US1561065A

US1561065A - Expansible collapsible element

Info

Publication number: US1561065A
Application number: US656446A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis W Eggleston
Original assignee: AMERICAN RADIATOF Co
Current assignee: AMERICAN RADIATOF Co
Priority date: 1923-08-08
Filing date: 1923-08-08
Publication date: 1925-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1942-11-10

Description

Nov. 10,1925. 1,561,065

L. W. EGGLESTON EXPANS I BLE COLLAPS IBLE ELEMENT Filed Aug. 8. 1923 949-: 7,

Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

LEWIS W. EGGLES'I'ON, OI BUFFALO, NEW YORIQASSIGNOB T0 AMERICAN BADIA'IOI COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

EZPANSIBLE COLLAPSIBLE ELEMENT.

Application filed August 8, 1928. Serial No. 656,446,

To all whom it'may concern:

, Be it known that I, Lnwrs W. EGGLESTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Expansible Collapsible Elements, of which the following is a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s, forming a part of this specification.

lily invention relates to new and useful improvements in expansible-collapsible elements of that general character or type adapted to be su jected to pressure or thermostatic conditions for the purpose of operating a desired device or mechanism, which element consists of an annular or tubular shell of thin metal formed with circumferential corrugations comprising inner and outer bends joined by intermediate wall.

portions extending in a general direction transversely of the element.

It is sometimes found that elements of the character mentioned are rendered in active or inoperative, due to the fact that the metal of the bends of the corrugations is, through continuous use, or from being subjected to excessive ressures, fatigued to a point destroying t e resilience of the bends, and resulting in permanent collapse of the element at one or more points, thus reducing its useful life.

One object of the present invention is to obviate the objectionable result just stated, by oviding means for preventing collapse of Si e bends to such an extent as to result in destruction or reduction of the resilience of the element.

.A further object is to provide such anelement with means for limiting the col-- lapsing movement thereof so as to prevent the same from being collapsed beyond .a point which would subject the metal to deleterious strain, and finally result in permanent collapse, but which at the same time would permit the element to have the desired extent of free movement for which it is designed.

A further object is to provide resilient reenforcing means, which will not only prevent fatigue of the metal of the bends, but will also operate to maintain the annular contour of the element.

lindric'al flange portion 4,

Other objects andthe attending advantages will be apparent from the description to follow hereafter. I

The invention consists in the improvements to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

invention in the accom anying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification, and

wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through .a structure embodying my inven- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, s ow I have fully and clearly illustrated my.

ing another embodiment of the same invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a ortion of the wall of the embodiment of t e invention illustrated in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view'of a preferred form-of an element employed in each of the previous figures.

- Referring .to the drawings by characters of reference, A designates a preferred form 4 of an expansible-collapsible element consisting a tubular metal shell 1, substantially cylindrical in general contour. This shell 1 may be, and preferably is, closed at one end by an inte a1 head 2, preferably in the form of a oss consisti-n of a transverse Wall member 3 having a clrcumferential cyjoining at its edge with ,the cylindrical shell 1 of the element. At its opposite end the element is provided with 9. Ion itudinal, cylindrical extension or flange 5, y which the element is adapted to be secured or' attached to any suit able element or support (not shown). The head 2, heretofore mentioned, is preferably of thicker metal than that composing the cylindrical shell 1, and the annular portion 4 tapers into the metal of the shell, as indicated at 6. The element, in its preferred form, is composed of suitable metal or alloy, for example, copper, or alloy of copper and zinc, WhlCh, in its preferred embodiment, drawn by suitable die mechanism to a thickness ap roximately .007 of an inch. The body 0 the element, or the shell portion 1,, is. rovided with circumferentialcorrugations, by which the element is.

diameter, the inside dimension or diameter of theelementmay be approximately 1.72

inches, and the depth of the corrugation .344; inches, the bends of the corrugations being curved and struckon a radius of approximately .045 inches.

While I how and describe a specific form of corrugated expansible-collapsible element as beingone to'which my invention is readily applicable, I wish it understood that the invention is not limited thereto, the same being shown and described only for the purpose of disclosing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

The element above described is adapted to be subjected to either internal or external pressure, and is either collapsed or expanded, as the case may be, to actuate a, desired device or mechanism, and it will be. understood that the corrugations are so spaced that they will have the necessary resilienceto ensure the element having the desired extent of movement when actuated, the resilience of the metal in the

bends

8 and 9 of the corrugations acting to return theelement to a normal position or condition of rest.

According to m present invention, I provide means where y the element is prevented from being collapsed to a point beyond the normal limits of resilience of the corrugations, thereby preventing continued use or excessive pressures from. fatiguing the metal to a point whereby the resilience is destroyed or weakened, or the corrugations permanently collapsed, so' as to interfere with the free or sensitive functioning of the element. 1

In the preferred embodiment, this means consists of an annular member 11 arranged in the bend of a corrugation and maintained incontact with the central portion of the bend, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This member 11 preferably consists of an annulus or ring which is substantially circular in cross-section, and of .a body diameter less than the transverse width of the bend of the corrugation, so that clearance spaces 12 are provided between the opposite sides of the faces of the ring and the inner faces of the. side portions of ence of theben thereby 'preventing excessive collapse of the corrugation, and, consequently, of the expansible-collapsible element, and also preventing fatigue of the metal in the bend of the corrugation. It

- will be understood that the thickness of the member 11' willbe determined and proportioned in accordance with the internal diameter of the bend of the corrugation to which it is to be applied. Forexample, in an ele- 'of'the ring is preferably circular in crosssection, and is formed on a radius of approximately 40 inches, thereby providing 'a ring of a diameter approximately .080

inches.

The member 11 may be of any suitable material which will have the capability of resisting or limiting thecollapsing movement of the bend of the corrugation, but is preferably of a suitable metal, and in the preferred embodiment said member is in the form of a resilient split-ring, as indicated in Fig. 6, whereby the member not only serves to perform the function heretofore described, but also exerts its force expansively, whereby said member is held in positive and proper relation against the inner face of the bend of the corrugation. It is understood that this applies to the ring or member when inserted in the outward bend of a corrugation. In applying the reenforcing element in its preferred form, the said ring is collapsed or sprung inward by any suitable means (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6) against its natural resilience, until it is of a size which will permit its insertion in the open end of the *expansible-collapsible element, and said ring is then located opposite the entrance to the'corrugation in which it is to be located, and is released, whereupon it springs outward toward its normal position and automatically seats itself within the corrugation. and against the inner face ofthe bend, as will be clear from Figs.

In Fig. 4 the invention is shown applied to the inward bends, of the corrugations, as well-as the outward bends, and in this form the annular member -11 exerts its spring action inward instead of outward, as heretofore described. When the ring is to be applied tothe inner corrugation, the ring is expanded or opened and passed around the element and located oppositev the corrugation to which it is to be applied, whereupon it is released, and upon contraction seats itself within the bend of the corrugation, as shown in- 4 and 5. When the ree nforcin g memberis in theform of a split-ring, it 1s preferable to have the ends thereof come as Q close together as practicable when the ring 6 is in position in the bend of the corrugation.

10 other, but the curve portions of the bends will not be flexed or bent-to such an extent as to exceed the lir'nit of resilience and become permanently collapsed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1

1. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostaticpurposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential corrugations formed of resilient inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall ortions, and means located in certain of said bends to prevent colla se thereof in a direction longitudinally o the shell, said means comprising an annular member arranged in engagement with the inner face of the bend, said member being of such thickness in a direction lengthwise of said element as to provide clearance spaces between the said memher and the lateral portions of the bend but adapted to be engaged by said lateral portions within the limit of resilience of the metal of the bend.

2. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic. purposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential corrugations formed of resilient inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said means comprisging an annular member arranged in engagement with the middle portion of the inner surface of the bend, said member being circu lar in cross-section and of such thickness lengthwise of the element as to provide clearance spaces between the said member and the lateral portions of the bend but adapted to be engaged by said lateral portions within the limit ofresilience of the metal of the bend.

3. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes, comprising a tubular metal wall having circumfercntial corrugations formed of resilient inward and outward bends joined by intermediate wall portions, and a reenforcing member located in certain of said outward bends and in contact with the inner surface thereof, saidmember being of such thickness in a direction lengthwise of said element that the said intermediate walls are free to move within the elastic limits of said bends but are prevented from being moved toward inner face of the bend and being circular in cross-section, the radius of the curve of the bend bearing the proportion to the radius of the cross-section of said member of approximately .045 inches to .040 inches.

5. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential corrugations formed ofresilient inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall portions, and

means located in certain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said means compr1s-- ing an annular member engaging the inner face of the bend and being circular in crosssection, the radius of the curve of the bend being greater than the radius of the crosssection of said member.

6. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential .corrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said means comprising .an annular member engaging the inner face of a bend, said member being resilient in a direction transversely of the element. 7. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential corrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said means comprising an annular member engaging the inner face of a bend, said member being resilient in a direction transversely of the element and exerting its .force to hold it in position in engagement withthe inner face of the bend. 8. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential corrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain of said bendsto prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said'means comprising a resilient split-rin held by its resilience in engagement wit 1 the inner face of the bend.

9. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes, cornprising a tubular metallic shell having 011'- cumferential corrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said means comprising a resilient split-ring held by its resilience in engagement with the middle portion of the inner surface of the bend.

10. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes. comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential corrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transverse wall portions and means located" in certain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said means comprising a. resilient split-ring held by its resilience in engagement with the middle portion of the inner surface of the bend, and said ring being of such thickness lengthwise of the element as to provide clearance spaces between the said ring and the lateral portions of the bends. V

In testimony whereof have hereunto subscribed myname.

LEWIS W. EGGL'ESTON.