Bellows Patents (Class 285/226)
  • Patent number: 7520919
    Abstract: The transducer-protector device for medical apparatus comprises a housing formed by two half-shells, a membrane defining a gas-permeable anti-contamination barrier, a female Luer first connection port, a second connection port for connection to a flexible tube, a helical bellows-conformed deformable member. The device, which operates in a service line of an extracorporeal blood circuit associated to a dialysis machine, is for protecting the machine from contaminating agents originating from the circuit. The device is simple and economical to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventor: Luca Caleffi
  • Patent number: 7506667
    Abstract: A flexible exhaust stack is suitable for use with a vehicle for which relative motion occurs between the cab of the vehicle and exhaust system components mounted to the vehicle frame. The exhaust stack includes a pipe mounted to the cab and having inlet and discharge ends. A collar is secured to an interior portion of the pipe between the inlet end and the discharge end. A flexible hose is at least partially disposed within the pipe, with a discharge end secured to the collar and an inlet end in fluid communication with the frame-mounted exhaust system components. The exhaust stack receives exhaust gases from the frame-mounted exhaust system components and discharges the exhaust gases from the discharge end of the pipe, while the flexible hose allows for relative motion between the cab and the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Jeremy Johnson, Chengappalli P. Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 7506896
    Abstract: A flexible joint with bellows for coupling two tubular elements together for passing fluid in a flow space and presenting a main axis that is constituted by the axis common to the tubular elements when they are in their aligned position, and including at least one flexible joint element functionally connected to a first tubular element and to a casing, together with a coupling bellows coupling together the two tubular elements, the coupling bellows, the flexible joint element, and the casing defining walls of a fluid-filled cavity. The joint including a flexible pressure-compensation device spaced apart from the bellows and having a first face forming at least part of a wall of said cavity and a second face that is in communication with the flow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Hervé Richer De Forges, Jean-Pierre Ciolczyk
  • Publication number: 20090045620
    Abstract: A damper that provides damping to the motion caused by flow induced vibration of a bellows type expansion joint. The damper is at least partially filled with a damping medium and located at a root region of the bellows type expansion joint convolutions. The damper is manufactured in segments which have an attachment structure therebetween to facilitate retrofitting of the damper to various conduits that are experiencing or are expected to experience flow induced vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Dale O. Cipra
  • Patent number: 7484773
    Abstract: Self purging expansion joint can include first annular seal sleeve connecting bellows to first conduit and second annular seal sleeve connecting bellows to second conduit. Flow-restricting orifice(s) can allow a higher pressure external fluid to flow through the annular passage to purge the bellows and into the primary fluid flow passage of the expansion joint containing a lower pressure fluid. Self purging expansion joint can be utilized in a disengager vessel of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, for example, between primary and secondary stripping cyclones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Phillip K. Niccum
  • Publication number: 20080197624
    Abstract: A connection structure for connecting dissimilar metal tubes includes a metal bellows tube (A) having a reinforcement portion (3) disposed on the outer surface of the bellows (5), and a metal tube (B) composed of a material different from that of the bellows tube, the metal bellows tube (A) being integrally connected to the metal tube (B). A connection section on the bellows tube side includes a straight tube portion (1) of the bellows tube (A), a nipple (2), the reinforcement portion (3), and a crimp collar (4), being fitted and secured to each other in that order from the inside of the tube. The nipple (2) has a base (2-1) joined to the reinforcement portion (3) and a connection end (2-2) extending to the metal tube (B) side farther than an end face of the crimp collar (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: NICHIRIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Nakano, Toshiyuki Katayama, Takashi Yagi, Masamichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7398798
    Abstract: An air induction system wherein the outlet air assembly includes a sleeve-lined convolute duct. A sleeve liner is disposed within a convolute duct which spans the convolutes, wherein an attached end of the sleeve liner is attached to a non-convolute portion of the convolute duct, wherein a free end is freely slidable in the convolute duct, and wherein the free end of the sleeve liner and the attached end of the sleeve liner each serve as a sealing cuff whereby air flow is laminar therethrough irrespective of the convolutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry W. Ostan, Jin Huang, Lei Li
  • Publication number: 20080073907
    Abstract: Self purging expansion joint can include first annular seal sleeve connecting bellows to first conduit and second annular seal sleeve connecting bellows to second conduit. Flow-restricting orifice(s) can allow a higher pressure external fluid to flow through the annular passage to purge the bellows and into the primary fluid flow passage of the expansion joint containing a lower pressure fluid. Self purging expansion joint can be utilized in a disengager vessel of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, for example, between primary and secondary stripping cyclones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Phillip K. Niccum
  • Patent number: 7344094
    Abstract: A sprayer for attachment to the spout of a faucet. The sprayer comprises a coupling, a spray head through which fluid may be directed for expulsion and a neck portion. The coupling releasably secures the sprayer to the spout of a faucet. The neck portion connects the coupling to the spray head and includes a passageway permitting the flow of fluid from the spout of the faucet to the spray head. The neck portion is flexibly resilient and permits the spray head to be displaced from a rest position where it is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sprayer to a deflected position where it is deflected from its rest position. The resiliency of the neck portion causes the spray head to be normally biased toward its rest position. The neck portion further includes a deflection limiter preventing the spray head from being deflected more than a pre-determined amount from the longitudinal axis of the sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Tracy, Peter Colpitts
  • Patent number: 7341283
    Abstract: For continuous high temperature operation over a service life in excess of twenty years, a flexible pipe joint includes various features that tend to reduce the temperature of the load-bearing flex element or reduce strain in the warmer elastomeric layers of the flex element. These features include a heat shield of low heat conductivity material integrated into the inner profile of the pipe extension and interposed between the central bore of the pipe joint and the flex element, low heat conductivity metal alloy components between the hot production fluid and the flex element, high temperature resistant elastomer at least in the warmest inner elastomer layer of the flex element, and a flex element constructed to shift strain from the warmer inner elastomer layers to the colder outer elastomer layers by providing greater shear area, different layer thickness, and/or higher elastic modulus elastomer for the warmer inner elastomer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Oil States Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J Moses, Michael E Hogan, Philip S Moses, Todd M Pottorff, Carl C Spicer
  • Publication number: 20080012297
    Abstract: A flexible pipe element, in particular for the exhaust gas system of a motor vehicle is provided. The pipe element includes a metal bellows (1), with a thread-like or annular corrugated construction, and a metal hose (3), which is positioned coaxially within the metal bellows (1), and is formed of segments that are annular or wound in the manner of a thread. The external cross section of the hose is smaller than the interal cross section of the metal bellows. At least one spacer (4) is arranged between the metal bellows (1) and the metal hose (3). The metal hose (3) is configured in such a way that at least in a compressed position of the metal hose (3), the individual wound sections or the individual annular segments that do not have a radial form-fit with a respective adjacent one of the wound sections or segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Witzenmann GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Heil, Gebhard Saur
  • Publication number: 20070290502
    Abstract: A penetration system for a pipe entering a duct wall at a pipe stub. The penetration system may include a thermal sleeve surrounding the pipe stub and a bellows positioned below the thermal sleeve and about the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Carlos Serafim Albuquerque Fernandes, Nicholas Philip Poccia, Leroy Omar Tomlinson, Laurence Ambrose Kenny
  • Patent number: 7284771
    Abstract: An exhaust gas bellows expansion joint for joining a first section and a second section of an exhaust pipe. The exhaust gas bellows expansion joint including a first corrugated pipe for conveying exhaust gas through the joint, a protective sleeve, which is inserted in the first corrugated pipe, a second corrugated pipe, which coaxially surrounds the first corrugated pipe, and an annular space between the first corrugated pipe and the second corrugated pipe for the passage of liquid through the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Baumann, Josef Hausknecht
  • Patent number: 7264280
    Abstract: A flexible tube for an exhaust pipe for an automobile includes a bellows member (10) corrugated to have alternate ridges (11) and furrows (12) along its outer periphery; outer braids (20) provided to enclose the bellows member (10); fixing caps (30) fitted onto both side ends of the outer braids (20) respectively; and a spring member (40) provided on a circumferential surface of the outer braids (20). The bellows member (10) has lower ridges (13) in its center as well as regular ridges (11) on both sides thereof to more effectively absorb over-vibration of an exhaust system of an automobile and to enhance durability of the bellows member (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: SJM Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7143788
    Abstract: An flexible coupling is shown for an insulated piping system of the type used to convey steam and other high temperature fluids. The coupling uses a flexible bellows and additional insulating and joining components to couple conventional lengths of insulated pipe. The bellows arrangement compensates for any relative movement of the inner fluid conveying pipes with respect to the outer layers of insulating material and outer jacket in order to protect the integrity of the assembly and prevent the intrusion of water or other contaminants which could lead to corrosion or early failure of the piping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Thermacor Process, LP
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Keyes
  • Patent number: 7066495
    Abstract: A flexible bellows tube connecting pipes in a system such as a vehicle exhaust system. Various embodiments are disclosed, with each including two conduit sections having mating corrugations that overlap to provide a seal while allowing the two sections to rotate in response to torsion loading. Different configurations of the interfitting corrugations and related structure are disclosed in the different embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Tru-Flex Metal Hose Corp.
    Inventors: R. Winfield Thomas, Scott R. Swank
  • Patent number: 7040666
    Abstract: A gimballed joint includes an annular bellows seal circumscribed about a joint centerline mounted within forward and aft shrouds having clevises with lugs and a threaded hole disposed through each of lugs. A ring circumscribed about the lugs has counterbored holes. Each of the counterbored holes is aligned with one of the threaded holes. Pins having heads and shanks extending inwardly therefrom are disposed through and the heads engage the counterbored holes. Externally threaded portions of the shanks are threaded into internally threaded holes in the each of the lugs. A key is disposed through a key hole extending inwardly through each of the heads and through threaded together portions of external threads of each of the externally threaded portions and internal threads of each of the internally threaded holes. In one embodiment wear bushings are disposed in the counterbored holes between the heads and the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Jon Christianson, John Samuel Hill, Anthony Fredric Damele
  • Patent number: 7017614
    Abstract: A repositionable downspout extension is formed as an integral blow molded plastic component having three distinct sections. A downspout connector end merges with a corrugated extendible middle section which terminates in a drainage pipe connector. The downspout connector includes two rectangular sections of different sizes defining two different securing segments for engaging two different sizes of downspouts. The middle section is of a pleated configuration and is of variable length by expanding or collapsing of the pleats. The drainage pipe connector is a circular connector for connecting with commonly used corrugated plastic pipe or rigid plastic pipe. In a preferred embodiment the downspout connector end also includes a connector for insertion and retention in the corrugated middle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: GSW Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Handley
  • Patent number: 6994354
    Abstract: A gasket includes a fist sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and an elastic arm sealingly connecting between the two. The first sealing portion sealingly engages a first member and the second sealing portion sealingly engages a second member. The elastic arm is not highly compressed between the members, allowing the gasket to vibrationally decouple the first member from the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: David Sakata
  • Patent number: 6948744
    Abstract: An exhaust-vibration decoupling connector has an inlet tube (1) extended downstream from a decoupler inlet (2) to an inlet-tube step (22). The inlet-tube step includes a radially inward extension of the inlet tube to a damper seat (23) that includes further downstream extension of the inlet tube. An outlet tube (4) is extended upstream from a decoupler outlet (5) to an outlet-tube step (24) that includes a radially inward extension of the outlet tube to proximate an outside surface of the damper seat. A vibration damper is positioned removably in a damper fixture (3) that includes the damper seat intermediate the inlet-tube step and the outlet-tube step proximate midway between the decoupler inlet and the decoupler outlet. Surrounding the vibration damper, a decoupler bellows (7) has an upstream bellows attachment (9) proximate an outside periphery of the inlet tube and a downstream bellows attachment (10) proximate an outside periphery of the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Microflex, Inc.
    Inventors: Josif Atansoski, Italo DeBlasi
  • Patent number: 6945567
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a flexible pipe connecting unit which includes a part made of elastic workable material. The pipe connecting unit includes a wave-shaped or hose-shaped bellows (4) made of elastomeric material. The bellows (4) has respective projecting flange collars (14; 14 a, 14b) at its respective ends. The flange collars (14; 14a, 14b) preferably are provided with a reinforcement insert (16; 16a, 16b) and annularly-shaped pipe connecting pieces (flanges 18; 18a, 16b) are disposed behind corresponding ones of the flange collars. The pipe connecting unit (2) coacts directly with weld-on flanges as counter flanges (20; 20a, 20b) without additional seals or corresponding joining locations. For this purpose, the end sealing faces of the flange collars (14; 14a, 14b) are partitioned in the radial direction by a peripherally extending slot (28; 28a, 28b). In this way, at least two coaxial concentric annularly-shaped sealing surfaces (14-I, 14-II) are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Fleck, Olaf Kluth
  • Patent number: 6921112
    Abstract: An exhaust-vibration decoupling connector has an inlet tube (1) extended downstream from a decoupler inlet (2) to an inlet-tube step (22). The inlet-tube step includes a radially inward extension of the inlet tube to a damper seat (23) that includes further downstream extension of the inlet tube. An outlet tube (4) is extended upstream from a decoupler outlet (5) to an outlet-tube step (24) that includes a radially inward extension of the outlet tube to proximate an outside surface of the damper seat. A vibration damper is positioned removably in a damper fixture (3) that includes the damper seat intermediate the inlet-tube step and the outlet-tube step proximate midway between the decoupler inlet and the decoupler outlet. Surrounding the vibration damper, a decoupler bellows (7) has an upstream bellows attachment (9) proximate an outside periphery of the inlet tube and a downstream bellows attachment (10) proximate an outside periphery of the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventors: Josif Atansoski, Italo DeBlasi
  • Patent number: 6919051
    Abstract: A low-profile integrated catalytic converter with a coupling assembly comprises a catalytic converter with a coupling assembly integrated into the inlet end of the catalytic converter, which is attached to a mounting flange or exhaust pipe. The coupling assembly comprises two or more flexible bellows, joined together at their periphery, and containing a plurality of undulating ribs. The respective ends of the flexible bellows assembly are secured to the catalytic converter. A coupling travel limiter can optionally be concentrically disposed within the bellows assembly to limit the flexibility of the coupling and direct an exhaust gas stream into the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Roth
  • Patent number: 6916049
    Abstract: A pipe coupling for joining two sections of pipe provides six degrees of freedom where the pipe coupling includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion disposed opposite the inlet portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the inlet and outlet portions for providing relative movement between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The intermediate portion has a plurality of corrugations disposed about a circumference of the pipe coupling and each corrugation includes first and second arms diverging from a common vertex toward the inlet portion and outlet portion, respectively. The arms diverge at substantially a forty-five degree angle forming a V-shape, and each arm terminates at a transition area where each arm of the corrugation blends with the inlet portion and outlet portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: David J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 6902204
    Abstract: An exhaust-vibration decoupling connector has an inlet tube (1) extended downstream from a decoupler inlet (2) to an inlet-tube step (22). The inlet-tube step includes a radially inward extension of the inlet tube to a damper seat (23) that includes further downstream extension of the inlet tube having a bend (36,37) which interlocks with a radially inward extension (24) of an outlet tube to prevent the connector from extension movement. An outlet tube (4) is extended upstream from a decoupler outlet (5) to an outlet-tube step (24) that includes a radially inward extension of the outlet tube to proximate an outside surface of the damper seat. A vibration damper is positioned removably in a damper fixture (3) that includes the damper seat intermediate the inlet-tube step and the outlet-tube step proximate midway between the decoupler inlet and the decoupler outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Microflex, Inc.
    Inventors: Josif Atanasoski, Italo DeBlasi
  • Patent number: 6902203
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe decoupler for vehicles including a bellows (10), an outer braid member (20) spaced from the bellows and braided with a predetermined angle, a retainer (30) having a support (31) inwardly curved at both ends thereof for engaging to a ring damper (40), the retainer being affixed to the ends of the bellows (10) and installed between the outer surface of the bellows (10) and the outer braid member (20) to prevent direct contact thereof, the ring damper (40) located outward the support (31) formed in the retainer (30), a fixing cap (50) coupled to the outer diameter of the outer braid member (20) in order that the outer braid member (20) and the retainer (30) are located outward the bellows (10), wherein the outer braid member (20) absorbs tension in excessive outer forces, i.e., displacement of tension and compression, and the ring damper (40) controls the displacement of compression and shear displacement by the ring damper (40), thereby controlling the bellows within the elastic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: SJM Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Choon Ki Kang
  • Patent number: 6902202
    Abstract: A method and a device for connecting parts of an exhaust gas system which comprises at least one metal tube formed from a bellows and optionally further parts disposed coaxially within and/or outside of the bellows and at least one further system part to be connected to the metal tube, are characterized in that one end of a short connecting tube is inserted positively in an end of the metal tube and the other end is inserted positively in the system part to be connected to the metal tube, and the system part is moved to the end of the metal tube facing the system part, thereby leaving a gap, and the system part, the connecting tube and the metal tube being connected from the outside in one working step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: IWKA Balg- und Kompensatoren- Technologie GmbH
    Inventor: Maximilian Huber
  • Patent number: 6893053
    Abstract: A flexible bellows tube connecting pipes in a system such as a vehicle exhaust system. Various embodiments are disclosed, with each including two conduit sections having mating corrugations that overlap to provide a seal while allowing the two sections to rotate in response to torsion loading. Different configurations of the interfitting corrugations and related structure are disclosed in the different embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Tru-Flex Metal Hose Corp.
    Inventors: R. Winfield Thomas, Scott R. Swank
  • Patent number: 6880861
    Abstract: This pipe joint comprises a hollow cylindrical joint body made of elastic material such as heat-resistant rubber with a prescribed length, and a circular flange for connecting piping attached to the both sides of the joint body, on the side of the inner circumference of the joint body is provided a bellows metal pipe closely contacted with the joint body, and the thickness of the joint body is at least larger than the size of the summit or the trough of bellows of the metal pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Tozen Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Muroi, Hitoshi Muroi, Tateyuki Kuwata, Mitsuhiro Oyama, Shinsaku Taneda
  • Patent number: 6870600
    Abstract: Vibration-attenuation devices and methods are disclosed that utilize a bellows situated between a first and second mass and pressurized with a fluid to an internal fluid pressure substantially equal to a zero-stiffness pressure such that the bellows exhibits a substantially zero lateral stiffness. The devices may include various components configured to measure, regulate, and control the internal pressure of the bellows in order to maintain a desired pressure. The devices may include an active support, such as a secondary bellows or linear actuator, that provides a secondary support force. The active support may be connected to various components configured to measure and control the secondary support force. The vibration-attenuation devices disclosed may be used in a lithography exposure apparatus to attenuate vibrations between: (1) a support frame and a support surface; (2) a base and a stage-supporting platform; and (3) a supporting stage and a wafer stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew J. Hazelton
  • Patent number: 6860519
    Abstract: A ball joint apparatus for a pressurized fluid line includes a bellows and a pair of opposed tube portions to accommodate limited flexure between the tube portions. The apparatus also includes an annular ball element positioned over one of the tube portions and an annular housing member mounted on the other tube portion and overlapping the ball member. As initially formed, the overlapping end of the housing member is open and of a diameter exceeding the maximum diameter of the ball member to permit ease of assembly. After the component parts are in position and welded as desired, the apparatus is placed in a hydraulic press and the open end of the housing member is necked down by a swaging process to establish bearing contact with the ball member. Alternative arrangements of the apparatus are provided for use with stainless steel tubing and with titanium tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Avica Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Berengut, Arthur Lyman Moore, Louis Rivera, Wilford R. Tate
  • Patent number: 6854769
    Abstract: A bellows-type pipe junction for mechanically joining the spaced-apart ends of two pipes in a liquid-tight manner includes two sleeve sections fitted onto the two pipe ends and a flexible offset section joined at its two ends to the two sleeve sections by respective flexible bellows-type joints. The flexible offset section and the flexible bellows-type joints provide a fluid-tight junction while accommodating axial and radial offsets between the two pipe ends. The pipe junction is especially suitable for joining the pipes of an aircraft drain mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Lutzer
  • Patent number: 6848719
    Abstract: This invention relates to a connector having an inner polymeric liner with either two opposed flared ends or one flared end and an opposed sealing end, a bendable outer metallic sleeve having two opposed flared ends of essentially similar geometry to either the polymeric liner flared ends or one flared end and an opposed sealing end shelf, and two outwardly facing threaded nuts, each of said nuts having a shelf which engages the opposed flared ends of said metallic sleeve. The connector will often have a ribbed segment between the ends and washers for sealing engagement with the interior wall end portion of the liner at the flared end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: William W. Rowley
  • Patent number: 6843515
    Abstract: A cooling system in an aircraft has fluid flow pipe sections that are mounted to the aircraft structure. The pipe sections have pipe ends that form part of pipe junctions. The two pipe ends of a pipe junction are facing each other and are surrounded by a shrunk hose member of a shrinkable material which overlaps both pipe ends in a fluid- and pressure-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Kornrumpf
  • Publication number: 20040239109
    Abstract: A fluid line connector includes a length of tubing having a plurality of corrugations formed therealong between opposing tubing ends. A non-corrugated section is disposed along the length of tubing between said opposing tubing ends such that a portion of said plurality of corrugations extends between the non-corrugated section and each of the opposing tubing ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Dormont Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Michael T. Angus
  • Publication number: 20040217588
