Snake tail ring socket

A seal ring socket is disclosed having a ball ring at an insert end which rolls up on a socket neck portion when an insertion pipe is pushed into the ring socket. The rolling of the ball ring expands its volume to insure a water-tight seal against the insertion pipe. Grooves formed in a socket neck portion cause unbalanced stressing of the interior and exterior surfaces of the ring socket thereby assisting in the rolling of the ball ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
If we examine the connection operation among pipings in earlier times, such 
as bamboo pipes which were connected to a supply water, you would 
occasionally see water leakage and bad pipe connections which would cause 
water loss in large volume. The reason was simply that, because of the 
lack of modern materials and machines, the connection components were too 
simple to tightly seal and connect the pipes. 
If we check the piping connections currently applied in the market, 
connection parts for plastic pipe and metal pipe, we would often discover 
the methods employed to connect such pipes were mainly focused on sealing 
oil, tapped threads, tape seal, etc., even though they were developed as a 
contemporary product having research background. 
Should the fittings' connection or disassembly be conducted outside the 
factory for maintenance purposes, we must find an alternative material to 
seal the gaps between the connected pipes. Therefore, rubber gaskets, 
rings or conical ring sockets, etc., possessing elasticity were invented. 
These take advantage of their compressible properties to prevent the 
occurrences of fissures while connecting the pipes, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 
and 3. However, the sealing effect developed by these gaskets, rings or 
conical sockets depends on the compression force of pipe itself or the 
tightness of externally fastened bolts and nuts to achieve the compression 
sealing effect. 
These type of rubber parts utilized for connecting pipes must be compressed 
and deformed to seal the fissures of the connected pipes. The reason why 
they can be deformed to seal the connected pipe is entirely dependent upon 
the fittings' compression force or the tightness of fastening bolts and 
nuts. In a passive state, no individual contribution can be made by these 
rubber parts. The aforementioned alternatives make it very difficult to 
reach an absolutely sealed state due to vibration or other factors which 
may cause loosening of the pipe fitting. They are the biggest weaknesses 
of the pipe connection operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The purpose of this invention is to overcome the weaknesses of the prior 
art devices and design a coupling ring socket. It is self-explanatory that 
the sectional area of one end of this ring is designed as a ball ring 
operating like a rolling ball. The end can curl to expand its peripheral 
volume during the pipe insertion operation. It can expand to compact the 
fissures and prevent leakage without compression or the use of bolts and 
nuts. 
The secondary purpose of this invention is to use slots designed and 
located on an internal surface of the ring socket which will cause the 
internal and external surfaces to be stressed in an unbalanced fashion. 
Also, the curvature of the line between the ball ring and the tail end is 
designed to exceed the radius of the ball ring so that the line at the 
ball rings' cutting point can match the angle of the slots. The inside 
diameter of pass hole formed by ball ring is approximately equal to the 
inside diameter of an insertion pipe such that, as the insertion pipe 
moves forward, the wall thickness causes the ball ring to curl inward as a 
rolling snow ball. When the ball ring is stressed, the internal and 
external surfaces of ring sockets are unbalancedly stressed, i.e., ring 
socket itself will start to curl to increase its volume and achieve a 
sealing effect in the pipe connection. 
The slots inside the socket will cause internal and external surfaces to be 
unbalancedly stressed. Also, the front end of the socket is designed as a 
ball ring, like a rolling ball. The curvature of a line of the cutting 
point is located at an internal edge of ball ring such that it will curl 
inward, like a rolling snow ball, and become bigger while the ball ring is 
being moved forward by the insertion pipe. It will completely fill the 
fissures between the insertion pipe and a connected fitting to prevent 
leakage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIGS. 4-7 are three dimensional and schematic sectional views of the 
present ring socket. From the Figures shown, it's self explanatory that 
the ring socket's (1) front end tip is structured as ball ring (11), just 
like a rolling ball, and the inside diameter of a pass hole formed by an 
internal edge of ball ring (11) is approximately equal to the inside 
diameter of an insertion pipe (2), i.e., the outside diameter of the 
insertion pipe (2) is slightly larger than the pass hole diameter of ball 
ring, a difference within 20%-25% diameter of the ball ring is preferred. 
It thus can comply with a spherical mechanics vector relationship and have 
ball ring (11) stressed at an optimized rolling angle so as to be smoothly 
pushed forward along the tube wall when the insertion pipe (2) is 
inserted. Also, an internal surface of ring socket (1), i.e., the internal 
surface of the socket neck, is peripherically machined to form sets of 
slots (120). The two inclined sides of the slots extend outwardly at an 
angle of 22.5.degree. from a center line to form a 45.degree. included 
angle opening inwardly to properly reduce the load stress on internal 
surface produced at socket neck (12). Furthermore, the depth of slots 
(120) is approximately equal to one half of the thinnest portion of socket 
neck (12). The stress load at the internal surface of ring neck is 
therefore, only about one half the stress load at an external surface; 
i.e. the internal and external surfaces are not uniformly stressed. Also, 
the curvature of line (110) of the cutting point connection between the 
ball ring (11) and front end of socket neck (12), is designed greater than 
the radius of ball ring (11) so as to let ball ring smoothly curl inward 
when being stressed from an external load. Again, it can match the 
unbalanced stresses created at socket neck's (12) internal and external 
surfaces. This makes ball ring (11) definitely curl inward, thereby 
enlarging its volume after insertion pipe (2) enters ring socket (1). 
If we refer to the assembly actions shown in FIGS. 8-10, it can be seen 
that the ball ring simultaneously and automatically starts its curling and 
enlarging its volume when insertion pipe (2) enters it. A further 
excellent sealing effect can be performed if it could be slightly fastened 
by a further compression or tapped thread. 
If we check the socket head (13) located at the rear end of ring socket 
(1), in addition to the inside diameter matching with the fitting and the 
insertion pipe's (2) ID, an internal edge is preset with a bigger space to 
fit to insertion pipe's wall thickness. It won't block the smooth flow of 
the piping and, on the contrary, it reinforces the sealing of fitting 
assembly. The present invention avoids the old design using fitting 
compression and tapped threads, and can easily enlarge to cover the 
fissures and achieve a sealing effect. It can totally replace the commonly 
used ring socket's scope of application; it can also expand its applicable 
category, such as general insertion pipe fittings. A sealing effect is 
guaranteed by this invention.