Flexible fluidtight coupling for tubes

Claim 2

A flexible fluidtight coupling comprising, a tubular member having a central axis, a coupling member and a seal therebetween: said tubular member including, inner and outer diameter walls terminating in an end disposed normal to its central axis, a sealing means at the terminal end portion of the tubular member and comprising an annular seat surrounding the end of the tubular member, and a bearing means spaced from the end of the tubular member and next adjacent to said sealing means and comprising an annular shoulder faced away from said end and having a radius disposed normal thereto and extended angularly through said central axis beyond said end and greater than the normal radius to said outer diameter wall; said coupling member including, a body with a cylindrical bore surrounding the sealing means and bearing means with clearance, and a retainer disposed radially inward of the cylindrical bore and surrounding the outer diameter wall with clearance and comprising a bearing face complementary to and opposed to and engageable with said annular shoulder; and said seal therebetween being engageable and yieldingly depressible between the annular seat of said tubular member and the cylindrical bore in said coupling member; whereby said coupling member is captured against separation outwardly from the end of said tubular member and is movable rotatably and into limited axial, angular and longitudinal misalignments with respect to the axis of the tubular member.

Claim 3

The flexible fluidtight coupling as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the end portion of the tubular member is formed radially into the configuration of the said sealing means and adjoining coupling means, said tubular member being imperforate to said end thereof.

Claim 4

The flexible fluidtight coupling as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the sealing means includes spaced inner and outer faces in planes normal to the central axis of said tubular member and extending radially from the said annular seat embraced therebetween and forming a groove, the seal between the two members being an O-ring of elastomeric material carried in said groove and engaging the cylindrical bore and the inner and outer faces and annular seat embraced therebetween.

Claim 5

The flexible fluidtight coupling as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the sealing means includes spaced inner and outer faces in planes normal to the central axis of said tubular member and extending radially from the said annular seat embraced therebetween and forming a groove, the seal between the two members being an O-ring of elastomeric material carried in said groove and engaging the cylindrical bore and the inner and outer faces and annular seat embraced therebetween, said outer face being reinforced by an extended peripheral lip rounded to pass the inside diameter of the O-ring.

Claim 6

The flexible fluidtight coupling as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the end portion of the tubular member is formed radially outward from its nominal diameter and into said annular shoulder, said annular seat remaining coincidental with the nominal diameter of said tubular member.

Claim 7

The flexible fluidtight coupling as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end portion of the tubular member is formed radially outward from its nominal diameter and into said annular shoulder, said annular seat remaining coincidental with the nominal diameter of said tubular member, and wherein the sealing means includes spaced inner and outer faces in planes normal to the central axis of said tubular member and extending radially from the said annular seat embraced therebetween and forming a groove, the said inner face being joined at its periphery to the next adjacent annular shoulder, the seal between the two members being an O-ring of elastomeric material carried in said groove and engaging the cylindrical bore and the inner and outer faces and annular seat embraced therebetween.

Claim 8

The flexible fluidtight coupling as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said annular shoulder is arcuately curved about said angularly disposed radius extended through said central axis.

Claim 9

A flexible fluidtight coupling comprising, a tubular member having a central axis, a coupling member and a seal therebetween: said tubular member including, imperforate inner and outer diameter walls terminating in an end disposed normal to its central axis, a sealing means formed radially outward at the terminal end portion of the tubular member and comprising an annular seat surrounding the end of the tubular member, and a bearing means spaced from the end of and formed radially outward of the tubular member and next adjacent to said sealing means and comprising an annular and arcuately curved shoulder faced away from said end and having a radius disposed normal thereto and extended through said central axis beyond said end and greater than the normal radius to said outer diameter wall; said coupling member including, a body with a cylindrical bore surrounding the sealing means and bearing means with clearance and comprising a bearing face complementary to and opposed to and engageable with said annular shoulder; and said seal therebetween being engageable and yieldingly depressible between the annular seat of said tubular member and tHe cylindrical bore in said coupling member; whereby said coupling member is captured against separation outwardly from the end of said tubular member and is movable rotatably and into limited axial, angular and longitudinal misalignments with respect to the axis of the tubular member.

