A swivel joint comprises a tubular male member having at least first and second outer annular grooves formed on an outer surface, a tubular female member having at least first and second inner annular grooves formed on an inner recess, and a plurality of balls disposed in at least first and second annular races which are formed by the alignment of the first and second outer grooves with the first and second inner grooves when a first end of the male member is received within the recess of the female member. In addition, the radius of the first race is greater than the radius of an adjacent race closer to the first end of the male member, and the number of balls in the first race is just one more than the number of balls in the adjacent race closer to the first end.
|
0. 21. A swivel joint comprising:
a central axis;
a tubular male member having an outer annular surface, a first end and at least first and second outer annular grooves formed on the outer surface coaxial with the central axis;
a tubular female member having an inner annular recess and at least first and second inner annular grooves formed on the recess coaxial with the central axis;
wherein the first end of the male member is adapted to be received in the recess of the female member such that each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define at least first and second annular races;
a plurality of balls disposed in the first and second races to secure the male and female members together and to facilitate relative rotation of the male and female members about the central axis;
wherein the radius of the first race as measured from the central axis is greater than the radius of an adjacent race closer to the first end of the male member by an amount sufficient to enable the first race to accommodate just one more ball than the adjacent race.
13. A swivel joint comprising:
a central axis;
a pair of tubular members each having a first end and a plurality of outer annular grooves formed coaxial with the central axis;
a collar member comprising a pair of inner cylindrical recesses each having a plurality of inner annular grooves formed coaxial with the central axis;
wherein each tubular member is adapted to be received in a corresponding recess of the collar member such that the first ends are proximate one another and each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define a plurality of annular races;
a plurality of balls disposed in each race to secure said tubular members in said collar and to facilitate relative rotation of the tubular members about the central axis;
wherein the radius of each race as measured from the central axis is greater than the radius of each adjacent race closer to the first ends of the tubular members; and
wherein the number of balls in each race is just one more than the number of balls in each adjacent race closer to the first ends of the tubular members.
0. 19. A swivel joint comprising:
a central axis;
a tubular male member having an outer annular surface, a first end and at least first and second outer annular grooves formed on the outer surface coaxial with the central axis;
a tubular female member having an inner annular recess and at least first and second inner annular grooves formed on the recess coaxial with the central axis;
wherein the first end of the male member is adapted to be received in the recess of the female member such that each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define at least first and second annular races;
a plurality of balls disposed in the first and second races to secure the male and female members together and to facilitate relative rotation of the male and female members about the central axis;
wherein the radius of the first race as measured from the central axis is greater than the radius of an adjacent race closer to the first end of the male member; and
wherein the number of balls in the first race is just one more than the number of balls in the adjacent race closer to the first end of the male member.
7. A swivel joint comprising:
a central axis;
a tubular male member having an outer annular surface, a first end and at least first and second outer annular grooves formed on the outer surface coaxial with the central axis;
a tubular female member having an inner annular recess, an annular shoulder formed at an inner end of the recess and at least first and second inner annular grooves formed on the recess coaxial with the central axis;
wherein the outer surface of the male member is adapted to be received in the recess of the female member such that the first end is disposed proximate the shoulder and each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define at least first and second annular races;
a plurality of balls disposed in each race to secure said male and female members together and to facilitate relative rotation of the male and female members about the central axis;
wherein the radius of each race as measured from the central axis is greater than the radius of each adjacent race closer to the first end of the male member by an amount sufficient to enable each race to accommodate just one more ball than is disposed in the adjacent race.
1. A swivel joint comprising:
a central axis;
a tubular male member having an outer annular surface, a first end and at least first and second outer annular grooves formed on the outer surface coaxial with the central axis;
a tubular female member having an inner annular recess, an annular shoulder formed at an inner end of the recess and at least first and second inner annular grooves formed on the recess coaxial with the central axis;
wherein the outer surface of the male member is adapted to be received in the recess of the female member such that the first end is disposed proximate the shoulder and each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define at least first and second annular races;
a plurality of balls disposed in each race to secure said male and female members together and to facilitate relative rotation of the male and female members about the central axis;
wherein the radius of each race as measured from the central axis is greater than the radius of each adjacent race closer to the first end of the male member; and
wherein the number of balls in each race is just one more than the number of balls in each adjacent race closer to the first end.
0. 22. A swivel joint comprising:
a central axis;
a tubular male member having an outer annular surface, a first end and at least first, second and third outer annular grooves formed on the outer surface coaxial with the central axis;
a tubular female member having an inner annular recess and at least first, second and third inner annular grooves formed on the recess coaxial with the central axis;
wherein the first end of the male member is adapted to be received in the recess of the female member such that each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define at least first, second and third annular races;
wherein the first race is located farther from the first end of the male member than either the second or third races, the third race is located closer to the first end than either the first or second races, and the second race is located between the first and third races;
a plurality of balls disposed in the first, second and third races to secure the male and female members together and to facilitate relative rotation of the male and female members about the central axis;
wherein the radius of the first race as measured from the central axis is greater than the radius of the third race by an amount sufficient to enable the first race to accommodate just two more balls than the third race.
0. 20. A swivel joint comprising:
a central axis;
a tubular male member having an outer annular surface, a first end and at least first, second and third outer annular grooves formed on the outer surface coaxial with the central axis;
a tubular female member having an inner annular recess and at least first, second and third inner annular grooves formed on the recess coaxial with the central axis;
wherein the first end of the male member is adapted to be received in the recess of the female member such that each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define at least first, second and third annular races;
wherein the first race is located farther from the first end of the male member than either the second or third races, the third race is located closer to the first end than either the first or second races, and the second race is located between the first and third races;
a plurality of balls disposed in the first, second and third races to secure the male and female members together and to facilitate relative rotation of the male and female members about the central axis;
wherein the radius of the first race as measured from the central axis is greater than the radius of third race; and
wherein the number of balls in the first race is just two more than the number of balls in the third race.
2. The swivel joint of
3. The swivel joint of
5. The swivel joint of
6. The swivel joint of
wherein the cross section of at least each outer groove or each inner groove comprises first and second acurate segments each having a distinct centerpoint and substantially the same radius;
wherein the centerpoint of the first segment is offset from the centerpoint of the second segment in a direction parallel to the central axis; and
wherein the radius of the first and second segments is substantially the same as the radius of the balls.
8. The swivel joint of
9. The swivel joint of
11. The swivel joint of
12. The swivel joint of
wherein the cross section of at least each outer groove or each inner groove comprises first and second accurate segments each having a distinct centerpoint and substantially the same radius;
wherein the centerpoint of the first segment is offset from the centerpoint of the second segment in a direction parallel to the central axis; and
wherein the radius of the first and second segments is substantially the same as the radius of the balls.
14. The swivel joint of
15. The swivel joint of
17. The swivel joint of
18. The swivel joint of
wherein the cross section of at lest each outer groove or each inner groove comprises first and second arcuate segments each having a distinct centerpoint and substantially the same radius;
wherein the centerpoint of the first segment is offset from the centerpoint of the second segment in a direction parallel to the central axis; and
wherein the radius of the first and second segments is substantially the same as the radius of the balls.
|
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/742,520 filed on Nov. 1, 1996, radii of the bearing races 122 increase progressively in consecutive races 122 in a direction moving away from the male connector end which contacts the female connector 114 radius of each bearing race 122 as measured from the central axis 126 becomes progressively larger the farther the bearing race is located from the male connector end, which is defined herein as the end of the male connector 112 which engages the female connector 114. This stepped design more uniformly distributes loading per ball bearing 124 by more uniformly distributing tensile stress across each hub section at each respective race 122. The number of steps can vary from two or more and there can be one or more races per step. The radius of each bearing race, as measured from the central axis 126, is preferably determined as a function of the cross-sectional areas of the male and female connectors at the race, the maximum end load which the swivel joint 110 is designed to accommodate, and the diameter of the balls 124. The radii of the bearing races are calculated to distribute the end load more evenly among the bearing races than in the prior art swivel joint of FIG. 1. It is desirable, though not required, that the ball bearings 124 are of uniform size throughout the assembly 110 and, thus, each race 122 will contain a different number of ball bearings 124.
In the embodiment of the invention wherein the diameter of all the balls 124 is the same and each step comprises only one bearing race 122, the radius of each bearing race 122 is preferably determined such that the number of balls in each race is one more than the number of balls in each adjacent race closer to the male connector end which contacts the female connector 114 . The increase in the radius of each consecutive bearing race 122 necessary to accommodate one additional ball 124 has been found to be sufficient to distribute the hydrostatic end load more evenly over the bearing races. As is known in the art, the number of balls of a given diameter which can be accommodated in a bearing race depends on the circumference of the bearing race. Conversely, given a desired number of balls of a certain diameter, the required circumference of the bearing race can be determine. Thus, once the radius of the bearing race 122 closest to the male connector end which contacts the female connector has been determined, the radii of the remaining bearing races can be determined. For example, in the exemplary 2¾″ swivel joint 110 shown in
In accordance with the present invention, therefore, the radius of the bearing race 122 which is located farthest from the male connector end is larger than the radius of the bearing race which is located closest to the male connector end. In the embodiment of the invention shown in
The present invention utilizes a straight bore seal 128 of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,791 made of non-metallic compositions such as “TEFLON” having different properties than conventional elastomer compression seals such as the seal 28 of FIG. 1. Conventional elastomer seal materials have inherent limitations with respect to fluid compatibility, temperature range, and rupture. The axial ends of the male and female connectors 112, 114 have recessed sections 130 and 132, respectively, which form one recessed groove 134 when the connectors 112, 114 are fitted together as shown in FIG. 2. The straight bore seal 128 is received therein such that the inner circumferential surface 138 of the seal 128 is flush with the inner surface of the flow passage 116. The recessed sections 130 and 132 have axial end portions 140 and 142 facing toward each other which receive the axial ends of the straight bore seal 128. The end portions 140 and 142 are engaged by axial ends 144 and 146 of the straight bore seal 128. The outer circumferential surface 148 forms a seal with the inner circumstantial surface of the groove 134. Because the geometry and material of the straight bore seal 128 allows a substantially smaller cross-sectional area than a comparable capacity conventional elastomer seal 28, hydrostatic end loading and, thus, contact force between each ball bearing 124 and race 122 are reduced significantly, resulting in less brinelling of the race 122. The assembly 110 embodied in
In order to further illustrate the novelty of the present invention,
Referring to
In order to reduce concentration of contact areas as described above, the present invention provides grooves having offset radii as illustrated in FIG. 4b. As shown in
Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention has been herein shown and described, it is understood that modifications and variations may be made without departing from what is regarded as the subject matter of the invention.
Ungchusri, Tep, Castillo, Sergio A.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10466719, | Mar 28 2018 | FHE USA LLC | Articulated fluid delivery system with remote-controlled spatial positioning |
10557576, | Jun 15 2015 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Full-root-radius-threaded wing nut having increased wall thickness |
10598305, | Aug 19 2015 | Lord Corporation | Flexible pipe joint |
10677365, | Sep 04 2015 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Pressure relief valve assembly and methods |
10738928, | Jul 01 2013 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Manifold assembly |
10996685, | Mar 28 2018 | FHE USA LLC | Articulated fluid delivery system |
10996686, | Mar 28 2018 | FHE USA LLC | Articulated fluid delivery system with enhanced positioning control |
11519530, | Jun 15 2015 | SPM Oil & Gas Inc. | Full-root-radius-threaded wing nut having increased wall thickness |
11662747, | Mar 28 2018 | FHE USA LLC | Articulated fluid delivery system with swivel joints rated for high pressure and flow |
8870233, | Jul 03 2007 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Swivel joint with uniform ball bearing requirements |
8978695, | Apr 20 2009 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Flowline flapper valve |
8998168, | Jun 03 2009 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Plug valve indicator |
9103448, | Aug 16 2012 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Plug valve having preloaded seal segments |
9212697, | Apr 20 2011 | SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG | Ring element, particularly a race ring for a thrust roller bearing |
9273543, | Aug 17 2012 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Automated relief valve control system and method |
9322243, | Aug 17 2012 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Automated relief valve control system and method |
9568138, | Jul 01 2013 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Manifold assembly |
9638337, | Aug 16 2012 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Plug valve having preloaded seal segments |
9857807, | Aug 17 2012 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Automated relief valve control system and method |
9964245, | Jul 03 2007 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Swivel joint with uniform ball bearing requirements |
D707332, | Mar 15 2013 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Seal assembly |
D707797, | Mar 15 2013 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Seal segment |
D734434, | Mar 15 2013 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Seal assembly |
D873860, | Jun 30 2014 | SPM OIL & GAS INC | Mounting bracket for manifold assembly |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
1325113, | |||
1452603, | |||
2412287, | |||
2499837, | |||
3142498, | |||
3372715, | |||
3971604, | Dec 10 1973 | SKF Industrial Trading and Development Company, B.V. | Box bearing |
434479, | |||
4418947, | Mar 21 1980 | FMC Corporation | Swivel joint for improved bearing and seal life |
4501511, | May 26 1981 | PMI INDUSTRIES, INC , | Ball type universal joint and method of manufacture |
466436, | |||
4930791, | Apr 10 1989 | FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Plastic bore seal |
5118205, | Dec 06 1989 | HOFFMAN, JOACHIM | Bearing unit for a bottom bracket bearing of a bicycle or the like |
5149148, | Aug 13 1991 | FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Pipe swivel joint with improved bore seal |
5160229, | Oct 05 1990 | Mist-spouting type drilling device | |
5176457, | Oct 17 1990 | FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer KGaA | Anchoring a double row angular anti-friction bearings |
5226737, | May 26 1992 | General Motors Corporation | Two row angular contact wheel bearing with improved load capacity |
6164707, | Jun 15 1994 | FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Step bearing race swivel joint assembly |
633798, | |||
738503, | |||
990946, | |||
DE1907428, | |||
DE35032215, | |||
GB15984, | |||
GB174917, | |||
GB19089, | |||
GB2643458, | |||
GB983980, | |||
SE127402, | |||
WO93172251, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Mar 11 2003 | FMC Technologies, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Oct 16 2009 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
Sep 18 2013 | M1553: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Year, Large Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Jun 19 2010 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Dec 19 2010 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 19 2011 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Jun 19 2013 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Jun 19 2014 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Dec 19 2014 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 19 2015 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Jun 19 2017 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Jun 19 2018 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Dec 19 2018 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 19 2019 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Jun 19 2021 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |