Tube coupling
AssigneeReliance Worldwide Corporation (UK) Limited
InventorsGlen Ansell, Joshua Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tube coupling having a coupling body with an opened ended throughway to receive a tube. A collet located in the open end of the through way has a ring and flexible arms extending generally axially of the ring into the throughway. The throughway has a tapered surface convergent towards the open end and the collet arms have heads at their distal ends for engaging both of the tapered surface and a tube extending through the collet. A collet lock is formed on the collet, the collet having a locked rotary position and an unlocked rotary position. One of the body and the collet is provided with a cam surface and the other is provided with a cam follower, the cam surface being provided to provide the locked and unlocked positions. The disclosure also extends to the collet.
Claims41
A fibre optic cable connector, the fibre optic cable connector comprising a connector body made of a plastic, the connector body defining a through bore and having a connector at either end for connection to a respective tube;
- the connector body comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve, the inner sleeve being configured to receive the distal end of the respective tube;
- wherein there are a plurality of webs;
- and
- at least one discrete web of material integrally formed with the outer and inner sleeves, the at least one discrete web defining air gaps on opposing sides thereof between an outer wall of the inner sleeve and an inner wall of the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve being supported on the outer sleeve by the at least one discrete web of material;
- wherein the plurality of webs are axially offset from a center of the connector.
A fibre optic cable connector, the connector comprising a connector body made of a non-opaque plastic, the connector body defining a through bore and having a connector at either end for connection to a tube;
- the outer face of the connector body being devoid of ribs;
- wherein each end of the connector receives an O-ring to seal with a respective tube inserted into a respective end of the connector, the O-rings being spaced from a central transparent portion of the connector.
A fibre optic cable connector, the fibre optic cable connector comprising a connector body with an axial through bore defining an axis and having a connector at either end for connection of a respective tube at each end;
- an annular flange of the connector body extending radially into the through bore, each end face of the annular flange providing a stop surface for a respective tube end, wherein the annular flange is undercut such that the annular flange is inclined so that the axial dimension of the annular flange increases towards the axis.
A fibre optic cable connector, the connector comprising a connector body with an axial through bore defining an axis and having a connector at either end for connection of a respective tube at each end;
- an annular flange extending radially into the through bore, each end face of the annular flange providing a stop surface for a respective tube end;
- and
- a plurality of axial splines on a wall of the through bore in a vicinity of the annular flange, to deflect an outer wall of the respective tube as the respective tube approaches the annular flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.