Union joint

Abstract: A union joint capable of perfectly hermetically connecing pipes so that a gas passing the pipes never leaks from the junction of the pipes even if the pressure of the gas is as high as 150 kg/cm². The union joint comprises a first sleeve (10) hermetically joined to a pipe (1), a second sleeve (20) hermetically joined to another pipe (2) to be connected to the pipe joined to the first sleeve (10), one or a plurality of metallic gaskets (30) placed between the respective sealing surfaces (15; 25) of the first and second sleeves (10; 20) so as to be compressed between the sealing surfaces (15; 25) of the first and second sleeves (10; 20) when the first and second sleeves (10; 20) are drawn axially toward each other, a coupling nut (5) for drawing the first and second sleeves (10; 20) axially toward each other, and a thrust bearing (8) interposed between the first sleeve (10) and the coupling nut (5) to allow the coupling nut (5) to be rotated relative to the first sleeve (10). One of a plurality of annular grooves are formed at least in either the sealing surface (15) of the first sleeve (10) or the sealing surface (25) of the second sleeve (20) to receive the coresponding metallic gaskets (30). When compressed between the sealing surfaces (15; 25), the metallic gasket (30) is deformed in an elliptic cross section so that the metallic gasket (30) and the bottom surface of the corresponding annular groove are in close contact with each other in a large contact area.

Description: The present invention relates to a union joint with the features of first part of claim 1 as discloses in GB-A-2 181 202. Reference is further made to DE-A-3 244 097 which discloses a union joint provided with an annular groove receiving a metallic gasket. Semiconductor device manufacturing processes for manufacturing semiconductor devices, such as ICs and LSIs, are carried out in clean rooms in which elaborate precautions are employed to reduce dust particles and other contaminants in the air. A special gas for use in the clean room is supplied through piping from an external gas source. The special gas must be extremely pure and the existence of foreign gasses, such as air, in the special gas must be perfectly obviated. Therefore, the piping for supplying the special gas must be formed of precision pipes and precision union joints for connecting the pipes. Union joints to be used in combination with high-pressure vessels also must be capable of perfect sealing in view of safety. The perfectly sealed connection of pipes by a conventional union joint may be attained by increasing pressure acting on a metallic gasket provided between the pipes. However, if an excessive torque is applied to the coupling ring to join pipes firmly, the pipes and a gasket interposed between the pipes are distorted torsionally, and hence the torque cannot be increased beyond a fixed limit. The applicant of the present patent application proposed previously a union joint as shown in Fig. 9 incorporating a thrust bearing to transmit only an axial force from the inner surface of a coupling nut to one of two pipes and not to transmit torque from the inner surface of the coupling nut to the pipe. As shown in Fig. 9, the union joint consists of a first sleeve 10 attached in a sealed joint to a first pipe 1, a second sleeve 20 attached in a sealed joint to a second pipe 2, a metallic gasket 30 interposed between the sealing surface 15 of the first sleeve 10 and the sealing surface 25 of the second sleeve 20, a coupling nut 5 for axially drawing together the first sleeve 10 and the second sleeve 20 to join the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 hermetically, and a thrust bearing 8 placed between the inner bottom surface 6 of the coupling nut 5 and the shoulder of the first sleeve 10. When the coupling nut 5 is turned to draw together the first sleeve 10 and the second sleeve 20, hence the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2, only an axial force acts on the first sleeve 10, so that the pipes 1 and 2 can be firmly joined together by applying a large torque to the coupling nut 5 without torsionally distoring the pipes 1 and 2 and the metallic gasket 30. In order to enhance the sealing effect of the union joint, the sealing surface 15 of the first sleeve 10 and the sealing surface 25 of the second sleeve 20 are mirror finished and, to enhance the possibility of repetitive use, the sealing surfaces 15 and 25 are burnished. The metallic gasket 30 having excellent compressibility, capable of securing residual elasticity, capable of functioning without contaminating the gas and having excellent durability can be used repeatedly to meet economical requirements. When the coupling nut 5 is turned to draw together the sleeves 10 and 20, the metallic gasket 30, which is in line-contact with the sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 along contact lines CL, is squeezed elastically in a shape indicated by broken lines in Fig. 10 and is brought into surface-contact with the sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 along contact areas CA as shown in Fig. 11. Thus, the sleeves 10 and 20 are perfectly hermetically joined together to isolate the inside space Ai enclosed by the sealing surfaces 15 and 25 and the metallic gasket 30 perfectly from the outside space Ao. In Fig. 9, indicated at 20a is an external thread formed on the second sleeve 20, and at 5a is an internal thread formed on the coupling nut 5 to be screwed on the second sleeve 20. The reliability of this perviously proposed union joint is not satisfactory. In some cases, the union joint is unable to prevent leakage when a high-pressure gas of a pressure on the order of 150 kg/cm² is passed through the union joint even if the sleeves 10 and 20 are drawn axially toward each other by an increased force and the components are finished in the highest possible accuracy. Even if such union couplings are manufactured in a lot under quality control, some of the union couplings may be defective and the union joints may differ from each other in quality. Accordingly, causes of leakage and quality variation must be elucidated and techniques for eliminating such disadvantages must be developed. Still further, if the metallic gasket 30 is located correctly between the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20, it is possible that the metallic gasket 30 protrudes partly into the passage between the pipes 1 and 2 to reduce the flow passage area. Accordingly, it is desired to develop a technique to locate the metallic gasket 30 properly between the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable union joint simple to handle, comprising parts not requiring specially high machining accuracy, not requiring specially high joining force and capable of being manufactured in a predetermined quality and of ensuring perfectly sealed connection of pipes. To achieve the object, causes of imperfectly sealed connection of pipes were analyzed through the examination of imperfect union joints and it was found that invisible flaws formed in the sealing surface of either the first or second sleeve or in the sealing surfaces of both the first and second sleeves during manufacture or after manufacture cannot be covered with the metallic gasket and cause leakage. The mechanism of gas leakage due to the flaws formed in the sealing surfaces of the sleeves and the sealing function of the metallic gasket were examined closely. Procedure and results of such close examination of the causes of gas leakage will be described hereinafter. Flaws formed in the sealing surfaces 15 (25) of the first sleeve 10 (the second sleeve 20) and classified roughly into circumferential flaws Kc extending in circumferential directions and radial flaws Kr extending in raidal directions. The flaws outside the contact area CA do not exert adverse effect on the sealing effect of the metallic gasket 30. The flaws extending across the contact area CA connect the inside space Ai and the outside space Ao and allows the gas to leak when the pressure of the gas is as high as 150 Kg/cm² even if the flaws are very slight ones. Since most of the circumferential flaws Kc formed in the vicinity of the contact area CA can be included in the contact area CA by compressing the metallic gasket 30 to a high degree so that the coantact area CA may be increased to a largest possible extent. Since the radial flaws Kr extend substanitally perpendicularly to the contact area CA, the width of the contact area CA must be increased considerably to include the raidal flaws-Kr within the contact area CA. However, since the metallic gasket 30 is deformed elastically in radial directions in which the metallic gasket 30 is readily collapsible, it is impossible to enlarge the contact area CA sufficiently to include all the radial flaws Kr with the contact area CA even if the sleeves 10 and 20 are drawn axially toward each other by a very large force to compress the metallic gasket 30. Accordingly, gas leakage occurs through the radial flaws Kr which cannot be included within the contact area CA when a gas of a high pressure on the order of 150 kg/cm² is passed through the union joint. Problems similar to those relating to the condition of the sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 occur also in the metallic gasket 30. It is impossible to include all the radial flaws in the metallic gasket 30 within the contact area CA. According to the invention a union joint with the features of claim 1 is provided. Preferred embodiments of this union joint is subject matter of the subclaims. The above and other objecs, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apprent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a union joint in a first embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the union joint of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of assistance in explaining the sealing function of a metallic gasket of the union joint of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a union joint in a second embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the union joint of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan view of assistance in explaining the sealing function of metallic gaskets of the unin joint of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of assistance in explaining a principle on which the present invention is based; Fig. 8 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a union joint in the second embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional union joint; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of assistance in explaining the sealing function of a metallic gasket of the union joint of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a plan view of assistance in explaining the sealing function of the metallic gasket of Fig. 10. First Embodiment (Figs. 1 to 3): A union joint in a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, in which parts like or corresponding to those previously described with reference to Figs. 9 to 11 are denoted by the same reference characters and the description thereof will be omitted to avoid duplication. The union joint in the first embodiment according to the present inventin comprises a first sleeve 10, a second sleeve 20, a circular metallic gasket 30, a coupling nut and a thrust bearing. The functions and arrangement of the coupling nut and the thrust bearing are the same as those of the coupling nut 5 and the thrust bearing 8 of the conventional union coupling previously described with reference to Fig. 9, and hence the coupling nut and the thrust bearing are not shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and the description thereof will be omitted. Annular grooves 40 for receiving the metallic gasket 30 are formed respectively in the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20. The annular grooves 40 have a substantially semicircular cross section having a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the outside circumference of the cross section of the metallic gasket 30 so that the circumference 31 of the metallic gasket is brought into entire contact with the bottom surfaces of the