EDUCTION TUBE ASSEMBLY

• US 20110204626A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artic Investments S.A.. (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Original Assignee: Salco Products Inc. (Stone Canyon Industries LLC)
• Inventors: Bass, Raymond P., Gubricky, Peter J., Degutis, Alex V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/415
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/032 characterised by the shape or composition of the flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/14 Flanged joints

Abstract

An eduction tube assembly made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material for use on a containment vessel for corrosive liquids. It includes vertical eduction tube and a unitary transition flange member having a first flange for connection of the assembly to an attachment flange associated with the vessel and a second flange to receive a connected hose flange. A single segmented ring with multi-directional capability is disposed between the flanges and receives securement elements to accomplish both connections. Bolts are used for one connection, upstanding threaded studs secured to the segmented ring are used for the other.

Claims

1. An eduction tube assembly comprising:

a tubular member,

a transition flange member connected to said tubular member in fluid tight relation,

said transition flange member having;

a tubular body portion,

a first flange at one end of said body portion having a pattern of spaced holes,

a second flange at the other end of said tubular body portion having a pattern of spaced holes,

said first flange having an inner planar surface facing said second flange,

said second flange having an inner planar surface facing said first flange,

a segmented ring defined by a first ring segment and a second ring segment, said segments including a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface,

said segmented ring disposed between said inner planar surfaces of said first flange and said second flange and including a pattern of spaced holes located to align with said spaced holes in said first flange,

and a pattern of spaced holes located to align with said spaced holes in said second flange.

2. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner planar surfaces of said first flange and said second flange are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of said ring segments of said segmented ring and said planar top surface and said planar bottom surface of said ring segments are disposed between said inner planar surfaces of said first flange and said second flange.

3. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said outer cylindrical body surface of said tubular body portion of said transition flange member, said inner planar surface of said first flange, and said inner planar surface of said second flange define a channel, each said segmented ring including an arcuate semi-cylindrical central edge, and said arcuate semi-circular central edge of each said ring segment of said segmented ring are disposed in said channel.

4. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said spaced holes in said segmented ring located to align with said spaced holes in said second flange are threaded, and a threaded stud is screwed into each said threaded hole, and each said stud extends through one of said spaced holes in said second flange.

5. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first flange is a large flange and said second flange is a small flange with an outer peripheral edge surface and is smaller than said first flange and said pattern of holes in said small flange is located on a bolt circle diameter smaller than the bolt circle diameter upon which said holes in said large flange are located.

6. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said small flange includes notches along said outer peripheral edge surface, aligned with said spaced holes in said large flange to permit access to said spaced holes in said large flange.

7. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the number of said spaced holes in said small flange is less than the number of spaced holes in said large flange,

8. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said small flange defines an outer top gasket contact surface wherein said studs are of a length to extend beyond said outer top gasket contact surface of said small flange sufficiently to receive a connection flange thereon.

9. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spaced holes in said large flange are disposed radially outward of said outer peripheral edge surface of said small flange a distance sufficient to provide access to said spaced holes.

10. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spaced holes in said large flange are radially elongated.

11. An eduction tube assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said tubular body portion includes an outer cylindrical body surface and said ring segments of said segmented ring each include an arcuate semi-circular central edge disposed in facing relation to said outer cylindrical body surface of said tubular body portion and radial edges of each said ring segment are disposed in facing relation with the radial edges of the other of said ring segments.

12. A transition flange member to join spaced flanged elements, said transition flange member comprising:

a tubular body portion,

a first flange at one end of said body portion having a pattern of spaced holes,

a second flange at the other end of said tubular body portion having a pattern of spaced holes,

said first flange having an inner planar surface facing said second flange,

said second flange having an inner planar surface facing said first flange,

a segmented ring defined by a first ring segment and second ring segment, said segments including a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface,

said segmented ring disposed between said inner planar surfaces of said first flange and said second flange and including a pattern of spaced holes located to align with said spaced holes in said first flange,

and a pattern of spaced holes located to align with said spaced holes in said second flange.

13. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 12 wherein said inner planar surfaces of said first flange and said second flange are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of said ring segments of said segmented ring and said planar top surface and said planar bottom surface of said ring segments are disposed between said inner planar surfaces of said first flange and said second flange.

14. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 13 wherein said outer cylindrical body surface of said tubular body portion of said transition flange member, said inner planar surface of said first flange, and said inner planar surface of said second flange define a channel, each said segmented ring including an arcuate semi-cylindrical central edge, and said arcuate semi-circular central edge of each said ring segment of said segmented ring are disposed in said channel.

15. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 14 wherein said spaced holes in said segmented ring located to align with said spaced holes in said second flange are threaded, and a threaded stud is screwed into each said threaded hole, and each said stud extends through one of said spaced holes in said second flange.

16. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first flange is a large flange and said second flange is a small flange with an outer peripheral edge surface and is smaller than said first flange and said pattern of holes in said small flange is located on a bolt circle diameter smaller than the bolt circle diameter upon which said holes in said large flange are located.

17. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 16 wherein said small flange includes notches along said outer peripheral edge surface, aligned with said spaced holes in said large flange to permit access to said spaced holes in said large flange.

18. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 17 wherein the number of said spaced holes in said small flange is less than the number of spaced holes in said large flange.

19. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 18 wherein said small flange defines an outer top gasket contact surface wherein said studs are of a length to extend beyond said outer top gasket contact surface of said small flange sufficiently to receive a connection flange thereon.

20. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 19 wherein said spaced holes in said large flange are disposed radially outward of said outer peripheral edge surface of said small flange a distance sufficient to provide access to said spaced holes.

21. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 20 wherein said spaced holes in said large flange are radially elongated.

22. A transition flange member as claimed in claim 21 wherein said tubular body portion includes an outer cylindrical body surface and said ring segments of said segmented ring each include an arcuate semi-circular central edge disposed in facing relation to said outer cylindrical body surface of said tubular body portion and radial edges of each said ring segment are disposed in facing relation with the radial edges of the other of said ring segments.

23. A segmented ring comprising a first ring segment and a second ring segment, said ring segments comprising arcuate generally semi-circular members having radial edges in closely spaced face-to-face relation with the radial edges of the other of said ring segments,

a first pattern of holes located on a bolt circle diameter, and a second pattern of holes located on a different bolt circle diameter and said second pattern of holes being threaded.

24. A segmented ring as claimed in claim 23 wherein said second pattern of threaded holes are located on a smaller bolt circle diameter than said first pattern of holes.

25. A segmented ring as claimed in claim 24 wherein a threaded stud is secured in each of said threaded holes.

26. A segmented ring as claimed in claim 25 wherein said threaded holes include a stop to limit the insertion of said threaded studs into said threaded holes.