Patent US3865409A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3865409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe couplings
Assignee: Bridon Ropes Ltd
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Filing: 1973-02-20
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A clamping assembly for a pipe coupling, which in use, is arranged to be movable both axially and radially of the coupling for releasably engaging and clamping a flange of a pipe to the coupling. The clamping assembly includes a clamping arm movable under control of fluid actuated ram means with cam means interposed therebetween. The arrangement is such that when the ram means is actuated to clamp the flange, movement of the ram means is initially directly transmitted to the clamping arm and further movement of the ram means is transmitted to the clamping arm via the cam means such as to reduce the movement of and increase the available pressure to the clamping arm. The assembly is suitable for use on loading arms for tank vessels.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Loftus Paddington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:51
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L37/00; F16L37/08; F16L37/12; F16L37/1205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A clamping assembly for a pipe coupling arranged so as to be movable both axially and radially of said pipe coupling for releasably engaging and clamping a flange of a pipe member to said pipe coupling, said clamping assembly including: a clamping arm; means mounting said clamping arm for both axial and radial movement with respect to said pipe coupling; fluid actuated ram means controlling the movement of said clamping arm such that extension and retraction, respectively, of said ram means moves said clamping arm into and out of a clamping position; locking cam means mounted for movement in response to said movement of said clamping arm so as to mechanically lock said clamping arm when in said clamping position in the event of failure of said fluid actuated ram means; and means for initially directly transmitting said extension movement of said ram means to said clamping arm, resulting in a relatively large movement of said clamping arm toward said clamping position, and thereafter transmitting continued extension movement of said ram means to said clamping arm through said locking cam means, resulting in a relatively small final movement of said clamping arm into said clamping position and increase of pressure thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A clamping assembly for a pipe coupling arranged so as to be movable both axially and radially of said pipe coupling for releasably engaging and clamping a flange of a pipe member to said pipe coupling, said clamping assembly including: a clamping arm; means mounting said clamping arm for both axial and radial movement with respect to said pipe coupling; fluid actuated ram means controlling the movement of said clamping arm such that extension and retraction, respectively, of said ram means moves said clamping arm into and out of a clamping position; locking cam means mounted for movement in response to said movement of said clamping arm so as to mechanically lock said clamping arm when in said clamping position in the event of failure of said fluid actuated ram means; and means for initially directly transmitting said extension movement of said ram means to said clamping arm, resulting in a relatively large movement of said clamping arm toward said clamping position, and thereafter transmitting continued extension movement of said ram means to said clamping arm through said locking cam means, resulting in a relatively small final movement of said clamping arm into said clamping position and increase of pressure thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping arm is pivotally mounted to a mounting member which is in turn pivotally mounted to a fixed support member; said fluid actuated ram means is pivotally mounted at one end to said fixed support member, and including linkage means between said clamping arm and said mounting member controlling said radial movement of said clamping arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said linkage means includes a first link member which is pivotally mounted at one end to said mounting member and is fixedly locatable, at its other end, at any one of a plurality of positions on said mounting member, whereby the radial starting position of said clamping arm is adjustable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fluid actuated ram means includes a ram member that is longer than required to achieve the desired clamping operation with said first link in any of said plurality of positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said linkage means includes second and third link members, said second link member being pivotally mounted at one end to a point intermediate the ends of said first link member and pivotally mounted at its other end to one end of said link third link member, said third link member being pivotally mounted at its other end to said clamping arm at a point intermediate the pivotal mounting of said clamping arm to said mounting member and the clamping end of said clamping arm, said pivotal mounting between said second and third links comprising a spindle member which extends into a guide slot formed in said fixed support member, and said guide slot controlling said radial movement of said clamping arm through said spindle member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said clamping arm, said mounting member, said fixed support member, and said first and second link members all comprise pairs of members arranged symmetrically one on each side of said fluid actuated ram means, said locking cam means and said third link member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said locking cam means comprises a first cam member shaped in the form of a bell crank level pivotally mounted between said clamping arms, the crank portion of said bell crank lever being pivotally mounted to the outer end of said ram member of said fluid actuated ram means, said bell crank lever further being formed with an arcuate camming surface at the end thereof opposite to its pivotal mount; and including a rigid arm member affixed to and extending between said pivotal mounting member, said rigid arm member terminating at its free end in a nose portion, said camming surface of said locking cam means adapted to abut said nose portion of said rigid arm member when said clamping arm is in said clamping position to thereby mechanically lock said clamping arm in said clamping position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arcuate camming surface is serrated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said locking cam means is so formed and so mounted that there is provided an action of said arcuate camming surface with a cam angle of less than 10*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid actuated ram means includes a fluid actuated check valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said locking cam means includes a second cam member engageable with said first cam member adapted to lock said first cam member in any position thereof during actuation of the assembly for clamping.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid actuated ram means comprises a pair of fluid actuated ram members, one of said ram members being actuated prior to the other ram member for independently controlling said radial movement of said clamping arm toward said clamping position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
A clamping assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein said pair of fluid actuated ram members are adapted to be actuated simultaneously for release of said clamping arm from said clamping position; and including means connecting said ram members to said second cam member adapted to release said second cam member from locking engagement with said first cam member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A pipe coupling including three or more clamping assemblies as claimed in claim 1 mounted on a tubular outer member which surrounds and is spaced apart from an inner tubular member providing the liquid passage of the coupling and a heat insulating medium being located in the space between said tubular members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 14 wherein the outer tubular member is rigidly attached to the inner tubular member at its end adjacent the flange engaging end of the coupling and radially supported but axially free for expansion and contraction at its other end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 15 wherein the radial support for said other end of the outer tubular member comprises an annular member which spans the space between the tubular members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 16 wherein said annular member comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 16, wherein said heat insulating medium comprises expanded polystyrene.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |