Patent Application
20220412485
The present invention relates to a fitting device, particularly a stainless steel weld-less bulkhead sealing device that allows the user to transport liquid from one liquid containment system/tank to another container or to allow such liquid to be retrieved from the original containment system/tank without the need of welding parts and fittings on the exterior of the container.
Bulkheads are fittings often used on fluid containment systems, tanks, kettles, brew tanks, fermenting tanks, and other form of containment or containers. They are separate fittings or devices attached to a container to resist pressure or to shut off water or gas. They are also used in transporting liquid from one containment system into another container or to be retrieved from the original containment system without the need for welding parts and fittings on the exterior of the containment system.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,976B2 discloses a bulkhead connector assembly providing a sealing arrangement for seemingly feeding a conduit between two environments. The assembly provides a first and second coupling components having a first and second surface respectively. A gap is formed between the first and second surfaces. The first coupling component has an aperture which extends between the first surface and a first environment and the second coupling component has an aperture which extends between the second surface and a second environment. The present invention presents us with a complex operation and so it's installation is cumbersome and not easy to use.
US20170248257A1 relates to fittings and, more particularly to a fitting having an integrated dip tube. A weld less through wall fitting that provides a leak free connection to a vessel that can easily be installed and removed. The fitting also provides an integrated, removable, and repositionable dip tube to allow the liquid stored in the vessel to be drained via gravity to a level below the entry point of the fitting.
U.S. Ser. No. 10/663,096B2 discloses a bulkhead fitting and a method for electrically separating two fluid lines across a structural boundary. Fluid is transported between a first channel through a first fluid line and a second channel through a second fluid line across the structural boundary formed by a structure. The first channel and the second channel are connected by a channel formed by a fitting. The fitting is comprised of a first component, a second component, and an isolator.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,597,361B2 discloses a bulkhead fitting for an irrigation pipe which may be used on either six inch or eight inch diameter irrigation pipes through the use of an interchangeable base ring. The fitting includes a stem fitting having an interchangeable base ring mounted thereon which is extended upwardly through an outlet opening in an irrigation pipe.
US20040265091A1 discloses Universal bulkhead fitting comprising a flanged cylinder assembly includes a cylindrical housing having an axis and defining a bore along the axis. A spirally threaded groove is defined within the bore. The groove is spirally situated about the bore. The groove is arranged to engage a threaded land on a shaft of a fastener to secure the fastener in the bore.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,256A discloses a bulkhead fitting for draining fluids off the topside of a thin flexible barrier cover, comprising: a male threaded member, a female threaded member, and an o-ring seal.
KR100736254B1 discloses a non-welding water storage structure having a tensioned top plate structure, which is a fluid storage means used for applications such as a drainage basin, agglomeration basin, an intermittent tap water, a tank type water purification plant, etc. It relates to a weld-free storage structure having a tension top plate structure applied to the storage tank.
KR200328383Y1 discloses a water tank having multi-bulkheads that can be sanitarily purified and can be easily installed by equipping the general water treatment plant with multiple partition structures
The problem with conventional bulkhead connectors is that often, the fittings have to be welded on to the outside of a tank to allow fluid to be retrieved through a valve. Also, stainless steel conventional bulkhead connectors cannot be welded on to plastic containment systems such as HPDE plastic tanks or fermenters. It is therefore desirable to have a bulkhead connector/seal that provides an effective solution to the aforementioned problems, as well as provide the ability to attach fittings, such as filtration devices on the inside of the tank as well.
The present invention aims to solve the above mentioned problems by providing a system that eliminates the welding of steel bulkhead fittings to containment systems or tanks to allow the retrieval or shutting off of fluid inside such containment systems. The present invention also facilitates the use of stainless bulkhead fittings with HDPE or plastic fluid containers or tanks, which can then allow for additional food grade stainless steel hardware to be attached to said container (inside and outside said container) allowing fluids to be retrieved and/or filtered with attachments.
The following summary discloses all the features and functions of the present invention. By considering the whole specification, claims, drawings and abstract, one can easily get a full understanding of the invention and how it functions.
The present invention consists of a stainless steel weld-less bulkhead having six side edges on the head of the bolt end, for easier installation and removal. The invention further comprises one set of threads located on the interior portion of the shaft that are exactly half of the length of the entire shaft of the bulkhead. This allows for additional pieces of threaded hardware to be attached to the bulkhead, both inside the tank and outside of the tank, thereby, facilitating the transfer of liquid from inside of a liquid tank/containment system to the outside using varieties of attachments such as a ball valve & filters. The invention further discloses two Food Grade Nitrile Rubber, (Buna-N gaskets) wherein the said gaskets further comprise two raised ribs to allow for four additional layers of sealing that would go beyond traditional Teflon Tape used on threads of any pipe material when dealing with fluids. The ribs on the front side of each gasket allow them press against the tank walls to ensure maximum ability to provide a leak proof seal. The second gasket is fitted on to the shaft of the bulkhead, on the outside of the tank. Together, the gaskets provide easy sealing capability on both the inside of the tank and the outside of the tank when properly fitted. The invention further discloses a locking nut which comprises of a plurality of reversed circular NPT threads which are designed to be tightened by threading to the left side.
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The most widely used application of the Weldless Seal Bulkhead is as a weldless bulkhead fitting installed on the inside of a tank or containment device through a hole which has been cut out of the tank. This will allow for liquids to be retrieved from the tank or container without the need for welding hardware on the outside of the tank.
The invention of the Weldless Bulkhead Seal also allows for Food Grade Stainless Steel to be installed on tanks made of HDPE Plastic (or like materials) which would not be able to be welded into with metal accessories, like a metal ball valve.
The Shaft of the Weldless Bulkhead Seal is placed through the hole with a gasket installed on the portion of the shaft that is now inside the tank wall. On the outside of the tank, shaft of the bulkhead has another Buna-N gasket installed to provide additional layers of sealing on the outside of the tank. The locking nut is reversed to be able to better withstand the pressure on the inside of the tank.
The set of threads on the internal portion of the bulkhead allow for various attachments to be made to the Weldless Seal Bulkhead fitting. These threads are NPT sized which allow for a wide array of attachments to be made, and allow for customization of use.
Most common attachments are made to the set of threads accessed on the aspect of the bulkhead which are outside of the tank or containment system will allow for fluid retrieval, such as a ball valve.
The set of threads which would be accessed from inside of the tank or containment system allows for various threaded screening devices or threaded filtration systems to be installed inside the tank thereby filtering liquids before they are retrieved.
Another way of using the invention is to use the set of Internal threads on the shaft of the bulkhead to install a water heating element to a tank or containment system. Whereby the heating element controls are accessed from outside the tank, thus allowing water in said container to be heated using the heating element.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/160,857, filed Mar. 14, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
