Pressure balanced tube assembly

Claim 2

A pressure balanced tube assembly comprising a tube having a closed end portion with an adjacent opening through the wall thereof and an open end portion; a first coupling member with which said open end portion has sealed engagement; said first coupling member and tube having radially overlapped surfaces to axially retain said first coupling member and tube together against relative axial movement under the influence of fluid pressure therein; a second coupling member having a bore in which said closed end portion is telescopically received and sealed therein on opposite sides of said opening to render fluid pressure ineffective to tend to impose an axial thrust load between said tube and said second coupling member; said assembly being thus pressure balanced so that fluid under pressure in said assembly is ineffective to tend to relatively axially move said first and second coupling members with respect to each other; said end portions being tiltable with respect to said first and second coupling members to accommodate variation in the relative lateral positions of said coupling members with respect to each other.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said closed end position is jointed to permit tilting of said tube in said bore.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said closed end portion is jointed to provide a plug member sealed in said bore on the side of said opening remote from said first coupling member; said tube and plug member having radially overlapped surfaces having radial clearance with each other and with said bore whereby said tube where sealed in said bore on the other side of said opening may tilt with respect to said plug member and said second coupling member.

Claim 5

A tube coupling assembly comprising tube and coupling members having axially interfitting end portions defining an annular chamber therebetween; a packing ring radially squeezed in said chamber to provide a fluid tight joint between said tube and coupling members; said members having different radial clearances on axially opposite sides of said chamber with the smaller clearance preventing extrusion of said packing ring under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly and with the larger clearance permitting relative tilting of said members without permitting fluid leakage past said packing ring or extrusion of said packing ring.

Claim 6

A tube coupling assembly comprising tube and coupling members having axially interfitting end portions defining an annular chamber therebetween; a packing ring radially squeezed in said chamber to provide a fluid tight joint between said tube and coupling members; said members having different radial clearances on axially opposite sides of said chamber with the smaller clearance preventing extrusion of said packing ring under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly and with the larger clearance permitting relative tilting of said members without permitting fluid leakage past said packing ring or extrusion of said packing ring.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 4 wherein said tube and coupling members have radially overlapped surfaces to retain said members axially together against separation under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 4 wherein said portion of said tube member is telescopically interfitted in a bore in said coupling member and has an annular groove which defines said annular chamber with said bore; and wherein said end portion of said tube member has different diameters on axially opposite sides of said groove to define such different radial clearances with the bore of said coupling member.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 4 wherein said tube member has a closed terminal end portion which has a loose pivotal connection with said end portion thereof for tilting of said tube member with respect to said closed terminal end portion; and wherein another packing ring is disposed between said coupling member and said closed terminal end portion.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 7 wherein said tube member has a lateral opening through the wall thereof between said packing rings to permit flow of fluid through said assembly while rendering fluid pressure ineffective to tend to axially separate said members.

Claim 11

A tube coupling assembly comprising a tube member having end portions; a coupling member axially interfitting each said end portion and defining an annular chamber therewith; packing rings radially squeezed in said chambers to provide fluid tight joints between said tube end portions and said coupling members; said end portions having different radial clearances with the respective coupling members on axially opposite sides of the respective chambers with the smaller clearances preventing extrusion of said packing rings under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly, and with the larger clearances permitting relative tilting of said tube member with respect to said coupling members to accommodate variation in the relative angular or lateral positions of said coupling members but without permitting fluid leakage past said packing rings or extrusion of said packing rings.

Claim 12

A tube coupling assembly comprising a tube member having end portions; a coupling member axially interfitting each said end portion and defining an annular chamber therewith; packing rings radially squeezed in said chambers to provide fluid tight joints between said tube end portions and said coupling members; said end portions having different radial clearances with the respective coupling members on axially opposite sides of the respective chambers with the smaller clearances preventing extrusion of said packing rings under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly, and with the larger clearances permitting relative tilting of said tube member with respect to said coupling members to accommodate variation in the relative angular or lateral positions of said coupling members but without permitting fluid leakage past said packing rings or extrusion of said packing rings.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 9 wherein one of said tube end portions and the respective coupling member have radially overlapped surfaces to retain them axially together against separation under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said tube end portions are telescopically interfitted in bores in said coupling members and have annular grooves which define said annular chambers with said bores; and wherein said tube end portions have different diameters on axially opposite sides of said grooves to define such different radial clearances with the bores of said coupling members.

Claim 15

The assembly of claim 11 wherein one tube end portion terminates in a closed terminal end portion which is sealed in the bore of the respective coupling member and which has a loose pivotal connection with said tube member to permit such tilting of the latter.

Claim 16

In a fluid motor of the type wherein fluid is conducted into and from one end of the cylinder thereof through a transfer tube which extends alongside said cylinder from such one end thereof toward the other end, and which has end portions telescopically interfitting in and sealed in axially spaced apart bores of said cylinder, at least one of which bores is contained in a detachable cylinder head, the improvement which comprises a transfer tube having an open end portion sealed in the surrounding bore, and a closed end portion with an adjacent lateral opening through the wall thereof, said closed end portion being sealed in the surrounding bore on axially opposite sides of said opening; and retaining means adjacent said open end portion to axially retain said tube in the bore surrounding said open end portion whereby fluid pressure in said bores and transfer tube is ineffective to impose an eccentric load tending to relatively tilt said cylinder and cylinder head; said end portions being tiltably sealed in said bores to accommodate variation in the lateral positions of said bores with respect to each other.

Claim 17

In a fluid motor of the type wherein fluid is conducted into and from one end of the cylinder thereof through a transfer tube which extends alongside said cylinder from such one end thereof toward the other end, and which has end portions telescopically interfitting in and sealed in axially spaced apart bores of said cylinder, at least one of which bores is contained in a detachable cylinder head, the improvement which comprises a transfer tube having an open end portion sealed in the surrounding bore, and a closed end portion with an adjacent lateral opening through the wall thereof, said closed end portion being sealed in the surrounding bore on axially opposite sides of said opening; and retaining means adjacent said open end portion to axially retain said tube in the bore surrounding said open end portion whereby fluid pressure in said bores and transfer tube is ineffective to impose an eccentric load tending to relatively tilt said cylinder and cylinder head; said end portions being tiltably sealed in said bores to accommodate variation in the lateral positions of said bores with respect to each other.

Claim 18

A pressure balanced tube assembly comprising a tube having a closed end portion with an adjacent opening through the wall thereof and an open end portion; a first coupling member with which said open end portion has sealed engagement; said first coupling member and tube having radially overlapped surfaces to axially retain said first coupling member and tube together against relative axial movement under the influence of fluid pressure therein; a second coupling member having a bore in which said closed end portion is telescopically received and sealed therein on opposite sides of said opening to render fluid pressure ineffective to tend to impose an axial thrust load between said tube and said second coupLing member; said assembly being thus pressure balanced so that fluid under pressure in said assembly is ineffective to tend to relatively axially move said first and second coupling members with respect to each other; said open end portion being telescopically received in a bore in said first coupling member and defining therewith an annular chamber; a packing ring radially squeezed in said chamber to provide a fluid tight joint between said open end portion and said first coupling member; said closed end portion defining with the bore of said second coupling member a pair of annular chambers straddling said opening; a packing ring radially squeezed in each one of said pair of chambers to provide a fluid tight joint between said closed end portion and said second coupling member on opposite sides of said opening; said open end portion and the bore of said first coupling member having different radial clearances on opposite sides of said chamber; said closed end portion and said second coupling member having different radial clearances on opposite sides of the one of said pair of chambers nearest said open end portion; said tube having a closed terminal end portion which is loosely pivotally connected to said tube and which defines the other one of said pair of chambers; the smaller clearances preventing extrusion of the adjacent packing rings under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly and the larger clearances permitting tilting of said tube in the respective bores with respect to said first coupling member and with respect to said second coupling member and said terminal end portion.

Claim 19

A pressure balanced tube assembly comprising a tube having a closed end portion with an adjacent opening through the wall thereof and an open end portion; a first coupling member with which said open end portion has sealed engagement; said first coupling member and tube having radially overlapped surfaces to axially retain said first coupling member and tube together against relative axial movement under the influence of fluid pressure therein; a second coupling member having a bore in which said closed end portion is telescopically received and sealed therein on opposite sides of said opening to render fluid pressure ineffective to tend to impose an axial thrust load between said tube and said second coupLing member; said assembly being thus pressure balanced so that fluid under pressure in said assembly is ineffective to tend to relatively axially move said first and second coupling members with respect to each other; said open end portion being telescopically received in a bore in said first coupling member and defining therewith an annular chamber; a packing ring radially squeezed in said chamber to provide a fluid tight joint between said open end portion and said first coupling member; said closed end portion defining with the bore of said second coupling member a pair of annular chambers straddling said opening; a packing ring radially squeezed in each one of said pair of chambers to provide a fluid tight joint between said closed end portion and said second coupling member on opposite sides of said opening; said open end portion and the bore of said first coupling member having different radial clearances on opposite sides of said chamber; said closed end portion and said second coupling member having different radial clearances on opposite sides of the one of said pair of chambers nearest said open end portion; said tube having a closed terminal end portion which is loosely pivotally connected to said tube and which defines the other one of said pair of chambers; the smaller clearances preventing extrusion of the adjacent packing rings under the influence of fluid pressure in said assembly and the larger clearances permitting tilting of said tube in the respective bores with respect to said first coupling member and with respect to said second coupling member and said terminal end portion.

Claim 20

In a fluid motor of the type wherein fluid is conducted into and from one end of the cylinder thereof through a transfer tube which extends alongside said cylinder from such one end thereof toward the other end, and which has end portions telescopically interfitting in and sealed in axially spaced apart bores of said cylinder, at least one of which bores is contained in a detachable cylinder head, the improvement which comprises a transfer tube having an open end portion sealed in the surrounding bore, and a closed end portion with an adjacent lateral opening through the wall thereof, said closed end portion being sealed in the surrounding bore on axially opposite sides of said opening; and retaining means adjacent said open end portion to axially retain said tube in the bore surrounding said open end portion whereby fluid pressure in said bores and transfer tube is ineffective to impose an eccentric load tending to relatively tilt said cylinder and cylinder head; said closed end portion comprising a terminal plug member which is loosely pivotally connected to said tube and which is sealed in the surrounding bore on one side of such opening, the adjoining portion of said tube being sealed in said bore on the opposite side of such opening; said adjoining portion and said open end portion and said retaining means permitting tilting of the tube in the surrounding bore to accommodate variation in the lateral positions of said bores with respect to each other when said cylinder head is secured to said cylinder.

Claim 21

In a fluid motor of the type wherein fluid is conducted into and from one end of the cylinder thereof through a transfer tube which extends alongside said cylinder from such one end thereof toward the other end, and which has end portions telescopically interfitting in and sealed in axially spaced apart bores of said cylinder, at least one of which bores is contained in a detachable cylinder head, the improvement which comprises a transfer tube having an open end portion sealed in the surrounding bore, and a closed end portion with an adjacent lateral opening through the wall thereof, said closed end portion being sealed in the surrounding bore on axially opposite sides of said opening; and retaining means adjacent said open end portion to axially retain said tube in the bore surrounding said open end portion whereby fluid pressure in said bores and transfer tube is ineffective to impose an eccentric load tending to relatively tilt said cylinder and cylinder head; said closed end portion comprising a terminal plug member which is loosely pivotally connected to said tube and which is sealed in the surrounding bore on one side of such opening, the adjoining portion of said tube being sealed in said bore on the opposite side of such opening; said adjoining portion and said open end portion and said retaining means permitting tilting of the tube in the surrounding bore to accommodate variation in the lateral positions of said bores with respect to each other when said cylinder head is secured to said cylinder.