Torque Retention Arrangement

Abstract

A torque retention arrangement for a flange bolt connector for use with pipe. The torque retention arrangement a carrier body and a plurality of springs. The carrier body can include a plurality of spring holes equi-spaced around a circumference. A plurality of springs in a vertical stack can be mounted in each of the plurality of spring holes in the carrier. Each spring is in a convex orientation in a pre-torque condition and is in a planar orientation in a post-torque condition.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A torque retention arrangement comprising:
 a carrier having a first side and a second side opposite from and spaced from said first side, said carrier includes a plurality of through spring holes spaced around a circumference;   a first set of springs stacked within a first spring hole of said carrier, each of said springs in said first set of springs is aligned in a vertical arrangement for receiving a bolt therethrough, at least one spring in said first set of springs is non-coplanar with said carrier in a pre-torque orientation and all of said springs in said first set of springs are coplanar with said carrier in a loaded and torqued orientation;   a second set of springs stacked within a second spring hole of said carrier, each of said springs in said second set of springs is aligned in a vertical arrangement for receiving a bolt therethrough, at least one spring in said second set of springs is non-coplanar with said carrier in a pre-torque orientation and all of said springs in said second set of springs are coplanar with said carrier in a loaded and torqued orientation; and,   wherein aligning said springs coplanar with said carrier visually indicates a proper torque force.   
     
     
         2 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said springs are disc springs. 
     
     
         3 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein all of said springs in said first and second set of springs are non-coplanar with said carrier in said pre-torque orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said springs in said first and second set of springs includes a coating. 
     
     
         5 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier includes an O-ring around a perimeter of at least one of said spring holes of said carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier includes a flap plate at least partially inserted in said carrier to limit movement of at least one of said springs in said first set of springs as said spring moves from said pre-torque orientation to said torqued orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier includes a plurality of fingers, a first finger includes one of said spring holes that includes said first set of springs, a second finger includes one of said spring holes that includes said second set of springs. 
     
     
         8 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , including a first grommet, said first grommet positioned in and connected to one of said spring holes, said first grommet including said first set of springs, said first set of springs positioned in an interior cavity of said first grommet. 
     
     
         9 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , including a flexible seal positioned in one of said spring holes, said seal engaging a plurality of said springs in said first set of springs, said springs in said first set of springs causing said flexible seal to deform as said springs move from said pre-torque orientation to said torqued orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , including a flexible seal lining positioned in one of said spring holes, said seal lining engaging a plurality of said springs in said first set of springs, said spring hole having a non-planar inner surface, said flexible seal caused to deform as said springs move from said pre-torque orientation to said torqued orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is flexible and includes a side slot to enable said carrier to be fitted about a pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second set of springs each includes at least two springs stacked vertically. 
     
     
         13 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more springs in each of said first and second set of springs include a total height, said total height of said one or more springs in said loaded and torqued orientation is equal to a thickness of a portion of said carrier that includes said first and second set of springs. 
     
     
         14 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second set of springs include a coating around an exterior perimeter of said first and second set of springs. 
     
     
         15 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is a continuous circumferential shape. 
     
     
         16 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is a discontinuous circumferential shape. 
     
     
         17 . A method for connecting pipes sections together comprising:
 a. providing a first pipe section having a first flange;   b. providing a second pipe section with a second flange;   c. providing a torque retention arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , said springs in said torque retention arrangement in a pre-torque orientation;   d. inserting said toque retention arrangement about said first pipe section and adjacent to said first flange;   e. inserting a body of a first bolt through said first and second flanges such that said body of said bolt passes through the first set of springs in the torque retention arrangement, a first bolt opening in said first flange, and a first bolt opening in said second flange;   f. inserting a body of a second bolt through said first and second flanges such that said body of said bolt passes through the second set of springs in the torque retention arrangement, a second bolt opening in said first flange, and a second bolt opening in said second flange; and,   g. fastening and tightening a nut to an end of said first and second bolts to cause said first and second flanges to be drawn together and to cause said springs in said first and second spring sets to become coplanar with said carrier, said aligning said springs in said first and second spring sets to be coplanar with said carrier visually indicating a proper torque force on said nuts.   
     
     
         18 . A torque retention arrangement for a plastic lined pipe comprising:
 a one-piece carrier, said carrier includes a plurality of spring holes equi-spaced around a circumference; and,   a plurality of springs, said plurality of springs are disc springs, said plurality of springs are made of metal, at least one of said springs is mounted in each of said plurality of spring holes, each of said spring holes includes at least two springs stacked vertically, each spring has a convex orientation in a pre-torque condition, and each spring has a planar orientation in a post-torque orientation.   
     
     
         19 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said at least two springs include a height, said height of said at least two springs in said loaded and torqued orientation is equal to a thickness of said carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said carrier includes an O-ring around a perimeter of each spring hole. 
     
     
         21 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each spring includes a coating. 
     
     
         22 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said vertical stack of springs include a coating around an exterior perimeter of said stack of springs. 
     
     
         23 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said carrier includes a mounting plate positioned at a lower edge of each spring hole. 
     
     
         24 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said carrier includes a seal around an interior wall of each spring hole. 
     
     
         25 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said carrier is a continuous circumferential shape. 
     
     
         26 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said carrier is a discontinuous circumferential shape. 
     
     
         27 . The torque retention arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said torqued orientation compresses said springs from a non-coplanar orientation with said carrier to a planar orientation with said carrier, said torqued orientation aligns said springs into a planar orientation with said carrier and provides a visual indicator of a desired bolt torque value.