ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 18 -- United States Patent no. 12,326,204, issued on June 10.
"Hammer union" was invented by James Tausch Jr. (Yukon, Okla.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A hammer union is provided for reducing and, in most instances, eliminating the likelihood of sealing ring displacement during fluid operations. The hammer union comprises a male pipe member, a union nut placed over the male pipe member, a female pipe member, and a sealing ring. The female pipe member includes a sealing pocket having an arcuate portion, a vertical portion, a base, and a recessed groove. The sealing ring is captured between the male pipe member and the female pipe member such that the sealing ring engag...