Pipe joint

• US 6,279,965 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kokusan Parts Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kokusan Parts Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kida, Hidetomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US09/546,336
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 285/47, 285/268, 285/334.4, 285/271, 285/223, 285/231, 285/233
• US Class Current: 285/268
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/1811 with means permitting relative movement, e.g. compensation of thermal expansion or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/053 held in place by bolts passing through flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/073 one of the cooperating surfaces forming the sealing means

Abstract

A pipe joint is provided whereby fluid pipelines, such as exhaust pipes, or the like, can be connected hermetically, in such a manner that the relative angle therebetween can vary, while ensuring satisfactory manufacturing precision of the sealing surface of a ring-shaped sealing ring. In a pipe joint 1 for connecting a first fluid pipeline 2 and a second fluid pipeline 3 hermetically, in such a manner that the relative angle therebetween can vary, a ring-shaped sealing ring 4 comprising an inner circumference sealing surface 4b having a tapered shape expanding in diameter towards the open end thereof is provided in the connecting section of the first fluid pipeline 2, an outer circumference sealing seat 3a having a partially convex surface is provided in the connecting section of the second fluid pipeline 3, in a position confronting said ring-shaped sealing ring 4, and pressure connecting means 5 for causing the inner circumference sealing surface 4b of the ring-shaped sealing ring 4 and said outer circumference sealing seat 3a to contact under pressure, in a slidable fashion, is provided in a region extending across both said fluid pipelines.

Claims

1. A pipe joint for connecting a first fluid pipeline and a second fluid pipeline hermetically, in such a manner that the relative angle therebetween can vary, comprising:

a first fluid pipeline having a connecting section;

a second fluid pipeline having a connecting section;

a ring-shaped sealing ring produced by pressure forming a fine metal wire with a fire-resistant material, comprising an inner circumference sealing surface having a conical tapered shape expanding in diameter towards an open end of the first fluid pipeline, which is provided in the connecting section of the first fluid pipeline;

an outer circumference sealing seat having a partially convex surface which is provided in the connecting section of the second fluid pipeline, in a position confronting said ring-shaped sealing ring when said first and second fluid pipelines are connected; and

pressure connecting means for causing the inner circumference sealing surface of the ring-shaped sealing ring and said outer circumference sealing seat to contact each other at an area of contact, said contact being under pressure, said area of contact changing in a slidable fashion during varying of said relative angle, said contacting pressure being provided in an elastic manner in a region extending across the connecting sections of both said first and second fluid pipelines.

2. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein an outer circumference surface of said ring-shaped sealing ring is formed with a tapered shape expanding in diameter towards the open end of the first fluid pipeline, said ring-shaped sealing ring configured to seat inside an inner circumference groove in the connecting section of the first fluid pipeline.

3. The pipe joint according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said outer circumference sealing seat having a partially convex surface is a portion of the connecting section of the second fluid pipeline which has said partially convex surface.

4. The pipe joint according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said ring-shaped sealing ring is of a material having thermal resistance, wear resistance and corrosion resistance to exhaust products of an internal combustion engine.

5. The pipe joint according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an expanded graphite sheet is mainly used as the fire-resistant material constituting the ring-shaped sealing ring.

6. The pipe joint according to claim 3, wherein an expanded graphite sheet is mainly used as the fire-resistant material constituting the ring-shaped sealing ring.

7. The pipe joint according to claim 4, wherein an expanded graphite sheet is mainly used as the fire-resistant material constituting the ring-shaped sealing ring.