Pipe joints or couplings – Packed – Flanged pipe
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-11-20
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Pipe joints or couplings
Packed
Flanged pipe
C285S379000, C277S609000, C277S616000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318768
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tubing coupler that has primary and secondary sealing devices. The coupler is designed such that if the primary sealing device fails the secondary sealing device will prevent the travel of fluid between the interior of the system and the outside atmosphere. The coupler is further designed such that, if necessary, it can be assembled without the secondary sealing device and function properly, provided the primary sealing device does not fail. The coupler can also be disassembled and subsequently reassembled with the original primary and secondary sealing devices.
RELATED ART
Tubing couplers similar to the present invention are known in the art. These tubing couplers have a first body portion for attachment to the end of a first tube and a separate, second body portion for attachment to the end of a second tube. The first body portion defines a first passageway through itself and the second body portion defines a second passageway through itself. Each respective tube is affixed to each respective body portion such that the interior of the tube is in fluid communication with the respective passageway through the respective body portion.
When the tubing coupler of the prior art is in use the first and second body portions are assembled together as a unit, but can be disassembled to allow service of the tubing, the coupler, or the system containing the tubing and the coupler. A surface other than one adjacent the point of attachment of the first tube, defines a first mating face on the first body. A surface other than one adjacent the point of attachment of the second tube, defines a second mating face on the second body. When the coupler is assembled the first mating face abuts the second mating face and means are provided for urging the two faces together. A pilot projects from the first mating face of the first body portion. The first passageway through the first body portion extends through the pilot and terminates at an opening in the end of the pilot. The first tube is attached to the first body portion adjacent the end of the first passageway which is opposite the opening in the end of the pilot. The end of the second passageway through the second body portion, which is opposite the second tube, terminates at an opening in the second mating face of the second body portion. The end of the second passageway adjacent the opening in the second mating face of the second body portion of the coupler, defines a cavity similar in shape and slightly larger than, the pilot which projects from the first mating face of the first body portion. When the coupler is assembled, the pilot of the first body portion is positioned within the cavity defined by the end of the second passageway and a small space is defined concentrically between the pilot and the cavity. The first passageway of the first body portion is thus in fluid communication with the second passageway of the second body portion. The first and second passageways are also in fluid communication with the first and second tubes respectively.
Similar to the present invention the known tubing couplers have primary and secondary sealing devices. A primary sealing device circumscribes the pilot and is disposed in the space between the pilot of the first body portion and the cavity defined by the end of the second passageway of the second body portion. This primary sealing device, thus, prevents fluid from traveling between the first or second passageways of the coupler and the outside atmosphere. A secondary sealing device is interposed between the first and second mating faces and surrounds both the pilot of the first body portion and the opening of the second passageway in the second mating face of the second body portion. This secondary sealing device prevents fluid from traveling between the first or second passageways of the coupler and the outside atmosphere through spaces, which may be present, between the first and second mating faces. The secondary sealing device is included in the coupler as a backup for the primary sealing device and is only relied upon to seal the coupler in the event that the primary seal fails.
While the known tubing couplers have many advantages, there are some aspects of their design which make them less than ideal. Many of the known tubing couplers have metallic secondary sealing devices which require elaborate machining of one or both mating faces of the coupler. In addition, these metallic sealing devices are often designed to be plastically deformed upon assembly of the coupler and must therefore be replaced with a new sealing device any time the coupler is disassembled and subsequently reassembled. In other designs of known couplers, the secondary sealing device is positioned within (a) recess(es) in one or both of the mating faces of the coupler. This design also requires costly machine work to be performed on the mating face(s) of the coupler. This design further requires the mating faces of the coupler to be larger than would otherwise be necessary. The increased size of the mating faces is necessary to allow room for the recess, and sufficient material surrounding the recess to contain the secondary sealing device. Finally, this design requires that the depth of the recess(es) in the mating faces be held within a very small tolerance range. If the recess(es) in the mating face(s) are too deep the secondary sealing device will not properly contact both of the body portions of the coupler and will not seal. If the recess(es) in the mating face(s) of the coupler are too shallow the secondary sealing device can be damaged by being compressed too far or can prevent the mating faces of the coupler from properly abutting. Another drawback of most designs of the known tubing couplers is that they can not be assembled without the secondary sealing device and still function properly.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
As a result, there are a number of objects of the present invention. One object of the present invention is to provide a tubing coupler, which does not require elaborate machine work to be performed on either of the mating faces of the body portions of the coupler. Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubing coupler with primary and secondary sealing devices that can be reused upon disassembly and subsequent assembly of the tubing coupler. A final object of the invention is to provide a tubing coupler which can be assembled without a secondary sealing device, in the event that a secondary sealing device is temporarily unavailable, and still function properly provided that the primary sealing device does not fail.
The tubing coupler of the present invention is comprised of a first body portion, a separate second body portion, a plate and one or more clamping devices to maintain the parts of the tubing coupler in an assembled state. The first body portion of the tubing coupler has a first mating face with a pilot projecting from that first mating face. The first body portion defines a first passageway which begins at an opening in the end of the pilot which projects from the first mating face of the first body portion, travels through the first body portion, and terminates at an opening on an outer surface. The second body portion of the tubing coupler has a second mating face. The second body portion defines a second passageway which begins at a first opening in the second mating face of the second body portion, travels through the second body portion, and terminates at an opening on an outer surface of the second body portion. A portion of the inner surface of the second passageway adjacent to the first opening in the second mating face of the second body portion defines a cavity. The cavity is of the same general shape, and is slightly larger than the pilot which projects from the first mating face. When the tubing coupler is assembled, the pilot projecting from the first mating face of the first body portion of the tubing coupler is disposed within the cavity at the end of the second passageway adjacent the opening in the seco
Browne Lynne H.
Calfa Jeffrey
Cottingham John R.
International Truck & Engine Corp
Neil Powell Gilberto Hernandez
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