Abstract:
Method and apparatus for a sleeve for hose couplings which has an arched wall section which tapers toward its opposing ends so that the sleeve will fit snugly against the hose coupling. Furthermore, the sleeve has peripheral slots for containing a pair of O-rings to help seal the sleeve to each of the hose couplings. Additionally, the sleeve is contoured to match the shape of the inner wall of the hose coupling so that the sleeve forms a seal against an internal gasket contained in each of the hose coupling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to hoses and fittings and, more particularly, is concerned with a sleeve for a hose coupling. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Devices related to the present invention have been described in the related art, however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,030 dated Aug. 22, 2008, Nader, et al. disclosed a tubular coupling. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,999,700 dated Sep. 12, 1991, Smith disclosed a coupling for a flared end including inner and outer sleeve elements. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,257 dated Mar. 2, 1971, Nowosadko disclosed a tapered pipe joint. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,825 dated Jun. 20, 1978, Butler disclosed a taper type joint. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,452,004 dated Nov. 18, 2008, Hayakawa disclosed a pipe connecting structure. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,766 dated Apr. 28, 1970, Kessler, et al., disclosed a welded joint for pipe having internal coating. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a sleeve for use with conventional hose couplings which sleeve has a convex outer wall section which tapers toward its opposing ends so that the sleeve will fit snugly against the inner surface of the wall of the hose coupling so as to improve the sealing capability of the sleeve and hose coupling. Furthermore, the present invention has peripheral slots for containing a pair of O-rings to assist in sealing the sleeve to each of the hose couplings. Additionally, the sleeve of the present invention is contoured to match the shape of the inner wall of the hose coupling so that the sleeve forms a seal against an internal gasket contained in each of the hose coupling. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve for joining hose couplings together. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve which forms an improved seal with the hose couplings. A further object of the present invention is to form a 100% engagement between the sleeve and the flap of the internal gasket contained in the coupling. A further object of the present invention is to provide an O-ring on the sleeve so as to provide additional sealing capability with the hose couplings. A further object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve which can be retrofit onto preexisting hose couplings. A further object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve which can be easily used by an operator. A further object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve which can be relatively easily and inexpensively manufactured. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross section view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section view of the present invention shown in operative connection. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the prior art. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  sleeve     13  wall     14  inner wall     16  outer wall     18  central axis     20  slot     22  slot     24  O-ring     26  O-ring     28  coupling     30  coupling     32  hose     34  collar     36  bell portion     38  unenlarged end of coupling     40  internal gasket     42  base of internal gasket     44  inner flap     48  sleeve (prior art)     50  outer wall     52  slot     54  tapered end of sleeve     55  clamp     56  slot for clamp     58  fastener       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 5  illustrate the present invention wherein a sleeve for a hose coupling is disclosed and which is generally indicated by reference number  10 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown the present invention generally at  10  showing a section of the wall  13  of a sleeve  12  wherein the inner surface  14  of the wall is straight or flat or planar, and, the outer wall  16  is convex with respect to the central axis  18  of the sleeve along with a first slot  20  and second slot  22  for containing an approximate ¼ inch diameter first  24  and a second  26  O-ring. Peripheral slots  20 ,  22  extend entirely around the circumference of the sleeve  12  along outer wall  16 ; also, the apex of the convex outer wall  16  is approximately intermediate the slots  20 ,  22  and the first and second ends of the sleeve. The sleeve  12  of the present invention  10  is expected to be used primarily with conventional hose couplings  28 ,  30  and may be used with new or retrofit for use with preexisting couplings. The sleeve  12  is shown inserted coaxially within a first coupling  28  proximate to a second coupling  30  wherein each coupling has a hose  32  along with a collar  34  for attaching the hose to each coupling  28  and  30  on the unenlarged end  38  of each coupling so that the sleeve and couplings are coaxially aligned in the conventional manner. Each coupling  28 ,  30  has an enlarged or bell portion shown at  36  on its end which has a larger diameter than the unenlarged portion of the coupling shown at  38 . The outside diameter of the sleeve  12  is slightly less than the inside diameter of the bell portion  36  of the couplings  28 ,  30  so that the similar diameters along with the convex shape of the sleeve causes the sleeve to be contoured to substantially match the shape of the inner wall, which is somewhat concave shaped, of the bell portion of the couplings in order to form an improved seal between the sleeve and coupling and the internal gasket  40 . Also shown is an internal gasket  40  in each bell portion of coupling  28 ,  30  having a base portion  42  disposed in slot  52  and an inwardly extending flap portion  44  on the internal gasket wherein the flap  44  seals against the outer wall surface  16  of the sleeve  12 . It can be seen that the inner flap  44  seals against the outer wall  16  of sleeve  12  along 100% of the length of the inner flap  44  of internal gasket  42  so as to prevent fluid from flowing between the internal flap  44  and the outer wall surface  16  of sleeve  12 . Sleeve  12  also has a tapered/beveled shoulder  54  on each of its ends. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown the present invention generally at  10  showing the substantially cylindrical sleeve  12  wherein the inner surface  14  of the wall is straight or flat and the outer wall  16  is convex with respect to the central axis  18  of the sleeve along an approximate ¼ inch diameter first  24  and a second  26  O-ring. The sleeve  12  is shown in an exploded view between a first coupling  28  and a mating coupling  30 . Each coupling  28 ,  30  has an enlarged or bell portion shown at  36  on its end which has a larger diameter than the unenlarged portion of the coupling shown at  38  for receiving the sleeve  12  therein. Also shown is an internal gasket  40  in each bell portion  36  of coupling  28 ,  30  having a base portion  42  disposed in slot  52  and an inwardly extending flap portion  44  on the internal gasket wherein the flap  44  seals against the outer wall surface  16  of the sleeve  12 . Sleeve  12  also has a tapered shoulder  54  on each of its ends. Hose  32  and collar  34  are also shown. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown the present invention generally at  10  showing a section of the wall  13  of a sleeve  12  wherein the inner surface  14  of the wall is straight or flat and the outer wall  16  is convex with respect to the central axis  18  of the sleeve along with a first slot  20  and second slot  22  for containing an approximate ¼ inch diameter first  24  and a second  26  O-ring. The sleeve  12  of the present invention  10  is expected to be used primarily with conventional hose couplings  28 ,  30  and may be used with new or retrofit for use with preexisting couplings. The sleeve  12  is shown inserted in a first coupling  28  and a mating second coupling  30  wherein each coupling has a hose  32  (shown in phantom) along with a collar  34  (shown in phantom) for attaching the hose to each coupling  28  and  30  on the unenlarged end  38  of each coupling. Each coupling  28 ,  30  has an enlarged or bell portion shown at  36  on its end which has a larger diameter than the unenlarged portion of the coupling shown at  38 . It can be seen that the inner diameter of the sleeve  12  is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the unenlarged end of coupling  28 ,  30  and that o-ring  24  seals against coupling  30  and o-ring  26  seals against coupling  28 . Also shown is an internal gasket  40  in each bell portion of coupling  28 ,  30  having a base portion  42  disposed in slot  52  and an inwardly extending flap portion  44  on the internal gasket wherein substantially the entire length of the surface of the flap  44  seals against the outer wall surface  16  of the sleeve  12  as the flap runs longitudinally a short distance along the couplings  28 ,  30 . It can be seen that the inner flap  44  seals against the outer wall  16  of sleeve  12  along 100% of the length of the inner flap  44  of internal gasket  42  so as to prevent fluid from flowing between the internal flap  44  and the outer wall surface  16  of sleeve  12 . Sleeve  12  also has a tapered shoulder  54  on each of its ends. Also shown is a conventional clamp  55  in mating slots  56  for securing coupling  28 ,  30  together as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown the present invention generally at  10  showing a sleeve  12  wherein the outer wall  16  is convex with respect to the central axis  18  of the sleeve along with an approximate ¼ inch diameter first  24  and a second  26  O-ring. The sleeve  12  is shown disposed between a first coupling  28  proximate to a second coupling  30  wherein each coupling has a hose  32  along with a collar  34 , having multiple collar fasteners  58  thereon, for attaching the hose to each coupling  28  and  30  on the unenlarged end  38  of each coupling as would be done in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. Each coupling  28 ,  30  has an enlarged or bell portion shown at  36  on its end which has a larger diameter than the unenlarged portion of the coupling shown at  38 . Sleeve  12  also has a tapered shoulder  54  on each of its ends. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown the prior art sleeve  48  wherein the outer wall  50  is shown as being flat and wherein the inner flap  44  is shown having only about 50% of the longitudinal length of the inwardly extending flap  44  in contact with the outer surface  50  of the outer wall of the prior art sleeve  48 . It should be clear that there is a greater chance of leakage between the prior sleeve  48  and any internal fluid contained in the coupling as opposed to the sleeve  12  of the present invention  10 . Other features of the coupling are similar to the couplings previously described which is why the sleeve  12  of the present invention can be retrofit for use with preexisting couplings. 
     By way of reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , additional explanation of the present invention  10  is provided. The present invention  10  is expected to be used on hose couplings  28 ,  30  for a variety of markets, e.g., for agriculture, energy and other markets. One of the markets is related to hydraulic fracking of oil/gas wells. Due to energy costs this method of drilling has seen significant increases recently. In an effort to improve efficiencies the well drillers have started changing from rigid pipe to lay-flat, flexible hose  32  for water supply during the drilling process. The types of conventional hose couplings  28 ,  30  used in this process are intended for pressure applications only, however, during a well frack they can experience from low pressure to vacuum conditions in the hose  32  and conventional prior art couplings are not designed for these conditions and thus can leak in these conditions. The present invention  10  discloses a sleeve  12  for use with this type of condition which eliminates the low pressure/vacuum leakage issue. The present invention  10  is expected to be used with couplings  28 ,  30  having diameters ranging from 3-16 inches. 
     The materials of construction of the present invention  10  follow: the sleeve  12  is expected to be constructed of any suitable material and may, by way of example, include steel, aluminum, fiberglass, brass or various plastics; the O-ring  24 ,  26  may be made of any suitable material and may, by way of example, include rubber, buna, viton, polyurethane, neoprene, silicone, EPDM or other similar elastomeric material.