Spherical flange joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9909698-B2
Application number	US-89395910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2010
Priority date	Sep 29, 2009
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a flange joint for joining a first pipe to a second pipe includes an adapter coupled to the first pipe. The adapter includes a convex surface. The flange joint also includes a gasket with a first concave surface and a second convex surface. The first concave surface of the gasket is matingly engageable with the convex surface of the adapter. The second convex surface is matingly engageable with the second pipe. The gasket is supported on the first pipe. The flange joint further includes a clamp that includes a concave surface that is matingly engageable with the second pipe to secure the gasket to the adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flange joint, comprising:
an adapter capable of being coupled to a first pipe, the adapter comprising a convex surface, the adapter having an upstream end supported on a periphery of the first pipe, a downstream end supported on the periphery of the first pipe, with a hollow portion separating the upstream end and the downstream end, wherein the first pipe includes a ledge extending outwardly from the downstream end of the adapter;
a gasket comprising a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface of the gasket being matingly engageable with the convex surface of the adapter, and the second surface matingly engageable with a second pipe, wherein the gasket is supported on the first pipe; and
a clamp comprising an inner surface matingly engageable with the second pipe to secure the gasket to the adapter,
wherein the convex surface of the adapter comprises a first radius of curvature, the first surface of the gasket being concave and comprising a second radius of curvature, the second surface of the gasket being convex and comprising a third radius of curvature, and the inner surface of the clamp being concave and comprising a fourth radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature is equal to the second radius of curvature, the first and second radii of curvature each are less than the third radius of curvature, and the third radius of curvature is less than the fourth radius of curvature.

2. A spherical joint assembly, comprising:
a first end portion of a first pipe, the first end portion having a non-flared end;
a second end portion of a second pipe, the second end portion comprising a flared end having an inner surface with a first radius of curvature and an outer surface with a second radius of curvature, the second end portion further comprising a step adjacent the flared end;
an adapter coupled to the first end portion with a ledge of the first pipe extending outwardly from the adapter, the adapter comprising a first curved surface having a third radius of curvature and a second curved surface having a fourth radius of curvature different than the third radius of curvature;
a gasket positioned between the flared end of the second end portion and the first curved surface of the adapter, the gasket being supported by the ledge of the first pipe, the gasket forming an opening for receiving the first pipe and including a plurality of tabs projecting into the opening to engage the ledge in an interference fit and to center the gasket on the first pipe, the gasket having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface mating with the first curved surface of the adapter and the outer surface mating with the inner surface of the flared end, wherein the gasket further comprises an elevated ridge sealingly engaging the flared end of the second end portion; and
a clamp comprising a symmetrical V-band having first and second inner surfaces, wherein the first inner surface of the V-band mates with the outer surface of the flared end and the second inner surface of the V-band mates with the second curved surface of the adapter.

3. The spherical joint assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inner surface of the gasket includes a curvature corresponding with the third radius of curvature and the outer surface of the gasket includes a curvature corresponding with the first radius of curvature.

Assignees

• Drost Jason
• Schellin Robert
• Cummins Ip Inc

Inventors

• Drost Jason
• Schellin Robert

Classifications

• F16L23/04 Primary

  the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane (F16L23/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L27/1012

  Flanged joints · CPC title

• F01N13/1811 Primary

  with means permitting relative movement, e.g. compensation of thermal expansion or vibration · CPC title