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AssigneeFlow International Corporation
InventorsJordan J. Hopinks, Olivier L. Tremoulet, Jr., Larry G. Pearson
Estimating the term…
Components, assemblies and methods for creating seals in ultrahigh pressure fluid containment systems, are shown and described. Embodiments of the invention allow abutting components of like materials to be compressed against each other without the need of an intermediate gasket or other structure, and reduce relative movement between the abutting parts to increase the useful life of the components. Embodiments of the invention incorporate a first component with a tapered mouth having a curved cross-sectional profile, and a complementary component having a mouth with a linear cross-sectional profile. The profiles contact each other at a tangential contact angle ranging between 40 and 68 degrees with respect to the radial axis of the components.
A pair of adjacent components from a containment system for fluids at pressures in excess of 15,000 psi, providing a seal between the adjacent components without the need for an insert therebetween, the adjacent components being aligned along a coupling axis, the pair of adjacent components comprising:
A fitting for sealing a fluid at a pressure greater than or equal to 15,000 psi between the fitting and a vessel, without requiring an insert therebetween, the vessel having a vessel bore extending along a longitudinal axis, the vessel bore terminating in a tapered mouth for engaging the fitting, the tapered mouth having a linear cross-sectional profile and being radially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and comprising a metallic material for contacting the fitting, the fitting comprising:
A fitting for sealing a fluid at a pressure greater than or equal to 15,000 psi between the fitting and a vessel, without requiring an insert therebetween, the vessel having a vessel bore extending alone a longitudinal axis, the vessel bore terminating in a tapered mouth for engaging the fitting, the tapered mouth being radially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and comprising a metallic material for contacting the fitting, the fitting comprising:
A vessel formed of a metallic material for containing a fluid at a pressure greater than or equal to 15,000 psi, the vessel being sealed by a fitting of a metallic material, without requiring an insert therebetween, the fitting having a first tapered engagement portion for engaging the vessel along a coupling axis, the first tapered engagement portion having a convex, curved cross-sectional profile, the vessel comprising:
A vessel formed of a metallic material for containing a fluid at a pressure greater than or equal to 15,000 psi, the vessel being sealed by a fitting of a metallic material, without requiring an insert therebetween, the fitting having a first tapered engagement portion for engaging the vessel along a coupling axis, the vessel comprising:
A method for forming a fluid-tight seal in an ultrahigh pressure fluid containment system for containing fluid at a pressure greater than or equal to 15,000 psi, without the need for a gasket or other insert, the method comprising:
A method for forming a fluid-tight seal in an ultrahigh pressure fluid containment system for containing fluid at a pressure greater than or equal to 15,000 psi, without the need for a gasket or other insert, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.