Electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for valves
First Claim
1. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line configured for connection with a line flange, the coupling assembly comprising:
- a valve flange having a first mating surface and having an aperture extending therethrough, wherein said valve flange is configured to be aligned with and face the line flange for coupling thereto;
a valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange, said valve flange being loaded onto said valve coupler such that said outer coupler flange passes through said aperture; and
a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive rigid captive ring, said captive ring being positioned against said outer coupler flange and interposed between said valve flange and said valve coupler to provide electrical separation between said valve flange and said valve coupler;
wherein said valve flange is held against said captive ring when said valve flange is interconnected with the line flange.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line. A line flange within the line includes a first mating surface and a fluid passageway therethrough. A valve flange downstream from the line flange includes a second mating surface. The valve flange has an aperture passing therethrough with first and second bores forming a lip. A valve coupler has an upstream end provided with a coupler flange having a third bore. A substantially non-compressible, non-metallic captive ring is interposed between the lip, and the flange and body of the valve coupler. Bolts and nuts assemble the valve flange to the line flange with a gasket therebetween, compressing the lip against the captive ring and the coupler flange. The valve is either sweat fitted or threadably attached to the downstream end of the valve coupler. Various configurations for the valve flange, the captive ring, and the valve coupler are disclosed.
33 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line configured for connection with a line flange, the coupling assembly comprising:
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a valve flange having a first mating surface and having an aperture extending therethrough, wherein said valve flange is configured to be aligned with and face the line flange for coupling thereto; a valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange, said valve flange being loaded onto said valve coupler such that said outer coupler flange passes through said aperture; and a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive rigid captive ring, said captive ring being positioned against said outer coupler flange and interposed between said valve flange and said valve coupler to provide electrical separation between said valve flange and said valve coupler;
wherein said valve flange is held against said captive ring when said valve flange is interconnected with the line flange. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line configured for connection with a line flange, the coupling assembly comprising:
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a valve flange having a first mating surface and having an aperture extending therethrough, wherein said valve flange is configured to be aligned with and face the line flange for coupling thereto; a valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange configured to be aligned with and face the line flange for coupling thereto; and a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive captive ring, said captive ring includes an opening therethrough extending along an axis, said captive ring including a base extending axially with respect to said axis, said captive ring including a leg extending radially with respect to said axis, said leg being interposed between said outer coupler flange and said valve flange, and said captive ring including a retention barb extending radially outward from said base, said retention barb configured to retain said valve flange in alignment with said captive ring. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line configured for connection with a line flange, the coupling assembly comprising:
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a valve flange, said valve flange having a first mating surface and an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a first bore and a second bore, said second bore being larger than said first bore forming a lip spaced from said first mating surface; a valve coupler, said valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange and an inner coupler flange, said flanges extending radially outwardly from said valve coupler proximate said one end and being arranged in axially spaced relation thereon; a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive captive ring extending at least partially circumferentially around said valve coupler and being positioned between said outer coupler flange and said inner coupler flange such that said captive ring provides complete separation between the valve flange and the valve coupler, said captive ring having a base extending axially and a leg extending radially outward from the base, the leg being interposed between said lip and said outer coupler flange of said valve coupler; and an interconnect element configured to interconnect said valve flange and said line flange and holding said lip against said captive ring and said out coupler flange. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line configured for connection with a line flange, the coupling assembly comprising:
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a valve flange, said valve flange having a first mating surface and an aperture extending therethrough; a valve coupler, said valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange and an inner coupler flange, said flanges extending radially outwardly from said one end and being arranged in axially spaced relation thereon; and a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive captive ring extending at least partially circumferentially around said valve coupler and being positioned between said outer coupler flange and said inner coupler flange, said captive ring extending along an entire axial length of said valve flange between said valve flange and said valve coupler to provide a physical barrier between said valve flange and said valve coupler, said captive ring includes an opening having a diameter that is less than both an outer diameter of said outer coupler flange and an outer diameter of said inner coupler flange, said captive ring is split to facilitate positioning of said ring between said outer coupler flange and said inner coupler flange. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line configured for connection with a line flange, the coupling assembly comprising:
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a valve flange, said valve flange having a first mating surface and an aperture extending therethrough; a valve coupler, said valve coupler having one end provided with an outer coupler flange and an inner coupler flange, said flanges extending radially outwardly from said one end and being arranged in axially spaced relation thereon; and a substantially non-compressible, electrically non-conductive captive ring extending at least partially circumferentially around said valve coupler and being positioned between said outer coupler flange and said inner coupler flange, said captive ring includes a base, a leg extending outward from said base, and a retention barb extending radially outward from said base and spaced apart from said leg, said retention barb and said leg cooperating to retain said valve flange in alignment with said captive ring, said captive ring being positioned between said valve flange and said valve coupler to provide a physical barrier between said valve flange and said valve coupler, said captive ring includes an opening having a diameter that is less than both an outer diameter of said outer coupler flange and an outer diameter of said inner coupler flange, said captive ring is split to facilitate positioning of said ring between said outer coupler flange and said inner coupler flange.
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Specification