GB2181510A

GB2181510A - Connector for a sight monitor

Info

Publication number: GB2181510A
Application number: GB08624174A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin L Jobe
Original assignee: JOGLER Inc
Current assignee: JOGLER Inc
Priority date: 1985-10-09
Filing date: 1986-10-08
Publication date: 1987-04-23
Also published as: GB8624174D0; IL79101A0

Abstract

A connector (20) for a sight monitor (10) for a liquid system comprising a transparent tube (12) for the liquid has a flange for connection to the flange (18) on a protective shield (14) and a tubular portion which has a series of internal ridges (22) which resiliently grip the tube (12). A second series of ridges (46,64) may be employed to grip a second external tube (44), these second ridges either being outwardly directed or inwardly directed on a second tubular portion. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid sight monitor and connectortherefor The present invention relates to liquid sight monitors and more particularly to how such monitors are connected in either a liquid flowing system or as a level gauge with respectto a liquid storage system.

Liquid sight monitors primarily include both sight flow indicator and liquid level gauges. A sight flow indicator is employed in a flowing liquid system, or in a bypass connection to such a system, to show that fluid is flowing and in some cases to show if a condition has changed, such as the liquid changing colour.

A liquid level gauge is employed to monitor the level of liquid stored in an opaque tank or other similar vessel. Usually, one or more gauges are connected to vertically separated piping from the vessel to give a visual indication of the level of the liquid within the vessel.

The monitor employs a transparent element, usually glass, to permit visual observation of the liquid. It should befurther noted that the liquid is often under a pressurised condition and frequently the vessel is part of a vehicle, such as a tank on a tank car. In many of such applications, one orboth endsofthesight monitor is mounted in a severely difficult installation environment, where the sight monitor mightwork loose. It could be very inconvenient orvery dangerous if such an event were to occur.

Prior art connections include the tubing adaptor shown in U.S.Patent3,381 976. Suchan adapter has a plurality of pressure energised O-ring seals operating within accommodating grooves, the ring seals bearing against the surface ofthe glass. Such a connectorforms a satisfactory connection provided the glass is not appreciably out-of-round and there is not a great deal of internal pressure operating on the glass in such a way that the glass is forced vertically out ofthe connector.

Sight monitors are not always simple on-glass devices. They are sometimes made of two concentric glass tubes, the outer tube providing meansto environmentally isolate or protect the inner tube with the liquid. That is, in a concentric tube installation, the volume between the tubes can be purged of moisture and air or can be replaced with an inertgas.

Such a sight monitor does not fog up like a single glass device might. Furthermore, protective shields, such as tubular metallic shields with one or more slot openings, can be provided to keep the glass tube or tubes from being broken.

U.S. Patent No.4,345,468 entitled "Liquid Sight Monitor", issuing August 24,1982 in the name of Willaim A.Jackson, and commonly assigned herewith, discloses the use of connector ends having 0ring seals in appropriate grooves so asto permit 0ring sealing against an internal tube and O-ring sealing against an outertube. The disclosure set forth in U.S.Patent No.4,345,468 is incorporated herein by reference.

Again, however, if the dimensions of the tubes are not held within close tolerance, or if they are out-ofround or if the connector portion with the O-ring grooves is not perfectly dimensioned, then there is a danger of a loose seal. No provisions are provided to adjust the seal in the presence of an improperly sized tube or connector component or in the presence of pressure being exerted to separate the connector fromthetubeortubes it holds.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sight flow monitorthat is secured at least at one end in such a way so as to accommodateto a limited range of sizes and out-ofround conditions of a tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved connector that pressure seals against the end of a liquid sight monitor, particularly when the liquid system being monitored is under pressure.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved connector that pressure seals against both tubes of a concentric tube liquid sight monitor, particularlywhen the liquid system being monitored is under pressure.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a sight monitor for monitoring the presence of liquid in an accompanying liquid system, comprising an internal tube sufficiently transparent to permit the presence of liquid to be seen in the tube, and a connectorforconnecting at least one end ofthe tube to the accompanying liquid system,the connector including an elongate tubular portion having a plurality of inwardly directed resilient ridges forfitting around the outside of the tube so that the ridges are in flexible contact with the tu be.

