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:
Jun. 15, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 11, 1997
James Edward Charnley, Nevada City, CA (US);
Gerald Alan Deaver, San Jose, CA (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
Pipe connector assembly for replacing a core spray line in a nuclear reactor without field cutting, measuring, or welding such line. In one embodiment, the pipe connector assembly includes a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and at least one locking element. The first coupling member includes a flange, a pipe engaging portion, a spherical convex seat portion, a bore and a stud bore. The second coupling member includes a flange having a spherical concave seat portion for receiving the convex seat portion of the first coupling member, a pipe engaging portion, a bore, and a stud bore. The locking element includes at least one spherical washer and a crimp mechanism and couples the first coupling member and the second coupling member by extending through the flange stud bores. The spherical seat portions allow the coupling members to be rotationally misaligned while remaining to be substantially coaxially aligned thus accommodating additional core spray line length while maintaining a leak tight connection.