male-female extenslon flttlng 130 inclll~es ~ noncon~ etlve Llnln~ 132 ~nd a -7~) palr of ring~ 134, 134' at elther end thereof. It should be under~tood that rlngs 134, 134' ~re of the s~me cottfiguratio~ a~ ~hown in FIGUR~ 4. It ~hould aloo he understood th~t ln the ~mbodlment o~ FIGU~E 14, the 5 rln~ ~re uecured to the nonconductlve linlng by means of a hot weld ln the same manner as shown ln che preferred e~bod~meut of FIGURE 7.
A ~tlll further modlflcatlo~ of the invention 1~ sho~n ln FIGURE 15 wherein appro~im~tely 1 1/2 10 thread~ 136 are integrally molded wlth the llnlng 13 wlthln the nlpple 140. It should be under~tood thae ~hreads 136 and llnl~g 138 of FIGURE 15 ~re molded from pla0tic or other ~imilar materialR. The threads 136 thu~ define noltronductlng leadlng thread~ for the n~pple 15 140 a~ it i8 ln~erted into ~ female coupli~g member or ~pud. The leading thresd~ 136 snd llnlng 138 thu~
shleld the metalllc wall of nipple 140 lncludlng end wall 142 from coatact with electrolytlc fluid ln the flttln8-The applicatlon ol the lnve~tlon to lndu~tr~l plyln~ ~ystem~ 1~ shown ln FICUKE 10.
In an l~dustrlal plplng ~ystem uuch as may be used for eprlnkler ~ystem~ and the llke, it is not uncommon to u~e galvanlzed or ~inc co~ted lron ylpe for 25 the ri~er portlons of the piplng ~ystem and copper plpe for the branche~ thereof. Conuaquently, there 1 requlred an lnterface between copper and ferrous ~nterial~. When the piplng ~yste~ i~ filled with water, ~tn electrolyte is lrttroduced lnto the lrtterface with 30 re~ultlng problem~ of corro~ion, product~ of corroslon, ~tc.
In the sy~tem of FICURE lO, the galvanlzed or ferrous coated pipe i~ de~lgnated 146 and lnclude~ 1 the e~ternal ~urf~ce thereof a groove 148 for t.he 35 purpoce of recei~ln~ ~ s~lit pipe clamp 150. ~lamp 150 ~3~
I
lnclude~ a 8a~ket 152 for the purpose of seallng the eYterlor surface of plpe 146 and the adJolnlng fi~tln~ !
member, The plpe clamp lS0 and gasket 152 form no part o thls inventlon a~ they are manufactured by ~everal 5 comp~nles ~ncludlng Vlctaullc.
A nlpple 154 1~ shown ln FIGURE 10 as attAched to pipe 146 by mean0 of clamp 150. To that end, nipple 154 lncludes an eYternal groo~e 156 whlch i8 complementary to groove 14B and whlch 1~ adapted to 10 receive the clamp lS0. Nlpple 154 of ~IGURE 10 l~cludes a ll~lng 158 and rlng~ 160, 162. Rln~ 160 ia ln the configuratlon ~hown i~ FIGURE 4 and 18 Jolned to llnlng 158 by mean~ of a hot weld ln the ~anner descrlbed ln connectlon wlth the preferred embodlmen~ of FIGURE 7.
15 Rlng 162, on the other hand, 18 of a square cut conflguratiDn and has a height equal to approYimately the thickneas of ~he wall of nipple 154. Ring 162 1 ~ecured to llning 158 by means of hot weld 164.
External threaAs 165 ~re pro~ided on nipple 154 20 and are adapted to be recei~ed wlthl~ femal0 thre~ds of a nonferrous coupling member. Por eY~mple, thre~d~ 166 may be recelved wlthln a copper or brass coupllng member where lt iB de~lrou6 to uce ~uch materisl~ in an lndu~trlal piplng sy0tem.
The purpose and functlon of the nipple 154 of FIGUR~ 10 10 two-fold, a8 lndicated above. Flr~, the nipple 154 o~ FIGURE 10 lnsulates the lnterface between dltl~lmila~ metal~. Speclflcally, the lnterface bstwee~
the metal deflning nlpple 154 3~d the coupllng member 30 ~ecured to thread0 166 is in~ulsted or i~olated ~rom cont~ct with electrolytlc fluld in the plping ~y~tem.
Second, the dl~simllar metal~ of the flttlng in cont~ct wlth the electrolyte (l.e., pipe 146 and the coupling member ~ecured to thread~ 166) are eep~ra~ed by the 35 pa~agew~y or waterw~y 168 whlch is llned by a , ~2~6~
nonconductl~e lining 15B. A~ a consequence. the llning 15a plu~e~ Bome dl~tance betwe~n the dlsai~liar met~l~
ln contact with electrolyte.
In an alternate embodlment, the plpe 146 of S FIGUR~ 10 cun be fabrlcated from non~errou0 ma~eri~l such as copper and the coupllng member attached to threads 166 can be ferrous materlal.
Attentlon wlll now be dlrected to FIGURE 17 whereln there lu shown 8 Btlll further modlflc~tlon of 0 the inve~tion of thi~ appllcation. I~ FIGURE 17, there ia shown a unlon Auitable for u~e in connection wlth reHide~tlal or commercial plping ~ystem~. It ~111 be observed thst some of the eleme~es of the union of FIGURE 17 are common to elements of an insulating union or lnsul~tlng fitting whlch has been de~crlbed above and which i8 part of the prior art. Important modlflcation~
have been made ~o the prlor art l~ulating fittlng in order to chan~e the charac~erlutlc of the fitting fro~
a~ insulatlng fltting to a dielectrlc fittlng.
The flttlng oE FIGU~E 17 showu an lnterconnectlon or coupllng between a ferrou~ plplng member 170 snd a nonferrou~ plplng member 172. The f~rrous plpe 170 10 provlded wlth e~ternal thread~ 174 at one eud thereof ln order to r~celve a couplin~ uut 176 whlch hau lnternal threads complementary to thread~
11~6 .
Soldered or otherwiue secured to the nonferrou~
plpe 172 i~ a gland 178. Gland 178 lnclude~ an outwardly ~endlng fl~nge 180 which 10 sdapted to be contacted and retalned by a complementary inwardly dl~ected fla~ge 182 of coupllng nut 176.
A nonconductive llner 184 fabrlcated from plastlc or other sultable in~ulating material 1B
dispo~ed wlthln the end of nonferrous plpe 172. Liner lB4 iu provl~ed wl~h Bn outwardly directly flange 186 i7~
whlch 18 posltloned ad~cent the e~ternal ~urface o flange 180 of gland 178. An inuulatlng rin8 188 1~
carried by the ferrous plpe 170 and iB retal~ed i~ place lu a groove 190 whlch 1~ defined in the end of plpe 170.
When as~embled ~ ~hown ln ~lGU~E 17, the in~ul~tlng rlng 188 and the llner 184 cooperate to prevent electrolytlc ~luld ln the plplng ~ystem from co~tacting the lnterface between the ferrou~ materl~l of the coupliug (pipe 170 and coupllng nut 176) and the 10 nonferrous mnterl~l~ of the plplng system (plpe 172 and gland 178~. Speclflcally, llner 184 ~lth its as~oclnted flange 186 rooperatlng wlth rin8 188 prevent~ the entry of electrolytlc fluld into the area of contact of the coupllng nut 176 wlth the gland 178. Further, the 15 flange 186 of the llner 184 prevent~ dlrect contact (alon& wlth rlng la83 of the gland 178 wlth the plpe 170.
The design ob~ectlve outllned above ln connectlon with other embodlments of the inventlon have ~180 been satisfled in the coupllng of FIGU~E 17.
20 Speciflcally, contact o electrolyte ~lth the lnterface of ferrou~ and nonferrou~ materlal~ han been ellmlnated. Second, those portlon of plpe 170 ln contact with electrolytlc fluid are ~eparated from tho~e portlons of plpe 172 by a dlstance appro~lmately equal 25 of the length of llner 184. A~ a consequence, the flow of current in the electrolyte (when the piping ~y~tem i~
fllled) i~ grently reduced.
In an alternntl.Ye embodlment of the ~tructure of ~ICURE 17, lt is pos~ible to elimlnate the lnsulatlng 30 ring 188 ent:Lrely wlth the re~ult that the eYternal surace of flauKè 186 of llner 184 ~111 be brought lnto direct engagement wlth the end Aurface of pipe 170 upon take-up of the coupllng nut 176.
In ~till further ~lternatlve embodlments of the 35 structure of FICU~E 17, the liner 184 cnn be reversed 80 ~3~
~ 22 --a~ ~o exte~d lnto ~he ptpe 170~ Alter~lately, ~he liner 184 c~n e2~tend ln~o both pipee 170,172 wl~.h fl~ e 186 beln~ pro~vlded at the external ~urfac~ of the liner at the mldpolnt thereof.
R~ng 58 1B ~hown ln enlarged vlew ln FICURES 3 and 4. Wlth reference, flr~t, to FIGURE 3, it will be aeen that rlng 58 i~ generally circular ln eYterual 25 configuratlo~. Wlth reference ~o ~ICURE 4, rlng 58 include~ A perlpheral llp 60, a bottom wall 62, internAl wall 64, slopln~ sidewall 66, outer ~all 68 and upper ~:nd w~ll 70.
Referrlng ~gsln to FICURES 2 aud 4, lt wlll be 30 ~een thst bottom wBll 62 of rlng 58 ge~erally conforms ~c~ ~nct wn~l 56 of nipple 40. It ~ill al~o be ~een that ~loping ~ldew~ll 66 generally conforma ~o the thresd form of thread~ 46. In additlon, the internal wall 64 of rlng 58 1~ of sub~tantlally the ~me dlameter ss lnternal w~l1 4? of nlpple 40.
~2~ 7~
AB W111 be obs~rved f:rom FIGURE 2, the upper end 72 of llnlng 32 1B turned over the rl~g 58 BO that ~he liuer e~d makea cont~ct wi~h the upper end wall 70 of rlug 58. The upper end 72 of the llner 32 i~ ~olaed 5 and sealed to the rlng 58> ln the embodlment of PIGURE
2, by me~ns of a hot weld.
In the e~bodlment of the inventlon of FIGURE 2, the ring 58 1B fsbrlcated from pla~ic materlal of the ~ame type B~ i~ used to fabricate the llner 32. ~B wlth 10 the ll~er, the ring 58 may be fabrlcated from many dl~ferent type~ of noncoaduc~ing materisls ln additlon to plastic ~uch as rubber~, ela~tomer~ compo~it~, re~in~, etc.
The llner 32> liner end 72 and rlng 58 of 15 ~IGU~E 2 functlo~ to isolate or separAte the l~terface of the dlsslmllar metsls of the cuupling ~ember 52 and the nlpple 40 from contact wlth electrolytic fl~id pre~eat la pa~ageway 34 of the nlpple snd pas~ageway 74 of the coupling member 52. IHO1~t10~ of the lnterface 20 betweea the diB~lmllar metalB 18 accompllshed, in the embodlme~t of FIGURE 2, becau~e of the hot weld between the llner end 72 and the ring 58, as well aa the interengagement of ~he sloplng sldewall 66 and perlpheral lip 60 of the rlng 58 wlth the threads 50.
With still furth0r reference to FIGURE 2, lt wlll be see~ that the bottommo~t portloa of nipple 40 1B
provlded wlth a llner ead 76 which i~ turned about the lower rlng 5~'. Lower rlng 58' i~ identlcal to upper rlng 58~ The relation~hip of lower rlng 5B' to the li~er ead 76 1B ide~tlcal to that of ring 58 and ll~er end 72.
The structure of FIGURE 2 serves the two de~ign coa~iderations ideatlfied above. Flrst, the llaer 32, liuer end 72 snd rlng 58 prohlblt electrolytlc fluid contact wlth the interconuectlon of the dl~cimilar ~3~7t~3 metals comprl~lng the nlpple 40 snd the coupllng member 52. Second, the lnter~al ~urface 78 of the coupllng ~ember 52 (which 1~ ln contact ~lth ~lectrolytlc fluid) i~ separated from the lnternal surface 80 of the spud 16 5 (whlch 1~ a1BO ln contact wlth electrolytic fluid) by 8 dlstance which ia ge~erally desl~nated Ud" ln FIGURE 2.
Dlctance "d" thu~ deslgnatee the spaclng between surfacea of di~lmllar ~etals whlch are in contact with electrolytlc fluid. Sta~ed ln other word~, the di~tance 10 "d" of FIGURE 2 roughly deflne~ the effec~lve length of the no~conductlve linlng 32.
Dlatance rd~ i~ al~o roughly equivalent to the length of nlpple 40.
In the embodlment of FIGURE 2, thP ~ipple 15 length or dlstance "d~ 1B appro~lmately 3~. It has been found that for a nlpple diameter of between l/2" and l"
thi~ dl0tance sl~nlflcantly reducea current flow in the electrolyte between the eYpo~ed internal surface6 of spud 16 snd the expo~ed lnternal ~urfacefi of coupllng 20 member 52. Optlmum 0paclng between electrolyte eYposed di~slmllar metal ~urface~ wlll depend on many fsctore includinK the elec~rolytlc quallty of the water whlch i8 pas0ed through the flttlng, temperstur2, the nature of the metal~ deflnlng the spud 16 and coupllng member 52 25 and other factor~. It i~, thu~, not possible to ~is the op~imum dlst~nce "d" ~0 denoted in FIGURE 2 wlthout knowing the lndlvlduallzed factor~ identifled abuve.
For ~o~t condition0, a spacing of approYimstely 3" wlll produce ~ olgnlflcant reductlon ln current flow between 30 the diu01mllar metallic ~urfa~es ln contact with electrolytic fluid ln ~ nipple dlsme~er of between 1/2"
and l".
A~ nipple dlameter lncrease~, the dl~t~nce "d"
simllarly lncrea~es. ~or nlpple dlameter~ of between l 35 l/4" and 3 1/2", ~ ulpple len~th of 4" 1~ u~ed. ~or nipple dlameter of 4", a ~lpple le~gth of 6~ i~ u~ed.
~3~ 7~
Alternate Embodlments _ The e~bodiment of FIGURE 5 differs from the embodi~e~t of FIGURE 2 in two reapect~. P~rBt, ~he apud 16' o~ YIGURE 5 ha~ a shorter helght than the 6pud 16 of FIGU~F. 2. ~ a conae~uence, the nipple 40' of FIGUR~ 5 5 e~tenda completely through the spud 16' and lnto the ope~ing 14 of the top wall 12 of the water heater.
The aecond aapect of the modlfled embodiment of FIGUR~ 5 ~as compared to FICURE 2), reside~ in the design of the lower par~ of the nonconducttve llnlng 10 32. In the embodlment of FIGURE 5, the nonconductlve llnlng 32' ia pro~lded with an e~ten~lon 82 which proJects out of the nlpple 40'. In contra~t to tbe embodlment of FIGURE 2, there 1B no r~ng 58' provlded at the lower portion of the nipple ad~acene the spud in the embodiment of FIGURE 5. Rather, ln the embodiment of FIGURE 5, the llning 32' extends out of the nlpple lower end to defl~e an e~tension 82 which proJects lnto the water heter. The e~ten~ion 82 ehus provide~ some ~hlelding ln the area of the opening 14 of ehe top wall 20 o~ the water heater. 5uch shleldlng aforded by the eYteusion 82 aerve~ ~o lengthen the conductlve pa~h from the metal deflning the top wall 12 to the di~simllar ~etal deflning the coupling member 52. A lengthenlng of the conductlve path aer~ea to reduce current flow between the diasi~ilar metal~ immersed in electrolytlc fluid wlth a re~ultlng reducelon of corro~lon~
VMrlation~ ln length of the eYtenaion 82 ~ay be uaed r~ng~nU ~om relati~ely ehort e~te~alono to relatlvely long ~YtenslonsO
Slnce the lnterconnectlon between the nipple 40 and the apud 16 at compllmentary threads 18,48 of FIGURE
2 1~ an lnterconnectlon between ~lmilar ~etal~, the corroalon problem due to electrolytic actIon whlch i~
preaent at the interconnection between ulpple 40 and ~,3~
coupling member 52 18 avolded. As a consequ~nce, there 1B no Atrlct necesslty to lnclude A ~econd or lower rlng 5~ the structure of ~IGURE 2. I~ fact~ euch ~
second rlng has been ellmlnated ln the embodiment of 5 PIGURE 5 ~s ha~ been deacrlbed above. However, the embodiment of FIGURE 2 does afford ~he advantage of ~voidlng all error in in~t~llAtlon ~ by lnstallin~ the nipple upslde down. The nlpple of FIGURE 2 can be lnatalled wlth elther one of the thre~ded ends of the 10 nlpple lnaerted into the 8pud 16. The nlpple of FICURE
2 thus lend~ ltself ~o "do-it~yourself~ applicatlonA or those ln~tall~tlo~ made by le~s experienced perso~nel.
0~ th~ other hand, the embodiment of nipple 40' of FIGURE 5 requires that the ln~tallatlo~ be made with the 15 nlpple oriented ln the posltlon ~hown ln ~IGURE 5 wlth the e~te~slon 82 pro~ecting ln~o the openlng 14.
In both embodlments of FICURES 2 ~nd 5~ the nonconductlYe llnlng 32 (32' ln FIGURE 5) 18 ret~lned in pl~ce by m~anc of a groo~e 84 whLch i8 cau~ed to be 20 rolled lnto the outer ~urfnce 44 of nlpple 40 (40' ln FIGURE 5) thui deforming somewhat the portion of the lining which le ln contact with that part of the nlpple deformed by the groo~lng operatlon. Whlle groovlng iF~
deairable for purpo~e~ of ret~ln~ng the nonconductlve 25 lining within the nipple, lt is not ab~olutely neces~sry. AB will be ~een ln ~IGURE 2, the use of a paLr of rlng~ 58, 58' aud the Jolnlng of the rings to the nonconductlve llnlng effectively ~erveA to retaln the nonconductive llnlng wlthln the nipple. The u~e of 30 the groove 84 ln the embodlment of FIGURE 2 1~, thus, not atrlctly necesaary.
In the embodiment of the lnventlon as Aho~n ln FIGUR~ 2, the nonconductive llnlng 32 1A molded or extruded ~a a F~leeve whlch 18 lnAerted lnto the nlpple 35 4~ d r~L~1L~ by m~a~ ~f Lhe 8roovl~g ~.3$7~
operatlon de~cribed ~bove in connec~ion wlth groove 84.
After groovlng, the rin8s 58~58' are put in place ~nd, thereafter, the end~ oP the sleeve are turned over i~to contact wlth the reapectlve rlngs a~ 72,76 at whlch tlme 5 a hot plate 1~ brought lnto contac~ wlth the turned ends 72, 76 produclng a hot weld sealing llnlng 32 to the rlng~ 58,58'. Make-up of the flttirLg 1B then completed a~ the nipple 40 i~ threadedly advanced lnto the ~pud 16 snd the coupllng member 52 i8 thre~dedly advanced over o the nlpple, V~rlous structural modificatlons Por lnsulatlng and llning the internal wall of the ~lpple and the nlpple end wall are pos~ible and wlll ~ow be described wlth reference to FIGURES 6-9.
In FI~URE 6, a modified for~ o~ nlpple 1~ fihown ln whlch a nonconductive lining 86 includea a turred over end portlon 88 whlch i8 trimmed or formed to be ~lush wlth the crest of threads 90. I~ additlon~ a thread form 92 i~ lmparted to the end portion 88 co as to lnaulate and ~eal the end wall 94 and prevent contact of electrolytlc fluld ~lth end wall 94 of the nlpple.
The turned over end portlon 88 preventD entry of fluld into the area of interengaglng ~hread~ 90 of the nlpple wlth the ~pud or coupllng member. Whlle the thre~d form 25 92 of the turned over end portlo~ 88 i~ de~irable, it i8 not ab~olutely necessary. The turned over end portion B8 may be used wlthout provlding a thread Porm ~hereon iP de~lred.
The lining 86 o' FIGURE 6 m~y be lnltlally 30 molded aB a cyllrLdrical ~leeve. Onc~ l~serted lnto the nlpple, the cleeve may be tur~ed over at ~he end 88 and cut or otherwi~e ~haped to deflne the thread form shown in FIGURE 6. Alternstely, the liner 86 and the end portion 88 may be ln~ert molded directly into the ~ipple 35 a~ a unltary ~lded ~tructure havlng the conflguratlo~
shown in FTCUR~ 6.
.
~ ~3~t7~
In the embodlment shown in PIGURE 7, the preferred embodiment, the nonconductl~g ll~er 96 10 dlme~sloned ao as to l~clude an e~te~ion 98. A rl~g 100 in the orm shown ln FIGURE 4 1B dlBpOBed about the 5 eYtensiOn 98 ln order ~o contact ~he end wall 102 ol the nipple. Thereafter, the ring 100 and llner 96 are Joined by means of a ~eld at 104.
I~ the embodlment sho~n ln ~IGURES 8 ~nd 9, ri~8 106 1B ultraBonlcally bo~ded to llner 108. A~
10 shown ln FIGURE 8, the llner 108 eYtends to a poiition appro~lmately flush with the end wall 110 of the nipple The rlng 106 i~ essentially coufigured as that shown ln FIGURE 4 with the additlon of pro~ectlon 112 whlch 0er~e~ ae ~ ~onic ener~v dlrector. Thu~, when the 15 rlng 106 of FIGURE 8 1~ brought lnto contact with the ~lpple ~d llner as show~ 1~ FIGURE 9, the appll~atlon of ultra~ound to the resultlng as~embly wlll cau~e the rlng 106 tD become fused to the liner 108.
Wl~hln the cpirit of thl~ lnYentlon ~hould be 20 considered other mean~ and structures for Jolnlng the nonconductlve rlng of FICURES 2,5,7,8 and 9 to the llner lncluding the use of adheAlves, ~pln weldlng or heat formirlg techr,iques and oth~r attachment techniques known to those ~kllled ln th~ ~rt.
~5 With reference to FIGURE 16, a still further e~bodiment of the inventlon wlll be de~cribed. This lnventlon contempla~es the u~e of nonconductlve coatlnga npplied to the entire lnternal wall ~urface of the nlpple, the end wall o~ the nlpple and, lf deslred, ~ome 30 or all of the e~ternal threads of the nlpple adJscent the end wall. Thus, wlth reference to FIGURE 16, the liner 114 and the end portion llb could be deflned by a nonconductlve coatlng applled to the nipple by pslntlng, electrostatlc spraying or fluldl~ed bed coatlng. Such 35 coating could ~ur~hcr extelld Lo the flrst ew thre~ds on ~3~7~
the eYter~al 0urface of ~he nlpple at 118 sd~ace~t the end wall 120. A paintlng or coatlng of the type Just de0cribed ~ould ~erve the s~me purpose as the ll~er 86 and turned o~er end portion 88 0hown ln FIGURE 6, l.e., 5 to lsolate the lnterface of the dl~imilar metal lnterco~Aectlon between the nlpple a~d coupllng member from elec~rolytlc fluld.
