Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
  • F16L37/12—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members using hooks, pawls, or other movable or insertable locking members
  • F16L37/14—Joints secured by inserting between mating surfaces an element, e.g. a piece of wire, a pin, a chain
  • F16L37/142—Joints secured by inserting between mating surfaces an element, e.g. a piece of wire, a pin, a chain where the securing element is inserted tangentially
  • F16L37/144—Joints secured by inserting between mating surfaces an element, e.g. a piece of wire, a pin, a chain where the securing element is inserted tangentially the securing element being U-shaped
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L27/00—Adjustable joints; Joints allowing movement
  • F16L27/12—Adjustable joints; Joints allowing movement allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement
  • F16L27/125—Adjustable joints; Joints allowing movement allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement having longitudinal and rotary movement

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a connector assembly tor providing a swivelable connection, and more particularly, to a connector assembly which can be used in association with a variety of conduit structures which are susceptible to thermal expansion and contraction.
• a connector assembly tor providing a swivelable connection
• a connector assembly which can be used in association with a variety of conduit structures which are susceptible to thermal expansion and contraction.
• connector assemblies which are currently commercially available do not allow for the expansion and contraction of a male conduit within a female conduit
• the male conduit is designed to tit tightly within the temale housing along both the length and width dimensions to effectuate a fluid tight seal, or by flanges Under such "tight" arrangements, in the event that the connector assembly is subjected to conditions wherein either the male conduit or female housing expand or contract to any significant degree, there simply is no room to accommodate for any changes in the dimensions of either component As a result, torces are imposed upon the sealing assembly and the retainer assembly, thus, jeopardizing the integrity of the seal
• connector assemblies which include a male conduit and a female housing which hosts the male conduit.
• the male conduit is provided with either a preformed or add ⁇ on type annular bead which extends radially outwardly from the outer diameter of the conduit.
• the annular bead includes a substantially transversely disposed blocking wall along one end which assists in maintaining a connection between the male conduit and the female housing.
• an inwardly extending retainer member typically disposed into the inner diameter of the housing.
• the retainer member can have a variety of forms, including but not limited to a C-shaped snap ring embodiment which seats against an abutting wall of the female, and against an abutting wall provided on the male.
• an external retainer member is utilized to maintain a connection between the male conduit and the female housing
• the external retainer is in the form of a hair pin retainer is utilized to operate against the blocking wall of the annular bead provided on the male conduit
• the hair pin retainer includes a pair ot spaced apart legs which are inserted through apertures provided in the enlarged diameter portion of the female housing after the male conduit has been inserted such that the radially outwardly extending annular bead surpasses the apertures
• the male conduit has sufficient space within the inner diameter of the temale housing to expand and contract without jeopardizing either the seal assembly or the retention between the male conduit and female housing.
• Various types of annular bead structures including preformed bead, snap-on rings, beads which are adhered or otherwise attached to the outer diameter of the tubular conduit after formation, and beads which are formed by expanding a portion ot the tubular conduit are considered to be useful in association with the retainer members of the present invention to accomplish a connection between the male conduit and female housing.
• Virtually any structure which includes a substantially transversely disposed blocking wall can be used as annular bead in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
• Figure 1 is a side elevational view, assembled and partially in cross-section of a connector assembly according to the teachings of the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a blown apart perspective assembly view of a second connector assembly embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention: and Figure 3 is a side elevation view, assembled and partially in cross-section of the connector assembly of Figure 2.
• the connector assembly 10 is generally comprised of a tubular conduit 12 adapted to convey fluid, a housing 14. means 16 for internally sealing the connector assembly, bushing 17, and a retainer element 18.
• the conduit is provided with an annular bead 20 which is either formed at the time of manufacturing the conduit, formed into the conduit sometime after initial formation or is in the form of a snap-on component as will be discussed below. Regardless of the annular bead configuration, the annular bead 20 includes a blocking wall 32 A which assists in precluding the undesired separation of the male conduit 12 from the female housing 14 upon connection of the two components.
• the housing 14 typically includes a first enlarged diameter portion 46 within which the terminal end 24 of the conduit is inserted, a second reduced diameter portion 56 and a transition portion 48 extending between the second diameter portion and a third diameter portion.
• an annular recess 58 is provided for hosting the retainer element 18.
• the retainer element 18 is in the form of a radially outwardh expandable ring which has a relatively high tensile strength spring steel.
• the means 16 for internally sealing the connector assembly 10 can be in a variety of forms, including but not limited to elasto eric O-rings as shown at reference numeral 78 or a U-cup seal as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. While it is illustrated that the internal sealing is accomplished by disposing an O-ring over the terminal end 24 of the conduit 12 such that the O-ring extends between the outer diameter 38 of the conduit and the inner diameter 56. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the sealing means may be partially embedded in the inner diameter 56 of the housing or the outer diameter 38 of the conduit to accomplish a "dynamic" seal as is known in the art
• connector assembly 10 is specifically directed to compensating for the thermal expansion and contraction often encountered by fluid conveying systems With this in mind, assembly of the embodiment illustrated with reference to Figure
• the conduit 12 and housing 14 are brought together such that the terminal end 24 ot the conduit 12 is disposed within the inner diameter 55 Additionally, the annular bead 20 is positioned within the inner diameter 56 such that the blocking wall 32A has been inserted beyond the annular recess 58 With the conduit, bushing, and sealing means in place within the inner diameter of the housing, the retainer element 18 is positioned over the outer diameter 38 ot the conduit, or pre-assembled in position behind 32A.
