US3677578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connection fitting for a pipe
Assignee: Mueller Co
•
Filing: 1971-02-19
•
Granted: 1972-07-18
•
Expires: 1991-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A fitting and sealing sleeve for establishing a fluid tight connection with a main of the type constructed from asbestoscement; the fitting has an exteriorly threaded tubular member having a through bore, one end of which on the exterior thereof has a reduced diameter threaded portion which progressively increases to a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the remaining threaded portion of the tubular member; the sealing sleeve is constructed from a resiliently deformable material and has a helical coil partially embedded in its interior wall so that a portion of the coil''s edge projects radially inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve; arcuate ring segments are carried between adjacent turns of the coil at one end of the sleeve; when the sleeve is inserted into an opening in the main and the tubular member threaded down into the sleeve, the exterior surface of the tubular member will expand the sleeve to press it into sealing engagement with the wall of the opening and, when the tubular element is fully inserted into the sleeve, the ring segments will be expanded outwardly to form an external bead on the sleeve to prevent removal of the fitting back through the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R Roos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:01
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L41/00; F16L41/08; F16L41/10; F16L41/088; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0402; Y10T137/0441; Y10T137/0486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
The combination of a fitting and a sealing element for insertion into a lateral opening in a main, said fitting comprising a member having an exterior thread thereon terminating adjacent an outwardly extending annular shoulder, said thread at its end farthest from said shoulder having an initially reduced exterior diameter which progressively increases through at least one turn to its maximum diameter, said sealing element comprising a resiliently deformable sleeve having an exterior diameter permitting insertion into the opening and having a longitudinal extent greater than the wall thickness of the main, said sleeve having an annular flange at one end thereof with an external diameter greater than the diameter of the opening, said sleeve further having an interior surface with a helical coil partially embedded therein and having inner edges of the coil projecting radially inwardly from said interior surface, a plurality of arCuately curved retainer elements embedded at least partially in said sleeve between adjacent turns of said coil at an end farthest from said annular flange, said retainer elements being urged radially outwardly to form an exterior bead having an exterior diameter greater than that of the opening in the main when said member is threaded into said coil in said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
The combination of a fitting and a sealing element for insertion into a lateral opening in a main, said fitting comprising a member having an exterior thread thereon terminating adjacent an outwardly extending annular shoulder, said thread at its end farthest from said shoulder having an initially reduced exterior diameter which progressively increases through at least one turn to its maximum diameter, said sealing element comprising a resiliently deformable sleeve having an exterior diameter permitting insertion into the opening and having a longitudinal extent greater than the wall thickness of the main, said sleeve having an annular flange at one end thereof with an external diameter greater than the diameter of the opening, said sleeve further having an interior surface with a helical coil partially embedded therein and having inner edges of the coil projecting radially inwardly from said interior surface, a plurality of arCuately curved retainer elements embedded at least partially in said sleeve between adjacent turns of said coil at an end farthest from said annular flange, said retainer elements being urged radially outwardly to form an exterior bead having an exterior diameter greater than that of the opening in the main when said member is threaded into said coil in said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member is tubular in shape and is provided with a through bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retainer elements comprise three substantially identically formed segments which are square in cross-section and which are curved in the form of a helix with a pitch substantially equal to the pitch of said coil embedded in said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said helical coil is formed from a flat strip of metallic material with the wider surfaces of the strip extending generally radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coil and said retainer elements are constructed from brass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the interior diameter of said sleeve is greater than the interior diameter of said helical coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein a corporation stop is secured to said tubular member, the side of said stop adjacent said member comprising said shoulder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sealing element is constructed from rubber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interior diameter of said sleeve is less than the maximum exterior diameter of said member so that, when said member is inserted into said sleeve with said sleeve positioned in the opening, the exterior thread of said member will radially expand said sleeve to press the exterior surface of said sleeve into sealing engagement with the wall of the opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2132636A
Cited
US2341670A
Cited
US2439685A
Cited
US3131953A
Cited
US3272542A
Cited
US3434746A
Cited
US3505922A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |