Pipe joints or couplings – Particular interface – Diverse metal
Patent
1982-07-29
1984-07-10
Callaghan, Thomas F.
Pipe joints or couplings
Particular interface
Diverse metal
164 99, 285412, 285416, F16L 2300
Patent
active
044589247
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to the construction of flange connectors for metal pipe or fittings. Because of the in-line detachability of flanged pipe fittings, and other components, the use of flange connectors is an important consideration in designing any piping system. The inherent higher cost of flange connectors compared with other more permanent connectors or connections requires a judicial use of flanged pipe, fittings or system components such as valves and the like. Any reduction in the cost of flange connectors therefore allows a more liberal use of this desirable type of connector in piping systems.
Various proposals have been made for reducing the cost of flange systems without reduction in quality or operational requirements such as strength and system compatibility. New flange designs should desirably operate compatibly with conventional flanges on standard auxiliary components in a piping system such as valves, pumps, filters and other common system units which carry their own integral flange connectors.
In the patent of Schultz, entitled, "Flange", U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,363, issued Feb. 26, 1974, a flange connector having a convoluted or trough configuration is proposed whereby the conventionally thick flange can be replaced by one of substantially thinner construction at a substantial savings in cost. This may be of particular import as noted in Schultz where the flange consists of expensive material, such as stainless steel. The flange proposed by Schultz was cold formed from a blank in a press operation to the annular trough configuration described.
Advanced casting techniques coupled with design configurations emphasizing strength characteristics have allowed metallic flanges of exceptionally low weight and size to be fabricated. Such flanges are described in the copending application of SCHLICHT and NIDER, Ser. No. 065,522, filed Aug. 10, 1979. In such application, the metal flange constructions were designed to substitute for the cumbersome and expensive plastic-type flanges in plastic pipe systems.
In metal pipe systems conventional flanges are generally fabricated from the same type of material as the pipe. Thus, for example, where high strength steel or stainless steel pipe is utilized, heavy flange connectors of like material are employed to enable use of compatible material for strong welded connections to the pipe or fitting bends. Additionally, the fluid carried by the pipe or the fluid pressure in the pipe may dictate the composition of the flange material. In the case of certain materials, such as stainless steel, these requirements can result in a costly conventional type flange device.
The flange connectors of the present invention are the product of a fabrication process that enables the bulk of the flanges to be fabricated from an inexpensive material which is not dictated by welding requirements, fluid characteristics or pressure requirements. The resultant flange connector is therefore inexpensive and, if desired, fabricated in complex configurations enabled by molding techniques not available to many materials utilized in the piping in a given system. As a collateral advantage, the greater part of the flange connector needs no machining at a savings in not only cost, but in the number of operations required to construct a finished flange connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The flange connectors of this invention are the product of a process which casts the major portion of the flange structure from a first metal material onto a central hub or inset of a second metal material. The resultant bimetallic flange has properties which are not available from fabrication of a flange entirely from either of the metal materials. The composition of the first metal material is preferably a common ductile iron which is inexpensive, easily cast at relatively low temperatures, relatively high in strength and nonbrittle. Unortunately, the material cannot be welded without subsequent impractical and expensive heat treatment. Other castable materials may naturally be used where other propert
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patent: 1716833 (1929-06-01), Rich
patent: 2653211 (1953-09-01), Andrus
patent: 3065535 (1962-11-01), Crehan et al.
patent: 3284112 (1966-11-01), Martin
patent: 3794363 (1974-02-01), Schulz
patent: 3863701 (1975-02-01), Niimi et al.
patent: 3909049 (1975-09-01), Blatnica
patent: 4336958 (1982-06-01), Goetzinger
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