WELDLESS BULKHEAD SEAL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal device that facilitates the transportation of liquid from one containment system to another container or to allow such liquid to be retrieved from the original containment without the need for welding parts and fittings on the exterior of the container. The head of the bulkhead comprises six sides for easy installation, a shaft at the front of the bulkhead, a pair of ribbed buna gaskets for effective leak proof sealing, and a set of internal threads on the shaft of the bulkhead, which allows for additional pieces of threaded hardware to be attached to the bulkhead. A locking nut is threaded onto the outside of the bulkhead shaft, whereby these threads are tightened by turning to the left. That is to say they are reversed threads which will better resist pressure from the inside of the containment system or tank.

Claims

1. A stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal comprising of six sides/edges on the head of the bolt end (12) in FIG. 1. for easy installation/removal and a shaft (13) FIG. 1.

2. A stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal according to claim 1 whereby the said bulkhead further comprises two sets of threads on the interior aspect of the shaft (11) as seen in FIG. 1. and that are exactly half of the length of the entire shaft (13) of the bulkhead;

3. A stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal according to claim 2 whereby the internal set of threads allows for additional pieces of threaded hardware to be attached to the bulkhead when installed, also allows liquid to be transferred from inside the tank to outside the tank, using various attachments such as ball valve and allows for a threaded filtration device to be threaded on the inside of the tank, which filters fluids before retrieval.

4. A stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal according to claim 1 whereby the said bulkhead further comprises twin Buna-N gaskets (10) wherein the said gaskets are made of food grade nitrile rubber, (Buna-N). Gasket Material can vary from EPDM to Food Grade Nitrile Rubber, Based on Use & Demand.

5. A stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal according to claim 4 whereby the Buna-N gaskets further consists of two sets of raised ribs (16) on the front side to allow them press against the tank walls to ensure a leak proof seal;

6. A stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal according to claim 1 whereby the said bulkhead further comprises a locking nut which further comprises of a set of reversed NPT threads on the outside of the shaft of the bolt which allows for specialized applications in which the application of pressure would force a right handed screw or bolt to come loose.

7. A stainless steel weld-less bulkhead seal according to claim 6 whereby the said the locking nut is designed to tighten to the left side by the reversed NPT threading.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 discloses a frontal perspective view of the front of the weld-less bulkhead with the gaskets attached;

[0017] FIG. 2 discloses a rear perspective view of the back side of the bulkhead;

[0018] FIG. 3 discloses a perspective view of the two Food Grade Nitrile Rubber (Buna-N) gaskets;

[0019] FIG. 4 discloses a perspective view of the bulkhead showing the internal threads, and attached are the locking nut and the gaskets;

[0020] FIG. 5 discloses a perspective view of the locking nut of the bulkhead;

[0021] FIG. 6 discloses a side view of the whole invention in an arranged position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

[0022] In FIG. 1, the present invention comprises the front side of the head of the stainless steel weld-less bulkhead further comprising six sides on the head of the bolt end (15) to allow for easier installation and removal. The front of the bulkhead consists of a shaft (12) which allows the first and second food grade Buna-N gaskets (13a, 13b) to be seated (on the inside and outside of the tank respectively) with the ribs (14) of the gaskets against the tank wall (21). The Buna-N gaskets (13a, 13b) further consist of two sets of ribs (14) on the front side to allow them press against the interior of the tank wall (and on the exterior by the second gasket) to ensure maximum ability to provide a leak-proof seal. The second Buna-N gasket (13b) fits on the same shaft 12, on the outside of the tank. Thereby allowing the two sets of raised ribs (14) to also ensure maximum sealing capability on the outside of the tank. The invention also comprises two set of internal threads (11) on the shaft (12) of the bulkhead, which allows for additional pieces of threaded hardware to be attached to the bulkhead allowing liquid to be transferred from inside of the tank to the outside using various attachments, such as a ball valve.

[0023] In FIG. 2, the present invention discloses the back side of the head of bulkhead (16) consisting of six sides (15), the two Buna-N gaskets (13a, 13b), the first gasket (13a) seats against the head of the bulkhead, and the second set of internal threads (17) on the inside of the shaft of the bulkhead. This set of threads (17) is exactly the same as the threads accessed from the outside of the tank, and these threads allow for attachment of various screening devices to allow for filtration of the liquid that is being retrieved from inside the tank to outside the tank or to another containment system.

[0024] in FIG. 3, the invention discloses the front side of the food grade Buna-N gaskets (13a, 13b). There are two Buna-N gaskets utilized on the weld-less bulkhead seal and the first of the gaskets (13a) is placed on the shaft of the weldless bulkhead on the inside of the tank, while the second gasket is placed on the shaft of the weldless bulkhead on the outside of the tank. The gaskets comprise two sets of raised ribs (14) on the gaskets to allow four additional layers of sealing on the walls of the tank. Gasket material may vary based on use & demand. EPDM is another viable gasket material.

[0025] In FIG. 4, the invention discloses the locking nut (17), the sides (18) of the locking nut, the internal threads of the bulkhead's shaft (11) which are the same set of internal threads illustrated in part (11) of the bulkhead disclosed in FIG. 1. These threads are NPT threads and are designed to allow attachments to be made on the outside of the tank to allow liquid to flow. The locking nut is threaded onto the shaft (12) of the weld-less bulkhead seal. Furthermore, the locking nut is designed to tighten to the left side by threading to the left side. The left handed threads are used in specialized applications in which the application of pressure would force a right handed screw or bolt to come loose. FIG. 4 also discloses the sides of the head of the bulkhead (15).

[0026] in FIG. 5, the invention discloses the sides of the locking nut (18), the interior view of the internal threads (20) on the locking nut, these threads are reversed. Also disclosed is the flat side of the locking nut (19) under which the second Buna-N gasket (13b) in FIG. 1. would be placed on the shaft (12) (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4) of the weldless bulkhead seal to provide additional sealing capability to bulkhead.

[0027] In FIG. 6, the whole invention is shown in an arranged position and it comprises the shaft of the bulkhead (12), the locking nut (17), the two Buna-N gaskets (13a, 13b), the sides of the bulkhead (15) and the tank wall (21) in broken lines.

How the Invention is Used

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.