US3183024A

US3183024A - Radial wedge joint

Info

Publication number: US3183024A
Application number: US179500A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack A Myers; Langthorne P Sykes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-03-13
Filing date: 1962-03-13
Publication date: 1965-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-11

Description

May 11, 1965 J. A. MYERS ETAL 3,183,024 RADIAL wEDGE JOINT Filed March 15, 1962 le I6 Q22 @32 FIG. 3.

le 2s 4 Fm. 2.

FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4.

lNvENToRs.

JACK A. MYERS LANGTHORNE P. SYKES BY United States: Patent O 3,183,024 RADIAL WEDGE JNT Jack A. Myers, Ridgecrest, and Langthorne I. Sykes, Manhattan Beach, Calif., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Mar. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 179,50) 2 Claims. (Cl. 285-330) (Granted under Title 3S, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) 3,l33,024 VPatented fMay l1, 1965 ice .diameter as the inside diameter of tube 12b and over which an end portion of tube .12b may slideably telescope. An annular dovetail surface 20 joins the inner end of surface 18 and .the outside surface of tube 12a, this surface bein-g frusto-conioal, the center 22 of the cone being on the tube axis at a point inwardly of its end. Tube 12b is provided with a like truste-conical end suri tace 24 which mates with surface 20.

section, and a tail section. Similarly, a torpedo hull may comprise several sections whichcarry various components,

such as sonic homing apparatus, explosive pay loads, propulsion apparatus and guidance and control devices. It is a general requirement that such a joint occupy as little space as possible to thus provide maxim-urn internal volume for accommodating various components. Ideally, the strength of the joint, to resist loadings to which it .is subjected, such as bending stresses and the likev .transmitted across the joint, should be equal to the strength of the tube between the joints. Such .type of joint would thus permit an assemblage of sections of uniform strength throughout their length and destructive loading could cause fai-lure at any .point along the length of the assemblage. While such ideal may be feasible, it probably would -be at the expense off excessive bulkk and Weight of the joint, complexity, excessive costs of fabrication, and other undesirable aspects. lProbably in most instances the practical joint thus represents some sort of a departure or compromise from the ideal but-is still adequate to perform its intended functions.

Among the object of this invention are the provision oi a detachable joint for tubes which is simpl-ied in construction, may be more economically fabricated, occupies a minimum of space While :being adequate in strength for its intended purpose.

Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become more apparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appended claims, andthe accompanying drawing,'in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a rocket employing the subject of the invention;A

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation and longitudinal section taken Ion line 2 2, FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of the portion indicated by arrow 3, jFIG. 2; j

PIG. 3A is an alternative form of the detail shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4, FG. 2. Referring now to the drawing, FIG. l depicts an ordnace device 19, such as a rocket, which comprises an outer tube 12 formed from a plurality otl axially aligned portions 12a, 12b which are detachably connected together by a joint 14, representative of a plurality of such joints which may be axially spaced along tube 12, as desired. As best shown inv lil-GS. 2 to 4, tubes 12a, .12b are of the same outer and inner diameters, tube 12a having an integral thickened projection 16 having an outer cylindrical surface I18. which is of substantially the same Projection .16 is provided with a plurality oi equi-angularly spaced tapped lapertures 26, illustrated as eight in numbeneach of which receives a threaded screw 28 having an outer irusto conical surface 30. Any suitable means, accessible from the outside of the tubes, such as a socket Wrench recess 32, may be employed Within each lscrew for rotating it. Tube .12b is provided with trust-o conical apertures 34 into the outer ends of the screws seat. The latter apertures are preferably spaced from the end of tube 12b such that tightening ot the screws produces a longitudinal wedging effect, forcing innato-conical end 24 tightly in engagement with flustoconical surface 20. As will be apparent, the radial outward `force of each screw tends to expand tube 12b but since the screws are also wedging tube 12b toward tube 12a .the trusts-conical surface .24, acting on surface 2li, ends to contract' the outermost edge of tube 12b, thus providing an extremely tight joint which may readily transmit orces, such as bending stresses, from one tube section to another. When it is desired to disconnect the rjoint the screws are rotated until their outerends are slightly below the inside diameter of tube 12b, after which tube 12b may lbe axially removed 4from the tube 12a.

The threads employed on screws 28 may be either right or left hand, depending upon which direction of rotation is desired. To ensure registry of the tubes -in only one position of assembly, tube 12b may be provided with a pin 36 which engages an open end slot 38 in projection 16. FIG. 3A illustrates .an alternative form of the invention wherein one or more O-rings 40 may be employed with project-ion .16 to seal the joint against leakage of liuid, either gas or liquid. Wheretubes 12a, 12b, dorm parts of a torpedo hull such seal `is essential to prevent sea water from entering the inside ot the hull.

Gbviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is theretore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is: j

l. Apparatus tor detachably connecting together in axial alignment lirst and second cylindrical tubes of the same outer diameters, comprising in combination;

(a) a projection disposed on an end of the rst tube having a cylindrical outer surface of substantially the same diameter as .the inside diameter of the second tube and adapted to telescope into an end of said second tube,

(b) a conical surface adjacent said projection extending between the inner end of said cylindrical outer surface and the outside surface of said iirsft tube, the apex of the conical sur-face being disposed on the Vaxis of the iirst .tube inwardly of the end of the rst tube,

(c) said second tube having a conical end surface extending between its inner and outer surfaces adapted to mate in abutting relation with the tirs-t named conical surta-ce,

(d) a plurality of angularly spaced rotatable screw members threadedly engaging said projection and having conical cuter ends,

(e) a plurality of mating conical apertures extending through said second tube and into which said conical ends are adapted to extend when said screw members are moved radially outward,

(f) the axes of said recesses and conical ends being slightly spaced so that after said conical ends are in partial engagement -with said conical apertures and are tightened therein, said tubular members are drawn axially together lwith the conical end of the second ltube in abutting relation to said first named conical surface.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rotatable screw members threadedly engage said projection in blind apertures which limit inward movement of the screw members but permit the screw members to be disposed entirely within the blind apertures, whereby the second tube may be telescoped over and past the onter surfaces of the screw members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Coleman 285-332 Pullman 285-404 Cargile 285-334 Hudson 285-374 Woods 285-33() Suderow 285-308 Korn 285-330 Chaney. Nepple 102-56 France.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. THOMAS F. CALLAGHAN, Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING TOGETHER IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT FIRST AND SECOND CYLINDRICAL TUBES OF THE SAME OUTER DIAMETERS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; (A) A PROJECTION DISPOSED ON AN END OF THE FIRST TUBE HAVING A CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER AS THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE SECOND TUBE AND ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE INTO AN END OF SAID SECOND TUBE, (B) A CONICAL SURFACE ADJACENT SAID PROJECTION EXTENDING BETWEEN THE INNER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE AND THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST TUBE, THE APEX OF THE CONICAL SURFACE BEING DISPOSED ON THE AXIS OF THE FIRST TUBE INWARDLY OF THE END OF THE FIRST TUBE, (C) SAID SECOND TUBE HAVING A CONICAL END SURFACE EXTENDING BETWEEN ITS INNER AND OUTER SURFACES ADAPTED TO MATE IN ABUTTING RELATION WITH THE FIRST NAMED CONICAL SURFACE, (D) A PLURALITY OF ANGULARLY SPACED ROTATABLE SCREW MEMBERS THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID PROJECTION AND HAVING CONICAL OUTER ENDS, (E) A PLURALITY OF MATING CONICAL APERTURES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SECOND TUBE AND INTO WHICH SAID CONICAL ENDS ARE ADAPTED TO EXTEND WHEN SAID SCREW MEMBERS ARE MOVED RADIALLY OUTWARD, (F) THE AXES OF SAID RECESSES AND CONICAL ENDS BEING SLIGHTLY SPACED SO THAT AFTER SAID CONICAL ENDS ARE IN PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONICAL APERTURES AND ARE TIGHTENED THEREIN, SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS ARE DRAWN AXIALLY TOGETHER WITH THE CONICAL END OF THE SECOND TUBE IN ABUTTING RELATION TO SAID FIRST NAMED CONICAL SURFACE.