US4625765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-10-02
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Granted: 1986-12-02
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Expires: 2005-10-02
Abstract
Abstract In an embodiment shown, the plug comprises a body having a central, threaded bore in which is received the threaded shank of a nosepiece. Jaws are slidably engaged with a ramp surface of the nosepiece for effecting a gripping engagement with the inner surface of a tube to be sealed. The body has an abutment formed thereon against which to receive a compression washer and a plurality or O-ring seals interleaved with other compression washers. The shank of the nosepiece is threadedly movable extensibly from and retractably toward the body by use of a wrench engageable with a hexagonal recess formed in the body-engaging end of the shank. As the nosepiece is retracted, the jaws slide along, and expand upon, the ramp surface. The O-ring seals and compression washers set against the abutment of the body, as noted, and an internally-threaded nut is threadedly engaged with an externally-threaded end of the body which is opposite the nosepiece. Threaded movement of the nut causes the O-ring seals to be compressed and expand into sealing engagement with the inner surface of a tube. With failure of one or more of the O-ring seals, the nut, body and O-ring seals, with their compression washers, can be removed from the tube in which the plug is grippingly engaged, while the nosepiece and jaws remain gripped therein. Then, upon failed O-ring seals being replaced on the body, the latter, with the replacement seals and washers can be returned to the tube and threadedly re-engaged with the nosepiece.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. O'Donnell
- 👤 Michael C. Catapano
- 👤 Renato R. Noe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:24
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/10; F16L55/12; F16L55/128; F16L55/136
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, comprising: a plug body having a central, longitudinal axis; said plug body having means formed thereon defining an abutment; said body having a threaded bore formed axially therein; a nosepiece; said nosepiece having a shank portion which is externally threaded; said shank portion being threadedly and removably engaged with said bore; said nosepiece having means manipulatable for causing said nosepiece to extend from, and to retract toward said body; said body also having an externally-threaded portion at one end thereof; a seal disposed in encircling engagement with said body intermediate said abutment and said one end of said body; and annular, seal-compressing means disposed in encircling engagement with said one end of said body; wherein said seal-compressing means comprises a nut threadedly engaged with said externally-threaded portion of said body; and said body and said nut have means cooperatively manipulatable for causing said seal-compressing means to move along said body, toward said abutment, to cause said seal to be compressed and expanded into sealing engagement with an inner surface of a tube; and further including gripping means encircling said nosepiece, and movable relative thereto, for effecting fast, gripping engagement with the aforesaid, same inner surface of a tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, comprising: a plug body having a central, longitudinal axis; said plug body having means formed thereon defining an abutment; said body having a threaded bore formed axially therein; a nosepiece; said nosepiece having a shank portion which is externally threaded; said shank portion being threadedly and removably engaged with said bore; said nosepiece having means manipulatable for causing said nosepiece to extend from, and to retract toward said body; said body also having an externally-threaded portion at one end thereof; a seal disposed in encircling engagement with said body intermediate said abutment and said one end of said body; and annular, seal-compressing means disposed in encircling engagement with said one end of said body; wherein said seal-compressing means comprises a nut threadedly engaged with said externally-threaded portion of said body; and said body and said nut have means cooperatively manipulatable for causing said seal-compressing means to move along said body, toward said abutment, to cause said seal to be compressed and expanded into sealing engagement with an inner surface of a tube; and further including gripping means encircling said nosepiece, and movable relative thereto, for effecting fast, gripping engagement with the aforesaid, same inner surface of a tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said cooperatively manipulatable means of said body and said nut comprise spanner wrench holes formed in said nut and a hexagonal recess formed in said one end of said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said seal comprises a plurality of O-ring seals interposed between said abutment and said seal-compressing means; and further including a compression washer interposed between an adjacent pair of said O-ring seals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said seal comprises three O-ring seals interposed between said abutment and said seal-compressing means; and further including a first compression washer interposed between one of said O-ring seals and said abutment, second compression washers interposed between said one O-ring seal and another thereof adjacent thereto, and between said another O-ring seal and the third of said O-ring seals, and another compression washer interposed between said third o-ring seal and said nut.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said seal comprises an elastomer annulus having a given thickness through a sector thereof, and an axial length greater than said given thickness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said seal comprises an O-ring seal interposed between said abutment and said seal-compressing means; and further including a pair of compression washers astride said O-ring seal, one of said washers being interposed between said O-ring seal and said abutment, and the other thereof being interposed between said O-ring seal and said seal-compressing means; and wherein said seal-compressing means further comprises a compression ring in abutting relationship with said other compression washer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said manipulatable means of said nosepiece comprises a hexagonal recess formed in said shank portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said seal-compressing means further comprises an annular element interposed between said seal and said nut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, further including: a cap nut threadedly engaged with said one end of said body, in abutting engagement with said nut of said seal-compressing means; and an O-ring seal interposed between said cap nut and said nut of said seal-compressing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A plug, for fluid-sealing of tubes, according to claim 1, wherein: said nut has an arcuate recess formed in an axial face thereof for nestingly receiving therein an O-ring seal for sealingly engaging the face of a structure in which fluid-sealing of a tube is to be done.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1989-12-01 | 1990-06-02 | 1990-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-06-02 | 1994-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-01 | 1998-06-02 | 1998-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |