Equally tensioned coupling apparatus
First Claim
1. Coupling apparatus for releasably coupling a pair of conduits comprising:
- (a) a first connector member adapted to connect to one of the conduits on one end and having a flange on the other end, said flange having a plurality of radially spaced holes therethrough;
(b) a second connector member adapted to connect to the other end of the conduits on one end and having a flange on the other end, said flange of said second connector member being adapted to mate with said flange of said first connector member when the two conduits are disposed in end-to-end relationship;
(c) a plurality of connector pins carried by said flange of said second connector member on one end and means connecting said one end to said flange of said second connector member, said pins having threads on the opposite end, said pins being disposed to pass through said holes with said threads projecting therefrom, said pins further being hollow cylinders filled with a first fluid and having sidewalls sufficiently thick to resist lateral deformation and only extend the pin when said first fluid is pressurized;
(d) a plurality of nuts adapted for threaded engagement with said threaded ends; and
,(e) means for internally exerting an identical longitudinal extending force on said pins whereby said nuts can be threaded onto said threads of each of said pins to snug engagement with said flange of said first connector member with said pins under said longitudinal extending force whereby with said longitudinal extending force removed therefrom all said pins are under identical tension, said extending force exerting means comprising a passageway filled with a second fluid disposed in pressure transmitting communication with said first fluid in each of said plurality of pins at respective interfaces thereof, said passageway being adapted for connection to a source of hydraulic pressure whereby upon connection of said passageway to a source of hydraulic pressure equal forces are transmitted through said second fluid to said first fluid and all said pins simultaneously so that said pins are subjected to an equal internal expanding force only by said first fluid under pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention discloses method and apparatus for connecting together two members having mating surfaces by means of a plurality of fasteners such that equal compression forces are exerted on the members along force lines normal to a common plane. To accomplish the foregoing objectives, a plurality of pins are carried by one member and pass through bores in the opposite member. The pins are longitudinally extended simultaneously with a common internal extending force and stops are affixed to the ends extending through the second member snugly against the surface thereof. Upon release of the common extending force, all the pins attempt to restore to their original positions with equal restorative forces being equal and opposite to the common extending force applied thereto.
52 Citations
10 Claims
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1. Coupling apparatus for releasably coupling a pair of conduits comprising:
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(a) a first connector member adapted to connect to one of the conduits on one end and having a flange on the other end, said flange having a plurality of radially spaced holes therethrough; (b) a second connector member adapted to connect to the other end of the conduits on one end and having a flange on the other end, said flange of said second connector member being adapted to mate with said flange of said first connector member when the two conduits are disposed in end-to-end relationship; (c) a plurality of connector pins carried by said flange of said second connector member on one end and means connecting said one end to said flange of said second connector member, said pins having threads on the opposite end, said pins being disposed to pass through said holes with said threads projecting therefrom, said pins further being hollow cylinders filled with a first fluid and having sidewalls sufficiently thick to resist lateral deformation and only extend the pin when said first fluid is pressurized; (d) a plurality of nuts adapted for threaded engagement with said threaded ends; and
,(e) means for internally exerting an identical longitudinal extending force on said pins whereby said nuts can be threaded onto said threads of each of said pins to snug engagement with said flange of said first connector member with said pins under said longitudinal extending force whereby with said longitudinal extending force removed therefrom all said pins are under identical tension, said extending force exerting means comprising a passageway filled with a second fluid disposed in pressure transmitting communication with said first fluid in each of said plurality of pins at respective interfaces thereof, said passageway being adapted for connection to a source of hydraulic pressure whereby upon connection of said passageway to a source of hydraulic pressure equal forces are transmitted through said second fluid to said first fluid and all said pins simultaneously so that said pins are subjected to an equal internal expanding force only by said first fluid under pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In apparatus for connecting together two members having mating surfaces by means of a plurality of fasteners, the improvement for causing equal compression forces to be exerted on the members along force lines normal to a common plane by all the fasteners comprising:
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(a) one of the members including an integral manifold adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, the member also including a plurality of bores extending into the member from the side thereof having the mating surface along lines normal to the common plane to connect into said integral manifold, and further including means for releasably and sealably engaging pins inserted into said bores; (b) the other of the members including a plurality of bores concentrically aligned with said bores in the one member; (c) a plurality of hollow, cylindrical, fluid-filled pins inserted into respective ones of said bores of the one member, each of said pins having a deformable diaphragm on the end thereof inserted into said bores of the one member and means for engaging said engaging means of the one member whereby said pins are held in said bores of the one member with said deformable diaphragms in sealed communication with said integral manifold, said pins each also being non-deformable on the end not inserted into said bores of the one member and having means adjacent said last named end for releasably and adjustably engaging a stop, the portion of said pins not inserted into the bores of the one member being adapted to pass through said bores in the other member, said pins having sidewalls between said two ends of a thickness so as to resist lateral deformation while allowing maximum longitudinal extensibility in response to pressurization of said internal fluid; and
,(d) a plurality of stops adapted for mounting adjacent said non-deformable end of respective ones of said pins, said stops being unable to pass through said bores in the other member and including means for engaging said stop engaging means on said pins whereby said stops can be releasably positioned longitudinally on said pins close adjacent the other member opposite the mating surface thereof with said pins longitudinally extended through the application of fluid pressure through said internal manifold and said deformable diaphragm to said internal fluid so that said pins will subject the two members to identical compression forces through said stops by the restorative force of said pins when said fluid pressure is released from said manifold. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification