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.
Claims19
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 inclined shoulders, the first inclined shoulders being inclined toward one another at the bore of the body;
- a tubular seal disposed in the recess of the body and defining a through-bore therein between 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 outer surface having a pair of outer sealing members disposed circumferentially thereabout, the outer sealing members being configured to seal with the cylindrical sidewall of the recess, the ends having second inclined shoulders being inclined toward one another at the through-bore of the tubular seal, the second inclined shoulders being configure to position against the first inclined shoulders of the body;
- and
- a biasing element disposed circumferentially about the inner surface of the tubular seal, the biasing element being configured to circumferentially bias a portion the outer surface of the tubular seal toward the cylindrical sidewall of the recess, the portion being situated between the pair of outer sealing members.
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 inclined shoulders, the first inclined shoulders being inclined toward one another at the bore of the body;
- a valve disposed in bore of the body and being configured to control fluid flow through the bore;
- a tubular seal disposed in the recess of the body and defining a through-bore therein between ends, the tubular seal having an outer surface, the outer surface defining external grooves disposed circumferentially thereabout, the through-bore having an inner surface, the inner surface defining an inner groove disposed circumferential thereabout between the external grooves, the ends having second inclined shoulders being inclined toward one another at the through-bore of the tubular seal, the second inclined shoulders being configure to fit adjacent the first inclined shoulders of the body, the outer surface being configured to fit adjacent the cylindrical sidewall of the recess;
- a pair of outer seal rings disposed in the external grooves defined in the outer surface of the tubular seal, the outer seal rings being configured to seal with the cylindrical sidewall of the recess;
- and
- a spring ring disposed in the inner groove, the spring ring being configured to circumferentially bias a portion the outer surface of the tubular seal toward the cylindrical sidewall of the recess, the portion being situated between the pair of outer seals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.