US3929358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic connector
Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corp
•
Filing: 1974-05-01
•
Granted: 1975-12-30
•
Expires: 1994-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A tubing or pipe connector assembly primarily for use at cryogenic temperatures. The connector is of the screw thimble, gland type which is provided with a sealing member having a malleable metal seal partially inset in an annular groove in its radial face or faces. The sealing force for the seal is provided by spring members which are compressed when the threaded gland is screwed into the thimble. Materials used in the connector system are selected to effectively maintain the seal as temperature and pressure are cycled. The thread system of the gland and thimble and the deflection of the spring member can be selected so that after the connector components have been assembled to a fingertight condition, approximately a single turn of the gland finishes the connection operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred A Eckhardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L19/00; F16L19/02; F16L19/0212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A connector for fluid lines containing cryogenic materials, the connectoR including: a first tubing extension defining a passageway therethrough for containing the cryogenic material, said first tubing extension including an outwardly extending radial sealing surface and an abutment surface; a second tubing extension defining a passageway therethrough for containing the cryogenic material, said second tubing extension including an outwardly extending radial sealing surface positioned to face said outwardly extending radial sealing surface of said first tubing extension and an abutment surface; seal means positioned between said outwardly extending radial sealing surfaces of said first and second tubing extensions and about said defined cryogenic material containing passageway; and means to apply a predetermined force across said first and second tubing extension members to compress said seal means therebetween to establish and maintain a sealed condition thereof said force applying means including a gland extending over a portion of one of said tubing extensions, a thimble extending over a portion of the other of said tubing extensions, abutting said abutment surface thereof and threadably engaging said gland, and spring means positioned about said tubing extension over the portion of which said gland extends and engaging said abutment surface thereof, said spring means also engaging said gland and being compressed when said gland and thimble are threadably engaged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A connector for fluid lines containing cryogenic materials, the connectoR including: a first tubing extension defining a passageway therethrough for containing the cryogenic material, said first tubing extension including an outwardly extending radial sealing surface and an abutment surface; a second tubing extension defining a passageway therethrough for containing the cryogenic material, said second tubing extension including an outwardly extending radial sealing surface positioned to face said outwardly extending radial sealing surface of said first tubing extension and an abutment surface; seal means positioned between said outwardly extending radial sealing surfaces of said first and second tubing extensions and about said defined cryogenic material containing passageway; and means to apply a predetermined force across said first and second tubing extension members to compress said seal means therebetween to establish and maintain a sealed condition thereof said force applying means including a gland extending over a portion of one of said tubing extensions, a thimble extending over a portion of the other of said tubing extensions, abutting said abutment surface thereof and threadably engaging said gland, and spring means positioned about said tubing extension over the portion of which said gland extends and engaging said abutment surface thereof, said spring means also engaging said gland and being compressed when said gland and thimble are threadably engaged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The connector defined in claim 1 wherein said seal means include: a concentric groove in the outwardly extending radial sealing surface of one of said tubing extensions: and a seal positioned in said concentric groove constructed at least in part from material in a group consisting of lead, tin, indium and bismuth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The connector defined in claim 2 wherein said thimble abutting tubing extension includes: a radial groove formed thereabout; and a split ring which engages said radial groove, said split ring extending outwardly from said radial groove to form said thimble abutting tubing extension''s abutment surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The connector defined in claim 1 wherein said spring means include at least one Belleville washer and said thimble is constructed from a material which when subjected to cryogenic temperatures, shrinks more than the material from which said first and second tubing extensions are constructed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The connector defined in claim 1 wherein the spring means have a predetermined maximum deflection, said thimble and gland having a thread system which compresses said spring means from an essentially unstressed condition to said predetermined maximum deflection when one is rotated about one turn with respect to the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The connector defined in claim 1 wherein said seal means include a seal ring having: a first radial face facing said first outwardly extending radial sealing surface of said first tubing extension; a second radial face facing said second outwardly extending radial sealing surface of said second tubing extension; a first concentric groove in said first seal ring radial face; a second concentric groove in said second seal ring radial face; a first seal positioned in said first concentric groove; and a second seal positioned in said second concentric groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The connector defined in claim 6 wherein the volume of said first concentric groove is slightly less than the volume of said first seal and the volume of said second concentric groove is slightly less than the volume of said second seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The connector defined in claim 6 wherein said seals are constructed at least in part from a group of materials consisting of lead, tin, indium and bismuth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The connector defined in claim 8 wherein said seals are homogeneous.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US607180A
Cited
US3125361A
Cited
US1460105A
Cited
US2871036A
Cited
US3108825A
Cited
US3285631A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |