Apparatus for connecting ducts with a self-sealing joint
First Claim
1. A duct-connecting joint for sealingly connecting the open ends of two tubular substantially cylindrical duct runs, said duct joint comprising a substantially cylindrical sheet metal member having a sealing element clamped thereto encircling each end thereof and adapted to be placed between the runs and telescopically engaged within the open ends thereof, the outer surface of said metal member adjacent each of its ends having an outer guide portion at the free axial end of said member, an inner guide portion axially spaced from said outer portion, said outer and inner guide portions having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said open ends, and an intermediate inset annular zone for receiving said sealing element, said inset zone throughout its entire length having outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said outer and inner guide portions, each sealing element comprising a circumferential base portion extending axially along the inset zone, and at least one sealing flange portion having an outwardly-directed surface normally projecting outwardly at an obtuse angle to said base portion before the tubular members are telescopically engaged on said metal member and adapted to be deflected inwardly to a larger obtuse angle to said base portion, said sealing flange and base portion respectively having inwardly-directed surfaces meeting at a sharp-angled corner, forming a peak at the outside corner and having biasing means including clamping means for said base portion cooperating with said peak to bias the sealing flange outwardly toward the aforesaid obtuse angular position, said clamping means comprising strip means surrounding said base portion and disposed parallel to said inset zone to cause said base portion to bear against the zone of said metal member to insure effectiveness of said biasing means to urge said flange toward its obtuse radial position, said inset annular zone extending axially a distance corresponding at least to the total length of both the base and flange portions of the sealing element and having a cylindrical seating portion of uniform diameter along the length where it receives the flange portion of said sealing element, said seating portion of said zone terminating at its inner end adjacent said inner guide portion, so that the flange portion may be deflected inwardly to a greater obtuse angle and rest in said inset zone upon the telescoping engagement of the tubular member thereon, said sealing flange when projecting outwardly having an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said open ends, and when deflected inwardly having an outside diameter exceeding that of the base portion and the inner guide portion, so as to provide a tight seal about the entire periphery of the sealing flange.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A duct-connecting joint of tubular cylindrical form adapted to be telescopically engaged within the free end of a cylindrical duct having an L-shaped sealing element extending about its circumference with a base portion flush against the cylindrical wall of the connecting body and a radial flange portion biased to extend at an angle greater than 90° to the base portion. The base portion is mounted within an inset zone of the connecting body so that the connecting body itself provides cylindrical guide portions on opposite sides of the sealing flange which may engage against the interior cylindrical surface of the duct to prevent destruction of the flange. Several methods are shown for fabricating the connecting body to insure that the flange is biased outward to rest at an angle of greater than 90° with the base.
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Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A duct-connecting joint for sealingly connecting the open ends of two tubular substantially cylindrical duct runs, said duct joint comprising a substantially cylindrical sheet metal member having a sealing element clamped thereto encircling each end thereof and adapted to be placed between the runs and telescopically engaged within the open ends thereof, the outer surface of said metal member adjacent each of its ends having an outer guide portion at the free axial end of said member, an inner guide portion axially spaced from said outer portion, said outer and inner guide portions having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said open ends, and an intermediate inset annular zone for receiving said sealing element, said inset zone throughout its entire length having outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said outer and inner guide portions, each sealing element comprising a circumferential base portion extending axially along the inset zone, and at least one sealing flange portion having an outwardly-directed surface normally projecting outwardly at an obtuse angle to said base portion before the tubular members are telescopically engaged on said metal member and adapted to be deflected inwardly to a larger obtuse angle to said base portion, said sealing flange and base portion respectively having inwardly-directed surfaces meeting at a sharp-angled corner, forming a peak at the outside corner and having biasing means including clamping means for said base portion cooperating with said peak to bias the sealing flange outwardly toward the aforesaid obtuse angular position, said clamping means comprising strip means surrounding said base portion and disposed parallel to said inset zone to cause said base portion to bear against the zone of said metal member to insure effectiveness of said biasing means to urge said flange toward its obtuse radial position, said inset annular zone extending axially a distance corresponding at least to the total length of both the base and flange portions of the sealing element and having a cylindrical seating portion of uniform diameter along the length where it receives the flange portion of said sealing element, said seating portion of said zone terminating at its inner end adjacent said inner guide portion, so that the flange portion may be deflected inwardly to a greater obtuse angle and rest in said inset zone upon the telescoping engagement of the tubular member thereon, said sealing flange when projecting outwardly having an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said open ends, and when deflected inwardly having an outside diameter exceeding that of the base portion and the inner guide portion, so as to provide a tight seal about the entire periphery of the sealing flange.
- 7. A duct-connecting joint for sealingly connecting to the open end of a tubular substantially cylindrical duct run, said duct joint comprising a substantially cylindrical sheet metal member having a sealing element clamped thereto encircling the end thereof and adapted to be telescopically engaged within the open end of the duct run, the outer surface of said sheet metal member having an inset annular zone for receiving said sealing element, said sealing element comprising a circumferential base portion, extending axially along the inset zone, and at least one sealing flange portion normally projecting outwardly at an obtuse angle to said base portion before the tubular members are telescopically engaged and adapted to be deflected inwardly to a larger obtuse angle to said base portion, said sealing element being pre-formed with the inwardly-directed surfaces of the sealing flange and the base portion meeting at a sharp angle forming a peak on the outside corner of the sealing element, said inset zone along the length where it receives said deflected flange having a straight cylindrical seating portion of uniform diameter, said inset zone along the length where it receives said base portion having a straight cylindrical clamping portion of uniform diameter, said inset zone intermediate said seating portion and said clamping portion having a groove underlying said peak and adapted to receive said peak when said flange is deflected into said seating portion of the inset zone, said clamping portion of the inset zone terminating at its outer end in a reversely bent lip overlying said clamping portion and said base portion and abutting said sealing flange at its junction with the base portion to bias said flange into an obtuse projecting position.
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9. A duct-connecting joint for sealingly connecting to the open end of a tubular substantially cylindrical duct run, said duct joint comprising a substantially cylindrical sheet metal member having a sealing element clamped thereto encircling the end thereof and adapted to be telescopically engaged within the open end of the duct run, the outer surface of said sheet metal member having an inset annular zone for receiving said sealing element, said sealing element comprising a circumferential base portion, extending axially along the inset zone, and at least one sealing flange portion normally projecting outwardly at an obtuse angle to said base portion before the tubular members are telescopically engaged and adapted to be deflected inwardly to a larger obtuse angle to said base portion, said sealing element being preformed with the inwardly-directed surfaces of the sealing flange and the base portion meeting at a sharp angle forming a peak on the outside corner of the sealing element, said inset zone along the length where it receives said deflected flange having a straight cylindrical seating portion of uniform diameter, said inset zone along the length where it receives said base portion having a straight cylindrical clamping portion of uniform diameter, said inset zone intermediate said seating portion and said clamping portion having a groove underlying said peak and adapted to receive said peak when said flange is deflected into said seating portion of the inset zone, a clamping strip circumscribing said clamping portion and said base portion, and means to relatively position said strip and said base portion relative to said groove to bias said flange into said obtuse radial position.
- 10. A duct-connecting joint for sealingly connecting to the open end of a tubular substantially cylindrical duct run, said duct joint comprising a substantially cylindrical sheet metal member having sealing element clamped thereto encircling the end thereof and adapted to be telescopically engaged within the open end of the duct run, the outer surface of said sheet metal member having an inset annular zone for receiving said sealing element, said sealing element comprising a circumferential base portion, extending axially along the inset zone, and at least one sealing flange portion normally projecting outwardly at an obtuse angle to said base portion before the tubular members are telescopically engaged and adapted to be deflected inwardly to a larger obtuse angle to said base portion, said inset zone along the length where it receives said deflected flange having a straight cylindrical seating portion of uniform diameter, said inset zone along the length where it receives said base portion having a straight cylindrical clamping portion of uniform diameter, said inset zone terminating at its outer end in a continuous divergent shoulder projecting outwardly from said inset zone, said sheet metal member beyond of said zone providing an outer guide portion, a separate clamping strip circumscribing said base and overlying said clamping portion and said base portion, and means on said base portion and said member to position said sealing element relative to said shoulder to wedge said separate clamping strip between said shoulder and said sealing flange at its junction with the base portion to bias said flange into an obtuse radial position.
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14. A duct-connecting joint for sealingly connecting to the open end of a tubular substantially cylindrical duct run, said duct joint comprising a substantially cylindrical sheet metal member having a sealing element clamped thereto encircling the end thereof and adapted to be telescopically engaged within the open end of the duct run, the outer surface of said metal member having an inset annular zone for receiving said sealing element, said sealing element comprising a circumferential base portion, extending axially along the inset zone, and at least one sealing flange portion normally projecting outwardly at an obtuse angle to said base portion before the tubular members are telescopically engaged and adapted to be deflected inwardly to a larger obtuse angle to said base portion, said sealing element being pre-formed with the inwardly-directed surfaces of the sealing flange and the base portion meeting at a sharp angle forming a peak on the outside corner of the sealing element to bias the flange into its obtuse radial position, said inset zone along the length where it receives said deflected flange having a seating portion to receive said deflected flange, said inset zone along the length where it receives said base portion having a clamping portion, said clamping portion of the inset zone terminating at its outer end in an outer guide portion, said inset zone having a circumferential groove intermediate said seating portion and said clamping portion, clamping means circumscribing said base and overlying said clamping portion and said base portion, and interengaging means on said base portion and said member to position said sealing element relative to said clamping means and relative to said circumferential groove to abut said flange against said clamping means and to position said peak in registry with said circumferential groove so that when the flange is deflected into said seating portion, said peak is received in said groove.
Specification