Hydraulic coupling with dovetail seal having multiple radial sealing surfaces and inner biasing element
AssigneeNational Coupling Company, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Smith, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An undersea hydraulic coupling member having a ring-shaped seal with multiple sealing surfaces extending radially inwardly therefrom is disclosed. The multiple sealing surfaces help guide the probe of the male coupling member into the female member without the risk of drag or galling of the receiving chamber or metal seal retained therein. The seal has an interfit with reverse inclined shoulders in the female member to restrain the seal from moving radially inwardly due to vacuum or low pressure. The seal also includes an internal biasing element to restrain the seal from moving radially inwardly during de-mating of the coupling members.
Claims20
A female member for coupling with a probe of a corresponding male member to communicate fluid having fluid pressure, the probe having an external surface, the female member comprising:
- a body defining a bore in which the probe is at least partially insertable, the bore defining a recess, the recess having a cylindrical sidewall separated by first shoulders;
- a tubular seal disposed in the recess of the body, the tubular seal having ends and defining a through-bore therein between the ends, the tubular seal having an outer surface configured to position against the cylindrical sidewall of the recess, the through-bore having an inner surface configured to position against the external surface of the probe inserted therein, the ends having second shoulders, the second shoulders being configured to position against the first shoulders of the recess of the body;
- and
- a biasing element disposed circumferentially about the tubular seal, the biasing element being configured to circumferentially bias a portion of the outer surface of the tubular seal toward the cylindrical sidewall of the recess, the portion being situated between the ends of the tubular seal.
A coupling, comprising:
- a male member having a probe to communicate fluid having fluid pressure, the probe having an external surface;
- and
- a female member for coupling with the probe of the male member to communicate the fluid, the female member comprising:
- a body defining a bore in which the probe is at least partially insertable, the bore defining a recess, the recess having a cylindrical sidewall separated by first shoulders;
- a tubular seal disposed in the recess of the body, the tubular seal having ends and defining a through-bore therein between the ends, the tubular seal having an outer surface configured to position against the cylindrical sidewall of the recess, the through-bore having an inner surface configured to position against the external surface of the probe inserted therein, the ends having second shoulders, the second shoulders being configured to position against the first shoulders of the recess of the body;
- and
- a biasing element disposed circumferentially about the tubular seal, the biasing element being configured to circumferentially bias a portion of the outer surface of the tubular seal toward the cylindrical sidewall of the recess, the portion being situated between the ends of the tubular seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.