US-12623322-B2 - System and method for installing a manifold plug

US12623322B2US 12623322 B2US12623322 B2US 12623322B2US-12623322-B2

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an insert and system of installing the same. The insert includes a tapered core and a cylinder. The core releasably secures to an installation device which includes a depth stop or a depth control to control the installation depth of the insert. The insert may be provided in a tray that allows for easier handling of the inserts and installation thereof in installation holes, for example in a hydraulic manifold. In some cases, the core includes a threaded hole to releasably secure the insert to the installation device, thus allowing the installation device to pull the core into the cylinder. The core and cylinder may be made of metallic materials such as steels, steel alloys and others. In some cases the insert can withstand blow out pressures of 40,000 psi or higher.

Inventors

Victor Kirilichin
David P. Turechek
Brian P. Krieger

Assignees

ENGINEERED INSERTS & SYSTEMS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250619

Claims (20)

1 . A plug configured to be installed with a tool having a male threaded device, the plug for sealing a hole in a device and comprising: a core having a height and an outer wall that includes a tapered section and a cylindrical section, the core having a core hole extending at least partially therethrough and a bottom portion of the core is solid with a depth of the core hole being less than the height of the core, at least a portion of the core hole being threaded, a metallic sleeve having an inner surface defining a cylindrical void and having an outer surface, the core is connected to the metallic sleeve at a lower end of the metallic sleeve prior to retraction of the core into the metallic sleeve; the plug configured to be inserted into the hole with the threaded portion of the core hole being accessible from outside the hole of the device; and the core is configured to be retracted in an axial direction towards the outside of the hole of the device such that both the tapered and the cylindrical sections of the core are pulled into the cylindrical void of the metallic sleeve whereby the outer wall of the core seals with the cylindrical void of the metallic sleeve to retain the core within the metallic sleeve and wherein the plug is configured such that when the plug is installed in the hole of the device such that the core is in a position retracted into the metallic sleeve with the threaded hole facing outwards and such that the core exerts outward pressure on an inner surface of the metallic sleeve, the core is retracted into the metallic sleeve and seals the hole of the metallic sleeve with the threaded hole free from engagement with the male threaded device after installation of the insert in the hole of the device and removal of the male threaded device.
2 . The plug of claim 1 wherein both the cylindrical section and the tapered sections of the core exert outward pressure on an cylindrical inner surface of the metallic sleeve.
3 . The plug of claim 1 wherein the core is connected to the metallic sleeve at the lower end of the metallic sleeve with a press-fit connection.
4 . The plug of claim 1 wherein the core is metallic.
5 . The plug of claim 1 wherein the core and the metallic sleeve are made of a steel or steel alloy.
6 . The plug of claim 1 wherein the tapered section is at an angle of less than 10 degrees.
7 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical void of the metallic sleeve is defined by a smooth cylindrical inner wall of the metallic sleeve.
8 . The plug of claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical section of the outer wall of the core is smooth.
9 . The plug of claim 8 , wherein the tapered section of the outer wall of the core is smooth.
10 . The plug of claim 9 , wherein the smooth tapered section of the outer wall of the core has a different taper angle than the smooth cylindrical inner wall of the metallic sleeve.
11 . The plug of claim 10 , wherein the smooth cylindrical section of the outer wall of the core is in contact with the lower end of the metallic sleeve prior to the smooth tapered section of the outer wall of the core being in contact with the lower end of the metallic sleeve.
12 . The plug of claim 11 , wherein, when the core is in a position retracted into the metallic sleeve, the smooth outer surface of the metallic sleeve is in contact with and seals with the hole in the device.
13 . The plug of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the metallic sleeve is smooth.
14 . The plug of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the metallic sleeve is ridged.
15 . The plug of claim 14 , wherein the ridged section of the outer surface of the metallic sleeve is spaced apart from the upper surface of the metallic sleeve by the smooth section of the outer surface of the metallic sleeve.
16 . The plug of claim 8 , wherein the tapered section of the outer wall of the core has ridges.
17 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the metallic sleeve includes a lip.
18 . The plug of claim 17 , wherein the lip at the upper portion of the metallic sleeve has a different diameter than the hole in the device.
19 . A plug configured to be installed with a tool having a male threaded device, the plug for sealing a hole in a device and comprising: a core having a height and a smooth outer wall that includes a smooth tapered section and a smooth cylindrical section, the core having a core hole extending at least partially therethrough and a bottom portion of the core is solid with a depth of the core hole being less than the height of the core, at least a portion of the core hole being threaded, a metallic sleeve having a smooth inner surface defining a cylindrical void and having a smooth outer surface, the core being connected to the metallic sleeve at a lower end of the metallic sleeve prior to retraction of the core into the sleeve; the plug configured to be inserted into the hole with the threaded portion of the core hole being accessible from outside the hole of the device; and the core is configured to be retracted in an axial direction towards the outside of the hole of the device such that both the smooth tapered and smooth cylindrical sections of the core are pulled into the smooth cylindrical void of the metallic sleeve whereby the outer wall of the core seals with the cylindrical void of the sleeve to retain the core within the sleeve and wherein the plug is configured such that when the plug is installed in the hole of the device such that the core is in a position retracted into the sleeve with the threaded hole facing outwards and such that the core exerts outward pressure on an inner surface of the metallic sleeve, first the tapered section of the core is retracted into the sleeve and seals the hole of the metallic sleeve and then the tapered section of the core is next retracted into the sleeve and also seals the hole of the metallic sleeve, with the threaded hole free from engagement with the male threaded device after installation of the insert in the hole of the device and removal of the male threaded device.
