Abstract: The present invention provides a saddle-less fitting having a stepped outer wall surface. The stepped outer wall surface includes a first and second surface and a step. The step includes a first bowed band surface extending from the first outer wall surface a predetermined distance inward towards the inner wall surface. The fitting further includes an insertion portion which includes the second outer wall surface and a second bowed band surface. The first bowed band surface and the second surface are bonded to a prepared pipe with a bonding agent. A more liberal application of the bonding agent may be employed to cause the other fitting and pipe surfaces to further bond together. Once the bonding agent hardens, or becomes cured, a unitary structure is formed which provides a leak-free tap.

Abstract: A pipe joint has a body having a through hole defined axially therein as a fluid passage, a nut threaded on the joint body thereby connecting the pipe to the joint body, and a sleeve held against a bottom of a hole defined in the joint body by an annular step surface and having a bulging portion slanting at a predetermined angle. The nut has a radially inner pipe presser which is bent and flexed into a shape complementary to the bulging portion when the nut is progressively threaded over the joint body, for pressing an end of the pipe against the sleeve under a resilient force tending to return the radially inner pipe presser to an original shape thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a tool free quick change spark plug mechanism. It includes a head insert, a spark plug and a locking housing. The head insert has a threaded base to be inserted into a spark plug port of an internal combustion engine. It is generally cylindrical and hollow, and has either a locking groove or an extended locking mechanism on its outside wall above the threaded base. The plug is generally cylindrical and elongated with an electrode for sparking and a terminal for a wire attachment, and has a seal with a greater diameter than the lower end of the plug for seating within the head insert. The locking housing is hollow and cylindrical to fit over the spark plug and head insert, and has on its inside wall, the other of the locking groove and extended locking mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe junction holder for connecting a pipe to a mechanical joint. The junction holder contains a wedge placed between a seal gland and a wedge gland. The wedge has a split opening along its outer sloped surface. The seal gland is adapted for connection to the mechanical joint and the wedge gland. The wedge gland is adapted to seat over the wedge and cause the wedge to clamp on the pipe when the wedge glang is connected to the seal gland. The inner surface of the wedge is designed to clamp along substantially the entire circumference of the pipe when the wedge is tightly held in place over the pipe. The invention also provides a method of joining pipes with mechanical joints, wherein a free end of the pipe is adapted to be seated in a socket end of the mechanical joint.

Abstract: Coupling apparatus for replacing a core spray line downcomer pipe coupled to a shroud T-box are described. In one embodiment, the coupling apparatus includes a seal ring, a mating flange, a housing having at least one wedge pocket, at least one coupling bolt, at least one wedge and at least one lateral pin. After extending the downcomer pipe into the housing, the seal ring is inserted into the opposite end of the housing adjacent the downcomer pipe. The seal ring is then seated on the mating flange seat. The two seats allow the downcomer pipe to be rotational misaligned with the coupling apparatus. The coupling bolts extend through the mating flange and the housing to rigidly secure the downcomer pipe to the coupling apparatus. Lateral pins extend through the housing and the downcomer pipe to provide vertical and torsional load transfer from the downcomer pipe to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: A continuous length of pre-assembled, metal-to-fabric-to-metal stock material for fabricating custom-made, flexible duct connectors of any diameter which incorporate a structural means for minimizing the risk of inward collapse of a fabric strip when the fabric strip is subjected to considerable negative air pressure due to installation between a duct and an inlet of an axial flow fan or blower.

Abstract: An erosion resistant pipe flange assembly and a method for preventing erosion of metal pipe flanges connecting larger diameter pipe to smaller diameter pipe. The erosion resistant pipe flange assembly includes a flange section, a reducer section integrally formed with said flange section, and a replaceable liner for preventing erosion and abrasion of the interior of said pipe flange assembly.

Abstract: A connector assembly for conveying fluids, the connector assembly includes a retainer member positioned and locked inside a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of a male conduit member. A locking arm is flexibly attached to one end of the retainer member to lock the male conduit member into the housing by engaging an annular collar located a given distance from approximal end of said male conduit member thereby providing a fluid tight connection.

Abstract: In a tub and shower unit, a faucet body 30 facilitates the supply of hot water and cold water either to a tub or a shower head, depending on whether a diverter valve of the unit is set in a tub mode or a shower mode. A reversible ejector tee 82 or 138 is designed for assembly with a center body 84 of the faucet body 30 to insure that hot water and cold water, which is being supplied to the faucet body, will be directed to a spout of the tub when in a tub mode without any water leaking through the shower head. The tee 82 or 138 will facilitate the directing of the water to the shower head when the diverter valve is in a shower mode. The tee 82 or 138 can be reversed in its installed position within the center body 84 to accommodate different orientations of the faucet body 30.

Abstract: A device for making a sealed connection between channels which are made respectively in two components which bear on each other via at least one spacer. This device is in the form of a tubular insert 8 comprising a rigid tubular armature 9 having a length slightly less than the thickness of the spacer in the region of the channels; and at least one tube 10, made of rubber or elastic synthetic material, lining at least the ends of the armature 9 and having at both its ends a rim 11, 12 covering the corresponding end of the armature, this rim being able to be compressed, upon fitting the insert, in a sealed manner between each end of the tubular armature 9 and the corresponding component.

Abstract: A quick connector comprising a female part (1) having a bore (8, 11), a male part (2) having an outer collar (6) suitable for being inserted in the bore, and a locking ring (3) mounted to slide radially in a housing (10) of the female part, which housing subdivides the bore into an inlet section (8) and a main section (11), the ring (3) being movable between a first position in which it is eccentric relative to the bore and a second position in which it is substantially coaxial with said bore, said ring being integral with a resilient member in the form of at least one tongue (12, 13) co-operating with the housing (10) to urge the ring (3) into its first position, wherein the ring (3) includes a thrust platen (9) adjacent to the inlet section (8) of the bore and projecting beside the tongue (12, 13), at least the free end portion of the tongue being of a width (L) that is less than the thickness (E) of the ring (3) minus the thickness (e) of the platen (9) measured in the same axial direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a fluid tight seal between a coupling body and an insert wherein the coupling body has a seal element disposed circumferentially about an inner wall for fluid tight engagement with an outer wall of an insert upon insertion of the insert into the coupling body.

Abstract: A method of maximizing system operating pressure capability of a selected flange joint in a fluid carrying pipeline system comprises minimizing bold load operating conditions and bolt load pre-load conditions at the selected flange joint by interposing a self-energizing seal assembly having negligible "m" and "y" values in surrounding relation to the joint's axial bore. The load producing moment resulting from connection of the flanges with the bolts is minimized by interposing a gasket element having a gasket thickness less than the seal thickness of the self-energizing seal assembly. The gasket element is interposed in a surrounding relation to the seal assembly at an outer radial location proximate to the outer flange surface margin.

Abstract: A joint for connecting ducts for fluid distribution systems under pressure or under vacuum. The joint element has, on its periphery, a collar (18) having a diameter that is greater than the external diameter of the joint body (15), and which forms a support surface (19), with its foremost frontal-radial face, against the head of the hollow bar, and with its opposite frontal-radial face, a shoulder (20), which interacts with one or more locking brackets (21) to be fixed to the hollow bar.

Abstract: A sealing device for the sealed connection of two pipes placed end to end includes an upper component and a lower component. The upper component includes a frustoconical rib extending outward from a cylindrical end part and diverging upward into a first wall forming a return, an elastically deformable external skirt formed from a second wall connected to the frustoconical rib through the return, a circular groove defined between the rib and the skirt and formed by the first and second walls, and a retainer provided in a lower edge of the external skirt. The lower component is matable with the upper component and includes a third wall forming a frustoconical socket that flares upward, a fourth wall forming a frustoconical external skirt diverging downward, and a circular rib formed by merger of the third and fourth walls.

Abstract: A gas riser apparatus having an O-ring sealing arrangement according to the present invention provides improved sealing between an inner pipe and an outer pipe of the riser apparatus. The riser apparatus includes an inner plastic pipe having one or more grooves for receiving resilient sealing members. A plurality of O-rings are disposed within one annular groove and an outer metal pipe is telescoped over the plastic pipe. An annular crimp extends around the outer metal pipe at a location of the plurality of O-rings and forms a seal between an inner surface of the metal pipe and an exterior of the plastic pipe by compressing the O-rings. This O-ring seal configuration provides substantially improved low temperature sealing.

Abstract: A tube fitting assembly is provided in which the back sleeve 4 can be simply fabricated without any reduction in its corrosion resistance. The back sleeve 4 is fabricated by pressing the exterior edge of the front end of a short column with a roller 6 of greater hardness than the short column whereby a tapered face 42 is formed on the outer edge of the front end that is harder than the rest of the piece. A bore or cavity is then bored axially through the short column. Thereafter, the back sleeve 4 so formed can be assembled with the tube to be connected, the coupling body 2, the front sleeve 3, and the envelope nut 5 to form an effective tube fitting assembly.

Abstract: A quick connect hose coupling assembly (10) for connecting a hose to an external device is disclosed. The assembly (10) includes a female coupling assembly (12) having an inner female tubular member (16). A housing member (14) is mounted thereon. The female member (16) includes a body portion (17) and a stem (20) adapted to be inserted into the inner channel (37) of a hose (38). The stem (20) includes an axial bore (21) adapted to convey a fluid therethrough. The stem (20) further includes a plurality of circumferential barbs (22). The stem (20) can also include an additional barb having a rotation resisting structure provided thereon to resist relative rotational movement between the stem (20) and a hose (38) into which the stem (20) is disposed.

Abstract: A fluid coupling having a first part removably threadably connected to a second part, wherein one of the parts has a latch arm resiliently deformable by engagement with the projections incident to threading and unthreading of the first part on the second part. The projections and the latch arm have cooperating first cam surfaces and cooperating second cam surfaces arranged to engage one another and cooperating to require the application of relatively small and large forces to affect threading and unthreading of the first part relative to the second part.

Abstract: A connector assembly 10 for use with tubular conduits 30 is disclosed which is a male portion that is put into a female portion. The male portion makes use of the end of the conduit itself, and the female portion only requires a stepped bore. The seal 50, stabilizing bushings areas 34 and retainer 138 are carried on the male portion. The seal 50 may be retained on the male, and the connection may be either a quick connect or require a tool to assemble. The connection may seal the highest pressures and withstand very high forces on the male and female portions. Also disclosed is the use of this connection in a multiple port device. The connection may be completed in the depth and diameter that is allotted to a "thread-in" or "flare" connection.