Patent US3317924A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3872573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for making heat recoverable composite couplings
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-19
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-12-19
Abstract
Abstract Described herein is a process and apparatus for making a composite coupling useful in joining cylindrical substrates such as tubing. The composite coupling joins the cylindrical substrate by heat recovery of a component of a coupling over the substrate. The coupling manufacturing process comprises cooling a tubular heat-recoverable metallic compression sleeve to below a temperature at which the material undergoes a martensitic transformation, expanding the cooled metallic sleeve and inserting by means of a pilot rod a cooled tubular insert which will fit snugly and be concentrically disposed within the sleeve. The composite couplings so formed are advantaged over monolithic couplings which contain no insert by improved resistance to tensile stress, gas tight joints, and ease of manufacture.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E Nichols
- 👤 Charles L Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:58
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P11/00; B23P11/02; B23P11/025; B21; B21D; B21D41/00; B21D41/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49865; Y10T29/49945; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53652; Y10T29/5367
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A process for making a heat recoverable composite coupling suitable for joining cylindrical substrates comprising: cooling a metallic compression sleeve, said sleeve being expandable in its cooled state and recoverable upon heating; inserting an expansion means into the cooled sleeve to cause outward expansion; inserting a composite coupling insert into the cooled, expanded sleeve by means of an insert pilot rod, said pilot rod connected to a force means contiguous with said expansion means and engaging the inner surface of said insert whereby the insert is piloted into the expanded sleeve immediately after expansion; removing the expansion means and pilot rod from the expanded heat recoverable insert coupling, whereby said coupling is ready for use to join cylindrical substrates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for making a heat recoverable composite coupling suitable for joining cylindrical substrates comprising: cooling a metallic compression sleeve, said sleeve being expandable in its cooled state and recoverable upon heating; inserting an expansion means into the cooled sleeve to cause outward expansion; inserting a composite coupling insert into the cooled, expanded sleeve by means of an insert pilot rod, said pilot rod connected to a force means contiguous with said expansion means and engaging the inner surface of said insert whereby the insert is piloted into the expanded sleeve immediately after expansion; removing the expansion means and pilot rod from the expanded heat recoverable insert coupling, whereby said coupling is ready for use to join cylindrical substrates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the expansion means and pilot rod are removed from the expanded, heat recoverable composite coupling by causing the expansion means and the pilot rod to pass through said composite coupling, the insert being properly and permanently positioned in said composite coupling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
123 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cooled compression sleeve is expanded with a tapered tool having a leading edge equal to or less than the inside diameter of the unexpanded compression sleeve, said tool tapering outward to a maximum diameter and then tapering back inward so that the back edge of the tool is less than the maximum diameter, the back edge being connected to the pilot rod so that the sleeve is expanded to a maximum amount upon contact with the maximum diameter of the tapered tool and then is allowed to spring back so that upon insertion of the couPling insert carried on the pilot rod, the expanded sleeve springs back over the insert to form a tight composite coupling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cooling step is accomplished by insertion of the sleeve into a container having liquid nitrogen.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for making a heat recoverable composite coupling comprising: a sleeve support member for supporting a metallic compression sleeve, said sleeve being expandable in its cooled state and recoverable upon heating; a cooling means for cooling said metallic compression sleeve; an expansion means for causing the cooled metallic compression sleeve to expand; a means for inserting a composite coupling insert into said metallic compression sleeve, said means comprising a pilot means contiguous with the expansion means, connected to a force means, and capable of engaging the inner surface of said composite coupling insert, whereby said insert is piloted into the sleeve, immediately upon expansion.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
105 words
An apparatus for making a heat recoverable composite coupling comprising: a sleeve support member for supporting a metallic compression sleeve, said sleeve being expandable in its cooled state and recoverable upon heating; a cooling means for cooling said metallic compression sleeve; an expansion means for causing the cooled metallic compression sleeve to expand; a means for inserting a composite coupling insert into said metallic compression sleeve, said means comprising a pilot means contiguous with the expansion means, connected to a force means, and capable of engaging the inner surface of said composite coupling insert, whereby said insert is piloted into the sleeve, immediately upon expansion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the sleeve support member contains an opening which permits passage therethrough of the expansion means and the pilot means thereby permitting permanent insertion of the coupling insert into the sleeve with removal of the expansion and pilot means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the expansion means is a tapered tool having a leading edge equal to or less than the inside diameter of the unexpanded compression sleeve with the tool tapering to a maximum diameter greater than the inside diameter of compression sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein after the tool tapers outward to a maximum diameter, it tapers inward to the back edge connected to the pilot rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tapered tool is selected from the group consisting of a ball, bead or mandrel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the expansion means is coated with a dry film lubricant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the metallic compression sleeve is coated with a dry film lubricant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cooling means is a container having liquid nitrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pilot means is rigidly fastened to the expansion means so that immediately upon expansion, the pilot means carries the composite coupling insert into the compression sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process of joining cylindrical substrates comprising the steps of: cooling a metallic compression sleeve, said sleeve being expandable in its cooled state and recoverable upon heating; inserting an expansion means into the cooled sleeve to cause outward expansion; inserting a composite coupling insert into the cooled, expanded sleeve by means of an insert pilot rod, said pilot rod connected to a force means contiguous with said expansion means and engaging the inner surface of said insert whereby the insert is piloted into the expanded sleeve immediately after expansion; removing the expansion means and pilot rod from the expanded heat recoverable insert coupling; placing the expanded heat recoverable insert coupling over a first cylindrical substrate; abutting the ends of the first and a second cylindrical substrate; sliding the composite coupling from the first cylindrical substrate to partially cover the second cylindrical substrate and allowing the coupling to heat recover whereby said first and second cylindrical substrates are permanently joined by said composite coupling.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process of joining cylindrical substrates comprising the steps of: cooling a metallic compression sleeve, said sleeve being expandable in its cooled state and recoverable upon heating; inserting an expansion means into the cooled sleeve to cause outward expansion; inserting a composite coupling insert into the cooled, expanded sleeve by means of an insert pilot rod, said pilot rod connected to a force means contiguous with said expansion means and engaging the inner surface of said insert whereby the insert is piloted into the expanded sleeve immediately after expansion; removing the expansion means and pilot rod from the expanded heat recoverable insert coupling; placing the expanded heat recoverable insert coupling over a first cylindrical substrate; abutting the ends of the first and a second cylindrical substrate; sliding the composite coupling from the first cylindrical substrate to partially cover the second cylindrical substrate and allowing the coupling to heat recover whereby said first and second cylindrical substrates are permanently joined by said composite coupling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the expansion means and pilot rod are removed from the expanded, heat recoverable composite coupling by causing the expansion means and the pilot rod to pass through said composite coupling, the insert being properly and permanently positioned in said composite coupling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the cooled compression sleeve is expanded with a tapered tool having a leading edge equal to or less than the inside diameter of the unexpanded compression sleeve said tool tapering outward tO a maximum diameter and then tapering back inward so that the back edge of the tool is less than the maximum diameter, the back edge being connected to the pilot rod so that the sleeve is expanded to a maximum amount upon contact with the maximum diameter of the tapered tool and then is allowed to spring back so that upon insertion of the coupling insert carried on the pilot rod, the expanded sleeve springs back over the insert to form a tight composite coupling.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the cooling step is accomplished by insertion of the sleeve into a container having liquid nitrogen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |