Claims
- 1. A cooling system orifice adapter for coupling to an orifice and applying pressure from a source of pressurized gas, comprising:
a hollow shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, an enlarged head portion at the shaft distal end, a threaded length along the shaft, and a central axial bore extending from the distal end to the proximal end, a universal fitting having a central axis, a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior surface comprising a plurality of steps, said steps having substantially axially extending surfaces and substantially radially extending surfaces, said plurality of steps having outermost diameters which increase from the distal end to the proximal end of the universal fitting, at least one of said substantially axially extending surfaces being disposed from the outermost diameter at a negative angle to an annular plane parallel to the axis, and an axial bore adapted to receive the hollow shaft, the threaded length along the shaft being at least partially accessible from the proximal end of the universal fitting, a plate having a bore extending therethrough adapted to receive the hollow shaft, a knob having a threaded internal bore adapted to receive at least a portion of the threaded length of the hollow shaft, the hollow shaft being disposed extending through the fitting axial bore and the plate bore, the enlarged head being disposed adjacent the distal end of the universal fitting and the plate being disposed adjacent the proximal end of the universal fitting, the threaded length of the shaft being received within the knob such that rotation of the knob causes the enlarged head and the plate to exert an axial compression force on the universal fitting between the plate and the enlarged head portion to force the exterior surface of the universal fitting outward to couple the adapter to said orifice, and a pressure adapter for coupling the shaft to a source of pressurized gas, the pressure adapter being adapted to sealingly engage the proximal end of the hollow shaft, the pressure adapter further including a pressure passage adapted to be in communication with the central axial bore of the hollow shaft such that pressurized gas may be applied from the source of pressurized gas through the pressure passage and the central axial bore.
- 2. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft includes a proximal threaded length, and the pressure adapter includes a threaded coupler for engaging with the proximal threaded length, whereby the hollow shaft, the universal fitting, the plate, the knob, and the pressure adapter are entirely disassembleable such that the hollow shaft, the universal fitting, the plate, the knob, or the pressure adapter may be replaced as desired.
- 3. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 2, wherein the pressure adapter further comprises a radiator cup with a bottom, the bottom including the pressure passage.
- 4. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 3, wherein the pressure adapter threaded coupler is a nut secured to the bottom.
- 5. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 1, further including a support ring adapted to receive the step of the smallest diameter.
- 6. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 1, wherein the plate further includes at least one slot for receiving a chain or other means to redundantly couple the adapter to the orifice.
- 7. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 1 wherein the pressure adapter further comprises a valve assembly having a valve body including the pressure passage, the valve assembly further comprising a shuttle valve slidably received in the valve body and moveable between an open position in which the pressure passage is in fluid communication with the source of pressurized gas and a closed position in which the pressure passage is not in fluid communication with the source of pressurized gas.
- 8. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 7, wherein the valve body includes a shuttle valve bore and an internally threaded primary bore adapted to receive the threaded length at the proximal end of the hollow shaft, the threaded coupler comprising said internally threaded primary bore, the shuttle valve being slidably received within the shuttle valve bore, the shuttle valve having first and second ends and a central bore extending axially through the shuttle valve, the first end of the valve being in communication with the source of pressurized gas, the central bore of the shuttle valve being in fluid communication with the pressure passage when the shuttle valve is in the open position.
- 9. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 8, the pressure adapter further comprising a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the second end of the shuttle valve whereby the pressure gauge measures the pressure applied, the shuttle valve further comprising a radial bore in communication with the shuttle valve central bore and a circumferential surface, the shuttle valve being in an open position when the radial bore is in fluid communication with the pressure passage, and the shuttle valve being in a closed position when the radial bore is not in communication with the pressure passage and the circumferential surface is aligned with the pressure passage.
- 10. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 8 further comprising at least two O-rings disposed about the shuttle valve along either side of the radial bore.
- 11. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 10, wherein the shuttle valve includes at least one travel limiter which limits the shuttle valve sliding within the valve body.
- 12. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 7 further comprising a temperature probe and temperature gauge, the temperature probe being in communication with the central axial bore of the hollow shaft.
- 13. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 9 further comprising a temperature probe and temperature gauge, the temperature probe being in communication with the central axial bore of the hollow shaft.
- 14. A cooling system orifice adapter for coupling to an orifice and applying pressure from a source of pressurized gas, comprising:
a hollow shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, an enlarged head portion at the shaft distal end, and a central axial bore extending from the distal end to the proximal end, a universal fitting having a distal end, a proximal end, an exterior surface having a diameter which increases from the distal end to the proximal end, and an axial bore, the hollow shaft being disposed extending through the axial bore, a plate having a bore extending therethrough, the plate being disposed along the proximal end of the universal fitting, the hollow shaft extending through the plate bore, a compression device disposed along the proximal end of the hollow shaft, the compression device adapted to place an axial compression force on the universal fitting between the plate and the enlarged head portion to force the exterior surface of the universal fitting outward to couple the adapter to said orifice, and a valve assembly adapted for connection to the source of pressurized gas, the valve assembly having a valve body coupled to the proximal end of the hollow shaft and including a pressure passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the central axial bore of the hollow shaft such that pressurized gas may be applied from the source of pressurized gas through the pressure passage and the central axial bore, the valve assembly further comprising a shuttle valve slidably received in the valve body and moveable between an open position in which the pressure passage is in fluid communication with the source of pressurized gas and a closed position in which the pressure passage is not in fluid communication with the source of pressurized gas.
- 15. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 14 wherein the hollow shaft comprises an externally-threaded length, and the compression device comprises a knob having a mating threaded internal bore through which the threaded length of the hollow shaft extends such that rotation of the knob causes the enlarged head and the plate to exert an axial compression force on the universal fitting between the plate and the enlarged head portion to force the exterior surface of the universal fitting outward to couple the adapter to said orifice.
- 16. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 15, wherein the valve body includes a shuttle valve bore in communication with the pressure passage, the shuttle valve being slidably received within the shuttle valve bore, the shuttle valve having first and second ends and a central bore extending axially through the shuttle valve, the first end of the valve being in communication with the source of pressurized gas, the central bore of the shuttle valve being in fluid communication with the pressure passage when the shuttle valve is in the open position.
- 17. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 16 wherein proximal end of the hollow shaft includes a threaded segment, the valve body including a threaded portion for mating with the threaded segment, the pressure passage being in fluid communication with the axial bore of the hollow shaft through the threaded portion.
- 18. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 16 further comprising a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the second end of the shuttle valve whereby the pressure gauge measures the pressure applied, the shuttle valve further comprising a radial bore in communication with the shuttle valve central bore and a circumferential surface, the shuttle valve being in an open position when the radial bore is in fluid communication with the pressure passage, and the shuttle valve being in a closed position when the radial bore is not in communication with the pressure passage and the circumferential surface is aligned with the pressure passage.
- 19. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 16 further comprising at least two O-rings disposed about the shuttle valve along either side of the radial bore.
- 20. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 16 further comprising a temperature probe and temperature gauge, the temperature probe being in communication with the central axial bore of the hollow shaft.
- 21. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 18 further comprising a temperature probe and temperature gauge, the temperature probe being in communication with the central axial bore of the hollow shaft.
- 22. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 14 wherein the universal fitting further comprises an axis, and said exterior surface comprises a plurality of steps, said steps having substantially axially extending surfaces and substantially radially extending surfaces, said plurality of steps having outermost diameters which increase from the distal end to the proximal end of the universal fitting, at least one of said substantially axially extending surfaces being disposed from the outermost diameter at a negative angle to an annular plane parallel to the axis.
- 23. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 22 wherein at least one of the substantially axially extending surfaces is concave.
- 24. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the substantially axially extending surfaces is concave.
- 25. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 2 wherein the distal end of the hollow shaft includes a structure for engaging a specialized tool for use during disassembly.
- 26. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 25 wherein the pressure adapter includes a structure for engaging a second specialized tool for use during disassembly.
- 27. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 17 wherein the distal end of the hollow shaft includes a structure for engaging a specialized tool for use during disassembly.
- 28. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 27 wherein the pressure adapter includes a structure for engaging a second specialized tool for use during disassembly.
- 29. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 22 wherein the angle is substantially on the order of 6°.
- 30. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 29 wherein the angle is ranges from 4° to 8°.
- 31. The cooling system orifice adapter of claim 29 wherein the angle is at least 3°.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT/US00/4180, filed Nov. 2, 2000, which is based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/163,017, filed Nov. 2, 1999, now closed.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60163017 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/US00/4180 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10059567 |
Jan 2002 |
US |