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US 12,521,853 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for installing a fitting onto fluid line
AssigneeCorex, LLC
InventorScott Hanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for installing a fitting onto a fluid line, comprising a main body and a fitting installation member. The main body comprises a base and a guide member, wherein the base comprises a groove extending in a first direction configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid line, wherein the guide member is connected to and spaced apart from the groove of the base, and wherein the guide member comprises a hole extending through the guide member in a second direction. The fitting installation member comprises an elongate shaft and a tip portion, wherein the elongate shaft extends through the hole of the guide member and into the groove of the base member, and wherein the tip portion is smaller than the shaft in a first dimension.
Claims19
An apparatus for installing a fitting onto a fluid line, comprising:
- a main body comprising a base, a guide member, and a connecting portion connecting the base and the guide member, wherein the base comprises a groove extending in a first direction configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid line, wherein the guide member is connected to and spaced apart from the groove of the base, and wherein the guide member comprises a hole extending through the guide member in a second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the base, the connecting portion, and the guide member are integrally formed as a unitary structure, wherein a top opening of the groove is configured for insertion of the fluid line therein and is oriented toward the guide member;
- and
- a fitting installation member that is moveable between a non-inserting position and an inserting position, wherein the fitting installation member comprises an elongate shaft and a tip portion, wherein the elongate shaft extends through the hole of the guide member such that a longitudinal axis of the fitting installation member extends in the second direction as it moves between the non-inserting position and the inserting position, and wherein, in the inserting position of the fitting installation member, the tip portion extends into the groove of the base and, in the non-inserting position, the tip portion is spaced apart from the groove of the base, and wherein the tip portion is smaller than the elongate shaft in a first dimension.
An apparatus for installing a fitting onto a fluid line, comprising:
- a main body, wherein the main body comprises a base, a guide member, and a connecting portion connecting the base and the guide member, wherein the base comprises a groove extending in a first direction configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid line, wherein the groove defines top opening that extends in the first direction along a length of the groove, wherein the top opening is oriented toward the guide member, wherein the guide member comprises a hole extending through the guide member in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the base and the connecting portion are integrally formed as a unitary structure, and wherein a position of the base is fixed relative to the guide member;
- and
- a fitting installation member that is moveable between a non-inserting position and an inserting position, wherein the fitting installation member comprises an elongate shaft and a tip portion, wherein the tip portion is smaller than the elongate shaft in a width dimension, wherein the elongate shaft extends through the hole of the guide member;
- wherein, in the inserting position of the fitting installation member, the tip portion extends through the top opening and into the groove of the base and, in the non-inserting position, the tip portion is spaced apart from the groove of the base;
- wherein a longitudinal axis of the fitting installation member extends in the second direction as the fitting installation member moves between the non-inserting position and the inserting position.
2 more elements
A method for installing a fitting onto a fluid line, comprising:
- moving a fitting installation member of a fitting installation tool into a non-inserting position, wherein the fitting installation tool comprises the fitting installation member and a main body, wherein the main body comprises a base, a guide member, and a connecting portion connecting the base and the guide member, wherein the based and the guide member are integrally formed as unitary structure, wherein a position of the base is fixed relative to the guide member, wherein the base comprises a groove that extends first direction, wherein the guide member comprises a hole extending through the guide member in a second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the fitting installation member comprises an elongate shaft and a tip portion, wherein the elongate shaft extends in the second direction through the hole of the guide member such that a longitudinal axis of the fitting installation member is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein, in the non-inserting position, the tip portion is spaced apart from the groove;
- inserting the fluid line through a top opening of the groove of the base of the fitting installation tool, wherein the top opening is oriented toward the guide member, wherein the groove is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid line;
- inserting at least the tip portion of the fitting installation member through the fitting;
- moving the fitting installation member from the non-inserting position to an inserting position along a pathway extending in the second direction, the moving the of the fitting installation member to the inserting position resulting in advancing the tip portion into the groove and to the fluid line to pierce into the fluid line;
- advancing a nipple portion of the fitting into the fluid line;
- and
- retracting the fitting installation member from the inserting position to the non-inserting position, the retracting resulting in leaving the fitting coupled to the fluid line.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.