US2056640A - Return bend assembly - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1936. M. P. YOUKER RETURN BEND ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 28, 193s SECTION 7-7. FIG-7 INVENTOR.

I) SECTION 3-3 SGTION 6- Fl c-6 SEcTaoN5-5 A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 6, 1936 PATENT QFFICE RETURN BEND ASSEMBLY Malcolm P. Youker, Bartlesville, Okla assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville Okla, a corporation of Delaware Application August 28, 1933, Serial No. 587,205

2 Claims. (01. 285-420) This invention relates to improvements in a return bend assembly to be used for connecting tubes in a tubular oil heater or the like.

The improvements which are disclosed in this present application for patent are improvements in a return bend assembly which was originally disclosed in the patent issued to the present applicant on June 28, 1932 under United States Patent Ofiice Patent No. 1,864,879.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a return bend assembly which may be readily dismantled or assembled for cleaning, replacement or repair of either the return bend itself or the tubes which are joined by said return bend.

Another object is to furnish a return bend which may be used under high pressure with a maximum degree of safety and a minimum possibility oi leakage.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire return bend assembly connected to the extremities of two tubes.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the return bend assembly.

Figure 3 is a cross section and elevation taken at 3-4 through Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section of Figure 1 taken through 4-4.

Figure 5 is a cross section and elevation taken through Figure 1 at 5-5.

Figure 6 is a cross section and elevation through Figure l at t6.

Figure 7 is a cross section and elevation taken through Figure 1 at l--l.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross section through the extremities of the tube and return bend on the vertical plane 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross section along vertical plane 'i'--l illustrating the bolted connection between a tie-plate and a flange which taken are parts of the assembly.

Referring to the drawingl designates tubes such as are employed in tubular oil heaters. In accordance with the present invention, each end of such a tube is externally threaded as shown in Figure 6 for some 'tion of the return bend d.

distance from its extremity, and on this threaded portion a flange 3 is arranged. The flange has internal threads so that it may be screwed up on the tube to such an extent that the threaded extremity of the tube will be approximately flush with the face of the-flange.

A return bend it to which are rigidly attached bolt tubes 5 is rigidly held by bolts 6 in such position that the extremities of the return bend 4 contact the extremities of the tubes 6. Bolts 6 are threaded into flanges 3, extend through tubes 5, and the return bend 4 is drawn toward the tubes 5 by means of tightening nuts l. Each extremity of the return bend 4 is formed in the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere, the center of which would lie approximately on the center lines of the tube i extended in the direc- The extremities of the tubes 1 which are brought into contact with the ball face of the extremities of the return bend 4 are formed in the shape of a spherical seat to receive the bail face of the return bend extremities. The radius of said spherical seat is preferably slightly longer than the radius of the spherical surface of the return bend ex- I tremity.

A tie plate 8 is attached by means of bolts 9 to the faces of flanges 3 which are adjacent to the return bend 4. The bolts 9, which have conical heads, pierce tie plate 8 through holes which are larger than the shanks of the bolts 9 and are tapped into flanges 3. When the bolts 9 arescrewed into the iianges 3 the conical heads of the bolts 9 will hold the plates 8 tightly against the flanges 3 without having to be threaded through the plates 8 and therefore will facilitate I dis-assembling the fittings.

It is apparent that after one of the'fianges 3 has been assembled on each of the two tubes i, these flanges may be readily properly positioned by means of attaching tie plate 8 to said flanges by bolts 9 for the attachment of return bend by means of the bolt t and the nut '11.

While I have shown a convex spherical face on the extremity of the return bend and a concave spherical face in the extremity of the tube to receive said convex spherical face, it should be understood that the convex spherical face may be formed on the extremity of the tube and the concave spherical face formed in the extremity of the return bend. As a matter of fact I have successfully used the latter combination of facings, as well as the former, with success. It should also be understood that in either case the concave face may be formed in the shape of the surface of a cone or in any other shape such that the convex spherical surface will make a complete circular line contact with the concave seat. It should also be understood that a gasket of suitable material may be used between these two contacting surfaces. It should be noted that due to the impossibility of maintaining alignment between the tubes it is necessary,

in order to successfully utilize this return bend assembly, that either the extremity of the tube or the contacting extremity of the return bend must be shaped in the form of a portion of the surface of a sphere.

In order that the return bend may conveniently be dismantled it is desirable that all of the tubes 5 be extended to the same length.

While I have described in diagrammatic detail a form of my return bend assembly improvements, I do not propose to be limited by these exact details but propose to claim all of the advantages which are inherent in these improvements. It should be particularly noted that the return bend may be removed from the tubes without disturbing their position and that likewise any single part of the assembly. including the tubes themselves, may be easily removed and replaced.

I claim:

1. A return bend assembly including a plurality of tubes, flanges connected to the ends of said tubes, a link. joining the ends of said tubes,

' a return bend connecting the ends of said tubes,

parti-spherical surfaces on the ends of said return bend contacting complementary surfaces on said tube ends, means for drawing said return bend toward said tube ends and means independent of said aforementioned means for holding said links against said flanges.

2. A return bend assembly including a plurality of tubes, flanges connected to the ends of said tubes, a link joining the ends of said tubes, the tube ends projecting through said flanges, a return bend connecting the ends of said tubes, parti-spherical surfaces on the ends of said return bend contacting complementary surfaces on said tube ends, means for drawing said return bend toward said tube ends and means independent of said aforementioned means for MALCOLM P. YOUKER.

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