Thermal cycle resistant fastening system for refrigerant fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11607929-B2
Application number	US-201916519305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2019
Priority date	Aug 9, 2018
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

Abstract

A block fitting assembly comprises a first block having a first fastener aperture formed therethrough, a second block having a second fastener aperture formed therethrough in axial alignment with the first fastener aperture, and a fastener extending through the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture to couple the first block to the second block. The block fitting assembly includes a thermal expansion compliancy feature in the form of at least one of an inner surface of the second block defining the second fastener aperture including an axially extending non-threaded portion adjacent a threaded portion thereof or the fastener including a necked portion having a smaller outer diameter than a minor thread diameter of a threaded portion of the fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A block fitting assembly comprising:
a first block having a first fastener aperture formed therethrough;
a second block having a second fastener aperture formed therethrough in axial alignment with the first fastener aperture, an inner surface of the second block defining the second fastener aperture including a non-threaded portion disposed adjacent the first fastener aperture and a threaded portion disposed adjacent the non-threaded portion; and
a fastener extending through the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture to couple the first block to the second block, the fastener including a first threaded portion configured to engage the threaded portion of the second fastener aperture, wherein the fastener includes a stopping feature adjacent the first threaded portion, the stopping feature including an outer diameter greater than a minor thread diameter of the threaded portion of the second fastener aperture and less than an inner diameter of the first fastener aperture, wherein the second block further has a radially extending surface connecting an inner circumferential surface of the threaded portion to an inner circumferential surface of the non-threaded portion, and wherein the stopping feature is supported on the radially extending surface.

2. The block fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the first fastener aperture and an inner diameter of the non-threaded portion of the second fastener aperture are each greater than a major thread diameter of the first threaded portion of the fastener.

3. The block fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a second threaded portion configured to engage a nut, the nut engaging a face of the first block facing away from the second block.

4. The block fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein an axial length of the non-threaded portion of the second fastener aperture is between 10% and 150% a major thread diameter of the fastener.

5. The block fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener further includes a necked portion having an outer diameter less than a minor thread diameter of the first threaded portion of the fastener.

6. The block fitting assembly of claim 5 , wherein the necked portion is at least partially disposed in each of the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture.

7. The block fitting assembly of claim 5 , wherein the fastener further includes a second threaded portion configured to engage a nut, the necked portion formed intermediate the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion.

8. The block fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first block and the second block are formed from a first material and the fastener is formed from a second material different from the first material.

9. A block fitting assembly comprising:
a first block having a first fastener aperture formed therethrough;
a second block having a second fastener aperture formed therethrough in axial alignment with the first fastener aperture; and
a fastener extending through the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture to couple the first block to the second block, the fastener including a threaded portion and a necked portion, the necked portion having an outer diameter smaller than a minor thread diameter of the threaded portion, wherein the necked portion of the fastener is disposed adjacent a stopping feature of the fastener having an outer diameter greater than a minor thread diameter of the threaded portion of the fastener and less than an inner diameter of the first fastener aperture.

10. The block fitting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the threaded portion of the fastener includes a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, the necked portion formed between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion.

11. The block fitting assembly of claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of the second block defining the second fastener aperture includes a threaded portion configured to engage the first threaded portion of fastener.

12. The block fitting assembly of claim 11 , wherein a nut is configured to engage the second threaded portion of the fastener, the nut engaging a face of the first block facing away from the second block.

13. The block fitting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the necked portion is at least partially disposed in each of the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture.

14. The block fitting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the fastener includes a press-fit portion configured to be axially press-fit into a receiving portion of the second fastener aperture.

15. The block fitting assembly of claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of the press-fit portion and an inner surface of the second block defining the receiving portion have substantially the same cross-sectional shape.

16. The block fitting assembly of claim 15 , wherein the press-fit portion is prevented from rotating relative to the receiving portion of the second fastener aperture.

17. The block fitting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the outer diameter of the necked portion is between 50% and 90% a major thread diameter of the threaded portion of the fastener.

18. A block fitting assembly comprising:
a first block having a first fastener aperture formed therethrough;
a second block having a second fastener aperture formed therethrough in axial alignment with the first fastener aperture, the second fastener aperture including a non-threaded portion disposed adjacent the first fastener aperture and a threaded portion disposed adjacent the non-threaded portion;
an internally threaded nut configured to engage a face of the first block facing away from the second block; and
a fastener extending through the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture to couple the first block to the second block, the fastener including a first threaded portion configured to engage the threaded portion of the second fastener aperture and a second threaded portion configured to engage the nut, the fastener further including a necked portion disposed between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion having an outer diameter smaller than a minor thread diameter of the first threaded portion, wherein the fastener includes a stopping feature adjacent the first threaded portion, the stopping feature including an outer diameter greater than a minor thread diameter of the threaded portion of the second fastener aperture and less than an inner diameter of the first fastener aperture.

Assignees

• Hanon Systems

Inventors

• Kesler Eric
• Frederick Dan

Classifications

• F16L51/00

  Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines (telescopic pipes F16L27/12) · CPC title

• F16L21/03

  placed in the socket before connection ({F16L21/022,} F16L21/025 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L17/04 Primary

  with longitudinally split or divided sleeve · CPC title

• F16B35/041

  Specially-shaped shafts (shape of thread F16B33/02) · CPC title

• F16B35/044

  Specially-shaped ends · CPC title