US3766947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid tight closure
Assignee: TDW DELAWARE Inc A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1972-06-05
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1992-06-05
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to apparatus for forming a fluid tight closure of an opening in a vessel. The apparatus includes a conduit or fitting adapted to be connected to the vessel, a plug insertable into the conduit and a means for locking the plug in the conduit to prevent the plug from moving out of the conduit. The locking means includes a locking element engageable with the plug to lock it in place. A connector located in a lateral bore through the conduit is connected at one end of the locking element and its other end has a threaded engagement with a nut also located in the lateral bore. Stops are provided at opposite ends of the nut so that upon rotation of the nut to move the connector and locking element between retracted and locking positions, the nut will alternately engage the stops. By making the distance between the stops greater than the length of the nut, the nut is free to move longitudinally between the stops and this construction avoids maintaining close manufacturing tolerances with respect to the distance between the stops. In a preferred embodiment, the inner stop is provided by a shoulder between an outer larger diameter portion of the bore and an inner smaller diameter portion. A seal is carried by the connector to seal between it and the smaller diameter portion of the bore as the connector is reciprocated by turning the nut. Normally the locking element will engage the conduit when in fully retracted position to limit makeup of the nut on the connector and hence limit the outward travel of the connector so as to maintain the seal within the smaller diameter portion of the bore. However, if excessive torque is applied to the nut so as to break the engagement of the connector with the locking element, means are provided to limit further makeup of the nut on the connector and the seal is located so as to remain within the smaller diameter portion of the bore when the nut has a maximum makeup on the connector and both have been displaced outwardly so the nut is in engagement with the outer stop. With this construction, the connector does not rotate thereby enabling it to have a simple bifurcated connection with the locking element and to carry a seal which merely slides along the bore in the conduit without rotation. The seal also isolates the threaded connection from fluids within the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 C Osburn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:32
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K51/00; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/10; F16L55/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
Apparatus for forming a fluid tight closure of an opening in a vessel comprising: a conduit adapted to be connected to a vessel; a plug insertable into the conduit; at least one locking element mounted on the conduit for reciprocation between a retracted position permitting passage of the plug transversely of the locking element and a locking position wherein said locking element engages the plug to restrain it from moving out of the conduit; actuating means for so reciprocating said locking element including a nut rotatably disposed and longitudinally slidable in a lateral bore through the conduit, a connector slidably disposed in said bore and engaging said locking element to reciprocate the latter upon reciprocation of the connector and also having a threaded connection with the nut, means providing inner and outer oppositely facing stops engageable by the nuT so that upon rotation of the nut in one direction, the nut will engage the outer stop and move the connector and locking element to locking position and, upon rotation in an opposite direction, the nut will engage the inner stop and move the connector and locking element to retracted position, said locking element normally engaging the conduit when in fully retracted position to limit the makeup of the nut on the connector, means limiting additional makeup of the nut on the connector when the engagement of the connector with the locking element is broken, and a seal carried by the connector to seal between said connector and bore and located sufficiently inwardly of the threaded connection as to maintain an effective seal with the bore when the nut has the maximum makeup on the connector and is engaging the outer stop.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
Apparatus for forming a fluid tight closure of an opening in a vessel comprising: a conduit adapted to be connected to a vessel; a plug insertable into the conduit; at least one locking element mounted on the conduit for reciprocation between a retracted position permitting passage of the plug transversely of the locking element and a locking position wherein said locking element engages the plug to restrain it from moving out of the conduit; actuating means for so reciprocating said locking element including a nut rotatably disposed and longitudinally slidable in a lateral bore through the conduit, a connector slidably disposed in said bore and engaging said locking element to reciprocate the latter upon reciprocation of the connector and also having a threaded connection with the nut, means providing inner and outer oppositely facing stops engageable by the nuT so that upon rotation of the nut in one direction, the nut will engage the outer stop and move the connector and locking element to locking position and, upon rotation in an opposite direction, the nut will engage the inner stop and move the connector and locking element to retracted position, said locking element normally engaging the conduit when in fully retracted position to limit the makeup of the nut on the connector, means limiting additional makeup of the nut on the connector when the engagement of the connector with the locking element is broken, and a seal carried by the connector to seal between said connector and bore and located sufficiently inwardly of the threaded connection as to maintain an effective seal with the bore when the nut has the maximum makeup on the connector and is engaging the outer stop.