Installation apparatus for pipe fittings and method of verifying proper installation

An installation apparatus for connecting a fluid fitting to a fluid element, comprising:

• a tool mechanism that is operable to connect said fluid fitting to said fluid element, the tool mechanism comprising a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface that faces and is movable relative to the first abutment surface;
• a first sensor configured to detect a first property of the installation apparatus or fluid fitting and provide a first output corresponding to the first property;
• a second sensor configured to detect a second property of the installation apparatus or fluid fitting and provide a second output corresponding to the second property;
• and
• a processing unit that is configured to;
• acquire the first output from the first sensor at discrete times to generate a first data set corresponding to the first property over time,
• acquire the second output from the second sensor at the same discrete times to generate a second data set corresponding to the second property over time,
• correlate the first data set and the second data set with respect to the discrete times to generate a first resulting data set based on the first output and second output, and
• compare the resulting data set with a first predetermined data set to determine if the first resulting data set is compliant with the first predetermined data set,
• wherein the first property corresponds to a force property and the second property corresponds to a spatial property, and
• wherein the fluid fitting has a central axis, and the tool mechanism is operable to connect said fluid fitting to said fluid element by moving the second abutment surface relative to the first abutment surface in an axial direction of the central axis.

An installation apparatus for connecting a fluid fitting to a fluid element, comprising:

• a tool mechanism that is operable to connect said fluid fitting to said fluid element, the tool mechanism comprising a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface that faces and is movable relative to the first abutment surface;
• a first sensor configured to detect a first property of the installation apparatus or fluid fitting and provide a first output corresponding to the first property;
• a second sensor configured to detect a second property of the installation apparatus or fluid fitting and provide a second output corresponding to the second property;
• and
• a processing unit that is configured to;
• acquire the first output from the first sensor at discrete times to generate a first data set corresponding to the first property over time,
• acquire the second output from the second sensor at the same discrete times to generate a second data set corresponding to the second property over time,
• correlate the first data set and the second data set with respect to the discrete times to generate a first resulting data set based on the first output and second output, and
• compare the resulting data set with a first predetermined data set to determine if the first resulting data set is compliant with the first predetermined data set,
• wherein the first property corresponds to a strain property and the second property corresponds to a spatial property, and
• wherein the fluid fitting has a central axis, and the tool mechanism is operable to connect said fluid fitting to said fluid element by moving the second abutment surface relative to the first abutment surface in an axial direction of the central axis.