Patents Examined by Fannie Kee
  • Patent number: 9903516
    Abstract: A press fitting includes a socket defining at one end an opening for insertion of an end of a tube, a sealing ring within the socket, and a gripping ring within the socket, arranged in front of the sealing ring in the direction of insertion of the tube, wherein the gripping ring is provided with at least two weakening features in the form of notches, being reducible in size by deforming the gripping ring when applying a pressing action on the socket such that an inner diameter D2 of the gripping ring is reduced. A joint assembly may include such a press fitting having a tube inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CONEX IPR LIMITED
    Inventors: Manouchehr Salehi-Bakhtiari, Steven Paul Webb
  • Patent number: 9890883
    Abstract: A pipe joint is provided with a pressing ring, a pipe or a pipe joint body having a containing section, a tightening element, and a packing ring compressed by being pressed by the pressing ring moved by the operation of the tightening element. The packing ring includes a base section fitted and mounted in the containing section at a rear thereof, a seal section contained within the containing section at a front thereof, and a connection section which connects the base section and the seal section and has a cutout groove. When the packing ring positioned by fitting and mounting the base section in the containing section at the rear thereof is subjected to pressing by the pressing ring, the seal section is bent into the cutout groove and is deformed, and compression caused by the deformation creates a sealed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Maenishi, Yasuyuki Nagamori, Koji Taniwaki
  • Patent number: 9890598
    Abstract: A key assembly is press fit into an annular space between a box and pin member to resist relative rotation of the box and pin members. The key assembly includes wedge like members that contact one another along complementary tapered surfaces, and when in contact generate radial forces into the box and pin member to secure the connection between the box and pin. The outer wedge is inserted first into the annular space between the box and pin members, and has rows of elongate teeth that project radially outward into contact with an inner surface of the box member. Because the outer wedge is pushed radially outward against the box member rather than axially sliding therebetween, the teeth protrude into the surface of the box member thereby increasing the anti-rotation force created by the outer wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Steen, John E. Nelson, Chau Hoang, Daniel C. Benson, Stephen D. Peters
  • Patent number: 9879805
    Abstract: A pipe coupling device includes a joint body, a C-shaped retaining ring that includes a flange part radially protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the retaining ring, a pressing plate that includes a recessed part configured to house the flange part, and includes a front wall configured to face a rear end of the flange part. The joint body, the retaining ring, and the pressing plate are coupled together in an axial direction. The flange part has a substantially rectangular shape extending along the axial direction, and an inclined surface is formed on at least one of the rear end and the front wall. An inner end of the inclined surface is positioned closer to the joint body than an outer end thereof. The inner end is closer to a center axis of the joint body than the outer end. A gap is formed between the rear end and the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SK-KAWANISHI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidehito Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 9879806
    Abstract: A hydraulic connection includes a connecting nipple, preferably of steel or of another metal, whereby, on the nipple's tube-shaped extension, a hydraulic hose is held by compression by means of a fitting. A swelling element is arranged between the extension and the hydraulic hose, the element being swellable in the hydraulic fluid. If hydraulic fluid were to advance through to the swelling element, the element will swell and block the path to more hydraulic fluid. Furthermore, by swelling, the element deforms the hydraulic hose in a radially outward direction. In this region, the hydraulic hose is held by a fitting in the form of a metal sleeve so that the hose may not be displaced. In this manner, the force of pressure on the hydraulic hose is increased in an annular zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Industrial IP GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Eric Scherer, Frank Wilczek
  • Patent number: 9869139
    Abstract: A tubular connection includes a pin member and a box member. The pin member has a first thread structure and a helical torque shoulder spaced axially along the pin member from the first thread structure. The box member has a second thread structure and a second helical torque shoulder spaced axially along the box member from the second thread structure. The first thread structure and the second thread structure are sized and located to control a stab position of the tubular connection, and in the stab position the first helical torque shoulder does not engage or axially overlap with the second helical torque shoulder. A method of joining tubular members utilizing a helical torque shoulder is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ULTRA PREMIUM OILFIELD SERVICES, LTD.
    Inventors: Fu J Hou, Edward O Banker
  • Patent number: 9863561
    Abstract: A pipe clamp assembly includes a band having an inner annular seal element wrappable around a pipe, opposing clamp members extending from the band, and tightening elements for clamping together the clamp members. The tightening elements are positioned at or near opposite ends of each of the clamp members. A stiffening element is constructed of an elongate beam with mounting holes near opposite ends of the beam. The tightening elements pass through the mounting holes of the stiffening element. There are no tightening elements along a length of the stiffening element between the mounting holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Eliezer Krausz Industrial Development Ltd.
    Inventor: Avi Chiproot
  • Patent number: 9857004
    Abstract: A female component for a tubular hydrocarbon working string subjected to dynamic bending strength includes a tapered female threading cooperating with a male threading to form a rigid mutual connection of tubular elements, a free end and female sealing surface disposed between the free end and the female threading, the female sealing surface to contact in a made up condition with a male sealing surface to form a metal-metal seal, and an annular groove provided between the free end and the female sealing surface, leaving an axial distance greater than zero between the free end and a transition region outwardly of the female sealing surface, and a radial distance greater than zero between the female sealing surface and a chamfer at the free end, the groove including borders formed by the chamfer and a portion of the transition region protecting the female sealing surface prior to makeup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: VALLOUREC OIL & GAS FRANCE, NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guillaume Coeffe, Celine Sches
  • Patent number: 9857009
    Abstract: A plug-in coupling for a pipe, especially for water conduits, includes a coupling sleeve receiving the pipe end, includes a sealing ring which is inserted into the coupling sleeve, and includes a locking ring which is mounted upstream of the sealing ring in the plug-in direction of the pipe end and forms retaining claws which protrude with respect to the pipe end and are inclined in the plug-in direction. The plug-in coupling also includes an annular body which is similarly mounted upstream of the sealing ring and is supported axially in the plug-in direction in relation to the coupling sleeve. The annular body includes a protective ring for surrounding the face end of the pipe end from the outside, which protective ring is connected via a predetermined breaking connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KE KELIT Kunststoffwerk Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Elmar Ratschmann, Werner Linzner
  • Patent number: 9851188
    Abstract: A vessel, such as a rocket motor tube, comprised of an insert, and a joint that allows the insert to decouple from the vessel to relieve pressure when subjected to excessive temperatures and/or a predetermined temperature or temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Dynamics-OTS, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Diehl, Eric Michael Schneck, Gregory Norman Bogan
  • Patent number: 9835076
    Abstract: A decoupling element for an exhaust system (1) of a combustion engine, with an elastic exhaust gas-conducting body (3), with at least one support ring (7) connected to the body (3) in a fixed manner, which encloses an axial end portion (8) of the body (3) on the outside in the circumferential direction (5), and with at least one flange (9), which is fastened to the support ring (7) by means of a weld seam (12), wherein the flange (9) comprises a connecting piece (13), which is inserted in the end portion (8) of the body (3) enclosed by the support ring (7), and wherein the weld seam (12) is configured circumferential on the outside and connects an axial face end (14) of the support ring (7) facing away from the body (3) to the outer circumference (15) of the connecting piece (13) of the flange (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Schmitt, Michael Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9835274
    Abstract: A pipe adapter including an inner tube member, a fastener member, an outer sleeve member, a compressible sleeve member, and a fitting member. The fastener member may have threads on an inner diameter adapted to matingly engage a threaded portion of the inner tube member along a proximal section thereof. The outer sleeve member may girdle the inner tube member and connect to and extend outwardly from the fastener member. The compressible sleeve member may be configured as at least one ring positioned to overlie the outer tube member. The fitting member may connect to a distal section of the inner tube member. At least a portion of at least one of the fitting member and the compressible sleeve member may be positionable within a portion of a pipe. The compressible sleeve member may extend outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the inner tube member toward the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: John W. PerMar
  • Patent number: 9829127
    Abstract: The galling resistance of a threaded joint for steel pipes which has a pin with triangular male threads and a box with triangular female threads which threadingly engage with the male threads and an unthreaded sleeve positioned at the end of the box is improved. The unthreaded sleeve is shortened or removed so that the length of the unthreaded sleeve in the axial direction of the box becomes at most ½ (including 0). The shape of the box may be modified by providing a swoosh portion at the end of the box and/or by making the bevel angle at the end of the female threads ±15 degrees of the flank angle of the female threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Sugino, Shigeo Nagasaku
  • Patent number: 9829137
    Abstract: A flexible annular cartridge for joining and sealing a bell and spigot pipe joint, wherein the outer contour of the cartridge is approximately frustoellipsoidal, the cartridge composed of an annular member having outer and inner surfaces and opposite first and second ends, with a plurality of pipe gripping members positioned on the inner surface; a flexible annular gasket having outer and inner surfaces, opposite first and second ends, and a circumferentially extending sealing lip projecting inwardly from the gasket inner surface, in which the annular member first end engages the flexible annular gasket second end; and a backup ring having a hardness that exceeds the hardness of the gasket, in which the backup ring engages the gasket at the gasket first end. Methods are provided for using the cartridge, as well as a pipe joint that contains the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Griffin Pipe Products Co., LLC
    Inventor: Harold Kennedy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9829133
    Abstract: A gap sub comprises at least one electrically isolating threaded joint in a conductive tubular collar. The threads of the joints are isolated by a non-conductive coating. The shoulders of the joints are separated by an isolating ring. Annular faces on the ring make contact with the shoulders in the joints. The ring is made of conductive material with a non-conductive coating deployed on (1) at least one of the ring's annular faces, and (2) the interior surface of the ring. An annular recess in the collar prevents electrical contact between collar sections nearby the ring on either side of at least one threaded joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Oil Field Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Miller, Craig MacDonald, Michael Doan
  • Patent number: 9822914
    Abstract: A pipe connecting connector adapted to connect a pipe to a connecting object, includes a connector main body adapted to insert or remove the pipe, and including a locking opening formed on a side portion thereof; a lock member including an annular portion and a pipe locking portion extending from the annular portion and including a locking claw extending inside the connector main body through the locking opening for locking the pipe, the lock member being movably held relative to the connector main body between a locking position wherein the pipe locking portion locks the pipe, and an unlocking position releasing the locking, and an urging device urging the lock member to a locking position side. The pipe locking portion is urged in a locking direction of the pipe by an urging force of the urging device when the lock member is in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9816658
    Abstract: A lock member is provided in a housing movably between a standby position and a connected position. In a state wherein the lock member is locked in the standby position, when a pipe is inserted into an opening portion of the housing, the lock member is unlocked so as to be movable into the connected position; however, a tip portion of a detection stopper abuts against a flange portion of the pipe so as to prevent the lock member from moving into the connected position. Next, when the pipe is inserted further, and the flange portion passes the position of the detection stopper, the detection stopper moves into the connected position together with the lock member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Taiichi Ishizaka, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9816657
    Abstract: A pipe fitting having a main body portion into which a retainer is inserted and which, when inserted over a pipe, a flange provided to the pipe contacts first taper portions formed to a front side of the retainer, pushes out the first taper portions, and passes by the retainer. When the main body portion is pulled off the pipe, the flange contacts second taper portions formed to a rear side of the retainer, pushes out the second taper portions and passes by the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SANOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Daimon, Satoshi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9810333
    Abstract: A flange adapter is provided for positioning an insert device within a pressurized fluid system. A flange adapter assembly includes a pressure containing boundary and a flange adapter configured to be selectively connected to the pressure containing boundary. The adapter is configured to interchangeably fit a plurality of flange standards for the same nominal size. The adapter may also interchangeably fit a plurality of pressure ratings for the same nominal size. The flange adapter may be manufactured separate from the pressure containing boundary to allow for utilizing less costly material and to increase standardization of safety heads. The present invention also includes a gasket design having multi-flange compatibility for use in pressurized fluid systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems Limited
    Inventors: Geof Brazier, Donall Cullinane, John Tomasko
  • Patent number: 9810359
    Abstract: Each gripper washer 22 is disposed between a gasket retaining ring 18 and an end connector 14. The gripper washers 22 can be any size and dimension, and made from any material, including but not limited to plastic, polyvinyl chloride, or metal. The gripper washers 22 are a washer-like structure, typically a metallic structure that comprises an interior diameter, a concentric inner periphery and an exterior periphery 24. Each gripper washer 22 is disposed between a gasket retaining ring 18 and an end connector 14, such that the exterior periphery 24 of the gripper washer 22 is in contact with, or in close proximity to, the shoulder 20 of the gasket retaining ring 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Spears Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Wayne Spears, Robert Wayne Spears, II, David E. Littleton