US4832382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling device
Assignee: Advanced Metal Components Inc
•
Filing: 1988-01-25
•
Granted: 1989-05-23
•
Expires: 2008-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A device for coupling to an object such as a pipe, particularly for joining pipes together, comprising a tubular sleeve of which at least one end portion has positioned on it a collar of dimensionally heat-recoverable polymeric material, and a shape memory alloy driver. Recovery of the driver is arranged to deform one or both of the sleeve and the object into contact with one another. Recovery of the collar is arranged to fill at least partially the radial space between the sleeve and the object so as to provide relief from transverse strain imposed on the joint between the object and the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Kapgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:52
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B7/00; F16L; F16L13/00; F16L13/004; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/77; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A device for coupling to an object, comprising: (a) a tubular sleeve; (b) a shape memory alloy driver for deforming at least one of a portion of the sleeve remote from one end thereof, and an object to which the device is to be coupled, into contact with one another; (c) a collar of a dimensionally heat-recoverable polymeric material located on a principal surface of the sleeve towards the said end thereof, the collar expanding radially when heated so as to reduce the radial space between the collar and an object to which the device is to be coupled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A device for coupling to an object, comprising: (a) a tubular sleeve; (b) a shape memory alloy driver for deforming at least one of a portion of the sleeve remote from one end thereof, and an object to which the device is to be coupled, into contact with one another; (c) a collar of a dimensionally heat-recoverable polymeric material located on a principal surface of the sleeve towards the said end thereof, the collar expanding radially when heated so as to reduce the radial space between the collar and an object to which the device is to be coupled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the driver and the collar are located on opposite principal surfaces of the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the principal surface, on which the collar is located, bears at least one radial tooth which extends circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the tooth is provided on the said portion of the sleeve that is remote from the end towards which the collar is located.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, in which there are a plurality of such teeth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the shape memory alloy driver comprises a plurality of rings, each arranged to deform the sleeve or the object into contact with one another as aforesaid in the vicinity of each of the teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, which has a collar of a dimensionally heat-recoverable polymeric material located on a principal surface of the sleeve towards each of a plurality of ends thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the collar comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve is formed of a metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, in which the metal is gall-prone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3174851A
Cited
US3351463A
Cited
US3477750A
Cited
US3783037A
Cited
US3753700A
Cited
US4379575A
Cited
US4198081A
Cited
US4296955A
Cited
US4455041A
Cited
US4469357A
Cited
US4135743A
Cited
US4144104A
Cited
GB1580036A
Cited
US4283079A
Cited
US4424411A
Cited
GB2076489A
Cited
US4434320A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-22 | 1992-11-21 | 1993-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-22 | 1996-11-21 | 1997-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-22 | 2000-11-21 | 2001-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |