MXPA99007976A - Fluid connector, allowing rotation about the axis of a conduit - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid connector (14) for connecting to a fluid carrying aperture (11A, 11B) and an apparatus (10). A connector (14) includes a fluid conduit having a base (22A, 22B). A yoke (12) secures the base (22A, 22B) to an apparatus (10) by means of a fastener (34). A seal (26A, 26B) is provided between the base (22A, 22B) and the apparatus (10) for sealing engagement of the connector (14) to the apparatus (10). When the fastener (34) is loosened, the connector (14) can be rotated to orient the conduit as desired.

Description

CONNECTOR FOR FLUID, WHICH ALLOWS ROTATION AROUND THE AXLE OF A CONDUIT FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a connector for making connections for fluid, in an apparatus. For example, certain devices must be connected to a source of fluid, such as a liquid, and include an opening for fluid inlet. Other devices need to be connected to an opening for the fluid outlet. Still, other apparatuses include openings for the entrance and exit of fluid, for example openings for effecting the cooling of an apparatus by circulation of a cooling fluid. Many times, when these connections are made to an appliance, the fluid connector includes an oblique section through which the fluid changes direction as it travels toward the appliance. Commonly, these connectors comprise an elbow element that includes two sections that are inclined relative to one another by an angle of 90 °, although instead of using two sections a single straight section could be used. Conventionally, these connectors are secured to an apparatus by welding, brazing, welding with tin and lead alloys, screwing or similar techniques. With these connectors, the angle of orientation of the connector, with respect to the device, is fixed, that is, it can not be adjusted. Many times, due to space considerations, the orientation angle is incorrect to maintain the apparatus or due to space considerations. This creates problems both for the installation to the apparatus as well as for the realization of the connections to the apparatus and to maintain it. Another problem that exists in the prior art is that, when the connectors are brazed in vacuum, for example in oil coolers that have fixed connectors, the vacuum furnace can be filled only to 60%, which is quite inefficient. It is therefore desired to provide a connector for fluid wherein the oblique section of the fluid connector can be rotated relative to the apparatus, to provide the proper orientation and at the same time provide a suitable sealed connection with the apparatus. It is also desired that a connector can be assembled to an apparatus after the construction of the apparatus, by brazing and similar techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The connector according to the present invention includes an inclined fluid conduit having a base. A fork cooperates with the base to secure the fluid conduit to an appliance. The connector also includes a seal to seal the connector to the apparatus. When the fastener is loosened, the fluid conduit can be rotated to any desired orientation after which the fastener can be re-secured to seal, in a sealed manner, the fluid connector to the apparatus. A connector for connecting to a fluid transport opening of an apparatus. The connector comprises a conduit for fluid having first and second interconnected sections. The sections are oriented at an angle equal to or less than 180 °, one with respect to the other, whereby the fluid that flows through the conduit changes direction. The first section includes a base that is configured to engage, in fluid transport communication, with the fluid transport opening found in the apparatus. The base includes a sealed chamber that houses a seal. A fork secures the base in sealed engagement with an apparatus, by means of a fastener by which the second section of the conduit can be oriented with respect to the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages mentioned above, as well as others of this invention, and the manner of achieving them, will become apparent, and the invention will be better understood with reference to the following description of one embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper part of the connector in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector, taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the connector, taken along the lines 3 -3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the connector in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of Figure 4, taken along lines 5-5. Figure 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the connector in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of claim 6, taken along lines 7-7. The corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts through the different views. The exemplification presented herein illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and that exemplification should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring to Figures 1-3, a connector 14 is illustrated. The connector 14 includes a yoke 12 and two identical fluid transport lines 17A and 17B. The conductors each include sections 16 and 18. The connectors are secured to an apparatus 10 that includes two holes for fluid HA and 11B. The section 16A of the duct 17A is connected, in fluid flow relation, to the hole HA. For the particular apparatus 10 shown, the orifice 11A could be an inlet for fluid, and the orifice 11B an outlet for fluid. For example, in an apparatus that is fluid cooled, the holes HA and 11B could be used as a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port. The conduit 17A includes a base 22A secured to the section 16A, closely adjacent the end 20A of the section 16A. A chamber 26A is provided in the base 22A to receive a seal such as a seal or O-ring 26A. It can also be seen that the section 18A of the connector 14 includes a flange 30A as is usual so that the section 18A can be connected to a flexible hose that can be made of plastic or rubber.

