GB2157384A - Universal joint - Google Patents
Universal joint Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2157384A GB2157384A GB08409463A GB8409463A GB2157384A GB 2157384 A GB2157384 A GB 2157384A GB 08409463 A GB08409463 A GB 08409463A GB 8409463 A GB8409463 A GB 8409463A GB 2157384 A GB2157384 A GB 2157384A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- universal joint
- shaped connector
- spherically shaped
- cylindrical
- connector portion
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
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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
- F16L27/00—Adjustable joints, Joints allowing movement
- F16L27/02—Universal joints, i.e. with mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Joints Allowing Movement (AREA)
Abstract
A universal joint for a fluid conduit has tubular connectors (21, 22) with cylindrical ends (23) to which the ends (25) of a bellows (24) are sealingly secured, and the connectors have interfitting spherical portions (26, 27) between which end loads are transmitted by a sleeve (28), which in accordance with the invention consists of a cylindrical member (29) and two ring members (30, 31) fitting closely within the cylindrical member and onto the spherical connector portions, and pairs of diametrically opposed pivots (36) between the cylindrical member and the respective spherical connector portions. The pivots (36) are secured to the respective spherical connector portions (26, 27) by location and welding of a spigot (41) in a hole (42) and by welding round a hole (43) in each pivot member. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Universal joint
This invention relates to a universal joint for a fluid conduit and particularly to a bellows sealed universal joint capable of angulating through 360', such as is used in a pipe or ducting carrying a fluid, particularly air, for example ducted hot air in an aircraft, to cater for thermal expansion, installation tolerances and vibration.
When an internal pressure is applied to the bellows an end load is produced which must be restrained to prevent stretching of the bellows and damage to adjacent structures.
Therefore, it is known to sealingly secure cylindrical ends of the bellows in respective tubular connectors adapted to be sealingly secured to two adjacent parts of the conduit, and to provide externally of the tubular connectors means for transmitting end load between the connectors whilst allowing the connectors to angulate through 360 .
In one known form of universal joint of this type, which is widely used in aircraft, the external load transmitting means comprises a ring with two pairs of diametrically opposed pins at right angles to each other, one pair of pins serving as pivotal connections with one tubular connector and the outer pair of pins serving as pivotal connections with the other tubular connector, and the adjacent ends of the tubular connectors are profiled to afford sufficient clearance between them to permit angulation through 360 . The disadvantage of this form of universal joint is that the profiled annular gap between the tubular connectors allows ingress of dust and debris which may restrict the freedom of the bellows, and, in the event of leaking of the bellows, allows egress of fluid rapidly from the joint.
Therefore, in another known form of universal joint of the bellows sealed type, which has recently been adopted in aircraft and is described in U.K. Patent Application 2,029,537A, the tubular connectors are formed with spherically shaped portions slidingly interfitted one within the other outside the bellows to form a "knuckle joint" capable of angulating through 360 , and the external load transmitting means comprises a sleeve extending beyond both interfitted portions and provided with bearing means between end portions of the sleeve and the respective connectors, the bearing means comprising, for each connector, diametrically oppositely disposed pivotable connections, with the pivotable connections of one of the connectors angularly displaced by 90 from such connections on the other connector.The sleeve and the interfitted spherically shaped portions of the connectors serve to prevent ingress of dust and debris to the bellows, and close interfitting of the spherically-shaped portions of the connectors greatly restricts egress of fluid from the joint in the event of leaking of the bellows. In one embodiment the pivotable connections are formed by interengaging curved flanges on brackets secured respectively on the sleeve and on the respective connectors, and two pairs of diametrically opposed inwardly directed pins at right-angles to each other are secured to the sleeve and extend, with clearance, into apertures in the interfitted portions of the connectors to assist angulation. The disadvantage of this form of universal joint is that it has a large number of parts which add considerably to its weight and cost, including complications in assembling it.
In order to overcome the above disadvantages it has been proposed (see U.K. Patent
Application 2 107 81 6A) to provide a universal joint for a fluid conduit comprising a pair of tubular connectors with cylindrical end portions adapted to be sealingly secured to two adjacent parts of the conduit, a bellows with respective cylindrical ends sealingly secured within the cylindrical end portions of the tubular connectors, which are also formed with spherically shaped portions fitting one within the other outside the bellows, a spherically shaped load transmitting sleeve, and two pairs of diametrically opposed pivots at right angles to each other, with one pair of pivots connecting the sleeve and the outer spherically shaped connector portion, and with the other pair of pivots connecting the sleeve and the inner spherically shaped connector portion.
The load transmitting sleeve may be a close sliding fit within the inner spherically shaped connector portion or intermediate the spherically shaped connector portions or on the outer spherically shaped connector portion, but even when the load transmitting sleeve is disposed on the outer spherically shaped connector portion and when special forming techniques have been adopted difficulty has been experienced in forming the load transmitting sleeve to close enough tolerance to ensure that it will both transmit the loads and articulate freely with respect to the outer spherically shaped connector portion.
According to the present invention, therefore, a universal joint for a fluid conduit comprises a pair of tubular connectors with cylindrical end portions adapted to be sealingly secured to two adjacent parts of the conduit, a bellows with respective cylindrical ends sealingly secured within the cylindrical end portions of the tubular connectors, which are also formed with spherically shaped portions fitting one within the other outside the bellows, a load transmitting sleeve consisting of a cylindrical member and two ring members each fitting closely within the cylindrical member and closely on to parts of the interfitting spherically shaped connector portions, the ring members being secured to the cylin drical member after assembly on the interfitting spherically shaped connector portions, and two pairs of diametrically opposed pivots at right angles to each other, with one pair of pivots connecting the cylindrical sleeve member and the other spherically shaped connector portion, and with the other pair of pivots connecting the cylindrical sleeve member and the inner spherically shaped connector portion through apertures in the outer spherically shaped connector portion.
Both ring members may fit on to the outer spherically shaped connector portion, in which case the apertures in the latter (for the pivots connecting the cylindrical sleeve member and the inner spherically shaped connector portion) will be axially extending slots. Preferably, however, the ring members fit respectively one on to each of the spherically shaped connector portions with an axial gap between the ring member fitting the inner spherically shaped connector portion and the adjacent edge of the outer spherically shaped connector portion, which edge has a pair of diametrically opposed notches forming the apertures for the pivots connecting the cylindrical sleeve member and the inner spherically shaped connector portion.
The ring members may be formed with cylindrical external surfaces corresponding in diameter to the inside of the cylindrical sleeve member, and with part-spherical internal surfaces complementary to the respective partspherical external surfaces of the interfitting spherically shaped connector portions on to which the ring members fit; or internal surfaces of the ring members may be frustoconical and tangential to the respective part-spherical surfaces on to which they fit.The internal surfaces of the ring members fitting on to the spherically shaped connector portions preferably have a lesser axial extent than their cylindrical external surfaces, thus forming an axially extending flange portion of each ring member, preferably having or ending with a thickness equal to that of the cylindrical sleeve member, the adjacent edges of the axial flange of each ring member and of the respective adjacent end of the cylindrical sleeve member being welded together.
Alternatively, the ring members may be formed from short lengths of thin tube pressed or spun to form profiled sections each with an outer end portion fitting closely within the clyindrical sleeve member and an inner end portion fitting closely on to (e.g., tangentially) a part-spherical external surface of one of the interfitting spherically-shaped connector portions, the edge of the outer end portion of each profiled ring member being welded to the respective end of the cylindrical sleeve member.
Again, the ring members may simply be formed from lengths of wire (or rod) each bent into a circle and welded inside the cylindrical sleeve member, with a close fit to the respective interfitting spherically-shaped connector portions.