More generally, the invention may provide a con nectorforattaching to the end of a tube to permitthe tube to be connected to a liquid system, in orderto provide a sight monitor, the connector comprises a flange at one end, an elongate tubular portion having a plurality of inwardly directed resilient ridges forfit ting around the outside ofthetube near its end so that the ridges are in flexible contact with the tube.

Thus, the liquid sight monitor is preferably connected to a liquid system employing a generally tubular connector made from a deformable material,the internal opening including a plurality of inwardly directed ridges for bearing againstthe surface ofthe glass orothertransparenttube of the monitor. The ridges are preferably sloped or inclined on the side away from the end ofthe tube and have preferably a radial side toward the tube end. Hence, when the tube is inserted into the connector, the ridges are bent over in a direction toward the tube end. Pressure leakage around the end should cause the connector ridges to pressure seal againstthesurfaceofthetubetoan even greater degree than provided by the resilience ofthe material ofthe ridges.

Preferably, the monitor also includes a metallic protective shield surrounding at least a portion ofthe tube. Preferably, the protective shield includes a met allicflange end with suitable bolt holesforsecuring the shield to the liquid system and a central opening for receiving the connector, the connector includes an annularflange arranged to engagetheflange end ofthe shield, and the elongate tubular portion ofthe connector is inserted from the outside oftheflange and through its central opening.

The invention may provide a flow indicatorfor a flowing system,ora level gaugefora liquid storage system.

When a concentric tube sight monitor is to be provided, the connector may have a second plurality of radially directly resilient ridgesforfitting against the external tubes sothatthesecond plurality ridges are in flexible contact with the external tube.

The second plurality of ridges may be inwardly radially directed to be in external contact with the external tube. Alternatively, these ridges may be outwardly radially directed to be in internal contact with the external tube. In either case, the ridges are preferably otherwise similarto the ridges previously described above.

Thus,thesecond ridges in one preferred embodi mentofthetubularconnectorare along the external surfaceforbearing outwardly againstthe internal su rface of the outer concentric tu be, while in a second preferred embodiment, a concentric slot in thetubularconnectorincludesasecondsetofin- wardly directed ridges for bearing againstthe external surface ofthe outer concentric tube.

The invention may be carried into practice in var iouswaysandsomeembodimentswill now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view, partly cutaway, of a standard liquid level gauge in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a connector in ac cordancewith the present invention, the view being partly cutaway to show the internal ridges; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a connector in accordance with the present invention both prior to and after installation on an accommodating tube in a liquid sight monitor; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of another emb odimentofa connector used with a liquid sight mon itoremploying concentric tubes;; Figure5showsthe connector shown in Figure4 after it has been installed on the end of accommodating concentrictubes; Figure 6is a viewsimilarto Figure 4showing an alternative connectorfor use with a concentrictube liquid sight monitor; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector shown in Figure 6 installed on the ends of the con centric tubes ofthe concentric tube liquid sight monitor.

Figure 1 shows a standard liquid level gauge 10.

This is one of the two types of liquid sight monitors, the othertype being a sight flow indicator. The gauge shown in Figure 1 includes a high pressure glass tube 12, which could in a particular installation, beofan- othertype oftransparent material. At least partly su r- roundingthetube 12 is a shield 14, which is slotted at least on one side to permitthe liquid 16 to be observed as its level rises and falls within the tube 12.A flange 18 at the top of the shield and a comparable flange atthe bottom provide means for installing the gauge 10 in its installation of use, A connector end 20, sometimes referred to as an insert, holds the tube 12 in place and seals against the surface ofthetube in a manner hereinafter explained.It should be noted, however, that the connector 20 includes a flange end that holds the connector 20 againstthe mounting flange 18 with thetubular end of the connector20 passing through an internal opening in theflange 18, as shown. The flange 18 includes a plurality of bolt holes (not shown) for mounting the flange 18 at its place of monitoring the liquid level of the system to which it is attached. It should be noted that the gauge 10 includes a flange 18 and a connector 20 at its opposite end; however, a particularinstallation may install the lower end of the gauge in a different manner.

Figure 3 shows the tube 12 priorto being installed in the connector 20a at the bottom and following installation in the connector20b at the top. Thetube and connectors are similarto those shown in Figure 1. It should be noted, however, that the components shown in Figure 3 can be mounted independently of the shield 14 and flange 18 shown in Figure 1, if desired.

The connector 20a includes a plurality of internally directed ridges 22 which bearagainstthetube 12following installation. The ridges are not uniformly dimensioned (or symmetrically shaped) in the preferred embodiment, however. It should be noted that one side 24 of each ridge 22 which faces awayfrom the mounting end 26 is inclined whereas the side 28 nearest the end 26 is not inclined but is radial to the axis ofthe connector and the tube to which it isto be attached. An internal stop shoulder 30 is provided at one end of the connector to limit the vertical position ofthe inserted tube 12.

Referring now to the connector 20b, which is identical to the connector 20a, the tube 12 has been inserted in thetubularend ofthe connector 20b. The ex ternal diameterofthetubeisslightlylargerthanthe internal diameter of ridges 22 prior to their being bent over or deformed upon installation ofthe tube 12.

During installation, the resilience or elasticity of the material ofthe connector at the ridges result in them being moved aside; however,theythen bear outwardlyto holdthetube l2firmly in place even through the tube 12 might be slightly out-of-round.

Furthermore, the connector will accommodate a range of external diametersizeswithinthelimitof the amount ofdeformity permitted by the internal ridges 22.

It is not unusual forthe liquid system to which the sight monitor is attachedto be underat least a slight amount pressure. Such pressure will tend to leak around the external surface of the end of the tube 12.

When this occurs, the pressure tends to push open the ridges of the connector and thereby causes them to pressure even harder againstthe external surface ofthe tube 12. Hence, the structure achieves a pressure seal which has not been heretofore available with the O-rings employed in prior art connectors.

Referring now to Figure 4, a connector40 is shown for connecting to a liquid sight monitor having an internal tube 42 and a concentric external tube 44. The internalsurfaceofthetubularconnector40issub stantiallythe same as thatofthetubularconnector 20 previously described.

Hence, as shown in Figure 5, internal tube 42 is inserted so that its external surface bears against and deforms the internal ridges of the connector 40 in a direction towards the mounting end of the connector. In a similar fashion, the external tube 44 slides up overthe outwardly extending ridges 46 so thatthey also deform in a directiontowardsthe mounting end of connector40 and also bearagainstthe internal surface of the tube 44. The ridges 46 have substantially the same shape and operating characteristics as the internally directed ridges previously discussed.

It should be noted that there is an internal stop 48 for limiting the position ofthe internal tube 42 and an external stop or shoulder 50 for limiting the position of external tube 44 with respect to the connector40.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, an alternative embodiment of a connector 60 is disclosed for providing a connection to similar concentric tubes 42 and 44. Again, the internal surface of connector 60 issimilarto the connectors previously described. The ridges on the internal surface bear againstthe external surface of the tu be 42. However, included in the connector 60 there is a concentric annular slot 62 having an axis which coincides with the central axis of the connector. The slot 62 includes internally directed ridges 64 which are substantially identical in shape and operation to the ridges bearing againstthe external surface of the tube 42 previously described, though these ridges may be slightly fewer in number. In the embodimentshown,there are five ridges that bearagainstthetube42 and there are four ridges 64. As shown in Figure 7, these inwardlydirec- ted ridges 64 bear against the external surface ofthe tube 44.

It should also be noted that the ridges of the con- nectors 40 and 60 operate in the same mannerasthe ridges of the connector 20 described above in that a slight amount of pressure leakage around the ends of the respective tubes will produce a pressure sealing ofthe ridges to tighten the connector even morethan the natural resilience of the material of the connectors.

It should be noted thatthe connector material is not limited to a particulartype of material; Teflon and Neoprene (Trade Marks) have been successfully employed as suitable materials.