20 . A plug configured to be installed with a tool having a male threaded device, the plug for sealing a hole in a device and comprising: a core having a height and an outer wall that includes a tapered section and a cylindrical section, the core having a core hole extending at least partially therethrough and a bottom portion of the core is solid with a depth of the core hole being less than the height of the core, at least a portion of the core hole being threaded, a metallic sleeve having an inner surface defining a cylindrical void and having an outer surface having a smooth section and a ridged section, the core is connected to the metallic sleeve at a lower end of the metallic sleeve prior to retraction of the core into the metallic sleeve; the plug configured to be inserted into the hole with the threaded portion of the core hole being accessible from outside the hole of the device; and the core is configured to be retracted in an axial direction towards the outside of the hole of the device such that both the tapered and the cylindrical sections of the core are pulled into the cylindrical void of the metallic sleeve whereby the outer wall of the core seals with the cylindrical void of the metallic sleeve to retain the core within the metallic sleeve and wherein the plug is configured such that when the plug is installed in the hole of the device such that the core is in a position retracted into the metallic sleeve with the threaded hole facing outwards and such that the core exerts outward pressure on an inner surface of the metallic sleeve, the core is retracted into the metallic sleeve and seals the hole of the metallic sleeve with the threaded hole free from engagement with the male threaded device after installation of the insert in the hole of the device and removal of the male threaded device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/818,059 filed Aug. 28, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/394,075 filed Dec. 22, 2023, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,097,598 on Sep. 24, 2024, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/317,167 filed May 15, 2023, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,878,397 on Jan. 23, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/875,238 filed Jul. 27, 2022, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,685,029 on Jun. 27, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/027,992 filed Jul. 5, 2018, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,426,849 on Aug. 30, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/512,018, filed Oct. 10, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,040,182 on Aug. 7, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/929,746 filed Jan. 21, 2014. These applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The following disclosure relates to a plug and a system, kit and method for installing the same. More particularly, the plug may be designed to seal manifolds or other devices that may have holes therein, for example, a hydraulic manifold. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are various plug and sealing systems generally known. For example, some commercially available plugs include a rivet system having a stem that is designed to break off during installation of the plug in a hole. The stem acts similar to a pop rivet. The manufacturing of the stem can be a complicated and expensive process as the stem must break off at the appropriate force in order to properly install the plug. U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,755 to Lundquist discloses a tool and a plug for sealing a hole, for example, an unused coolant passage in an injection molding die. The plug includes a flexible, hollow cylindrical sleeve and a core member longitudinally interengageable into the sleeve. The core is of a generally cylindrical configuration. The sleeve is made of an elastomer material. The tool for installing the plug is activated by hand and does not appear to include any mechanical power. Further, the tool does not appear to have any depth control for controlling the installation depth of the insert. U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,137 to Nusbaumer et al. discloses a plug assembly comprising a generally cylindrical expansion sleeve having a socket portion that receives a wedging nut. The head of a screw element engages with the sleeve on the side of the sleeve opposite the nut such that rotation of the screw pulls the nut into the sleeve. The threaded hole of the wedging nut extends all the way through the socket and the screw element remains in the hole after installation. U.S. Pat. No. 8,381,934 to Brewer et al. discloses a sealing plug for blind installation. The plug includes a sleeve, a nut stem with a shoulder, and a head at least part of which is radially enlarged with respect to the stem. The nut stem is internally threaded such that when the nut stem is pulled axially, the shoulder presses against the sleeve and thereby expands the sleeve against a hole. There does not appear to be disclosure of the nut stem including a conical or tapered surface that presses against the sleeve. Further, the installation gun does not appear to include releasably secured and interchangeable end pieces. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an insert and sealing system that allows for easier installation and manufacturing. It is further desirable to provide an insert and sealing system that provides for repeatable installation of the plug in holes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an insert that can be installed without a stem. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an installation device that aids in the installation of the insert. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for installing an insert using the installation device. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a kit for installing a plurality of inserts in one or more holes. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an insert that can withstand high pressures typically found in hydraulic manifolds. These and other objects are achieved by providing an insert with a tapered core and a cylinder. The core releasably secures to an installation device. The installation device includes a depth stop or a depth control to control the installation depth of the insert. The insert may be installed in a tray that allows for easier handling of the inserts and installation thereof. In some cases, the core includes a threaded hole to releasably secure the insert to the installation device. In one aspect, a system for sealing a hole is provided and includes an installation device havin