Insert And System For Providing A Calibrated Metering Orifice
Patent No. US10859105 (titled "Insert And System For Providing A Calibrated Metering Orifice") was filed by Engineered Inserts & Systems Inc on Nov 6, 2018.
What is this patent about?
’105 is related to the field of inserts used to connect parts, particularly in applications like hydraulic manifolds. The background acknowledges existing plug and sealing systems, such as rivet systems and expansion plugs, but identifies limitations in their ease of installation, manufacturing complexity, and ability to facilitate subsequent attachment of other parts. The invention aims to address these shortcomings by providing an insert that is easier to install, simpler to manufacture, and capable of providing a threaded hole for connecting additional components.
The underlying idea behind ’105 is to create a two-part insert that expands to grip a hole. This is achieved using a cylindrical sleeve that fits into the hole and a tapered core that is pulled into the sleeve. As the core is drawn in, its taper forces the sleeve to expand radially, creating a tight fit against the hole's inner wall. The core also features a threaded through-hole, allowing for the attachment of other parts using a standard fastener.
The claims of ’105 focus on a system and insert for connecting two parts. The insert comprises a cylindrical sleeve and a core press-fit together. The core has a smooth, tapered outer wall and a through-hole with a threaded portion and a second portion with a smaller diameter. When the core is pulled into the sleeve, the sleeve expands against the hole of the first part, securing the insert. The claims also cover a method of installing the insert and an insert for providing a calibrated metering orifice in a pressurized fluid manifold.
In practice, the insert is installed using a specialized tool that grips the threaded hole in the core and pulls it into the sleeve. The tool controls the depth of insertion and the amount of expansion, ensuring a consistent and reliable connection. The tapered design of the core is crucial for achieving a uniform expansion of the sleeve, which maximizes the holding force and sealing capability. The insert can also be used to create a calibrated metering orifice by incorporating a smaller diameter section in the through-hole, allowing for precise control of fluid flow in hydraulic systems.
The key differentiation from prior approaches lies in the insert's two-part design and the method of expansion. Unlike rivet systems that rely on a stem that breaks off, this insert provides a clean and repeatable installation. Furthermore, the threaded through-hole allows for the attachment of other parts, a feature not found in many existing sealing plugs. The use of a tapered core to achieve radial expansion also simplifies manufacturing and ensures a consistent clamping force, making it a more robust and versatile solution for connecting parts and sealing holes in various applications.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’105 was filed, at a time when threaded inserts were typically installed using manual or pneumatic tools, systems commonly relied on standardized thread sizes and materials for inserts, and when hardware or software constraints made precise depth control during insert installation non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art, specifically Crooke, discloses an assembly having a cylindrical sleeve and a core with a two-diameter through-hole and a tapered outer wall, but it does not disclose the through-hole having a threaded portion, nor that the assembly permits axial sliding into the cylindrical sleeve. Although Kirilchin discloses an internally threaded hole, modifying it to add internal threads would not allow the invention to function as claimed. Furthermore, modifying Kirilchin to incorporate two different diameters of a through-hole would substantially teach away from the reference, as it is directed towards plugging a hole. Therefore, the prior art, alone or in combination, does not anticipate or render obvious the claimed invention.
Claims
This patent contains 17 claims, of which claims 1, 8, 11, and 14 are independent. The independent claims are directed to a system, an insert, and a method for connecting parts or providing a calibrated metering orifice using a core and sleeve design. The dependent claims generally add specific features, dimensions, or relationships to the elements described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US10859105
- Application Number
- US16182117
- Filing Date
- Nov 6, 2018
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Nov 6, 2038
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents