US 11,680,666 B2 · Connector assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly (608) for a length of corrugated tubing (601) having an inner corrugated element (602) and an outer flexible sheath layer (603). The connector assembly (608) comprises a fitting (609) including a fluid-flow passage and an abutment surface (612) for the corrugated tubing (601) to seat thereon; axial loading means operably connectable to the fitting (609), the axial loading means including a connector (613) and a collet (610), the collet (610) having a radially inward protruding clamping element (611) for insertion into a trough (606) of the inner corrugated element (602), and a sheath-contact portion (625) for engaging the outer sheath layer (603), so that, when the connector (613) moves the collet (610) into engagement with the fitting (609), the collet (610) causes the corrugated element (602) to move onto the abutment surface (612) whilst maintaining engagement with the outer sheath layer (603). The sheath-contact portion (625) is axially positionable between the inner corrugated element (602) and the outer sheath layer (603) of the corrugated tubing (601), in use.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of connecting corrugated tubing having an inner corrugated element and an outer flexible sheath layer, the outer flexible sheath layer comprising an inner electrically conductive sublayer and an outer electrically insulative sublayer, the method comprising the steps of:

a] placing a connector around the corrugated tubing;
b] folding back portion of the outer flexible sheath layer from one end to expose a portion of the inner corrugated element and to expose a portion of the inner electrically conductive sublayer at an outer surface of the outer flexible sheath layer;
c] placing a collet partly over the outer flexible sheath layer, a radially inward protruding clamping element of the collet protruding into a trough of the exposed portion of the inner corrugated element, and a sheath-contact portion of the collet engaging said portion of the inner electrically conductive sublayer of the outer flexible sheath layer;
d] engaging a fitting including a fluid-flow passage with the connector;
and
e] moving the fitting relative to the connector so that the radially inward protruding clamping element causes the inner corrugated element to contact an abutment surface of the fitting, the sheath-contact portion of the collet maintaining engagement with said portion of the inner electrically conductive sublayer of the outer flexible sheath layer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Connector assembly

Life of this patent

Connector assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16