Hubless Flange
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorPaul J. Schafbuch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hubless flange for a valve body has a cross section which tapers outwardly with radial distance from the center line of the flange for radially equalizing the tangential stress for annular fibers in the flange. The flange includes a plurality of bolt holes and strengthened areas of increased cross section surrounding the bolt holes which also serve as load bearing surfaces for mounting bolts.
Claims13
A hubless flange, that in use does not bear directly on a pipe and does not contact a mating mounting flange or surface of a pipe, having a central opening and an outer periphery, said hubless flange for use with a valve body or the like and having means for engaging the valve body or the like and having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, defined by two tapered sides, that increases as a function of distance from the center of the flange such that the tangential strain generated by forces acting on the flange parallel to the valve body or the like for displaced annular fibers of said flange is substantially equalized.
In combination:
- a first member having a first plurality of mounting means displaced about a first mating surface;
- a second member having a second mating surface for sealing engagement with said first mating surface;
- a hubless flange, loosely mounted on said second member, having a corresponding second plurality of mounting means and including means engageable with said second member;
- and
- means forcefully joining said mounting means of said first member with said mounting means of said hubless flange without contact between said first mounting means and said hubless flange, said hubless flange urging said second mating surface into sealing engagement with said first mating surface;
- said hubless flange having a central opening and an outer periphery and having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, defined by two tapered sides, that increases with increasing distance from its center line whereby tangential strain generated by said forcefully joining means for annular fibers of said hubless flange are radially equalized.
A valve body comprising:
- a cylindrical portion terminating in a mating surface and having an annular groove therein adjacent to said mating surface;
- an annular ring shaped flange having a central opening and an inner and outer periphery and having a recess around its inner periphery positioned on said cylindrical portion;
- a circular split key positioned in said annular groove and nesting within said recess for retaining said flange on said body;
- said flange defining a plurality of mounting holes for reception of mounting studs and being arranged such that when in use it is not in direct contact with a mating mounting structure located opposite said valve body;
- and
- said flange having a substantially trapezoidal cross section that increases with distance from its center line such that the tangential strain generated when the studs are tightened in annular fibers of said flange is substantially equalized throughout said flange, said substantially trapezoidal cross section, at least between said bolt holes, extending from said central opening to said outer periphery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.