Connector means providing fluid-tight but relatively rotatable joint
First Claim
1. A connector means for providing a fluid-tight seal and relative rotation of a pair of adjacent first and second body members, comprising, in combination:
- providing the first body member with an operatively cylindrical extension,providing the second body member with an operatively cylindrical extension,the cylindrical extension of the first body member being rotatably received in the cylindrical extension of the second body member,the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the cylindrical extension of the second body member being provided with annular groove means facing one another, and co-operating to provide an annular chamber for bearing members specified below,a series of bearing members carried in the co-operating two said annular groove means, and the series of bearing members providing a circumferential abutment means blocking axial movement of the first body member and second body member axially away from one another, and urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another,there being provided circumferential sealing means operatively between the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the second body member, they being operatively engageable through the said sealing means,the two said annular groove means being at least slightly out of alignment so that said bearing members are constantly urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another thus acting to compress and urge the sealing means to achieve a fluid-tight fit between the first body member and the second body member even though they are relatively rotatable,in a combination in which the wall of the annular groove means of the cylindrical extension of the second body member is of an operatively rigid nature blocking radially outward movement of the bearing members which could release their said axial movement-blocking operativity as to the first and second body members, regardless of any force tending to force the bearing members outwardly, which is imposed upon the cylindrical extension of the first body member by compressive force in the circumferential sealing means, and thereby preventing any disconnection of the first and second body members without removal of the bearing members from the two said groove means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector means which provides a fluid-tight seal, but with relative rotation of a pair of body members of a hydraulic line or device. Cylindrical extensions on both the body members, which interfit in assembly, have circumferential grooves facing one another and receive ball bearing members in the circumferential chamber provided by the grooves; and the arrangement is such that the bearing members act to block axial withdrawal of the body members from a tight sealing engagement with an O-ring which assures fluid-tightness of the joint even though the body members are relatively rotatable.
187 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A connector means for providing a fluid-tight seal and relative rotation of a pair of adjacent first and second body members, comprising, in combination:
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providing the first body member with an operatively cylindrical extension, providing the second body member with an operatively cylindrical extension, the cylindrical extension of the first body member being rotatably received in the cylindrical extension of the second body member, the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the cylindrical extension of the second body member being provided with annular groove means facing one another, and co-operating to provide an annular chamber for bearing members specified below, a series of bearing members carried in the co-operating two said annular groove means, and the series of bearing members providing a circumferential abutment means blocking axial movement of the first body member and second body member axially away from one another, and urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another, there being provided circumferential sealing means operatively between the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the second body member, they being operatively engageable through the said sealing means, the two said annular groove means being at least slightly out of alignment so that said bearing members are constantly urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another thus acting to compress and urge the sealing means to achieve a fluid-tight fit between the first body member and the second body member even though they are relatively rotatable, in a combination in which the wall of the annular groove means of the cylindrical extension of the second body member is of an operatively rigid nature blocking radially outward movement of the bearing members which could release their said axial movement-blocking operativity as to the first and second body members, regardless of any force tending to force the bearing members outwardly, which is imposed upon the cylindrical extension of the first body member by compressive force in the circumferential sealing means, and thereby preventing any disconnection of the first and second body members without removal of the bearing members from the two said groove means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A connector means for providing a fluid-tight seal and relative rotation of a pair of adjacent first and second body members, comprising, in combination:
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providing the first body member with an operatively cylindrical extension, providing the second body member with an operatively cylindrical extension, the cylindrical extension of the first body member being rotatably received in the cylindrical extension of the second body member, the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the cylindrical extension of the second body member being provided with abutment means facing in opposite axial directions, the abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the first body member facing the first body member and away from the second body member, the abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the second body member facing the second body member and away from the first body member, a series of bearing members carried between the said abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the second body member, the series of bearing members providing a circumferential abutment means abuttingly co-operating with the said two abutment means for blocking axial movement of the first body member and second body member axially away from one another, and urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another, there being provided circumferential sealing means operatively between the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the second body member, they being operatively engageable through the said sealing means, the first and second body members and their respective cylindrical extensions being formed to provide that the axial length (a) between the seat of the second body member against which seat the sealing means seats, to the said abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the said second body member, minus the diameter of the bearing members, and also minus the length (b) between the wall of the first body member which engages the sealing means and the said abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the said first body member, is less than the non-compressed axial length of the sealing means, thereby providing that with the said first body member and the second body member and the bearing members assembled as aforesaid, the presence of the bearing members causes the sealing means to be compressed, thus acting to urge the sealing means to achieve a fluid-tight seal between the first body member and the second body member even though they are relatively rotatable, and thereby providing, when the first body member and the second body member are assembled as aforesaid, with the cylindrical extension of the first body member received in the cylindrical extension of the second body member, and the bearing members are assembled to be in their carried position as aforesaid, that the said abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the said abutment means of the cylindrical extension of the second body member co-operate abuttingly respectively with the series of bearing members, to sustain the force of engagement of the cylindrical extension of the first body member with the sealing means, and to transmit that force through said two abutment means and through said bearing members to cause that force to be sustained by the said second body member, thus blocking axial movement of the first body member and the second body member away from one another and urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another, in a combination in which the second body member is provided to have an operatively rigid wall circumferentially surrounding the cylindrical extension of the first body member radially outwardly of the location therealong in which the said bearing members are disposed when in their position of abutting co-operation with the said two abutment means, the said rigid wall being operative to block radially outward movement of the bearin members which could release their said axial movement-blocking operativity as to the first and second body members, regardless of any force tending to force the bearing members outwardly, which is imposed upon the cylindrical extension of the first body member by compressive force in the circumferential sealing means, and thereby preventing any disassembly of the first and second body members without removal of the bearing members from their position of abutting co-operation with the said two abutment means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification