US4288105A — Pipe union with both pre-load dependent and indep…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

A disconnectable pipe union comprising in combination first and second union members, means for establishing between said union members a first circumferential seal whose sealing effectiveness is a function of its pre-loading and which is fluid-tight when pre-loaded above a given level, means constructed and arranged to be placed under tension to draw said first and second union members toward each other to provide at least said given level of pre-loading for said first seal, said union members being related to said means for establishing a first seal such that at least corresponding portions of said union members radially outward of said first seal remain separated axially with at least a certain minimum gap therebetween when the union members are drawn together with said first seal established therebetween, axially extensible sealing means constructed and arranged to be separably fastened to both of said union members for establishing a second fluid-tight circumferential seal within said gap surrounding concentrically said first seal and operative independently of said pre-loading at least to contain any fluid leaking past said first seal due to diminution of said pre-loading below said given level anywhere circumferentially around said first seal, and means for establishing a separable reusable connection between said union members and the corresponding end of said axially extensible sealing means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 215 words

A disconnectable pipe union comprising in combination first and second union members, means for establishing between said union members a first circumferential seal whose sealing effectiveness is a function of its pre-loading and which is fluid-tight when pre-loaded above a given level, means constructed and arranged to be placed under tension to draw said first and second union members toward each other to provide at least said given level of pre-loading for said first seal, said union members being related to said means for establishing a first seal such that at least corresponding portions of said union members radially outward of said first seal remain separated axially with at least a certain minimum gap therebetween when the union members are drawn together with said first seal established therebetween, axially extensible sealing means constructed and arranged to be separably fastened to both of said union members for establishing a second fluid-tight circumferential seal within said gap surrounding concentrically said first seal and operative independently of said pre-loading at least to contain any fluid leaking past said first seal due to diminution of said pre-loading below said given level anywhere circumferentially around said first seal, and means for establishing a separable reusable connection between said union members and the corresponding end of said axially extensible sealing means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 130 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 1, wherein said axially extensible sealing means comprises a fluid impervious element having a central tubular portion extending between radially outwardly extending end flange portions with at least said tubular portion constructed and arranged for both contraction and extension axially relative to the axial dimension of said flat seal, and said means for establishing a separable connection between said union members and the corresponding end of said axially extensible sealing means comprises a separate substantially rigid clamp ring surrounding said tubular portion of the fluid impervious element adjacent each of said flange portions, and threaded members for securing each of said clamp rings to a different one of said union members with the corresponding flange portion of the fluid impervious element sandwiched therebetween.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 102 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 2, wherein said union members are in the form of pipe flanges and said clamp rings are each provided with a circumferential array of spaced threaded apertures whose axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ring, said pipe flanges are provided with an array of apertures which register with the apertures in said rings when the latter are in place relative to said pipe flanges, and said threaded members comprise corresponding threaded bolts for disposition through the apertures in said pipe flanges into threaded engagement with the corresponding apertures in said clamp rings.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 3, wherein a plastic liner extends through each of said pipe flanges and is flared radially outwardly over the respective flange face to provide a respective integral gasket therefor, said integral gaskets constituting at least a part of said means for establishing a first seal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 2, wherein said fluid impervious element comprises sintered polytetrafluoroethylene resin.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 5, wherein a layer of fabric reinforcement is disposed around at least said central tubular portion of said fluid impervious element to impart additional strength thereto for containing that fluid pressure which accompanies a leak past the first seal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 2, wherein said central tubular portion of the fluid impervious element is formed with at least one circumferential corrugation and said clamp rings are each contoured along the respective surface which confronts said corrugation to conform generally to the configuration of said corrugation thereby backing up and accommodating the same.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 7, wherein said fluid impervious element comprises sintered polytetrafluoroethylene resin.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 61 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 1, wherein said union members are in the form of pipe flanges with a plastic liner extending through each said pipe flange and flared radially outwardly over the respective flange face to provide a respective integral gasket therefor, said integral gaskets constituting at least a part of said means for establishing a first seal.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 208 words

A disconnectable pipe union comprising in combination first and second union members, an annular first seal for disposition between said union members, reusable means constructed and arranged to be placed under tension to draw said first and second union members toward each other for preloading said first seal therebetween, said union members being related to said first seal such that at least corresponding portions of said union members radially outward of said first seal remain separated axially with at least a certain minimum gap therebetween when the union members are drawn together with said first seal therebetween, and a second annular seal for disposition in said gap between said portions of said union members so as to surround concentrically said first seal, said second seal having opposite ends between which it is both contractible and extensible axially, and means for establishing a fluid-tight selectively separable connection between each of said first and second union members and the corresponding adjacent end of said second seal, said last mentioned means being operative independently of said reusable means, and said second seal being axially contractible to an extent sufficient to avoid interfering with the ability of said union members to be drawn together for developing fluid-tight interengagement with said first seal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 208 words

A disconnectable pipe union comprising in combination first and second union members, an annular first seal for disposition between said union members, reusable means constructed and arranged to be placed under tension to draw said first and second union members toward each other for preloading said first seal therebetween, said union members being related to said first seal such that at least corresponding portions of said union members radially outward of said first seal remain separated axially with at least a certain minimum gap therebetween when the union members are drawn together with said first seal therebetween, and a second annular seal for disposition in said gap between said portions of said union members so as to surround concentrically said first seal, said second seal having opposite ends between which it is both contractible and extensible axially, and means for establishing a fluid-tight selectively separable connection between each of said first and second union members and the corresponding adjacent end of said second seal, said last mentioned means being operative independently of said reusable means, and said second seal being axially contractible to an extent sufficient to avoid interfering with the ability of said union members to be drawn together for developing fluid-tight interengagement with said first seal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 123 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 10, wherein said second seal comprises a fluid impervious element having a central tubular portion extending between radially outwardly extending end flange portions with at least said tubular portion constructed and arranged for both contraction and extension axially relative to the axial dimension of said first seal, and said means for establishing a connection between said union members and the corresponding end of said second seal comprises a separate substantially rigid clamp ring surrounding said tubular portion of the second seal adjacent each of said flange portions, and threaded members for securing each of said clamp rings to a different one of said union members with the corresponding flange portion of the second seal sandwiched therebetween.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 11, wherein said union members are in the form of pipe flanges and said reusable means comprise a plurality of mating nuts and bolts for disposition in respective bolt holes in said pipe flanges.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 91 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 12, wherein said clamp rings are each provided with a circumferential array of spaced threaded apertures whose axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ring, said pipe flanges are provided with an array of apertures which register with the apertures in said rings when the latter are in place relative to said pipe flanges, and said threaded members comprise corresponding threaded bolts for disposition through the apertures in said pipe flanges into threaded engagement with the corresponding apertures in said clamp rings.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 11, wherein said fluid impervious element comprises sintered polytetrafluoroethylene resin.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 45 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 14, wherein a layer of fabric reinforcement is disposed around at least said central tubular portion of said second seal to impart additional strength thereto for containing that fluid pressure which accompanies a leak past the first seal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 52 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 11, wherein said central tubular portion is formed with at least one circumferential corrugation and said clamp rings are each contoured along the respective surface which confronts said corrugation to conform generally to the configuration of said corrugation thereby backing up and accommodating the same.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 16, wherein said fluid impervious element comprises sintered polytetrafluoroethylene resin.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 212 words

A disconnectable pipe union comprising in combination first and second union members, means for establishing between said union members a first circumferential seal whose sealing effectiveness is a function of its pre-loading and which is fluid-tight when pre-loaded above a given level, means constructed and arranged to be placed under tension to draw said first and second union members toward each other to provide at least at the time the pipe union is assembled at least said given level of pre-loading for said first seal, said union members being related to said means for establishing a first seal such that confronting circumferential portions of said union members radially displaced from the region of said first seal remain separated axially with at least a certain minimum gap therebetween when the union members are drawn together with said first seal established therebetween, and axially extensible tubular sealing means constructed and arranged for establishing a second fluid-tight circumferential seal bridging said gap and operative independently of said pre-loading, said axially extensible sealing means having axially spaced ends, at least one radially oriented corrugation located intermediate said spaced ends, and a rotatably orientable clamp ring mounted on one of said spaced ends for separably fastening said one end to the corresponding one of said union members.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 212 words

A disconnectable pipe union comprising in combination first and second union members, means for establishing between said union members a first circumferential seal whose sealing effectiveness is a function of its pre-loading and which is fluid-tight when pre-loaded above a given level, means constructed and arranged to be placed under tension to draw said first and second union members toward each other to provide at least at the time the pipe union is assembled at least said given level of pre-loading for said first seal, said union members being related to said means for establishing a first seal such that confronting circumferential portions of said union members radially displaced from the region of said first seal remain separated axially with at least a certain minimum gap therebetween when the union members are drawn together with said first seal established therebetween, and axially extensible tubular sealing means constructed and arranged for establishing a second fluid-tight circumferential seal bridging said gap and operative independently of said pre-loading, said axially extensible sealing means having axially spaced ends, at least one radially oriented corrugation located intermediate said spaced ends, and a rotatably orientable clamp ring mounted on one of said spaced ends for separably fastening said one end to the corresponding one of said union members.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 61 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 18, wherein said union members are in the form of pipe flanges with a plastic liner extending through each said pipe flange and flared radially outwardly over the respective flange face to provide a respective integral gasket therefor, said integral gaskets constituting at least a part of said means for establishing a first seal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 111 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 18, wherein said union members are in the form of pipe flanges and said clamp ring is provided with a circumferential array of spaced threaded apertures whose axes are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ring, said pipe flange corresponding to said corresponding one of said union members is provided with an array of apertures which register with the apertures in said ring when the latter is in place relative to said pipe flanges, and threaded members in the form of threaded bolts for disposition through the apertures in said pipe flange into threaded engagement with the corresponding apertures in said clamp ring.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 56 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 18, wherein said axially extensible tubular sealing means is metallic, and the other of its spaced ends is permanently fastened and sealed to the corresponding other of said union members by means of a mechanical interlock and a weld for, respectively, resisting axial separation and providing a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 61 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 21, wherein said union members are in the form of pipe flanges with a plastic liner extending through each said pipe flange and flared radially outwardly over the respective flange face to provide a respective integral gasket therefor, said integral gaskets constituting at least a part of said means for establishing a first seal.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 60 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 21, wherein said mechanical interlock comprises near said other of said spaced ends of said extensible tubular sealing means an annular portion thereof that is displaced into a groove in said other of said union members, and said weld is located closer to said other of said spaced ends than said annular portion.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 61 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 23, wherein said union members are in the form of pipe flanges with a plastic liner extending through each said pipe flange and flared radially outwardly over the respective flange face to provide a respective integral gasket therefor, said integral gaskets constituting at least a part of said means for establishing a first seal.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 126 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 21, wherein said corresponding one of said union members is in the form of a lap joint flange rotatably mounted on a lap joint stub end, said corresponding other of said union members is in the form of a welding neck flange with a raised face, said lap joint flange is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolt receiving apertures lying on a bolt circle, the lap end of said stub end extends radially outwardly to near the radially inner margin of said bolt circle, and said clamp ring is arranged to be separably fastened to said lap joint flange for establishing fluid-tight sealing engagement between said lap end and said one end of said tubular sealing means.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 80 words

A disconnectable pipe union according to claim 25, wherein a first plastic liner extends through said lap joint stub end and is flared radially outwardly over a portion of said lap end to provide an integral gasket therefor, and a second plastic liner extends through said welding neck flange and is flared radially outwardly over said raised face to provide an integral gasket therefor, said integral gasket constituting at least a part of said means for establishing a first seal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-09-07	1985-03-09	1985-09-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-09-07	1989-03-09	1989-09-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-09-07	1993-03-09	1993-09-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Pipe union with both pre-load dependent and independent seals

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