Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR
CONNECTING TO OBJECTS OF DIFFERENT SIZES
FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to connecting to objects of different sizes.
RELATED ART
Spill containers may be positioned to contain spills, for example at
connection and
disconnection points in fluid transfer systems. For example, one load line
spill container
receives fluid from a fluid container at a rear side of the spill container,
and contains a
connection and disconnection point for a fluid transfer destination such as a
tank truck.
However, such spill containers may not accommodate different sizes of pipes or
pipe nipples
that receive fluid from the fluid container. Other load line spill containers
may accommodate
different sizes of pipe nipples but require welding a particular pipe nipple
to the spill
containers, which may effectively limit such spill containers to particular
sizes of pipes and
pipe nipples, and which may effectively require manufacturing and assembling
different spill
containers for different sizes of pipes and pipe nipples.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus connectable to
objects
of different sizes, the apparatus comprising: a first connection body
comprising a first plurality
of spaced-apart connectors and a second plurality of spaced-apart connectors
spaced apart
from the first plurality of spaced-apart connectors; and a second connection
body comprising a
first connector and a second connector spaced apart from the first connector
of the second
connection body, the first connector connectable to and disconnectable from a
first one of the
first plurality of spaced-apart connectors, and the second connector
connectable to and
disconnectable from a first one of the second plurality of spaced-apart
connectors, wherein
when the first connector is connected to the first one of the first plurality
of spaced-apart
connectors and when the second connector is connected to the first one of the
second plurality
of spaced-apart connectors, the first connection body and the second
connection body define a
region having a first size between the first connection body and the second
connection body.
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In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a first cover body
defining an
opening sized to receive an object sized to be clamped in the region having
the first size.
In some embodiments, the first size of the region is sized to clamp a
generally
cylindrical object having a first diameter.
In some embodiments, the first plurality of spaced-apart connectors are spaced
apart
from each other in a first plane.
In some embodiments, the second plurality of spaced-apart connectors are
spaced apart
from each other in a second plane extending non-parallel to the first plane.
In some embodiments, the second plane extends generally perpendicular to the
first
plane.
In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a third connection body
comprising a third connector and a fourth connector spaced apart from the
third connector of
the third connection body, the third connector connectable to and
disconnectable from a
second one of the first plurality of spaced-apart connectors different from
the first one of the
first plurality of spaced-apart connectors, and the fourth connector
connectable to and
disconnectable from a second one of the second plurality of spaced-apart
connectors different
from the first one of the second plurality of spaced-apart connectors, wherein
when the third
connector is connected to the second one of the first plurality of spaced-
apart connectors and
when the fourth connector is connected to the second one of the second
plurality of spaced-
apart connectors, the first connection body and the third connection body are
positioned to
define a region having a second size, different from the first size, between
the first connection
body and the third connection body.
In some embodiments, the first and second connectors are spaced apart from
each other
by a first separation distance and the third and fourth connectors are spaced
apart from each
other by a second separation distance different from the first separation
distance.
In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a second cover body
defining
an opening sized to receive an object sized to be clamped in the region having
the second size.
In some embodiments, the second size of the region is sized to clamp a
generally
cylindrical object having a second diameter.
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In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a fourth connection body
comprising a fifth connector and a sixth connector spaced apart from the fifth
connector of the
fourth connection body, the fifth connector connectable to and disconnectable
from a third one
of the first plurality of spaced-apart connectors different from the first and
second ones of the
first plurality of spaced-apart connectors, and the sixth connector
connectable to and
disconnectable from a third one of the second plurality of spaced-apart
connectors different
from the first and second ones of the second plurality of spaced-apart
connectors, wherein
when the fifth connector is connected to the third one of the first plurality
of spaced-apart
connectors and when the sixth connector is connected to the third one of the
second plurality
0 of spaced-apart connectors, the first connection body and the fourth
connection body are
positioned to define a region having a third size, different from the first
and second sizes,
between the first connection body and the fourth connection body.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a spill container
comprising a
container body and the apparatus connected to the container body.
In some embodiments, the spill container further comprises a pipe or a pipe
nipple
connected to the apparatus.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a method of connecting a
first
connection body and a second connection body to an object, the method
comprising:
connecting a first connector of the second connection body to one of a first
plurality of spaced-
.10 apart connectors on the first connection body; and connecting a second
connector of the
second connection body, spaced apart from the first connector of the second
connection body,
to one of a second plurality of spaced-apart connectors on the first
connection body and
spaced apart from the first plurality of spaced-apart connectors, wherein
connecting the second
connector of the second connection body to the one of the second plurality of
spaced-apart
25 connectors on the first connection body comprises defining a region
between the first
connection body and the second connection body to receive the object.
In some embodiments, defining the region between the first connection body and
the
second connection body comprises clamping the object between the first
connection body and
the second connection body.
30 In some embodiments, the object comprises a pipe or a pipe nipple.
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In some embodiments, defining the region between the first connection body and
the
second connection body comprises connecting the object to a spill container.
In some embodiments, the first plurality of spaced-apart connectors are spaced
apart
from each other in a first plane.
In some embodiments, the second plurality of spaced-apart connectors are
spaced apart
from each other in a second plane extending non-parallel to the first plane.
In some embodiments, the second plane extends generally perpendicular to the
first
plane.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a container apparatus
comprising:
a container body defining at least a container cavity and a through-opening of
the container
cavity extending through the container body; a first connection device
positionable proximate
the through-opening: and a second connection device connectable to the first
connection
device; wherein when the first connection device is positioned proximate the
through-opening
and when the second connection device is connected to the first connection
device, the first
connection device and the second connection device define a first region
having a first size
between the first connection device and the second connection device and
positioned to
receive an object that passes through the through-opening and into the
container cavity.
According to another embodiment, there is disclosed a method of connecting an
object
to a container body defining at least a container cavity and a through-opening
of the container
cavity extending through the container body, the method comprising: connecting
a first
connection device to a second connection device, wherein the first connection
device is
positioned proximate the through-opening, and wherein connecting the first
connection device
to the second connection device comprises defining a region between the first
connection
device and the second connection device, the region receiving the object when
the object
passes through the through-opening and into the container cavity.
Other aspects and features will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in
the art
upon review of the following description of illustrative embodiments in
conjunction with the
accompanying figures.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid transfer system according to one
embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of some components of the fluid
transfer
system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of a load line spill container of the fluid transfer
system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top view of a first connection body that may be connected to the
spill
container of the fluid transfer system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of spill container of the fluid transfer
system of
FIG. 1 with the first connection body of FIG. 4 connected to the rear side of
the spill
container.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second connection body that may he connected
to the
first connection body of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the spill container of the fluid transfer
system of
FIG. 1 with the first connection body of FIG. 4 connected to the rear side of
the spill container
and with the second connection body of FIG. 6 connected to the first
connection body.
FIG. 8 is another rear perspective view of the spill container of the fluid
transfer
system of FIG. 1 with the first connection body of FIG. 4 connected to the
rear side of the spill
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container and with the second connection body of FIG. 6 connected to the first
connection
body.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third connection body that may be connected
to the
first connection body of FIG. 4.
FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the spill container of the fluid
transfer system of
FIG. 1 with the first connection body of FIG. 4 connected to the rear side of
the spill container
and with the third connection body of FIG. 9 connected to the first connection
body.
FIG. 11 is another rear perspective view of the spill container of the fluid
transfer
system of FIG. 1 with the first connection body of FIG. 4 connected to the
rear side of the spill
container and with the third connection body of FIG. 9 connected to the first
connection body.
FIG. 12 is a front view of a first cover body that may be positioned against
the rear
side of the spill container of the fluid transfer system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth connection body that may be
connected to the
first connection body of FIG. 4.
FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the spill container of the fluid
transfer system of
FIG. 1 with the first connection body of FIG. 4 connected to the rear side of
the spill container
and with the fourth connection body of FIG. 13 connected to the first
connection body.
