Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-03-20
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3629)
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
C280S093500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203071
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fluid handling devices that are attached together to form a fluid handling system and, more particularly, to fluid handling devices that are configured to provide an indication regarding the relative rotational orientation of one fluid handling device to another fluid handling device along an axis extending therebetween to facilitate assembly and installation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fluid handling devices such as pipes, pipe fittings, valves and the like formed from plastic materials are attached together by weld process. The fluid handling devices can be attached together in a variety of combinations to meet the particular needs of a fluid handling system. In each such system the fluid handling devices are each attached together in the same manner, at stub ends extending from each respective fluid handling device. However, the process of building the fluid handling system involves not only attaching the fluid handling devices together but orienting each fluid handling device in a desired position relative to the other fluid handling devices making up the system.
When building a fluid handling system from conventional plastic fluid handling devices a large amount of time is spent aligning and axially orienting, i.e., orienting the rotational placement of the device relative to an axis of the stub, each fluid handling device before its attachment by weld method. Depending on the number and types of fluid handling devices used to form a particular system, the time that is spent ensuring the desired axial orientation can represent the majority of time spent assembling the system.
Additionally, when fluid handling systems are formed using conventional plastic fluid handling devices a large amount of time is spent during assembly preparing the stub ends of each respective fluid handling device for welding. To ensure that a proper weld is formed between the stub ends of it is necessary that the stub ends be trimmed, squared and faced prior to welding. A stub end that is not prepared will produce a weld that does not have a uniform crush, i.e., the amount of the weld stub that is deformed to provide the desired weld. For example, a stub end that is not squared off will produce a weld having a weld crush that is greater that required to form a secure attachment in some areas, and that is less than required to form a secure bond at other areas. The pre-assembly step of trimming ensures that a uniform weld crush results and a secure weld is formed.
Accordingly, it is desired that a plastic fluid handling device be constructed in a manner that facilitates the assembly process by reducing the amount of time spent to ensure a desired device attachment orientation. It is also desired that a plastic fluid handling device be constructed in a manner that facilitates and speeds up the assembly process by eliminating the need to prepare the stub ends by trimming before welding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Fluid handling devices, constructed according to principles of this invention comprise a body having a fluid passage therethrough and a fluid inlet and outlet at opposite passage ends. The device body is formed from a non-metallic material and be in a number of different forms, e.g., pipe fittings, pipes, valves and the like. The device body includes weldable stubs that extend outwardly therefrom, that define at least one of the body fluid inlet or body fluid outlet, and that are designed to facilitate welded attachment with the weldable stubs of an adjacent fluid handling device. To facilitate accurate rotational positioning of the device vis-a-vis other adjacent devices, one or more alignment marks are positioned along the device surface. The alignment marks are positioned on the device to provide an indication of rotational position of the device about an axis running through at least one of the weldable stubs.
In one fluid handling device embodiment, the alignment marks are integral with and placed along an outside surface of the device body. In another embodiment, the alignment marks are integral with and placed along an outside surface of the weld stubs. The number of alignment marks placed on the fluid handling device can vary depending on the particular fluid handling device geometry and application.
Fluid handling devices of this invention can also include stub ends that are specially engineered having a compact design to facilitate welding installation by providing a desired weld crush. Additionally, fluid handling devices of this invention can also include measuring point means positioned on the device body for providing a measuring point between adjacently arranged fluid handling devices.
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Kingsford Kenji A.
Kwiecinski Dennis S.
Nguyen Peter N.
Sievers Thomas J.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Dunwoody Aaron M.
Melius Terry Lee
Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Corp.
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