Pumps – Expansible chamber type – Having pumping chamber pressure responsive distributor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-02
2001-03-13
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Expansible chamber type
Having pumping chamber pressure responsive distributor
C285S124100, C285S343000, C285S353000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200113
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to coupling of components in flow assemblies.
Tubing for delivering fluids must often be coupled with other components of a flow assembly, such as a valve.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
illustrate a prior art coupling device
10
for coupling tubing to a check valve. Device
10
defines two cylindrical bores
12
a
,
12
b
, has a check valve
14
between bores
12
a
,
12
b
, and defines two holes
16
a
,
16
b
connecting bores
12
a
,
12
b
to check valve
14
. Two tubing apparatuses
18
a
,
18
b
have internal tubes
20
a
,
20
b
, internal conical surfaces
22
a
,
22
b,
external conical surfaces 24
a
,
24
b,
and external threads
26
a
,
26
b
for mating with internal threads
28
a
,
28
b
of bores
12
a
,
12
b
. Internal tubes
20
a
,
20
b
define two openings
30
a
,
30
b
and have two sealing faces
31
a
,
31
b
. In operation, apparatuses
18
a
,
18
b
are threadingly engaged with bores
12
a
,
12
b
. External conical surfaces
24
a
,
24
b
press against internal conical surfaces
22
a
,
22
b,
such that faces
31
a
,
31
b
seal around holes
16
a
,
16
b
. Since internal threads
28
a
,
28
b
are within cylindrical bores and extend to the flat bottoms of the bores (“blind holes”), they can be difficult to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a fluid coupling assembly including a first connection member, a second connection member, and a flow sealing member. The first connection member has an exterior surface, an interior surface and a threaded through hole from the exterior surface to the interior surface. The second connection member has a first sealing surface facing the interior surface of the first connection member, and a first flow passage. The first sealing surface is rigidly fixed with respect to the first connection member. The flow sealing member has external threads that mate with the threaded through hole, a second flow passage aligned with the first flow passage of the first member, and a second sealing surface that seals with the first sealing surface around the first and second flow passages upon application of sealing force via rotation of the external threads in the threaded hole.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The flow sealing member further includes an outer tightening member and an inner flow tube. The inner flow tube is disposed within an internal bore, and defines the second flow passage therethrough. Application of the sealing force causes sealing of the inner flow tube to the outer member. The outer tightening member has the external threads and has an inner conical surface around the internal bore.
The flow sealing member further includes a plastic deformable sealer which can be separable from the tightening member. The deformable sealer has an outer conical surface facing the inner conical surface and carrying the second sealing surface. The inner flow tube passes through the deformable sealer. Application of the sealing force via rotation of the external threads in the threaded hole causes sealing of the inner flow tube to the sealer and sealing of the sealer to the outer tightening member.
The second connection member includes a circular lip carrying the first sealing surface, and the first connection member has a circular opening for receiving the lip.
The second connection member includes a registration structure for aligning the first flow passage with the threaded through hole of the first connection member. The registration structure is a threaded bore communicating with the first sealing surface, and the first connection member has a clearance hole for aligning with the threaded bore.
The first and second connection members are made from a rigid material, such as metal, and the flow sealing member is made from a material less rigid than the first and second connection members, such as plastic.
The assembly has a plurality of flow sealing members, the first connection member has a plurality of threaded through holes for mating with the external threads of the flow sealing members, and the second connection member has a plurality of first flow passages for aligning with the second flow passages of the flow sealing members. For example, the assembly has two flow sealing members, two threaded through holes, and two first passages for aligning with the two second flow passages. For communicating with the two first flow passages, the sealing surface of the second connection member has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet have different sizes, e.g., the inlet is larger than the outlet. A registration structure offset from the inlet and outlet aligns the two first flow passages with the two threaded through holes of the first connection member.
The second connection member further includes two check valves disposed in the two first flow passages. The first check valve prevents flow in a first direction, and the second check valve prevents flow in a second direction.
The two flow sealing members include a larger flow sealing member and a smaller flow sealing member. The two threaded through holes include a larger threaded through hole for mating with the larger flow sealing member, and a smaller threaded through hole for mating with the smaller flow sealing member.
The first and second sealing surfaces comprise a generally conical shape, and the second sealing surface is disposed on the outer tightening member.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a flow assembly having a flow source, a flow destination, and a pump for delivering substance via a flow path from the source to the destination. In addition, the assembly has a fluid coupling assembly disposed within the flow path between the source and the destination. The coupling assembly includes a first connection member, a second connection member, and two flow sealing members. The connection member has an exterior surface, an interior surface and two threaded through holes from the exterior surface to the interior surface. The second connection member has a first sealing surface rigidly fixed with respect to the first member, facing the interior surface and two first flow passages. The two flow sealing members have external threads that mate with the two threaded through holes, two second flow passages aligned with the first flow passages of the first member, and two second sealing surfaces that seal with the first sealing surface around the first and second flow passages upon application of sealing force via rotation of the external threads in the threaded hole.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The flow sealing members have inner flow tubes. The inner flow tube of one of the sealing members connects to the flow source, and the inner flow tube of the other sealing member connects to the flow destination.
Embodiments of the invention may have one or more of the following advantages. The assembly avoids the necessity of including threading on the inside of a “blind hole” (threading extending to a flat bottom of a bore). The threaded through holes of the first connection member are easier to manufacture than a threaded blind hole.
The fluid coupling assembly is easily adaptable for coupling different types of components. For example, the coupling assembly can be used to couple tubing to receiving components other than check valves.
The components of the flow sealing member can be standard, commercially available products.
REFERENCES:
patent: 954177 (1910-04-01), Fleming
patent: 1638114 (1927-08-01), Dunlap et al.
patent: 2195547 (1940-04-01), Vickers et al.
patent: 2510125 (1950-06-01), Meakin
patent: 2926027 (1960-02-01), Marquis, Jr.
patent: 3001802 (1961-09-01), Rebman et al.
patent: 3250225 (1966-05-01), Taplin
patent: 3375026 (1968-03-01), Szohatzky
patent: 3476412 (1969-11-01), Demler, Sr.
patent: 3830405 (1974-08-01), Jaeger
patent: 4862911 (1989-09-01), Tie
patent: 5011382 (1991-04-01), Thompson
patent: 5350200 (1994-09-01), Pete
Dyax Corp.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Gray Michael K.
Thorpe Timothy S.
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