The pivots are preferably separate members secured to the respective spherically shaped connector portions and rotatable in holes in the cylindrical sleeve member, the pivot members preferably each having a spigot for location in a hole in the respective spherically shaped connector portion and at least one aperture around the edge of which welding can be effected to secure the pivot member.
However, with smaller diameter pivot members for the inner connector portion of smaller sizes of universal joint, the pivot member preferably comprises two parts, one being an inner part having a flange fitting against the inside of the inner connector portion and a spigot extending through a hole in the inner connector portion, and the other being an outer part having a body fitting against the outside of the inner connector portion and a bore fitting round the portion of the spigot of the inner part projecting from the hole in the inner connector portion.
Three embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an end elevation of a universal joint for a flouid conduit and in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the universal joint of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan or underneath view of the universal joint of Figs. 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, Figs. 1 to 3 being actual size and Fig. 4 being twice actual size;
Figure 5 corresponds to Fig. 4 but shows maximum angulation of the joint in one direction;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 3 and to the same scale as
Figs. 4 and 5;
Figure 7 is an end elevation of another universal joint in accordance with the invention;
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the universal joint of Fig. 7; ;
Figure 9 is a plan or underneath view of the universal joint of Figs. 7 and 8;
Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line X-X of Fig. 8, Figs. 7 to 9 being actual size and Fig. 10 being four times actual size;
Figure 11 corresponds to Fig. 10 but shows maximum angulation of the joint in one direction;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary section on the line Xll-Xll of Fig. 9 and to the same scale as
Figs. 10 and 11;
Figure 13 corresponds to Fig. 12 but shows some of the parts at an intermediate assembly stage; and
Figure 14 corresponds to Fig. 10 but relates to a further embodiment of the invention.
In Figs. 1 to 6, a universal joint 20 for a fluid conduit comprises a pair of tubular connectors 21, 22 with cylindrical end portions 23 adapted to be sealingly secured to two adjacent parts of the conduit (not shown), a bellows 24 with respective cylindrical ends 25 sealingly secured, by welding, within the cylindrical end portions 23 of the tubular connectors 21, 22, which are also formed with spherically shaped portions 26, 27 fitting one within the other outside the bellows 24, a load transmitting sleeve 28 consisting of a cylindrical member 29 and two ring members 30, 31, each having external surfaces 32 fitting closely within the cylindrical member and internal surfaces 33, 34 fitting closely onto respective parts of the interfitting, spherically shaped connector portions 26, 27, the ring members being secured to the cylindrical member after assembly on the interfitting spherically shaped connector portions, and two pairs of diametrically opposed pivots 35, 36 at right angles to each other, with one pair of pivots (35) connecting the cylindrical sleeve member 29 and the outer spherically shaped connector portion 26, and with the other pair of pivots (36) connecting the cylindrical sleeve member, and the inner spherically shaped connector portion 27 through notches 37 in the outer spherically shaped connector portion.
While the external surfaces 32 of the ring members 30, 31 are conveniently cylindrical and correspond in diameter to the inside of the cylindrical sleeve member 29, the internal surfaces 33, 34 are conveniently frustoconical and tangential to the respective part-spherical surfaces on to which they fit. The internal surfaces 33, 34 also have a lesser axial extent than their cylindrical external surfaces 32, thus forming an axially extending flange portion 38 of each ring member, which flange portion has a thickness equal to that of the cylindrical sleeve member 29, the adjacent edges of the flange of each ring member and of the respective adjacent end of the cylindrical sleeve member being welded together, as indicated at 39 in Figs. 4 to 6, though this welding may be sacrificial welding using the metal of the two adjacent parts.
The pivots 35, 36 are separate members secured to the respective spherically shaped outer portions 26, 27 and rotatable in holes 40 in the cylindrical sleeve member 29, and the pivot members each have a spigot 41 for location in a hole 42 in the respective spherically shaped connector portion and a hole 43 around the edge of which welding can be effected to secure the pivot member. The spigots 41 of the pivots 36 can project inwardly from the inner spherically shaped connector portion 27, even after welding-which may be sacrificial welding, but the spigots 41 of the pivots 35 are finished flush (as by sacrificial welding) with the inside of the outer spherically shaped connector portion 26 so as not to impede relative rotation of the connectors.The pivots 36 each have a cut-away 44 to co-operate with the respective notch 37 in the outer spherically shaped connector portion 26 to allow angulation about the pivots 35 of the outer spherically shaped connector portion, up to the maximum shown in Fig. 5, and the edge 45 of each cut-away is also welded to the inner spherically shaped connector portion 27.
The universal joint 50 shown in Figs. 7 to
13 is basically similar to the universal joint 20 of Figs. 1 to 6 except that-mainly due to its appreciably smaller size-it differs in three respects.
Firstly, whereas in the universal joint 20 the bellows 24 has separate cylindrical ends 25 for sealingly securing within the cylindrical end portions 23 of the tubular connectors 21, 22, in the universal joints 50 the bellows 24 has integral cylindrical ends 25, and the tubular connectors 21, 22 have transition portions 51 sharply inclined to their axes between the cylindrical end portions 23 and the respective spherically shaped portions 26, 27.
Secondly, the ring members 30, 31 are formed from short lengths of thin tube spun to form profiled sections, each with an outer end portion 52 fitting closely within the cylindrical sleeve member 29 and an inner end portion 53 or 54 fitting closely on to (e.g.
tangentially) one of the spherically-shaped connector portions 26, 27, the edge of the outer end portion 52 of each profiled ring member 30 or 31 being welded to the respective end of the cylindrical sleeve member 29.
Thirdly, both pairs of pivots 35, 36 of the universal joints 50 are different in form and manner of securing, particularly the pivots 36, which, as shown in Fig. 10, each comprise two parts, one being an inner part 55 having a flange 56 fitting against the inside of the inner connector portion 27 and a spigot 57 extending through the hole 42 in the inner connector portion, and the other being an outer part 58 having a body fitting against the outside of the inner connector portion and a bore 59 fitting round andjwelded to the portion of the spigot 57 if the inner part 55 projecting from the hole 42 in the inner connector portion. The outer part 58 has a cut-away 44 to co-operate with the respective notch 37 in the outer spherically shaped connector portion 26 to allow angulation about the pivots 35, each of which has its spigot 41 initially hollowed out and protruding from the hole 42 in the outer spherically shaped connector portion 26, as shown in Fig. 13 so as to be readily adapted to sacrificial welding at the inside only of the connector portion 26 to give a flush finish, as shown in Fig. 12.
In the embodiment of Fig. 14 the ring members 30, 31 are simply formed from lengths of wire each bent into a circle and welded inside the cylindrical sleeve member 29, with a close fit to the respective interfitting spherically-shaped connector portions 26, 27. Otherwise, the details are the same as in the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 13.
Claims (15)
1. A universal joint for a fluid conduit comprising a pair of tubular connectors with cylindrical end portions adapted to be sealingly secured to two adjacent parts of the conduit, a bellows with respective cylindrical ends sealingly secured within the cylindrical end portions of the tubular connectors, which are also formed with spherically shaped portions fitting one within the other outside the bellows, a load transmitting sleeve consisting of a cylindrical member and two ring members each fitting closely within the cylindrical member and closely on to parts of the inter- fitting, spherically shaped connector portions, the ring members being secured to the cylindrical member after assembly on the interfitting spherically shaped connector portions, and two pairs of diametrically opposed pivots at right angles to each other, with one pair of pivots connecting the cylindrical sleeve member and the outer spherically shaped connector portion, and with the other pair of pivots connecting the cylindrical sleeve member and the inner spherically shaped connector portion through apertures in the outer spherically shaped connector portion.
2. A universal joint as in Claim 1, wherein both ring members fit on to the outer spherically shaped connector portion and the apertures in the latter are axially extending slots.
3. A universal joint as in Claim 1, wherein the ring members fit respectively one on to each of the spherically shaped connector portions with an axial gap between the ring member fitting the inner spherically shaped connector portion and the adjacent edge of the outer spherically shaped connector portion, which edge has a pair of diametrically opposed notches forming the apertures for the pivots connecting the cylindrical sleeve member and the inner spherically shaped connector portion.
4. A universal joint as in any one of
Claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring members are formed with cylindrical external surfaces corresponding in diameter to the inside of the cylindrical sleeve member, and with partspherical internal surfaces complementary to the respective part-spherical external surfaces of the interfitting spherically shaped connector portions on to which the ring members fit.
5. A universal joint as in any one of
Claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring members are formed with cylindrical external surfaces corresponding in diameter to the inside of the cylindrical sleeve member, internal surfaces of the ring members being frustoconical and tangential to the respective part-spherical sufaces on to which they fit.
6. A universal joint as in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the internal surfaces of the ring members fitting on to the spherically shaped connector portions have a lesser axial extent than their cylindrical external surfaces, thus forming an axially extending flange portion of each ring member, the adjacent edges of the axial flange of each ring member and of the respective adjacent end of the cylindrical sleeve member being welded together.
7. A universal joint as in Claim 6, wherein the flange portion of each ring member has or ends with a thickness equal to that of the cylindrical sleeve member.
8. A universal joint as in any one of
Claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring members are formed from short lengths of thin tube pressed or spun to form profiled sections each with an outer end portion fitting closely within the cylindrical sleeve member and an inner end portion fitting closely on to a part-spherical external surface of one of the interfitting spherically-shaped connector portions, the edge of the outer end portions of each profiled ring member being welded to the respective end of the cylindrical sleeve member.
9. A universal joint as in any one of
Claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring members are formed from lengths of wire each bent into a circle and welded inside the cylindrical sleeve member, with a close fit to the respective interfitting spherically-shaped connector portions.
10. A universal joint as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivots are separate members secured to the respective spherically shaped connector portions and rotatable in holes in the cylindrical sleeve member.
11. A universal joint as in Claim 10, wherein the pivot members each have a spigot for location in a hole in the respective spherically shaped connector portion and at least one aperture around the edge of which welding can be effected to secure the pivot member.
12. A universal joint as in Claim 10, wherein each of the pivot members for the inner connector portion comprises two parts, one being an inner part having a flange fitting against the inside of the inner connector portion and a spigot extending through a hole in the inner connector portion, and the other being an outer part having a body fitting against the outside of the inner connector portion and a bore fitting round the portion of the spigot of the inner part projecting from the hole in the inner connector portion.
13. A universal joint for a fluid conduit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
14. A universal joint for a fluid conduit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 7 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.
15. A universal joint for a fluid conduit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08409463A GB2157384A (en) | 1984-04-12 | 1984-04-12 | Universal joint |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08409463A GB2157384A (en) | 1984-04-12 | 1984-04-12 | Universal joint |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2157384A true GB2157384A (en) | 1985-10-23 |
Family
ID=10559556
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08409463A Withdrawn GB2157384A (en) | 1984-04-12 | 1984-04-12 | Universal joint |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2157384A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11085565B2 (en) * | 2017-01-13 | 2021-08-10 | Unison Industries, Llc | Gimbaled flexure for spherical flex joints |
-
1984
- 1984-04-12 GB GB08409463A patent/GB2157384A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11085565B2 (en) * | 2017-01-13 | 2021-08-10 | Unison Industries, Llc | Gimbaled flexure for spherical flex joints |
| US11754210B2 (en) | 2017-01-13 | 2023-09-12 | General Electric Company | Gimbaled flexure for spherical flex joints |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |