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US 11,867,327 B2Granted
Fluid-tight fitting
AssigneeJPB Systeme
InventorsDamien Marc, Denis Messager, Jonathan Alain Beaumel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid-tight fitting includes at least one strain gauge or includes at least one passage, said passage extending radially through a nut and communicating with an interior chamber defined by a first conduit, a second conduit, and the nut, or includes a visual indicator associated with at least one of a nut or a first conduit of the fitting.
Claims9
A nut assembly for use in a fluid-tight assembly, the fluid-tight assembly including a first conduit having a first distal end and a second conduit having a first threaded portion, the nut assembly comprising:
- a nut body configured to be received over the first end of the first conduit and having a second threaded portion engageable with the first threaded portion of the second conduit;
- and
- a visual indicator associated with the nut body, the visual indicator having a first condition wherein an indicating portion of the visual indicator is hidden from view relative to the exterior of the nut, and a second condition wherein the indicating portion of the visual indicator is visible from the exterior of the nut when the fluid-tight assembly is fully tightened;
- wherein the visual indicator comprises one of:
- A. at least one leg disposed within the nut body, the leg moved by engagement with the first conduit between the first and second condition;
- or
- B. an annular ring received within the nut body, and
- a separate elastomeric indicator portion disposed on the annular ring and having a central portion extending radially inwardly from the ring,
- the central portion disposed between the first conduit and the nut body in an installed condition of the assembly,
- wherein the elastomeric indicator is compressed by the first conduit in the second condition such that the central portion is forced to a position visible from the exterior of the nut body;
- wherein, when the visual indicator comprises at least one leg, the at least one leg is formed from metal material and at least one of:
- the at least one leg has a bent L-shape having a first portion with a distal end that engages the first conduit during tightening of the nut, or
- the at least one leg is formed from flexible material, such that the at least one leg is hidden from view when the fluid-tight assembly is loosened from the fully-tightened condition and the leg is moved from the second condition to the first condition.
10 more elements
A nut assembly for use in a fluid-tight assembly, the fluid-tight assembly including a first conduit having a first distal end and a second conduit having a first threaded portion, the nut assembly comprising:
- a nut body configured to be received over the first end of the first conduit and having a second threaded portion engageable with the first threaded portion of the second conduit;
- a visual indicator associated with the nut body, the visual indicator having a first condition wherein an indicating portion of the visual indicator is hidden from view relative to the exterior of the nut, and a second condition wherein the indicating portion of the visual indicator is visible from the exterior of the nut when the fluid-tight assembly is fully tightened;
- wherein the visual indicator comprises one of:
- A. at least one leg disposed within the nut body, the leg moved by engagement with the first conduit between the first and second condition;
- or
- B. an annular ring received within the nut body, and
- an elastomeric indicator portion disposed on the annular ring and having a central portion extending radially inwardly from the ring,
- the central portion disposed between the first conduit and the nut body in an installed condition of the assembly,
- wherein the elastomeric indicator is compressed by the first conduit in the second condition such that the central portion is forced to a position visible from the exterior of the nut body;
- wherein, when the visual indicator comprises at least one leg, at least one of:
- the at least one leg has a bent L-shape having a first portion with a distal end that engages the first conduit during tightening of the nut, or
- the at least one leg is formed from flexible material, such that the at least one leg is hidden from view when the fluid-tight assembly is loosened from the fully-tightened condition and the leg is moved from the second condition to the first condition;
- and
- at least one slot formed in the interior of the nut body, the at least one slot extending along an axial direction thereof and configured for receiving the at least one leg.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.