Granted Patent B2

US 8,210,576 · App. 12/981,855 · Granted Jul 3, 2012

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A piping joint assembly package for securely and removably maintaining piping elements together, comprising:

a body member having at least one pipe receiving end, said body member being at least partially hollow and internally threaded at the pipe receiving end;

a hollow end cap member having a cap portion and a substantially cylindrical body portion extending from the cap portion to a contact edge, the body portion being externally threaded;

a packing arrangement secured between the body member and the end cap, the packing arrangement including a hallow O-ring, a hollow packing gland, and a hollow fastening ring having a plurality of teeth angled inwardly from and along the circumference of the ring; and

a fastening ring member removal tool comprising a generally frusto-conically shaped hollow body having a base portion and a top rim portion, said body having a lower base outer platform extending outwardly from the base, said rim portion being angled upwardly from a lateral edge to a peak, such that the peak defines the circumference of a substantially circular opening that extends through the body to make the body hollow.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the packing arrangement further includes a washer member that is substantially frusto-conical in shape with a cap-engaging surface and a fastener ring-engaging surface, with the cap-engaging surface being of larger diameter than the fastener ring-engaging surface.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the washer member is a split ring washer.

4. The package of claim 1 wherein the end cap member can be used to apply force to the removal tool.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein the packing arrangement can be removed from the body member, and a portion of the packing arrangement can be replaced or repaired, such that the body member can be re-used when the packing arrangement is re-assembled with the body member and end cap member.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein the end cap member cap portion includes an outer top surface adapted for engagement by external force so as to exert a rotational force that causes the end cap member to tighten or loosen its threaded connection with the body member.

7. A method for assembling a pipe joint assembly so as to facilitate re-use of a fitting or valve body member, comprising the steps of:

providing a body member having at least one pipe receiving end, said body member being at least partially hollow and internally threaded at the pipe receiving end;

providing a hollow end cap member having a cap portion and a substantially cylindrical body portion extending from the cap portion to a contact edge, the body portion being externally threaded;

providing a packing arrangement secured between the body member and the end cap, the packing arrangement including a hollow O-ring, a hollow packing gland, and a hollow fastening ring having a plurality of teeth angled inwardly from and along the circumference of the ring; and,

providing a fastening ring member removal tool comprising a generally frusto-conically shaped hollow body having a base portion and a top rim portion, with the body having a lower base outer platform extending outwardly from the base, and with the rim portion being angled upwardly from a lateral edge to a peak, such that the peak defines the circumference of a substantially circular opening that extends through the body to make the body hollow.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the packing arrangement is provided such that one or more of the fastening ring, packing gland, and O-ring can be removed when the end cap member is unscrewed from the body member.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the packing arrangement includes a washer member comprising a split ring washer.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the washer member is substantially frusto-conical in shape with a cap-engaging surface and a fastener ring-engaging surface, with the cap-engaging surface being of larger diameter than the fastener ring-engaging surface.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the end cap member cap portion includes an outer top surface adapted for engagement by external force so as to exert a rotational force that causes the end cap member to tighten or loosen its threaded connection with the body member.

12. A piping joint assembly, comprising:

a body member for receiving a piping element;

a hollow end cap member capable of engaging the body member;

a packing arrangement secured between the body member and the end cap member, the packing arrangement including a hollow O-ring, a hollow packing gland, and a hollow fastening ring having a plurality of teeth angled inwardly from and along the circumference of the ring; and

a fastening ring member removal tool comprising a generally frusto-conically shaped hollow body having a base portion and a top rim portion, said body having a lower base outer platform extending outwardly from the base, said rim portion being angled upwardly from a lateral edge to a peak, such that the peak defines the circumference of a substantially circular opening that extends through the body to make the body hollow.

13. The piping joint assembly of claim 12 wherein the packing arrangement includes a washer member comprising a split ring washer.

14. The piping joint assembly of claim 13 wherein the washer member is substantially frusto-conical in shape.

15. The piping joint assembly of claim 13 wherein the washer member includes a cap-engaging surface and a fastener ring-engaging surface, with the cap-engaging surface being of larger diameter than the fastener ring-engaging surface.

Assignments (10)