Self-adjusting branch piping seal
OwnerR. Clark Lucasinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a branch type seal which is self adjusting for use on existing pipelines of various diameters and materials. The invention includes an adapter with a longitudinal bore which is axially aligned with the hole in the main pipeline. A plurality of deformable retaining fingers extending outward from the adapter engage a compression seal. The retaining fingers are deformed to contour to the pipeline surrounding the hole by a hubbed retainer which places pressure on the retaining fingers deforming the fingers and compression seal against the wall of the pipeline creating a leak proof seal.
Claims8
A self-adjusting branch piping seal device for connecting a branch pipe to a main pipeline having a hole in the wall, the sealing device comprising:
- an adaptor having a longitudinal bore for axial alignment with the hole in the main pipeline and further having a circumferential sealing surface;
- a plurality of retaining fingers flexibly attached to and extending radially outward in circumferentially spaced relation from the adaptor adjacent the sealing surface, the retaining fingers each being deformable in a plane including the axis of the adapter bore;
- a compression seal ring axially aligned with the adaptor and engaged between the retaining fingers and the wall of the pipeline the inner diameter of the compression seal ring sized to contact the sealing surface of the adapter when under compression;
- and
- means for constraining the adaptor in alignment with the hole and exerting force on the fingers radially inwardly with respect to the main pipeline thereby deforming the fingers to compress the seal ring between the fingers and the wall of the pipeline compressing the seal ring in contact with the adaptor sealing surface effectuating a seal between the adaptor and the pipeline wall.
A self-adjusting branch piping seal device for connecting a branch pipe to a main pipeline having a hole in the wall, the sealing device comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical adaptor having a longitudinal bore for axial alignment with the hole in the main pipeline, the adaptor having a circumferential step in the outer diameter proximate the hole in the wall, and at least one circumferential sealing ridge on the outer diameter of the adaptor adjacent the step distal from the hole;
- a first compression seal ring engaging the sealing ridge on an upper inner surface of the compression seal ring and the wall of the pipeline on a lower surface of the seal ring;
- a second pressure seal ring seated in the step and engaging an inner surface of the compression seal ring;
- and
- means for captively compressing the first compression seal ring against the contact with said second pressive seal ring of the pipeline and in wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.