U.S. patent application number 10/995698 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for fluid connector.
Invention is credited to Brewer, Robert, Jakuszeski, Gerard.
Application Number | 20050180840 10/995698 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29999091 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050180840 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brewer, Robert ; et
al. |
August 18, 2005 |
Fluid connector
Abstract
The present invention relates to a fluid connector, comprising a
solid shaft having a plurality of connector surfaces. The plurality
of connector surfaces includes a surface with a plurality of
threads and a plurality of grooves formed therein.
Inventors: |
Brewer, Robert; (Westland,
MI) ; Jakuszeski, Gerard; (Oxford, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
29999091 |
Appl. No.: |
10/995698 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10995698 |
Nov 23, 2004 |
|
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10177310 |
Jun 21, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
411/417 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 15/006
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/417 |
International
Class: |
F16B 013/04 |
Claims
1. A fluid flow bolt, comprising: a shaft having an elongate
structure and a head; a plurality of channels extending into an
outer portion of said shaft from a distal end of said shaft and
having a first depth, wherein said channels have a spiral pattern
and have a V-shaped cross sectional shape; and a threading within
said shaft having a plurality of threading grooves having a second
depth and threading ridges; said first depth being greater than
said second depth.
2. The fluid flow bolt of claim 1, wherein said V-shaped cross
sectional shape has a rounded narrow portion and rounded broad
ends.
3. The fluid flow bolt of claim 1, wherein said channels are
equally spaced apart with said shaft.
4. The fluid flow bolt of claim 1, wherein said plurality of
channels are comprised of a first channel, a second channel and a
third channel.
5. The fluid flow bolt of claim 1, wherein said channels extend
from said distal end of said shaft completely through said
threading and away from said threading a finite distance.
6. A flow bolt for conducting fluid from adjacent a bolt head to
the free end of a bolt shaft, comprising: a) an elongated shaft and
a torque applying head, said head being formed unitarily with said
shaft on one end of the shaft; b) said shaft including a plurality
of shaft sections between said head and the free end of said shaft;
c) a first one of said sections comprising an externally threaded
section adjacent said free end of said shaft; d) a second one of
said sections comprising an unthreaded cylindrical section with a
smooth outer surface between said threaded section and said head;
and e) a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves formed into
the threads of said threaded section and into said outer surface of
said second cylindrical section.
7. The flow bolt of claim 6 further characterized in that: a) said
shaft is solid along substantially its entire length.
8. A flow bolt for conducting fluid from adjacent a bolt head to
the free end of a bolt shaft, comprising: a) an elongated shaft and
a torque applying head, said head being formed unitarily with said
shaft on one end of the shaft; b) said shaft being solid along
substantially its entire length and including a plurality of shaft
sections between said head and the free end of said shaft; c) a
first one of said sections comprising an externally threaded
section adjacent said free end of said shaft; d) a second one of
said sections comprising an unthreaded cylindrical section with a
smooth outer surface between said threaded section and said head;
e) a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves formed into the
threads of said threaded section; and f) said unthreaded section
being disposed immediately adjacent said head and having a smooth
cylindrical surface with a diameter greater than the diameter of
said threaded section.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
10/177,310, filed Jun. 21, 2002, and entitled FLUID CONNECTOR.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to connectors for fluid distribution
systems, and particularly to fluid connectors used to distribute
fluids under pressure.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Fluid connectors are known in the art and are referred to as
"flow bolts" or "flow bolt assemblies." Such devices in the prior
art are typically fabricated with external threads and an internal
cavity through which fluid flows. Examples of such flow bolts are
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,192 to Campo, entitled "Bolt Retaining
Hydraulic End Fitting Assembly." However, such flow bolts are
weaker connectors because they are made with an internal
cavity.
[0004] The present invention is directed to overcoming this and
other disadvantages inherent in prior art systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the
appended claims, and is not affected to any degree by the
statements within this summary. Briefly stated, a fluid connector,
comprising a shaft having at least one solid shaft element and a
plurality of connector surfaces, wherein the plurality of connector
surfaces includes a surface with a plurality of threads and a
plurality of grooves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a fluid
connector.
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts the bottom view of the preferred embodiment
of a fluid connector seen in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of a fluid
connector.
[0009] FIG. 4 depicts a view of the outside of a second embodiment
of a fluid connector.
[0010] FIG. 5 depicts a third embodiment of a fluid connector.
[0011] FIG. 6 depicts a fourth embodiment of a fluid connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a fluid
connector 10 in the form of a flow bolt constituting a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The flow bolt 10 is composed
of a metal, preferably aluminum. According to one aspect of the
present invention, the metal is copper. According to another aspect
of the present invention, the metal is iron.
[0013] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the metal is
an alloy. According to one aspect of the present invention, the
metal includes ferrous and non ferrous materials. According to
another aspect of the present invention, the metal is a steel.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that steel is in a
plurality of formulations, such as stainless steel. According to
one embodiment of the present invention the steel is a low carbon
steel. In another embodiment of the present invention, the steel is
a medium carbon steel. According to yet another embodiment of the
present invention, the steel is a high carbon steel.
[0014] Those with skill in the art will also appreciate that the
metal is a super alloy. According to one aspect of the present
invention, the super alloy is bronze; according to another aspect
of the present invention, the super alloy is a high nickel
material. According to yet another aspect of the present invention,
the flow bolt 10 is composed of martensitic material. According to
still another aspect of the present invention, the flow bolt 10 is
composed of austenitic material. According to another aspect of the
present invention, the metal is a ferritic material.
[0015] The flow bolt 10 includes a shaft 20 and a head 60. The
shaft 20 is composed of a plurality of shaft sections. According to
one aspect of the present invention, the shaft is cylindrical in
shape. According to another aspect of the present invention, the
shaft is frusto-conical in shape. According to yet another aspect
of the present invention, the shaft is solid. According to still
another aspect of the present invention, the shaft is hollow.
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment of the present
invention wherein the flow bolt shaft 20 is composed of a plurality
of shaft sections 21, 22, 23 and 40. The shaft 20 includes an upper
cylindrical shaft section 21, a lower cylindrical shaft section 22,
an intermediate frusto-conical shaft section 23 and a threaded
shaft section 40. In the preferred embodiment, the upper
cylindrical shaft section 21 is joined to the lower cylindrical
shaft section 22 via the frusto-conical shaft section 23.
[0017] The flow bolt shaft 20 of the present invention is provided
with a plurality of connector surfaces. The cylindrical shaft
section 22 has an unthreaded surface, as does the cylindrical shaft
section 21. The cylindrical shaft 22 has a smaller diameter than
the shaft section 21. The shaft section 40 below the shaft section
22 is externally threaded, as illustrated.
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment flow bolt 10 of the
present invention composed of a plurality of connector surfaces.
FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of the preferred embodiment flow bolt
10 of the present invention. The lower cylindrical shaft section 22
and the externally threaded shaft section 40 have a plurality of
grooves 50 formed into their outer surfaces and extending
longitudinally from the frusto-conical section 23 to the free end
of the threaded section 40. In the bolt 10 there are four such
grooves 50 extending spirally and spaced 90.degree. from each other
around the shaft 20.
[0019] The connector surfaces of the present invention perform a
plurality of functions. The threads of the section 40 function to
fasten the fluid connector flow bolt 10 to another structure. This
function is accomplished through the interaction of the threads and
cooperating threads of another structure (not shown).
[0020] In use of the flow bolt 10, the grooves 50 function to
channel fluid from around the cylindrical shaft section 22 of the
shaft 20 to the free end of the shaft. This function is
accomplished with at least one groove 50, although more are
preferred, as illustrated here.
[0021] The flow bolt 10 is fabricated through a plurality of
processes. According to one aspect of the present invention, the
flow bolt 10 is machined. According to another aspect of the
present invention, the flow bolt 10 is hot formed or forged.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the flow
bolt 10 is fabricated through casting. The preferred embodiment of
the flow bolt is cold formed (also known as "cold head").
[0022] The process of cold forming the preferred embodiment begins
with a metal wire or metal rod which is drawn to size. After being
drawn to size, the wire or rod is upset by being run through a
series of dies or extrusions. After the wire has been through a
series of dies or extrusions, it has been changed to a semi formed
state. In this semi formed state, the metal is rolled so that a
surface with at least one groove 50 is formed. In the preferred
embodiment, a plurality of grooves 50 are rolled into the shaft 20
so that they form spirals. Those skilled in the art will appreciate
that the grooves 50 can be fabricated so that they are straight and
do not form spirals however and, furthermore, that the grooves can
be fabricated with any degree of spiral.
[0023] While the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1
illustrates grooves 50 fabricated through rolling, those skilled in
the art will appreciate that a groove or grooves may be fabricated
in other ways. The grooves of the present invention are not limited
to fabrication through rolling. As used herein, a groove is any
structure which allows for fluid flow on a connector surface.
[0024] After a plurality of grooves 50 have been impressed into the
surface, threads are formed on the surface of the shaft section 40
through a similar rolling process. In the preferred embodiment,
threads are rolled to a depth which is half the depth of the
grooves 50.
[0025] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the grooves
and the threads can be made through machining or drilling with a
different ratio of relative depths. Furthermore, those skilled in
the art will appreciate that the present invention can be threaded
first and then rolled to form the grooves.
[0026] The presently preferred flow bolt 10 embodiment includes a
polygonal cap 60 as a torque transferring structure. As used
herein, a torque transferring structure is any structure which
allows a torque to be transferred to shaft 20 of the present
invention. The torque transferring structure 60 is used to rotate
the shaft 20 and tighten or loosen the threaded connection between
the flow bolt 10 and another structure. Alternatively, the torque
transferring structure is a recessed area 61, such as will fit a
screw driver (see FIG. 4).
[0027] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that torque may be
transferred via any of a plurality of structures and that any such
structure can be used without departing from the spirit of the
present invention. Any structure which allows a torque to be
transferred to the shaft 20 of the present invention is a torque
transferring structure within the scope of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 depicts the hollow shaft clement of an alternative
embodiment of the present invention. In the alternative embodiment
of FIG. 3, a surface with a plurality of threads 40 defines an
inner section 24 which accommodates a threaded rod 25. Within the
surface with a plurality of threads 40, a groove 50 is provided
through which fluid flows. As depicted in FIG. 3, the alternative
embodiment is preferably provided with a torque transferring
structure 60, which is in the form of a roughened gripping surface
62. However, as noted above, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that torque may be transferred through other structures,
such as a recessed area 61, as depicted in FIG. 4 and previously
discussed. FIG. 4 depicts the outer surface 26 of the hollow shaft
element of the alternative embodiment of the present invention with
an alternative torque transferring structure 60.
[0029] FIG. 5 depicts a second alternative embodiment of the
present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a surface with a
plurality of threads 40 defines an inner section 24 which
accommodates a threaded rod. Within the surface with a plurality of
threads 40, a groove is provided through which fluid flows. In the
alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, an opening 27 is
provided which accommodates a fluid conveying structure, such as a
nozzle (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the opening 27 may be defined in the outer surface 26. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the inner section 24 accommodates a threaded
rod.
[0030] FIG. 6 depicts a third alternative embodiment of the present
invention configured as a coupler 11. The coupler 11 depicted in
FIG. 6 is composed of an outer surface 26 and a surface with a
plurality of threads 40 which defines an inner section 24. The
inner section 24 accommodates at least one threaded rod 25,
preferably two threaded rods. Within the threaded surface 40, a
groove 50 is provided through which fluid flows. As depicted in
FIG. 6, the coupler 11 is preferably provided with a torque
transferring structure 60.
[0031] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *