Patents Examined by Eric K. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 6746057
    Abstract: In a threaded joint for steel pipes comprising a pin and a box capable of mating with each other, the pin having an externally threaded portion and an unthreaded metal contact portion as a mating surface, and the box having an internally threaded portion and an unthreaded metal contact portion as a mating surface, the mating surface of at least one of the pin and the box is coated with a lower porous zinc or zinc alloy layer by blast plating and with an upper coating which is either a solid lubricating coating (comprising a lubricating powder in an organic or in organic binder) or a liquid, heavy metal powder-free coating (e.g., a liquid coating based on a highly basic organic acid metal salt such as a highly basic metal sulfonate).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Goto, Toshiro Anraku
  • Patent number: 6739632
    Abstract: A coupling for connecting one or more pipes or conduits. The coupling includes at least one wedge-shaped gasket extending around the coupling. The wedge-shaped gasket includes an outer sloped or inclined surface, an inner surface, and a pair of opposed ends where one end is higher than the other. In use, a pipe, duct or conduit is inserted over one end portion of the coupling such that as the pipe or conduit is moved or slipped over the wedge-shaped gasket, the gasket compresses and forms a seal between the coupling and a portion of the inner surface of the pipe or conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Hamlin Sheet Metal, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bradley L. Thomas, Jonathan M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6736431
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel accumulator for a common-rail fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine has a tubular main body (1) to which is welded at least one bushing (13) for connecting a high-pressure line (6). To improve the quality and safety of the high-pressure connections, a collar (14) is formed on the end of the bushing (13) facing the main body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Jung, Heinz Popp
  • Patent number: 6729659
    Abstract: A flare fitting assembly includes a first coupling member and a second coupling member adapted to be cooperatively coupled together. The first coupling member has a first through bore with one end adapted to accept and retain a first tube. The second coupling member has a second through bore adapted to be disposed upon a second tube with an outwardly flared end. An arcuately shaped seating surface is disposed within the first through bore of the first coupling member. A conically flared seating surface is disposed within the second through bore of the second coupling member adapted to engage an outer surface of the flared end of the second tube such that a line seal is formed between the inner surface of the flared end of the second tube and the arcuate surface when the first and second coupling members are cooperatively coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Georg Schroeder, Zhongping Zeng
  • Patent number: 6722701
    Abstract: An invention coupling for LP gas or similar fuel source systems is disclosed. The coupling includes a nipple having a nose and a recess, a nut notably disposed in the recess and a fuse disposed between the nut and the nose. The coupling automatically decouples from the fuel source when the fuse acts and shuts off the fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Forgamex S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventor: Jose J. Ortiz Godinez
  • Patent number: 6722703
    Abstract: A checker comprises a thin-walled checker body, a pull-ring and inwardly directed engagement portions. The pull-ring is formed on a widthwise center part of an outer peripheral portion of the checker body. The inwardly directed engagement portions are formed on widthwise opposite ends of the checker body. The checker is fitted and mounted on a connector housing so that the checker body seats in a fit-in slot defined by elongate ribs formed on a flat region of the connector housing and the inwardly directed engagement portions snap in and locking engage with engagement windows of the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 6722702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coupler, in which a guard cap coupled to a high-frequency heat-sealed cap member is additionally provided at both ends of the body member to prevent the collator and the tube from separating from the body member and cut off foreign matter from flowing into the body member, and the color of the guard cap is made different to make it easy to identify from outside the contents flowing in the tube. The coupler comprises a coupling member 200 and 200a having a plurality of guide protrusions 210 and 210a that are formed at predetermined lengths and regularly spaced intervals and extended along the outer rim of a cap member 12 and stop protuberance 220 that is bent-formed at one end portion of the guide protrusions 210 and 210a; and a guard cap 100 that is coupled to said coupling member 200 and 200a so as to prevent the collator 30 and the tube 20 from being separated from the body member 11 by external force and foreign matter from infiltrating into said tube 20 from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: DMT Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Choe Min-Cheol
  • Patent number: 6722704
    Abstract: A connecting fitting used for fixing longitudinal bodies to perforations or openings, especially in the wall of a housing, which include retaining projecting elements that engage with the edge of the perforation from the rear, and a stop in the form of a plastic ring which, in use, lies on a side of the opening opposite the edge of the opening that is engaged from the rear. The elastic ring is supported by a surface of the connecting fitting which expands from an area adjacent the opening from inside toward outside in an oblique manner, whereby the ring can be moved and displaced axially when the diameter is elastically enlarged, in order to account for different wall thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Anton Hummel Verwaltungs GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Bartholoma, Fritz Zugel, Volker Gotz, Philipp Gerber
  • Patent number: 6719330
    Abstract: A tubing/fitting connection provides secure sealing attachment of a tubing to a fitting. In a described embodiment, a flexible tubing is connected to a non-rigid fitting using a retainer which grips both the tubing and the fitting. The retainer also internally supports the tubing, and may sealingly engage both the tubing and the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Qest
    Inventors: James T. Brown, Gary L. Runyan, Robert S. Stachowiak
  • 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: 6715800
    Abstract: A clamping joint (fitting) for pipes or hoses of a polymer material or a composite and having a base pipe made of polymer material. The joint includes a cylindrical support sleeve which is provided with several surrounding ribs and is defined by a collar on one end thereof. The collar includes a ring surface which is oriented towards the slip-on end and is situated in a level that is vertical in relation to the cylinder axis. A pipe or hose end having an enlarged cross-section can be slipped-on the remaining end (slip-on end) of the support sleeve. A clamping sleeve is slipped on the pipe or hose, can be displaced and is pushed over the slipped-on pipe or hose end for producing the connection. Webs having the same dimensions are formed to the ring surface. Each web is provided with a planar front face element that is parallel in relation to the ring surface. The front face elements of all the webs are located in a level that is in parallel in relation to the ring surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: I V T Installations- und Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Christoph Hennig
  • Patent number: 6712401
    Abstract: A threaded joint to be expanded, including a lip at the end of the male element end a housing for the lip on the female element to make the threaded joint capable of being sealed and of having a maximum internal passage cross-section after being subjected to diametral expansion by more than 10%. The free male end surface is socketed before expansion into a partially transverse shoulder surface of the female housing through the matching rebating shapes of the surfaces. And, the male lip outer peripheral surface is arranged with little play of the internal peripheral surface of the female housing. Such a threaded joint is particularly useful for casings and tubings used in oil wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Vallourec Mannesmann Oil & Gas France
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Coulon, Thierry Noel, Gabriel Roussie, Emmanuel Varenne
  • Patent number: 6712403
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel multi-piece flange connector used for connecting a pump housing to a fluid conduit. The pump flange is comprised of a flange blank, an insert plate, and a seal. The flange blank is adapted to be connected to the housing of a pump and includes a central bore adapted to allow the passage of fluid. The flange blank also includes a recess surrounding the bore that is adapted to accept the insert plate and the seal. The flange blank is connected to the pump housing by the use of bolts or other fasteners that pass through apertures in the flange blank beneath the insert plate. The insert plate includes a seal member that prevents fluid from the central bore from leaking outside of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Tuthill Corporation
    Inventor: Tony Dusevic
  • Patent number: 6712402
    Abstract: The oilfield tubular pin and box connection includes double shoulders 16, 22. An inner sleeve 18 engages the box at shoulder 20, and provides one of the two shoulders 16, 22 for engaging the pin. The pin bore optionally may be provided with a similar sleeve 24, thereby providing one of the shoulders for engaging the box. The sleeve 18 may be secured to the box shortly after its manufacture, or may be added as a retrofit to an existing box with a single shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Grant Prideco, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Winship
  • Patent number: 6709024
    Abstract: A coupling used to transfer fluid between two conduits includes a seal arrangement that permits an inner sleeve to move axially and angularly without fluid leaking from the coupling. The coupling also includes a pair of coupling members coupled to the inner sleeve, around each end of the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve includes tapered ends sized to receive a seal including a spherical lip. Each coupling member includes a tapered end that compresses each seal during assembly of the coupling. The seal spherical lips maintain sealable contact between the inner sleeve and the coupling first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Douglas Swinford, Antonio Salas Gonzalez, Mark Allen Rich, Michael Ralph Storage
  • Patent number: 6709019
    Abstract: A quick connector including a first connecting member attached to an object, a second connecting member releasably attached to the first connecting member and a release mechanism for detaching the first and second connecting members, wherein the release mechanism automatically disconnects the first connecting member from the second connecting members when the connecting members are pulled away from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Apical Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Parrott, Don V. Hitzfield, Steve O. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 6709021
    Abstract: A device for coupling tubular members including a sheet member having a first end and a second end where the first end and the second end are operatively arranged to overlap one another to form a substantially cylindrically shaped coupling, an abutment member mounted to the sheet member proximate the second end thereof, a male threaded member, a female member pivotably mounted proximate the first end of the sheet member and arranged for pivoting rotation about a pivot point, where the female member is arranged to threadably engage the threaded male member, and the male member is operatively arranged to abut the abutment member, wherein the male threaded member is operatively arranged to rotate in a first direction to abut the abutment member and expand the substantially cylindrically shaped coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: D.J. Mielke, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane J. Duncan, David W. Mielke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6698800
    Abstract: An articulating connector system including an active connector coupled to a first line and a hub assembly coupled to a second line. The active connector includes a swivel coupling element intermediate a grip and a ball nose to allow rotational and articulating motion. A seal is coupled to the ball nose and is protected and guided by an alignment lip into mating engagement with a sealing surface defined by the hub. A clamp closes about the swivel coupling element and hub to draw together the seal and sealing surface into sealing contact to connect the first line to the second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Oil States Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Spiering, Richard L. Ahlgrim, Bruce E. Morris
  • Patent number: 6698799
    Abstract: A spud assembly for use with a fuel tank having a body defining an interior chamber and having an outer periphery. The spud assembly includes a base attached to the outer periphery of the fuel tank and the base has a throughbore open to both the interior chamber of the tank as well as exteriorly of the tank. An elongated spud having an axial throughbore is movable relative to the base between a connected and an unconnected position. In its connected position, the spud is positioned through the base throughbore so that the spud fluidly connects the interior of the fuel tank to the spud. Additionally, when the spud is moved to its fully connected position, a locking finger on the base engages a lock abutment surface on the spud to secure the spud and base together. In an alternate embodiment, a locking ring is coaxially disposed over the spud and base when the spud is in its connected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Martinrea Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Anderson, Daniel Paul Cunkle, David John Gabbey, Larry Marin Vandervoort
  • Patent number: 6698802
    Abstract: A pipe joint formed by screwing a pin portion having a tapered male thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end of a pipe into a box portion having a tapered female thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of the end of a pipe or a short pipe so as to threadingly engage with the tapered male thread, the pipe joint having the following shape: clearance C between thread stab flanks: 0.5-1.0 mm thread stab flank angle &thgr;:  15-60 degrees thread crest surfaces and parallel to the pipe axis thread root surfaces: radius R of stab flank corner  1.0-1.25 mm portions of male thread: In addition, the taper of the incomplete thread portion of the pin portion is preferably 0.96-0.90 times the nominal taper of the complete thread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignees: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Vallourec Mannesmann Oil & Gas France
    Inventors: Shigeo Nagasaku, Jun Maeda, Katsutoshi Sumitani