The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 03, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 27, 1996
James V Mascola, Emporia, KS (US);
Vektek, Inc., Emporia, KS (US);
Abstract
A self-cleaning rotary union apparatus provides a fluid coupling between a pair of relatively rotatable fixture elements, and includes a base and a body that are rotatable relative to one another. The base includes a mounting surface, an interior surface opposing the mounting surface, a fluid passageway extending into the base, and a plurality of bores extending through the base between the mounting surface and the interior surface. The bores are countersunk adjacent the interior surface to permit flange mounting of the base on one of the fixture elements. An elongated rotor protrudes from the interior surface of the base and includes a cylindrical side surface provided with an annular channel and a fluid passageway that communicates with the annular channel and with the passageway in the base. The body also presents mounting and interior surfaces, and includes a fluid passageway extending into the body and communicating with the annular channel of the rotor, and an outer side surface extending between the mounting and interior surfaces. The outer side surface is shaped to expose the bores at the interior surface of the base during relative rotation between the body and base in order to permit flange mounting of the base. By providing such a construction, the passageways in the base and body are maintained in fluid communication with one another by the passageway and channel of the rotor during relative rotation of the base and body.