Sealing structure for an oil pipe female coupler

Details Sealing structure for an oil pipe female coupler Sealing structure for an oil pipe female coupler

2003-11-18

2004-10-05

Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)

Valves and valve actuation

With correlated flow path

Valve operated by joining flow path sections

C137S614040, C251S359000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06799747

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sealing structure for an oil pipe female coupler. In particular, the present invention relates to a sealing structure for preventing leakage of an oil pipe female coupler of a fueling structure for a yacht, a vessel, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5
of the drawings illustrates a conventional fueling structure for a yacht. The fueling structure includes an oil pipe female coupler
1
′ and an oil pipe male coupler
2
′. The female coupler
1
′ includes a body
11
′, an O-ring
12
′, a sealing member
13
′, and a retaining member
14
′. The body
11
′ includes an open end
110
′ and an engaging end
113
′ to which a hose
114
′ is connected. An elastic element
111
′ and a ball
112
′ are mounted into the body
11
′ via the open end
110
′. An annular wall
131
′ projects from a bottom wall
130
′ of the sealing member
13
′, with the O-ring
12
′ being received inside the annular wall
131
′.
Further, the O-ring
12
′ is pressed against by the bottom wall
130
′ of the sealing member
13
′, the annular wall
131
′, and the ball
112
′. Then, ultrasonic welding is applied to weld a whole annular face
115
′ of the open end
110
′ and the bottom wall
130
′ of the sealing member
13
′ together. Thus, the sealing member
13
′ seals the open end
110
′ of the body
11
′. A through-hole
132
′ and a tubular member
133
′ are provided on the bottom wall
130
′ of the sealing member
13
′. A nozzle
21
′ of the male coupler
2
′ is inserted into the through-hole
132
′, and an engaging member
22
′ of the male coupler
2
′ is inserted into the tubular member
133
′.
The male coupler
2
′ includes a body
20
′, the nozzle
21
′, and the engaging member
22
′. When the nozzle
21
′ and the engaging member
22
′ are respectively mounted into the through-hole
132
′ and the tubular member
133
′, an annular groove
221
′ of the engaging member
22
′ is retained in place by a retaining piece
141
′ of the retaining member
14
′. The female coupler
1
′ and the male coupler
2
′ are thus coupled together. A needle valve
211
′ in the nozzle
21
′ is pushed by the ball
112
′ away from an O-ring
212
′ in the nozzle
21
′. Further, the nozzle
21
′ pushes the ball
112
′ away from the O-ring
12
′, allowing fuel oil in the male coupler
2
′ to continuously flow through a side hole
213
′ of the nozzle
21
′, an interior of the body
11
′ of the female coupler
1
′, and the hose
114
′ for use.
It was, however, found that leakage occurred during leakage tests. The leakage resulted from poor welding between the whole annular face
115
′ of the open end
110
′ of the female coupler
1
′ and the bottom wall
130
′ of the sealing member
13
′, resulting in disqualified products and increased cost. Even though the product passed the leakage test, the welding area between the annular face
115
′ of the open end
110
′ of the female coupler
1
′ and the bottom wall
130
′ of the sealing member
13
′ deteriorated and thus caused leakage, leading to the risk of fire.
FIG. 6
of the drawings illustrates another conventional fueling structure for a yacht. The difference between this fueling structure and the fueling structure of
FIG. 5
is that the sealing member
15
′ seals the body
11
′ by means of welding a whole annular face
151
′ of the sealing member
15
′ and a flange
116
′ on an inner periphery of the body
11
′ of the female coupler
1
′ by ultrasonic welding. Thus, this fueling structure has the same drawbacks as the above fueling structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a female coupler for a fueling structure. The female coupler includes a body, an oil seal, a sealing member, and a retaining member. The body includes an open end, an engaging end, and a lug projecting from an outer periphery thereof. A pin is mounted on the lug and extends through the retaining member, allowing the retaining member to pivot about the pin. The retaining member includes a retaining piece and an elastic element for biasing the retaining piece to a retaining position. A hose is coupled to the engaging end. The body includes a first flange and a second flange on an inner periphery thereof. An elastic element and a ball are mounted into the body via the open end. The elastic element includes a first end abutting against the first flange and a second end abutting against a ball, thereby biasing the ball to be in intimate contact with the oil seal and to seal a through-hole of the oil seal. The sealing member includes a bottom wall, and an annular wall projects from the bottom wall of the sealing member.
The oil seal includes an annular wing on an outer face thereof. The annular wing includes a top face and a bottom face. The top face and the bottom face of the oil seal are respectively pressed against by the annular wall of the sealing member and the second flange of the body. A whole annular face of the open end of the body and the bottom wall of the sealing member are welded together by ultrasonic welding, providing dual leakage prevention.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3174508 (1965-03-01), Zahuranec
patent: 4911203 (1990-03-01), Garms
patent: 6016835 (2000-01-01), Maldavs

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