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US 12,023,873 B2Granted
Method and apparatus to assemble a high purity liquid distribution system
AssigneeFit-Line, Inc.
InventorFrank F. Hayes, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid distribution system is described. A distal end portion of the tube is heated then pushed over a sleeve so that the distal end portion can have a shrink seal fit over the sleeve to mitigate accidental or inadvertent pull out of the tube from a fitting. Other benefits are also achieved such as minimal flow restriction of the liquid flowing through the joint and the tube.
Claims10
A method of joining a tube fabricated from a perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) material to a sleeve which is fabricated from the PFA material, the method comprising the steps of:
- heating a heating body to at least 15 degrees Celsius below a softening temperature of the PFA material;
- disposing a distal end portion of the tube in a hole formed in the heating body until the distal end portion of the tube is in a pliable state;
- disposing a sleeve on a cylindrical post of a mandrel;
- removing the distal end portion of the tube out of the hole of the heating body;
- after the removing step, attaching the tube to the sleeve by disposing the distal end portion of the heated tube over the cylindrical post and the sleeve to facilitate faster cooling of an inner surface of the tube compared to an outer surface of the tube;
- after the disposing step, removing the attached tube and sleeve from the cylindrical post of the mandrel;
- allowing the distal end portion of the tube to remain in air which has a temperature between 15 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees Celsius until a temperature of the distal end portion of the tube is below 38 degrees Celsius.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.