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bore has an outer larger diameter portion and an inner smaller diameter portion with an outwardly facing shoulder therebetween providing said inner stop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for forming a fluid tight closure of an opening in a vessel comprising: a conduit adapted to be connected to a vessel; a plug insertable into the conduit; at least one locking element mounted on the conduit for reciprocation between a retracted position permitting passage of the plug transversely of the locking element and a locking position wherein said locking element engages the plug to restrain it from moving out of the conduit, actuating means for so reciprocating said locking element including a nut rotatably disposed and longitudinally slidable in a lateral bore through the conduit, a connector slidably disposed in said bore and engaging said locking element to reciprocate the latter upon reciprocation of the connector and also having a threaded connection with the nut, and means providing oppositely facing stops engageable by the nut so that upon rotation of the nut in one direction, the nut will engage one stop and move the connector and locking element to locking position and, upon rotation in an opposite direction the nut will engage the other stop and move the connector and locking element to retracted position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for forming a fluid tight closure of an opening in a vessel comprising: a conduit adapted to be connected to a vessel; a plug insertable into the conduit; at least one locking element mounted on the conduit for reciprocation between a retracted position permitting passage of the plug transversely of the locking element and a locking position wherein said locking element engages the plug to restrain it from moving out of the conduit, actuating means for so reciprocating said locking element including a nut rotatably disposed and longitudinally slidable in a lateral bore through the conduit, a connector slidably disposed in said bore and engaging said locking element to reciprocate the latter upon reciprocation of the connector and also having a threaded connection with the nut, and means providing oppositely facing stops engageable by the nut so that upon rotation of the nut in one direction, the nut will engage one stop and move the connector and locking element to locking position and, upon rotation in an opposite direction the nut will engage the other stop and move the connector and locking element to retracted position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a seal is carried by the connector to seal between the connector and said bore inwardly of the threaded connection therebetween, wherein the locking element is elongate and is disposed in an internal groove in the conduit and wherein the engagement of the connector with the locking element limits relative rotation therebetween whereby the threaded connection is isolated from fluid within the conduit and the seal is reciprocated with the connector without rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said stop means includes a shoulder in said bore engageable with one end of the nut and a bushing threaded in the outer end of the bore and engageable with the other end of the nut, the distance between the stops thus provided being sufficiently greater than the length of the nut that the latter has a lost motion sufficient to accommodate variations in manufacturing tolerances.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bushing has a threaded hole therethrough allowing insertion of a wrench to rotate the nut, and removable means plugging said hole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said locking element normally engages the flange when in fully retracted position to limit the makeup of the nut on the connector, means limiting additional makeup of the nut on the connector when the engagement of the connector with the locking element is broken, and a seal carried by the connector to seal between the connector and bore and located sufficiently inwardly of the threaded connection as to maintain an effective seal with the bore when the nut has the maximum makeup on the connector and is engaging said one stop.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus adapted to be used to form a fluid tight closure of an opening in a vessel comprising: an annular pipe fitting having an outturned flange; at least one locking element mounteD in an internal recess in the flange for reciprocation between a retracted position in said recess and a locking position in which at least a portion of the locking element extends from said recess; and actuating means for so reciprocating said locking element including a nut rotatably disposed in and longitudinally slidable along a lateral bore extending through the flange; a connector in said bore and longitudinally slidable therealong, said connector engaging the locking element to reciprocate the latter upon engagement with the nut; and means providing oppositely facing stops alternately engageable with the nut so that upon rotation of the nut in one direction, the nut will engage one stop and move the connector and locking element to locking position and, upon rotation in an opposite direction, the nut will engage the other stop and move the connector and locking element to retracted position.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus adapted to be used to form a fluid tight closure of an opening in a vessel comprising: an annular pipe fitting having an outturned flange; at least one locking element mounteD in an internal recess in the flange for reciprocation between a retracted position in said recess and a locking position in which at least a portion of the locking element extends from said recess; and actuating means for so reciprocating said locking element including a nut rotatably disposed in and longitudinally slidable along a lateral bore extending through the flange; a connector in said bore and longitudinally slidable therealong, said connector engaging the locking element to reciprocate the latter upon engagement with the nut; and means providing oppositely facing stops alternately engageable with the nut so that upon rotation of the nut in one direction, the nut will engage one stop and move the connector and locking element to locking position and, upon rotation in an opposite direction, the nut will engage the other stop and move the connector and locking element to retracted position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said locking element is elongate and is disposed in an elongate recess and wherein the engagement of the connector with the locking element is formed by the inner end of the connector being bifurcated and receiving the locking element between the bifurcations, and a pin extending through the bifurcations and the locking element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a seal is carried by the connector to form a sliding seal between the connector and bore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the stops are provided by an outwardly facing shoulder in the bore and by a bushing screwed into the outer end of the bore, the distance between the stops being greater than the length of the nut so that the latter has a lost motion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |