How Does a Two-way Solenoid Valve Work

Overview of Two-Way Solenoid Valves
A Two-Way Solenoid Valve is an electromechanical valve controlled by an electric current. The electric current runs through a solenoid, which is a wire coil wrapped around a metallic core. A solenoid creates a controlled magnetic field when an electrical current is passed through it. This magnetic field affects the state of the solenoid valve, causing the valve to open or close. Two-Way Solenoid Valves are used to transport gases or liquids and have a wide variety of applications, including irrigation, sprinkler systems and industrial uses. Two-Way Solenoid Valves allow substances to be transported in either direction within the valve, making them extremely versatile and useful for industrial applications.
Mechanics of a Two-Way Solenoid Valve
The mechanical force in a Two-Way Solenoid Valve is the solenoid coil, which converts electrical energy into magnetic energy that is used to modulate the valve. A Two-Way Solenoid Valve contains an inlet pipe, which transports the gas or liquid into the solenoid valve. The valve consists of a rubber or plastic stopper that is held against the inlet pipe to seal it closed. The front end of the stopper contains a rubber O-ring, which seals the inlet pipe and prevents the gas or liquid from entering the Two-Way Solenoid Valve. The stopper is held in place by a metallic spring attached to the back end of the stopper. The stopper is also attached to a metallic pin via a metal bar that runs perpendicular from the pin to the stopper. The pin is located near the solenoid coil. When the solenoid coil is activated, the magnetic field draws the pin back, which pulls the stopper back and breaks the seal with the inlet pipe, allowing the gas or liquid to enter the Two-Way Solenoid Valve. When the solenoid coil is deactivated, the force of the spring pushes the stopper back into place against the inlet pipe. Two-Way Solenoid Valves contain solenoid coils and stoppers at either end of the valve in order to facilitate the movement of the substance in either direction. The inlet and outlet pipes are interchangeable in a Two-Way Solenoid Valve since each pipe can take in or expel the substance.
Importance of Pressure in Two-Way Solenoid Valves
Two-Way Solenoid Valves are different from pumps in that there is no mechanical device to force the liquid or gas through the valve. As a result, it is important for a Two-Way Solenoid Valve to have a pressure differential between the outlet pipe and the inlet pipe. Specifically, the inlet pipe must have higher pressure than the outlet pipe to force the gas or liquid through the Two-Way Solenoid Valve. Equalized pressure within a Two-Way Solenoid Valve will prevent a substance from flowing though the valve, regardless of the state of the solenoid and the stopper. Two-Way Solenoid Valves are capable of easily changing the pressure differential between the two ends of the valve in order to regulate the direction of flow through the valve.

Coupling arrangement including drum, flange, and connector

A flange includes a flange interior surface disposed in the first open end, a flange exterior surface disposed outside of the first open end, a flange side surface connecting the flange interior and exterior surfaces, and at least one flange receiving portion. At least one connector is disposed in the at least one drum receiving portion and the at least one flange receiving portion to connect and/or to secure the optical photo-conductive drum and the flange.

Coupling arrangement having an optical photo-conductive drum including drum exterior and interior surfaces surrounding and extending along a longitudinal axis, the drum exterior surface facing away from the longitudinal axis, and the drum interior surface facing toward the longitudinal axis and including first and second open ends and at least one drum receiving portion.

In a known electro-photographic (EP) machine, such as a photocopier, a laser printer, and a facsimile, a known process cartridge is removably mounted to a known main assembly.

The main assembly of the EP machine generally includes, among other components, a housing, a control panel disposed within the housing for controlling an image forming process, an electronic control system that is operated by the control panel, a motor that is controlled by the control system, a gear train that is driven by the motor, and electrical contacts for delivering power to the process cartridge that is inserted into and retained within grooves or channels formed in opposing side walls of the housing. The main assembly generally also includes an optical projection system and a central processor that controls a sequence and a timing of the optical projection system during a known image forming operation.

The process cartridge generally includes, among other components, an optical photo-conductive (OPC) drum, and a driving gear for driving one or more components of the process cartridge, such as a charging device, a developing device, and a cleaning device.

During the known image forming operation, the OPC drum undergoes a charging portion and a discharging portion of a charging/discharging cycle to ultimately create a developer image (e.g., a toner image) on a recording material (e.g., a sheet of paper, a transparent sheet, etc.). Briefly, during the charging portion of the charging/discharging cycle, the charging device uniformly charges an exterior surface of the OPC drum. The optical projection system projects image containing information in the form of a laser light to selectively discharge a portion of the exterior surface of the OPC drum, thereby forming a latent image on the OPC drum. The developing device applies a developer (e.g., a toner) to the partially charged exterior surface of the OPC drum. The developer is electro-statically attracted to the charged areas of the OPC drum, thereby forming the developer image. The developer image is then transferred from the exterior surface of the OPC drum to the recording material.

In the known process cartridge, the exterior surface of the OPC drum is coated with an electrically resistive coating to improve a quality of the image produced during the image forming process. Examples of known electrically resistive coatings include hard anodization with aluminum oxide (Al2 O3) and oxidized surfaces. Generally, during a coating process, the OPC drum is submerged in the electrically resistive coating, such that an interior surface of the OPC drum, as well as the exterior surface, is coated with the electrically resistive coating.

It is known that the coated interior surface of the OPC drum must be sufficiently grounded for the OPC drum to undergo the required discharging portion of the charging/discharging cycle. In a known grounding or earthing arrangement, a grounding plate is disposed beneath the driving gear and within an interior portion of the OPC drum. The grounding plate includes a plurality of first radially extending projections that contact the interior surface of the OPC drum. To satisfactorily ground the OPC drum with the coated interior surface, the electrically resistive coating must be removed from a contact area of the interior surface through a separate and additional process (i.e., a process after the coating of the OPC drum), such that the first projections can be aligned to achieve electrical connection with the interior surface of the OPC drum. An example of a known process for removing the electrically resistive coating includes a laser scribing operation. The grounding plate also includes a plurality of second radially extending projections that contact an electrically conductive shaft extending through the driving gear.

Thus, during assembly of the known process cartridge, the grounding plate is aligned with the contact areas and inserted into the OPC drum, such that the first projections of the grounding plate achieve electrical connection with the contact areas of the OPC drum. The driving gear is then secured to the OPC drum by known securing means, thereby preventing relative movement and rotation, and preventing disassembly, among the OPC drum, the driving gear, and the grounding plate. Examples of securing means include an adhesive and a press fit arrangement. The electrically conductive shaft extends through the driving gear, and achieves electrical connection with the second projections of the grounding plate. By these arrangements, the OPC drum is sufficiently grounded through the grounding plate and the electrically conductive shaft.

The present invention still further provides a method of grounding a coupling arrangement including an optical photo-conductive drum and a flange including an interior surface disposed inside the optical photo-conductive drum, an exterior surface disposed opposite the interior surface, and a side surface connecting the interior and exterior surfaces. The method includes disposing a connector in the side surface of the flange, and inserting the flange that includes the connector inside the optical-photoconductive drum to achieve electrical connection between the inside of the optical photo-conductive drum and the connector, and securing the flange to the optical photo-conductive drum.

Cast flange for pipe couplings

End clamp housing for attachment to a cylindrical body, the side end housing being a unitary metal casting comprising; an open annular base element provided with a first, ingoing flange at a first side of the base element and a second ingoing flange at a second side of the base element.

The second ingoing flange having a cross-section forming a loop extending outwardly beyond the base element; and a pair of clamp members projecting outwardly from the base element. The clamp members being positioned face to face and having an aperture to allow the insertion of a tightening element which can be operated to reduce the distance between the two ends of the open annular base element and thereby press an annular seal element against the outside of a pipe inserted through the seal clamp housing, which after release of the tightening element returns to its original dimensions.

More particularly, the invention provides an improved flange and its seal which is attachable to the external surface of a pipe and which can be used to eliminate a small leak if access to a pipe extremity is available. The flange housing isalso useful, again in combination with a seal element, for anchoring an adjacent item and for preventing fluid flow along the external surface of the pipe.

Pipe couplings and the clamps associated therewith are well known and have been manufactured by the present inventors for some years. The coupling comprises a central body member and two side clamps. A prior-art clamp is illustrated in FIG. 1. However there has now been found an improved manufacturing method which at the same time allows a design improvement and cost reduction of this item.

No directly relevant US patents were found. A 2-part seal clamp assembly for piping is disclosed by Friedrich et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,544, the purpose of which is to contain leakage between the large diameter end flanges of adjoiningco-axial pipes. Devices intended to seal pipe leaks are seen in US Patent Applications 2001/0008149 by D{grave over ( )}auria, No. 2004/0108010 by Gaston et al, and No. 2004/0118467 by Pirart. These disclosures do not however relate to the type of sealclamp which is the subject of the present invention.

A disadvantage of presently known end clamps of the steel band type is that the areas adjacent to the lug of the seal clamp, at each side are unflexible, straight and not concave, when viewed parallel to the seal clamp axis, whereas the sealoperates better when pressed inwardly by a concave surface. This defect in band clamps could be due to the nature of bending machines, the first and the last portion of a metal strip being curved not being bent, and remaining as flat as the originalmetal strip, probably because at the beginning and at the end of the bending process the workpiece is in contact with only 2 of the 3 rollers of the bending machine.

In a coupling of the type seen in FIG. 1 of the prior art design, and also in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,975 to McCord, a sudden increase in thickness of the band when approaching the area of the lug is seen. This thickness results in sharp loss offlexibility near the lug, the outcome of which is that when in use this section will retain its original flat shape and thus fail to conform to the circular seal. More sealing pressure is thus required before a pressure-tight condition prevails. Applying high sealing pressure delays work on site and shortens the life of the flexible seal.

An open annular base element provided with a first, ingoing flange at a first side of said base element and a second ingoing flange at a second side of said base element, said second ingoing flange having a cross-section forming a loopextending outwardly beyond said base element; and a pair of clamp members projecting outwardly from said base element, said clamp members being positioned face to face and having an aperture to allow the insertion of a tightening element which can be operated to reduce the distance betweenthe two ends of said open annular base element and thereby press an annular seal element against the outside of a pipe inserted through said seal clamp housing, which after release of said tightening element returns to its original dimensions.

It has been found that the cast-iron flange clamp is no heavier than the sheet steel clamp which it now replaces. This is due to the use of thin walls reinforced by ribs on the outer face of the new clamp body.

Engine driven dry air pump with a flange mounted oil drain

Mounting end of an engine-driven accessory includes a longitudinally-extending neck having imperforate lateral surfaces defining a central bore. A flange having a mounting face is disposed at the end of neck.

A plurality of generally radially extending drain passages are formed through the flange, which communicate with the central bore to form a fluid flow path between the bore and the exterior of the flange. A seal is provided for blocking selected ones of the drain passages while leaving the remainder of the drain passages open. The accessory may include a cover having an integral sealing rim which cooperates with a notch in a mating component to compress a portion of a resilient seal while simultaneously allowing for expansion of the remainder of the seal.

A dry air type rotary vane pump usually has a rotor with radial slots, vanes that reciprocate within these slots, and a chamber contour within which the vane tips trace their path as they rotate and reciprocate within their rotor slots. Thereciprocating vanes thus extend and retract synchronously with the relative rotation of the rotor and the shape of the chamber surface in such a way as to create cascading cells of compression and/or expansion, thereby providing the essential componentsof a pumping machine.

Because dry air pumps do not use a liquid lubricant, forms of dry lubrication have been developed. For example, vanes for rotary pumps have been manufactured from carbon or carbon graphite. These parts rub against other stationary or movingparts of the pump during operation. Graphite dust from these parts is deposited on the opposing parts by the rubbing action and forms a low friction film between the parts, thereby providing lubrication. The deposited graphite film is itself worn awayby continued operation of the pump, and is eventually exhausted out of the pump. The film is replaced by further wear of the carbon graphite parts. Thus, lubrication is provided on a continuous basis that continuously wears away the carbon graphiteparts.

One of the primary causes of carbon vane dry pump failure is contamination with engine lubricating oil. If engine lubricating oil passes through the drive system into the interior of the pump in moderate quantities, it will mix with the graphitedust to form a viscous sludge which has poor lubricating properties. This causes overheating and eventual seizing and failure. Because the seals used at the air-oil interface of commercially available pumps and drives are not 100% effective, drainopenings are usually provided for draining any leaking oil before it reaches the carbon vanes. However, the drain openings used in the prior art require that a significant portion of the pump housing fill with oil before it drains.

This causes theshaft to pick up and sling the oil through drain openings in several directions from the pump. This makes it difficult to determine the source of an oil leak. Furthermore, this drain arrangement collects a significant quantity of oil at the air-oilinterface which increases the probability that the oil will migrate into the vane chamber. Finally, because the drains are usually arrayed all the way around the pump to create a "universal" fit air pump, the drive area is open and can be easilycontaminated, for example during an engine solvent wash.

The above-mentioned need is met by the present invention, which provides a dry air pump for being attached to an oil-lubricated engine, having: a housing containing a plurality of movable engine-driven vanes for pumping a fluid; and alongitudinally-extending neck with imperforate lateral surfaces defining a central bore. A first end of the neck is attached to a working portion of the accessory, and a flange disposed at an opposite end of the neck from the first end, said flangehaving a mounting face.

A plurality of generally radially extending drain passages are formed through the flange. The drain passages communicate with the central bore to form a fluid flow path between the bore and the exterior of the flange.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cover is a drive cover including a longitudinally-extending neck having imperforate lateral surfaces defining a central bore. A flange is disposed at an end of the neck. The flangehas a mounting face, wherein a plurality of generally radially extending drain passages are formed through the flange. The drain passages communicate with the central bore to form a fluid flow path between the bore and the exterior of the drive cover.

Adjustable threshold fastener with flange

Fastener comprising a threaded stud and a rectangular nut having raised flange is disclosed. Raised flange enable passing the fasteners in a curvilinear dispensing track. The rectangular nut resides in a channel in a threshold device and is restrained against rotational movement. The threaded stud includes a flat head adjustable in a plurality of positions which, in turn, enables positioning of the threshold.

An adjustable fastener comprising a threaded stud and a rectangularly shaped nut having first and second ends is disclosed. The first and second ends each have raised flange and the threaded stud interengages the rectangularly-shaped nut. Therectangularly-shaped nut includes a raised crown having interior threads therein. The raised flange extend upwardly partially enveloping the threaded stud. The threaded stud includes first and second adjustment receptacles for rotatably adjusting thestud and a support surface integral with the stud away from a threshold to raise the threshold

Walls in the threshold form a channel therein. One of the walls of the channel includes a bore therein which receives the threaded stud of the fastener which is press-fit in the bore of the channel. Preferably the nut is a rectangularly-shapednut and has flange extending from two ends of the nut. The nut has a first surface residing in contact with a wall of the channel such that it is restrained against rotation by the channel and is maintained in contact therewith. The threaded studincludes a flat head or support surface adjustable in a plurality of positions. Each end of the stud includes a screw driver receptacle for rotation of the stud relative to the nut and the bore in the wall of the channel.

A curvilinear delivery track for delivering a plurality of fasteners includes a head guide and a flange guide. Each of the fasteners comprises a U-shaped, in cross-section, nut adapted to receive a threaded stud. Each of the U-shaped nutsincludes a forward and a rearward flange. The head guides of the delivery track engage the heads of the fasteners preventing excessive rotation or vertical displacement of the fasteners. The heads of the fasteners in combination with the head guideprevent shingling and/or jamming of the delivery track.

The flange are preferably oriented perpendicular to the support surface of the nut but other non-perpendicular orientations are specifically contemplated herein.

A better understanding of the invention and an understanding of these and other objects will be had when reference is made to the Brief Description Of The Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and the Claims which follow hereinbelow.

It is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable threshold fastener with flange to prevent shingling and/or jamming in a delivery track, and provide an adjustable threshold fastener with flange which are shaped so as to prevent shingling and/or jamming.

Cast convoluted piping flange

A convoluted flange ring for a flange coupler in a piping system the flange ring having an annular bolting disk with an outer rim and an inner rim forming a U-shaped cross section, with the bolting disk having a transitional thickness for improved stress management, the thickness of the bolting disk increasing from the outer rim to the inner rim.

To prevent deformations in the flange rim of the lighter weight prior art convoluted flange from being transmitted as stresses to the pipe weldment, the outer periphery of the U-shaped rim contacts the abutting face of the opposing flange. This contact provides strength for mechanical support of the pipe connection without excessively stressing the pipe at or above the weld to a flared stub end fitting for seating the flange rim. This method of managing stresses in the prior art flange restricts the type of seals that can be used and requires great precision in selecting a seal according to proper thickness.

Conventional flanges are cast and ordinarily are relatively thick to prevent warpage on bolting. Because cast flanges are relatively inexpensive to produce, various systems have been devised to construct convoluted flanges with a cast metal flange rim. U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,924 of Schlicht, issued Jul. 10, 1984 entitled, "Bimetal Flange Connector" describes one such flange with a ductile iron convoluted flange rim. While the weight of the bimetal flange is reduced over conventional flanges, the process of fabricating the bimetal flange is more complicated and costly than conventional cast or forged flanges.

This inventor has constructed useful cast convoluted flanges that have the advantages of the Shultz flange without the requirement that the periphery of the flange rim contact the opposing flange face. However, to provide for the structural integrity for the physical connection to the connected flange, the cast convoluted flange is of greater thickness, thereby compromising the advantages of lighter weight and reduced material requirement characteristic of a convoluted flange. Furthermore, the added thickness results in a build-up of stresses transmitted to the pipe weldment making this design less than an ideal solution.

It is an object of this invention to provide a light-weight convoluted flange that is designed and configured to provide all of the advantages of a convoluted flange in an inexpensive casting or forging with controlled management of stresses. The objective is accomplished by using transitional changes in thickness of the flange member. The improved convoluted flange has greater flexibility and allows the flange bolts to compress a seal interposed between the compression faces with the desired force to effect proper sealing without transmitting excess stresses to the flange stub or pipe weldment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flange assembly that includes a trapped flange seal and utilizes a convoluted flange member, preferably of the type that includes controlled management of stress. The trapped seal flange assembly is particularly useful for piping systems carrying abrasive slurries and eliminates turbulence that abrades the inside surface of the pipe. The trapped seal is also desirable for systems where it is necessary to minimize contact of the medium in the pipe with the seal, particularly a seal that may otherwise extrude into the piping passage on tightening of the flange bolts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flange assembly where the flange rim through which the tightening bolts pass is rotatable on the pipe end for ease of alignment with the holes on the opposed flange to which it connects, and where the flange rim has a convoluted design that does not require the outer lip from contacting the opposed flange, thereby allowing for use of a greater variety of flange seals.

The improved convoluted flange assembly of this invention is designed for inexpensive fabrication by casting, forging, cold rolling or a variety of other forming methods suitable for the size, material and use of the flange. The flange has performance characteristics that exceed equivalent, heavier flat flanges with substantial savings in materials, manufacturing costs and other expenses associated with handling and shipping of goods in quantity. Although designed as a metal flange for use with welded pipe, the flange can be adapted to threaded pipe or even plastic fittings formed by different plastic molding processes.

The flange achieves its light-weight flexibility and superior stress distribution characteristics by a flange rim or bolting ring having a convoluted cross sectional configuration of varying thickness. At strategic places in the cross section of the U-shaped flange rim, the thickness is transitionally increased to generate uniform mechanical stresses in critical areas of the flange on tightening of the interconnection bolts. Stress management is accomplished without the necessity of the outer perimeter of the flange rim contacting the face of the opposed flange fitting. In this manner, the requirement for seals of precise thickness is not necessary to achieve the desired degree of sealing.

The improved convoluted flange assembly in one embodiment includes a trapped flange seal allowing use of an alignment ring to closely align segments of abutting pipe for elimination of fluid turbulence within the pipe. Although the use of an alignment ring has been incorporated in prior art piping systems designed and constructed by this inventor, the improvement of the trapped seal construction is a novel improvement that insures that the flange seal will not extrude into the piping passage.

Improved convoluted flanges

Improved convoluted flange including one embodiment having a metal inset in a polymer casing in which the inset has a convoluted configuration similar to the outer convoluted configuration of the casing and another embodiment of a convoluted, slip-on, welding flange for welding to a pipe having a cross sectional, convoluted contour that is configured using stress analysis to shift the effective loading of connecting bolts from the centerline of the bolt holes in the flange to a locus closer to the pipe to which the flange is welded.

This invention relates to improvements in the design of piping flanges and relates to the use of stress analysis to assist in the design of optimum configurations for a flange coupler as described in my prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,389 issued May 9, 1995 and entitled, "Cast Convoluted Piping Flange". In the referenced patent a piping flange was described having a convoluted design with a transition in thickness from an outer rim to an inner rim of the flange. The convoluted design provided the rigidity or stiffness necessary to insure a uniform coupling face for uniform deformation of a gasket or seal, while minimizing the weight of the flange by eliminating unnecessary material.

The convoluted flanges and flange couplers of the type described in the reference patent are successful in accomplishing the objectives enumerated. Furthermore, the technique of computer aided stress analysis in the design of piping flanges has led to further improvements in the configuration of flanges that address the issue of stresses transmitted to the pipe, and in the design and construction of composite material flanges.

With regard to the latter, my prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,924 issued Jul. 10, 1984, entitled, "Bimetal Flange Connector", describes a bimetal flange that utilizes a hub of a first metal bonded to a rim of a second metal. The concept of a composite flange of two materials and the use of a recess to reduce weight and optimize stress distribution is described in the referenced bimetal flange patent.

The subject invention includes certain of the features of the devices in the referenced patents. The advantage of computer aided stress analysis provides embodiments of piping flanges that fully consider the effect of the flange configuration in transmitting stresses to the pipe as well as efficiently distributing stresses in the flange itself.

The improved piping flanges of this invention incorporate flange configurations that optimize the stress distribution from the connecting bolts while minimizing the weight of the flange.

In one embodiment, a convoluted flange inset is encapsulated in a polypropylene casing to form a strong, yet light weight flange that is particularly suitable for corrosive environments. The polypropylene casing protects the metal inset from caustic or acidic environments and is adapted for connecting plastic or coated piping as well as conventional metal piping.

In other embodiments, the convoluted flange design is optimized for use primarily as a slip-on welding flange designed to minimize the transmission of torsional stresses at the neck of the flange to the pipe through the weld. To accomplish this design objective, the resultant locus of bolt-load, pressure distribution is shifted from the radial location of the conventional ASME flange to a concentrically inward locus on the improved flange. This shifts the moment arm to the fulcrum locus at the flange face, thereby reducing the magnitude of leveraged forces transmitted to the neck, that are ultimately transmitted to the weld joint and hence to the pipe.

Stresses in the wall of a pipe are generated by the pressure of fluid in the pipe. The bolt-load stresses transmitted to the pipe by the neck weld are cumulative to the stresses generated by the internal fluid pressures. These stresses can easily reach the failure point of the pipe if not controlled. As a design criteria, the pipe flange weldment should withstand 200% of the operational pressure yet maintain a peak stress level at 40% of the yield strength of the coupling material.

The result of the analytical design for the slip-on flange can be applied to other convoluted flange designs, such as a welding neck flange or any flange where it is desired or advantageous to optimize the reduction of material in the flange or to shift the load point from a locus of the centerline of bolt holes to a locus concentrically closer to the centerline of the pipe.

Tool for adjustably aligning pipe flanges and structural members

Tool for selectively angularly aligning an apertured flange so that the flange can be fixed to a pipe at a selected angularity relative to bends in the pipe. Improved device for attaching the level to the flange are shown, and the level can further be provided with means enabling it readily to be used also to set the grade of a pipe or of a structural member.

In the fitting up and laying of large-diameter pipe, where apertured pipe flanges are welded to respective lengths of pipe, and then adjacent pipe flanges are bolted together, the correct angular alignment of the pipe flanges is essential or theycannot be joined by bolts. This represents no particular problem when two straight unbent lengths of pipe are to be joined, because the entire length of one pipe can be rotated so the apertures in the pipe flanges line up, and then the flange at theother end can be welded on, and the process repeated. It is not so simple, however, when one of the pipes has a joint in it that forms an angle, or when both of them do.

It is extremely inconvenient to weld a pipe flange onto a pipe with the pipe already installed in its ultimate installed position. It is better practice to lay the jointed pipe flat on the floor, and do the job in a shop. Or, if the job is donein the field, it is better practice to perform the task at ground level. However, there is a more complicated angular relationship, when the pipe is bent than when it is straight, because when the jointed pipe is erected, the pipe flange will haverotated. Accordingly, when a pipe flange is attached to a length of bent pipe, allowance must be made for the change in spatial alignment which will result when the pipe is erected in its ultimate position.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool for angularly aligning a pipe flange relative to a pipe which is easy to use, and accurate in its results.

The task of aligning pipe flanges is not a new one, and tools have been designed to accomplish this function. An example is the "Dial-Angle-Flange-Level" distributed by Contour Sales Corporation, 6515 East Compton Blvd., Paramount, Calif. 90723, shown in its publication Form S-300. This device has a bar which is attachable to a pipe flange at two apertures thereon, and an angularly adjustable protractor dial bubble level. Two cylindrical pins are attached to the bar and projecttherefrom. Their spacing apart is adjustable. In use, the pins are inserted into holes in the flanges. The accuracy of the alignment depends in part on how closely these pins fit in the flange holes, or if they are loose in the flange holes, howsimilar is their position in the holes. In the same publication there is shown a "Pro-Mag Level" which has magnets to hold a body in axial alignment with a pipe, and an angularly adjustable bubble level.

The tool according to this invention comprises a body, a protractor dial bubble level adjustably rotatably attached to said body, and a pair of attachment means aligned with one another along a datum line related to the bubble level. Eachattachment means includes a pair of self-centering members, one of which is movable toward the other, so as to clamp the body to the flange. The self-centering members are proportioned to enter the apertures so as to center themselves and thereby alignthe body with the apertures. A movable one of the members is threadedly attached to a bolt which is coaxial with both of the members.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, edges of the body are parallel to a datum line drawn through the centers of the self-centering members so those edges are related to the bubble level when the device is used to setthe grade of a pipe or structural member.

The bubble level is mounted to the body via a protractor dial, the bubble level being fixed to the dial, and the dial being rotatable, and provided with means to restrain it ina selected angular position.

At least one of the attachment means is attached to the body in a slot aligned with the datum line so the body can be attached at apertures which have various spacingsapart, one of the self centering members being threaded onto the bolt so as to hold the attachment means at a selected position.

The body can be provided with magnet means to hold it in axial alignment on a pipe or structural member or the like, to enable the grade to be set, and thereby to increase the number ofuseful functions the tool can perform.

It will further be noted that this tool is applicable to a wide range of aperture separations simply by loosening one or both of the attachment means relative to the body, and sliding the bolts along the slots to the correct position and thentightening them. The first self-centering members make a tight clamping fit to establish the separation of the attachment members, and the other self-centering members are tightened down to hold the tool to the flange. The device thereby constitutes areadily manufacturable, convenient to use, device which facilitates its intended functions.

Segmented flange coupler for grooved pipe

Segmented flange coupler is disclosed for connecting the free end of a grooved pipe to a fitting having a flange connector. The segmented flange coupler is formed of end-to-end connected individual coupling segments which are configured to move both circumferentially and radially into concentricity during the tightening of their connecting bolts.

This is achieved by providing complementary surfaces of revolution about their overlapped bolt receiving apertures. These surfaces of revolution are preferably in the form of mating convex and concave conical surfaces.

This application relates to a segmented flange coupler, whereby a pipe having a groove formed in its external circumference adjacent a free end of the pipe, can be connected directly to a fitting having a flanged connection.

It is presently known to form such a segmented flange coupler from a plurality of coupling segments, generally arcuate in shape, which are bolt connected in an end-to-end relationship about the circumference of the pipe. Typically two such coupling segments, of a generally semi-circular shape, are employed. However for large pipe sizes three or more coupling segments may be utilized.

The ends of the coupling segments include bolt receiving apertures for connecting the successive coupling segments together. The coupling segments typically include a key which extends within a circumferential groove of the pipe. Oftentimes the pipe may be somewhat out of round such that the bolt receiving holes of the successive coupling segments will not line up. Accordingly, appreciable force must then be applied to appropriately bring the coupling segments together, as near as possible, to appropriately engage the pipe circumference.

Typically, such prior constructions, for example, the Style 741 segmented pipe coupling available from the Victaulic Company of America, has included radially extending ears at the ends of the coupling segments being bolt connected. The ears must then be engaged with a tool, such as a pliers or channel lock, to bring the ears together such that the bolt can pass through the overlapped apertures for the tight connection of the adjacent coupling segments. Further, it has been experienced that the bolt receiving apertures in such coupling segments must be located with a high degree of accuracy.

Other constructions are also known to bring the adjacent coupling segments into circumferential alignment.

Thiessen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,833, provides a flange adapter for use in such a situation. Thiessen's flange adapter includes two or more coupling segments that are connected to each other in end-to-end relationship by means of bolts that are employed to secure the respective coupling segments directly to the flange of the fitting.

Thiessen employs ramp cams on the respective ends of his coupling segments that are interengaged when the coupling segments are assembled onto the grooved pipe. The ramp cams cause circumferential movement of the assembled segmented pipe coupling at the time the bolts are tightened down. This causes the respective flange segments to bottom down on the bottom wall of the groove formed in the pipe, and provide a circumferential alignment between the pipe and the fitting.

However, the provision of such ramp cams carries with it a disadvantage that the flange segments must either be assembled relative to each other prior to the insertion of the traction bolts, with the ramp cams on the respective flange segments interengaged or, the keys of the respective segments must be of lesser width than the width of the pipe groove. If, however, the keys do not engage the side walls of the pipe groove, then, a flexible coupling results, as opposed to a rigid intercoupling of the pipe and the associated fitting.

There is no provision for radial alignment, and hence no guarantee that the flange segments will be truly concentric as related to the longitudinal axis of the assembled coupling, and in turn, as related to the longitudinal axis of the pipe.

Free play of the bolts in the bolting pads of the respective flange segments, will permit the ends of the respective flange segments to be displaced in the radial direction relative to the juxtaposed flange by a distance that is equal to the difference between the diameter of the bolt holes in the respective flange segments and the diameter of the bolts employed for securing the respective segments to each other.

Further, Thiessen's ramp cams, which extend radially of the axis of the coupling, are inoperative to produce any force that acts to move the respective flange segments into concentric relationship relative to the central axis of the coupling.

This can cause problems at the time the flange segments are tightened onto the fitting by means of the bolts if the flange segments at that time are out of concentric alignment. As a consequence they do not bottom down correctly on the bottom wall of the pipe groove, until such time as they are forced into concentric relation by their engagement with the bottom wall of the pipe groove. However, at the time the bolts are being tightened down, to cause the diameter of the flange coupling to decrease, there then exists a considerable frictional restraint against any radial movement of the flange segments relative to each other, with the consequence that the flange segments are not truly concentric with each other. Hence there is no guarantee that the flange segments have in fact bottomed down correctly into full face engagement with the bottom wall of the pipe groove.

If the segments have in fact not bottomed down fully on the bottom wall of the pipe groove, then, the strength of the interconnection is materially affected, as is the probability that a rigid connection has not been effected between the pipe and the fitting by the flange segments. In such a situation, the pressure that the coupling can withstand will be reduced.

It is an object of this invention to provide a segmented flange coupling that, prior to and during tightening down of the traction bolts will move both circumferentially and radially into truly concentric relationship with each other, and also into truly concentric relationship with the bottom wall of the pipe groove. This movement advantageously provides a segmented flange coupler that is entirely predictable in its securement of the pipe to the fitting, such that true rigidity of the pipe relative to the fitting is accomplished in an entirely automatic self-adjusting manner.

The present invention employs interfitting surfaces of revolution, preferably cones, on the ends of the respective flange segments about the bolt receiving apertures. These interfitting surfaces, which may initially interengage with each other in a random position of concentricity of the flange segments, then act to draw the flange segments into true concentricity as the bolts are tightened down.

Top flange hanger with strengthening embossment

Structural connector for connecting first and second structural members has a substantially planar first flange and an embossment in the first flange, and the embossment in the first flange is formed with first and second sections.

The first section generally extending uniformly to a first level above the top surface of the substantially planar first flange, that is different from a level to which the second section generally uniformly extends, the first and second sections being joined to each other at a distinct transition portion where the embossment sharply descends from the level of the first section to the level of the second section. The structural connector can be made with a bend that forms a first member adjacent the first flange and the embossment can extend through the bend into the first member.

The structural connector of the present invention has particular application in the field of structural hangers where an elongated, generally horizontally disposed structural member is hung from a supporting structure, both being part of thestructural frame of a building.

In light frame construction, it is common to hang the joists supporting the floors of the building from horizontally disposed members often called headers, beams or ledgers. The joists can be supported by hangers which are attached to theheaders, beams or ledgers. One type of hanger used is called a top flange hanger. A top flange hanger has a portion or member that rests on the top surface of the supporting structure, increasing the strength of the connection.

Unfortunately, the presence of the top flange can interfere with the setting of the sub-flooring members on top of the joists and the headers and ledgers. The top flanges create an unevenness in the surface upon which the sub-flooring isinstalled.

Preferably, the flat top surfaces of the joists, headers and ledgers will all be uniformly level and set at the same elevation, once the members are set in place, although deviations are often made to allow for shrinkage of members made from woodor having wood sub-components. Also, preferably, the sub-flooring used is made up of large sheets of relatively thin planar material, such as plywood or oriented strand board, that can be laid down on the level top surfaces of the headers and ledgersresulting in a uniformly flat surface for laying down the flooring.

Thus, it is desirable to minimize the thickness of any members, such as fasteners, fastener heads or hanger components that will project above the level of the top surfaces of the ledges, headers and joists. When such members project above theultimate top level of the structural members of the flooring, they create unevenness in the surface for the subflooring, commonly known as reveal problems.

Thus, when top flange hangers are used, it is desirable to make the material of the top flange as thin as possible. However, the top flange must still be strong enough to carry the desired loads imposed on the hanger. One means of strengtheningthe top flanges of hangers is to create embossments or deformations in the top flange hanger that extend into the back members of the hangers. The problem with typical strengthening deformations or embossments is that too much of the material of the topflange is deformed to too great a height, thus creating reveal problems.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a structural hanger for supporting a structural member from a supporting member, where the structural hanger is made with a top flange that rests on the top surface of the supportingmember, and the top flange of the hanger is formed with strengthening deformations that increase the strength of the structural hanger while minimizing the profile of the top flange of the hanger.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide that the level of the first section of the embossment of the structural connector is higher above the top surface of the first flange than the level of the second section of theembossment, and the higher first level is closer to the bend between the first flange and the first member than the second section. The inventors have found embossments which are taller near the edge of the first structural member or supportingstructural member and then decrease in height but continue to extend a substantial distance along the top flange, can provide sufficient strength to structural hangers made from light gauge steel, while providing minimal interference with the laying ofthe subflooring.

Provide a top flange hanger made from galvanized sheet steel or stainless steel that does not need to be welded, and, therefore, does not need to be painted to protect the hanger from corrosion.The top flange hanger with low-profile strengthening deformations in its top flange or flanges that can be formed from sheet steel material on a fully automated die press with no secondary orfinal bend operations being necessary.