Patents Examined by Eric K. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 7226088
    Abstract: A banjo fitting is disclosed comprising a block, a stud, a saddle washer pair and a cap. The saddle washer pair is bent so as to partially surround and clip onto the block. In this manner the block and washer pair form a single unit to simplify installation of the banjo fitting. The block further includes a pair of walls that extend from opposite faces of the block and engage the stud so as to provide a clocking feature. In this manner, the stud and the block remain properly aligned even as the cap is tightened on the stud to secure the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Dayco Products, LLC
    Inventors: Terence E. Skiba, Robert Williamson, Dave P. Zolnai, Martin L. Schefcik, Ronald W. Keene, Edward Zeimet
  • Patent number: 7063356
    Abstract: A pipe coupling (10) for joining together the ends of two adjacent pipes includes a housing (12) which defines a generally central bore (13) along a central axis of the housing for receiving the ends of the two adjacent pipes, and a locking arrangement (14) at each end of the housing (12) for locking the pipes to the coupling. Each locking arrangement (14) includes an annular chamber (23) within the housing, an inlet for allowing fluid into the chamber, an outlet for allowing fluid out of the chamber, and an annular seal (24) which is arranged to move within the annular chamber axially of the housing. A locking ring (26) is provided between the annular seal (24) and a plurality of radially movable grippers (30) for locking the grippers to a pipe end within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Amidex Coupling Systems (PTY) Ltd.
    Inventor: Malcolm Thomas Barker
  • Patent number: 7036850
    Abstract: A coupling to connect pipe, including lengths of pipe, valves, hoses, and pipe and hose fittings, includes a body to closely receive the end portion of the pipe to be coupled. A set of first class lever jaw members each having a power arm and a weight arm are mounted to the coupling body to establish a fulcrum for rotation of each lever jaw member about the fulcrum between an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to the pipe end portion when received in the coupling body. The weight arms may include a gripping surface such as a rubber or plastic material or gripping teeth to grip a smooth end portion of a pipe, or the end portion of the pipe may include a shoulder, such as formed by a groove in the end portion, so the weight arms engage the shoulder to secure the pipe in the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Ajit Singh Gill
  • Patent number: 7000952
    Abstract: A coupling apparatus and method for coupling two duct sections together to form a joint therebetween. The apparatus includes a catcher ring component formed coextensive with the edge of one section of duct, and a catcher finger component formed coextensive with an edge of the other section of duct being coupled to form the joint. The catcher finger component includes a catcher finger which is longitudinally aligned with a flange of the catcher ring, and that protrudes inwardly into its associated section of duct. In the event of a failure of a main clamping assembly disposed over an outer periphery of the two duct sections at the joint, the catcher finger and flange engage to limit separation of the two sections of duct to only a controlled, limited degree. This protects other subassemblies and components positioned closely adjacent the duct from any damage that might result from separation of the two duct sections, including exposure to high temperature and pressurized air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joe E. Sternberger, Kevin L. Loss
  • Patent number: 6991266
    Abstract: The invention provides a pipe joint made of resin in which a predetermined pressing force in the axial direction corresponding to a fastening torque of a union nut can be obtained, and the strength of threads can be enhanced. Each of the threads of an external thread portion of a joint body and an internal thread portion of a union nut is formed asd an asymmetrical trapezoid, an inclined angle ?1 of first flanks of the asymmetrical trapezoidal threads which contact with each other by fastening the union nut is set to 70 to 90°, and an included angle ?2 of the flanks opposite to the first flanks is set to 40 to 80°, and wherein the joint body defines a sealing portion the angle and direction of taper of which is defined by an angle ?0, said external thread is defined by an angle ?1, where ?1=?1 and wherein ?0<?1 and |cos ?0|>|cos ?1|.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Nishio
  • Patent number: 6991263
    Abstract: A tee for mounting an instrument in a pipe system, the tee comprising a body member having at least one inlet and one outlet for providing a flow path through the body, and a concave surface that forms a cup in fluid communication with the flow path for providing fluid access to the instrument, wherein (a) at least one of the inlet or the outlet is positioned offset relative to a central axis of the cup, (b) the inlet is vertically offset from the outlet, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b). Piping systems having such tees, particularly with at least one tee mounted in a rolled position such that the central axis of the cup is aligned at an angle in a range of 0 to 90 degrees from vertical, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ted M. Zarubaiko
  • Patent number: 6981722
    Abstract: A pipe coupling device has a main body defining a main body passage hole to permit communication between inside the main body passage hole and outside the main body passage hole. A fixing screw member is joined to the main body to surround a periphery of the main body passage hole, the fixing screw member having an external thread formed in its outer peripheral surface. A sleeve is insertable in the fixing screw member while a tilt preventing gap is defined between the sleeve and an inner peripheral surface of the fixing screw member. A first convergently tapered portion formed at a tip end of the pipe is pressed against a first pressure bearing surface formed at one end of the sleeve to form a first seal. A second convergently tapered portion formed at the other end of the sleeve forms a second seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6979026
    Abstract: The connector clip for verifying complete connection includes a connection verifying portion, more specifically, a pair of restraining portions having an assistance structure to certainly detect incomplete connection between the connector and the pipe. The assistance structure may be constructed so as to remove a sealing property between the connector and the pipe in incomplete connection relation with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kasahara, Tomoki Inoue
  • Patent number: 6979027
    Abstract: A toilet carrier for supporting a wall-hung toilet can include a smooth pipe nipple that attaches a toilet to a waste pipe. A seal can be formed with the pipe nipple at the waste pipe end using a gasket compression seal, where a gasket is compressed between two opposing flanges encircling the pipe nipple, forcing a seal to be formed with the pipe nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Watts Regulator Co.
    Inventors: Roy Hetzler, Bushra Awad Ghaly
  • Patent number: 6976712
    Abstract: A coupling couples pipes of pipe fixes, especially polytetrafluoroethylene pipes. Methods for using the coupling are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Micromold Products Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur S. Lukach, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6974162
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for plastic pipes including a nut, a body, a grip-ring, and a seal. The nut can engage the body through appropriate threads and includes a hooked projection having a sloping surface adapted to abut against and provide a force on a corresponding surface of the grip ring within the body. A pipe is inserted through the nut, grip-ring, and seal into the body. Tightening of the nut causes its sloped surface to engage and the grip ring to be forced both radially and longitudinally. Radial compression results in the grip-ring engaging the pipe whilst longitudinal forcing causes it to be forced into the body simultaneously abutting against and compressing the seal whilst dragging the pipe further into the body. The nut and the body may further have tapered surfaces that are brought together as the grip-ring is forced into the body. The physical connection between the body and the nut provides reinforcing for the nut, a feature especially useful when dealing with soft plastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventors: David Chelchowski, Geoffrey B. Puckett, Luke Raymond
  • Patent number: 6971685
    Abstract: An expandable threaded connection between segments of expandable tubulars that provides multiple sealing points along the pin and box members that can withstand high pressure is disclosed. The present invention utilizes a gap that is created between the pin nose and the back of the box member when the threaded connection is made up and a reverse trapping angle machined into the pin nose end and the back of the box. The radial expansion of the tubulars causes axial movement of the pin nose and the box member until the pin nose is in contact with the back of the box member, thereby closing the gap and forcing the pin nose into sealing engagement with the back of the box member. The reverse trapping angle forces the nose of the pin member outwardly (i.e., toward the outer diameter of the expandable tubular string) as it is forced into contact with the back of the box member during the expansion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Ghazi J. Hashem
  • Patent number: 6971681
    Abstract: A threaded metallic pipe for oil extraction industry has a threaded end portion with treated surface in which the metal surface has a roughness (Ra) comprised of 2.0 ?m and 6.0 ?m, which is covered by a uniform layer (7) of a dry corrosion inhibiting coating and a second uniform layer (8) of dry lubricant coating. Alternatively the layers (8, 9) combined into one uniform layer (9) of a dry corrosion inhibiting coating containing a dispersion of particles of solid lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Tenaris Connections AG
    Inventors: Diego Dell'Erba, Gabriel E. Carcagno
  • Patent number: 6971679
    Abstract: Device for connecting one end of a pipe to a bore provided in a fluid transport circuit element, includes a tubular body defining an inner channel for receiving the pipe end, elements for retaining the pipe end in a predetermined axial position in the inner channel and elements for fixing the tubular body in the hole in a predetermined axial position, members for stopping the pipe end mounted on the tubular body designed to be mobile between a projecting position to counter the drive-up of the pipe end to its axial position and a retracted position to clear the passage for the pipe end towards its predetermined axial position, the stop members being designed to co-operate with the element such that they shift from their projecting position to their retracted position when the tubular body is driven in the hole up to its predetermined axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Legris SA
    Inventor: Olivier Legeay
  • Patent number: 6969094
    Abstract: A tube coupling for the detachable coupling of tube line sections of a high-pressure tubing system. The tube coupling includes two coupling blocks held together by a clamping screw, whereby one of the coupling blocks has a coupling plug that engages a plug socket provided on the other coupling block. A sealing ring is formed of a plastically deformable material and is enclosed between a front face of the coupling plug and a bottom-side sealing surface of the plug socket. In order to protect the sealing ring from being lost, damages and/or contaminated during assembly or opening and dosing the coupling, in a preassembled condition it is enclosed within a protective socket. To homogeneously load the sealing ring, the sealing ring is located at one point of a supporting triangle, the two other supporting points of being formed by a pair of supporting surfaces arranged side by side at an outer end of side flanges of the coupling blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jörn Fröhling, Stefan Sturm, Frank Obrist, Peter Kuhn, Stefan Kröss
  • Patent number: 6964434
    Abstract: A coupling part joins at least one tubular or bar-shaped part to a further part. The coupling part contains at least one sleeve part that accommodates the tubular or bar-shaped part, whereby at least one first detent element is provided on the inside of the sleeve part and interacts with a first counter detent element provided on the tubular or bar-shaped part. The detent connection of the first detent and counter detent element can be disengaged by displacing the sleeve part. A coupling part of the aforementioned type is characterized by its ability to be easily disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Beck, Silvio Hamm, Manfred Prell
  • Patent number: 6964436
    Abstract: A coupler having a tubular body (6) which is arranged to receive a tubular element for transporting fluid and including a pipe end, and which is provided with elements (11) for snap-fastening the tubular element, the coupler including a bushing (15) provided on the inside with elements (23, 25) for retaining the pipe end, which elements are selectively activatable and deactivatable, wherein the bushing is mounted in the tubular body to be movable axially between a position for activating the retaining elements and a position for deactivating the retaining elements, and wherein the bushing is provided with snap-fastening elements complementary to those of the body for co-operating therewith in the activation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Legris SA
    Inventor: Philippe Le Quere
  • Patent number: 6945569
    Abstract: A union for connecting two tubular members. The first tubular member has an external flange, and the second tubular member has a set of external threads. An annular nut surrounds the first tubular member. The nut has an internal flange that surrounds the first tubular member, and a set of threads to engage the threads of the second tubular member. Arcuate segments are circumferentially mated between the internal flange of the nut and the external flange of the first tubular member. A flat conical surface on the inner side of the segment comes into contact with a flat conical surface on the outer side of the external flange. Curved conical surfaces tangentially align with and extend from the flat conical surfaces on the segment and the external flange. Cylindrical surfaces tangentially align and join the curved conical surfaces on the segment and the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: S.P.M. Flow Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan M. Diaz, Mark D. Matzner
  • Patent number: RE39552
    Abstract: A pup joint is provided which comprises a length of pipe, a female sub integral with one end of the pipe and having external threads formed thereon, a male sub integral with the other end of the pipe, a wing nut for threadedly connecting the male sub to the female sub, a set of retainer segments for retaining the wing nut on the pup joint, and a retention shoulder formed on the male sub to maintain the wing nut and retainer segments on the male sub. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pipe and the male and female subs are comprised of a single forging, and the retention shoulder is formed by machining the male sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Crawford
  • Patent number: RE39584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipe joint made of resin used for laying pipes in which a high-purity liquid, ultra pure water or the like flow. According to the pipe joint of the present invention, a sealing surface pressure is generated in both axial and radial directions, providing thereby an excellent sealing property for a long period, and facilitate controlling a torque for fastening a pushing ring. The pipe joint made of resin according to the present invention comprises a joint body having a receiving port, a cylindrical portion, an annular groove portion and a stepped surface. An inner ring forcedly inserted by the pushing ring is provided with an outer projection, an inner projection and an annular recessed portion. On at least one portion among axially opposed portions of each surface, an axial sealing portion is disposed. On at least one portion among radially opposed portions of each surface, an radial sealing portion is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Nishio