    Abstract: A pipe coupling for joining two sections of pipe provides six degrees of freedom where the pipe coupling includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion disposed opposite the inlet portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the inlet and outlet portions for providing relative movement between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The intermediate portion has a plurality of corrugations disposed about a circumference of the pipe coupling and each corrugation includes first and second arms diverging from a common vertex toward the inlet portion and outlet portion, respectively. The arms diverge at substantially a forty-five degree angle forming a V-shape, and each arm terminates at a transition area where each arm of the corrugation blends with the inlet portion and outlet portion, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: David J. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20040207198
    Abstract: Pipe system for subsea installations for offshore production or processing of hydrocarbons, for interconnection of or internal connections in functional units, such as Xmas trees (1) and manifold modules (2), where a pipe connection comprises communicating pipe branches (5,7,8) which run with mutual angle deviation or parallel to each other. A pipe branch (5) is provided with a bellows device (11) for obtaining a certain possibility of movement of the pipe branch, and a second pipe branch (7) is also provided with bellows device (12) for obtaining a certain possibility of movement of the second pipe branch (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Patrice Aguilera, Helge Ingebretsen
  • Patent number: 6796585
    Abstract: A bellows for a compensator as an elastic connection between two duct connection pieces or flange frames arranged from each other in the longitudinal direction is presented. The bellows contains a cavity arrangement between an outer wall, an inner wall, and curved sections at each end of the outer and inner walls. The outer wall, inner wall and curved sections are continuously connected. The cavity arrangement between the outer wall and the inner wall is designed as a single-chamber cavity. The single-chamber cavity between the outer wall and the inner wall is formed in a manner such that it is free from connecting webs. The material of the bellows is flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Siegfried Geldner
  • Publication number: 20040178628
    Abstract: The invention relates to an artic-ulated joint (1) which is designed to interconnect two discharge pipes for a liquid or gaseous fluid, comprising a sleeve (3) and a muff joint (7) which is received inside said sleeve (3). A rigid inner ring (9) is placed between the sleeve (3) and muff joint (7), and held in place by an elastic thrust organ such as a bellow (15) such that it rests against the sleeve (5). A rigid outer ring (17) is placed on the end of the female sleeve (3) and means (19) which are integral with the muff joint maintain the outer ring (17) in a position in which it is located in sliding contact, sliding against the end of said sleeve (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Laubie
  • Publication number: 20040100094
    Abstract: A flexible bellows tube connecting pipes in a system such as a vehicle exhaust system. Various embodiments are disclosed, with each including two conduit sections having mating corrugations that overlap to provide a seal while allowing the two sections to rotate in response to torsion loading. Different configurations of the interfitting corrugations and related structure are disclosed in the different embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Tru-Flex Metal Hose Corp.
    Inventors: R. Winfield Thomas, Scott R. Swank
  • Publication number: 20040100095
    Abstract: A ball joint apparatus for a pressurized fluid line includes a bellows and a pair of opposed tube portions to accommodate limited flexure between the tube portions. The apparatus also includes an annular ball element positioned over one of the tube portions and an annular housing member mounted on the other tube portion and overlapping the ball member. As initially formed, the overlapping end of the housing member is open and of a diameter exceeding the maximum diameter of the ball member to permit ease of assembly. After the component parts are in position and welded as desired, the apparatus is placed in a hydraulic press and the open end of the housing member is necked down by a swaging process to establish bearing contact with the ball member. Alternative arrangements of the apparatus are provided for use with stainless steel tubing and with titanium tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: AVICA, INC., a Texas corporation
    Inventors: Vadim Berengut, Arthur Lyman Moore, Louis Rivera, Wilford R. Tate
  • Patent number: 6715799
    Abstract: A pipe coupling for joining two sections of pipe provides six degrees of freedom where the pipe coupling includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion disposed opposite the inlet portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the inlet and outlet portions for providing relative movement between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The intermediate portion has a plurality of corrugations disposed about a circumference of the pipe coupling and each corrugation includes first and second arms diverging from a common vertex toward the inlet portion and outlet portion, respectively. The arms diverge at substantially a forty-five degree angle forming a V-shape, and each arm terminates at a transition area where each arm of the corrugation blends with the inlet portion and outlet portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: David J. Hardy
  • Patent number: 6709023
    Abstract: A flexible slide joint is provided for accommodating axial, rotational and angular misalignments between two fluid conveying members. The flexible slide joint basically has first and second tube members with a sliding sealing member and a axially compressible element coupled therebetween. The sliding sealing member is configured and arranged to accommodate axial movement upon a first predetermined axial force occurring between the first and second tube members. The axially compressible element is configured and arranged to accommodate axial movement upon a second predetermined axial force occurring between the first and second tube members. The axially compressible element is force balanced relative to the sliding sealing member such that the second predetermined axial force is smaller than the first predetermined axial force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh N. French
  • Patent number: 6698976
    Abstract: Grouting equipment and methods suitable for use in underground water wells, which accomplish their goals by better centering the grouting equipment within a bore hole, even in curved bore holes, in an manner that prevents leakage of the grout into the well. Improved grouting is achieved by using corrugated, bendable incasings and expandable tubes which create a seal between the incasing and the well wall for the grout, and which prevent both contaminated surface water and grout from contaminating the groundwater. The disclosed techniques are implementable in such a manner that grouting does not necessarily need to precede the location of a groundwater nappe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Songdo Technopark
    Inventor: Heuy Nam Cho
  • Publication number: 20040036281
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe decoupler for vehicles including a bellows (10), an outer braid member (20) spaced from the bellows and braided with a predetermined angle, a retainer (30) having a support (31) inwardly curved at both ends thereof for engaging to a ring damper (40), the retainer being affixed to the ends of the bellows (10) and installed between the outer surface of the bellows (10) and the outer braid member (20) to prevent direct contact thereof, the ring damper (40) located outward the support (31) formed in the retainer (30), a fixing cap (50) coupled to the outer diameter of the outer braid member (20) in order that the outer braid member (20) and the retainer (30) are located outward the bellows (10), wherein the outer braid member (20) absorbs tension in excessive outer forces, i.e., displacement of tension and compression, and the ring damper (40) controls the displacement of compression and shear displacement by the ring damper (40), thereby controlling the bellows within the elastic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Choon Ki Kang
  • Publication number: 20040032123
    Abstract: An angle-adjustable connector is constructed to include two coupling members connectable to a tool and an air compressor/hydraulic press respectively, a connecting tube connected between the coupling members, the connecting tube having two spherical end portions respectively coupled to the coupling members and secured thereto by steel balls for enabling the coupling members to be turned relative to the connecting tube in different directions to different angles, and a bellows sleeve connected between the coupling members around the connecting tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Li-Yun Chu
  • Patent number: 6669912
    Abstract: A flexible catalytic converter apparatus for use in internal combustion engine powered vehicle exhaust systems. The flexible catalytic converter apparatus includes a vibration decoupling exhaust connector and a catalytic converter insert disposed within, one of the components of the vibration decoupling exhaust connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Senior Investments AG
    Inventor: Randal R. Udell
  • Patent number: 6631928
    Abstract: Both ends of a bellows-type outer cylinder [31] capable of axial expansion and contraction are connected in a leakproof manner to a pair of connection passage ends [20], thereby constituting an expansion passage [30]. A cylindrical resin film [33] having no permeability to fluid is arranged in an interior of the bellows-type outer cylinder [31], and the axial ends thereof are connected in a leakproof manner to said connecting passage end regions. The cylindrical region [34] positioned in the intermediate region of the cylindrical resin film [33] covers the inner surface of said bellows-type outer cylinder [31] in a leakproof manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Asahi Beer Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuzo Sakata
  • Patent number: 6615829
    Abstract: A feeding valve having a hose coupling in the form of an expansion bellows which unfolds automatically into the wearer's field of vision when the sealing cap of the feeding valve is opened, thereby enables a wearer to easily insert the straw of a food or beverage bottle even when wearing protective gloves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Auergeselischaft GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Horn, Klaus Schmidtke
  • Patent number: 6612621
    Abstract: A modular fuel fuller system comprises a filler head, a connector, a filler pipe, a jumper hose and clamps. The jumper hose and clamps interconnect the filler pipe and a spud of a vehicle fuel tank. The filler pipe is a stainless steel filler pipe with a series of formed convolutions for increasing the flexibility of the filler pipe to allow easy installation and provide crash integrity to the fuel filler system within an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Tesma International Inc.
    Inventors: G. Clarke Oberheide, Herbert Gruber