Patent Abstract:
An adapter and seal system is provided. The system may comprise a cylindrical body centered about an axis and a first thread disposed about an outer diameter of the cylindrical body. A protrusion on the cylindrical body may extend radially outward from the cylindrical body with a surface orthogonal to the axis partially defining the protrusion. A circular trench may be formed in the surface and may open in an axial direction towards the first thread. A metallic C-seal may be disposed in the circular trench.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to oil systems, and, more specifically, to a sealing adapter for an oil system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Fluids or gasses may pass into and out pressurized vessels in mechanical systems such as oil systems in a vehicle. Joints may connect components of the system and may be subject to leakage unless sealed. A variety of joint and seal types may be used, each having strengths and weaknesses. Metal C-seals may have been incorporated in flanges using multiple bolts to crush the C-seal. The bolts may result in uneven crimping of the seal depending on the order in which bolts are tightened down. Threaded connections may use an elastomeric  0 -ring seal. However, the elastomeric seal may not be suitable for use in high-temperature environments. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    An adapter and seal system may comprise a cylindrical body centered about an axis and a first thread disposed about an outer diameter of the cylindrical body. A protrusion on the cylindrical body may extend radially outward from the cylindrical body with a surface orthogonal to the axis partially defining the protrusion. A circular trench may be formed in the surface and may open in an axial direction towards the first thread. A metallic C-seal may be disposed in the circular trench. 
         [0004]    In various embodiments, a wrenching feature may be disposed about an outer diameter of the protrusion. The C-seal may include an opening disposed on an inner diameter of the C-seal. A locking feature may be disposed on the protrusion. A second thread may be disposed about the outer diameter of the cylindrical body with the protrusion located between the first thread and the second thread. A cone seat may be disposed at an axial end of the cylindrical body. The adapter may be configured to distribute crushing load to the C-seal in an axial direction and/or to distribute crushing load evenly about the circumference of the C-seal. The adapter may also comprise an austenitic nickel-chromium-based alloy. 
         [0005]    An oil system may comprise a first oil component and an adapter sealably coupled to the first oil component. The adapter may comprise a cylindrical body centered about an axis. A first thread may be disposed about an outer diameter of the cylindrical body. A protrusion on the cylindrical body may extend radially outward from the cylindrical body and be partially defined by a surface orthogonal to the axis. A circular trench may be formed in the surface and open in an axial direction towards the first thread. A metallic C-seal may be disposed in the circular trench and compressed between the adapter and the first oil component. 
         [0006]    In various embodiments, the metallic C-seal may include an opening disposed on an inner diameter of the C-seal. A locking feature may be disposed on the protrusion. A second thread may also be disposed about the outer diameter of the cylindrical body with the protrusion located between the first thread and the second thread. A cone seat may be disposed at an axial end of the cylindrical body. The adapter may be configured to distribute crushing load to the C-seal in an axial direction. The adapter may also distribute crushing load evenly about the circumference of the C-seal. A wrenching feature may be disposed about an outer diameter of the protrusion. 
         [0007]    A method of sealably coupling an adapter and an oil component may comprise the steps of rotating the adapter about an axis to threadedly engage adapter and a threaded female member of the oil component, and compressing a C-seal disposed in a groove of the adapter in response to the threadedly engaging the adapter, wherein the groove is formed in a surface of the adapter oriented in a plane orthogonal to the axis. 
         [0008]    In various embodiments, the method may further include placing the C-seal in the groove with an opening disposed on the inner diameter of the C-seal. The step of compressing the C-seal may also comprise applying a compressive force uniformly about a circumference of the C-seal. 
         [0009]    The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a threaded adapter for use with a C-seal, in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section of a threaded adapter for use with a C-seal, in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an annular C-seal with an opening on the inner diameter, in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a cut away of an annular C-seal with an opening on the inner diameter, in accordance with various embodiments; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section of a threaded adapter and C-seal installed in an oil system, in accordance with various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation. The steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials. 
         [0018]    In various embodiments, metallic C-seals may provide improved sealing when the seal is crimped and/or bent uniformly. The adapter described herein may apply compressive force distributed uniformly about the circumference of a C-seal and thus crimp or bend the C-seal in a uniform manner. The adapter may also direct the compressive force in a direction normal to a sealing surface to increase stability and uniformity during compression of the C-seal. Thus, the metallic adapter and C-seal system may provide sealing in high-temperature application such as heated oil systems. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an adapter  100  for use with a C-seal is shown, in accordance with various embodiments. Adapter  100  may comprise a cylindrical body  102  having an axisymmetric or rotationally symmetric geometry centered about axis A. Cylindrical body  102  may have various portions with differing diameters. Male mating surface  104  of cylindrical body  102  may comprise thread  106  disposed about an outer diameter of cylindrical body  102 . A cone seat  108  may be disposed at a radial end of cylindrical body  102 . The cone seat may be oriented at an angle relative to cylindrical body ranging from 30 to 50 degrees. For example, cone seat may have an angle of 37 degrees relative to cylindrical body  102 . Male mating surface  104  and cone seat  108  may provide an interface to connect adapter  100  to another system component. 
         [0020]    In various embodiments, a wrenching feature  110  may protrude from cylindrical body  102  in a radial direction. Wrenching feature  110  may comprise a polygonal shape to engage a wrench during installation, maintenance, or removal. The configuration and size of wrenching feature  110  may vary. For example, the wrenching feature may be configured in 6-point hexagonal configuration or 12-point configuration. A locking feature may be located on adapter  100 . For example, safety cable holes  112  may be defined in a protrusion of wrenching feature  110  from cylindrical body  102 . 
         [0021]    In various embodiments, male mating surface  116  may be disposed at an opposite end of adapter  100  from cone seat  108  in an axial direction. Male mating surface  116  of cylindrical body  102  may include threads  118  disposed about an outer diameter of cylindrical body  102 . A cylindrical passage  120  may be defined by an inner diameter of cylindrical body  102 . 
         [0022]    In various embodiments, surface  122  may partially define wrenching feature  110  protruding from cylindrical body  102 . Surface  122  may be a flat surface oriented coplanar with a radial plane orthogonal to axis A. Surface  122  may define an opening  136  of groove  114  with opening  136  being coplanar with surface  122 . Opening  136  of groove  114  may face in an axial direction towards thread  118 . Groove  114  may have a distal wall  132  and proximal wall  130 . Distal wall  132  and proximal wall  130  may be axisymmetric about axis A and parallel to one another when viewed in cross section as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Groove  114  may also have a bottom surface  134  spanning between distal wall  132  and proximal wall  130  to define groove  114 . Groove  114  may have a substantially uniform depth about the circumference of groove  114 . 
         [0023]    In various embodiments, adapter  100  may be made from metals or metal alloys including steel, titanium, nickel, aluminum, or other suitably rigid materials. For example, adapter  100  may be made from an austenitic nickel-chromium-based alloy such as that sold under the trademark Inconel®, which is available from Special Metals Corporation of New Hartford, N.Y., USA. Groove  114  of adapter  100  may be made by turning using a lathe to achieve the parallelism and flatness of the various features of adapter  100  described herein. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a C-seal  200  is shown, in accordance with various embodiments. C-seal  200  may comprise an annular shape with a convex outer surface  202  and a concave inner surface  206 . C-seal  200  may also comprise a C-shaped cross section with an opening into cavity  204  located on an inner diameter or an outer diameter of C-seal  200 . Cavity  204  may be defined by concave inner surface  206  of C-seal  200 . With brief reference to  FIG. 2 , C-seal  200  may be configured to fit into groove  114  to provide sealing against adapter  100 . C-seal  200  may protrude slightly from groove  114  in response to resting in groove  114  against bottom surface  134  absent a compressive force. 
         [0025]    In various embodiments, C-seal  200  may be made from metals or metal alloys including steel, titanium, nickel, aluminum, silver, or other suitably rigid materials. For example, C-seal  200  may be made from an austenitic nickel-chromium-based alloy such as that sold under the trademark Inconel®, which is available from Special Metals Corporation of New Hartford, N.Y., USA. The material selected for C-seal  200  may be chosen to provide favorable corrosion characteristics when located in groove  114  of adapter  100  during service. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , seal system  300  is shown with adapter  100  and C-seal  200  installed in oil system, in accordance with various embodiments. Component  302  may be a tubular component or conduit configured to transport a fluid or gas. Component  302  may receive cone seat  108  with a female threaded member  304  disposed around the joint between component  302  and adapter  100 . Female threaded member  304  may have a threaded inner diameter to threadedly engage thread  106  of adapter  100 . Female threaded member  304  may also retain a seal  306  between an inner diameter of female threaded member  304  and an outer diameter of component  302 . Adapter  100  may sealably connect to component  302  to limit leakage of pressurized fluid or gas along the joint between adapter  100  and component  302 . 
         [0027]    In various embodiments, adapter  100  may also sealably connect with component  312 . Component  312  may also be a tubular component or conduit configured to transport a fluid or gas. Thread  118  of adapter  100  may engage female mating surface  308  of component  312 . Thread  118  may also urge surface  122  of adapter  100  against surface  310  of component  312  in response to rotation about the axis caused by, for example, rotation of wrenching feature  110 , such as rotation of wrenching feature  110  in response to rotation by a wrench or other tool. Surface  310  and surface  122  may lie flat against one another. C-seal  200  may be disposed within groove  314  and thus located between adapter  100  and surface  310  of component  312 . As adapter  100  is threaded into component  312 , surface  310  may contact C-seal  200  and provide a compressive force as surface  310  and surface  122  come together. 
         [0028]    In various embodiments and with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , adapter  100  may be configured to distribute a crushing load to the C-seal in an axial direction as thread  118  urges surface  122  in the direction of surface  310  in response to rotation of adapter  100 . The flat contour of surface  310  that is also normal to the relative motion between adapter  100  and component  312  may direct the crushing load and/or compressive force in a normal direction (i.e., an axial direction relative to axis A as adapter  100  is rotating). The adapter may also distribute crushing load evenly about the circumference of the C-seal as thread  118  urges surface  122  in the direction of surface  310  in response to rotation of adapter  100 . The compressive force exerted on C-seal  200  as surface  122  and surface  310  are pressed together may crimp and bend C-seal  200  in a substantially uniform manner to provide sealing between component  312  and adapter  100  in high-temperature applications. 
         [0029]    Benefits and other advantages have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, and any elements that may cause any benefit or advantage to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. 
         [0030]    Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “various embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5