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US 2003/0151254 A1Published application
Torus type connector
OwnerBenton F. Baughinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for the connection of pressure vessels utilizing toroidal surfaces to achieve a maximum of contact area sliding parallel to motion of locking segment when achieving high preload to minimize high stress contact points and the resultant wear when subjected to multiple operations and orientation means to cause any wear to be repeatedly in the same area such that selected critical areas will not be subjected to high contact stress wear.
Claims20
A connector for connecting to a pressure vessel with one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces comprising:
- a connector body having a passage extending therethrough and having one or more connector body locking surfaces formed thereon;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking segments adjacent one end of said connector body with one or more first inner surfaces on a first end suitable for engaging said one or more connector body locking surfaces, one or more second inner surfaces on a second end suitable for engaging said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces, and a generally toroidal outer surface,
- a torus drive ring surrounding said locking segments having a generally toroidal curved inner surface for engaging the toroidal curved surface on said locking segments, said torus drive ring having a first position for moving said one or more first inner surfaces into engagement with said connector body and said second inner surfaces into contact with said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces, and said torus drive ring having a second position for moving said one or more second inner surfaces out of engagement with said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces,
- said generally toroidal outer surface on said locking segments having a first portion which conforms to said generally toroidal curved inner surface on said torus drive ring and having a second portion which does not conform to said generally toroidal curved inner surface of said torus drive ring when said torus drive ring moves between said first position and said second position, and
- said one or more connector body locking surfaces are in the shape of a portion of a torus.
2 more elements
A connector for connecting to a pressure vessel with one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces comprising:
- a connector body having a passage extending therethrough and having one or more connector body locking surfaces formed thereon;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking segments adjacent one end of said connector body with one or more first inner surfaces on a first end suitable for engaging said one or more connector body locking surfaces, one or more second inner surfaces on a second end suitable for engaging said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces, and a generally toroidal outer surface,
- a torus drive ring surrounding said locking segments having a generally toroidal curved inner surface for engaging the toroidal curved surface on said locking segments, said torus drive ring having a first position for moving said one or more first inner surfaces into engagement with said connector body and said second inner surfaces into contact with said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces, and said torus drive ring having a second position for moving said one or more second inner surfaces out of engagement with said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces,
- said generally toroidal outer surface on said locking segments having a first portion which conforms to said generally toroidal curved inner surface on said torus drive ring and having a second portion which does not conform to said generally toroidal curved inner surface of said torus drive ring when said torus drive ring moves between said first position and said second position.
1 more element
The invention of claim 12, wherein said orientation means is a post on said connector body and a slot on one or more of said locking segments.
A connector for connecting to a pressure vessel with one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces comprising:
- a connector body having a passage extending therethrough and having one or more connector body locking surfaces formed thereon;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking segments adjacent one end of said connector body with one or more first inner surfaces on a first end suitable for engaging said one or more connector body locking surfaces, one or more second inner surfaces on a second end suitable for engaging said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces, and a generally toroidal outer surface,
- a torus drive ring surrounding said locking segments having a generally toroidal curved inner surface for engaging the toroidal curved surface on said locking segments, said torus drive ring having a first position for moving said one or more first inner surfaces into engagement with said connector body and said second inner surfaces into contact with said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces, and said torus drive ring having a second position for moving said one or more second inner surfaces out of engagement with said one or more pressure vessel locking surfaces, and
- said one or more connector body locking surfaces are in the shape of a portion of a torus.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.