Pipe joints or couplings – Flange – Detachable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-19
2001-11-13
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Flange
Detachable
C285S412000, C285S414000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315335
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a two-piece loose flange as defined in the preamble of independent patent claim
1
.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Loose flanges are used, in particular, for the purpose of connecting components, e.g. pipes, which are provided with collars as a support for the loose flanges. For this purpose, a loose flange which rests on the collar of a first component and a loose flange which rests on the collar of a second component are screwed to one another by means of connecting screws, with the result that they compress the collars located between them, and thus the components. Arranged between the collars is a seal which ensures sealing and in the case of a sufficiently thick configuration, e.g. in the form of a corrugated steel ring, also produces the restoring forces which are necessary for the stable screw-connection of the loose flanges under changing operating conditions.
Loose flanges which comprise two flange halves, overlap in two overlapping regions and are screwed to one another there by means of relatively small flange screws are known. Outside the overlapping regions, said loose flanges have screw holes for connecting screws, which serve for connecting the loose flange to a further loose flange or another connecting part.
These loose flanges have the disadvantage that, during the connection of two loose flanges or of a loose flange to another connecting part, the tightening of the connecting screws results in the connection of the two flange halves being subjected to canting and shearing forces, which only permit limited tightening of the connecting screws, since otherwise the flange screws rupture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the disadvantages of the already known loose flanges described above, the object of the invention is to provide a loose flange of the type mentioned in the introduction in the case of which the shearing forces acting on the flange halves during tightening of the connecting screws are compensated for by the two flange halves themselves.
This object is achieved by the loose flange according to the invention as defined in independent patent claim
1
. Patent claim
8
relates to a use of the loose flange according to the invention. Preferred variants can be gathered from the dependent patent claims.
The essence of the invention resides in the fact that, in the case of a two-piece loose flange with two flange halves, which overlap in two overlapping regions, and at least four screw holes for connecting screws, which serve for connecting the loose flange to a further loose flange or another connecting part, it being the case that a connecting screw hole is arranged in the two overlapping regions, the two flange halves have profiles which interengage in a step-like or tooth-like manner and are intended for absorbing the shearing forces acting on the flange halves during the tightening of the connecting screws, it being the case that at least one connecting screw hole runs through a step transition.
By virtue of the fact that the shearing forces are absorbed by profiles which interengage in a step-like or tooth-like manner, it is possible to provide better calculations for connections of loose flanges according to the invention. Moreover, it is not necessary for the shearing forces to be compensated for by the connecting screws, with the result that the latter are subjected to less pronounced loading.
In the case of the loose flange according to the invention, for the loose-flange connections, it is possible to calculate, at least partially, the main forces and the secondary forces.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1556745 (1925-10-01), Banta
patent: 4338879 (1982-07-01), Makeev
patent: 5314215 (1994-05-01), Weinhold
patent: 19514003 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 0523518 (1993-01-01), None
patent: 1206231 (1960-02-01), None
patent: 8600971 (1986-02-01), None
Etoile Holding AG
Luu Teri Pham
Selitto Behr & Kim
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