Seal and method for a watertight connection in a water service

Abstract

An improved seal and method for providing a watertight compression joint connection between a valve or fitting and a flare end of a copper tubing in a water service. The improvement includes an O-ring seal on a bull nose end of a valve and a frictional material inserted into straight AWWA threads on a male inlet or outlet of the valve to sealingly engage a flared end of the copper tubing to the bull nose end and to frictionally engage a flare nut with the tubing back onto the matching bull nose end of the valve when screwing the flare nut onto the male threads of the valve, respectively.

1 . A watertight compression joint for an underground water service system comprising: 
 A valve or fitting having a water passage and a male threaded portion ending in generally a bull nose having an opening connected to the passage;    a generally annular seal groove of a predetermined depth and cross-section formed adjacent to the opening on the bull nose;    a generally annular elastomeric seal of a predetermined cross-section corresponding to at least a portion of the cross-section of the annular seal groove for fixedly receiving the seal at least partially within the seal groove with a predetermined portion of the seal extending a predetermined distance above the groove;    a water tubing having a flared end matching a portion of the bull nose; and    a female threaded flare nut having threads corresponding to the male threads producing an axial force when screwed onto the male threaded portion to sealingly engage the bull nose to the flared end of the water tubing and to deform the seal between the bull nose and flared end of the tubing to form a watertight compression joint resistant to subsequent leakage due to vibrations or movement in the water service system.    
   
   
       2 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal groove and seal having a corresponding circular cross-section.  
   
   
       3 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal groove and seal have a corresponding rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       4 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hole of a predetermined size and depth milled into the threads of the male threaded portion; and    a frictional material disposed at least partially in the hole and extending at least above a bottom groove of the male threads to frictionally engage the female threads on the flare nut when the flare nut is in its final tightened position when screwed onto the male portion of the valve or fitting to prevent the flare nut from backing off or loosening due to vibration or earth movement around the compression joint of the water service system.    
   
   
       5 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 4 , wherein the frictional material is Teflon or a similar type material resistant to degradation from water or chemicals.  
   
   
       6 . A watertight compression joint for a water service system, comprising: 
 a valve or fitting having a threaded male portion ending in a bull nose and a water passage ending in an opening at the bull nose;    an annular groove formed adjacent to the opening in the bull nose;    an elastomer at least partially disposed within the groove;    a tubing having a flared end matching a portion of the bull nose;    a hole in the threads of the male portion;    a friction means at least partially disposed within the hole; and    a female flare nut having mating threads corresponding to the threads on the male portion so that the flared end of the tubing sealingly engages a portion of the bull nose and the elastomer when the flare nut is screwed onto the threaded male portion to form the compression joint and also the female threads engage the friction means on the threaded male portion to prevent the flare nut from backing off or loosening to cause a water leak subsequent to installation of the water service system.    
   
   
       7 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 6 , wherein the friction means is a Teflon material or equivalent.  
   
   
       8 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 6 , wherein the valve or fitting is preferably formed from brass, bronze, steel, aluminum, plastic or other suitable material.  
   
   
       9 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 6 , wherein the tubing is K type copper tubing.  
   
   
       10 . The watertight compression joint of  claim 6 , wherein the elastomer is preferably formed from rubber, neoprene or other synthetic rubber material.  
   
   
       11 . A method for forming a watertight compression joint in a water service system, the method comprising: 
 milling an annular groove closely adjacent to a bull nose end of a male threaded portion of a valve or fitting;    inserting an elastomer partially disposed into the groove;    milling a hole into the threads of the male portion;    inserting a frictional means partially disposed into the hole;    removing a flare nut from the valve or fitting having female threads;    slipping a flare nut onto a tubing;    flaring the end of the tubing to match a portion of the bull nose;    making the outer diameter of the flare backing extend out to the female threads in the flare nut without nicks or chips;    screwing the flare nut with the tubing flared backing onto the matching bull nose end of the valve or fitting to form a compression joint between the bull nose and flared back of the tubing and to cover the elastomer in a sealingly, watertight engagement, wherein the female threads of the flare nut engage the frictional means to further prevent the flare nut from subsequently backing off due to stress, vibration and other earth movement about the compression joints in the water service system.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the groove is a partial circular cross-section.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the elastomer matches the cross-section of the groove.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the groove is a partial rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomer matches the cross-section of the groove.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the elastomer is preferably formed from rubber, neoprene or other non-degradable with water or chemical material.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the frictional means is formed from a Teflon or other equivalent material  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tubing is a K type copper.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the valve or fitting is cast brass.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the valve or fitting includes a water passage.