Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLANGED CONNECTOR FOR GROOVED-END PIPE COMPONENTS f
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RELA'rED APPLICATION
This Application is related to a co-pending
application entitled "Flanged Connector for Plain-End Pipe
Components", filed on ev~n date herewith, and assigned to
the assignee herein.
BACRGROUND OF INVENTION
The invention relates to pipe connectors and
specifically to flanged connectors for grooved-end pipes and
piping components, such as fittings, valves, pumps and the
like.
The novel flange connector of the present invention
provides a connector fox pipes and piping components which
have a circumferentially grooved end. The flange comprises
at least two annular members having a circumferential
internal rib portion. The annular members form
circumferential segments of a cylinder which, when attached
together, form a cylinder surrounding the pipe end. The rib
engages the groove in the pipe for securing the flange in
place.
In a preferred embodiment the novel flange is equipped
with hinging and bolting means which connect two or more
annular segments of the flange together.
i' The flange has a a planar front surface having a gasket
cavity formed therein. A gasket of pressure responsive or
fl deformable solid or semi-solid material is housed inside the
gasket cavity when the rular se~ents are as-embled about
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the pipe. Likewise the gasket engages the surface of the
pipe for sealing the same with respect to the flange. The
flange cooperates with a flange on another pipe or pip2
component to couple the same together. When assembled
adjacent another flange~, t~e gas~et is compressed within the
cavity to seal one flange relative to another.
The flange segments of the present invention provide a
planar front surface for through bolting an area of full
thickness. It is preferred that no sections of the workinq
surfaces of the flange segments extend beyond the outside
diameter of a specific flange size. The preferred bolt
holes are arranged in a standard pattern, are uniform in
size and utilize standard bolts which are generally accepted
by the piping industry~
A portion of a preassembled hinge mechanism is located
on the end of each annular segment outside of the flange
outer diameter OD. The hinge employed between two annular
segments, once assembled, provides full body thickness at
the connecting end of each segment. Also, because the
hinge is outside of the flange OD, uniform standard size
bolts may be used through each of the bolt holes in the
flange body proper.
Unlike the flange device of the prior art device
described in Blakeley, U.S. Patent No. 3,761,114, the novel
flange of the present invention does not use a sleeve as a
hinge pin which acts as an inside diameter for a bolt
having smaller than a standard bolt diameter. The present
invention does not use an oversize bolt aperture through the
connecting end portion which includes a wedge means to
assist in the assembly of the complete flange assembly on
the grooved pipe as in Thiessen, U.S. Patent No. 3,895,833.
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The present invention also provides a simple means for
hinging the annular segments together or bolting the same
together using standard size and conventional bolting means
as opposed to the complex bolt arrangements disclosed in
-Bridgesj U.S. Patent -~o;--3,652,i~82. Further, the present
invention provides for a tight circumferential seal and
gapless arrangement in a full bodied flange which is not
achieved by BridgesO
The flange of the present invention has a cylindrical
inside surface with a radius of curvature about equal to
that of the pipe about which it is to be assembled. Thus,
when the flange is assembled it has a cylindrical through
opening with an ID corresponding to the OD of the pipe. The
flange also has a rib member protruding radially into the ID
of the central opening of the flange. The rib is sized so
as to fit within the groove OD to thereby lock the flange
axially with respect to the end of the pipe. The rib also
incorporates key members which, depending on their size,
provide relative adjustment of the flange with respect to
the end of the pipe. The keys also provide biting action in
order to lock the flange rotationally with respect to the
pipe.
In assembling the novel flange of the present
invention, the gasket is positioned on the end of the pipe `i
just ahead of the groove. The hinged flange is then fitted
over the gasket and therearound with the rib fit into the-
groove. The free ends of the annular segments are bolted
together using a loosely fitting swingable bolt means in an
oversize hole and slot arrangement to thereby complete the
flange. Radial faces of the annular memibers butt together.
When the bolt means is tightened, the gap between the
annular members is closed. The bolt means of the flange is
designed to eliminate the need for special tools to bring
the ends of the flange together.
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i¦ When the flange assembly is properly installed with
the various parts seated together, standard size flange
bolts may be installed through each bolt hole for mating the
flange with another adjacent flange for providing a leak
tight joint.
