Pipe adapter flange

• US 5,437,482 A
• Filed: 04/07/1994
• Issued: 08/01/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald K. Curtis
• Original Assignee: Donald K. Curtis
• Inventors: Curtis, Donald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHACKELFORD, HEATHER CHUN
• Application Number:
  US08/224,310
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 285/412, 285/413, 285/414, 285/368, 285/174, 285/363
• US Class Current: 285/148.13
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/028 the flanges being held against a shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/032 characterised by the shape or composition of the flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/12 specially adapted for particular pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/16 characterised by the sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/18 the sealing means being rings

Abstract

A pipe adapter flange coupling system for joining two flanged pipe section ends comprises an adapter ring constructed to be positioned between the flanged pipe section ends, a first set of bolts for clamping one flanged pipe section end to one side of the adapter ring, and a second set of bolts for clamping another flanged pipe section end to another side of the adapter ring. The pipe adapter flanged coupling system adapter ring is generally circular and has inner and outer circles of threaded bolt holes. The first set of bolts extending through a compression ring constructed to bear against one flanged pipe section and threadable into the outer ring of bolt holes in the adapter ring. The second set of bolts extendable through another pipe section end and threadable into the inner ring of bolt holes in the adapter ring.

Claims

1. A pipe adapter flange joint for joining two flanged pipe section ends together so that internal fluid passages in said flanged pipe section ends may be joined in fluid communication with one another which comprises:

a) a first flanged pipe section end having a first flange and a first pipe section to which said first flange is connected, said first pipe section being fabricated of plastic material and having a relatively large outer diameter;

a second flanged pipe section end having a second flange and a second pipe section to which said second flange is connected, said second pipe section being fabricated with a smaller outer diameter than said first pipe section, said first flange having a relatively large outer diameter and said second flange having a smaller outer diameter than said first flange;

b) an adapter ring comprising a disk having first and second sides and being positioned between opposing inner sides of said first and second flanges of said flanged pipe section ends so that a transverse axis of said adapter ring is generally coincident with a longitudinal axis that extends through said flanged pipe section ends, said adapter ring having;

i) an aperture through said disk in fluid communication with the fluid passages in said flanged pipe section ends, and

ii) a first outer set of bolt holes extending through said disk, and

iii) a second inner set of bolt holes extending through said disk, said second inner set of bolt holes being threaded and located radially inward of said first set of bolt holes relative to said transverse axis;

c) first clamping means for clamping only said first flanged pipe section end to said adapter ring;

second clamping means for clamping only said second flanged pipe section end to said adapter ring;

d) first seal means positioned between said first flange of said first flanged pipe section end and said adapter ring to effect a fluid seal therebetween; and

second seal means positioned between said second flange of said second flanged pipe section end and said adapter ring to effect a fluid seal therebetween;

e) said first clamping means comprising;

i) a compression ring having outer and inner sides, the inner side of said compression ring being constructed to bear against an outer side of said first flange, and

ii) a first plurality of bolts extended through said compression ring and into the bolt holes of said first outer set of bolt holes in said adapter ring, said bolts being cooperatively constructed and arranged with respect to said adapter ring for clamping only the inner side of said first flange to said first side of said adapter ring with said first seal means therebetween, so that a fluid seal is effected by said first seal means being contacted by and compressed between the inner side of said first flange and the first side of said adapter ring;

iii) each of said bolts having bolt heads with said bolts being oriented so that said first flange can be clamped to and unclamped from said adapter ring independently of said second flange and so that said bolts can be removed from said first flange and adapter ring independent of said second flange; and

f) said second clamping means comprising;

i) a second plurality of threaded bolts extended through said second flanged pipe section end and threaded into the threaded bolt holes of said outer set of bolt holes in said adapter ring for clamping only the inner side of said second flange to said second side of said adapter ring with said second seal means therebetween, so that a fluid seal is effected by said second seal means being contacted by and compressed between the inner side of said second flange and the second side of said adapter ring;

ii) each of said bolts having bolt heads with said bolts being oriented with their heads adjacent the outer side of said second flange so that said second flange can be clamped to and unclamped from said adapter ring independently of said first flange and so that said bolts can be removed from said second flange and adapter ring independent of said first flange.

2. A pipe adapter flange joint for joining two flanged pipe section ends together so that internal fluid passages in said flanged pipe section ends may be joined in fluid communication with one another which comprises:

a) a first flanged pipe section end having a first flange that is associated with an outer diameter-controlled pipe section fabricated of plastic material that is selected from the group comprising high-density polyethylene plastic and other material that is specified by its outer diameter;

a second flanged pipe section end having a second flange that is associated with an inner diameter-controlled pipe section fabricated of material that is selected from the group comprising ductile iron, steel and PVC plastic and that is specified by its inner diameter such that for a given pipe capacity said first pipe section has a larger outer diameter than said second pipe section;

b) an adapter ring comprising a disk having first and second sides and being positioned between opposing inner sides of said first and second flanges of said flanged pipe section ends so that a transverse axis of said adapter ring is generally coincident with a longitudinal axis that extends through said flanged pipe section ends, said adapter ring having;

i) an aperture through said disk in fluid communication with the fluid passages in said flanged pipe section ends, and

ii) a first outer set of bolt holes extending through said disk, and

iii) a second inner set of bolt holes extending through said disk, said second inner set of bolt holes being threaded and located radially inward of said first set of bolt holes relative to said transverse axis;

c) first clamping means for clamping only said first flanged pipe section end to said adapter ring;

second clamping means for clamping only said second flanged pipe section end to said adapter ring;

d) first seal means positioned between said first flange of said first flanged pipe section end and said adapter ring to effect a fluid seal therebetween; and

second seal means positioned between said second flange of said second flanged pipe section end and said adapter ring to effect a fluid seal therebetween;

e) said first clamping means comprising;

i) a compression ring having outer and inner sides, the inner side of said compression ring being constructed to bear against an outer side of said first flange, and

ii) a first plurality of bolts extended through said compression ring and into the bolt holes of said first outer set of bolt holes in said adapter ring, said bolts being cooperatively constructed and arranged with respect to said adapter ring for clamping only the inner side of said first flange to said first side of said adapter ring with said first seal means therebetween, so that a fluid seal is effected by said first seal means being contacted by and compressed between the inner side of said first flange and the first side of said adapter ring;

iii) each of said bolts having bolt heads with said bolts being oriented with their heads adjacent the outer side of said compression ring so that said first flange can be clamped to and unclamped from said adapter ring independently of said second flange and so that said bolts can be removed from said first flange and adapter ring independent of said second flange; and

f) said second clamping means comprising;

i) a second plurality of threaded bolts extended through said second flanged pipe section end and threaded into the threaded bolt holes of said outer set of bolt holes in said adapter ring for clamping only the inner side of said second flange to said second side of said adapter ring with said second seal means therebetween, so that a fluid seal is effected by said second seal means being contacted by and compressed between the inner side of said second flange and the second side of said adapter ring;

ii) each of said bolts having bolt heads with said bolts being oriented with their heads adjacent the outer side of said second flange so that said second flange can be clamped to and unclamped from said adapter ring independently of said first flange and so that said bolts can be removed from said second flange and adapter ring independent of said first flange.