Wlth further reference to FIGURE 4, it haa prevlou~ly been ~oted that the preferred embodimeAt of 10 the l~ve~tlon utiLlzes a nonconductln~ rlng having a t~pered conflguration whlch lncludec a sloplng ~idewall 66. Thl~ sloplng sldewall ha~ been prevlouely de~cribed ~a generally conformlng to the thread ~hape of the nlpple wlth the reculting be~eflt that electrolytlc fluid 1~ mai~talned out of contact ~ith the interace of dls~imilar me~als~ In alterna~e embodlment~ of the i~ventlon, ~ nonconducting rlng wlth a non-tapered conflguration m~y be used. Alternate e~bodlmeAte of the rlng may lnclude conflg~ratlons in whieh portlon0 of the rlng are caus2d to be deformed a~ the ring lc caught between l~terengaglng threads during make-up of the fittlng. Such an alternate co~flgur~tlon a0 ~hown ln FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 wherein an ee~e~tlally cqu~re cut rin8 122 1~ utilized. In sectlon, as ~hown in FIGURE
13, rlng 122 ha~ parallel wall0 and deflne~ a Rener~lly rectangular 0hape. The outer radl~l wall 124, a~ shown ln FIGUR~ i0 about the ~ame helght as the crect of thread0 126. A~ a con~equence, when the ~ipple 123 of FIGURE 11 is threadedly advanced into a female member, ~he outer wall L24 ~111 be caught ln the lnterengaglng thread0 durlng make up of the flttlng~ thus provlding nddltional aealing.
A further modific~tion of the lnYention iB
~hown in FICURE 14 where~n a male-female extenslon flttlng 130 inclll~es ~ noncon~ etlve Llnln~ 132 ~nd a -7~) palr of ring~ 134, 134' at elther end thereof. It should be under~tood that rlngs 134, 134' ~re of the s~me cottfiguratio~ a~ ~hown in FIGUR~ 4. It ~hould aloo he understood th~t ln the ~mbodlment o~ FIGU~E 14, the 5 rln~ ~re uecured to the nonconductlve linlng by means of a hot weld ln the same manner as shown ln che preferred e~bod~meut of FIGURE 7.
A ~tlll further modlflcatlo~ of the invention 1~ sho~n ln FIGURE 15 wherein appro~im~tely 1 1/2 10 thread~ 136 are integrally molded wlth the llnlng 13 wlthln the nlpple 140. It should be under~tood thae ~hreads 136 and llnl~g 138 of FIGURE 15 ~re molded from pla0tic or other ~imilar materialR. The threads 136 thu~ define noltronductlng leadlng thread~ for the n~pple 15 140 a~ it i8 ln~erted into ~ female coupli~g member or ~pud. The leading thresd~ 136 snd llnlng 138 thu~
shleld the metalllc wall of nipple 140 lncludlng end wall 142 from coatact with electrolytlc fluid ln the flttln8-The applicatlon ol the lnve~tlon to lndu~tr~l plyln~ ~ystem~ 1~ shown ln FICUKE 10.
In an l~dustrlal plplng ~ystem uuch as may be used for eprlnkler ~ystem~ and the llke, it is not uncommon to u~e galvanlzed or ~inc co~ted lron ylpe for 25 the ri~er portlons of the piplng ~ystem and copper plpe for the branche~ thereof. Conuaquently, there 1 requlred an lnterface between copper and ferrous ~nterial~. When the piplng ~yste~ i~ filled with water, ~tn electrolyte is lrttroduced lnto the lrtterface with 30 re~ultlng problem~ of corro~ion, product~ of corroslon, ~tc.
In the sy~tem of FICURE lO, the galvanlzed or ferrous coated pipe i~ de~lgnated 146 and lnclude~ 1 the e~ternal ~urf~ce thereof a groove 148 for t.he 35 purpoce of recei~ln~ ~ s~lit pipe clamp 150. ~lamp 150 ~3~
I
lnclude~ a 8a~ket 152 for the purpose of seallng the eYterlor surface of plpe 146 and the adJolnlng fi~tln~ !
member, The plpe clamp lS0 and gasket 152 form no part o thls inventlon a~ they are manufactured by ~everal 5 comp~nles ~ncludlng Vlctaullc.
A nlpple 154 1~ shown ln FIGURE 10 as attAched to pipe 146 by mean0 of clamp 150. To that end, nipple 154 lncludes an eYternal groo~e 156 whlch i8 complementary to groove 14B and whlch 1~ adapted to 10 receive the clamp lS0. Nlpple 154 of ~IGURE 10 l~cludes a ll~lng 158 and rlng~ 160, 162. Rln~ 160 ia ln the configuratlon ~hown i~ FIGURE 4 and 18 Jolned to llnlng 158 by mean~ of a hot weld ln the ~anner descrlbed ln connectlon wlth the preferred embodlmen~ of FIGURE 7.
15 Rlng 162, on the other hand, 18 of a square cut conflguratiDn and has a height equal to approYimately the thickneas of ~he wall of nipple 154. Ring 162 1 ~ecured to llning 158 by means of hot weld 164.
External threaAs 165 ~re pro~ided on nipple 154 20 and are adapted to be recei~ed wlthl~ femal0 thre~ds of a nonferrous coupling member. Por eY~mple, thre~d~ 166 may be recelved wlthln a copper or brass coupllng member where lt iB de~lrou6 to uce ~uch materisl~ in an lndu~trlal piplng sy0tem.
The purpose and functlon of the nipple 154 of FIGUR~ 10 10 two-fold, a8 lndicated above. Flr~, the nipple 154 o~ FIGURE 10 lnsulates the lnterface between dltl~lmila~ metal~. Speclflcally, the lnterface bstwee~
the metal deflning nlpple 154 3~d the coupllng member 30 ~ecured to thread0 166 is in~ulsted or i~olated ~rom cont~ct with electrolytlc fluld in the plping ~y~tem.
Second, the dl~simllar metal~ of the flttlng in cont~ct wlth the electrolyte (l.e., pipe 146 and the coupling member ~ecured to thread~ 166) are eep~ra~ed by the 35 pa~agew~y or waterw~y 168 whlch is llned by a , ~2~6~
nonconductl~e lining 15B. A~ a consequence. the llning 15a plu~e~ Bome dl~tance betwe~n the dlsai~liar met~l~
ln contact with electrolyte.
In an alternate embodlment, the plpe 146 of S FIGUR~ 10 cun be fabrlcated from non~errou0 ma~eri~l such as copper and the coupllng member attached to threads 166 can be ferrous materlal.
