Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority based upon Provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/890,357 filed Oct. 14, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to piping flanges, and more particularly relates to a flange adapter plate assembly for accommodating eduction tube assemblies configured with eduction tubes having improved flex attributable to tube members comprising tight convolutions and a plethora of pronounced barbs for enhancing its strength and consequent inherent resistance to collapse thereof. A single adapter plate not only reduces number of prerequisite components, but also increases eduction tube strength. A twist lock protocol is used to expeditiously attach the valve adapter transition plate to a corresponding mating flange. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As is well known in the art, flanges and flange plates are standard fittings for coupling pipes, eduction tubes and the like to railway tank cars, truck tank trailers, and like vessels to facilitate loading and unloading of liquids such as hydrocarbons and corrosive chemicals therefrom. 
     While there have been improvements in the flange plate and eduction tube art, the prior art still appears to be deficient from the vantage point of reducing flanges being limited for example to each of 4″×3″ flange; 4″ flange×2″ flange; 6″ flange×3″ flange. Eduction pipe flanges have heretofore been limited to low profiles such as 2.5″. It will be appreciated by those conversant in the art that flanges have heretofore accepted only studs to secure connections. 
     Furthermore, it will also be appreciated that adapter flange plates are commonly segmented into two pieces, and adapter flange plates have been treaded directly thereinto. And, as will be readily appreciated by practitioners in the art, a common prerequisite of effective coupling of pipes to railway tank cars and the like is achieved by using two wrenches for imparting sufficient torque and tightening particularly of relatively large flange bolts. 
     What is needed in the art are versatile flange plate embodiments capable of being and remaining assembled during installation thereof in situ in a railway tank car or the like and also being disassembled to replace either an upper flange or a lower liner flange. Thus, such an in situ serviceability benefit has been heretofore unknown in the art. 
     It will also be understood that another need in the art is for a flange adapter plate that affords a lower profile than has previously been available wherein and which, of course, enables coupling of various appurtenances and pipe assemblies while complying with established railroad guidelines. 
     Another structural feature that would afford advantageous flange adapter plate functionality would be to include T-slot configurations for accommodating both relatively small bolt patterns and relatively large bolt patterns to enable bolt-heads of the like to be surprisingly easily secured to the extent that the conventional practice of using a wrench would be eliminated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As will be hereinafter described, flange adapter plate assembly embodiments of the present invention are preferably configured with an inside flange pattern to accept bolts and locking bolt-heads in underneath slots, extending through either a single-flange hole pattern or through a slotted multi-flange hole pattern. It will be seen that an inside flange pattern may optionally have key holes for removing bolts, while the outside flange remains bolted. Similarly, it will be seen that the outside flange pattern may optionally hold the bolt-heads for tightening. 
     Flange adapter plate assembly embodiments contemplated hereunder may optionally have slots throughout disposed on the underside thereof and extending into the adapter&#39;s center hole. It will also be appreciated that entire flange adapter embodiments hereof may optionally be lined with plastic or rubber for protection of the underlying materials from corrosive chemicals and the like. 
     It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention incorporate structural features that promote expeditious but secure and leak-free, well-sealed interconnection between piping and piping fittings and accessories such as valves and the like, on the one hand, and railroad tank cars, tank trucks, and other vessels. Embodiments hereof may comprise clover-leaf structure, T-slot structure or T-slot structure augmented with keyholes. Thus, the clover-leaf structure inherently affords interlocking attributes that tend to sustain assembly thereof during installation. Furthermore, such a clover-leaf structure may be readily disassembled to replace either an interconnected upper flange or a lower liner flange. Of course, these attributes will be recognized as being conducive to not only assembly and disassembly, but also to in situ serviceability. 
     Embodiments hereof afford low profile for such piping appurtenances as eduction pipes, wherein the reducer capability inherently reduces height manifest by connections with various piping appurtenances. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this advantage virtually assures compliance with railroad guidelines and like regulations. 
     Moreover, assembly embodiments hereof may be constructed from a variety of dissimilar materials of construction to accommodate a like variety of chemicals being stored and transported. Such assemblies may be constructed with might be considered to constitute a “wet end” for accommodating corrosive chemicals and the like, and a “dry end’ which is devoid of chemical but is relied upon to impart strength to the flange adapter plate assembly. 
     It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise T-slots for accommodating both small bolt-flange patterns and large bolt-flange patterns which enable flanged connections to be secured via commonly-used fastening combination of bolts, nuts, screw-heads in the absence of the necessity for using suitable wrench tools. Such elimination of a wrench for such securement purposes is heretofore unknown in the art. 
     It will also be appreciated that incorporating T-slots into a reducing clover-leaf flange plate assembly nuts may be emplaced beneath a small flange pattern by being slid inwardly from an outer edge or by being keyholed thereinto to render such part serviceable notwithstanding under circumstances in which the threaded holes fail during protracted use. Those skilled in the art will understood that such failure involving threaded holes is a prevalent and long-standing deficiency in the art. It has been found that T-slots may be emplaced in plastic or incorporate plastic grommets or the like, or may be emplaced with bottom portion of the assembly. 
     Keyhole embodiments of the present invention enable use of a headed screw without the necessity of disconnecting a reducer flange plate assembly during active service. This keyhole configuration also enables multiple flange pattern sizes to be implemented atop the assembly surface. It is an advantage over the prior art to be able to perform maintenance to a reducer flange assembly while in service or otherwise by using a headed screw-bolt combination as opposed to invoking commonly-used studs on relatively small hole patterns. 
     It will also be appreciated that yet another aspect of embodiments of the flange adapter plate assembly of the present invention is having a flex end on eduction pipe or on a hose attachment connected thereto. It appears to be unknown in the prior art to incorporate a shrink clamp, screw thread, and plurality of barbs for sealing and retaining the hose end onto relatively stiff and firm pipe. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein these long-standing limitations of the prior art have been overcome. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal schematic view depicting a typical prior art eduction tube disposed situ in a containment vessel nozzle and a valve bolted to a flange plate. 
         FIG. 2A  is a frontal plan view depicting a four-prong flange adapter plate which twist locks onto a polyethylene four prong mating flange on an eduction tube. 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectioned side view of the flange adapter depicted in  FIG. 2A  along line  2 B- 2 B therein. 
         FIG. 3A  is a frontal plan view depicting a four-prong polyethylene connection on an eduction tube, and a cross-sectioned side view of the stainless steel four-prong valve adapter plate depicted therein. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectioned side view of the polyethylene connection depicted in  FIG. 3A  along line  3 B- 3 B therein. 
         FIG. 4A  is a frontal schematic view depicting a flex tube connection on the bottom end of an eduction tube fastened to the cuffed end thereof. 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectioned side view of the flex tube connection depicted in  FIG. 4A  along line  4 B- 4 B therein. 
         FIG. 5  is a frontal schematic view depicting the flex tube which fastens to the flex tube connection depicted in  FIGS. 4A-B . 
         FIG. 6A  is a frontal schematic view depicting the eduction tube vacuum breaker which connects to the end of the flex tube depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectioned side view of the eduction tube vacuum breaker depicted in  FIG. 6A  along line  6 B- 6 B therein. 
         FIG. 7  is a frontal planar perspective view of a raised face eduction tube having a polyethylene spacer d, with this spacer depicted above the proximal end of the eduction tube. 
         FIG. 8  is a frontal planar perspective view of a raised face eduction tube having a stainless steel valve transition plate used to fasten valve similar to the design of the eduction tube as shown in  FIG. 1  but having a raised face and no four-prong locking connection. 
         FIG. 9  is a frontal perspective view of a T-slot flange adapter plate configured with elongate keyhole slots and with bolt recess slots. 
         FIG. 10  is a frontal perspective view of another T-slot flange adapter plate configured without elongate keyhole slots and with bolt recess slots. 
         FIG. 11  is a frontal perspective view of a clover-leaf flange adapter plate configured with elongate keyhole slots and with bolt recess slots. 
         FIG. 12A  is a frontal perspective view of another clover-leaf flange adapter plate configured without elongate keyhole slots and with bolt recess slots. 
         FIG. 12B  is a side schematic view of a eduction tube assembly connected to the flange adapter plate depicted in  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 13  is a simplified partial schematic perspective view of a flange adapter plate interconnected with an eduction tube and a railroad tank car manway. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the figures in the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like components. The present invention teaches flange adapter assembly embodiments that may be incorporated into eduction tube assembly embodiments especially suited for use in conjunction with loading a variety of corrosive liquid chemicals and hydrocarbons and the like into and unloading such variety of corrosive liquid chemicals from containment storage situated upon railway tank cars or tank truck trailers or the like. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, such a flange adapter assembly interconnected with an eduction tube assembly is configured to be flangedly interconnected with the remote end member of a typical suction apparatus known in the art, with suction being used for urging the loading or unloading of implicated liquid chemicals and hydrocarbons as contemplated herein. 
     As will hereinafter be described, as depicted collectively in  FIGS. 2-8 , there are depicted embodiments of the present invention which afford significant benefits and improvements relative to the prior art eduction tube assembly embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 . More particularly, there is seen conventional eduction tube assembly  5  comprising eduction tube  10  passing through fittings plate  30  and interconnected with a railway tank car via eduction tube railway tank car flange  50 . Also depicted therein is railcar nozzle  20  and valve  70  interconnected with eduction tube  10  via eduction tube valve flange  40 . 
     Now referring to the embodiments of the present invention depicted in  FIGS. 2-6 , the adapter flange plates are preferably configured with two flanges. In the context of an eduction tube scenario, as will be hereinafter described, one flange of the adapter flange plate would be adapted to interconnect an eduction tube to a railway tank car or tank truck trailer as contemplated herein, and another flange would be adapted to preferably directly interconnect a control valve with the eduction tube—without any additional prerequisite piping. As will become clear to those skilled in the art, such direct connection as taught hereunder is enabled by incorporating into the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2A-B , preferably stainless steel four-prong flange adapter plate  110 . Flange adapter plate  110  comprises plurality of prongs  120  preferably including congruent prongs  125 A-D. Unlike eduction tube assemblies known by practitioners in the art, this configuration of the instant embodiment enables four-prong flange adapter plate  110  to be expeditiously and securely twist-locked onto corresponding preferably polyethylene four-prong mating flange  150 , as depicted in  FIGS. 3A-B , disposed on the eduction tube hereof. Thus, plurality of prong flanges  160  preferably including each of congruent polyethylene prong flanges  165 A-D is configured to mate with corresponding each of prongs  125 A-D. Accordingly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that prong  125 A mates with prong flange  165 A, prong  125 B mates with prong flange  165 B, prong  125 C mates with prong flange  165 C, and likewise prong  125 D mates with prong flange  165 D—by an operator simply effectuating a mere twist-lock motion. 
       FIGS. 4-6  focus upon eduction tube  200  exemplified by the instant embodiment. In particular, in  FIGS. 4A-B , flex tube  210  is depicted having plurality of barb members  220  and connection  240  adapted to mate with and fasten to cuffed end  250  of flex tube  200  as shown in  FIGS. 5A-B . Also shown therein is opposite end  270 , adapted to accommodate interconnected vacuum breaker at  280  as, in turn, depicted in  FIGS. 6A-B . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is depicted another embodiment of the present invention  300  adapted to enable the eduction tube assembly contemplated hereunder to be bolted directly to a railway tank car or tank truck trailer or like vessel. It will be appreciated that a piping spool or piping T-fitting is preferably affixed to the eduction tube flange  320  with a plurality of bolts (not shown) through like plurality of holes  390  radially distributed uniformly upon spacer top surface. A spacer sandwich member  350  preferably constructed from polyethylene should preferably be interspersed between the eduction tube  310  and the piping spool or piping T-fitting  320 . Gasket surface  330  is situated atop raised face  370  of eduction tube  310 . A suitable valve is then connected to the piping spool or piping-T via a plurality of bolts or the like. As should be evident to those skilled in the art, this plurality of bolts passes through corresponding plurality of holes  390  and  395 , respectively, to achieve the contemplated secure flanged connection. 
     In  FIG. 8 , there is depicted yet another embodiment hereof  400 , but which corresponds to an implementation of the stainless steel flange adapter plate  450  contemplated hereunder instead of the polyethylene spacer member  350  depicted in  FIG. 7 . As shown therein, the eduction tube  410  is secured to the railway tank car or tank truck trailer or like vessel preferably via a plurality of bolts (not shown) by passing through like plurality of bolt holes  490 , while the stainless steel adapter plate  450  is similarly secured to the eduction tube flange  470 . The stainless steel flange adapter plate is preferably configured with a plurality of stud members  480  that enable a suitable valve to be attached to the eduction tube. As should be evident to those skilled in the art, this plurality of stud members  480  passes through corresponding plurality of holes  485 , respectively, to achieve the contemplated secure flanged connection. 
     It will be understood that the eduction tube assembly embodiment depicted in  FIG. 8  may be derived from an eduction tube assembly depicted in  FIG. 7  by appropriately modifying an eduction tube utilizing additional piping in order to connect a suitable valve to a dual flanged configuration and replacing the polyethylene spacer with a stainless steel adapter. In so doing, this raised-face eduction tube assembly  400  having a stainless steel transition plate  490  would be used to connect a valve similar to the prior art eduction tube assembly  5  depicted in  FIG. 1 , except for the presence of the raised face  470  and there no longer being a four-prong locking connection. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is depicted top surface view of T-slot flange apparatus adapter plate  500  having plurality of elongate keyhole slots  525  and plurality of bolt recess slots  510  configured with circular holes for receiving corresponding plurality of suitably-sized bolts therethrough. Circular holes  515 A and B are representative of plurality of bolt circular recess slots  510 . Disposed within each recess slot of plurality of recess slots  510  is corresponding plurality of circular holes exemplified by circular holes  520 A and B. Plurality of elongated recess slots  530  is also shown. In the event that elongated recess slots  530  do not extend fully into center bore of adapter plate  500 , a plastic or rubber liner may be applied to the faces and bore. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 10 , there is depicted top surface view of T-slot flange apparatus adapter plate  600  being devoid of elongate keyhole slots and plurality of bolt recess slots  610  configured with circular holes for receiving corresponding plurality of suitably-sized bolts therethrough. Circular holes  620 A and B, disposed within corresponding recess slots  615 A and B, representative of plurality of bolt circular recess slots  610 . Elongated recess slot  630  is also shown. In the event that elongated recess slots  630  do not extend fully into center bore of adapter plate  600 , a plastic or rubber liner may be applied to the faces and bore. 
       FIG. 11  depicts top surface view of clove-leaf flange apparatus adapter plate  700  being devoid of elongate keyhole slots and plurality of bolt recess slots  730  configured with circular holes for receiving corresponding plurality of suitably-sized bolts therethrough. Circular holes  720 A and B are representative of the plurality of bolt circular holes. It should be understood that flange adapter plate  700  is configured to accept an adapter plate interlocking at each sector. It will be seen that  FIG. 11  refers to four such sectors. Such an interlocking adapter enables replacement of the plate to be effectuated independently of clove-leaf flange  700 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 12A , there is depicted top surface view of another clove-leaf flange apparatus adapter plate  800  having elongate keyhole slots and plurality of bolt recess slots  810  configured with circular holes for receiving corresponding plurality of suitably-sized bolts therethrough. Circular holes  820 A and B are representative of plurality of bolt circular holes contained within like plurality of elongated recess slots  815 A and B. Elongated recess slot  830  is also shown.  FIG. 12B  depicts the underlying structure and connected piping and appurtenances thereto, beneath flange adapter plate  800  depicted in  FIG. 12A . Thus, depicted are flanged joinder of  830  and  730 , and flanged connection with eduction tube assembly  1810  comprising tube  1820 , plurality of barbs  1840  and collar  1870 . 
       FIG. 13  depicts top perspective view of in situ flange apparatus adapter plate  900  having plurality of elongate keyhole slots  945  and plurality of bolt recess slots individually adjacent thereto configured with corresponding plurality of circular holes for receiving corresponding plurality of suitably-sized bolts therethrough. Flange apparatus adapter plate  925  is disposed atop eduction pipe flange which is, in turn, disposed atop rail car nozzle flange  935 . The eduction tube is configured with tube  920 , plurality of barbs  910  and end collar  970 . 
     It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention enjoy the benefit of having deep, annular gasket rings that afford superior sealing capabilities. 
     The following is a tabulation of the components depicted in the drawings: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Component Listing 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Numeral 
                 Component 
                 Remarks 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   5 
                 Prior art eduction tube assembly 
                   
               
               
                  10 
                 Eduction tube 
                   
               
               
                  20 
                 Railcar nozzle 
                   
               
               
                  30 
                 Fittings plate 
                   
               
               
                  40 
                 Eduction tube valve flange 
                   
               
               
                  50 
                 Eduction tube railcar flange 
                   
               
               
                  70 
                 Valve 
                   
               
               
                  100 
                 Eduction tube assembly, dual flange 
                   
               
               
                  110 
                 4-prong valve adapter plate 
                 Stainless steel 
               
               
                  120 
                 4 prongs 
                   
               
               
                  125A-D 
                 Each of 4 prongs 
                   
               
               
                  150 
                 4-prong dual valve flange 
                   
               
               
                  160 
                 4 mating flanges 
                 Mated to prongs 
               
               
                  165A-D 
                 Each of 4 mating flanges 
                   
               
               
                  200 
                 Eduction tube 
                   
               
               
                  210 
                 Flex tube member 
                   
               
               
                  220 
                 Plurality of barb members 
                   
               
               
                  240 
                 Mating connection for flex tube  
                   
               
               
                   
                 cuffed end 
                   
               
               
                  250 
                 Flex tube cuffed end 
                   
               
               
                  270 
                 Flex tube vacuum breaker end 
                   
               
               
                  280 
                 Flex tube attachment 
                   
               
               
                  300 
                 Eduction tube assembly raised face  
                   
               
               
                   
                 with spacer 
                   
               
               
                  320 
                 Eduction tube 
                   
               
               
                  330 
                 Gasket surface 
                   
               
               
                  350 
                 Spacer 
                   
               
               
                  370 
                 Raised eduction tube face above spacer 
                   
               
               
                  390 
                 Plurality of holes to fasten spacer to  
                 Plurality of bolts  
               
               
                   
                 eduction tube 
                 &amp; nuts 
               
               
                  400 
                 Eduction tube assembly with stainless  
                   
               
               
                   
                 steel adapter plate 
                   
               
               
                  410 
                 Eduction tube 
                   
               
               
                  420 
                 Eduction tube flange 
                   
               
               
                  430 
                 Gasket surface 
                   
               
               
                  450 
                 Transition flange with threaded stud  
                 Stainless steel 
               
               
                   
                 holes 
                   
               
               
                  470 
                 Raised face above transition flange 
                   
               
               
                  480 
                 Plurality of stud members 
                   
               
               
                  485 
                 Plurality of stud members 
                 Corresponding to 480 
               
               
                  490 
                 Plurality of bolt holes 
                   
               
               
                  495 
                 Plurality of bolt holes 
                 Corresponding to 490 
               
               
                  500 
                 Flange adapter plate, with keyhole slots 
                 Top surface 
               
               
                  510 
                 Plurality of bolt recess slots, circular  
                   
               
               
                   
                 holes 
                   
               
               
                  515A-B 
                 Bolt Recess pair, circular holes 
                   
               
               
                  520A-B 
                 Circular hole pair 
                   
               
               
                  525 
                 Plurality of elongated recess slots 
                   
               
               
                  530 
                 Elongated recess slot 
                   
               
               
                  605 
                 Flange adapter plate, without keyhole  
                 Top surface 
               
               
                   
                 slots 
                   
               
               
                  610 
                 Plurality of bolt recess slots, circular  
                   
               
               
                   
                 holes 
                   
               
               
                  615A-B 
                 Bolt Recess pair, circular holes 
                   
               
               
                  620A-B 
                 Circular holes 
                   
               
               
                  625 
                 Plurality of elongated recess slots 
                   
               
               
                  630 
                 Elongated recess slot 
                   
               
               
                  700 
                 Clove-leaf flange adapter plate,  
                   
               
               
                   
                 without keyhole slots 
                   
               
               
                  720A-B 
                 Bolt circular holes 
                   
               
               
                  730 
                 Bolt recess slots 
                   
               
               
                  800 
                 Clove-leaf flange adapter plate, with  
                   
               
               
                   
                 keyhole slots 
                   
               
               
                  810 
                 Plurality of bolt recess slots 
                   
               
               
                  820A-B  
                 Bolt circular holes 
                   
               
               
                  815A-B  
                 Bolt elongated slots 
                   
               
               
                  825 
                 Plurality of keyhole recess slots 
                   
               
               
                  830 
                 Elongated recess slot 
                   
               
               
                 1810 
                 Eduction tube assembly 
                   
               
               
                 1820 
                 Eduction tube 
                   
               
               
                 1840 
                 Plurality of barbs 
                   
               
               
                 1870 
                 collar 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Other variations and modifications will, of course, become apparent from a consideration of the structures and techniques hereinbefore described and depicted. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the particular features and structures hereinbefore described and depicted in the accompanying drawings, but that the present invention is to be measured by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 2