Abstract:
A quick connect system and method for fluid devices according to which one end portion of a first tubular member is inserted in an end portion of a second tubular in a telescoping relationship. An arcuate clamp extends over the telescoping portions of the tubular members, and a tapered locking surface is formed on at least one of the tubular members and on the clamp. The tubular members move relative to each other in an axial direction in response to fluid pressure therein to move the tapered locking surfaces into engagement to lock the clamp against radial movement relative to the tubular members. A pipe assembly including a first connection system for connecting one end of a first pipe to one end of a second pipe while permitting relative rotation between the pipes, and a second connection system for connecting the other end of the first pipe to a third pipe so that rotation of the first pipe relative to the second pipe causes angular movement of the third pipe.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a system and method for connecting fluid devices and, more particularly, to such a system and method which permits the connection to be done easily and quickly.  
           [0002]    In fluid flow environments, quick connect systems are often used to connect the corresponding ends of fluid devices, such as pipes, conduits, hoses, and/or fluid manifolds. However, the installation of many of the prior art quick connect systems is complicated, time consuming and often require tools and extensive manual labor. Also, when the flow lines or manifolds are relatively large, these quick connect systems are bulky and expensive. Moreover, these type of systems cannot be used when the fluid pressures in the flow lines and manifolds are relatively high. Also, these systems usually do not permit relative rotation between the connected flow lines and thus several limit the design possibilities when a multipipe assembly, including elbows, etc. is utilized. Although quick connect systems have been used in oilfield applications, they are usually made of iron, and are very heavy and hazardous. Also, hammer unions have been employed which are difficult and time consuming and often cause injuries.  
           [0003]    Therefore, what is needed is a quick connect system and method which is simple, and easy to connect and disconnect without the need for tools, and employs components that are relatively small and easy to assemble and disassemble, yet permit relative rotation between the connected fluid lines.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    According to the system and method of the present invention, one end portion of a first tubular member is inserted in an end portion of a second tubular member in a telescoping relationship. An arcuate clamp extends over the telescoping portions of the tubular members, and a tapered locking surface is formed on at least one of the tubular members and on the clamp. The tubular members move relative to each other in an axial direction in response to fluid pressure therein to move the tapered locking surfaces into engagement to lock the clamp against radial movement relative to the tubular members. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a quick connect system according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the assembled components of the system of FIG. 1.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the components of FIG. 2 shown assembled but prior to locking.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIG. 3.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but depicting the components in a locked position.  
         [0010]    FIGS.  6 - 8  are elevational views, on a reduced scale, depicting the system of FIGS.  1 - 5  incorporated in a piping assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    With reference to FIG. 1, a quick connect system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, in general, by the reference numeral  10 . The system includes a connector  12 , in the form of a tubular member having a reduced-diameter end portion  14  that forms a shoulder  16 . An external flange  18  extends between the end of the section  12  and the shoulder  16  and forms an annular groove  20  between the shoulder and the corresponding face of the flange. Two seal rings  22  and  24  are formed in corresponding grooves in the external surface of the end portion  14 .  
         [0012]    A connector  30  is also provided and is in the form of a tubular member having a reduced-diameter end portion  34  that forms a shoulder  36 . An annular groove  38  is formed adjacent the shoulder  36  and extends between the shoulder and the corresponding opposite shoulder of the end portion  34  which will be described in detail later. The bore of the end portion  34  receives the end portion  14  of the pipe section  12  in a telescoping manner.  
         [0013]    It is understood that any type of fluid flow device, such as a pipe, conduit, hose, or manifold (not shown), can be provided on the other end portions of the connectors  12  and  30  in any conventional manner such as by welding, molding, fastening or the like. The connectors  12  and  30  and/or the flow devices can be fabricated from a metal or a composite material.  
         [0014]    An arcuate clamp  40  is provided and extends for approximately 180 degrees. Two arcuate flanges  42  and  44  extend from the inner surfaces of the respective end portions, and a central groove  46  is formed in the outer surface of the clamp  40  and extends for the entire arcuate dimension of the clamp.  
         [0015]    An arcuate clamp  50  is also provided and is identical to the clamp  40 . As such, the clamp  50  extends for approximately 180 degrees and two arcuate flanges  52  and  54  extend from the inner surfaces of the respective end portion. A central groove  56  is formed in the outer surface of the clamp  50  and extends for the entire arcuate dimension of the clamp.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 depicts the components of FIG. 1 in an assembled condition, with the clamps  40  and  50  extending over the reduced end portions  14  and  34  of the connectors  12  and  30  with their respective ends in an abutting relationship to form a continuous ring. A retaining strap  58  can be placed in the continuous groove formed by the grooves  46  and  56  prior to the clamps being locked to the connectors  12  and  30  in a manner to be described. The strap  58  can be in the form of a elastic band, or a hook-and-loop arrangement of the type marketed under the trademark VELCRO, sheet-metal clamp, a rubber tube, or any other similar type device.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 depicts the components of FIG. 2 in greater detail and before the clamps  40  and  50  have been locked to the connectors  12  and  30 . In this position, that portion of the end portion  14  of the connector  12  extending from the flange  18  extends within the bore of the end portion  34  of the connector  20  in a telescoping relation. This telescoping portion of the end portion  14  is tapered radially inwardly in the direction towards the end of the pipe section  12  and forms a shoulder  14   a  against which the corresponding end of the connector  30  abuts. Also, an inner surface of the telescoping portion of the end portion  34  of the connector  30  defining the bore of the connector is tapered in a manner to receive the tapered portion of the end portion  14 . The seal rings  22  and  24  engage the corresponding inner surfaces of the end portion  34  to seal against the egress of fluid from the continuous bore formed by the connectors  12  and  30  and their associated fluid flow devices.  
         [0018]    The flanges  42  and  44  of the clamp  40  extend in the grooves  20  and  38 , respectively, to form annular gaps G 1  and G 2  between the corresponding surfaces of the flanges and the end portions  14  and  34  of the connectors  12  and  30 , respectively. Similarly, portions of the and the flanges  52  and  54  of the clamp  50  also extend in the grooves  20  and  38 , respectively and also form annular gaps. As better shown in FIG. 4, the wall  34   a  of the end portion  34  extending opposite the shoulder  36  and forming, with the shoulder, the groove  38 , is tapered radially outwardly from the bottom of the groove. Similarly, the corresponding wall  44   a  of the flange  44  of the clamp  40  is tapered in the same manner. In the unlocked position of FIGS. 3 and 4, the wall  44   a  of the flange  44  is spaced from the wall  34   a  to form the gap G 2 . The corresponding wall of the flange  42 , as well as the corresponding walls of the end portion  14 , are tapered in the same manner which, in the unlocked position of FIG. 3, form the gap G 1 . Similarly, the corresponding walls of the flanges  52  and  54  of the clamp  50  are configured in the same manner, which in the unlocked position, form gaps with the surface  34   a  and the corresponding surface of the end portion  14 .  
         [0019]    The system is initially placed in the unlocked position of FIGS. 3 and 4 and the retaining strap  58  is positioned in the continuous groove formed by the grooves  46  and  56 . The strap  58  functions to maintain the clamps  12  and  30  in the position shown before they are locked to the connectors  12  and  30 .  
         [0020]    The respective ends of the connectors  12  and  30  opposite the end portions  14  and  34  are each connected to, or formed integrally with, a fluid flow device (not shown) in the form of a pipe, conduit, manifold, or the like. When fluid pressure is applied to the system  10  via at least one of the fluid flow devices, the pressure forces the connectors  12  and  30  to separate slightly in an axial direction and move to the position of FIG. 5 in which the end of the connector  12  is slightly spaced from the shoulder  14   a . In this position the tapered wall  34   a  (FIG. 4) moves into engagement with the tapered wall  44   a  of the flange  44  of the clamp  40  and the corresponding tapered wall of the flange  54  of the clamp  50 . Also, the tapered wall of the end portion  14  moves into engagement with the corresponding tapered walls of the flanges  42  and  52  of the clamps  40  and  50 , respectively to lock the clamps  40  and  50  to the connectors  12  and  30 , as shown in FIG. 5. Although the strap  58  is shown in FIG. 5 it is not needed due to the above locking action.  
         [0021]    Of course, when the fluid pressure in the system  10  is depleted, the strap  50  can be removed and the connectors  12  and  30  manually moved in an axial direction to the unlocked position of FIG. 3 to move the tapered wall  34   a  out of engagement with the tapered wall  44   a  of the flange  44  and the tapered wall of the flange  54 ; as well as move the tapered wall of the end portion  14  out of engagement with the corresponding tapered walls of the flanges  42  and  52 . The clamps  40  and  50  can then be manually removed, in a radial direction, from their clamping position, and the connectors  12  and  30  can be separated by moving them away from each other in an axial direction, to disassemble the system  10 .  
         [0022]    Thus the system  10  is simple, and is quickly and easily connected and disconnected without the need for tools, while utilizing components that are relatively small and easy to handle.  
         [0023]    It is noted from the above, that, in the assembled condition of the system  10 , the connectors  12  and  30  can rotate relative to each other. An embodiment employing this feature is shown in FIGS.  6 - 8  in which the system  10  is shown connected in a pipe assembly in a manner to permit relative rotation between the pipes in the assembly. More particularly, the connectors  12  and  30  of the assembled system  10  are connected to one leg of a pair of L-shaped, or elbow, pipes  60  and  62 , respectively, in the manner discussed above. Two quick connect systems  70  and  72 , which are identical to the system  10 , connect the other leg of the pipes  60  and  62  to pipes  74  and  76 , respectively. Although the pipes  74  and  76  are not shown completely, it is understood that they could be either straight or L-shaped.  
         [0024]    The angular position of pipes  74  and  76 , can be varied by rotating the connector  30  relative to the connector  12 . Thus, as an example, the pipe  76  can be moved from a substantially vertical position, as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which it is in angular alignment with the pipe  74 , to the position shown in FIG. 8 in which it extends approximately 45 degrees to the pipe  74 . Of course, the angular positions which the pipe  76  can take are infinitely variable, and the angular position of the pipe  74  can be adjusted in the same manner. This feature is particularly advantageous in pipe assemblies including a series of L-shaped pipes since it permits a significant amount of flexibility in the particular angular positions of the pipes, and therefore the layout of the assembly.  
         [0025]    It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the interlocking tapered walls referred to above can only be formed on one end portion  14  or  34  and engage the tapered surfaces of the corresponding flanges  42  and  52 , or  44  and  54 . Also, reference to “pipe”, and “conduit”, are not meant to be limited to any particular fluid flow device and any such device or devices can be used throughout the system. Further, the number of clamps that are used can vary. Also, spatial references, such as “vertical”, “angular”, etc. are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the specific orientation or location of the structure described above. Still further, the specific design of the connectors  12  and  30  can be varied and, for example, may be formed integrally with the flow devices.  
         [0026]    Since other modifications, changes, and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.