Twist fitting for air tank connections

• US 6,942,255 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Q3jmc Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Q3jmc Incorporated
• Inventors: Pickering, Richard Carlton
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNWOODY, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US10/420,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 285/23, 285/139.2, 285/139.3, 285/140.1, 285/149.1, 285/194, 285/210, 285/211, 285/322, 285/361, 285/378, 285/401, 285/360, 285/376, 285/143.1, 285/203, 285/204, 285/209, 285/391, 285/154.1
• US Class Current: 285/136.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/008 for branching pipes; for joining pipes to walls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/252 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating in the corresponding slots provided in the female part

Abstract

A fitting connector for a pressure vessel including a bushing for mounting within an aperture defined in a pressure vessel wall. The bushing includes a cylindrical bushing body having a head portion at one end thereof and including at least a pair of locking members for engaging along an interior surface of the pressure vessel wall. The locking members are provided with a contoured surface for engaging with detent members formed on the interior of the pressure vessel wall whereby the bushing is positively locked in a predetermined rotational orientation on the pressure vessel wall and is retained in place until a predetermined torque force is applied.

Claims

1. A fitting connection for a pressure vessel, the fitting connection comprising:

a cylindrical bushing body having a cylindrical outer surface and defining a longitudinal axis;

a head portion located at an upper end of the bushing body and defining a lower surface;

a passage through the bushing body for passage of a fluid;

at least one locking member having a base portion extending radially from the outer surface of the bushing body, the at least one locking member having an upper surface on the base portion located in spaced relation to the lower surface of the head portion to define a groove for receiving an edge surrounding an aperture in a pressure vessel wall;

the upper surface including a contour varying the distance between the upper surface and the lower surface of the head portion whereby rotation of the bushing within the aperture produces a predetermined frictional force between the locking member and the pressure vessel wall;

the upper surface of the at least one locking member includes a recess for receiving a detent located on the pressure vessel wall, said recess being spaced inward from each end of the upper surface of the at least one locking member.

2. A fitting connection according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface includes an inclined portion leading to the recess.

3. A fitting connection according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the at least one locking member includes an end wall for limiting rotation of the bushing body.

4. A fitting connection according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking member includes a catch element extending from the base portion parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bushing body and in spaced relation to the outer surface of the bushing body, the catch element having a tang for preventing withdrawal of the bushing body from the aperture.

11. A fitting connection according to claim 4, wherein the catch element has a pair of tangs separated by a notch.

12. A fitting connection according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the head portion has an annular groove receiving a sealing member.

5. A fitting connection for a pressure vessel, the fitting connection comprising:

a bushing including a cylindrical bushing body;

a head portion located at an upper end of the bushing body and defining a lower surface;

a passage through the bushing body for passage of a fluid;

a pressure vessel wall including means defining an aperture;

a detent element located on an interior surface of the pressure vessel wall adjacent an edge of the aperture;

a locking member located on the bushing body. said locking member having an upper surface with a recess spaced inward from each end of the upper surface, said upper surface being in spaced relation to the lower surface to define a groove for receiving the edge of the aperture;

wherein the bushing is rotatable within the aperture, and rotation results in the recess of the locking member engaging the detent element to frictionally lock the bushing in place.

6. A fitting connection according to claim 5, which includes a pair of locking members located on diametrically opposite sides of the bushing body wherein the aperture includes a pair of slots for receiving the locking members.

7. A fitting connection according to claim 6, wherein the locking members each include a catch element extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and in spaced relation to the bushing body, the catch elements preventing withdrawal of the bushing body from the aperture.

8. A fitting connection according to claim 6, wherein the pressure vessel wall includes a detent for each locking member adjacent the aperture.

9. A fitting connection according to claim 5, which includes four locking members spaced around the bushing body and said aperture has equally spaced slots.

10. A fitting connection according to claim 9, wherein the end wall of the pressure vessel has a detent on the interior surface adjacent each of the four slots and each locking member has a recess for receiving the corresponding detent.

13. A fitting connection according to claim 5, wherein the lower surface of the head portion has an annular groove receiving a sealing member.