Internal pressure loaded V-seal connector
AssigneeNational Coupling Company, Inc.
InventorRobert E. Smith, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling having an internal pressure-loaded V-seal between a male member and a female member incudes a sleeve member insertable into the female member bore. The V-seal is repeatably positionable in the sleeve member such that insertion of the male member serves to slightly compress the V-seal and thereby preload the seal before pressurization. Upon pressurization of the coupling, the lips of the V-seal are urged to expand longitudinally against the leading face of the male member and an internal shoulder in the sleeve member. The pressurization of the coupling also tends to urge the sleeve member toward the male member, to enhance the seal and to compensate for any tolerances between the coupling halves.
Claims9
An undersea hydraulic coupling having a central axis, comprising:
- a female member having a first bore therethrough, the first bore having a first circumferential shoulder therein;
- a sleeve-like member for sliding insertion into the first bore and being positionable on the first circumferential shoulder, the sleeve-like member having a second bore therethrough, the second bore having a wall and a second circumferential shoulder therein;
- a male member having a leading face, the male member adapted for sealing insertion into the sleeve-like member;
- and
- a first generally ring-shaped metal seal positionable in the second bore between the male member leading face and the second circumferential shoulder, the first metal seal adapted to expand longitudinally in response to fluid pressure in the coupling to form a fluid seal between the second circumferential shoulder and the male member leading face;
- and
- wherein the sleeve-like member is adapted to slide away from the first shoulder and toward the leading face of the male member to enhance the fluid seal in response to fluid pressure in the coupling, the sleeve-like member having a groove about its outer circumference and a second generally ring-shaped metal seal positionable in the groove.
A coupling comprising:
- a female member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and a first internal shoulder intermediate the bore;
- a sleeve member insertable into and sealingly engageable with the longitudinal bore, the sleeve member having a central bore and a second internal shoulder adjacent one end of the central bore, the sleeve member being responsive to internal pressure in the coupling tending to urge the sleeve member to slide longitudinally away from the first internal shoulder, the sleeve member having a groove about its outer circumference and a first generally ring-shaped metal seal positionable in the groove;
- a second generally ring-shaped metal seal having a V-shaped cross-section, the second metal seal being repeatably positionable in the central bore adjacent the second internal shoulder, the second seal being responsive to internal pressure in the coupling tending to urge the V-seal to expand longitudinally;
- a male member insertable into the central bore of the sleeve member and having a leading face sealingly engageable with the second metal seal;
- and
- retaining means adapted to retain the second metal seal in the central bore of the sleeve member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.