Electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for valves

• US 20070080310A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grundfos Pumps Corporation (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Original Assignee: Grundfos Pumps Corporation (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Inventors: Lum, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/148
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0626 Easy mounting or dismounting means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/025 the pipe ends having integral collars or flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 29/002 joints with taps taps in general F16K5/00

Abstract

An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line. A line flange within the line includes a first mating surface and a fluid passageway therethrough. A valve flange downstream from the line flange includes a second mating surface. The valve flange has an aperture passing therethrough with first and second bores forming a lip. A valve coupler has an upstream end provided with a coupler flange having a third bore. A substantially non-compressible, non-metallic captive ring is interposed between the lip, and the flange and body of the valve coupler. Bolts and nuts assemble the valve flange to the line flange with a gasket therebetween, compressing the lip against the captive ring and the coupler flange. The valve is either sweat fitted or threadably attached to the downstream end of the valve coupler. Various configurations for the valve flange, the captive ring, and the valve coupler are disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line, comprising:

a line flange configured to be connected to the fluid line, said line flange having a first mating surface and a fluid passageway extending therethrough;

a valve flange having a second mating surface and having an aperture extending therethrough;

a gasket located between, and in engaging relation with, said first mating surface and said second mating surface;

a valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange; and

a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive captive ring, said captive ring being located over said outer coupler flange and interposed between said valve flange and said valve couple;

wherein said valve flange and said line flange are interconnected such that said second valve flange is compressed against said captive ring and said outer coupler flange.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein said aperture in said valve flange includes a first bore and a second bore forming a lip, said captive ring engaging said lip.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said captive ring is L-shaped in cross-section.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said captive ring is T-shaped in cross-section.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said captive ring is split to facilitate installation over said outer coupler flange.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said valve coupler includes another end provided with threads, and in which a valve is threadably attached to said threads.

7. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which valve coupler includes another end provided with sweat fitting, and in which a valve is soldered to said sweat fitting.

8. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said captive ring is made from a material which is resistant to plastic flow under compressive forces.

9. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said captive ring is made from one of a glass fiber, a hard rubber, and a plastic.

10. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said gasket is non-conductive.

11. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said gasket is rubber.

12. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said outer coupler flange has a non-circular outer periphery with different diametrical measurements, facilitating installation of said valve flange over said outer coupler flange when an axis of said valve flange is not coincident with an axis of said valve coupler.

13. The coupling assembly of claim 12 in which said non-circular outer periphery includes a plurality of flats.

14. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line, comprising:

a line flange connected to the fluid line, said line flange having a first mating surface and a fluid passageway extending therethrough;

a valve flange, said valve flange having a second mating surface and an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a first bore and a second bore, said second bore being larger than said first bore forming a lip;

a gasket between said first mating surface and said second mating surface;

a valve coupler, said valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange and an inner coupler flange, said flanges extending radially outwardly from said one end and being arranged in axially spaced relation thereon;

a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive captive ring, said captive ring being T-shaped in cross-section, having a short top portion of the “

T”

being interposed between said lip and said outer coupler flange of said valve coupler; and

an interconnect element interconnecting said valve flange and said line flange and compressing said lip against said captive ring and said out coupler flange.

15. The coupling assembly as in claim 14 in which said captive ring is split to facilitate installation of said ring over said outer coupler flange.

16. The coupling assembly as in claim 14 in which said gasket is non-conductive.

17. The coupling assembly as in claim 14 in which said gasket is rubber.

18. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a fluid line, comprising:

a line fitting connected to the fluid line, said line fitting having a first mating surface on one end and a fluid passageway extending therethrough, said line fitting having inner threads extending inwardly from the other end for coupling to the fluid line, said line fitting further having outer threads extending inwardly from said one end;

a coupler nut having an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having inner threads extending inwardly from a first end, said inner threads being adapted for threadably engaging said outer threads of said line fitting, a lip portion extending inwardly from a second end, and a shelf portion between said inner threads and said lip portion;

a line coupler, said line coupler having an one end provided with a coupler flange having a second mating surface, said coupler flange being sized to pass through opposing sides of said lip portion;

a gasket between and in contingent relation with said first mating surface and said second mating surface; and

a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive captive ring, said captive ring being interposed between said lip portion and said coupler flange of said line coupler, whereby when said coupler nut is rotatably threaded over said line fitting, said lip portion is compressed against said captive ring and said outer coupler flange.

19. The coupling assembly as in claim 18 in which said captive ring is made from a material which is resistant to plastic flow under compressive forces.

20. The coupling assembly as in claim 19 in which said material is a glass fiber, a hard rubber, or a plastic.

21. The coupling assembly as in claim 18 in which said line fitting is made from galvanized steel and said line coupler is made from copper.

22. The coupling assembly as in claim 18 in which said gasket is non-conductive.

23. The coupling assembly as in claim 18 in which said gasket is rubber.