US 5,529,284 A · Reusable pipe union assembly with automatic fluid flow checking

Abstract

A pipe union assembly with embodiments which are capable of use over a very wide temperature range and which may be cycled through temperatures varying widely from the ambient assembly temperature and also over a wide range of pressures without the need to be retightened. Embodiments of the invention also include structures to automatically check the flow of fluids from the components of the pipe union upon disassembly of the union. The pipe union generally comprises one or more fitting members and a sealing member. The sealing member receives a ridge formed on each fitting member in a sealing fashion. One or more external sleeves hold the fitting member and the sealing member in sealing engagement. The materials from which each fitting member and sealing member are fabricated may be chosen so as to exhibit the proper hardness characteristics and thermal expansion coefficients. A compensating washer is also provided to increase compensation for thermal contractions at low temperatures. Embodiments are provided with restraining clips which are placed in grooves provided on the exterior of the fitting members so as to allow breaking of the sealing engagement and dissipation of any residual pressure before the union is completely disassembled.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A pipe union assembly for coupling a first pipe member to a second pipe member, the pipe union comprising:

(a) a hollow first fitting member having a first end, a second end, and means for attaching the first fitting member at the first end thereof to the first pipe member;
(b) a truncated tapered ridge peripherally formed at the second end of the first fitting member, the truncated tapered ridge having two opposing flat sides, each of said sides being oriented at an angle in a range from about 6.degree. to about 8.degree. with respect to a central axis of the first fitting member;
(c) a hollow rigid sealing member having a first tapered channel peripherally formed on a first end, the first tapered channel being defined in part by two flat tapered walls, the walls being oriented with respect to a central axis of the sealing member at an angle which is substantially equal to the angle at which the sides of the tapered ridge are oriented with respect to the central axis of the fitting member, the first tapered channel also being configured to receive in sealing engagement the tapered ridge such that the truncated tapered ridge does not completely penetrate the first tapered channel;
and
(d) securing means for selectively applying pressure to the first fitting member to hold the truncated tapered ridge in sealed engagement with the first tapered channel such that the sealing engagement is maintained while the pipe union undergoes thermal cycling.

2 more elements

A pipe union assembly for providing a sealed engagement between a first pipe member and a second pipe member, the pipe union assembly comprising:

(a) a hollow first fitting member having a first end, a second end, and means for attaching the first fitting member at the first end thereof to the first pipe member;
(b) a truncated tapered ridge comprising two nonparallel sides, the truncated tapered ridge peripherally formed at the second end of the first fitting member, at least one of the nonparallel sides being oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to a central axis of the first fitting member;
(c) a hollow rigid sealing member having a first end, a second end, and a tapered channel peripherally formed at the second end, the tapered channel comprising two nonparallel walls oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to a central axis of the hollow rigid sealing member, the walls of the tapered channel being configured to sealingly engage the sides of the truncated tapered ridge, and the walls of the tapered channel also being sufficiently rigid and having a hardness value in a range from about 5 Brinell units to about 200 Brinell units different than a hardness value of the sides of the truncated tapered ridge such that both the sides of the truncated tapered ridge and the walls of the tapered channel resist any substantial macroscopic deformation after the truncated tapered ridge is sealingly engaged within the tapered channel and the sealing engagement is maintained as the pipe union assembly is subjected to thermal cycling.

A pipe union assembly comprising:

(a) a hollow first fitting member having an exterior surface extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the first fitting member further comprising a truncated tapered ridge peripherally projecting from the second end, the tapered ridge comprising two nonparallel sides with at least one of the nonparallel sides being oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to a central axis of the first fitting member;
(b) a hollow second fitting member having an exterior surface extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the second fitting member further comprising a truncated tapered ridge peripherally projecting from the second end, the tapered ridge comprising two nonparallel sides with at least one of the nonparallel sides being oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to the central axis of the first fitting member;
and
(c) a hollow rigid sealing member positioned between the tapered ridge of the first fitting member and the tapered ridge of the second fitting member, the sealing member comprising:
(i) a first end face having an annular tapered channel recessed therein, the tapered channel comprising two nonparallel walls oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to a central axis of the sealing member, the walls of the tapered channel being configured to sealingly engage the tapered ridge of the first fitting member;
and
(ii) a second end face having an annular tapered channel recessed therein, the tapered channel comprising two nonparallel walls oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to the central axis of the sealing member, the walls of the tapered channel being configured to sealingly engage the tapered ridge of the second fitting member, the walls of each tapered channel being sufficiently rigid and having a hardness value in a range from about 5 Brinell units to about 200 Brinell units different than a hardness value for the nonparallel sides of each tapered ridge such that both the nonparallel sides of each tapered ridge and the walls of each tapered channel resist any substantial macroscopic deformation after each tapered ridge is sealingly engaged within each corresponding tapered channel and the sealing engagement is maintained as the pipe union assembly is subjected to thermal cycling;
and
(d) securing means for applying pressure to the first and second fitting member to hold each tapered ridge in sealed engagement with each corresponding tapered channel such that the sealing engagement is maintained while the pipe union undergoes thermal cycling.

6 more elements

A pipe union assembly comprising:

(a) a hollow first fitting member having an exterior surface extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the first fitting member further comprising:
(i) a truncated tapered ridge peripherally projecting from the second end, the tapered ridge comprising two nonparallel sides with at least one of the nonparallel sides being oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to the central axis of the first fitting member;
and
(ii) a set of engagement threads positioned on a portion of the exterior surface of the first fitting member;
(b) a hollow second fitting member having an exterior surface extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the second fitting member further comprising:
(i) an annular truncated tapered ridge projecting from the second end, the tapered ridge comprising two nonparallel sides with at least one of the nonparallel sides being oriented at an angle in the range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to a central axis of the first fitting member;
and
(ii) an annular ring encircling and radially extending outward from the exterior surface, the annular ring having an outer diameter;
(c) a hollow sleeve having a first end, an opposing second end, and an interior surface defining a passageway longitudinally extending between the first end and the second end, the interior surface also having:
(i) a set of engagement threads positioned at the first end for complementary engagement with the engagement threads on the exterior surface of the first fitting member;
and
(ii) an annular lip positioned at the second end and radially projecting inwards, the annular lip having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the annular ring on the exterior surface of the second fitting member;
and
(d) a hollow rigid sealing member freely positioned within the sleeve between the tapered ridge of the first fitting member and the tapered ridge of the second fitting member, the sealing member comprising:
(i) a first end face having an annular tapered channel recessed therein, the tapered channel comprising two nonparallel walls oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to a central axis of the hollow rigid sealing member, the walls of the tapered channel being configured to sealingly engage the tapered ridge of the first fitting member;
and
(ii) a second end face having an annular tapered channel recessed therein, the tapered channel comprising two nonparallel walls oriented at an angle in a range from about 2.degree. to about 12.degree. in relation to the central axis of the hollow rigid sealing member, the walls of the tapered channel being configured to sealingly engage the tapered ridge of the second fitting member, the walls of each tapered channel being sufficiently rigid and having a hardness value in a range from about 5 Brinell units to about 200 Brinell units different than a hardness value for the nonparallel sides of each tapered ridge such that both the nonparallel sides of each tapered ridge and the walls of each tapered channel resist any substantial macroscopic deformation after each tapered ridge is sealingly engaged within each corresponding tapered channel and the sealing engagement is maintained as the pipe union assembly is subjected to thermal cycling.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reusable pipe union assembly with automatic fluid flow checking

Life of this patent

Reusable pipe union assembly with automatic fluid flow checking

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30