System And Method For Installing A Manifold Plug
Patent No. US11878397 (titled "System And Method For Installing A Manifold Plug") was filed by Engineered Inserts & Systems Inc on May 15, 2023.
What is this patent about?
’397 is related to the field of sealing holes, particularly in hydraulic manifolds or similar devices requiring high-pressure seals. The background acknowledges existing plug designs, such as rivet systems and expansion sleeves, but identifies shortcomings in ease of installation, manufacturing complexity, and depth control. The invention aims to provide an improved insert and installation system that addresses these limitations.
The underlying idea behind ’397 is to create a self-expanding plug that can be easily installed and reliably seal holes against high pressures. This is achieved by using a two-part insert consisting of a tapered core and a cylindrical sleeve. By pulling the core into the sleeve, the sleeve expands radially, creating a tight seal against the walls of the hole. The use of a threaded hole in the core allows for controlled installation using a specialized tool.
The claims of ’397 focus on a method of sealing an installation hole. The method involves providing a two-part insert: a core with a tapered outer wall and a threaded hole, and a cylindrical metallic sleeve. The core is initially secured to the sleeve. The insert is placed in the hole, and then a male threaded device (e.g., a pull-rod) is used to pull the core into the sleeve. This action radially expands the sleeve, sealing the hole. After installation, the threaded hole faces outwards and is free from engagement with the male threaded device.
In practice, the insert is pre-assembled with the core partially inserted into the sleeve. An installation tool with a threaded pull-rod engages the core's threaded hole. The tool then pulls the core further into the sleeve, causing the sleeve to expand and press against the walls of the hole. A depth stop on the installation tool ensures consistent installation depth. The tool then disengages, leaving the expanded insert securely in place, sealing the hole.
This design differs from prior approaches by eliminating the need for stems or complex expansion mechanisms. The tapered core and cylindrical sleeve provide a simple and reliable way to achieve radial expansion. The use of a threaded connection for installation allows for precise control over the expansion force and depth. The system also includes a tray for easier handling and automated installation, further improving efficiency compared to traditional methods.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’397 was filed, sealing holes in manifolds or similar devices was typically implemented using plugs that often relied on stems that break off during installation, similar to pop rivets. At a time when installation tools commonly relied on manual activation, achieving repeatable installation depths and handling high pressures in hydraulic manifolds presented non-trivial engineering constraints.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the prior art neither anticipates nor renders obvious the claimed combination. Specifically, the prior art does not show a cylindrical metallic sleeve secured to a core in a position prior to engagement with a male threaded device, and before the core is retracted into the sleeve, where the sleeve is secured to the core with a first end of the core secured to the cylindrical metallic sleeve. Also, the prior art does not show installing the insert in the cylindrical hole to seal the cylindrical hole such that the core is in a position retracted into the sleeve with the threaded hole facing outwards and accessible from outside the hole wherein the core exerts outward pressure on an inner surface of the metallic sleeve to force the cylindrical outer surface to seal against the cylindrical hole, wherein the core retracted into the sleeve by engagement of a male threaded device which pulls the core into the sleeve to seal the cylindrical hole; wherein the cylindrical hole is sealed with the threaded hole free from engagement with a male threaded device after installation of the insert in the cylindrical hole.
Claims
This patent contains 18 claims, with claims 1 and 11 being independent. The independent claims are directed to methods of sealing an installation hole using an insert comprising a core and a metallic sleeve. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the specific features, dimensions, materials, and performance characteristics of the method and insert described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11878397
- Application Number
- US18317167
- Filing Date
- May 15, 2023
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Oct 10, 2034
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents