High integrity flange connection arrangement
AssigneeUMC Industries, Inc.
InventorsIrving D. Press, Harvey R. Nickerson, Helm A. Rink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Connection between flange faces is effected with a rigid metal load bearing ring interposed therebetween for assuming the bolt torquing load and, when desired, for providing a fluid seal. Within said load bearing ring are disposed at least one coned ring spring and a force distributing ring for developing a predetermined sealing force against a flare of non-metallic material, usually a plastic. The flare may be at the end of a pipe or fitting liner or associated with an auxiliary or adapter seal. The spring provides automatic compensation for any cold or hot flow of the material within the flare so as to maintain a fluid seal between said flare and a mating surface.
Claims26
An arrangement for establishing a fluid-tight seal between the faces of an assembled piping system flange connection, said arrangement comprising a rigid metal load bearing ring sized to fit between said flange faces with an inside diameter larger than the diameter of the fluid passage through said piping system at said connection and with a predetermined axial length for engaging said flange faces upon assembly of said flange connection for establishing a cavity of predetermined size bounded by said flange faces, said inside diameter and said diameter of said fluid passage;
- and an assemblage of components comprising at least one subset consisting of a coned ring spring, a force distributing ring, and a radial flare from a tubular element of non-metallic material, said force distributing ring being located between and adjacent said radial flare and said coned ring spring, said assemblage being disposed within said load bearing ring for location within said cavity upon its establishment, the dimension in the axial direction and the configuration of said components of said assemblage being related to the axial direction dimensions of said load bearing ring such that when said assemblage and said load bearing ring are installed in said cavity in said flange connection along with a predetermined number, including zero, of other radial flares from tubular elements of non-metallic material associated with said flange connection, and with the radial flare of said subset in contact with a respective mating surface, in said subset said coned ring spring will be partially compressed for exerting a predetermined force through said adjacent force distributing ring against said adjacent radial flare to urge said adjacent radial flare into fluid sealing engagement with said mating surface.
An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said assemblage consists of an axial spacer ring in addition to two of said subsets, with said spacer ring being located between said coned ring springs for engagement therewith, there is none other radial flare, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=2(A+B+C+xD)+E, to a close approximation where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said subset radial flares, said force distributing rings, and said coned ring springs, D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity, and E is the length of said axial spacer ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.