Releasable connector including swivel

• US 7,270,348 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apical Industries, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Apical Industries, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Parrott, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwoody; Aaron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kee; Fannie C.
• Application Number:
  US10/974,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 285/95, 285/120.1, 285/121.1, 285/121.6, 285/123.12, 285/223, 285/276, 285/275, 285/305, 285/308, 285/321
• US Class Current: 285/276
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/0808 the joint elements extending coaxially for some distance from their point of separation
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/148 the securing element being flexible F16L37/144 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/53 allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe

Abstract

A connector for releasably attaching a pair of conduits includes male and female components having proximal and distal ends and a lumen, and a swivel connection releasably connecting the male and female components. The swivel connection permits fluid communication between the male and female components and also permits free rotation between the male and female components.

Claims

1. A connector for releasably attaching a pair of conduits, the connector comprising:

a male component having proximal and distal ends, a notch disposed around a perimeter of the proximal end, and a male component lumen;

a female component having a female component lumen, a proximal and a distal end dimensioned to receive the proximal end of the male component, and an aperture in the distal end; and

a swivel connection releasably connecting the male and female components,

wherein the swivel connection permits fluid communication between the male and female components and permits free rotation between the male and female components,

wherein the swivel connection comprises a pin that passes through the aperture and into the notch,

wherein the proximal end of the female component is internally threaded to facilitate attachment to a first conduit, and

wherein the distal end of the male component includes a plurality of spaced apart rings to facilitate attachment to a second conduit.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein pulling the pin from the notch releases the swivel connection.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the female component lumen includes a tapered wall to facilitate fluid flow from the female component into the male component.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the male and female components are made from stainless steel or aluminum.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the swivel connection between the male and female components is fluid-tight.

6. A connector for releasably attaching a pair of conduits, the connector comprising:

a male component having proximal and distal ends, a male component lumen and a notch disposed around the perimeter of the proximal end;

a female component having a female component lumen, a proximal and a distal end dimensioned to receive the proximal end of the male component, and an aperture in the distal end; and

a swivel connection releasably connecting the male and female components;

wherein the swivel connection permits fluid communication between the male and female components and permits free rotation between the male and female components,

wherein the proximal end of the female component is internally threaded to facilitate attachment to a first conduit,

wherein the distal end of the male component includes a plurality of spaced apart rings to facilitate attachment to a second conduit,

wherein the swivel connection comprises a pin that passes through the aperture and into the notch, and

wherein the notch is tapered to reduce frictional forces between the pin and notch.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the female component lumen includes a tapered wall to facilitate fluid flow from the female component into the male component.

8. The connector of claim 6, wherein the male and female components are made from stainless steel or aluminum.

9. The connector of claim 6, wherein the swivel connection between the male and female components is fluid-tight.