Back to results
US 11,149,890 B2Granted
Torque limited fitting
AssigneeIDEX Health & Science LLC
InventorsEric Beemer, Craig Graham, Mark Hahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque limited fitting is provided having a head and a body, which in certain embodiments may be assembled by an operator. The body of the torque limited fitting has a passageway therethrough for receiving and removably holding tubing. The torque limited fitting may be adapted for use with a flat bottom port, such as in an analytical instrument, like liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, ion chromatography, or in in vitro diagnostic systems.
Claims23
A fitting comprising:
- a head having a first head end and a second head end and a first passageway extending through the head from the first head end to the second head end, wherein at least a portion of the first passageway defines an inner wall and the inner wall further comprises at least one radially extending internal abutment;
- and
- a body having a first body end, a second body end, a second passageway extending through the body from the first body end to the second body end, and forming a first wall surrounding the second passageway, wherein the first body end is adapted to engage with at least one of the first head end or the second head end;
- wherein the first body end comprises a first end portion further comprising a plurality of curved slots extending longitudinally through at least a radial portion of the first end portion, wherein the plurality of curved slots are closed and define a continuous outer wall that surrounds the first wall and is joined to the first wall between adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots, wherein the circumferential length of each of the curved slots is greater than the circumferential distance between the adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots, and wherein the continuous outer wall further comprises a plurality of radially extending external abutments, each of the abutments adapted to engage the at least one radially extending internal abutment of the head and deflect a portion of the outer wall radially inward;
- and
- wherein the at least one radially extending internal abutment and the at least one radially extending external abutment are adapted to engage, and wherein the at least one radially extending external abutment is adapted to deflect inward and adapted to deflect at least a portion of the outer wall into the curved slot when the at least one radially extending external abutment engages with the at least one radially extending internal abutment.
3 more elements
A fitting comprising:
- a head having a first head end and a second head end and a first passageway extending through the head from the first head end to the second head end, wherein at least a portion of the first passageway defines an inner wall and the inner wall further comprises at least one radially extending internal abutment;
- and
- a body having a first body end and a second body end and a second passageway extending through the body from the first body end to the second body end, the second passageway forming a first wall surrounding the second passageway, wherein the first body end is adapted to removably engage with at least one of the first head end or the second head end;
- and
- a first end portion included with the first body and further comprising a plurality of radially extending external abutments, each of the abutments adapted to engage with the at least one radially extending internal abutment of said head, such that at least one radially extending external abutment of the plurality of radially extending external abutments is adapted to deflect at least a portion of the first wall radially inward into a curved slot of a plurality of curved slots when a predetermined torque is applied, wherein the plurality of curved slots are closed and define a continuous outer wall that surrounds the first wall and is joined to the first wall between adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots, wherein the circumferential length of each of the curved slots is greater than the circumferential distance between the adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots.
2 more elements
An analytical instrument system comprising:
- a fitting further comprising,
- a head having a first head end and a second head end and a first passageway extending through the head from the first head end to the second head end, wherein at least a portion of the first passageway defines an inner wall and the inner wall further comprises at least one radially extending internal abutment;
- and
- a body having a first body end, a second body end, a second passageway extending through the body from the first body end to the second body end, the second passageway forming a first wall surrounding the second passageway, wherein the first body end is adapted to engage with at least one of the first head end or the second head end;
- and
- a first end portion included with the first body and further comprising a plurality of radially extending external abutments, each of the abutments adapted to engage with the at least one radially extending internal abutment of the head, such that at least one radially extending external abutment of the plurality of radially extending external abutments is adapted to deflect at least a portion of the first wall radially inward into a curved slot of a plurality of curved slots when a predetermined torque is applied, wherein the plurality of curved slots are closed and define a continuous outer wall that surrounds the first wall and is joined to the first wall between adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots, wherein the circumferential length of each of the curved slots is greater than the circumferential distance between the adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots.
3 more elements
A method of connecting tubing in an analytical instrument system, the method comprising:
- inserting a portion of a tube into a passageway in a fitting assembly, wherein the fitting assembly further comprises,
- a) a head having a first head end and a second head end and a first portion of the passageway extending through the head from the first head end to the second head end, wherein the first portion of the passageway defines an inner wall comprising at least one internal abutment, and
- b) a body having a first body end, a second body end, and a second portion of the passageway extending through the body from the first body end to the second body end, the second portion of the passageway forming a first wall surrounding the second portion of the passageway, wherein the body further comprises a plurality of curved slots that are closed and define a continuous outer wall that surrounds the first wall and is joined to the first wall between adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots, wherein the circumferential length of each of the curved slots is greater than the circumferential distance between the adjacent ends of the plurality of curved slots, and wherein the continuous outer wall further comprises a plurality of external abutments, each of the abutments adapted to engage with the internal abutment of the head and deflect a portion of the outer wall inward;
- inserting at least a portion of the body of the fitting in a fluid connector of the analytical instrument system;
- and
- applying a first torque to the head, wherein at least one of the plurality of external abutments is adapted to deflect at least a portion of the continuous outer wall radially inward into the curved slot when the first torque exceeds a predetermined torque.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.