Method and Means for Installing a Union Nut around a Valve Port
First Claim
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1. A union, for connecting to a tubular member of a fluid system, comprising:
- a union nut having union threads;
an inwardly flaring shoulder on the union nut, the shoulder characterized by female installation threads;
a port having a neck and a first seat;
a fitting having a second seat;
an outwardly flaring flange on the port, the flange characterized by male installation threads; and
wherein the pitch and diameter of the female installation threads allows the shoulder to threadedly engage the male installation threads such that the union nut can be installed over the port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A union nut is installed over a valve body between an outwardly flaring flange on a valve port and the valve itself. The union nut is uniquely characterized by installation threads cut into an inwardly flaring shoulder, and installation threads are also provided on the flange of the port. The shoulder can be screwed onto the flange until the union nut freely rotates about the port. A split ring is installed against a neck on the port, the neck being adjacent the flange, such that the union nut cannot threadedly engage the installation threads. The freely rotating union nut can be tightened into a suitable fitting that is part of a fluid system.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A union, for connecting to a tubular member of a fluid system, comprising:
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a union nut having union threads; an inwardly flaring shoulder on the union nut, the shoulder characterized by female installation threads; a port having a neck and a first seat; a fitting having a second seat; an outwardly flaring flange on the port, the flange characterized by male installation threads; and wherein the pitch and diameter of the female installation threads allows the shoulder to threadedly engage the male installation threads such that the union nut can be installed over the port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A union, for connecting to a tubular member of a fluid system, comprising:
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a union nut characterized by an inwardly flaring shoulder; a port characterized by an outwardly flaring flange, a neck and a first seat; a fitting characterized by a second seat; and a split ring that can be installed around the neck. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for installing a union nut over a port comprising the steps of:
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manipulating a shoulder portion of the union nut past a flange portion of the port; installing a split ring at least partially around a neck portion of the port and around the flange portion; and drawing the union nut over the split ring until the shoulder portion is adjacent the split ring. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification