# US 12,000,508 B2 · Hammer union > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,508 B2 - Document ID: US12000508B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/626,726 - Filed: 2020-07-15 - Published: 2022-08-18 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-16 - Applicants: James Tausch, Jr. - Inventors: James Tausch, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000508B2 ## CPC - F16L 19/0218: {comprising only sealing rings} - F16L 19/025: the pipe ends having integral collars or flanges - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A hammer union is provided for reducing and, in most instances, eliminating the likelihood of sealing ring displacement during fluid operations. The hammer union comprises a male pipe member, a union nut placed over the male pipe member, a female pipe member, and a sealing ring. The female pipe member includes a sealing pocket having an arcuate portion, a vertical portion, a base, and a recessed groove. The sealing ring is captured between the male pipe member and the female pipe member such that the sealing ring engages the sealing pocket of the female pipe member at each of the arcuate portion, the vertical portion, the base, and the recessed groove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hammer union comprising: a male pipe member; a union nut placed over the male pipe member, a female pipe member, the female pipe member having a sealing pocket, wherein the sealing pocket includes a first portion, a vertical portion, a base, and a recessed groove; and a sealing ring captured between the male pipe member and the female pipe member, where in the sealing ring engages the sealing pocket of the female pipe member at each of the first portion, the vertical portion, the base, and the recessed groove, wherein prior to assembly the sealing ring has a cross-sectional area characterized as a quadrilateral with a lower end and an upper end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hammer union of claim 1, the lower end having two 90 degree corners with one of the 90 degree corners located adjacent to the recessed groove and the upper end having an obtuse angled corner and an acute angled corner with the acute angled corner adjacent to the first portion of the sealing pocket. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hammer union of claim 1, the lower end having an obtuse angled corner and an acute angled corner with the acute angled corner adjacent to the recessed groove and the upper end having two 90 degree corners with one of the 90 degree corners adjacent to the first portion of the sealing pocket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hammer union of claim 1, the lower end having a first obtuse angled corner and a first acute angled corner with the first acute angled corner adjacent to the recessed groove and the upper end having a second obtuse angled corner and a second acute angled corner with the second acute angled corner adjacent to the first portion of the sealing pocket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hammer union of claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is comprised of a polymer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hammer union of claim 5, wherein the sealing ring is comprised of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The hammer union of claim 5, wherein the polymer has a molecular weight of about 100,000 to about 250,000 monomer units per molecule. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hammer union of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the sealing pocket is an arcuate portion. ### Claim 9 A method of assembling a hammer union comprising: sliding a union nut over a male pipe member; positioning a sealing ring within a sealing pocket of a female pipe member, the sealing pocket having a first portion, a vertical portion, a base, and a recessed groove; positioning the female pipe member adjacent to the male pipe member; securing the male pipe member to the female pipe member with the union nut; and deforming the sealing ring by generating an axial force against the union nut thereby forcing and capturing a portion of the sealing ring between the male pipe member and the female pipe member, wherein prior to assembly the sealing ring has a cross-sectional area characterized as a quadrilateral with a lower end and an upper end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein deforming the sealing ring forces at least a portion of the sealing ring into the first portion of the sealing pocket of the female pipe member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein deforming the sealing ring forces at least a portion of the sealing ring into the recessed groove of the sealing pocket of the female pipe member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein deforming the sealing ring forces at least a portion of the sealing ring to engage the vertical portion of the sealing pocket of the female pipe member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein deforming the sealing ring forces at least a portion of the sealing ring into the first portion of the sealing pocket, at least a portion of the sealing ring into the recessed groove of the sealing pocket, and at least a portion of the sealing ring to engage the vertical portion of the sealing pocket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, the lower end having two 90 degree corners with one of the 90 degree corners located adjacent to the recessed groove and the upper end having an obtuse angled corner and an acute angled corner with the acute angled corner adjacent to the first portion of the sealing pocket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The hammer union method of claim 9, wherein the lower end having an obtuse angled corner and an acute angled corner with the acute angled corner adjacent to the recessed groove and the upper end having two 90 degree corners with one of the 90 degree corners adjacent to the first portion of the sealing pocket. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the lower end having a first obtuse angled corner and a first acute angled corner with the first acute angled corner adjacent to the recessed groove and the upper end having a second obtuse angled corner and a second acute angled corner with the second acute angled corner adjacent to the first portion of the sealing pocket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the sealing ring is comprised of a polymer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the sealing ring is comprised of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the polymer has a molecular weight of about 100,000 to about 250,000 monomer units per molecule. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the sealing pocket is an arcuate portion.