Attentlon wlll now be dlrected to FIGURE 17 whereln there lu shown 8 Btlll further modlflc~tlon of 0 the inve~tion of thi~ appllcation. I~ FIGURE 17, there ia shown a unlon Auitable for u~e in connection wlth reHide~tlal or commercial plping ~ystem~. It ~111 be observed thst some of the eleme~es of the union of FIGURE 17 are common to elements of an insulating union or lnsul~tlng fitting whlch has been de~crlbed above and which i8 part of the prior art. Important modlflcation~
have been made ~o the prlor art l~ulating fittlng in order to chan~e the charac~erlutlc of the fitting fro~
a~ insulatlng fltting to a dielectrlc fittlng.
The flttlng oE FIGU~E 17 showu an lnterconnectlon or coupllng between a ferrou~ plplng member 170 snd a nonferrou~ plplng member 172. The f~rrous plpe 170 10 provlded wlth e~ternal thread~ 174 at one eud thereof ln order to r~celve a couplin~ uut 176 whlch hau lnternal threads complementary to thread~
11~6 .
Soldered or otherwiue secured to the nonferrou~
plpe 172 i~ a gland 178. Gland 178 lnclude~ an outwardly ~endlng fl~nge 180 which 10 sdapted to be contacted and retalned by a complementary inwardly dl~ected fla~ge 182 of coupllng nut 176.
A nonconductive llner 184 fabrlcated from plastlc or other sultable in~ulating material 1B
dispo~ed wlthln the end of nonferrous plpe 172. Liner lB4 iu provl~ed wl~h Bn outwardly directly flange 186 i7~
whlch 18 posltloned ad~cent the e~ternal ~urface o flange 180 of gland 178. An inuulatlng rin8 188 1~
carried by the ferrous plpe 170 and iB retal~ed i~ place lu a groove 190 whlch 1~ defined in the end of plpe 170.
When as~embled ~ ~hown ln ~lGU~E 17, the in~ul~tlng rlng 188 and the llner 184 cooperate to prevent electrolytlc ~luld ln the plplng ~ystem from co~tacting the lnterface between the ferrou~ materl~l of the coupliug (pipe 170 and coupllng nut 176) and the 10 nonferrous mnterl~l~ of the plplng system (plpe 172 and gland 178~. Speclflcally, llner 184 ~lth its as~oclnted flange 186 rooperatlng wlth rin8 188 prevent~ the entry of electrolytlc fluld into the area of contact of the coupllng nut 176 wlth the gland 178. Further, the 15 flange 186 of the llner 184 prevent~ dlrect contact (alon& wlth rlng la83 of the gland 178 wlth the plpe 170.
The design ob~ectlve outllned above ln connectlon with other embodlments of the inventlon have ~180 been satisfled in the coupllng of FIGU~E 17.
20 Speciflcally, contact o electrolyte ~lth the lnterface of ferrou~ and nonferrou~ materlal~ han been ellmlnated. Second, those portlon of plpe 170 ln contact with electrolytlc fluid are ~eparated from tho~e portlons of plpe 172 by a dlstance appro~lmately equal 25 of the length of llner 184. A~ a consequence, the flow of current in the electrolyte (when the piping ~y~tem i~
fllled) i~ grently reduced.
In an alternntl.Ye embodlment of the ~tructure of ~ICURE 17, lt is pos~ible to elimlnate the lnsulatlng 30 ring 188 ent:Lrely wlth the re~ult that the eYternal surace of flauKè 186 of llner 184 ~111 be brought lnto direct engagement wlth the end Aurface of pipe 170 upon take-up of the coupllng nut 176.
In ~till further ~lternatlve embodlments of the 35 structure of FICU~E 17, the liner 184 cnn be reversed 80 ~3~
~ 22 --a~ ~o exte~d lnto ~he ptpe 170~ Alter~lately, ~he liner 184 c~n e2~tend ln~o both pipee 170,172 wl~.h fl~ e 186 beln~ pro~vlded at the external ~urfac~ of the liner at the mldpolnt thereof.
Claims (30)
1. A lined fitting for interconnecting two dissimilar metallic members comprising:
a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
a third metallic member interconnecting said first and second metallic members;
said first and third members being fabricated from similar metals;
said second and third members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
said third metallic member having a passageway therethrough;
a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said third member, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said third member out of contact with the internal wall of said third member;
said third member having an end wall which contacts said second member;
second nonconductive lining adjacent said end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said second and third members and the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
a third metallic member interconnecting said first and second metallic members;
said first and third members being fabricated from similar metals;
said second and third members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
said third metallic member having a passageway therethrough;
a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said third member, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said third member out of contact with the internal wall of said third member;
said third member having an end wall which contacts said second member;
second nonconductive lining adjacent said end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said second and third members and the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
2. The invention of claim 1 in which said third member has an end wall which contacts said first member, and a third nonconductive lining adjacent said end wall contacting said first member, said first end third linings being joined.
3. The invention of claim 1 in which said first and second members are provided with internal threads and said third member is provided with external threads at each end thereof, the threads of said third member being adapted to be received within the threads of said first and second members.
4. The invention of claim 3 in which said second nonconductive lining is defined by a generally annular ring having an aperture therethrough which ring is joined to said first nonconductive lining.
5. The invention of claim 4 in which the Joining of said second nonconductive lining and said first nonconductive lining is provided by means of a hot weld.
6. The invention of claim 4 in which the joining of said second nonconductive lining and said first nonconductive lining is provided by means of ultrasonic attachment.
