Importance

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Abstract

A connector, for example for connecting a tubular member such as a pipe, comprises a male member which has an external frusto-conical surface provided with a thread and a female member having an internal frusto-conical surface provided with a thread for engagement with the thread of the male member. The members are provided with sealing surfaces which are brought into sealing abutment under an axially directed compressive force when the members are fully engaged together, as a result of which one member, as shown in FIG. 3 the male member, is partly compressed and the other member, as shown in FIG. 3 the female member, is partly tensioned. To improve the loading of the threads of the members when the members are fully engaged together and under an applied tensile load, the threads of the members are divided into three portions, an intermediate portion and end portions, the pitches of the threads in the three portions are the same and constant throughout their axial extents but the relative phases of the threads in the end portions differ. Specifically the phase angle of the threads in the intermediate portion is the same. In the end portion adjacent the sealing surfaces, the phase of the thread of the member (which was placed under compression during make-up) is advanced relative to that of the other member, and in the other end portion the phase of the thread of the other member is advanced relative to that of the one member.

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First Claim