annular grooves 40 when the metallic gasket 30 is compressed between the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20. The metallic gasket 30 is placed between the sleeves 10 and 20 so as to be seated in the annular grooves 40. The metallic gasket 30 consists of an outer shell 31 of a cross section resembling the letter C, and a spring 32 contained in the outer shell 31. The outer shell 31 is formed of a material having a relatively small hardness, such as nickel or aluminum. The spring 32 is formed of a resilient material, such as a stainless steel, having a hardness higher than that of the material forming the outer shell 31. In assembling the union joint, the first sleeve 10 is magnetized by the magnetizing means proposed by the applicant of the present patent application in Japanese Patent Application No. 1- 143465 to attract the metallic gasket 30 to the sleeve 30 so that the metallic gasket 30 is held firmly in the annular groove 40 formed in the sealing surface 15 of the first sleeve 10. Then, the sleeves 10 and 20 are placed axially opposite to each other, and then the first sleeve 10 is demagnetized. Subsequently, the sleeves 10 and 20 are drawn axially toward each other to compress the metallic gasket 30 between the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 so that the metallic gasket 30 is compressed axially and expanded radially in a shape conforming to the shapes of the annular grooves 40 and, consequently, the outer shell 31 of the metallic gasket 30 is brought into entire contact with the bottom surfaces of the annular grooves 40 in a large contact area CA because the radius of the cross section of each annular groove 40 is substantially equal to that of the cross section of the outer shell 31 of the metallic gasket 30. Thus, the large contact ara CA is capable of including more radial flaws formed in the outer circumference of the metallic gasket 30 and the bottom surfaces of the annular groove 40, and hence the sealing effect of the metallic gasket 30 withstands a very high gas pressure on the order of 150 kg/cm². Furthermore, the annular grooves 40 formed in the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 enchance the sealing effect of the metallic gasket 30 even if the sleeves 10 and 20 are drawn axially towad each other by a relatively small axial force and the metallic gasket 30 is not deformed greatly. Accordingly, the union joint need not be formed in a very robust construction and the metallic gasket 30 can be used repeatedly. Still further, since the annular groove 40 formed in the sealing surface 15 of the first sleeve 10 helps locating the metallic gasket 30 on the first sleeve 10, the union joint can readily be assembled even if the union joint is used for joining together pipes extended in a horizontal position. In a modification, the annular groove 40 may be formed only in either the sealing surface 15 of the first sleeve 10 or the sealing surface 25 of the second sleeve 20. The cross section of the annular grooves 40 may be of any suitable shape other than the semicurcular shape provided that the metallic gasket 30 is able to be brought into firm contact with the bottom surfaces of the annular grooves 40. Second Embodiment (Figs. 4 to 6): A sealing principle on which a union joint in a second embodiment according to the present invention is based will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 prior to the descrption of the union joint in the second embodiment. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, when sleeves 10 and 20 are drawn axially toward each other, metallic gaskets 30 are compressed axially and expanded radially in an elliptic shape and are brought into close contact with the bottom surfaces of annular grooves 40 in portions P1, P2 and P3, so that each metallic gasket 30 is in contact with the bottom surface of the corresponding annular grooves in a large contact area CA. The union joint in the second embodiment according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 4 to 6, in which parts like or corresponding to those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference characters and the description thereof will be omitted to avoid duplication. The union joint comprises a first sleeve 10 joined integrally to a pipe 1, a second sleeve 20 joined integrally to another pipe 2, a first metallic gasket 30a, a second metallic gasket 30b, a coupling nut and a thrust bearing. Since the functions and arrangement of the coupling nut and the thrust bearing are the same as those of the coupling nut 5 and the thrust bearing 8 of the conventional union coupling shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the coupling nut and the thrust bearing are not shown in Figs. 4 to 6 and the description thereof will be omitted. Annular recesses 40a and 40b are formed coaxially in the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 to receive the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b, respectively. The outside diameter of the first metallic gasket 30a is smaller than that of the second metallic gasket 30b. The construction, shape, materials and functions of each of the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b are the same as those of the metalic gasket 30 employed in the union joint in the first embodiment, and hence the descrption thereof will be omitted. The annular grooves 40a and 40b are concentric with each other and are coaxial with the sleeves 10 and 20. In assembling the union joint, the first sleeve 10 is magnetized by the magnetizing means proposed by the applicant of the present invention in Japanese Patent Application No. 1 143465, and then the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b are put in the corresponding annular grooves 40a and 40b of the first sleeve 10. The metallic gaskets 30a and 30b are held firmly in place in the corresponding annular grooves 40a and 40b by magnetic attraction. Then, the sleeves 10 and 20 are drawn axially toward each other, whereby the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b are compressed between and are brought into close contact with the bottom surfaces of the corresponding annular grooves 40a and 40b formed in the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 to establish perfect sealing. Thus, the space between the respective sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20 are double sealed by the two concentric, circular contact areas, so that an increased number of radial flaws Kr are included in the contact areas and a sealed area between the contact areas and the sealing effect of the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b withstands a high gas pressure on the order of 150 kg/cm². The sealing effect and sealing function of each of the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b are the same as those of the metallic gasket 30 in the first embodiment. Since the annular grooves 40a and 40b are recessed from the sealing surfaces 15 and 25 of the sleeves 10 and 20, the bottom surfaces of the annular grooves 40a and 40b are rarely flawed after the same have been finished. Since the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b can be located properly by simply placing the same in the corresponding annular grooves 40a and 40b of the first sleeve 10, the union joint can easily be assembled and the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b never protrude into the flow passage to obstruct the flow of the gas through the union joint. Since the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b are placed in the annular grooves 40a and 40b, the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b can be brought into perfect sealing contact with the bottom surfaces of the corresponding annular grooves 30a and 30b by a relatively small force and, consequently, the union joint need not be formed in a very robust construction. Since prefect sealing can be attained without excessively compressing the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b, the metallic gaskets can be used repeatedly. The annular grooves 40a and 40b may be formed only in either the sealing surface 15 of the first sleeve 10 or the sealing surface 25 of the second sleeve 20. Furthermore, the shape of the cross section of the annular grooves 40a and 40b need not be limited to a semicircular shape, but may be formed in any suitable shape proivided that the metallic gaskets 30a and 30b can be brought into close contact with the bottom surfaces of the annular grooves 40a and 40b, respectively. Still further, the union joint in accordance with the present invention may be provided with more than two metallic gaskets and more than two concentric annular grooves respectively for receiving the more than two metallic gaskets. Although the invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, obviously many changes and variations are possible therein. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing the scope and spirit thereof.

Claims: A union joint comprising: a first sleeve (10) hermetically joined to a pipe (1); a second sleeve (20) hermetically joined to another pipe (2) to be connected to the pipe (1) joined to said first sleeve (10) and provided with an external thread (20a) in its end portion; a metallic gasket (30) placed between the respective sealing surfaces (15; 25) of said first and second sleeves (10; 20) so as to be compressed between the sealing surfaces (15; 25) of said first and second sleeves (10; 20) when said first and second sleeves (10; 20) are drawn toward each other, wherein said metallic gasket (30) has a circular shape and has a cross section of a shape resembling the letter C so that said metallic gasket (30) can be compressed in an elliptic cross section between the sealing surfaces (15; 25) of said first and second sleeves (10; 20) and said metallic gasket (30) isolates an inside space (Ai) enclosed by the sealing surfaces (15; 25) and the metallic gasket (30) from the outside space (Ao); a coupling nut (5) rotatably receiving said first sleeve (10) therein, and provided with an internal thread (5a) engaging the external thread (20a) of said second sleeve (20) to draw said first and second sleeves (10; 20) axially toward each other; and a thrust bearing (8) interposed between the inner bottom surface of said coupling nut (5) and the shoulder of said first sleeve (10) to allow said coupling nut (5) to rotate smoothly relative to said first sleeve; characterized in that at least either said first sleeve (10) or said second sleeve (20) is provided in its sealing surface (15; 25) with an annular groove (40) having a cross section substantially conforming to the cross section of said metallic gasket (30) to receive said metallic gasket (30) therein. A union joint according to claim 1, wherein the number of said gasket (30) is plural and said plural gaskets have different diameters and placed concentrically between the respective sealing surfaces (15; 25) of said first and second sleeves (10; 20) in stead of said single metallic gasket (30). A union joint according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each gasket (30) has a circular shape and has a cross section of a shape resembling the letter C so that said metallic gasket (30) can be compressed in an elliptic cross section between the sealing surfaces (15; 25) of said first and second sleeves (10; 20), and said annular groove has a substantially half-elliptical cross section conforming to the cross section of said compressed metallic gasket (30). A union joint according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said metallic gasket (30) consists of an outer shell (31) formed of a relatively soft metal, and a spring (32) formed of a relatively hard, resilient metal and contained in said outer shell (31). A union joint according to one or the preceding claims, wherein each of said plural gaskets (30) consists of an outer shell (31) formed of a relatively soft metal, and a spring (32) formed of a relatively hard, resilient metal and contained in said outer shell (31).

Inventors: MIYASHITA TOMIO, MIYASHITA, TOMIO
Applicants: SANKO KOGYO, SANKO KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: F16J15
IPC codes: F16L19, F16J15