Claims

1. A sight monitorfor monitoring the presence of liquid in an accompanying liquid system, comprising an internal tube sufficiently transparent to permitthe presence of liquid to be seen in the tube, and a connectorforconnecting at least one end ofthetubeto the accompanying liquid system, the connector including an elongate tubular portion having a plurality of inwardly directed resilient ridges for fitting around the outside of the tube so that the ridges are in flexible contactwith the tube.

2. A sight monitor as claimed in Claim 1, in which the connector is generally annular, and has an annularflange at one end for attaching the connectorto the liquid system.

3. A sight monitor as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the ridges are more resilient in a direction towards the end of the connectorto which the liquid system is attached.

4. A sight monitor as claimed in Claim 3, in which the sides of the ridges which face towards the end of the connectorto which the liquid system is attached are inclined to a lesser degree than the opposite side of the ridges.

5. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sides ofthe ridges which face to wards the end of the connector to which the liquid system is attached are radial to the axis of the connecto r.

6. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tube is of glass.

7. Asightmonitorasclaimed in any preceding claim, further including a metallic protective shield surrounding at least a portion ofthetube.

8. Asight monitoras claimed in Claim 7, in which the protective shield includes a metallic flange end with suitable bolt holesforsecuring the shield tothe liquid system and a central opening for receiving the connector, the connector includes an annularflange arranged to engage the flange end ofthe shield, and the elongate tubular portion ofthe connector is inserted from the outside of the flange and through its central opening.

9. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the accompanying liquid system is a flowing system and the sight monitor is a sight flow indicator.

10. A sight monitor as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 in which the accompanying liquid system is a storage system and the sight monitor is a liquid level gauge.

11. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, in which accompanying liquid system is under pressure and any pressure leakage around the end of the tube tends to pressurise the resilient ridges againsttheoutsidesurfaceofthetubeendtoform a resilient pressure seal.

12. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim further including an external tube which surrounds the internal tube and which is sufficiently transparent to reveal the presence of liquid in the internaltube,the connector having a second plurality of radially directedly resilient ridges forfitting againstthe external tube so thatthesecond plurality of ridges are in flexible contactwith the external tube.

13. A sight monitor as claimed in Claim 12, in which the second plurality of ridges are inwardly radially directed to be in external contact with the external tube.

14. A sight monitor as claimed in Claim 12, in which the second plurality of ridges are outwardly radially directed to be in internal contact with the external tube.

15. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the ridges of the second plurality of ridges are more resilient in a direction toward the end oftheconnectortowhichthe liquid system is attached.

16. A sight monitor as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 14 in which the sides ofthe second plurality of ridges which face towards the end of the connector to which the liquid system is attached are inclined to a lesser degree than the opposite side of the ridges.

17. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sides of all the ridges which face towards the end ofthe connectortowhich the liquid system are attached are radial to the axis of the connector.

18. A sight monitor as claimed in any of Claims 8 to 17 in which the external tube is of glass.

19. A sight monitor as claimed in any preceding claim, including a metallic protective shield surrounding at least a portion of the external tube.

20. A sight monitor constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with re reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 3 or Figure 5 or Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

21. Aconnectorforattaching to the end of a tube to permitthe tube to be connected to a liquid system, in order to provide a sight monitor, the connector comprising a flange at one end, an elongatetubular portion having a plurality of inwardly directed resilientridgesforfitting aroundtheoutsideofthetube near its end so thatthe ridges are in flexible contact with the tube.

22. Aconnectorasclaimed in Claim 21,inwhich the ridges of the connector are more resilient in a direction towards the end of the connectorto which the liquid system is attached.

23. A connector as claimed in Claim 22 in which the sides of all the ridges which face towards the end ofthe connectorto which the liquid system is attached are inclined to a lesser degree than the opposite sides ofthe ridges.

24. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 23, in which the sides of all ridges which face towards the first end are radial to the axis ofthe connector.

25. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 24 in which the elongate tubular portion includes a second plurality of inwardly directed resilient ridges forfitting around the outside of a second tube so that the ridges are in flexible contact with the second tube.

26. A connector as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 24 in which the elongate tubular portion includes a second plurality of outwardly directed resilient ridges for fitting against the inside surface of a second tube so that the ridges are in flexible contact with the second tube.

27. Aconnectorforattachingtotheendofatube constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.