WO2020198021A1

WO2020198021A1 - Threaded coupler systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2020198021A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/023893
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard RAISANEN; Allen DEMARS; Scott Stammer
Original assignee: Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.
Priority date: 2019-03-27
Filing date: 2020-03-20
Publication date: 2020-10-01

Abstract

A coupling is provided that can be used in a cooling system with a heat exchanger that has a nipple extending therefrom. The coupling can have a fitting that includes a flange on a first end with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a retaining member, a seal, and a nut with internal threads and an internal groove that is configured to receive the retaining member. The nut can be configured to thread onto the nipple to urge the retaining member towards the first surface of the flange, and thereby compress the sealing member between the second surface of the flange and the nipple of the cooling system.

Description

THREADED COUPLER SYSTEMS AND METHODS

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U. S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/824,719, titled“Threaded Coupler Systems and Methods” and filed March 27, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In many cooling system applications in which a heat exchanger is used, it may be useful to have a threaded coupling that is capable of being tightened to the heat exchanger, providing a liquid tight seal, and allowing for adjustability with respect to the orientation of the threaded coupling. In some contexts, coupling a pipe fitting to an inlet/outlet of a cooling system requires welding or brazing in a cramped space with limited working space to ensure that a good weld has been achieved. Bad welds can leak or break and can cause damage not only from the release of cooling fluid but also from the resulting overheating of the equipment requiring the cooling.

SUMMARY

[0003] Some embodiments of the invention can provide a coupling for use in a cooling system with a heat exchanger with a nipple extending therefrom. The coupling can have a fitting with a flange. The flange can have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The coupling can further have a retaining member, a sealing member, and a nut with internal threads and an internal groove configured to receive the retaining member. The nut can be configured to be threaded onto the nipple to urge the retaining member towards the first surface of the flange and thereby compress the sealing member between the second surface of the flange and the nipple of the cooling system.

[0004] Other embodiments of the invention can provide a cooling system that can have a heat exchanger with a nipple extending therefrom and a coupling removably attachable to the nipple. The coupling can have a nut configured to be removably engaged with the nipple, with the nut having an internal groove, a fitting with a first end with a flange that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a retention washer configured to be received within the internal groove, and a sealing member. The first end of the flange can be received within the nut with the retention washer positioned within the groove and in contact with the first surface of the flange. The sealing member can be positioned between and in contact with the second surface of the flange and the nipple, and the nut can be tightened onto the nipple to provide a seal at the sealing member.

[0005] Yet other embodiments of the invention can provide a method for coupling a pipe to a threaded nipple of a cooling system using a coupling that includes a nut with an internal groove and internal threads, a seal, and a retaining member. The method can include positioning the retaining member around the fitting, inserting the sealing member into the nut, inserting at least the flange of the fitting into the nut, positioning the retaining member into the internal groove of the nut, and at least partially threading the nut onto the nipple to cause the retaining member to engage with a first surface of the flange. The nut can be tightened with the sealing member interposed between the nipple and a second surface of the flange opposite the first surface, to form a seal at the sealing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a top front isometric view of a heat exchanger with a coupling according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a top front isometric view of the coupling and a pipe shown in FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top rear isometric view of the coupling and the pipe shown in FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a front top isometric exploded view of the heat exchanger and coupling shown in FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a rear top isometric exploded view of the heat exchanger and coupling shown in FIG. 1; [0012] FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of a nut of the coupling of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1 of the coupling coupled to a heat exchanger nipple;

[0014] FIG. 8 is a front top isometric view of the coupling and pipe shown in FIG. 1 and another embodiment of a coupling according to the invention;

[0015] FIG. 9 is a front top isometric exploded view of the coupling, pipe, and heat exchanger shown in FIG. 8; and

[0016] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8 of the coupling and pipe and the coupling coupled to nipples of a heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or“having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms“mounted,”“connected,”“supported,” and“coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and“coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

[0018] The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the invention.

[0019] Some of the discussion below describes a coupling that can be used to provide a liquid tight connection to a heat exchanger. The context and particulars of this discussion are presented as examples only. For example, embodiments of the disclosed invention can be configured in various ways, including with other shapes and arrangements of elements. Similarly, embodiments of the invention can be used with arrangements of heat exchangers or other assemblies in which a liquid tight connection is preferred other than those expressly illustrated or described herein.

[0020] In conventional arrangements, providing a liquid tight connection with a heat exchanger can be achieved through various methods, including soldering, brazing, or welding a coupling to a nipple extending outward from the heat exchanger. Although these conventional arrangements can provide an adequate seal, labor can be fairly intensive for each connection and workspace can be limited, especially when multiple nipples on the heat exchanger are located closely together. Further, conventional arrangements may not permit a coupling (or a coupled pipe) to be rotated after the coupling is secured to the heat exchanger to establish an adequate seal.

[0021] Embodiments of the invention can address these or other issues. For example, in some embodiments, a coupling according to the invention can provide a relatively simple liquid-tight attachment to a nipple of a cooling system without necessarily requiring soldering, welding, or brazing. In some embodiments, a coupling according to the invention can allow for adjustment of the coupling orientation after attachment.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an example coupling 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to an example heat exchanger 10. The heat exchanger 10 includes at least one nipple 12, shown here as a plurality of nipples, with external threads 14, configured to allow fluid to flow in and out of the heat exchanger 10 as heat is removed from the liquid. As detailed below, the coupling 100 can allow a pipe to be secured to the nipple 12, with an appropriate seal and with the pipe at any number of desired orientations.

[0023] The coupling 100 is shown in greater detail as assembled in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in exploded views in FIGS. 4 and 5. The coupling 100 includes a pipe 110, a retaining member 130, a sealing member 140, and a nut 160. The pipe 110 has pipe body 112 with a first end fitting 114 that includes a flange 116. The flange 116 can be integrally formed with the fitting 114 or may be attached through other methods such as soldering, brazing, or welding. The flange 116 has a first surface 118 and a second surface 120 opposite the first surface 118.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling 100 includes the pipe 110, the first end fitting 114, and a second end fitting opposite the first end fitting 114. Further, the first end fitting 114 and the second end fitting have been pre-attached to the pipe 110, so that the coupling 100 as a whole can provide an elbow connection at the nipple 12. In this regard, for example, a connection for the second end fitting, similar the connection described below for the first end fitting, can also be provided to secure the coupling 100 to another pipe, opposite the nipple 12.

[0025] In other embodiments, however, other configurations are possible. For example, some couplings according to the invention can be installed with a fitting, but without a pipe such as the pipe 110 (see discussion below with respect to FIGS. 8-10). In some embodiments, a different pipe (not shown) can be secured, as appropriate, to the fitting, opposite the nipple, including after the coupling has been secured to the heat exchanger.

[0026] The retaining member 130 can be any type of washer or other body that is capable of being inserted into and retained within a groove, an example being a snap-ring as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The sealing member 140 is configured to be received within the nut 160 to provide a seal at the nipple 12. In this regard, for example, the sealing member 140 is configured to radially overlap with both the nipple 12 and the retaining member 130

[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular, the sealing member 140 has an outer diameter and includes a first portion 142 and a second portion 150. The first portion 142 and the second portion 150 are concentric, with the first portion 142 positioned radially outside the second portion 150. [0028] In some embodiments, a sealing member can provide a depth stop, such as may prevent over-compression of sealing materials. For example, the first portion 142 and the second portion 150 of the sealing member 140 can be formed from the different materials, such as metal for the first portion 142 and a compressible polymer for the second portion 150. Further, the second portion 150 can exhibit an uncompressed thickness that is larger than the thickness of the first portion 142. Accordingly, when the sealing member 140 is compressed axially, the second portion 150 can be compressed to provide a seal, until the first portion 142 provides a depth stop, such as may help to ensure optimal sealing.

[0029] In different embodiments, different portions of a sealing member can exhibit different profiles. For example, the first portion 142 includes a uniform thickness, with an inside contact surface 146 and an outside contact surface 148. In contrast, the second portion 150 has a tapered profile with the larger diameter portion closer to the centerline of the sealing member 140. In some configurations, the tapered profile of the second portion 150 can be compressed during tightening of the coupling 100 to provide a better seal.

[0030] Looking at FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of the nut 160 is shown. The nut 160 has a first surface 162 and a second surface 164 opposite the first surface 162, an internal surface 166, a pocket 170 extending along a first portion 168 of the internal surface 166 extending inward from the first surface 162, internal threads 182 extending along a second portion 180 of the internal surface 166 extending inward from the second surface 164 and adjacent to the first portion 168. A groove 176 is provided in the pocket 170, spaced apart by a distance 178 from the second portion 180 and configured to receive the retaining member 130 therein.

[0031] A plurality of notches 188 are provided along and extending inward from a peripheral surface 184 and the first surface 162. In the illustrated embodiment, the notches 188 are formed at an axial end of the nut 160 and are radially and axially open, although other configurations are possible.

[0032] Turning now to FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of the coupling 100 as it is attached to a nipple 12 of the heat exchanger 10 is shown. The internal threads 182 of the nut 160 are configured to mate with the external threads 14 of the nipple 12. The pocket 170 has a diameter and a shoulder 174, whereby the outer diameter of the sealing member 140 is smaller than the diameter of the pocket 170 and at least a portion of the first portion 142 of the sealing member 140 is configured to contact the shoulder 174 when the sealing member 140 is received within the pocket 170.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the internal threads 182 and the external threads 14 are parallel threads. Accordingly, the threads 182, 14 may generally not limit the degree to which the nut 160 can be tightened onto the nipple 12. This may be useful, for example, in order to allow for customizable rotational orientation of the coupling 100 relative to the nipple 12, while still ensuring an appropriate seal at the nipple 12.

[0034] The flange 116 of the fitting 114 and the sealing member 140 are configured to be positioned within the pocket 170 of the nut 160, whereby the combined thickness of the flange 116 and the sealing member 140 is less than the distance 178 between the groove 176 and the second portion 180 of the internal surface 166 (see FIG. 6). The retaining member 130 can be placed within the groove 176, including after insertion of the flange 116 and the sealing member 140, whereby the retaining member 130 retains the flange 116 and the sealing member 140 within the pocket 170.

[0035] With the coupling 100 thus pre-assembled, when the nut 160 is tightened onto the nipple 12, the inside contact surface 146 of the sealing member 140 (see FIG. 5) contacts the nipple 12, the second surface 120 of the flange 116 contacts the outside contact surface 148 of the sealing member 140 (see FIG. 6), and the first surface 118 of the flange 116 contacts the retaining member 130. Thus, for example, the retaining member 130 can urge the flange 116 towards the nipple 12, to compress the sealing member 140, with a liquid-tight seal being thereby effected by the sealing member 140 as it is positioned between the flange 116 of the fitting 114 and the nipple 12 of the heat exchanger 10.

[0036] In some embodiments, accordingly, a liquid-tight seal may not be dependent upon or otherwise require a particular relative orientation between the internal threads 182 of the nut 160 and the external threads 14 of the nipple 12, or a particular relative rotational orientation between the flange 116 (and the fitting 114 generally) and the nipple 12. Continuing to look at FIG. 7, for example, the flange 116 is shown positioned within the pocket 170 of the nut 160 between the retaining member 130 and the sealing member 140 and is configured to rotate relative to those elements. Thus, after the nut 160 is tightened onto the nipple 12, the pipe 110 can be rotated relative to the nipple 12. The ability to rotate the pipe 110 after it is connected to the heat exchanger 10 can provide numerous benefits, including altering the orientation of the pipe 110 after the heat exchanger 10 is installed in a cooling system.

[0037] As also noted above, the plurality of notches 188 are radially and axially open. In some embodiments, this can provide a location in which a conventional spanner wrench or other tool may be received for tightening or loosening the nut 160. For example, because the plurality of notches 188 can be accessed axially and radially relative to the nut 160, the nut 160 can be tightened or loosened by a conventional spanner wrench even though other couplings, connectors, or features of the heat exchanger 10, including an adjacent nipple, are located near the coupling 100 and accessibility for tightening and loosening the nut 160 is limited.

[0038] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate another embodiment of a coupling 200 according to the present invention. In many aspects, the coupling 200 is similar to the coupling 100 described above, and similar numbering in the 200 series is used for the coupling 200. For example, the coupling 200 has a fitting 214 with a flange 216, a retaining member 230 configured as a c-ring, a sealing member 240, and a nut 260. The flange 216 and the sealing member 240 are configured to be positioned within a pocket 270 of the nut 260, with the sealing member 240 opposite the flange 216 from a groove 276 within the nut 260. And the retaining member 230 can be placed within the groove 276, including after insertion of the flange 216 and the sealing member 240, whereby the retaining member 230 retains the flange 216 and the sealing member 240 within the pocket 270.

[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 in particular, the sealing member 240 is similar to the sealing member 140 and includes a first portion 242 and a second portion 250. The first portion 242 and the second portion 250 are concentric, with the first portion 242 positioned radially outside the second portion 250. The sealing member also has an inside contact surface 246 and an outside contact surface 248.

[0040] Similar to the coupling 100, with the coupling 200 pre-assembled as described above, tightening the nut 260 onto the nipple 12 causes the inside surface 246 of the sealing member 240 to engage (e.g., contact) the nipple 12, with a first surface 218 of the flange 216 engaging (e.g., contacting) the outside contact surface 248 of the sealing member 240, and a second surface 220 of the flange 216 engaging (e.g., contacting) the retaining member 230. Thus, for example, the retaining member 230 can urge the flange 216 towards the nipple 12 to compress the sealing member 240, with a liquid-tight seal being thereby effected by the sealing member 240 between the flange 216 of the fitting 214 and the nipple 12 of the heat exchanger 10.

[0041] In some aspects, however, the couplings 100, 200 differ from each other. For example, the fitting 214 of the coupling 200 has a connector portion 222 with threads 224 (see FIG. 9) and a seat 226 (see FIG. 10) against which a gasket 228 can be provided. The connector portion 222 is configured to receive a threaded attachment, with the gasket 228 configured to provide a liquid- tight seal between the attachment and the connector portion 222.

