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US 4,234,215 AGranted
Rotary pipe joint
AssigneeE-Systems, Inc.
InventorLee E. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure-tight, rotary pipe coupling joins rotating, high temperature fluid transmission lines. Pressure seals of the coupling are maintained at a temperature lower than that of the high temperature or primary transmitted fluid by thermally insulating the seals from the high temperature fluid and by pumping a fluid coolant through annular cavities located adjacent the seals. A balanced pressure structure substantially eliminates thrust forces between the coupling members and reduces rotating friction.
Claims21
A rotary pipe joint comprising:
- (a) a first tubular member having a transversely disposed fluid transmission port,
- (b) a second tubular member disposed within said first tubular member and coaxially rotatable relative to said first tubular member,
- (c) fluid transmission means having an axis coplanar with the axis of said fluid transmission port and connecting the interior of said second tubular member to said fluid transmission port,
- (d) first pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member to one side of the fluid transmission port,
- (e) second pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member to the same side of the fluid pressure port as said first pressure sealing means and displaced therefrom,
- (f) third pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member to the opposite side of the fluid transmission port as said first and second pressure sealing means,
- (g) fourth pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member to the same side of the fluid transmission port as said third pressure sealing means and displaced therefrom,
- (h) means for cooling said first and second pressure sealing means by applying a coolant therebetween,
- (i) second means for cooling said third and fourth pressure sealing means by applying a coolant therebetween, and
- (j) means for interconnecting said first and second means for cooling.
7 more elements
A rotary pipe joint having a cooled pressure seal, comprising:
- (a) a first tubular member having,
- (i) a first fluid transmission port disposed through the wall of said first tubular member,
- (ii) a second fluid transmission port disposed through the wall of said first tubular member,
- (iii) a first annular groove disposed circumferentially within the interior surface of said first tubular member and in fluid communication with said second fluid transmission port,
- (iv) a second annular groove disposed circumferentially within the interior surface of said first tubular member and spaced from said first annular groove, and
- (v) first fluid communication means connecting said first annular groove and said second annular groove,
- (b) a second tubular member disposed substantially within said first tubular member comprising,
- (i) an outer tubular member disposed adjacent the interior surface of said first tubular member,
- (ii) an inner tubular member spaced inside of and coaxial with said outer tubular member,
- (iii) a first flange joined to said outer tubular member and to said inner tubular member,
- (iv) a second flange joined to said first flange to form an annular cavity in fluid communication with said first fluid transmission port in said first tubular member,
- (v) second fluid communication means connecting the interior of said inner tubular member to said annular cavity,
- (vi) a third tubular member joined to said second flange, coaxial with said outer tubular member, adjacent the interior surface of said first tubular member, and having a third fluid transmission port disposed therein,
- (c) third fluid communication means connecting said second annular groove to said third fluid transmission port,
- (d) a first sealing ring disposed between the inner surface of said first tubular member and the outer surface of said second tubular member, coaxial with said first tubular member and disposed essentially adjacent said first annular groove, and
- (e) a second sealing ring disposed between the inner surface of said first tubular member and the outer surface of said third tubular member, coaxial with said first tubular member and disposed essentially adjacent said second annular groove.
13 more elements
A rotary pipe joint comprising:
- (a) a first tubular member having a transversely disposed fluid transmission port,
- (b) a second tubular member disposed within said first tubular member and coaxially rotatable relative to said first tubular member,
- (c) first fluid transmission means connecting the interior of said second tubular member to said fluid transmission port,
- (d) first pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member,
- (e) second pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member opposite said fluid transmission port from said first pressure sealing means,
- (f) a first annular groove disposed within the interior surface of said first tubular member adjacent said first pressure sealing means,
- (g) a second annular groove disposed within the interior surface of said first tubular member adjacent said second pressure sealing means,
- (h) second fluid transmission means connecting said first annular groove to said second annular groove,
- (i) a first fluid conduit joined to said first tubular member and in fluid communication with said first annular groove, and
- (j) a second fluid conduit joined to said first tubular member and in fluid communication with said second annular groove.
7 more elements
A rotary pipe joint comprising:
- (a) a first tubular member having a transversely disposed fluid transmission port,
- (b) a second tubular member disposed within said first tubular member and coaxially rotatable relative to said first tubular member,
- (c) fluid transmission means connecting the interior of said second tubular member to said fluid transmission port,
- (d) first pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member to one side of the fluid transmission port,
- (e) second pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member to the same side of the fluid pressure port as said first pressure sealing means and displaced therefrom,
- (f) third pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and second tubular member to the opposite side of the fluid transmission port as said first and second pressure sealing means,
- (g) fourth pressure sealing means disposed between said first tubular member and said second tubular member to the same side of the fluid transmission port as said third pressure sealing means and displaced therefrom,
- (h) means for cooling said first and second pressure sealing means by applying a coolant therebetween,
- (i) second means for cooling said third and fourth pressure sealing means by applying a coolant therebetween,
- (j) means for interconnecting said first and second means for cooling,
- (k) first insulation means disposed in said second tubular member to one side of said fluid transmission port, and
- (l) second insulation means disposed in said second tubular member to the other side of said fluid transmission port from said first insulation means.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.