Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Guide and support
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-16
2001-02-06
Arola, Dave W. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Guide and support
C285S332000, C285S361000, C285S904000, C029S428000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183019
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a cryogenic fluid conduit coupling device for connecting two cryogenic fluid conduits to allow fluid communication therebetween.
2. Description of Related Art
A cryogenic fluid is a fluid capable of producing very low temperatures. Cryogenic fluids, such as, for example, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, have very low sublimation and/or boiling points. They are capable of absorbing very large amounts of heat to produce very low temperatures in adjacent materials when they change from one state to another, for example, from a liquid or solid state to a gaseous state. In addition, when a compressed gaseous cryogenic fluid is allowed to expand, its temperature decreases and the cryogenic fluid is capable of cooling adjacent materials by absorbing heat from the materials as the compressed fluid expands.
Cryogenic fluids can be useful, for example, in heat exchange apparatus, such as that disclosed in simultaneously filed co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/039,443. However, a coupling device is often necessary in order to couple the conduit of the cryogenic fluid source to the heat exchange apparatus.
Many coupling devices are known for coupling two fluid conduits. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,117,762 to Barcus discloses a device for connecting a section of a hose or conduit to another section or to a hydrant. The device includes cylindrical outer coupling part
1
, which receives a tapered end portion
2
″ of cylindrical inner coupling part
2
. The flow path of the coupling part
1
includes an expansion chamber within which a spring
20
is disposed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,489 to Knapp et al. discloses a hydraulic coupling apparatus for connecting fluid lines of a fluid handling system. The coupling apparatus includes a male coupler
12
and a female coupler
14
. Sleeve portion
16
of the female coupler
14
receives tip portion
17
of the male coupler
12
to assemble the couplers together. An expansion chamber is formed within sleeve
16
as a result of engagement of a pair of flanges
31
and
32
provided on the outer surface of the tip portion
17
of the male coupler and stop surfaces
41
,
42
.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,723 to Schulze et al. discloses a coupler for hose lines of high-pressure cleaning equipment and high-pressure spraying equipment. The coupler includes a hose nipple
2
connected to a hose and surrounded by a sleeve
7
. A connector piece
22
also connected to a hose is received within sleeve
7
to mate with nozzle
2
. Once introduced into the sleeve
7
, a helical compression spring
9
pushes the connector piece away from the hose nipple
2
creating an expansion chamber within the hose nipple
2
.
Each of the above coupling devices is inadequate for use with cryogenic fluids. Fluctuation in the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow path causes compression and/or expansion of the fluid flowing therethrough. Such compression and/or expansion of the fluid results in cold and hot spots in the fluid flow path, which will structurally weaken the coupling device over time and may cause solidification of the fluid causing blockage of the fluid flow path.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, a coupling device is provided which is capable of connecting two cryogenic fluid conduits in fluid communication. The coupling device includes a fluid flow path extending therethrough having a substantially constant cross-sectional area. The coupling device is preferably formed of a material having low thermal conductivity and high resistivity to low temperature. Further, the coupling device is designed to be easy to connect and disconnect, and to provide a secure connection at low temperatures, in particular.
REFERENCES:
patent: 810354 (1906-01-01), Scanlon et al.
patent: 1117762 (1914-11-01), Barcus
patent: 1744367 (1930-01-01), De Loache
patent: 3712583 (1973-01-01), Martindale et al.
patent: 3845974 (1974-11-01), Pelloux-Gervais
patent: 3885595 (1975-05-01), Gibson et al.
patent: 4566489 (1986-01-01), Knapp et al.
patent: 4566723 (1986-01-01), Schulze et al.
patent: 4659116 (1987-04-01), Cameron
patent: 545332 (1922-10-01), None
Arola Dave W.
Life Science Holdings, Inc.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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