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US 12,247,765 B2Granted
Leak-resistant coupling for solar heater
AssigneeAquatherm Industries, Inc.
InventorJ. David Sizelove
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is an improved coupling for preventing water leakage in heating systems that include solar collector panels which incorporate plastic or rubber tubes that are connected to inlet and outlet water manifolds. The couplings are reinforced, dual durometer materials that are flexible enough to form a strong seal to any cylindrical tubes or pipes utilized in the heating system as well as rigid enough to tolerate the expansion and contraction of the coupling body during extreme conditions of use.
Claims23
A coupling for connecting cylindrical bodies, said coupling comprising:
- a) a unitary, hollow, annular body forming first and second cylindrical openings for surrounding a cylindrical body and to thereby facilitate forming a fluid-tight seal between the coupling and the cylindrical body, the unitary annular body comprising a medial portion, a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, wherein said first and second lateral portions are integrally connected at opposite ends of said medial portion, the medial portion being made from a first material having a first durometer value, and each of the first and second lateral portions being made from a second material having a second durometer value, wherein said second durometer value is lower than said first durometer value;
- b) exterior annular clamp positioning rings integrally formed with each of the first and second lateral portions of the unitary annular body, the annular clamp positioning rings comprising said second material, wherein each of said exterior annular clamp positioning rings extends from the exterior surface of said first and second lateral portions of the unitary annular body;
- and
- c) an interior reinforcing ring integrally formed with said medial portion of said annular body, said ring comprising said first material;
- and
- wherein said coupling is formed by a process that comprises compression molding together a medial slug of said first material that is positioned in between two lateral slugs of said second material, wherein each of the slugs are first pre-heated in an oven prior to compression molding them together in a mold, whereby said compression molding merges the medial slug and the two lateral slugs into said unitary, hollow, annular body.
3 more elements
A process for forming a coupling for connecting cylindrical bodies, said coupling comprising:
- a) a unitary, hollow, annular body forming first and second cylindrical openings for surrounding a cylindrical body and to thereby facilitate forming a fluid-tight seal between the coupling and the cylindrical body, the unitary annular body comprising a medial portion, a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, wherein said first and second lateral portions are integrally connected at opposite ends of said medial portion, the medial portion being made from a first material having a first durometer value, and each of the first and second lateral portions being made from a second material having a second durometer value, wherein said second durometer value is lower than said first durometer value;
- b) exterior annular clamp positioning rings integrally formed with each of the first and second lateral portions of the unitary annular body, the annular clamp positioning rings comprising said second material, wherein each of said exterior annular clamp positioning rings extends from the exterior surface of said first and second lateral portions of the unitary annular body;
- and
- c) an interior reinforcing ring integrally formed with said medial portion of said annular body, said ring comprising said first material;
- and
- wherein said process comprises compression molding together a medial slug of said first material that is positioned in between two lateral slugs of said second material, wherein each of the slugs are first pre-heated in an oven prior to compression molding them together in a mold, whereby said compression molding merges the medial slug and the two lateral slugs into said unitary, hollow, annular body.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.