• the length of the tubular conduit 12 from the blocking wall 32 A ot the annular bead 20 to the terminal end 24 ot the conduit 12 (designated as L,) is longer than the length of the female inside diameter 56 from the inwardly extending retainer member 18 to the transition portion 48 if you consider the width of bushing 17 and tube bead 20 (designated as L,)
• This difference in length allows the conduit to expand linearly in response to being subjected to conditions involving elevated temperatures ( I e heated fluids) without compromising the integrity ot the seal or retention of the male conduit within the female housing
• the conduit 12 is allowed to contract along the central longitudinal axis 28 in response to reduced temperatures d e cold fluids)
• the annular space designated as reference numeral 34. provided between the outer diameter 38 of the conduit and the inner diameter 56
• the connector assembly 1 10 is again generally comprised of a tubular conduit 1 12 adapted to convey fluid, a housing 114. means 1 16 for internally sealing the connector assembly , and a retainer element 1 18
• the conduit 112 is provided with an outwardly projecting annular bead 120 in the form of a snap ring 122 which has an inverted U-shape in cross-section displaced from the connecting terminal end 124 of the conduit 1 12.
• the self closing ring 122 includes an outer surface 126. an inner surface 130, and two blocking walls 132A and 132B disposed substantially transversely to the central axis 128 (shown in Figure 3).
• the self closing ring 122 is formed of a material, such as strip steel, which imparts springy characteristics and allows the ring to be selectively deformed.
• the blocking walls 132 A and 132B become embedded within the material of the tubular conduit by disposing them along preformed annular grooves (not shown) or providing the self closing ring with sufficient suit force to cause displacement of the conduit material As ends 134 A and 134B of the snap ring come into contact, this so-called unit force is alleviated.
• a prying tool (not shown) is inserted between the ends 134 A and 134B and is rotated such that the ends are forced apart sufficiently to allow the inside diameter 136 of the ring to fit over the outside diameter 138 of the conduit. The ring is then slid over the conduit and positioned for attachment Ideally, even with the ends 134A and 134B in contact, a slight gap is provided along the outer surface for receiving a prying tool.
• the outer diameter 138 of the conduit within any annular grooves will be approximately equal to the inner diameter of the inner surface ot the snap ring 122 when the ⁇ i.g :s attached over the conduit thus allowing the ends of the ring to torn, depressions in 138
• a self closing ring having an inverted U-shape in cross-section is preferred, it should be understood to those skilled in the art that other snap ring embodiments such as flat snap rings can be employed
• the housing 1 14 generally includes at least three integralh connected portions l.amel ⁇ . an enlarged diameter portion 146. a reduced diameter portion 150 and third diameter portion 148
• the housing 1 14 is provided with a plurality ot jpertures or openings 152 which are typically equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the enlarged diameter portion 146
• the openings 152 are disposed such that they are capable ol receiving and positioning retainer 1 18 substantially transversely to axis 28 ot the conduit
• the retainer 1 18 is made from a resilient material, such as metal or plastic, and i comprised tit a pair of generally parallel elongated legs 160 joined at one end by a web 162.
• Each retainei leg preferably has a width substantially equal to the width ot the opening so that forces exerted on the retainer 1 18 due to pull apart forces on the connector assembly 1 10 are transferred on to the retainer element by the blocking wall 132 A ot the self closing ring
• Located along the terminal ends 164 of each retainer leg are outwardly projecting flanges 166 which snap under the edges 170 of the openings 152 upon being fully inserted therethrough to assist in retaining the connection between the tubular conduit 1 12 within the housing 1 14
• the outwardly projecting flanges 166 are tapered upwardly to include sloping lead wa s 168 which ride against the inner diameter 154 ot tht housing s enlarged diameter nortioi.
• a portion 172 of the retainer 1 18 extends into the bore portion 174 of the housing to assist in precluding the undesired separation ot the conduit from the housing
• the means 1 16 for internally sealing the connector assembly 1 10 are generally either inserted over the connecting end 124 of the conduit 112 or packed within the bore portion 174 of the housing prior to inserting the conduit therein Under the embodiment illustrated in
• the means 1 16 for internally sealing the connector assembly include a washer
• the U-cup seal 178 as best illustrated in Figure 3 typically includes a pair ot spaced apart legs 180A and 180B extending substantially transversely from an annular web 182
• the legs 180 A and 180B are spaced apart such that the outer leg 180 A seats against the inside diameter 156 and the inner leg 180B seats against the outside diameter 138 of the conduit 1 12
• the legs 180A and 180B preterablv are disposed in the direction ot the reduced diameter portion 150 ot the housing While the U-cup seal is preferred, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that other sealing means such as the O- ⁇ ng seals as utilized in the embodiment of Figure 1 can also be employed
• the length of the tubular conduit 1 12 from the blocking wall 132A ot the annular bead 120 to the terminal end 124 ot the conduit 1 12 (designated as L,) is shorter than the length ot the female housing 1 14 from the inwardly extending retainer member 1 18 to the end 186 of the diameter portion 158 within which the terminal end 124 of the conduit 112 is disposed
• This difference in length allows the conduit to expand linearly in response to being subjected to conditions involving elevated temperatures (I e heated fluids) without compromising the integrity of the seal or retention of the male conduit within the housing
• the conduit 1 12 is allowed to contract along the central longitudinal axis 128 in response to reduced temperatures (i e cold fluids)
• reduced temperatures i e cold fluids
• the connector assembly embodiments illustrated herein provide tor the thermal expansion and contraction of the male conduit, and to a lesser extent the female housing, without jeopardizing the integrity of the assembly's seal While the above detailed description describes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and alteration without deviating from the scope and fair meaning ot the subjoined claims

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=22243456

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1994
  • 1994-12-29 AU AU17251/95A patent/AU1725195A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-12-29 WO PCT/US1994/014984 patent/WO1996021118A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-12-29 EP EP95909210A patent/EP0800630A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events