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Title: Boltless flange

Abstract

A boltless, reusable flange system for joining metal piping includes a circular, wedge-shaped tongue on an upper flange for mating with a groove containing a fusible alloy in a lower flange. The lower flange includes a heating element for melting the fusible alloy, and a thermocouple device to sense the alloy temperature. Heat can be controlled and supplied from a remote source and monitored by a remote temperature indicator. The upper flange is positioned above the lower flange, tongue and groove aligned, and the lower flange is heated until the fusible alloy melts to allow the upper tongue to settle down within the lower groove. Upon removal of the heat, the alloy hardens to further bring the two flanges together in a solid and sealed couple, compressing an optional gasket.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Blackfoot, ID
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
870900
Patent Number(s):
5620208
Assignee:
Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company (Idaho Falls, ID)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16L - PIPES
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC07-94ID13223
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
boltless; flange; reusable; joining; metal; piping; circular; wedge-shaped; tongue; upper; mating; groove; containing; fusible; alloy; heating; element; melting; thermocouple; device; sense; temperature; heat; controlled; supplied; remote; source; monitored; indicator; positioned; aligned; heated; melts; allow; settle; removal; hardens; bring; flanges; solid; sealed; couple; compressing; optional; gasket; heating element; remote source; temperature indicator; joining metal; upper flange; thermocouple device; alloy melt; remote temperature; /285/27/228/

Citation Formats

Kirkham, Robert J. Boltless flange. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Kirkham, Robert J. Boltless flange. United States.
Kirkham, Robert J. Wed . "Boltless flange". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870900.
@article{osti_870900,
title = {Boltless flange},
author = {Kirkham, Robert J},
abstractNote = {A boltless, reusable flange system for joining metal piping includes a circular, wedge-shaped tongue on an upper flange for mating with a groove containing a fusible alloy in a lower flange. The lower flange includes a heating element for melting the fusible alloy, and a thermocouple device to sense the alloy temperature. Heat can be controlled and supplied from a remote source and monitored by a remote temperature indicator. The upper flange is positioned above the lower flange, tongue and groove aligned, and the lower flange is heated until the fusible alloy melts to allow the upper tongue to settle down within the lower groove. Upon removal of the heat, the alloy hardens to further bring the two flanges together in a solid and sealed couple, compressing an optional gasket.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}