FIG. 15 is another rear persprctive view of the spill container of the fluid
transfer
system of FIG. 1 with the first connection body of FIG. 4 connected to the
rear side of the spill
container and with the fourth connection body of FIG. 13 connected to the
first connection
body.
FIG. 16 is a front view of a second cover body that may be positioned against
the rear
side of the spill container of the fluid transfer system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fluid transfer system according to one
embodiment is
shown generally at 100 and includes a fluid container 102, a fluid outlet
conduit 104 for
transporting fluid (not shown) out of the fluid container 102, a load line
spill container 106
positioned to receive fluid from the fluid outlet conduit 104, and a fluid
transfer destination,
which in the embodiment shown is tank truck 108 including a fluid conduit 110
for receiving
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fluid from the fluid container 102 thiough the fluid outlet conduit 104 and
the spill
container 106 as described below. In alternative embodiments, the fluid
transfer destination
may be a train car, a boat, or another mobile fluid container, for example.
The spill
container 106 includes a bottom body 114, a side body 116, and a top body 118.
The bottom
body 114, the side body 116, and the top body 118 collectively define a
container body and
may be manufactured from sheet metal, and may include one or more of mild
steel, stainless
steel, aluminum, or other metallic materials, or non-metallic materials such
as plastic or
fiberglass, for example.
FIG. 2 illustrates the bottom body 114, the side body 116, and the top body
118
positioned for assembly into the spill container 106. In the embodiment shown,
a rear
edge 120 of the top body 118 may be coupled by a hinge (not shown) to an upper
rear
edge 122 of the side body 116. Further, alignment projections 124, 126, 128,
130, 132,
and 134 on bottom edges of the side body 116 may be positioned against
alignment
projections 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, and 146 respectively on side edges of the
bottom
body 114 to align the bottom body 114 relative to the side body 116 before
connecting the
bottom body 114 to the side body 116 by welding, for example. In general, such
alignment
tabs may increase speed, efficiency, precision, and reliability during
assembly of the spill
container 106 in some embodiments, such as embodiments involving automated
assembly for
example. Further, a handle 148 may Ile connected to the side body 116 by
welding or bolting,
10 for example.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the spill container 106 may be assembled
with a valve
assembly shown generally at 150 inside the spill container 106 and including a
valve
housing 152 enclosing a valve (such as a gate valve or ball valve, for
example, not shown) that
may be opened or closed using a valve handle 154 to allow for control over the
flow of fluid
from the fluid container 102 to the tank truck 108 or other fluid transfer
destination. On a front
side of the valve assembly 150, a fluid outlet conduit 156 terminates at a
pipe coupling 158
that may be coupled to a pipe coupling 159 on the fluid conduit 110. The fluid
outlet
conduit 156 is also coupled to an evacuation valve 160 that may be opened to
evacuate the
fluid outlet conduit 156 through an evacuation pipe 162. The fluid outlet
conduit 156 is also
coupled to an inlet valve 164 that may be opened to receive fluid, from a
fluid containment
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region capable of holding liquid at the bottom of the spill container 106,
through a fluid inlet
conduit 165 using suction.
On a rear side, the valve housing 152 defines internal threads 168 that may be
coupled
to external threads on a first end of a generally cylindrical pipe nipple 175.
