Connector fitting locking and sealing arrangements

In a fitting having a first threaded member and a second threaded member joined in axially aligned threaded relation with said first member to a desired arcuate position relative to said first member, said members each having an axially extending part thereof which is diametrically greater than the mating threads of either of said members, said diametrically greater axially extending parts being axially juxtaposed when said members are in said desired arcuate position;

• the improvement including locking arrangement means for removably locking said first and second members against relative arcuate movements at a relative arcuate position of said members which is within a predetermined arcuate degree range of said desired arcuate position, said locking arrangement means comprising:
• at least one longitudinally extending first recess formed in said outer surface of said first threaded member and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second recesses formed in said outer surface of said second threaded member,
• said recesses having matable keyhole shaped cross sections each of which is defined by a quadrangular cross section outer portion connecting with a radially inner circular portion, said first and second recesses having in cross section at least portions thereof by which said at least one first recess is selectively longitudinally alignable with at least one of said second recesses in increments of relative arcuate movements of said first and second members to define at least one alignment set of recesses formed by one of said at least one first recesses and one of said second recesses so that at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set is attained within said predetermined arcuate degree range of said desired arcuate position;
• and insert means inserted into said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses, said insert means and said first and second recesses of said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses having means cooperating to secure said insert means in said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses, locking said insert means against radial removal from said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses and resisting longitudinal removal of said insert means from said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses, said insert means preventing relative arcuate movements of said first member and said second member, said insert means being removable from said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses so that said first and second members may be arcuately moved relative to each other.

In a fitting having an externally threaded first member and an internally threaded second member having axially aligned bores therein for receiving a circular member such as a pipe, tube or rod, said second member being joined in axially aligned threaded relation with said first member to a desired arcuate position relative to said first member, said members each having an axially extending part thereof which is diametrically greater than the threads of either of said members, said diametrically greater axially extending parts of said first and second members respectively having first and second axially juxtaposed ends when said members in said desired arcuate position and said second member having another end axially opposite said second axially disposed end;

• the improvement including:
• locking arrangement means for removably locking said first and second members against relative arcuate movements at a relative arcuate position of said members which is within a predetermined arcuate degree range of said desired arcuate position
• and sealing means for sealing the internal and external threads of said first and second threaded members against physical damage and contamination by foreign material,
• said locking arrangement means comprising:
• at least one longitudinally extending first recess formed in said outer surface of said first threaded member and defined by first radially extending recess walls and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second recesses formed in said outer surface of said second radially extending threaded member and defined by second recess walls, said first and second recesses having in cross section at least portions thereof by which said at least one first recess is selectively longitudinally alignable with at least one of said second recesses in increments of relative arcuate movements of said first and second members to define at least one alignment set of recesses formed by one of said at least one first recesses and one of said second recesses so that at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set is attained within said predetermined arcuate degree range of said desired arcuate position;
• and insert means inserted into said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses and having outer surface means in surface engagement with at least some of said first and second radially extending recess walls so as to fill at least portions of said first and second recesses, said insert means and said first and second recesses of said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses having locking means including said outer surface means and said at least some of said first and second radially extending recess walls in surface engagement therewith, said locking means cooperating to secure said insert means in said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses and locking said insert means against radial removal from said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses and resisting longitudinal removal of said insert means from said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses, said insert means preventing relative arcuate movements of said first member and said second member, said insert means being removable from said at least one such selected longitudinal alignment set of recesses so that said first and second members may be arcuately moved relative to each other;
• and said sealing means comprising a reduced diameter portion of said second member forming said second member other end, a first seal in said reduced diameter portion and a second seal in said first member bore adapted to be in sealing relation with the circular member when the circular member is received in said fitting, said first and second seals sealing said axially aligned bores against contamination and said second member other end protecting the internal and the external threads of said members against physical damage and contamination.