Title of Invention

A FLUID COUPLING JOINT

Abstract

A joint seal has a through bore and two spherical spaced convex surfaces which mate with respective concave spherical surfaces on a pair of adjacent flanges. The flanges are welded to and about the periphery of corresponding spaced pipes one of which is inserted in the bore of the seal. The flanges are joined by . two bolts, one flange being fixedly secured to the bolts and the other resiliently movably secured to the bolts by a pair of springs to permit that other flange to rotate in response to rotation of the pipe affixed thereto. The one flange forms a static wedge-like seal joint with one of the pipes and the other flange a dynamic seal joint with the respective seal spherical surfaces, the spherical seal and flange surfaces being urged together in wedged relation by the springs.

Full Text

This invention relates to a fluid coupling joint, and more particularly to pipe joints employing spherical seals for automotive exhaust systems. Pipe joints for certain automotive exhaust systems employ seals with spherical surfaces. For example, prior art joints and seals are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 5,499,825 and 5,040,805, incorporated by reference herein. Typical exhaust joints comprise a seal, usually formed into a preform of a wire mesh and filler material, and then crushed by dies to the end seal shape as illustrated in the aforementioned patents. The seals may be rigid or compliant in accordance with the seal construction. A lubricant or lubricating material is incorporated in the seal to provide a lubricating surface. The seals are annular with a radially outer convex spherical segment surface and opposing planar end surfaces as shown in Pat. No. 5,499,825. In this patent, circular cylindrical through bore communicates with the planar end surfaces for receiving a pipe concentric with the spherical annular surface. A flange is welded in fixed position to the received pipe spaced from the pipe end edge and has a planar to rotate relative to the first pipe about the seal second spherical surface and for resiliently axially urging the flanges against the corresponding seal spherical and tapering surfaces and for urging the seal first edge into the recess to wedge the seal between the first flange and the first pipe outer cylindrical surface in the wedge-like relation. Accordingly the present invention provides a fluid coupling joint comprising: means for fluid coupling first and second fluid pipes including a first flange for movably coupling the first pipe in movable sealing engagement with a seal relative to a second flange and relative to the second pipe, said second flange for securing the second pipe thereto and to the seal in a relatively fixed position, said joint including means for resiliently urging said first flange and the seal toward the second flange with the seal and flanges in sealing engagement while permitting said first flange and first pipe to move relative to the second flange, to said second pipe and to said seal, characterized in that the seal comprises: an annular member having first and second annular radially outwardly facing surfaces terminating adjacent to respective opposite annular seal edges and facing in opposing axial directions and a central axially extending opening therethrough forming an inner cylindrical seal surface extending to said edges for receiving said second pipe, said first surface tapering toward said inner cylindrical surface at a first of said edges generally in said axial direction and dimensioned for sealing wedge-like engagement with the second flange and in wedge-like engagement with said second pipe, said second surface being spherical and dimensioned for rotational sealing engagement with said first flange, said first flange for urging the seal in engagement with and between the second flange and second pipe. IN THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING: The sole figure is a side elevation sectional view of a joint and seal according to the present invention. In the Figure, joint assembly 2 is particularly adapted for use with automotive exhaust systems. However, the assembly may be employed in other fluid distribution systems in which it is desired that one pipe be relatively movable with respect to a second pipe in the system. The assembly 2 comprises a joint 4 for sealingly attaching a circular cylindrical, preferably stainless steel, pipe 6 to a second circular cylindrical, preferably stainless steel, pipe 8. Pipes 6 and 8 are conventional for use in automotive exhaust systems for conveying hot toxic combustion engine exhaust gases. In such exhaust systems, the joint must be essentially leak proof while permitting one pipe to rotate with three degrees of rotational freedom and no translation relative to the other. When automobiles, for example, are stationary, leaking exhaust gases may undesirably seep into the vehicle passenger cabin. If the joint is prior to the catalytic converter, untreated exhaust gas may escape. Under certain WE CLAIM : 1, A fluid coupling joint (2) comprising: means for fluid coupling first (8) and second (6) fluid pipes including a first flange (42) for movably coupling the first pipe (8) in movable sealing engagement with a seal (10) relative to a second flange (26) and relative to the second pipe (6), said second flange (26) for securing the second pipe (6) thereto and to the seal (10) in a relatively fixed position, said joint (2) including means (62) for resiliently urging said first flange (42) and the seal (10) toward the second flange (26) with the seal (10) and flanges in sealing engagement while permitting said first flange (42) and first pipe (8) to move relative to the second flange (26), to said second pipe (6) and to said seal (10), characterized in that the seal (10) comprises: an annular member having first (20) and second (22) annular radially outwardly facing surfaces terminating adjacent to respective opposite annular seal edges and facing in opposing axial directions and a central axially extending opening (12) therethrough forming an inner cylindrical seal surface extending to said edges for receiving said second pipe (6), said first surface (20) tapering toward said inner cylindrical surface (12) at a first of said edges generally in said axial direction and dimensioned for sealing wedge-like engagement with the second flange (26) and in wedge-like engagement with said second pipe (6), said second surface (22) being spherical and dimensioned for rotational sealing engagement with said first flange (42), said first flange (42) for urging the seal (10) in engagement with and between the second flange (26) and second pipe (6). 2. The joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal (10) includes a circular cylindrical segment (16) between said first (20) and second (22) surfaces. 3. The joint as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the first tapered surface (20) is spherical. 4. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second flange (26) has a tapering surface for mating with and engaging the seal first surface (20) and secured in fixed position and substantially fluid impervious relation to and about the second pipe (6) outer surface, said second pipe (6) outer surface and second flange (26) forming an annular wedge-like recess for receiving the seal (10) in wedge-like relation thereto. 5. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first flange (42) has a concave spherical surface for mating with and engaging the seal second surface (22) and is secured fixed to the first pipe (8) in non-movable relation and in substantially fluid impervious relation to and about the first pipe (8) outer surface. 6. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein bolt means (52) are secured to the second flange (26) in fixed position thereto, said first flange (42) being secured to the bolt means (52) in resilient movable relation thereto for permitting the second pipe (6) to rotate relative to the first pipe (8) about said seal second spherical surface (22) and for resiliently axially urging the flanges (42, 26) against the corresponding seal spherical and tapering surfaces (20, 22) and for urging the seal first edge into said recess to wedge the seal (10) between the second flange (26) and said second pipe (6) outer cylindrical surface in said wedge-like relation. 7. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the seal first and second surfaces (20, 22) are axially spaced. 8. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the seal first surface (20) is convex spherical and the second flange (26) has a concave spherical surface for engaging the seal first surface (20). 9. The joint as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bolt means (52) comprises first and second bolts (52) each secured to the second flange (26) in fixed relation and to the first flange (42) in spaced relation and a spring (62) secured between each bolt (52) and the first flange (42). 10. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the seal (10) is formed of knitted wire mesh wrapped with a solid lubricant sheet material and compressed. 11. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first (42) and second (26) flanges are respectively welded to the corresponding first (8) and second (6) pipes in an annular continuous seam (30, 45) about the corresponding pipe (6, 8). 12. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first (20) and second (22) seal surfaces are spherical and are mirror images of each other. 13. The joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the seal (10) is formed of compliant material. 14. A fluid coupling joint, substantially as hereinabove described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1966-mas-1997- abstract.pdf

1966-mas-1997- assignment.pdf

1966-mas-1997- claims duplicate.pdf

1966-mas-1997- claims original.pdf

1966-mas-1997- correspondence others.pdf

1966-mas-1997- correspondence po.pdf

1966-mas-1997- description complete duplicate.pdf

1966-mas-1997- description complete original.pdf

1966-mas-1997- drawings.pdf

1966-mas-1997- form 1.pdf

1966-mas-1997- form 26.pdf

1966-mas-1997- form 3.pdf

1966-mas-1997- form 4.pdf