External threads on
a second end (opposite the first end) of the pipe nipple 175 may be coupled to
the fluid outlet
conduit 104 to receive fluid from the fluid container 102 through the fluid
outlet conduit 104,
through the pipe nipple 175, through the valve assembly 150, through the fluid
outlet
conduit 156, and through the fluid conduit 110 into the tank truck 108 or
other fluid transfer
destination. The side body 116 defines a through-opening shown generally at
170 and sized to
receive the pipe nipple 175 from the rear side of the spill container 106 to
allow the pipe
nipple 175 to be connected to the internal threads 168 of the valve housing
152 inside the spill
container 106. Therefore, when the pipe nipple 175 is received in the through-
opening 170,
and when the pipe nipple 175 connects the fluid outlet conduit 104 to the
valve housing 152,
the pipe nipple 175 forms part of the overall fluid conduit from the fluid
container 102 to the
tank truck 108 or other fluid transfer destination. However, in alternative
embodiments, the
pipe nipple 175 may be omitted, and instead the fluid outlet conduit 104 may
be received
through the through-opening 170 and connected directly or otherwise to the
valve
housing 152, for example.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an example only, and spill containers
of
alternative embodiments may includ, other components such as other valve
assemblies or
other connection-point components, for example. In general, the spill
container 106 may in
some embodiments provide some degree of security for the valve assembly 150
and other
components inside the spill container 106. Further, in some embodiments, the
spill
container 106 may contain connection and disconnection points for the fluid
transfer
system 100, and the fluid containment region may collect and contain drips or
spills of liquid
that may occur inside the spill container 106 to prevent harmful or wasteful
leaks, spills, or
other material loss.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the through-opening 170 is surrounded by a curved
inner
surface 171 including a lower curved surface portion 172 having a curvature of
a circle 174
having a diameter of about 4.5 inches or about 11.5 cm. The curved inner
surface 171 also
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includes an upper curved surface portion 176 having a curvature of a circle
178 having a
diameter of about 2.375 inches or about 6 cm. Therefore, pipes, pipe nipples,
or other conduits
or objects having diameters up to the diameter of the circle 174 may be
received through the
through-opening 170 and may contact a portion of the curved inner surface 171.
For example,
the pipe nipple 175 has a diameter of the circle 174 and may be received
through the through-
opening 170 and contact the lower curved surface portion 172. Further, a pipe,
pipe nipple, or
other conduit or object having a diameter of the circle 178 may be received
through the
through-opening 170 and contact the upper curved surface portion 176, and
pipes, pipe
nipples, or other conduits or objects having different diameters may also be
received through
. 0 the through-opening 170 and contact a portion of the curved inner
surface 171. For example,
in the embodiment shown, a circle 180 has a diameter of about 3.5 inches or
about 8.9 cm, and
a pipe, pipe nipple, or other conduit or object having a diameter of the
circle 180 may also be
received through the through-opening 170 and contact a portion of the curved
inner
surface 171. In general, in various different embodiments, the lower curved
surface
portion 172 may have a curvature similar to a curvature of an outer surface of
a largest object
to be received through to the through-opening 170, the upper curved surface
portion 176 may
have a curvature similar to a curvature of an outer surface of a smallest
object to be received
through to the through-opening 170. Further, generally straight surface
portions of the curved
inner surface 171 may extend between the lower curved surface portion 172 and
the upper
curved surface portion 176 along tangent lines of the circle 174 and of the
circle 178, and such
generally straight surface portions oi the curved inner surface 171 may extend
relative to each
other at an angle similar to the angle 234 (shown in FIG. 5 and described
below), for example.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a first connection body 182 includes projections
184 and 186
sized to be received in respective complementary openings shown generally at
188 and 190 in
the rear side of the side body 116 to facilitate aligning the first connection
body 182 to the side
body 116 of the spill container 106, and the first connection body 182 may be
connected to the
rear side of the side body 116 of the spill container 106 by welding, bolting,
or affixing with
an adhesive, for example. The first connection body 182 includes a first
generally planar
lateral portion 192 extending laterally away in one direction from a central
portion 194 of the
first connection body 182, and the first connection body 182 also includes a
second generally
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planar lateral portion 196 extending laterally away in another direction
(opposite the first
direction) from the central portion 194, and those directions are non-parallel
so the first
connection body 182 is generally "v-shaped". When the connection body 182 is
connected to
the rear side of the side body 116 as shown, the connection body 182 may
strengthen the rear
side of the side body 116 and may also function as part of a clamp (or more
generally, as part
of an apparatus connectable to objects of different sizes) as described below.