Claim 10

A flexible fluidtight coupling comprising, a tubular member having a central axis, a coupling member and a seal therebetween: said tubular member including, imperforate inner and outer diameter walls terminating in an end disposed normal to its central axis, a sealing means formed radially outward at the terminal end portion of the tubular member and comprising an annular seat surrounding the end of the tubular member, and a bearing means spaced from the end of and formed radially outward of the tubular member and next adjacent to said sealing means and comprising an annular and arcuately curved shoulder faced away from said end and having a radius disposed normal thereto and extended through said central axis beyond said end and greater than the normal radius to said outer diameter wall; said coupling member including, a body with a cylindrical bore surrounding the sealing means and bearing means with clearance and comprising a bearing face complementary to and opposed to and engageable with said annular shoulder; and said seal therebetween being engageable and yieldingly depressible between the annular seat of said tubular member and tHe cylindrical bore in said coupling member; whereby said coupling member is captured against separation outwardly from the end of said tubular member and is movable rotatably and into limited axial, angular and longitudinal misalignments with respect to the axis of the tubular member.

Claim 11

The flexible fluidtight coupling as set forth in claim 8, wherein said annular seat remains coincidental with the nominal diameter of said tubular member, and wherein a sleeve is placed within the tubular member coextensively within the said annular and arcuately curved shoulder forming a continuation of the inner diameter wall of the said tubular member.

Claim 12

A flexible fluidtight coupling comprising, a tubular member having a central axis, a removable coupling member and a seal therebetween: said tubular member including, inner and outer diameter walls terminating in an end disposed normal to its central axis, a sealing means at the terminal end portion of the tubular member and comprising an annular seat surrounding the end of the tubular member, and a bearing means spaced from the end of the tubular member and next adjacent to said sealing means and comprising an annular shoulder faced away from said end and having a radius disposed normal thereto and extended angularly through said central axis beyond said end and greater than the radius to said outer diameter wall; said removable coupling member including, a body engageable over the first mentioned tubular member and with a cylindrical bore surrounding the sealing means and bearing means with clearance, and a detachable retainer disposed radially inward of the cylindrical bore and surrounding the outer diameter wall with clearance and comprising a ring with attachment means releasably securing it to the body and comprising a bearing face faced complementary to and opposed to and engageable with said annular shoulder; and said seal therebetween being engageable and yieldingly depressible between the annular seat of said tubular member and the cylindrical bore in said coupling member; whereby said coupling member is captured against separation outwardly from the end of said tubular member and is movable rotatably and into limited axial, angular and longitudinal misalignments with respect to the axis of the tubular member.

Claim 13

A flexible fluidtight coupling comprising, a tubular member having a central axis, a removable coupling member and a seal therebetween: said tubular member including, inner and outer diameter walls terminating in an end disposed normal to its central axis, a sealing means at the terminal end portion of the tubular member and comprising an annular seat surrounding the end of the tubular member, and a bearing means spaced from the end of the tubular member and next adjacent to said sealing means and comprising an annular shoulder faced away from said end and having a radius disposed normal thereto and extended angularly through said central axis beyond said end and greater than the radius to said outer diameter wall; said removable coupling member including, a body engageable over the first mentioned tubular member and with a cylindrical bore surrounding the sealing means and bearing means with clearance, and a detachable retainer disposed radially inward of the cylindrical bore and surrounding the outer diameter wall with clearance and comprising a ring with attachment means releasably securing it to the body and comprising a bearing face faced complementary to and opposed to and engageable with said annular shoulder; and said seal therebetween being engageable and yieldingly depressible between the annular seat of said tubular member and the cylindrical bore in said coupling member; whereby said coupling member is captured against separation outwardly from the end of said tubular member and is movable rotatably and into limited axial, angular and longitudinal misalignments with respect to the axis of the tubular member.

Claim 14

The flexible fluidtight coupling with removable coupling members as set forth in claim 10 and wherein the said attachment means of the ring is threadedly engaged onto the body thereof

Claim 15

The flexible fluidtight coupling with removable coupling members as set forth in claim 10, wherein there is a stop shoulder on the body of the removable coupling member and wherein the said ring of the coupling member is threadedly engaged onto the body thereof and positioned against said stop shoulder.

Claim 16

The flexible fluidtight coupling with removable coupling members as set forth in claim 10, wherein the said ring of the coupling member is of separable half-shell configuration embraceably engaged over the said tubular member and with said attachment means threadedly engaged into the body thereof.

Claim 17

The flexible fluidtight coupling with removable coupling members as set forth in claim 10, wherein there is a stop shoulder on the body of the removable coupling member and wherein the said ring of the coupling member is of separable half-shell configuration embraceably engaged over the said tubular member and with said attachment means threadedly engaged into the body thereof and positioned against said stop shoulder.

Claim 18

A flexible fluidtight coupling comprising, two apposed tubular members and each having an independent central axis, a coupling member and a seal between each tubular member and said coupling member: each of said tubular members including, inner and outer diameter walls terminating in an end disposed normal to its central axis, a sealing means at the terminal end portion of the tubular member and comprising an annular seat surrounding the end of the tubular member, and a bearing means sPaced from the end of the tubular member and next adjacent to said sealing means and comprising an annular shoulder faced away from said end and having a radius disposed normal thereto and extended angularly through said central axis beyond said end and greater than the radius to said outer diameter wall; said coupling member including, a body with a cylindrical bore telescopically surrounding the sealing means and bearing means of the two apposed tubular members with clearance, and a retainer at each opposite end of the coupling member and disposed radially inward of the cylindrical bore and each surrounding the outer diameter wall of the two tubular members respectively with clearance and each comprising a bearing face complementary to and opposed to and engageable with a complementary annular shoulder; and each of said seals therebetween being engageable and yieldingly depressible between one of the annular seats of said tubular members respectively and the cylindrical bore in said coupling member; whereby said tubular members are captured against separation from their end to end apposed relation and are relatively movable rotatably and movable into limited axial, angular and longitudinal misalignments one with respect to the other.

Claim 19

A flexible fluidtight coupling comprising, two apposed tubular members and each having an independent central axis, a coupling member and a seal between each tubular member and said coupling member: each of said tubular members including, inner and outer diameter walls terminating in an end disposed normal to its central axis, a sealing means at the terminal end portion of the tubular member and comprising an annular seat surrounding the end of the tubular member, and a bearing means sPaced from the end of the tubular member and next adjacent to said sealing means and comprising an annular shoulder faced away from said end and having a radius disposed normal thereto and extended angularly through said central axis beyond said end and greater than the radius to said outer diameter wall; said coupling member including, a body with a cylindrical bore telescopically surrounding the sealing means and bearing means of the two apposed tubular members with clearance, and a retainer at each opposite end of the coupling member and disposed radially inward of the cylindrical bore and each surrounding the outer diameter wall of the two tubular members respectively with clearance and each comprising a bearing face complementary to and opposed to and engageable with a complementary annular shoulder; and each of said seals therebetween being engageable and yieldingly depressible between one of the annular seats of said tubular members respectively and the cylindrical bore in said coupling member; whereby said tubular members are captured against separation from their end to end apposed relation and are relatively movable rotatably and movable into limited axial, angular and longitudinal misalignments one with respect to the other.

Claim 20

The flexible fluidtight coupling of two apposed tubular members as set forth in claim 15 and wherein at least one retainer is a ring that is separable from the said coupling member.

Claim 21

The flexible fluidtight coupling of two apposed tubular members as set forth in claim 15, wherein the end portions of the tubular members are formed radially into the configurations of the said sealing means and adjoining coupling means, said tubular members being imperforate to said ends thereof, and wherein the said annular shoulders are described from centers spaced outwardly from the ends of their respective tubular members.

Claim 22

The flexible fluidtight coupling of two apposed tubular members as set forth in claim 15, wherein the end portions of the tubular members are formed radially outward from their nominal diameters and semispherically into said annular shoulders, said annular seats remaining coincidental with the nominal diameters of said tubular members respectively, and wherein the said semispherical formed annular shoulders are described from centers spaced outwardly from the ends of their respective tubular members.