Pipe joints or couplings – Serial,relatively movable portions – Serial diverse single flow path or line
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-12
2004-05-11
Bochna, David (Department: 3679)
Pipe joints or couplings
Serial,relatively movable portions
Serial diverse single flow path or line
C285S376000, C285S360000, C285S143100, C285S090000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733045
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to couplings and adapters for connecting a fluid source to a load or conduit, and, more particularly, pertains to a transition device such as a coupling or adapter that interconnects a hose or conduit to a fire hydrant so that fluid can be conveyed from the hydrant and through the transition device to the hose or conduit.
In general such a device or apparatus is often disposed between the fluid source that may be a tank, container, vat, or hydrant, and the hose, conduit, plumbing, or piping system that is being brought into flow communication with the fluid source. The device or apparatus operates as an intermediate or transition structure to allow for a quick connect and disconnect of, for example, the hose from the fluid source. Such a device or apparatus also permits connection of the hose to the fluid source when a direct attachment cannot be made because of the dissimilar physical configuration between the coupling structure of the fluid source and the coupling structure of the hose, conduit, plumbing or piping system.
Transition or intermediate connection devices are also used with regard to fire hydrants and hoses. In general a typical fire hydrant is a hollow iron structure having an interior vertical chamber that is connected to an underground conduit that is part of a public water system. The fire hydrant includes a number of outlets or hydrant connectors that extend horizontally from the iron structure and which are in flow communication with the interior vertical chamber. The transition device or apparatus interconnects these hydrant connectors to one or more hoses, and allows for the quick connect and disconnect of the hoses from the transition device.
The standard method of connecting the hose to the hydrant connector is for each hydrant manufacturer to provide a brass nozzle, with an interior end engaged with the hydrant connector, and a distal end which projects from the hydrant connector. The various hydrant manufacturers use differing structures on the interior ends of the nozzles to engage them to the hydrant connector, with some being threaded and others having patterns of rectangular-shaped ridges or elevations, sometimes also called interrupted screw lugs. In other words, a notable disadvantage of hydrant nozzles has been that each manufacturer's nozzle is not mounted to the hydrant connector of its hydrants in the same manner as with other manufacturer's hydrants; since there are a multitude of hydrant manufacturers, simplification and standardization in use cannot be easily achieved. On the other hand, the distal ends of the nozzles generally include external threads. The distal end of the nozzle is capped when the hydrant is not in use and a fire hose can be threadedly attached when needed to the distal end of the nozzle. Direct-threaded engagement between the distal end of the nozzle and a hose, however, has a number of drawbacks. It can be difficult to properly align the nozzle and hose to begin the threading process, and a number of complete revolutions must be made to achieve a tight connection. This takes time, which can of course be critical in a fire emergency. There are also different hose thread specifications for different fire hoses, which has proven to be a large obstacle to standardization. It is not unusual to have neighboring communities use fire hoses which are not interchangeable because of the different hose thread specifications, thereby making mutual assistance work difficult. Threaded engagement between the nozzle and hose can also lead to a loss of water and pressure due to leakage from the threaded joint. This can also be critical in a fire. For these and other reasons it is desirable to provide an alternative coupling interface between nozzle and hose, for instance a Storz-type coupling which allows for quick connection and disconnection.
A representative transition apparatus is disclosed in the Kozey patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,444). The Kozey patent discloses a Storz-type coupling which permits a quick connect and disconnect of a hose from a fluid source.
The Kozey coupling includes an inner annular part that is assembled to an outer annular part. The inner annular part includes external threads and a pair of spaced-apart lugs that fit into L-shaped grooves of the outer annular part, and the outer annular part includes internal threads. The parts are assembled together by turning or rotating the lugs within the L-shaped grooves simultaneous with the threadable engagement of the internal and external threads.
However there remains a need for an improved transition device such as a coupling or adapter wherein the parts are mechanically bound together to function as a one piece unit in order to enhance the operation of the transition device when mounted to the hydrant, and to which a hose or conduit with a Storz-type coupling may be connected quickly, saving crucial seconds. There remains a need for an improved transition device which can be manufactured from the stock of nozzle blanks used by hydrant manufacturers. Likewise, there remains a need for an approved transition device which can be conveniently installed at the factory by hydrant manufacturers, thereby encouraging the spread of the use of Storz-type fittings. There also remains a need for a portable transition device which can be carried by fire companies likely to encounter hydrants with different fittings, thereby enabling said companies to use Storz-type fire hoses even on conventional hydrants. There also remains a need for an approved transition device easily adaptable to be used with hydrants of different manufacturers, while providing a reduced lateral extension profile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprehends adapter assemblies for disposition between, and interconnection to, two separate structural members, and, more particularly, comprehends coupling or adapter assemblies that interconnect a fluid source to a conduit, pipe or hose. Although the description herein is primarily directed to outflow applications, such as fire hydrants, it should be readily appreciated that the invention is equally useful in inflow applications, where the conduit, pipe or hose is being used to conduct fluid into a reservoir.
The present invention includes two primary structural elements that can be mechanically bound together in order to function as an integral one-piece unit thereby interconnecting, in its most typical use, a fire hydrant to a fire hose.
The present invention serves as a transition device or coupling assembly, and includes a generally cylindrical adapter or body portion. The adapter portion includes a first source or outlet end and an opposite interior second end. A fluid conveyance bore extends from the first source end to the opposite second end, and the fluid conveyance bore tapers radially inwardly from the first outlet end and then transforms to a uniform diameter whereupon the bore extends to the second interior end maintaining the uniform diameter therethrough. The first outlet end can include either external annular threads or other engagement structure, and at least one exterior rib or flange circumambient the adapter body at a location where the fluid conveyance bore is of uniform diameter. In addition, the adapter body portion includes at least one, and preferably two, annular exterior stepped threaded sections that are adjacent one another and circumjacent that part of the fluid conveyance bore that is of uniform diameter.
The other structural element that is mechanically fixed to the adapter portion in order to form the transition device is a ring portion. The ring portion is a cylindrical structure that includes a ring bore which is coaxially disposed relative to the fluid conveyance bore when the ring portion is adjoined to the adapter body portion. The ring portion also includes at least one, and preferably two, protrusions that are integrally formed from, and extend coaxial to the ring portion, and each protrusion includes a laterally extending lip. The ring
Harrington David T.
Salisbury Gary C.
Bochna David
Harrington, Inc.
Wargo Kenneth W.
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