7. The invention of claim 3 in which said first nonconductive lining projects outwardly of said third member.
8. A lined fitting for interconnecting copper or zinc coated fluid line to a water heater having a ferrous tank with a fluid passageway extending through the top wall of such tank, said fitting comprising:
a ferrous spud secured to the top wall of such tank in communication with the passageway extending therethrough, said spud having internal threads;
a copper or zinc coated fitting member having internal threads;
a ferrous nipple member having a passageway therethrough and external threads which are complimentary to the internal threads of said spud and said copper or zinc coated fitting member;
a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said nipple, said lining having an essential cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said nipple out of contact with the internal walls of said nipple;
said nipple having an end wall which contacts said copper or zinc coated fitting member;
a second nonconductive lining adjacent said end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
whereby fluid is prohibited from contact with the interface of said nipple member and said copper or zinc coated fitting member and the internal surface of said copper or zinc coated fitting member in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of said spud in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said spud and said copper or zinc coated fitting member.
a ferrous spud secured to the top wall of such tank in communication with the passageway extending therethrough, said spud having internal threads;
a copper or zinc coated fitting member having internal threads;
a ferrous nipple member having a passageway therethrough and external threads which are complimentary to the internal threads of said spud and said copper or zinc coated fitting member;
a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said nipple, said lining having an essential cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said nipple out of contact with the internal walls of said nipple;
said nipple having an end wall which contacts said copper or zinc coated fitting member;
a second nonconductive lining adjacent said end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
whereby fluid is prohibited from contact with the interface of said nipple member and said copper or zinc coated fitting member and the internal surface of said copper or zinc coated fitting member in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of said spud in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said spud and said copper or zinc coated fitting member.
9. The invention of claim 8 in which said second nonconductive lining is defined by a generally annular ring having a passageway therethrough, said ring being joined to said first conductive lining.
10. The invention of claim 9 in which said ring and said first conductive lining are joined by means of a hot weld.
11. The invention of claim 9 in which said ring and said first conductive lining are joined by means of ultrasonic attachment.
12. The invention of claim 9 in which said ring and said first conductive lining are joined by means of an adhesive.
13. The invention of claim 9 in which said ring and said first conductive lining are joined by means of spin welding.
14. The invention of claim 8 in which said first nonconductive lining extends out of said nipple at the end of said nipple adjacent said spud a distance sufficient to project into the water tank, thereby affording shielding of the tank wall area.
15. A lined nipple having external threads for interconnecting first and second dissimilar fluid carrying members having internal threads, said nipple comprising:
a metal body having a passageway therethrough and external threads defined at either end thereof;
a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said nipple, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said nipple out of contact with the internal metal wall of said nipple;
an end wall at one end of said nipple which, when said nipple is interconnected to said first fluid carrying member fabricated from a dissimilar metal as said nipple, will make contact with said dissimilar metal;
a second nonconductive lining adjacent said end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
whereby, fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said nipple and said first fluid carrying member and the internal surface of said first fluid carrying member in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of said second fluid carrying member connected to the opposite end of said nipple by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow through said fluid passageway.
a metal body having a passageway therethrough and external threads defined at either end thereof;
a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said nipple, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said nipple out of contact with the internal metal wall of said nipple;
an end wall at one end of said nipple which, when said nipple is interconnected to said first fluid carrying member fabricated from a dissimilar metal as said nipple, will make contact with said dissimilar metal;
a second nonconductive lining adjacent said end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
whereby, fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said nipple and said first fluid carrying member and the internal surface of said first fluid carrying member in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of said second fluid carrying member connected to the opposite end of said nipple by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow through said fluid passageway.
16. The invention of claim 15 in which said first and second nonconductive linings are molded as an integral lining.
17. The invention of claim 15 in which said second lining is defined by a generally annular ring having an aperture therethrough which is joined to said first lining.
18. The invention of claim 17 in which said ring and said first lining are joined by means of a hot weld.
19. The invention of claim 17 in which said ring and said lining are joined by means of ultrasonic attachment.
20. The invention of claim 17 in which said ring and said lining are joined by means of an adhesive.
21. The invention of claim 17 in which said ring and said lining are joined by means of spin welding.
22. The invention of claim 15 in which said first and second linings are defined by a nonconductive coating which is applied to the internal wall of said nipple and the end wall thereof.
23. The invention of claim 22 in which said coating further extends to the surface of the external threads of said nipple adjacent said end wall.
24. A joint interconnecting two dissimlar metallic metals of a piping system, said joint comprising:
a. a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
b. a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
c. said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
d. a third metallic member interconnecting said first and second metallic members;
e. said third metallic member having a passageway therethrough;
f. a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said third member, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said fluid member out of contact with the internal wall of said third member;
g. said third member having a first end wall and a second end wall;
h. a second nonconductive lining adjacent said first end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
i. a third nonconductive lining adjacent said second end wall, said first and third linings being joined;
j. whereby the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
a. a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
b. a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
c. said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
d. a third metallic member interconnecting said first and second metallic members;
e. said third metallic member having a passageway therethrough;
f. a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said third member, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said fluid member out of contact with the internal wall of said third member;
g. said third member having a first end wall and a second end wall;
h. a second nonconductive lining adjacent said first end wall, said first and second linings being joined;
i. a third nonconductive lining adjacent said second end wall, said first and third linings being joined;
j. whereby the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
25. A joint interconnecting two dissimilar metallic metals of a piping system, said joint comprising:
a. a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
b. a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
c. said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
d. a third metallic member interconnecting said first and second metallic members;
e. said third metallic member having passageway therethrough;
f. said third metallic member being fabricated from a metal that is similar to the metal of said first metallic member but dissimilar from the metal of said second metallic member;
g. a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said third member, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said fluid member out of contact with the internal wall of said third member;
h. said third member having a first end wall;
i. a second nonconductive lining adjacent said first end wall, said first and second lining being joined; and, j. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said second and third members and the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
a. a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
b. a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
c. said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
d. a third metallic member interconnecting said first and second metallic members;
e. said third metallic member having passageway therethrough;
f. said third metallic member being fabricated from a metal that is similar to the metal of said first metallic member but dissimilar from the metal of said second metallic member;
g. a first nonconductive lining in said passageway of said third member, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through said fluid member out of contact with the internal wall of said third member;
h. said third member having a first end wall;
i. a second nonconductive lining adjacent said first end wall, said first and second lining being joined; and, j. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said second and third members and the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
26. The invention of claim 25 in which said second member is provided with internal threads, the third member is provided with external threads, the threads of said third member being received within the threads of said second member.
27. The invention of claim 25 in which said third member is interconnected to said first member by means of a split ring type clamp.
28. A joint interconnecting two dissimilar metallic materials of a piping system, said joint comprising:
a. a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
b. a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
c. said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
d. said first and second members being retained together by means of a coupling nut;
e. a first nonconductive lining in the passageway of either one of said first or second members, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through either one of said first and second members members out of contact with the internal wall thereof;
f. said first and second members having adjacent end walls;
g. a second nonconductive lining between said end walls of said first and second members, said first and second linings being joined; and, h. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said first and second members and the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
a. a first metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
b. a second metallic member having a fluid passageway therethrough;
c. said first and second members being fabricated from dissimilar metals;
d. said first and second members being retained together by means of a coupling nut;
e. a first nonconductive lining in the passageway of either one of said first or second members, said lining having an essentially cylindrical internal wall which defines a fluid passageway for transmitting fluid through either one of said first and second members members out of contact with the internal wall thereof;
f. said first and second members having adjacent end walls;
g. a second nonconductive lining between said end walls of said first and second members, said first and second linings being joined; and, h. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said first and second members and the internal surface of said first member in contact with fluid is essentially separated from the internal surface of said second member in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said first and second members.
29. A method of reducing current flow in the fluid passageway of a nipple which provides an interconnection between a copper or zinc coated fluid piping and 8 ferrous spud extending from the top wall of a water heater, said method comprising thy steps of:
a. providing a ferrous nipple having a first end, an end wall, a passageway therethrough and external threads, said nipple having a desired length;
b. providing an internal nonconductive lining in said nipple, said lining defining a passageway for fluid through said nipple in a manner such that fluid flow does not make contact with the internal essentially cylindrical walls of said nipple;
c. providing a nonconductive lining at said end wall, said first end of said nipple being adapted to be received within a copper or zinc coated fitting;
d. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said copper or zinc plated fitting and said nipple and the internal surface of said copper or zinc coated fitting in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of said spud in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said spud and said copper or zinc coated fitting.
a. providing a ferrous nipple having a first end, an end wall, a passageway therethrough and external threads, said nipple having a desired length;
b. providing an internal nonconductive lining in said nipple, said lining defining a passageway for fluid through said nipple in a manner such that fluid flow does not make contact with the internal essentially cylindrical walls of said nipple;
c. providing a nonconductive lining at said end wall, said first end of said nipple being adapted to be received within a copper or zinc coated fitting;
d. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said copper or zinc plated fitting and said nipple and the internal surface of said copper or zinc coated fitting in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of said spud in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said spud and said copper or zinc coated fitting.
30. A method of reducing current flow in the fluid passageway between two dissimilar metals of a piping system, said method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a metallic member having a first end, a second end, a first end wall, a second end wall and a passageway therethrough, said member having a desired length;
b. providing an internal, nonconductive lining in said member, said lining defining a passageway for fluid through said member in a manner such that fluid flow does not make contact the internal essentially cylindrical walls of said member;
c. providing a nonconductive lining at said first end wall;
d. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said member and one of the metals of the piping system and the internal surface of one of the piping system components in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of the other of said piping system components in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said components.
a. providing a metallic member having a first end, a second end, a first end wall, a second end wall and a passageway therethrough, said member having a desired length;
b. providing an internal, nonconductive lining in said member, said lining defining a passageway for fluid through said member in a manner such that fluid flow does not make contact the internal essentially cylindrical walls of said member;
c. providing a nonconductive lining at said first end wall;
d. whereby fluid is essentially prohibited from contact with the interface of said member and one of the metals of the piping system and the internal surface of one of the piping system components in contact with fluid is separated from the internal surface of the other of said piping system components in contact with fluid by a distance sufficient to reduce current flow between said components.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US57728684A | 1984-02-06 | 1984-02-06 | |
| US577,286 | 1984-02-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1236779A true CA1236779A (en) | 1988-05-17 |
Family
ID=24308066
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000473679A Expired CA1236779A (en) | 1984-02-06 | 1985-02-06 | Dielectric fitting and method |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1236779A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11274779B2 (en) | 2019-02-21 | 2022-03-15 | Legend Valve & Fitting, Inc. | Dielectric fitting |
-
1985
- 1985-02-06 CA CA000473679A patent/CA1236779A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11274779B2 (en) | 2019-02-21 | 2022-03-15 | Legend Valve & Fitting, Inc. | Dielectric fitting |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| RU2368838C2 (en) | Interconnect device, first of all for connection with force-closure by at least one part from multilayer fibrous material with other part | |
| RU2187034C2 (en) | Connector for tubes (versions) and method for making it (versions) | |
| EP0520234B1 (en) | Tank and tank connector construction therefore | |
| EP0865109B1 (en) | Seal assembly for overmolded metal structure | |
| US20070057504A1 (en) | Connection between a pipe and a wall | |
| JP2014161218A (en) | Feedthrough device resistant to failure | |
| CA1236779A (en) | Dielectric fitting and method | |
| JPH09324893A (en) | Threaded joint for internal covered pipe | |
| EP0509568A2 (en) | Tubular coupling with an incorporated electrically isolated flange for metal pipelines and the like | |
| CA1313385C (en) | Tube connector | |
| US5988692A (en) | Metal to plastic pipe transition fitting | |
| EP1388703A1 (en) | Fitting for composite pipe | |
| US5767444A (en) | Proximity switch with ceramic front surface and method for its manufacture | |
| EP1939508B1 (en) | Coupling | |
| WO2004015317A9 (en) | Beveled insert for facilitating coupling pipes | |
| US5484172A (en) | Pipe connection | |
| ZA200603874B (en) | Connection between a pipe and a wall | |
| CN113464753A (en) | Pipeline port hot melting connecting structure | |
| EP1627405B1 (en) | Lamp | |
| CN213333097U (en) | Pipeline and pipeline system | |
| CN215571300U (en) | Electric heating pipe assembly, inner container and electric water heater | |
| CN221097798U (en) | Steel-plastic composite pipe connection sealing structure | |
| EP1925915B1 (en) | Submersible device sealing system and method | |
| CN217815525U (en) | Composite pipe sealing structure | |
| CN218829049U (en) | Joint for connecting cable and steel pipe |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |