Patents Examined by G M Collins
  • Patent number: 6609734
    Abstract: A connector for the connection of pressure vessels utilizing toroidal surfaces to achieve a maximum of contact area sliding parallel to motion of locking segment when achieving high preload to minimize high stress contact points and the resultant wear when subjected to multiple operations and orientation means to cause any wear to be repeatedly in the same area such that selected critical areas will not be subjected to high contact stress wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: Benton F. Baugh
  • Patent number: 6607220
    Abstract: A radially expandable tubular connection including a box member having an internal thread and a first seal surface and a pin member having an external thread and a second seal surface. The external thread threadedly engages the internal thread and the first and second seal surfaces form a metal-to-metal seal upon engagement of the seal surfaces. At least one groove is formed on an outer surface of the box member, and the at least one groove is shaped so that the box member radially deforms in a direction toward the pin member in a region near the metal-to-metal seal after radial plastic expansion of the pin and box members after engagement of the threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventor: Robert S. Sivley, IV
  • Patent number: 6607037
    Abstract: A seal is provided to prevent contamination by sand or grit in the clearance between a flow tube and the inner housing wall in a safety valve. An enlarged space is provided adjacent the seal to allow accumulation of sand or grit in the annular clearance space without causing seizure of the flow tube. The insert safety valve is assembled without a spacer with a seal mounted to the lower end of the insert valve to engage the bottom sub on the SSV. As a result, particularly for larger sizes of insert safety valves, the assembly is lighter and shorter, which facilitates use of readily available standard lubricator and wireline equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Grant R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6601878
    Abstract: A connector assembly 8 may include a connector 10 having flow channel 11 defined therein. One end of the flow channel may engagingly receive a tubular conduit 1. A checker 30 may be coupled to the connector 10. The connection checker 30 may engagingly receive a bent portion 1b of the tubular conduit 1 and ensure a proper connecting condition between the connector 10 and the tubular conduit 1. The connection checker 30 also may prevent the connector 10 from rotating relative to the tubular conduit 1. A holder 20 may detachably and pivotally couple the connection checker 30 to the connector 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Togo Seisakucho, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Ooi, Yukihiro Hattori, Hiroshi Ooizumi, Kazunori Iida
  • Patent number: 6598907
    Abstract: A fast-action coupler for coupling a first tubular component (1) to a second tubular component (2) includes a spring wire (8) as a retaining unit. The spring wire (8) is secured to the second component (2) and with its end part (12) is resiliently fixed in a locking position for a retaining part (6) on the first component (1). The end part (12) can also be unlocked simply and even from relatively great distances, counter to the spring force of the spring wire (8), by rotation of a tool (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Bucher-Guyer AG
    Inventor: Eduard Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6595555
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a coiled tubing swivel for rotatably connecting a first conduit to a second conduit. The swivel comprises a swivel body having a cylindrical receptacle and a flowpath that communicates between the receptacle and the first conduit, a tubular mandrel having a first end that is received within the receptacle and a second end which communicates with the second conduit, and a bearing assembly positioned between the receptacle and the mandrel. The bearing assembly includes a central axis, a cylindrical outer sleeve having an inner surface and a number of annular inner grooves which are formed on the inner surface coaxially with the central axis, and a cylindrical inner sleeve having an outer surface and a number of annular outer grooves which are formed on the outer surface coaxially with the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tep Ungchusri, Steven L. Schwegman
  • Patent number: 6592151
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for connecting two members is provided that includes a first “male” member and a second “female” member. The first member includes a release sleeve moveably mounted thereon having a rigid release portion and a flexible sealing portion. The second member comprises at least one of an integral coupling member integrated into an apparatus, such as a pump, and an independent coupling member. Upon connection of the first and second members, the flexible sealing portion sealingly engages a mating surface on the second member to substantially inhibit the entry of contamination into an area between the first and second members when connected. The present invention provides an improved release sleeve that releases the male member from both an independent female member and an integral female member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Aeroquip, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Densel, Stephen D. Hargett, Philip C. VanRiper, Todd J. Vogel
  • Patent number: 6588803
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a p-trap 12 for commercial and residential plumbing systems wherein the p-trap 12 has an enlarged portion at 46 for receiving a drainpipe 20 and has a threaded port 22 to receive a pressure hose 16 for a dishwasher 14 waste line. Also disclosed is a deflection shield 24 disposed in operative connection to the threaded port 22 so as to direct waste water 50 downwardly away from the sink 18. The present invention 10 further includes a plurality of multiport PVC pipe fittings in various configurations to provide greater flexibility when plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Robert M. Vila
  • Patent number: 6581981
    Abstract: A female fitting for pipes or tubes, particularly indicated for use in cramped quarters and under highly restrictive environmental conditions, has a split front section threaded with tapered translation-type threads. A hex-nut with commensurate and similarly tapered threads is used to cinch the split front section over an engaging pipe or tube. A circular groove within the fitting can nest an O-ring or other sealing collar. A flange with flattened parallel peripheral zones surround the fitting for reinforcement and to provide a convenient clamping surface. A cutting tool with dual pairs of cutting wheels is used to score two parallel channels around the end of the pipe or tube to receive a first sealing-ring made of compressible material and a second made of the same material as the pipe or tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Gary W. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6581979
    Abstract: The spiral pipe joint comprises a nipple 1, a caulking ring 2 and a flexible string-shaped pressure contact member 3. After an inserting portion 11 of the nipple 1 is inserted into a pipe body P, the pressure contact member 3 is wound once or more times around the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body P existing above the inserting portion 11, and the caulking ring 2 is placed on the outside of the thus wound pressure contact member 3 and is compressed in the center direction of the pipe body P to thereby reduce the diameter of the caulking ring 2 in such a manner that the caulking amount thereof on the small-diameter stepped portion 13 is larger than the step level difference between the inserting portion 11 and small-diameter stepped portion 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Totaku Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ikegami, Masatoshi Takashima
  • Patent number: 6578877
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a junction in a pipe for connecting the pipe (1) into fluid communication with a fluid-carrying component (18), the junction comprising an opening (2) provided in the wall of the pipe and a connecting part (3) comprising a tube-clamp-like joint (3) comprising a first part (4) and a second part, which can be tightened against the first part by means of tightening means (6) and which comprises a narower first portion (10) and a broader second portion (11), whereby the narrower portion is positioned in the opening (2) and the broader portion outside the pipe (1). The invention also relates to a method of forming to the wall of a pipe a branching for receiving a fluid-carrying component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Göran Sundholm
  • Patent number: 6568716
    Abstract: The coupling includes a tubular sleeve having a circumferential wall and an open end for receiving the corrugated pipe, the tubular sleeve having a sleeve section which is pivotable radially outward from the sleeve by means of an integral hinge connecting the sleeve section to the circumferential wall. A first locking tongue is arranged in a first aperture in the circumferential wall, the first aperture being located in the sleeve section. The first locking tongue is resiliently connected to the sleeve section and has a first blocking projection which is engageable with a circumferential groove in the pipe, the first locking tongue being movable radially outward with resilience to release the blocking projection from the groove. A second locking tongue is arranged in a second aperture in the circumferential wall, the second aperture being located opposite from the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Flexa GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Fieber
  • Patent number: 6565128
    Abstract: A device and a method for coupling a fluid rail to injectors by a connector, the connector having telescopic tube members extending between a first end and a second end, a sealing member disposed between a first tubular member and the fluid rail, a sealing member disposed between a second tubular member and the injector. The tubes are urged apart by either hydraulic pressure or by a resilient member to form a tight seal between the hemispherical distal ends of the connector to the respective fluid rail outlet and injector inlet. This invention also permits the coupling of a fluid rail to at least one fuel injector by providing a fluid rail, a flexible coupler on the injector inlet, mounting the nested or telescopic connector into both the flexible coupler and the injector inlet, inserting the fluid rail onto the connector and then urging the telescopic connector apart to form a tight seal against the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Diesel Systems Technology
    Inventor: Ulrich Augustin
  • Patent number: 6561553
    Abstract: A method and apparatus secure together a pair of opposing angle plates which are each mounted on one of an opposing pair of flange connectors that are each attached to the end of a different one of the opposing ends of a pair of sheet metal ducts. The apparatus includes a pair of interfitting members that include a cam surface to interlock the members to compress together the opposing pair of flange connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Issagholian-Havai
  • Patent number: 6554324
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a first tubular member to a second tubular member is disclosed, for example for connecting a riser to a wellhead in a subsea oilfield location. The second tubular member has a seating surface and comprises an engagable locking profile. The connector comprises a housing for securing the connector to the end portion of the first tubular member, the housing comprising a seating surface for contacting the seating surface of the second tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Herman
  • Patent number: 6520545
    Abstract: A detachable and adjustable adapter assembly for directing fluid flow into and out of a dual cartridge media housing is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: William P. Johll, Jr., Charles T. Nachtman, Helmut R. H. Gideon, Timothy T. Dunwoody, Jamie C. Carr, Thomas Scholz
  • Patent number: 6511103
    Abstract: The inventive device includes a cylindrical housing adapted to receive a filter, the housing having an axis being fixed at a second end to a ventilation circuit flange and having a first end mounted on a mobile companion flange, the companion flange being held in resilient manner under axial tension by holding means under tension, a sheath in alignment with and secured to the housing, about which sheath the companion flange slides axially, a seal disposed between the sheath and the companion flange, three fixed wheels secured to the sheath and projecting outwards therefrom; a cam surrounding the sheath over a certain length and made up of a ring having three ramps each in the form of a helical segment, the ramps receiving respective ones of the wheels, turning of the cam causing the companion flange to move in axial translation; and means for turning the cam. The invention is specially suited to filtering a ventilation circuit in a hostile environment in the nuclear industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Compagne Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventor: Bernard Defontaine