Tapering couplers for connecting fluid flow components

Abstract

Tapering couplers and coupling methods for connecting fluid flow components are provided. In one embodiment, the tapering coupler includes a housing with a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication through the housing. The first opening is sized for a first fluid flow component to couple to the housing, and the second opening for a second fluid flow component. The first and second fluid flow components include first and second fluid-carrying channels of different diameter, with the first fluid-carrying channel having a first channel diameter that is larger than the second channel diameter of the second fluid-carrying channel. A tapering element is associated with the housing and extends into the first fluid-carrying channel. The tapering element includes a tapering fluid-carrying channel which tapers in a direction back towards the housing, for instance, from about the first channel diameter to about the second channel diameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 providing a tapering coupler configured to couple a first fluid flow component and a second fluid flow component, the providing of the tapering coupler comprising:
 providing a housing with a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication through the housing, the first opening being sized for the first fluid flow component to connect into the housing, and the second opening being sized for the second fluid flow component to connect into the housing, the first fluid flow component and the second fluid flow component comprising a first fluid-carrying channel and a second fluid-carrying channel, respectively, the first fluid-carrying channel having a first constant internal channel diameter and the second fluid-carrying channel having a second constant internal channel diameter, wherein the first constant internal channel diameter is larger than the second constant internal channel diameter, and wherein the housing includes an edge stop projecting radially inward, the edge stop being positioned between the first opening and the second opening in the housing with a first side closer to the first opening and a second side closer to the second opening; 
 providing a tapering element associated with the housing and configured to extend into and reside within the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component when the first fluid flow component is connected into the housing, with the first fluid-carrying channel of the first fluid flow component and the first opening of the housing in fluid communication, the tapering element including a circumferential shoulder sized and positioned to reside against the second side of the edge stop within the housing, with the tapering element operatively disposed within the housing, and the tapering element comprising a tapering fluid-carrying channel which tapers down from the first constant internal channel diameter within the first fluid flow component towards the housing, and extends axially outward from the housing, the tapering element tapering from about the first constant internal channel diameter to about the second constant internal channel diameter, wherein with the first fluid flow component connected into the housing, the first fluid flow component resides, in part, within the housing, and is disposed in a radial direction, between the tapering element and a periphery of the housing, and wherein an end of the second fluid flow component within the housing contacts an end of the tapering element within the housing to maintain the circumferential shoulder of the tapering element against the second side of the edge stop within the housing; and 
 providing a seal disposed between an outer flange of the second flow component and the housing to facilitate sealing the second flow component to the housing. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tapering fluid-carrying channel of the tapering element uniformly tapers from about the first constant internal channel diameter to the second constant internal channel diameter at a taper angle θ. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the taper angle θ is in a range of a 1-10 degrees. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the taper angle θ is about 5 degrees. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid flow component comprises a fluid conduit, and the second fluid flow component comprises a fitting configured to couple the fluid conduit to a fluid manifold.