Flange joint with at least one flange being mounted in a rotation allowing manner

• US 20070152446A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GS-Hydro OY (Interpump Group SpA)
• Original Assignee: GS-Hydro OY (Interpump Group SpA)
• Inventors: Eriksson, Risto
• Application Number:
  US10/559,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/412
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/0286 the shoulder not being formed from the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/032 characterised by the shape or composition of the flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/0804 the fluid passing axially from one joint element to another

Abstract

The invention relates to a flange joint, comprising a pair of tubular pieces (1, 7) to be joined, a clamping flange (2, 9) mounted on each of the pieces (1, 7) to be joined, retaining means (10, 11) cooperating with the clamping flanges (2, 9) for joining said pieces (2, 7) together. At least one (2) of the clamping flanges is mounted in a rotation allowing manner on the respective piece (1) to be joined by effecting the mounting with a locking ring (3) fitted in a locking groove (4) formed in the piece (1) to be joined and in a complementary groove (5) formed in the clamping flange (2). The piece (1) to be joined has its locking groove (4) shaped to be relatively shallow and the clamping flange (2) has its complementary groove (5) shaped to extend in the clamping flange'"'"'s axial direction up to a front face (14) of the clamping flange, the complementary groove (5) expanding towards a junction between the pieces to be joined. The locking ring (3) is provided with a support member (13) which fits in the expanded portion of the clamping flange'"'"'s (2) groove (5), thus bearing against an external surface (15) of the piece (1) to be joined.

Claims

1. A flange joint, comprising a pair of tubular pieces (1,7) to be joined, a clamping flange (2,9) mounted on each of the pieces (1,7) to be joined, retaining means (10,11) cooperating with the clamping flanges (2,9) for joining said pieces (2,7) together, at least one (2) of the clamping flanges being mounted in a rotation allowing manner on the respective piece(1) to be joined by effecting the mounting with a locking ring (3) fitted in a locking groove (4) formed in the piece (1) to be joined and in a complementary groove (5) formed in the clamping flange (2), characterized in that the piece (1) to be jointed has its locking groove (4) shaped to be relatively shallow by shaping its bottom in the form of a curve or arch, that the clamping flange (2) has its complementary groove (5) shaped to extend in the clamping flange'"'"'s axial direction up to a front face (14) of the clamping flange, the complementary groove (5) expanding towards a junction between the pieces to be joined, and that the locking ring (3) is provided with an integral support member (13) which fits in the expanded portion of the clamping flange'"'"'s (2) groove (5), thus bearing against an external surface (15) of the piece(1) to be joined.

2. A flange joint as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the locking groove (4) has a cross-sectional shape which forms a segment of a substantially oval curve.

3. A flange joint as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the locking groove (4) has a cross-sectional shape which forms a segment of a large-radius circular arc.

4. A flange joint as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the locking ring'"'"'s (3) support member(13) is substantially rectangular in crosssection.

5. A flange joint as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the locking ring (3) is made up of two or more sections (3a, 3b).

6. A flange joint as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that the locking ring'"'"'s (3) sections (3a, 3b) are present as separate elements in the locking groove (4).

7. A flange joint as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that the locking ring'"'"'s (3) sections (3a, 3b) are coupled to each other with a flexible joint to be fitted in the locking groove (4) as a one-piece element.