# US 11,306,852 B2 · Fluid fitting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,852 B2 - Document ID: US11306852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/043,737 - Filed: 2018-07-24 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-07 - Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Inventors: Christopher T. Cantrell; Gregory Kiernan; Ravi Soni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306852B2 ## CPC - F16L 33/223: {the sealing surfaces being pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on or into one of the joint parts} - F16L 19/005: {comprising locking means for the threaded member} - F16L 19/02: Pipe ends provided with collars or flanges, integral with the pipe or not, pressed together by a screwed member - F16L 33/18: characterised by the use of additional sealing means - F16L 2201/10: Indicators for correct coupling - F16L 2201/60: Identification or marking - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A fluid fitting includes a nut, a sleeve, and a union. The union and the nut may include corresponding stops. Corresponding stops may engage with each other when the nut is sufficiently connected with the union. A method of designing a fluid fitting including a union may include determining a gauge diameter of the union, determining a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the union that includes a center point of the gauge diameter, determining a point of intersection of threads of the union with the perpendicular plane, and/or determining a position of a stop according to an angle from the point of intersection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid fitting, comprising: a nut including an inner surface or flange; a sleeve including a flange; and a union having threads and a stop, the union including: a gauge diameter having a center point and an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation defining a plane perpendicular to the union and including the center point of the gauge diameter; and a point of intersection defined by the threads of the union and the plane perpendicular to the union, a position of the stop is determined according to an angle from the point of intersection; wherein the nut includes a stop corresponding to the stop of the union, the corresponding stops contact or engage with each other when a limit of a degree to which the nut is able to be screwed onto the union is reached, and the inner surface or flange of the nut engages the flange of the sleeve such that axial movement of the nut in at least one direction causes axial movement of the sleeve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein corresponding mating surfaces of the sleeve and the union include a mating angle of about 10 degrees to about 14 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein corresponding mating surfaces of the sleeve and the union include a mating angle of about 4 degrees to about 6 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the corresponding stops are helical and include corresponding circumferential faces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the corresponding stops include corresponding fingers that form a unitary structure with a body of the respective union and nut. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the stop of the union includes a stop ring connected with the union via a press fit or interference fit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the corresponding stops include at least two stops of the nut and at least two stops of the union. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the union and the nut include corresponding visual indicators. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fluid fitting of claim 8, wherein the corresponding visual indicators include a first visual indicator of the union and a second visual indicator of the nut. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid fitting of claim 9, wherein one of the first visual indicator and the second visual indicator has a greater circumferential extent than the other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The fluid fitting of claim 8, wherein, in a connected configuration of the union and the nut, the corresponding visual indicators are readable via an electronic scanner. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the stop of the nut is a sliding stop configured to rotate relative to the nut, and the stop of the union is a sliding stop configured to rotate relative to the union. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the angle is associated with or corresponds to an expected deformation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fluid fitting of claim 13, wherein the expected deformation includes an expected plastic deformation and an expected elastic deformation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fluid fitting of claim 13, wherein a range of expected deformation is determined according to a minimum limit and a maximum limit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fluid fitting of claim 15, wherein the minimum limit is determined based upon an expected sealing pressure loss during an expected life of the fluid fitting as a result of one or more of repeated use, vibration, component tolerances, or temperature variation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The fluid fitting of claim 15, wherein the maximum limit is determined based upon at least one of a maximum torque and a torque at which galling occurs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The fluid fitting of claim 1, wherein the angle is determined via coordinate measuring machine (CMM) touch-probe technology. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method of designing a fluid fitting according to claim 1 comprising: determining the gauge diameter of the union; determining the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the union that includes the center point of the gauge diameter; determining the point of intersection of threads of the union with the perpendicular plane; and determining the position of the stop according to the angle from the point of intersection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method of connecting a fitting, the method comprising: providing a fitting in accordance with claim 1; connecting the sleeve of the fitting with the nut of the fitting, the inner surface or flange engaging the flange of the sleeve such that axial movement of the nut causes axial movement of the sleeve; connecting the nut with the union; rotating at least one of the nut and the union until a stop of the nut engages a stop of the union when the limit of a degree to which the nut is able to be screwed onto the union is reached; restricting over torque via the stop of the nut and the stop of the union; and verifying a sufficient connection of the nut and the union.