Gimballed conduit connector
First Claim
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1. A gimballed conduit connector for connecting two conduits transporting high temperature and pressure fluid comprising:
- three relatively articulate tubular members including first and second end rings for attachment to the ends of said two conduits, said end rings each having two generally parallel spaced tabs extending axially outwardly thereof and a coupler ring between the end rings and pivotally secured thereto by pins extending through said end rings tabs and portions of said coupler ring, andwherein said coupler ring comprises a one piece integral tubular member including an annular body defined by generally concentric inner and outer circular cross section surfaces, two pairs of oppositely facing and individually discrete tab receiving pockets hollowed out integrally of said body between said surfaces, each of said pockets being closed in axially inwardly directions and opening only axially outwardly of said body, each of said end ring tabs being individually received in a corresponding one of said discrete pockets.
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Abstract
A gimballed conduit connector for connecting two conduits transporting high temperature and pressure fluids. Rings having two parallel tabs are attached to the ends of two conduits that are to be connected. A coupler ring between the two tabbed rings has four tab pockets through which four pins are inserted to provide axles for the rotatable retention of the tabbed rings in the connector ring. A bellows around the rings seals the connection. Optimum flexibility and life of the connector is achieved by the gimballed pin and tab system and selection of high flexibility materials and dimensions for the bellows.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A gimballed conduit connector for connecting two conduits transporting high temperature and pressure fluid comprising:
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three relatively articulate tubular members including first and second end rings for attachment to the ends of said two conduits, said end rings each having two generally parallel spaced tabs extending axially outwardly thereof and a coupler ring between the end rings and pivotally secured thereto by pins extending through said end rings tabs and portions of said coupler ring, and wherein said coupler ring comprises a one piece integral tubular member including an annular body defined by generally concentric inner and outer circular cross section surfaces, two pairs of oppositely facing and individually discrete tab receiving pockets hollowed out integrally of said body between said surfaces, each of said pockets being closed in axially inwardly directions and opening only axially outwardly of said body, each of said end ring tabs being individually received in a corresponding one of said discrete pockets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A gimballed conduit connector for connecting two conduits transporting high temperature and pressure fluids comprising:
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three relatively articulated tubular members including first and second end rings for attachment to the ends of said two conduits, said end rings each having two generally parallel spaced tabs extending axially outwardly thereof and a coupler ring between the end rings and pivotally secured thereto by pins extending through said end rings tabs and portions of said coupler ring, and wherein said coupler ring comprises a one piece integral tubular member including an annular body defined by generally concentric inner and outer circular cross section surfaces, a plurality of hollowed out tab receiving pockets formed in said body between said surfaces and opening axially outwardly of said body in opposite directions, said end ring tabs being received in said pockets; bellows means positioned about said three tubular members to provide an air seal of the connection made by said tubular members between said two conduits and having flexible convolutions; and collar rings about portions of said bellows receiving portions of said first and second end rings, said collar rings having curved faces directed to said bellows convolutions substantially perpendicular to the axes of said collar rings preventing outer ones of said convolutions of said bellows from flexing when said bellows is under compression by said end rings. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A gimballed conduit connector for connecting two conduits transporting high temperature and pressure fluids comprising:
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three relatively articulated members including first and second end rings for attachment to the ends of said two conduits, said end rings each having at least one tab extending axially outwardly thereof and a coupler ring between the end rings and pivotally secured thereto by pins extending through said end rings tabs and portions of said coupler rings, and wherein said coupler ring comprises a member including two pairs of oppositely facing and individually discrete tab receiving pockets formed integrally therein, each of said discrete pockets having closed in an axially inwardly direction and opening only in an axially outward direction, one of said end ring tabs being received in each one of said pockets.
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Specification