Tube expansion joint

• US 6,752,434 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joanne E. Cummins, Judith Marie Cummins
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Cummins
• Inventors: Cummins, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burch, Melody M.
• Application Number:
  US10/105,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 285/121.1, 285/121.2, 285/124.1, 285/124.2, 285/11, 285/101, 285/301, 285/302, 285/224, 285/226, 285/41, 285/47, 285/412, 138/26, 138/28, 138/31, 166/355, 406/192, 406/196
• US Class Current: 285/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/12 allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement by use of screw-thread F16L15/02

Abstract

A junction for connecting first and second adjacent sections in a guideway carrying pressurized fluid comprises female end portions on a first section, male end portions on a second section partially received within the female end portions, and a vessel. The vessel comprises a plenum bounded at one end by a piston. The plenum is in flow communication with a pressure source.

Claims

1. A junction for a twin tube guideway carrying pressurized fluid, said junction comprising:

female end portions on a first pipe and a second pipe of a first section;

male end portions on a first pipe and a second pipe of a second section partially received within said female end portions; and

a vessel comprising a plenum bounded at one end by a piston, said plenum in flow communication with one of said pipes, said piston connected to said one of said pipes in flow communication with said plenum.

2. The junction recited in claim 1 wherein said one of said pipes in flow communication with said plenum is said first pipe of said first section.

3. The junction recited in claim 1 wherein said one of said pipes in flow communication with said plenum is said second pipe of said first section.

4. The junction recited in claim 1 wherein said one of said pipes in flow communication with said plenum is said first pipe of said second section.

5. The junction recited in claim 1 wherein said one of said pipes in flow communication with said plenum is said second pipe of said second section.

6. The junction recited in claim 1, further comprising a sealing member between said piston and an internal wall of said vessel for providing a fluid-tight seal while permitting axially directed relative movement between said piston and said internal wall of said vessel.

7. The junction recited in claim 1 further comprising a sealing member between said male end portions and said female end portions of said pipes for providing a fluid-tight seal while permitting axially directed relative movement between said first section and said second section.