Mechanically locking end screw arrangements

A fluid control assembly includes a body having a female threaded end port, and an end adapter including a male threaded end screw threadably assembled with the female threaded end port, an end connector, and an internal passage extending from the end connector to the end screw. One of the body and the end adapter includes at least one outer peripheral recess, and the other of the body and the end adapter includes a peripheral flange. A portion of the peripheral flange in circumferential alignment with the at least one recess is deformed into interlocking engagement with the at least one recess to rotationally secure the end adapter with respect to the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The inventions relate to fluid system components utilizing threaded end screw type end adapters.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a fluid control assembly includes a body having a female threaded end port, and an end adapter including a male threaded end screw threadably assembled with the female threaded end port, an end connector, and an internal passage extending from the end connector to the end screw. One of the body and the end adapter includes at least one outer peripheral recess, and the other of the body and the end adapter includes a peripheral flange. A portion of the peripheral flange in circumferential alignment with the at least one recess is deformed into interlocking engagement with the at least one recess to rotationally secure the end adapter with respect to the body.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of making a mechanically locked threaded connection is contemplated. In an exemplary method, a body and an end adapter are provided, with the body including a female threaded end port and the end adapter including a male threaded end screw and an end connector. One of the body and the end adapter includes at least one outer peripheral recess, and the other of the body and the end adapter includes a peripheral flange. The male threaded end screw is threadably assembled with the female threaded end port, and a portion of the peripheral flange is deformed into interlocking engagement with the at least one outer peripheral recess to rotationally secure the end adapter with respect to the body

These and other inventive concepts and embodiments are fully described hereinbelow and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments in view of the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

While exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to a shutoff ball valve with threaded end screw type end adapters, the inventive features described may be used in a variety of fluid devices, including, for example, other types of valves (e.g., needle valves, gate valve, bellows valves, diaphragm valves, check valves), fittings, filters, regulators, and sample cylinders.

Fluid devices, such as shutoff valves, are commonly provided with at least two end connections for installing the fluid device into a fluid system. While the end connections may be integrally formed with the body of the fluid device, separate end adapters assembled with the fluid device body allow for adaptability of the fluid device for use in different sized fluid systems or with different types of connections (e.g., threaded connections, weld end connections, gasketed connections, tube fitting connections). In one such arrangement, a fluid device body includes female threaded ports sized to be assembled with male threaded portions (or “end screws”) of end screw type end adapters. Such an arrangement may eliminate the need for separate fasteners or welding operations, facilitating quick and adaptable device assembly.

In some embodiments, subsequent loosening or disassembly of an installed end screw type end adapter may not be desirable, particularly where the fluid device is installed in a fluid system involving high pressure, high temperature, or corrosive/toxic fluid conditions. In embodiments in which a fluid device end adapter includes a threaded end connection, efforts to unthread the end connection from the fluid system may inadvertently loosen the end screw from the fluid device body. Other conditions may also result in inadvertent or undesirable loosening, including for example, system vibrations or fluid device tampering.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a threaded end adapter may be mechanically locked with a fluid device body by crimping, peening, or otherwise deforming a portion of one of the end adapter and the body into a recessed portion of the other of the end adapter and the body after full threaded assembly of the end adapter with the body, such that rotation of the end adapter with respect to the body is prevented (e.g., in the loosening and/or tightening directions). As one example, one of the end adapter and the body may include a deformable peripheral wall or flange, and the other of the end adapter and the body may include at least one recess disposed on a portion of its outer periphery. When the end adapter is tightened with the body to a desired condition (e.g., desired torque, number of turns, and/or rotational orientation), a portion of the wall/flange that is circumferentially aligned with the at least one recess may be crimped, peened, or otherwise deformed into mating or interlocking engagement with the aligned recess, thereby securing the end adapter in the desired condition.

FIGS. 1-3illustrates an exemplary assembly100including a body120and an end adapter130. The body120includes an internal cavity121and a female threaded end port122. The end adapter130includes a male threaded end screw132, an end connector133, and an internal passage131extending from the end screw132to the end connector133. The end connector133may include a variety of end connections including, for example, male or female pipe threads, tube fitting, weld end, or gasketed connection. As shown, the end adapter130may be provided with an external hex-shaped portion134to facilitate tightening with a wrench or other tool. In other embodiments, other features may be used to facilitate tightening (e.g., holes for a spanner wrench).

The body120includes two axially extending recesses or notches125on an outer periphery of the end port122, and the end adapter130includes a radially extending peripheral flange135that approaches or abuts the end port outer periphery when the end adapter130is assembled with the body120(FIG. 2). When the end adapter130is tightened with the body120to a desired condition (e.g., desired torque, number of turns, and/or rotational orientation), a portion135aof the peripheral flange135that is circumferentially aligned with each notch125may be axially crimped, peened, or otherwise deformed into mating or interlocking engagement with the aligned notches125(FIG. 3), using a suitable tool (e.g., a pneumatic or hydraulic press or hammer, or a manually operated hammer, pliers or other such tool), thereby securing the end adapter130in the desired position. While the illustrated embodiment includes two notches125in the body end port122, in other embodiments, the body may be provided with any number of notches (e.g., one, or three or more) for interlocking engagement with any number of deformed portions of the end adapter flange.

FIGS. 4-6illustrate another exemplary assembly200including a body220and an end adapter230. Similar to the assembly100ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the body220includes an internal cavity221and a female threaded end port222, and the end adapter230includes a male threaded end screw232, an end connector233, and an internal passage231extending from the end screw232to the end connector233. The end adapter230includes radially extending recesses or notches236on an outer periphery of a flange portion235extending radially outward of a hex-shaped exterior portion234of the end adapter, and the body220includes an axially extending peripheral collar or flange225, extending axially outward from the end port222, and sized to receive and axially align with the end adapter flange portion235when the end adapter230is assembled with the body220(FIG. 5). When the end adapter230is tightened with the body220to a desired condition (e.g., desired torque, number of turns, and/or rotational orientation), a portion225aof the peripheral flange225that is circumferentially aligned with each notch236may be radially crimped, peened, or otherwise deformed into mating or interlocking engagement with the aligned notches236(FIG. 6), using a suitable tool (e.g., a pneumatic or hydraulic press or hammer, or a manually operated hammer, pliers or other such tool), thereby securing the end adapter230in the desired position. While the notches may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes, in the illustrated embodiment, the notches236each form a half moon shape sized to closely receive a crimped portion of the flange225sufficient to securely lock the end adapter230in a desired rotational position. Also, while the illustrated embodiment includes two notches236in the end adapter flange235, in other embodiments, the end adapter flange may be provided with any number of notches (e.g., one, or three or more) for interlocking engagement with any number of deformed portions of the body flange.

FIGS. 7-9illustrate another exemplary assembly300including a body320and an end adapter330. Similar to the assemblies100,200ofFIGS. 1-6, the body320includes an internal cavity321and a female threaded end port322, and the end adapter330includes a male threaded end screw332, an end connector333, and an internal passage331extending from the end screw332to the end connector333. The end adapter330includes recesses336defined by the hex flats of a hex-shaped exterior portion334of the end adapter, and the body320includes an axially extending peripheral collar or flange325sized to receive and axially align with the hex-shaped exterior portion334when the end adapter330is assembled with the body320(FIG. 5). In the illustrated embodiment, the hex-shaped exterior portion334includes a necked-down axially inner portion337, with edges of the hex-shaped portion334are removed or omitted to facilitate receipt of the hex-shaped exterior portion334within the body flange or collar325. When the end adapter330is tightened with the body320to a desired condition (e.g., desired torque, number of turns, and/or rotational orientation), one or more portions325aof the peripheral flange325that are circumferentially aligned with the recess-defining flats336may be radially crimped, peened, or otherwise deformed into mating or interlocking engagement with the aligned flats336(FIG. 9), using a suitable tool (e.g., conventional tools such as crescent, pipe or open end wrenches), thereby securing the end adapter330in the desired position. In the illustrated embodiment, the entire peripheral flange325may be deformed radially inward for interlocking engagement with all of the hex flats336. In other embodiments, only a portion of the peripheral flange may be deformed into interlocking engagement with only a portion of the hex flats (e.g., one or two of the hex flats). For example, opposite side portions of the flange may be crimped radially inward for interlocking engagement with two hex flats on opposite sides of the hex-shaped exterior portion of the end adapter.

The fluid control assemblies described herein may be provided in a variety of materials, including, for example, metals, such as, for example, one or more of stainless steel, carbon steel, and brass.