The degree of rigidity of a Joint is determined by the
size and configuration of the key members located adjacent
the rib. The design of the present invention, of course,
may be used with various size pipes known in the art.
Some of the advantages of the present invention are
noted hereinafter. For example, the flange is simple to
install and requires a minimum of effort. In a preferred
arrangement, the flange provides a hinge and swingable bolt
locking mechanism which eliminates the need for use of
additional tools in the assembly. Full thickness is
provided at the connecting ends of each flange segment to
I maintaln uniform strength through the whole body thereof.
j The use of substandard, undersize or oversize bolts is also
eliminated by use of the uniform bolt hole arrangement.
Thus, there is less chance of error in assembly when all of
the components are the same size. The flange of the present
invention provides a swingable action bolting means on the
¦ connecting ends of the flange members which allows the
connection of the ends without the removal of the bolting
j means~ Leak tightness is enhanced because the gap between
¦11 the connecting ends of the flange segments is effectively
¦¦ ~ closed by the bolting means provided. The resilient sasket
provides necessary integrity between the pip s, the flange
and an a(jacent flange.
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A. D. Nalbandlan - 1 j
The flange connector of the present invention thus
provides a joint between interconnected pipes and pipe
components which is rigid, in that, the invention limits the
relative motlon of the pipe or piping components in the
angular, rotational and axlal directions. The present
invention further provi~es an improved circumferential seal
arrangement for providing a relatively leak tight
connection.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIO~
There has been provided a flange type connector
for-grooved-end pipe or piping components. The flange
includes at least two arcuate annular flange segments, each
having front and rear radial faces and an inner peripheral
cylindrical surface formed with a radially inwardly
extending rib adjacent the rear radial face. The rib is
adapted to fit into a correspondingly sized circumferential
groove adjacent the end of a pipe. The groove is located so
that when assembled on the pipe, the front radial face of
the flange is flush with the end of a pipe. The front
radial face has a circumferential recess extending radially
outwardly of the pipe, and a circumferential seal of
resilient material is adapted to be located about the pipe
and accommodated in the recess. A plurality of uniformly
sized standard through holes are provided in the flange
segments at uniformly spaced circumferential and radial
positions. The flange holes are adapted to receive
conventional standard flange bolts or fasteners for securing
one flange to a corresponding mating flange on a pipe
component ko wh~ch it is to be secured. Each flange segment
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has a radially extending hinge ear having a through hole
therein with an axis parallel to the flange segment. E~ch
ear is adapted to oppose and compliment the other with the
hinge holes in alignment. An axial pin hin~edly connects
the hinge ears. The op~osite end of each flange segment is
formed with a radially extending clamping ear having
openings therein adapted to receive a pivoting clamp bolt
for clamping the hinged annular segments together
circumferentially about the pipe component. The hinged pin
and clamp bolt are located radially outwardly of the outer
periphery of tbe radial faces of the flange.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the hinged
flange of the present invention, along with a grooved-end
piping component.
~ igu~e 2 is a fragmented front elevation of the hinged
flange connector shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3 of
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a detail of a tooth or key for
circumferentially locking the flange in the groove.
Figure 5 is a detail of a seal compressed by an ,
opposed flange.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
~ Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective of a flange
connector 10 employing the teachings of the present
invention. The flange is adapted to engage a conventional
pipe 6 having a groove 8 formed near i~s end 9. It should
be understood that the the present invention utilized with a
conventional pipe 6 is merely exemplary of one application
of the invention. Other applications include the use of the
flange connector of the present invention with other known
piping components.
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In the preferred embodiment, the flange 10 includes
! at least two semi-circular annular flange segments 12 and 14
formed with respective front and rear radial surfaces 15 and
17 and a joining cylindrical inner surface 16 having an
inside radius of curva~ur~ r me~sured from center C. An
integral inwardly radially projecting rib 18 is formed on .
surface 16. The rib 18 is positioned at a distance 1 from
the front 15 of the flange 10 and extends axially of the
cylindrical surface 16 from near a vertical center line CL
of the flange 10 to near the rear surface 17 to which it is
. joined by tapered surface 24. When ioined together as .
hereinafter described, the respective annular segments 12
and 14 circumferentially engage the pipe 6 in mating
relationship by means of the rib 18. The groove 8 is
positioned so that when engaged by the rib 18, the front
- Ij surface 15 of the flange 10 is flush with the end 9 of the
I pipe 8.
~ The generally planar front surface 15, sometimes
. referred to as working surface 15~ has a recess 20 formed
therein for receiving a seal 28. The working surface
. extends between a margin 20A of recess 20 to a perpherial
margin 15A of each annular segment 12 and 14. The recess 20
includes frustro-conical surface 20C extending from the
front surface 15 inwardly of the flange 10, and radial `
;. surface 20R extending from the cylindrical surface 16
radially towards the conical surface 20C. The seal is
I sleeved over the end 9 of the pipe 8 and into ~ngagement
¦I with the respective surfaces 20C and 20 of the recess 20.
The annular segments 12 and 14 have a plurality of
circumferentially positioned through holes 26. The holes
26 are located at a uniform circumferential spacing and are
radially positioned at-a distance R from the center C of the
flange 10. The holes 26 have a uniform diameter d, all
sized for receiving standard flange bolts 27. (See Figure
5).
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¦I Web cutouts 30 in the front face 15 of the annular
segments 12 and 14 are provided for reducing the weight and
¦ volume of the flange material.
¦ Trapezodial locking keys 30 project outwardly from the
¦ cylindrical surface 16 of the flange segments 12 and 14.
The keys 32 are adjoined to the rib 18 as shown in Figures 2
and 4.
The preferred flange 10 of the present invention is
¦ formed with a hinge 34 on one side and a clamp 40 at an
¦ opposite diametric side. Each annular segment 12 and 14 has
¦ radial surfaces 22R adapted to butt against the
corresponding radial surfaces of the other when assembled
¦ into the flange of the present invention. In a preferred
embodiment, using two annular segments, the radial faces 22R
¦ lie in a diametric plane of the flange 10.
¦I Each annular segment 12 and 14 includes a
¦ respective corresponding hinge ear 36 and 38, each of which
is adapted to compliment the other in opposed relationship.
Each of the respective hinge ears 36 and 38 has a
corresponding through hole 36' and 38',in axial alignment
when the flange sections 12 and 14 are located in butting
relationship along the radial surfaces 22R as shown. A
hinge pin 39 is axially sleeved in the holes 36' and 38' for
forming a moveable hinge connection between the two annular
Il segme~ts 12 ~nd 14. -
I Each flange sesment 12 and 14 includes a respective
clamp ear 42 and 44 located at its other free end. The
clamp ear 42 has a radially open elongated hole 46 formed
therein, and the clamp ear 44 has a radially open slot 48
formed herein. Bolt means 50, shown axially located iD ehe
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hole 46 and slot 48, urges opposed working surfaces 56 and
58 of the clamp 40 towards one another for securing the
flange in circumferential relationship about the pipe 6.
The hole 46 is oversized in the radial direction and allows
the bolt means 50 to s~in~ there~n ~or ease of flange
assembly as shown in -~he phantom illustration in Figure 2.
As the flange 10 is closed by means of the clamp 40,
the conical surface 20C of the recess 20 engages a
corresponding surface of the seal 28 for compressin~ the
same in a radial direction.
Figure 5 shows a detail of the seal 28 when a flange
100 of any type is located in abutment with the flange 10 of
the present invention. It can be seen that the seal 28 is
deformed and urged inwardly of the recess 20 such that the
butting surfaces of the flanges are sealedO The seal, shown
in the relaxed condition in Figure 3 is formed with a recess
68. In Figure 5 the seal 28 is compressed ln the axial
direction causing the recess 68 to become constricted for
accommodating compression of the seal 28 when placed in
abutting relationship with the other flange 100.
An advantage of the present invention is that the
front face 15 of the flange 10 has uniformly spaced and
sized holes 26 for drawiPg the face 15 uniformly against any
abutting flange. Further, the uniform sizing of the holes
provides uniform force distribution and avoids confusion in
assembly.
Location of the hinge 34 and clamp 40 beyond the
peripheral edge 15A of the annular segments 12 and 14, as
shown, allows for full and uniform thickness of the annular
sections in the working region of the front face 15. It
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should be understood that the hinge 34 is formed of the
respective ears 36 and 38 which are complimentary
half-thicknesses of the respective annular segments 12 and
14. Thus, the hinge 34 has no detrimental effect on the
ovPrall strength of the flange 10 because it is outside of
the working region.
The keys 32 are sized so as to regulate the degree of
rigidity of the flanye with respect to the pipe 6 and any
adjacent structure. As shown in Figure 4, the axial
thickness t of the keys 32 fine tunes or trims the axial
position o the f1ange 10 with respect to the end 9 of the
pipe 6. As the flange bolts are tightened, the keys 32 bite
into the groove for locking the flange 10 circumferentially
as well as axially with respect to the pipe 6. It should be
~oted that tapered surface 24 assists the seating and biting
action of thP keys 32.
In assembling the flange 10 of the present invention,
the seal 28 is positioned on the end 9 of the pipe 6 just
ahead of the groove 8. The hinged flange 10 is then fitted
over and around the seal 28 and into engagement with the
groove 8. The free ends of the annular segments 12 and 14,
equipped with the corresponding portions of the clamp 40
allow easy and firm installation of the flange 10
circumferentially about the pipe 5. The bolt means 50
located in the hole 46 is loosely secured by the head 54 and
may swing in the hole 46 provided in the clamp ear 42 (see
phantom illustration). As the annular segments 12 and 14
are manually closed about the pipe, with the rib 18 located
in the groove 8, the bolt 50 may be slipped into the slot 48
of the clamp ear 44. The head 54 of the bolt 50 engages the
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working surface 56 of the clamp ear 42 in opposition to the
nut 52 engaging the lower working surface 58 of the other
clamp ear 44 as shown. It should be readily appreciated
that the preferred bolting arrangement eliminates the need
for various specialized tools to bring the ends of the
flange together.
When the flange 10 is assembled with the seal 28
properly seated within the recess 20, standarfl size flange
bolts 27 may be installed through each of the bolt holes 26
for mating the flange 10 with another flange of the same
design or a standard flange of compatible design. The
flange bolts may be tightened to a specified torque for
providing a leak tight joint. As noted above, the key
members 32, located projecting inwardly of the cylindrical
surface 16 and axially of the rib 18 engage a forward edge
of the groove to lock the flange in place when the flange
~ bolts are tightened. The degree of joint rigidity may be
¦- gsverned by variation in the thickness and shape of the keys
28. Of course, depending upon the design dimensions of the
flange 10 of the present invention, it may be used on
various sizes and types of pipes, pipe fittings and pipe ¦
components with the proper end prepaxation.
From the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that
there are significant advantages of the flange arrangement
of the present invention. For example, the flange may be
i effectively assembled and disassembled with reduced effort.
The flange provides a hinged and bolt locking mechanism
Il which eliminates the need and use of additional tools in the
ji assembly of the device. Full body thickness is provided at
the working surfaces of the flange for connecting each of
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the flange segments to maintain uniform strength throughout
the whole body thereof. Because the flange bolt holes are
uniform, there is less chznce of error in assembly.
Further, use of substa~dard, undersize and oversize bolts is
eliminated, thereby fa~ilitating-easy and reliable piping
installation. The flange of the present invention provides
a bolting mechanism on the bolting ends of the flange
segments with an easily swingable action which allows the
connection of the ends of the clamp without removal of the
bolt. Leak tightness capability is increased because the
gap between the connecting ends of the annular flange along
the diametric surfaces is effectively closed by the bolt
mechanism provided.
There has therefore been provided a butt faced gapless
full thickness flange connector having radially extending
outboard hinges and clamping means and uniform size bolt
holes throughout, which may be readily assembled without
special tools or special sized fasteners. The flange of the
present invention is readily compatible with existing pipe
coupling and flanging systems, as long as such other flanges
have corresponding flange hole patterns.
It should be understood that the foregoing description
relates to a preferred, çxemplary embodiment of the
inventi~n. It is intended in the appended claims to covèr
all changes and modifications therein as fall within the
true spirit and scope of the invention.