The fork 12 includes a surface 13 and a projection 15. The fork fits over the bases 22A and 22B of the conduits 17A and 17B. From Figure 3 it can also be seen that an apparatus 10 includes a vertical spacer section 36 that is also covered by a flanged portion 38 of the yoke 12. The yoke 12 includes an opening for accommodating a fastener 34. The section 36 includes an opening 35 by which a fastener 34 can be screwed into the opening 35. In operation, before securing the fastener 34, the conduits 17A and 17B are oriented such that the sections 18A and 18B can be rotated as desired for ease of installation and maintenance of the apparatus 10. Once the orientations of the conduits 17A and 17B have been selected, the fastener 34 is secured for which the fork 12 is withdrawn towards the upper surface of the apparatus 10, thereby compressing the seals 26A and 26B to achieve a fluid-tight coupling of conduit 17A with apparatus 10. Similarly, a seal is provided for conduit 17B which is also compressed gone by fastening the fastener 34. The fork has to absorb the forces of fluid pressure in the connectors 14A and 14B. In addition, the compression of the seals 26A and 26B must be sufficient to create the proper tension in the rings or o-rings. This can be achieved by proper disengagement of the fork 12 and ducts 17A and 17B, as well as of the spacer section 36. It should be noted that instead of providing a spacer section 36 as shown in Figure 3, the fork 12 could be provided with a vertical section for coupling with the upper surface of the apparatus 10 and the apparatus 10 could include a splice opening for cooperating with the threaded fastener. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment only a single conduit is secured by a fork 40. One end of the fork 40 is supported directly by the apparatus, while the other end of the fork 40 is supported by the base of the conduit 17. In this arrangement, the apparatus 10 includes an opening 42 for cooperating with the fastener 34. In the described embodiments, the angle of orientation of the section 18A relative to the section 16A of the duct 17 is 90 °. However, alternative arrangements are possible as those skilled in the art will be able to understand. Additionally, other sealing arrangements, other than the ring or o-ring arrangement, as described herein may be used. Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, an alternative embodiment is shown. In this embodiment the conduit 17 includes only a single section 44 that is straight. The arrangement for sealing the connector 14 to the apparatus 10, is identical to that described in Figures 4 and 5. With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the advantage of the invention is that the method for connecting and sealing the connector 14 to the apparatus 10 is very simple. Although this invention has been described taking into account a preferred design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the description. Therefore, it is intended that this application cover any of the variations, uses, or adaptations thereof, that use its general principles. Furthermore, it is intended that this application cover those deviations from the present disclosure as they are within known or customary practice, in the art to which this invention pertains, and that they fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the foregoing invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS

1. A connector for fluid to connect a conduit to a fluid transport opening of an apparatus, the connector is characterized in that it comprises: a conduit for fluid, the conduit for fluid comprises a first and second interconnected sections, the sections are oriented, one with with respect to the other, with an angle smaller than 180 °, whereby the fluid that flows through the conduit changes direction; the first section includes a base, the base is adapted to be coupled, in fluid transport communication, with the opening of the apparatus, the base has a sealed chamber; a seal placed in the sealed chamber; a fork to secure the base in sealed coupling with the apparatus; and only one fastener for securing the fork to the apparatus, whereby the conduit can be adjusted, by rotation, with respect to the apparatus upon loosening the fastener.

The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a plurality of fluid conduits, each conduit includes a base, whereby the fluid conduits can be individually adjusted with respect to the apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the connector is adapted to connect the respective inlet and outlet openings in the apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastener is located between the conduits.

5. A connector for fluid, characterized in that it comprises: a fluid conduit defining an elbow; the fluid conduit includes a base, the base includes a sealed chamber; a seal placed in the sealed chamber; a fork element operatively associated with the elbow, to secure the elbow to an apparatus; only a fastener for securing the fork, whereby the elbow can be rotated before the fork is secured to an appliance; and, the conduit can be disengaged from the fork and from the apparatus by loosening and removing the fastener.

6. A connector for fluid to connect conduits to the fluid transport openings of an apparatus, the connector is characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of fluid conduits, each of the fluid conduits includes a base, each base is adapted to be coupled , in fluid transport communication, with one of the openings of the apparatus, each base has a sealed chamber; a seal placed in each sealed chamber, a fork to secure each of the conduits in sealed coupling with the apparatus; and, a fastener placed between the conduits to secure the fork to the apparatus, whereby, each of the fluid conduits can be adjusted, by rotation, independently, with respect to the apparatus upon loosening the fastener.