Pipe joints or couplings – Convertible
Patent
1994-06-14
1995-03-28
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
Convertible
285 24, 285363, 285 84, 285 87, 285330, F16L 2500
Patent
active
054010624
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a pipe coupling of the kind in which a fluid-tight coupling is made by securing together in proper mating relationship a pair of opposed flanges, the coupling being equipped with a coded security arrangement whereby only a pair of flanges which are intended to be coupled, can be properly coupled, whereas a pair of flanges not intended to be coupled, are physically prevented from being properly coupled. There is a requirement for such coupling systems and there are many pipe coupling systems which have been proposed which incorporate measures intended to prevent or to discourage such improper coupling or which allow only proper, that is, correctly intended and safe coupling to be made. For example, for reasons of safety and efficiency, it is important to ensure that a fluid may not be piped into a container or into another pipe where it may mix incorrectly with another substance possibly with dangerous, and at the least with inefficient results. Coupling flanges could be identified by labelling or by colour coding, but correct identification would then be dependent upon there being adequate illumination to enable the labels or colours to be seen. Moreover, such labelling or colour coding could be ignored due to inefficiency or oversight; or they may even be deliberately ignored. In order to meet this problem, couplings may be identified by size, by shape or by configuration so that it is mechanically impossible to make improper couplings. Spline couplings or bayonet-type couplings fit into this latter category. However, such systems which are, in effect, coded mechanical systems, have limited flexibility in terms of the ability to make adjustments or checks and are thus of limited utility.
In order to ameliorate this situation, it will be useful to provide a mechanical coded system for such couplings which allows proper coupling and prevents improper coupling; and such a system should advantageously provide a number, and preferably a large number of coding alternatives.
Such provision will be suitable for pipe systems where, as is becoming increasingly common, pipes and associated flanged coupling systems of standard sizes and patterns are employed in a large number of different industrial fields and are used to convey a wide variety of different fluids. For example, there is an increasing tendency for bulk tanker vehicles to be equipped with delivery hose pipes of a standard bore size, of say 75 mm or 85 mm internal diameter; these being coupled, by flanged coupling connections, to static tanks or to other pipes. In some cases, the same bulk tanker vehicle may be required to transport different fluids on different journeys. In such circumstances it will be advantageous if the flange coupling on the delivery hose pipe of the vehicle can be appropriately coded, having regard to the fluid being transported, so that the delivery hose pipe can only be coupled to the flanged inlet pipe of a tank intended to receive that particular fluid, there being inbuilt a mechanical impediment which prevents improper coupling. It will be apparent also that, both for reasons of safety and for reasons of efficient management, any such system of coding for flange-type couplings should present some security against unauthorized interference with the coding system. Such a system should be easy to manufacture and understand; but it should be difficult to defeat or circumvent such a system. The provision of such a system is the objective of this invention.
In its broadest aspect this invention provides a pipe coupling comprising a pair of flanges adapted to be secured together in face to face relation to form a fluid-tight coupling, characterised in that each said flange incorporates at least one coding device formed to provide a key and a key-way, which coding devices are so disposed and arranged on said flanges that the two flanges can only be secured together to form a said fluid-tight coupling if the coding devices on the respective flanges correspond with one another, and each of a said pair of coding
REFERENCES:
patent: 3287031 (1966-11-01), Simmons et al.
patent: 4630847 (1986-12-01), Blenkush
patent: 4718699 (1988-01-01), Kulish et al.
patent: 4790567 (1988-12-01), Kawano et al.
Arola Dave W.
Seetru Limited
LandOfFree
Pipe coupling does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pipe coupling, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pipe coupling will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2246190