[0042] Some embodiments can provide a method for providing a liquid-tight seal on a nipple of a cooling system. For example, in some embodiments, a coupling comprising a retaining member, a sealing member, a nut, and a fitting with a flange, is provided. The nut has threads configured to interface with threads of the nipple and a groove configured to receive the retaining member.

[0043] The sealing member and the flange are inserted into the nut, and the retaining member is received within the groove. The nut is tightened onto the nipple, whereby the flange and the sealing member are positioned between the nipple and the retaining member. Further tightening of the nut compresses the sealing member between the flange and the nipple, thereby creating a liquid-tight sealed connection.

[0044] In some embodiments, if the flange is not integrally formed with the fitting, the method can contain attaching the flange to the fitting, such as through soldering, brazing, or welding. According to one embodiment of the method, the flange can be attached to the pipe prior to it being received within the nut, to avoid heat from the attachment process causing damage the sealing member.

[0045] In other embodiments, other configurations are possible. For example, certain features and combinations of features that are presented with respect to particular embodiments in discussion above, can be utilized in other embodiments and in other combinations, as appropriate. In this regard, for example, different configurations of the pipe and flange, the nut, the seal, the retaining member, and so on, as presented with respect to the particular described embodiment of the coupling 100 can be implemented in various other embodiments.

[0046] Thus, embodiments of the invention provide improved connection of a nipple of a cooling system with a coupling. In some embodiments, couplings according to the invention can be oriented after being attached to the cooling system, substantially reducing the time and labor that may be required during installation and use, such as by obviating the need to align the coupling as required prior to attachment or having to remove and reattach the coupling if the orientation is incorrect. Further, some embodiments of the invention can be installed in close proximity to other connectors and couplings.

[0047] The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1 A coupling for use in a cooling system with a heat exchanger with a nipple extending therefrom, wherein the coupling comprises:

a fitting with a flange, the flange having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a retaining member;

a sealing member; and

a nut with internal threads and an internal groove configured to receive the retaining member;

the nut configured to be threaded onto the nipple to urge the retaining member towards the first surface of the flange, and thereby compress the sealing member between the second surface of the flange and the nipple of the cooling system.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the sealing member includes of a first material and a second material.

3. The coupling of claim 2, wherein the first material is a metal and the second material is a polymer.

4. The coupling of claim 2, wherein the first and second material are positioned concentrically, with the first material outside of the second material.

5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the flange is integrally formed at an end of the fitting.

6. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the retaining member is a snap ring.

7. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the nut further comprises a plurality of notches extending inward from a nut peripheral surface at an axially outer end of the nut, the plurality of notches being configured to be engaged by a user.

8. A cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger with a nipple extending therefrom;

a coupling removably attachable to the nipple, the coupling comprising:

a nut configured to be removably engaged with the nipple, the nut having an internal groove;

a fitting with a first end with a flange, the flange having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a retention washer configured to be received within the internal groove; and a sealing member;

the first end of the flange being received within the nut, with the retention washer positioned within the internal groove and in contact with the first surface of the flange, the sealing member positioned between and in contact with the second surface of the flange and the nipple, and the nut being tightened onto the nipple to provide a seal at the sealing member.

9. The coupling of claim 8, wherein the sealing member includes of a first material and a second material, the first and second material being positioned concentrically, with the first material outside of the second material; and

wherein the first material is configured to limit compression of the second material as the nut is tightened onto the nipple.

10. The coupling of claim 9, wherein the first material is a metal and the second material is a polymer.

11. The coupling of claim 8, wherein the fitting is configured to be brazed to an external pipe.

12. The coupling of claim 8, wherein the flange is integrally formed with the fitting.

13. The coupling of claim 8, wherein the fitting includes threads spaced apart from the flange to engage a threaded pipe.

14. The coupling of claim 8, wherein the nut further comprises a plurality of radially and axially open notches extending inward from a nut peripheral surface.

15. A method for coupling a pipe to a threaded nipple of a cooling system using a coupling that includes a nut with an internal groove and internal threads, a sealing member, a retaining member, and a fitting with a flange having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the method comprising:

positioning the retaining member around the fitting;

inserting the sealing member into the nut;

inserting at least the flange of the fitting into the nut;

positioning the retaining member into the internal groove of the nut;

at least partially threading the nut onto the threaded nipple to cause the retaining member to engage with the first surface of the flange;

tightening the nut onto the threaded nipple, with the sealing member interposed between the threaded nipple and the second surface of the flange opposite the first surface, to form a seal at the sealing member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sealing member consists of a first material and a second material.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

tightening the nut to a predetermined torque value to form the seal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

brazing the pipe to the fitting.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the flange is integrally formed with the fitting.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

after tightening the nut onto the threaded nipple, threading the pipe onto the fitting opposite the nut from the flange.