# US 12,007,046 B2 · Hygienic coupling system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,046 B2 - Document ID: US12007046B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/322,927 - Filed: 2021-05-18 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-19 - Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG - Applicants: ABB Schweiz AG - Inventors: Meirion Buck; Angel Francos; Harvinder Singh Chahal; Luis Uriol - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007046B2 ## CPC - F16L 19/065: the wedging action being effected by means of a ring - F16L 19/005: {comprising locking means for the threaded member} - F16L 19/0218: {comprising only sealing rings} - F16L 19/0231: {with specially adapted means for positioning the threaded member behind the collar} - F16L 33/224: {a clamping ring being arranged between the threaded member and the connecting member} - F16L 41/10: the extremity of the pipe being screwed into the wall - F16L 2201/44: sterile - F16L 2201/80: Dust covers - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A conduit clamping and sealing system includes: a bearing element including: a back segment with an external back thread for attaching to a device or fastening to a box or enclosure; a middle segment for receiving a conduit and guiding and/or aligning a hygienic sleeve system; and a front segment for receiving a seal, and a front nut for sealing a connection between the conduit and the bearing element and fastening the hygienic sleeve system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hygienic coupling system comprising a conduit clamping and sealing system and a hygienic sleeve system, wherein: the conduit clamping and sealing system comprises: a bearing element comprising: a back segment with an external back thread for attachment to a device or fastening to a box or enclosure; a middle segment configured to receive a conduit and to guide and/or align the hygienic sleeve system; and a front segment for configured to receive a seal; and a front nut to seal a connection between the conduit and the bearing element and to fastening the hygienic sleeve system; and the hygienic sleeve system, comprising: a back gasket; a front gasket; and a hygienic cap configured to cover a surface of the bearing element, wherein the back gasket, the hygienic cap, and the front gasket form a sleeve unit with seamless transitions and with pre-defined gasket compression, wherein the sleeve unit encloses the conduit clamping and sealing system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the middle segment of the conduit clamping and sealing system comprises a vertical portion configured such that the back gasket part abuts externally at a back side and the conduit abuts internally at the front side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the front segment comprises an external thread and the hygienic cap comprises a corresponding inner thread in a hygienic cap middle portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein a horizontal portion of the middle segment comprises a notch configured to receive the back gasket externally. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the bearing element comprises a friction lip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hygienic coupling system of claim 5, wherein the hygienic cap comprises a second friction lip, wherein the second friction lip corresponds to the friction lip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the back gasket is configured to seal a transition from the device, box, or enclosure to the back segment of the bearing element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the front gasket is configured to seal a transition from the front segment of the bearing element to the conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, further comprising: an insert part configured to extend along and inside of the conduit and having a U-shaped back end enclosing a circumferential corner at an opening of the conduit, wherein the U-shaped back end of the insert part abuts against a vertical portion of the middle segment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, further comprising: a seal, the seal having a flat portion protruding into an inner horizontal portion of the middle segment, horizontal being a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the bearing element, and a shoulder abutting at a slanted edge at a transition from the horizontal portion to the front segment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hygienic coupling system of claim 10, wherein the front segment further comprises an internal thread, wherein the front nut comprises a corresponding external thread, and wherein the front nut is configured to press the insert part against a vertical portion of the middle segment, vertical being a radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the seal against the slanted edge at the transition from the horizontal portion to the front segment when the front nut is screwed into the internal thread of the front segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the front nut comprises a flat surface front end portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein a surface of the horizontal portion of the middle segment of the bearing element is flat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the hygienic cap comprises an inner thread in a hygienic cap front portion and the front gasket comprises a corresponding external thread. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The hygienic coupling system of claim 1, wherein the back gasket and front gasket comprise an involute compression surface. ### Claim 16 A hygienic coupling system comprising a conduit clamping and sealing system and a hygienic sleeve system, wherein: the conduit clamping and sealing system comprises: a bearing element comprising: a back segment with an external back thread for attachment to a device or fastening to a box or enclosure; a middle segment configured to receive a conduit and to guide and/or align the hygienic sleeve system; and a front segment for configured to receive a seal; and a front nut to seal a connection between the conduit and the bearing element and to fastening the hygienic sleeve system; and the hygienic sleeve system, comprising: a back gasket; a front gasket; and a hygienic cap configured to cover a surface of the bearing element, wherein the back gasket, the hygienic cap, and the front gasket form a sleeve unit with seamless transitions and with pre-defined gasket compression, and wherein the hygienic cap comprises an inner thread in a hygienic cap front portion and the front gasket comprises a corresponding external thread. ### Claim 17 A hygienic coupling system comprising a conduit clamping and sealing system and a hygienic sleeve system, wherein: the conduit clamping and sealing system comprises: a bearing element comprising: a friction lip; a back segment with an external back thread for attachment to a device or fastening to a box or enclosure; a middle segment configured to receive a conduit and to guide and/or align the hygienic sleeve system; and a front segment for configured to receive a seal; and a front nut to seal a connection between the conduit and the bearing element and to fastening the hygienic sleeve system; and the hygienic sleeve system, comprising: a back gasket; a front gasket; and a hygienic cap configured to cover a surface of the bearing element, wherein the back gasket, the hygienic cap, and the front gasket form a sleeve unit with seamless transitions and with pre-defined gasket compression, wherein the hygienic cap comprises a second friction lip, and wherein the second friction lip corresponds to the friction lip.