US3778534A

US3778534A - Coupling construction and method and apparatus for making the same

Info

Publication number: US3778534A
Application number: US00184726A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Jenkins
Original assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
Current assignee: Reynolds Metals Co; Sanwa Business Credit Corp
Priority date: 1971-09-29
Filing date: 1971-09-29
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11

Abstract

A pair of electrically conductive metallic sheath members respectively have ends disposed adjacent and spaced from each other in aligned relation with a metallic coupling sleeve disposed in telescoping relation about the adjacent ends of the sheath members. A pair of annular metallic shims are respectively deformed into substantially sealing engagement with and between a respective sheath member end and the sleeve to substantially close the spacing between the sleeve and the respective sheath ends whereby weld material subsequently utilized for securing the deformed shims respectively to the coupling sleeve and the sheath members at the exterior thereof does not cause contamination in the interior of the coupling sleeve and sheath members to adversely affect the high voltage conductor passing therethrough.

Description

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,778,534 Jenkins Dec. 11, 1973 [5 COUPLING CONSTRUCTION AND 2,647,769 8/1953 Smith 285/286 x METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING 3,406,986 10/1968 Jennings 285/21 THE SAME William B. Jenkins, Henrico County, Va.

Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va.

Filed: Sept. 29, 1971 App1.No.: 184,726

Inventor:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1909 Hinds 174/84 SU 10/1953 Mildner et a1. 174/88 C 111940 Kaysing 174/84 SU 10/1944 Bruno 285/286 Primary Examiner-Darrell L. Clay Attorney-Glenn, Palmer, Lyne, Gibbs & Thompson [57] ABSTRACT A pair of electrically conductive metallic sheath members respectively have ends disposed adjacent and spaced from each other in aligned relation with a metallic coupling sleeve disposed in telescoping relation about the adjacent ends of the sheath members. A pair of annular metallic shims are respectively deformed into substantially sealing engagement with and between a respective sheath member end and the sleeve to substantially close the spacing between the sleeve and the respective sheath ends whereby weld material subsequently utilized for securing the deformed shims respectively to the coupling sleeve and the sheath members at the exterior thereof does not cause contamination in the interior of the coupling sleeve and sheath members to adversely affect the high voltage conductor passing therethrough.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDHH: n 1925 F l 9 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM B. JENKINS BY ZYQ QQZM, KT Mom) FIG? HIS ATTORNEYS v COUPLING CONSTRUCTION AND MET-HOD'AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a coupling is being made in the high voltage conductor means of a transmission line to provide an expansion joint therein, a subsequent coupling must be made between the outer surrounding sheath members which have adjacent ends thereof disposed spaced from each other in order to cover the expansion joint coupling of the high voltage conductor.

In the past, a coupling sheath sleeve has been telescoped about one of the sheath members and is moved into telescoping relation over the adjacent ends of the conductive spacerbetween the high voltage conductor and the respective other sheath memberor at some other point inside the conduit arrangement in such a manner that such contamination might cause arcing from the high voltage member to the outer sheath members and thereby disintegrate the'hig'h voltage conductor linea'nd/or form holes in the'outer sheath members. In addition, such arcing can 'be subsequently caused by the actual splatterof weld'material entering beneath the coupling member during the aforementioned welding operation.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved coupling construction and method and apparatus for making such a coupling construction to substantially eliminate the aforementioned adverse weld contamination problem when coupling outer sheathmembers about a high voltage conductor.

One embodiment of the coupling construction of this invention comprises a pairof annular-deformable metallic shims respectively disposed between the adjacent spaced ends of the outer metallic sheath members and an outer telescoping metallic coupling sleeve bridging the gap between the adjacent-ends of thesheath-members. The deformable annular shims are respectively deformed into substantially sealing engagement with and between the respective sheath'member ends and the coupling sleeveto substantially seal close the spacing between the sleeve and the respective'sheath ends whereby a subsequent welding operation to secure the deformed shims respectively to thecoupling sleeve and the outer surface of the sheath member can take place without having any of the welding material or contamination therefrom seeping into the interior of the coupling sleeve and sheath members'as in the;past.

Other details,-uses-and advantages of 'theinvention will'become apparent as the following descriptionof the present preferred embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show the present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 isa fragmentary, perspective view of the improved coupling construction of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view to FIG. 1 with certain parts of the coupling construction broken away.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 before the coupling construction has been completed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, axial, crosssectional view of the coupling construction of this invention prior to the deforming operation on the annular shims thereof.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the coupling construction in its completed form.

.FIG. 6 is a front view of one of the annular shim members of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the shim of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the apparatus members of this invention for deforming a shim of the coupling construction.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates another coupling construction of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT tallic, cylindrical conductor 11 supported in spaced relation in an outer cylindrical metallic sheath arrangement '12 by a plurality of non-conductive spacers 13 in substantially a conventional manner. However, at various points along the length of the inner connector 11, coupling constructions, such as expansion joints 14, FIG. 2, are formed-between

adjacent ends

15 and 16 of

adjacent conductor members

17 and 18 in a conventional manner. Such inner coupling constructions 14 for the inner conductor 11 are usually covered by outer coupling constructions in the sheath arrangement 12.

The outer coupling construction 10 of this invention can be formed adjacent the internal coupling construction 14, but can also be formed anywhere along the transmission line as desired and comprises an outer cylindrical metalliccoupling sleeve 19 disposed in telescoping relation over

adjacent ends

20 and 21 of a pair of

metallic sheath members

22 and 23 disposed in spaced and aligned relation as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, with deformable annular shims 24 of this invention respectively deformed in sealing engagement with and between an

adjacent sheath end

20 or 21 and the outer coupling sleeve 19 to substantially seal the space therebetween. Such shims 24 are secured in such deformed'relationship as illustrated in FIG. 5 by annular weld material 25 being disposed around each shim 24 to secure'that shim 24 not only to the respective sheath member22 or 23 on the outer surface thereof, but also posed in sliding contact with each other as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In addition, the cylindrical ring 26 is subsequently bevelled on the outer surface thereof to define an angular peripheral surface 29 as illustrated in FIG. 4 to be disposed in sliding and wedging relation with an internal angular surface 30 cut at each end of the coupling sleeve 19 and angularly joining the internal cylindrical surface 31 thereof as illustrated. If desired, the angular surfaces 30 of the sleeve '19 can extend to the outer cylindrical surface 32 thereof or be short to define flat end surfaces 33 at each end of the coupling sleeve 19 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

If desired, the internal peripheral surface 31 of the sleeve 19 can be provided with annular or notched relief areas 34 that may be necessary on set up when minimum spacing between the

sheath members

22 and 23 is encountered.

The method of making the coupling construction of this invention will now be described.

' As illustrated in FIG. 3, the annular shims 24 and coupling sleeve 19 are disposed in telescoping relation on one of the

sheath members

22 or 23 that are disposed in spaced relation to provide a gap or spacing 35 between the adjacent ends and 21 thereof to permit the inner coupling construction 14 on the conductor 11 to be completed. Thereafter, as illustrated, the righthand shim 24 is telescoped across the gap 35 onto the right-hand sheath member 23 and the coupling sleeve 19 is moved to the right in FIG. 3 to bridge the gap 35 and be in telescoping relation over the

adjacent ends

20 and 21 of the

sheath members

22 and 23. At this time, the left-hand and right-hand shim members 24 are moved into the spacing between the respective

adjacent ends

20 and 21 of the

sheath members

22 and 23 and the coupling sleeve 19 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the apparatus 36 of this invention can be utilized to deform the shims 24 into sealing engagement with the

respective sheath ends

20 and 21 and the outer sleeve 19 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 to substantially seal the spacing between the coupling sleeve 19 and the

sheath members

22 and 23 for the reasons previously set forth.

For example, the apparatus 36 of this invention includes two annular members 37 constructed in a split manner so as to be adapted to be disposed respectively in telescoping relation about the

sheath members

22 and 23 outboard of the coupling sleeve 19 and thereafter be simultaneously drawn inwardly toward the coupling sleeve 19 as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 4 by suitable connecting arm means 38 drawn together by any suitable electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or other force applying means to substantially uniformly deform the shims 24 inwardly toward each other and through the wedging relation thereof with the sleeve 19 to inwardly and outwardly deform at the ID and OD thereof respectively into sealing engagement with the

sheath members

22 and 23 and the coupling sleeve 19 to seal the spacing therebetween. Thus, during a subsequent welding operation to provide the annular weld material for securing the shims 24 in place, weld contamination cannot enter the coupling sleeve 19 and produce the aforementioned adverse effects on the high voltage conductor 11.

In order to initially secure the deformed shims 24 in their previously described deformed relationships with the sleeve 19 and the

sheath members

22 and 23 before the annular weld 25 is formed, each annular member 37 of the apparatus 36 has a plurality of outwardly directed tongues 39 extending from the body portion 40 thereof and disposed flush with the inner cylindrical surface 41 thereof to define a plurality of spacings 42 therebetween and through which suitable spot welding equipment can be utilized to spot weld the shims 24 to the

respective sheath member

22 or 23 while the annular members 37 are holding the shims 24 in their deformed relationship as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thereafter, once the shims 24 have been spot welded in place, the annular members 37 of the apparatus 36 can be backed off of the shim members 24 and conventional welding apparatus can be utilized to form the annular welds 25 about the shims 24 to secure the same respectively to the

sheath members

22 and 23 and to the end surfaces 33 of the coupling sleeve 19 as illustrated.

While only one embodiment of this invention has now been described, it is to be understood that variations therein can be made while still performing the desired coupling function of this invention as previously described.

For example, while the shims 24 are angularly split to define the angular surfaces or

ends

27 and 28 thereof, such shims 24 could be formed of solid material, such as by extrusion, etc., to be merely deformed inwardly and outwardly through the wedging relationship thereof with the surfaces 30 of the sleeve 19. Alternately, a split arrangement in the shim 24 could be provided by other configurations, such as a tongue and groove arrangement, an overlapping of flat surfaces, etc., the important feature being that the annular shim 24 of this invention can be readily deformable from the original configuration thereof both inwardly and outwardly thereof to substantially seal against the inner sheath member and the outer coupling sleeve for the reasons previously described.

It has been found that such deforming of the annular shims 24 of this invention actually causes the sheath member ends 20 and 21 to be deformed into concentric relation with the shims 24 for intimate sealing contact therebetween when such sheath ends 20 and 21 are not truely cylindrical, as is normally the case.

In addition, while additional weld material 25 has been previously described for securing the shims 24 in place, such as being formed from suitable filler material from a gas metal arc welding operation, it is to be understood that a tungsten inert gas welding operation can be utilized where the shim member 24 itself forms the weld material between the shim member 24 and the sheath member and the outer coupling sleeve.

While conventional transmission lines of the aforementioned type normally have sheath members with twelve inch O.D.s and wall thicknesses of 0.300 of an inch with the conductor that passes therethrough having a 4 inch OD. and a 0.500 inch wall thickness and being formed in approximately 40 foot lengths and to carry 230,000 to 450,000 volts, it is to be understood that the coupling construction, method and apparatus of this invention can be utilized to form coupling constructions on devices other than high voltage transmission lines, as the coupling construction will still perform the sealing function previously described between the inner members and the outer coupling sleeve. However, for such a transmission line system, the coupling sleeve 19 and annular shims 24 can be formed of aluminum alloy 606l-T6 when the

sheath members

22 and 23 are formed of aluminum-containing material.

Also, while the shims 24 previously described have both the upper and lower portions thereof welded by thesame weld material 25 to the coupling member 19 and

sheath members

22 and 23 with the weld material 25 completely covering all of the exposed portions of the shims 24, it is to be understood that the shims 24 could be made relatively long so as to handle all pipe tolerances with one size shim 24 instead of two or more which might be required if the shim 24 was formed in short lengths as previously described and illustrated.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 9 wherein another coupling construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral A and parts thereof similar to the coupling construction 10 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a relatively long shim member 24A has its angular face 29A for wedging against the respective angular surface 30A on the coupling member 19A in the manner previously described except that the tapering surface 29A terminates short of the other flat side 43 of the shim member 24A so as to define a short cylindircal cylindrical 44 thereof. However, the shim 24A is split in the same manner as the shim 24 previously described so that the same can be wedged between the coupling member 19A and respective sheath member 23A so that the internal cylindrical surface 45 of the shim member 24A will be forced into sealing engagement with the sheath member 23A while the angular surface 29A thereof is forced into sealing engagement with the tapered surface 30A on the coupling member 19A in the manner previously described and for the purpose previously described.

After each shim 24A has been wedged into the position illustrated in FIG. 9 for a particular coupling construction 10A, a first welding pass is made to form the weld material 46 that welds the coupling sheath 19A to the shim member 24A. Thereafter, a second welding pass is made to provide the weld material 47 that secures the end surface 43 of the shim member 24A to the sheath member 23A, as illustrated. Since the spacing between the coupling member 19A and sheath member 23A is completely sealed by the shim member 24A during the welding passes 46 and 47, no contamination can take place for the reasons previously set forth.

Thus, it can be seen that the longer shim 24A of this invention will readily permit the same joint areas for the coupling members and sheath members regardless of pipe tolerances so that the longer shim 24A can be utilized w6th substantially all of the pipe tolerances encountered because the maximum stick out length of the shim 24A can vary considerably with different pipe tolerances.

Therefore, while a present preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pair of members respectively having ends disposed adjacent each other, a coupling sleeve having opposed ends and being disposed in telescoping relation about said adjacent ends of said members, a pair of annular metallic shims respectively deformed into substantially sealing engagement with and between a respective member end and said sleeve to substantially close the spacing between said sleeve and said respective member end, each of said shims being in the form of a wedge when viewed in cross section having one annular angled surface disposed in wedged relation against an inside surface of its associated sleeve end and having another surface disposed in wedged relation against an associated member, and weld means securing said deformed metallic shims to said respective member ends and to said sleeve.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said members comprise electrical sheaths of cylindrical configuration and said ends thereof are disposed in spaced and aligned relation; an electrical conductor passing through said aligned sheaths, and spacers disposed between said conductor and said sheaths to hold said conductor in spaced relation from said sheaths.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each sleeve end has an annular beveled surface comprising its inside surface, each shim having its annular angled surface disposed in said wedged relation with a cooperating beveled surface of said sleeve.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each shim has a split therein to facilitate the deforming thereof.

5. In combination, a pair of members respectively having ends disposed adjacent each other, a coupling sleeve having opposed ends and being disposed in telescoping relation about said adjacent ends of said members, a pair of annular shims with each shim being in the form of a wedge when viewed in cross section, said shims being respectively deformed into substantially sealing wedged engagement with and between a respective member end and said sleeve to substantially close the spacing between said sleeve and said respective member end, and means securing said deformed shims to said respective member ends and to said sleeve, said means securing said deformed shims to said respective member ends and said sleeve comprises annular weld material extending from each end of said sleeve against an associated shim and onto an associated member end.

6. In combination, a pair of members respectively having ends disposed adjacent each other, a coupling sleeve having opposed ends and being disposed in telescoping relation about said adjacent ends of said members, a pair of annular shims with each shim being in the form of a wedge when viewed in cross section, said shims being respectively deformed into substantially sealing engagement with and between a respective member end and said sleeve to substantially close the spacing between said sleeve and said respective member end, and means securing said deformed shims to said respective member ends and to said sleeve, said means securing said deformed shims to said respective member ends and said sleeve comprises a first and an axially spaced second annular welds at each end of said sleeve, each of said first annular welds extending from an associated end of said sleeve against an associated shim and each of said second annular welds extending from an associated member end and against an associated shim so that each shim is engaged by two annular welds.