US4537425A — High integrity flange connection arrangement

Claim 1

Independent Claim 280 words

An arrangement for establishing a fluid-tight seal between the faces of an assembled piping system flange connection, said arrangement comprising a rigid metal load bearing ring sized to fit between said flange faces with an inside diameter larger than the diameter of the fluid passage through said piping system at said connection and with a predetermined axial length for engaging said flange faces upon assembly of said flange connection for establishing a cavity of predetermined size bounded by said flange faces, said inside diameter and said diameter of said fluid passage; and an assemblage of components comprising at least one subset consisting of a coned ring spring, a force distributing ring, and a radial flare from a tubular element of non-metallic material, said force distributing ring being located between and adjacent said radial flare and said coned ring spring, said assemblage being disposed within said load bearing ring for location within said cavity upon its establishment, the dimension in the axial direction and the configuration of said components of said assemblage being related to the axial direction dimensions of said load bearing ring such that when said assemblage and said load bearing ring are installed in said cavity in said flange connection along with a predetermined number, including zero, of other radial flares from tubular elements of non-metallic material associated with said flange connection, and with the radial flare of said subset in contact with a respective mating surface, in said subset said coned ring spring will be partially compressed for exerting a predetermined force through said adjacent force distributing ring against said adjacent radial flare to urge said adjacent radial flare into fluid sealing engagement with said mating surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 280 words

An arrangement for establishing a fluid-tight seal between the faces of an assembled piping system flange connection, said arrangement comprising a rigid metal load bearing ring sized to fit between said flange faces with an inside diameter larger than the diameter of the fluid passage through said piping system at said connection and with a predetermined axial length for engaging said flange faces upon assembly of said flange connection for establishing a cavity of predetermined size bounded by said flange faces, said inside diameter and said diameter of said fluid passage; and an assemblage of components comprising at least one subset consisting of a coned ring spring, a force distributing ring, and a radial flare from a tubular element of non-metallic material, said force distributing ring being located between and adjacent said radial flare and said coned ring spring, said assemblage being disposed within said load bearing ring for location within said cavity upon its establishment, the dimension in the axial direction and the configuration of said components of said assemblage being related to the axial direction dimensions of said load bearing ring such that when said assemblage and said load bearing ring are installed in said cavity in said flange connection along with a predetermined number, including zero, of other radial flares from tubular elements of non-metallic material associated with said flange connection, and with the radial flare of said subset in contact with a respective mating surface, in said subset said coned ring spring will be partially compressed for exerting a predetermined force through said adjacent force distributing ring against said adjacent radial flare to urge said adjacent radial flare into fluid sealing engagement with said mating surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 83 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said flange faces is at the end of a flanged metal pipe, and of the elements of said one subset said radial flare of non-metallic material is at an end of a layer of said material lining said pipe and projecting therefrom with said one subset coned ring spring and said one subset force distributing ring mounted on said projecting lining layer between said one subset flare and said one flange face.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 58 words

An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein another of said flange faces is at the end of a second flanged metal pipe, said second pipe also being lined with a layer of non-metallic material terminating in a second radial flare overlying a portion of said another flange face, and said mating surface is on said second radial flare.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said load bearing ring comprises seal forming circular ribs projecting axially from opposite radial surfaces of said load bearing ring for engaging said flange faces in a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the convex side of said one subset coned ring spring faces said one subset force distributing ring.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the inside diameter of said coned ring spring is substantially equal to the inside diameter of said force distributing ring such that said spring engages said force distributing ring close to the inside diameter of the latter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said force distributing ring is sufficiently rigid so as to avoid high localized loading in favor of broad surface distributed loading of said radial flare of said one subset under said force exerted by said one subset coned ring spring.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said load bearing ring comprises seal forming means on opposite radial surfaces of said load bearing ring for engaging said flange faces in a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said load bearing ring comprises seal forming circular ribs projecting axially from opposite radial surfaces of said load bearing ring for engaging said flange faces in a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the convex side of said one subset coned ring spring faces said one subset force distributing ring.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the inside diameter of said one subset coned ring spring is substantially equal to the inside diameter of said one subset force distributing ring such that said one subset coned ring spring engages said one subset force distributing ring close to the inside diameter of the latter.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said one subset force distributing ring is sufficiently rigid so as to avoid high localized loading in favor of broad surface distributed loading of said radial flare of said one subset under said force exerted by said one subset coned ring spring.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 77 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein there is only one of said subsets and none of said other radial flares, and the total axial length, L, of said load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=A+B+C+xD, to a close approximation, where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said radial flare, said force distributing ring, and said coned ring spring, and D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 79 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein in addition to said one subset there is only one of said other radial flares, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=2A+B+C+xD, to a close approximation, where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said radial flares, said force distributing ring, and said coned ring spring, and D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 77 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein there are two of said subsets and none of said other radial flares, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=2(A+B+C+xD), to a close approximation, where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said radial flares, said force distributing rings, and said coned ring springs, and D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 78 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein there are two of said subsets and only one of said other radial flares, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=3A+2(B+C+xD), to a close approximation, where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said radial flares, said force distributing rings, and said coned ring springs, and D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 77 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein there are two of said subsets and two of said other radial flares, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=4A+2(B+C+xD), to a close approximation, where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said radial flares, said force distributing rings, and said coned ring springs, and D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the concave side of said one subset coned ring spring faces said one subset force distributing ring.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 55 words

An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the outside diameter of said one subset coned ring spring is almost as large as the outside diameter of said one subset force distributing ring such that said one subset coned ring spring engages said one subset force distributing ring close to the outside diameter of the latter.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the rigidity of said one subset force distributing ring is predetermined so as to avoid high localized loading in favor of broad surface distributed loading of said one subset radial flare under said force exerted by said one subset coned ring spring.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 67 words

An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein said predetermined rigidity of the one subset force distributing ring is related to the force exerted thereon by said one subset coned ring spring within said cavity and to the radial taper in said one subset radial flare of non-metallic material so as to cup an amount substantially equal to said taper for establishing broad surface contact with the latter.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 42 words

An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said load bearing ring comprises at least one seal forming circular rib projecting axially from each of the opposite radial surfaces of said load bearing ring for engaging said flange faces in a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 42 words

An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein said load bearing ring comprises at least one seal forming circular rib projecting axially from each of the opposite radial surfaces of said load bearing ring for engaging said flange faces in a fluid-tight seal.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 109 words

An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said assemblage consists of an axial spacer ring in addition to two of said subsets, with said spacer ring being located between said coned ring springs for engagement therewith, there is none other radial flare, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=2(A+B+C+xD)+E, to a close approximation where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said subset radial flares, said force distributing rings, and said coned ring springs, D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity, and E is the length of said axial spacer ring.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 110 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said assemblage consists of an axial spacer ring in addition to two of said subsets with said spacer ring being located between said coned ring springs for engagement therewith, there is one of said other radial flares, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=3A+2(B+C+xD)+E, to a close approximation, where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said radial flares, said force distributing rings, and said coned ring springs, D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity, and E is the length of said axial spacer ring.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 110 words

An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said assemblage consists of an axial spacer ring in addition to two of said subsets with said spacer ring being located between said coned ring springs for engagement therewith, there are two of said other radial flares, and the total axial length, L, of said metal load bearing ring satisfies the equation, L=4A+2(B+C+xD)+E, to a close approximation, where x is a fraction, A, B and C are the thicknesses, respectively, of said radial flares, said force distributing rings, and said coned ring spring, D is the height of the coned ring spring concavity, and E is the length of said axial spacer ring.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-08-26	1989-02-25	1989-08-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-08-26	1993-02-25	1993-08-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-08-26	1997-02-25	1997-08-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

High integrity flange connection arrangement

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