Eg&g Pressure Science, Inc.

Eaton Corporation

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

The Perkin-elmer Corporation

Jeffrey E Swensen

Terence J Nolan

J Loyd Spence

Robert A Barrett

Stephen Rowland

Daniel T Munley

Kevin S Warehime

Kevin R Felber

Edward P Rhyne

Joseph Ilbong Kim

Thomas S Oh

Hugh N French

Matthew E Roach

H Steve Graham

Michael Sean Parker

Mark A Higgins

John L Beales, Jr

Matthew Edward Roach

A fluid conduit joint includes a tube seal having a first bubble portion and a second bubble portion; a first tube adapter (); a second, tube adapter (); and a cover (). The tube seal further includes a first hinge () and a second hinge (). The first hinge () connects the first tube adapter () to the cover (), the first hinge () generally corresponding to the first bubble portion; the second hinge () connects the second tube adapter () to the cover (), the second hinge () generally corresponding to the second bubble portion; and the first hinge () and the second hinge () are axially spaced from each other.

Double hinge flex joint

An increased resilience seal utilizing a sealed gas filled inner chamber in a bellows spring that functions as both a mechanical spring and a gas spring to provide a more constant level of separation force between two face plates to provide a seal between two mechanical components such as those found in an aircraft jet engine. The bellows spring is made of a plurality of walls that are joined together in a pressurized chamber that is filled with a gas, such as an inert gas. In alternative embodiments, the bellows spring is made of walls that are shaped and oriented to optimize the operating characteristics of the bellows spring when the pressure is increased in a sealed inner chamber in response to elevated temperature. In one embodiment, the walls forming a portion of the chamber overlap to optimize the geometry of the bellows spring.

Resilient seal having a pressurized bellows spring

A seal is provided that includes a resilient, arc-shaped body having a pair of sealing portions movable between a pre-compressed state and a compressed state. A removable, arc-shaped pre-compression member slidingly engages the seal body along at least a portion of its length to hold the sealing portions in the pre-compressed state.

Pre-compressed seal including removable pre-compression member

A pressure-energized, annular metallic seal is provided that includes a central annular portion and a pair of annular leg portions extending from the central portion. Each leg portion includes a convex sealing surface lying in sealing plane. One of the leg portions preferably has an annular flange offset from its sealing plane in an axial direction towards the sealing plane of the other leg portion. One of the leg portions preferably has at least one radially extending tab projecting further than adjacent parts of the seal. The seal is preferably manufactured by first cutting a first annular edge in a metallic sheet material, then bending the sheet material substantially into the shape of the seal, and then cutting a second annular edge to complete the shape of the seal. The second annular edge preferably defines the annular flange and/or the at least one tab.

Pressure energized metallic seal

A sealing assembly is disclosed for creating a seal between first and second mating members or components. The sealing assembly basically includes a seal retainer with one or more annular seals coupled thereto. The seal retainer including a substantially flat body portion lying in a plane and with at least one resilient retaining element integrally formed with said body portion as a one-piece, unitary member for engaging the seal(s) to retain the seal(s) thereto. The seal retainer has an indicator formed on its body portion to indicate if the seal retainer has been used. In the preferred embodiment the indicator is a raised protrusion which normally extends outwardly from the plane of body portion of the seal retainer. Once the seal retainer is used, the raised protrusion of the indicator is deformed inwardly into the plane of the body portion of the seal retainer.

Seal retainer having an indicator

A clamping device is disclosed for coupling peripheral flanges of a pair of tubular members together. The clamping device has a retaining member for coupling the peripheral flanges of the tubular member together, with first and second coupling ends being releasably coupled together by a latch assembly from an open position to a closed position. The latch assembly has a connecting member with a pivoting end and an anchoring end. The pivoting end of the connecting member is pivotally coupled to the first coupling end about a pivot axis between an unengaged position where the anchoring end is spaced from the second coupling end and an engaged position where the anchoring end is removably coupled to the second coupling end. The latch assembly further has a retention member coupled to the pivoting end of the connecting member for retaining the connecting member to the first coupling end. The retention member is deformable from an original shape to a final shape during installation of the connecting member being initially pivoted about the pivot axis from the unengaged position to the engaged position.

Pipe clamping device

A fluid-tight modular joint is disclosed having various replaceable parts for refurbishing the joint after certain parts wear out. Specifically, the modular joint has a pair of sealing assemblies interconnected by a tubular sealing member which permits angular misalignment, axial movement and rotational movement between conduits. Each of the sealing assemblies includes a tubular housing with a replaceable sealing sleeve which is positively retained therein by a split retaining ring. Typically, the housings are welded to conduits, and thus, can only be removed by cutting them from their respective conduits. However, the housings are provided with access openings for inserting a camming tool therein to remove the sealing sleeves without cutting the housings away from their respective conduits. Therefore, in refurbishing the modular joint, the housings are reusable, while the sealing sleeves and tubular sealing members are replaceable. In one embodiment, the support member is provided with a sealing element, while in other embodiments a sealing element is provided on the housing.

Modular joint, with a replaceable sealing sleeve

A sealing assembly is disclosed for creating a seal between first and second mating members or components. The sealing assembly basically includes a seal retainer with one or more annular seals coupled thereto. The seal retainer including a substantially flat body portion lying in a plane and with at least one resilient retaining element integrally formed with the body portion as a one-piece, unitary member for engaging the seal or seals to retain the seal or seals thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the seal retainer is folded to form three layers. In particular, the body portion of the seal retainer has a main supporting layer with four tabs foldably coupled thereto.

Cavity depth increasing retainer

A sealing assembly is disclosed for creating a seal between first and second mating members or components. The sealing assembly basically includes a seal retainer with one or more annular seals coupled thereto. The seal retainer includes a body portion constructed of three layers. The inner layer is designed to retain the seal or seals thereto, while the outer layers or plates are designed to limit the amount of seal compression. The inner layer has at least one resilient retaining element integrally formed therewith as a one-piece, unitary member for engaging and retaining the seal or seals to retain the seal or seals thereto.

Seal compression limiting retainer

A sealing ring for sealing axially facing annular surfaces having an annular bight portion and annular first and second leg portions. The annular bight portion having a first end and a second end, with an arcuate concave surface and an arcuate convex surface. The annular first leg portion having a first curved section extending from the first end of the bight portion and a second curved section extending from the first curved section to a first free end, the first and second curved sections each having an arcuate concave surface and an arcuate convex surface. The convex surface of the second curved section forms a first annular sealing surface. An annular second leg portion having a third curved section extending from the second end of the bight portion and a fourth curved section extending from the end of the third curved section to a second free end. The third and fourth curved sections each having an arcuate concave surface and an arcuate convex surface. The convex surface of the fourth curved section forms a second annular sealing surface. The convex surface of the bight portion, the concave surfaces of the first and third curved sections, and the convex surfaces of the second and fourth curved sections form a contiguous outer surface of the sealing ring.

Pressure energized metalic sealing ring

A sealing assembly is disclosed for creating a seal between first and second mating members or components. The sealing assembly basically includes a seal retainer plate with one or more annular seals coupled thereto. The seal retainer plate includes a substantially flat rigid body portion with at least one resilient retaining element integrally formed therewith as a one-piece, unitary member for engaging and retaining the seal or seals thereto. Preferably, the seal retainer plate is constructed of a non-metallic material. The body portion of the retainer plate has a thickness relative to the axial dimension of the seal or seals for limiting axial compression of the seal or seals.

Seal retainer plate

A pressure-energized sealing ring having a bight portion, a first leg portion and a second leg portion for providing a fluid-tight seal between a pair of components. The first and second leg portions include a curved section having first and second sealing surfaces. The sealing surfaces are spaced from the free ends of the leg portion. The free ends of the leg portions are positioned between the bight portion and the sealing surfaces so that the ends of the seal are located in the area of low pressure. Accordingly, when sealing ring is a multi-ply seal, the free ends of the seal are positioned in the low pressure area so that the high pressure does not separate the seal. The curved sections of the leg portions and the curve of the bight portion securely couple the plies together without welding. Preferably, the plies are connected together and in intimate contact at their interfaces therebetween. In some embodiments, the leg portions include planar or crowned sections so that the sealing surfaces are faced farther from the bight portions to lower the contact force and stress level in the bight portion. In other embodiments, the bight portion has at least one convolution. Still in other embodiments, the sealing ring is arranged for an externally pressurized-type application.

Pressure-energized sealing rings

A sealing assembly is disclosed for creating a seal between first and second mating members or components. The sealing assembly basically includes a seal retainer with one or more annular seals coupled thereto. The seal retainer including a substantially flat body portion lying in a plane and with at least one resilient retaining element integrally formed with said body portion as a one-piece, unitary member for engaging the seal(s) to retain the seal(s) thereto.

Seal retainer

A pipe coupling device for coupling the peripheral flanges of a pair of pipes together, including a pair of retainers with gripping grooves therein for receiving portions of the peripheral flanges of the pipes. The gripping grooves of the retainers have a unique inner surface with a pair of slanted gripping surfaces and a pair of non-gripping surfaces that are located within the outer envelope of the peripheral flanges. This provides for lightweight, compact retainers. The retainers are pivotally coupled at one of their ends by a hinge assembly and releasably coupled at their opposite ends by a latch mechanism. The hinge assembly has at least two links pivotally coupled at one of their ends to one of the retainers by a first pivot pin being received in a pivot slot formed in the retainer and pivotally coupled at their other end to the other retainer by a second pivot pin being received in a pivot slot formed in the retainer. The pivot slots are open holes in some embodiments to reduce the weight of the pipe coupling device. The pivot pins are separated from each other such that the links of the hinge assembly straddle the flanges of the pipes. The latch assembly utilizes coupling members with tenons which are received in coupling slots formed in the retainers.

Growing community of inventors

Eldersburg, MD, United States of America

Jeffrey E Swensen