The first lateral portion 192 defines through-openings shown generally at 198
and 200
(which are a common distance 202 from the central portion 194 and collectively
define a
connector), through-openings shown generally at 204 and 206 (which are a
common
0 distance 208 from the central portion 194 and collectively define a
connector), and through-
openings 210 and 212 (which are a common distance 214 from the central portion
194 and
collectively define a connector). Therefore, the first lateral portion 192 of
the first connection
body 182 defines a first plurality of connectors (namely the connector defined
by the through-
openings 198 and 200, the connector defined by the through-openings 204 and
206, and the
connector defined by the through-openings 210 and 212) that are spaced apart
from each other
in a direction along the first lateral portion 192. Although the first lateral
portion 192 in the
embodiment shown includes three connectors, each defined by two through-
openings,
alternative embodiments may include more or fewer connectors, and connectors
in alternative
embodiments may differ from the embodiment shown. For example, connectors in
alternative
embodiments of the first lateral portion 192 may be defined by a different
number of through-
openings, or may include fasteners or other different connection structures.
Likewise, the second lateral oortion 196 defines through-openings shown
generally
at 216 and 218 (which are a common distance 220 from the central portion 194
and
collectively define a connector), through-openings shown generally at 222 and
224 (which are
a common distance 226 from the central portion 194 and collectively define a
connector), and
through-openings shown generally at 228 and 230 (which are a common distance
232 from the
central portion 194 and collectively define a connector). Therefore, the
second lateral
portion 196 of the first connection body 182 defines a second plurality of
connectors (namely
the connector defined by the through-openings 216 and 218, the connector
defined by the
through-openings 222 and 224, and the connector defined by the through-
openings 228
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and 230) that are spaced apart from each other in a direction along the second
lateral
portion 196. Although the second lateral portion 196 in the embodiment shown
includes three
connectors, each defined by two through-openings, alternative embodiments may
include
more or fewer connectors, and connectors in alternative embodiments may differ
from the
embodiment shown. For example, connectors in alternative embodiments of the
second lateral
portion 196 may be defined by a different number of through-openings, or may
include
fasteners or other different connection structures.
As shown in FIG. 5, the aforementioned connectors on the first lateral portion
192 are
in a common plane defined by the first lateral portion 192 and extending down
and laterally
!O away in one direction from the central portion 194, and the
aforementioned connectors on the
second lateral portion 196 are in a different common plane defined by the
second lateral
portion 196 and extending down and laterally away in another direction
(opposite the first
direction) from the central portion 194 such that the common plane of the
connectors on the
first lateral portion 192 is not parallel to the common plane of the
connectors on the second
lateral portion 196. In other words, in the embodiment shown, the common plane
of the
connectors on the first lateral portion 192 extends at an angle 234 from the
common plane of
the connectors on the second lateral portion 196. The angle 234 in the
embodiment shown is
about 90 degrees, so the common plane of the connectors on the first lateral
portion 192
extends generally perpendicular to the common plane of the connectors on the
second lateral
portion 196. In this context, "generally perpendicular" refers to planes that
may not be
perfectly perpendicular, but that may function substantially similar to
perpendicular planes.
More generally, "generally" herein contemplates variations that may or may not
be described
herein and that may function substantially similar to those described herein.
However, in
alternative embodiments, the angle 234 may be larger or smaller than 90
degrees.
Referring to FIG. 6, a second connection body 236 includes a central portion
238, a
first lateral portion 240 on one side of the central portion 238, and a second
lateral portion 241
on the other side of the central portion 238 opposite the first lateral
portion 240. The first
lateral portion 240 includes projections 242 and 244, which are a common
distance 246 from
the central portion 238, and which collectively define a connector that is
connectable to the
connector defined by the through-openings 198 and 200 by positioning the
projections 242
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and 244 through the through-openings 198 and 200 respectively, and that is
disconnectable
from the connector defined by the through-openings 198 and 200 by removing the
projections 242 and 244 from the through-openings 198 and 200 respectively.
Although the
connector on the first lateral portion 240 in the embodiment shown is defined
by the
projections 242 and 244, connectors in alternative embodiments of the first
lateral portion 240
may be defined by a different number of projections, or may include fasteners
or other
different connection structures.
On the second lateral portion 241, the second connection body 236 defines
through-
openings shown generally at 248 and 250, which are a common distance 252 from
the central
portion 238, and which collectively define a connector that is connectable to
the connector
defined by the through-openings 228 and 230, using connecters such as a bolt
253 through the
through-openings 248 and 228 and a bolt 254 through the through-openings 250
and 230 for
example, when the connector defined by the projections 242 and 244 is
connected to the
connector defined by the through-openings 198 and 200, as shown in FIGS. 7 and
8, and that
is disconnectable from the connector defined by the through-openings 228 and
230 by
removing the bolts 253 and 254. Although the connector on the second lateral
portion 241 in
the embodiment shown is defined by the through-openings 248 and 250,
connectors in
alternative embodiments of the second lateral portion 241 may be defined by a
different
number of through-openings, or may include fasteners or other different
connection structures.
The first lateral portion 240 extends non-parallel (and at a 90-degree angle
255 in the
embodiment shown) from the second lateral portion 241, so the second
connection body 236 is
generally "v-shaped".
When the connector defined by the projections 242 and 244 is connected to the
connector defined by the through-openings 198 and 200, and when the connector
defined by
defined by the through-openings 248 and 250 is connected to the connector
defined by the
through-openings 228 and 230, the first connection body 182 and the second
connection
body 236 define a region shown generally at 256 adjacent the through-opening
170 (shown in
FIG. 3). The region 256 is generally square with sides defined by the
distances 202, 232, 246,
and 252, which are about 4.5 inches or about 11.5 cm, and therefore about
equal to the
diameter of the circle 174 (also shown in FIG. 3), except that the distance
232 is slightly larger
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than the distances 202, 246, and 252 because, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the
through-
openings 228, 230, 248, and 250 are spaced apart from the surface of the
second lateral
portion 241 that defines the region 256. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pipe
nipple 175,
which has a diameter of about 4.5 inches or about 11.5 cm, may thus be clamped
or otherwise
connected to the first connection body 182 and the second connection body 236
in the
region 256 between the first connection body 182 and the second connection
body 236, and an
outer surface of the pipe nipple 175 may contact the lower curved surface
portion 172 (also
shown in FIG. 3) as described above.
In some embodiments, a pipe-connected object (such as the valve assembly 150,
for
example) may be too large in at least one dimension to rotate inside the spill
container 106,
and in such embodiments connecting the pipe-connected object to the spill
container 106 by
threading may be impractical or impossible because such threading may require
rotating the
pipe-connected object inside the spill container 106. However, once an object
such as the pipe
nipple 175 is connected to the pipe-connected object, the pipe-connected
object may be
connected to the spill container 106 by connecting or clamping the pipe nipple
175 (or other
object) to connection bodies as described herein without requiring rotation
the pipe-connected
object inside the spill container 106.
Different pipes, pipe nipples, and other conduits and objects may have
diameters that
differ from the diameter of the pipe nipple 175, and such different pipes,
pipe nipples, and
other conduits and objects may also be connected or clamped as described below
for example.
Referring to FIG. 9, a third connection body 260 includes a central portion
262, a first
lateral portion 264 on one side of the central portion 262, and a second
lateral portion 266 on
the other side of the central portion 262 opposite the first lateral portion
264. The first lateral
portion 264 includes projections 268 and 270, which are a common distance 272
from the
central portion 262, and which collectively define a connector that is
connectable to the
connector defined by the through-openings 204 and 206 by positioning the
projections 268
and 270 through the through-openin40 204 and 206 respectively, and that is
disconnectable
from the connector defined by the through-openings 204 and 206 by removing the
projections 268 and 270 from the through-openings 204 and 206 respectively.
Although the
connector on the first lateral portion 264 in the embodiment shown is defined
by the
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projections 268 and 270, connectors in alternative embodiments of the first
lateral portion 264
may be defined by a different number of projections, or may include fasteners
or other
different connection structures.
On the second lateral portion 266, the third connection body 260 defines
through-
openings shown generally at 274 and 276, which are a common distance 278 from
the central
portion 262, and which collectively define a connector that is connectable to
the connector
defined by the through-openings 222 and 224, using connecters such as a bolt
280 through the
through-openings 274 and 222 and a bolt 282 through the through-openings 276
and 224 for
example, when the connector defined by the projections 268 and 270 is
connected to the
connector defined by the through-op ...aings 204 and 206, as shown in FIGS. 10
and 11, and
that is disconnectable from the connector defined by the through-openings 222
and 224 by
removing the bolts 280 and 282. Although the connector on the second lateral
portion 266 in
the embodiment shown is defined by the through-openings 274 and 276,
connectors in
alternative embodiments of the second lateral portion 266 may be defined by a
different
' 5 number of through-openings, or may include fasteners or other different
connection structures.
The first lateral portion 264 extends non-parallel (and at a 90-degree angle
283 in the
embodiment shown) from the second lateral portion 266, so the third connection
body 260 is
generally "v-shaped".
When the connector defined by the projections 268 and 270 is connected to the
20 connector defined by the through-openings 204 and 206, and when the
connector defined by
defined by the through-openings 274 and 276 is connected to the connector
defined by the
through-openings 222 and 224, the first connection body 182 and the third
connection
body 260 define a region shown generally at 284 adjacent the through-opening
170 (shown in
FIG. 3). The region 284 is generally square with sides defined by the
distances 208, 226, 272,
25 and 278, which are about 3.5 inches or about 8.9 cm, and therefore about
equal to the diameter
of the circle 180 (also shown in FIG. 3), except that the distance 226 is
slightly larger than the
distances 208, 272, and 278 because, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the through-
openings 222,
224, 274, and 276 are spaced apart from the surface of the second lateral
portion 266 that
defines the region 284. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a generally cylindrical
pipe nipple 286
30 having a diameter of about 3.5 inches or about 8.9 cm may thus be
clamped or otherwise
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connected to the first connection body 182 and the third connection body 260
in the
region 284 between the first connection body 182 and the third connection body
260, and an
outer surface of the pipe nipple 286 may contact a portion of the curved inner
surface 171
(also shown in FIG. 3) as described above.
Referring to FIG. 12, a first cover body 288 defines a through-opening shown
generally at 290 and also having a diameter of about 3.5 inches or about 8.9
cm to receive the
pipe nipple 286. Because the diameter of the pipe nipple 286 is smaller than
the diameter of
the circle 174 (shown in FIG. 3), the first cover body 288 may be positioned
as shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11 against the rear side of the side body 116 with the through-
opening 290
0 adjacent the through-opening 170 (also shown in FIG. 3) so that the
through-opening 290 and
the through-opening 170 receive the pipe nipple 286 and the first cover body
288 covers at
least a portion of the through-opening 170 that is not occupied by the pipe
nipple 286.
Referring to FIG. 13, a fourth connection body 292 includes a central portion
294, a
= first lateral portion 296 on one side of the central portion 294, and a
second lateral portion 298
:5 on the other side of the central portion 294 opposite the first lateral
portion 296. The first
lateral portion 296 includes projections 300 and 302, which are a common
distance 304 from
the central portion 294, and which collectively define a connector that is
connectable to the
connector defined by the through-openings 210 and 212 by positioning the
projections 300
and 302 through the through-openings 210 and 212 respectively, and that is
disconnectable
20 from the connector defined by the through-openings 210 and 212 by
removing the
projections 300 and 302 from the through-openings 210 and 212 respectively.
Although the
connector on the first lateral portion 296 in the embodiment shown is defined
by the
projections 300 and 302, connectors in alternative embodiments of the first
lateral portion 296
may be defined by a different number of projections, or may include fasteners
or other
25 different connection structures.
On the second lateral portion 298, the fourth connection body 292 defines
through-
openings shown generally at 306 and 308, which are a common distance 310 from
the central
portion 294, and which collectively define a connector that is connectable to
the connector
defined by the through-openings 216 and 218, using connecters such as a bolt
312 through the
30 through-openings 306 and 216 and a bolt 314 through the through-openings
308 and 218 for
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example, when the connector defined by the projections 300 and 302 is
connected to the
connector defined by the through-openings 210 and 212, as shown in FIGS. 14
and 15, and
that is disconnectable from the connector defined by the through-openings 216
and 218 by
removing the bolts 312 and 314. Although the connector on the second lateral
portion 298 in
the embodiment shown is defined by the through-openings 306 and 308,
connectors in
alternative embodiments of the second lateral portion 298 may be defined by a
different
number of through-openings, or may include fasteners or other different
connection structures.
The first lateral portion 296 extends non-parallel (and at a 90-degree angle
315 in the
embodiment shown) from the second lateral portion 298, so the fourth
connection body 292 is
:0 generally "v-shaped".
When the connector defined by the projections 300 and 302 is connected to the
connector defined by the through-openings 210 and 212, and when the connector
defined by
defined by the through-openings 306 and 308 is connected to the connector
defined by the
through-openings 216 and 218, the first connection body 182 and the fourth
connection
i5 body 292 define a region shown generally at 316 adjacent the through-
opening 170 (shown in
FIG. 3). The region 316 is generally square with sides defined by the
distances 214, 220, 304,
and 310, which are about 2.375 inches or about 6 cm, and therefore about equal
to the
diameter of the circle 178 (also shown in FIG. 3), except that the distance
220 is slightly larger
than the distances 214, 304, and 310 because, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the
through-
20 openings 216, 218, 306, and 308 are spaced apart from the surface of the
second lateral
portion 298 that defines the region 316. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a
generally cylindrical
pipe nipple 318 having a diameter of about 2.375 inches or about 6 cm may thus
be clamped
or otherwise connected to the first connection body 182 and the fourth
connection body 292 in
the region 316 between the first connection body 182 and the fourth connection
body 292, and
25 an outer surface of the pipe nipple 318 may contact a portion of the
curved inner surface 171
(also shown in FIG. 3) as described above.
Referring to FIG. 16, a second cover body 320 defines a through-opening shown
generally at 322 and also having a diameter of about 2.375 inches or about 6
cm to receive the
pipe nipple 318. Because the diameter of the pipe nipple 318 is smaller than
the diameter of
30 the circle 174 (shown in FIG. 3), the second cover body 320 may be
positioned as shown in
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FIGS. 14 and 15 against the rear side of the side body 116 with the through-
opening 322
adjacent the through-opening 170 (also shown in FIG. 3) so that the through-
opening 322 and
the through-opening 170 receive the pipe nipple 318 and the second cover body
320 covers at
least a portion of the through-opening 170 that is not occupied by the pipe
nipple 318.
Embodiments such as those described above may facilitate connecting or holding
objects (such as pipes or pipe nipples, for example) of different sizes (such
as different
diameters, for example) to objects (such as the valve assembly 150, for
example) in various
contexts (such as connection points in fluid transfer systems, for example).
In some
embodiments, a pipe (or pipe nipple) may support a load line spill container
when the pipe (or
pipe nipple) and the spill container Ire, connected to connection bodies such
as the connection
bodies described above. In some other embodiments, a load line spill container
may support a
pipe (or pipe nipple) when the spill container and the pipe (or pipe nipple)
are connected to
connection bodies such as the connection bodies described above. Further,
although the
embodiments described above can hold objects of three different sizes,
alternative
embodiments may be may hold objects of more or fewer different sizes. In
general, the first
connection body 182 may have any number of different connectors, and for a
given size of an
object (such as a given diameter of a pipe, for example), another connection
body (such as the
second connection body 236, the third connection body 260, or fourth
connection body 292 in
the embodiment shown, a different connection body in alternative embodiments)
may be sized
to connect to particular connectors on the first connection body 182 to define
a region to
clamp or otherwise connect to the object. Therefore, a single size of the
spill container 106, for
example, may receive fluid from pipes of different sizes, which may avoid a
need to weld a
pipe or pipe nipple to a spill container and may thus be more versatile and
efficient when
compared to other load line spill containers, and which may reduce or avoid
the time and cost
of manufacturing and assembling different spill containers for different sizes
of pipes and pipe
nipples. Therefore, connection bodies such as those described herein may
improve
manufacturing and assembly of objects such as load line spill containers, for
example.
Although specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such
embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the
invention as
construed according to the accompanying claims.
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