Patent ID: 7066125
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: F01P,F02B

Abstract:
1. A frost plug adapter assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical body having an inner end and an outer end, and having at least one internal cavity allowing a flow of fluid through the cylindrical body, the inner end having an end face with a recessed cavity, and a portion of the inner end having a diameter less than a diameter of a frost plug aperture, the portion of the inner end also having a seal to prevent fluid from exiting at an annular circumference of an inner side of the frost plug aperture when the portion of the inner end is secured within the frost plug aperture, whereby a portion of the cylindrical body has a diameter greater than the diameter of the frost plug aperture which is engagable with an annular circumference of an outer side of the frost plug aperture, the frost plug adapter assembly also having a locking element with a central portion sized to fit within the recessed cavity, the central portion having a hole therethrough and two arms integrally attached to the central portion and disposed opposite one another in a substantially co-planar alignment, each arm having two flanges, and each flange being disposed longitudinally along each side of each arm to provide channels, the two arms are each angled from a same side of the central portion at an oblique angle to a plane through the central portion whereby a distance between free ends of the arms before the portion of the inner end is inserted into the frost plug aperture is less than a diameter of the frost plug aperture, and the two arms being spreadable so that the distance between the free ends of the arms is greater than the diameter of the frost plug aperture after the portion of the inner end is inserted into the frost plug aperture, whereby, to secure the portion of the inner end of the cylindrical body within the frost plug aperture, a bolt is positionable through a longitudinal bore in the cylindrical body having a head of the bolt disposed at the outer end of the cylindrical body and the locking element is positioned on a threaded end of the bolt with the central portion disposed in the recess and the arms projecting away from the end face, and a wing nut is threadably secured to the threaded end whereby the wing nut has a central threaded nut and two wings integrally attached to the threaded nut and disposed opposite each other in a co-planar alignment, the wings being sized so as to be positionable within the channels of the arms whereby the tightening of the wing nut onto the threaded end of the bolt causes the free ends of the arms of the locking element to spread in a direction away from each other and towards the plane through the central portion to engage an inner circumference of the frost plug aperture.