Self-centering bolted fluid fitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334105-A1
Application number	US-201514713888-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 15, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fluid fitting assembly is disclosed according to various embodiments. The fluid fitting assembly may comprise a fluid fitting, a fluid fitting retainer, and an alignment feature. The fluid fitting may comprise a tube and a fluid fitting flange. The fluid fitting retainer may comprise a retainer flange, wherein an inner surface of fluid fitting retainer is configured to seat against a radially outer surface of the fluid fitting flange. The alignment feature may be disposed on an outer diameter of the fluid fitting, wherein the alignment feature is located adjacent to the fluid fitting flange.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fluid fitting assembly comprising:
a fluid fitting, wherein the fluid fitting comprises a tube, wherein the fluid fitting further comprises a fluid fitting flange; a fluid fitting retainer, wherein an inner surface of fluid fitting retainer is configured to seat against a radially outer surface of the fluid fitting flange, wherein the fluid fitting retainer comprises a retainer flange; and an alignment feature, wherein the alignment feature is disposed on an outer diameter (OD) of the fluid fitting, wherein the alignment feature is located adjacent to the fluid fitting flange.

2 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein a hose attachment feature is disposed on an OD of the fluid fitting, wherein an OD of the hose attachment feature is approximately equal to an OD of the alignment feature.

3 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 2 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a first portion, wherein the first portion comprises an annular ring, wherein an OD surface of the annular ring is parallel to an OD surface of the fluid fitting, forming a cylindrical surface.

4 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a second portion, wherein the second portion comprises a tapered annular ring, wherein an OD surface of the tapered annular ring is tapered from an OD surface of the first portion to an OD surface of the fluid fitting, forming a conical surface.

5 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second portion extends between the first portion and a location between the first portion and the hose attachment feature.

6 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 4 , wherein an OD surface of the second portion comprises an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to a centerline axis of the fluid fitting.

7 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the retainer flange comprises a first flange and a second flange, wherein an inner diameter (ID) of the first flange is greater than an ID of the second flange, wherein an ID of the second flange is greater than an OD of the first portion.

8 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer flange comprises at least one of a chamfered and rounded portion configured to aid in aligning the fluid fitting concentrically with the retainer flange.

9 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the retainer flange comprises at least one of a chamfered and rounded portion configured to aid in aligning the fluid fitting concentrically with the retainer flange, wherein an ID of the retainer flange is greater than an OD of the first portion.

10 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid fitting retainer comprises a martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel.

11 . A fluid fitting assembly comprising:
a fluid fitting, wherein the fluid fitting comprises a tube, wherein the fluid fitting further comprises a fluid fitting flange; an alignment feature, wherein the alignment feature is disposed on an OD surface of the fluid fitting, wherein a diameter of the OD surface of the fluid fitting is less than a diameter of an OD surface of the alignment feature; and a fluid fitting retainer, wherein an inner surface of fluid fitting retainer is configured to seat against a radially outer surface of the fluid fitting flange, wherein the fluid fitting retainer comprises a retainer flange, wherein an inner diameter (ID) of the retainer flange is greater than an outer diameter (OD) of the alignment feature, wherein the retainer flange is configured to extend radially inwards, wherein the extending is configured to aide in concentrically aligning the fluid fitting and the retainer flange.

12 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retainer flange comprises a first flange and a second flange, wherein an ID of the first flange is greater than an ID of the second flange.

13 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 11 , wherein the retainer flange comprises at least one of a chamfered and rounded portion configured to aid in aligning the fluid fitting concentrically with the retainer flange.

14 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a hose attachment feature, wherein the hose attachment feature is disposed on the OD surface of the fluid fitting.

15 . The fluid fitting assembly of claim 14 , wherein the alignment feature is an annular ring extending between the fluid fitting flange and the hose attachment feature, wherein the OD surface of the alignment feature and the OD surface of the fluid fitting are parallel.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Carson Kassidy L
• Muniz Jorge E

Classifications

• F16L23/12

  specially adapted for particular pipes · CPC title

• F16L41/086

  fixed with screws · CPC title

• F05D2230/64

  using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centring, e.g. pins · CPC title

• F16L33/02 Primary

  Hose-clips · CPC title

• F05D2260/30

  Retaining components in desired mutual position · CPC title