US 2010/0059995 A1Published application

Tube compression fitting and flared fitting used with connection body and method of making same

AssigneeSnap-Tite Technologies, Inc. (Delaware Corporation )

InventorsSamuel D. Ciprich, Matthew T. Bernosky

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Abstract

A high pressure tube compression fitting/flared fitting for use in combination with a thick-walled tube and a connection body wherein a sleeve is in engagement with a thick-walled tube. The sleeve is generally cylindrically shaped with the exterior thereof coated and then etched. The sleeve includes a first and second sharp inner circumferential biting edges which interengage and bite into and through the exterior of the end portion of the thick-walled tube and into the wall portion of the end portion of the thick-walled tube without narrowing the passageway through the thick-walled tube. The process for making the fitting includes placing an end portion of the thick-walled tube into engagement with a tube engaging surface of a tapered generally cylindrical wall of a guide rod.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A tube fitting for use in combination with a tube, said tube includes a passageway therethrough defined by a cylindrically shaped interior surface, said tube includes a cylindrically shaped exterior surface, said tube includes a wall portion, and, said tube includes an end portion, comprising:

a sleeve;
said sleeve includes a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion;
said sleeve includes an inner bore through said first end portion, said intermediate portion and said second end portion of said sleeve;
said inner bore of said sleeve includes an interior surface;
said sleeve includes an exterior surface;
said first end portion of said sleeve includes a first varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said first end portion;
said second end portion of said sleeve includes a second varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said second end portion;
said intermediate portion of said sleeve includes a third varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said intermediate portion;
said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a first shoulder terminating in a first sharp inner circumferential biting edge;
said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a second shoulder terminating in a second sharp inner circumferential biting edge;
said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a first diameter and said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a second diameter;
said sleeve engages said tube;
said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a first diameter interengages and bites into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube;
said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a second diameter interengages and bites into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube;
said end portion of said tube being flared;
and,
said second varying wall thickness of said reinforcement portion of said second end portion of said sleeve is greater than said third varying wall thickness of said intermediate portion of said sleeve and said first varying wall thickness of said first end portion of said sleeve.

14 more elements

a sleeve;
said sleeve includes a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion;
said sleeve includes an inner bore through said first end portion, said intermediate portion and said second end portion of said sleeve;
said inner bore of said sleeve includes an interior surface;
said sleeve includes an exterior surface;
said first end portion of said sleeve includes a first varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said first end portion;
said second end portion of said sleeve includes a second varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said second end portion;
said intermediate portion of said sleeve includes a third varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said intermediate portion;
said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a first shoulder terminating in a first sharp inner circumferential biting edge;
said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a second shoulder terminating in a second sharp inner circumferential biting edge;
said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a first diameter and said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a second diameter;
said sleeve engages said tube;
said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a first diameter interengages and bites into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube;
said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a second diameter interengages and bites into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube;
said end portion of said tube being flared;
and,
said second varying wall thickness of said reinforcement portion of said second end portion of said sleeve is greater than said third varying wall thickness of said intermediate portion of said sleeve and said first varying wall thickness of said first end portion of said sleeve;
a gland about said tube engageable with said sleeve, said gland including exterior threads thereon;
a connection body;
said connection body includes a frusto-conical portion;
said connection body includes interior threads therein;
said exterior threads of said gland interengaging said interior threads of said connection body, coupling said tube, said tube fitting and said connection body together;
and,
said flared end of said tube interengaging and sealing against said frusto-conical portion of said connection body.

21 more elements

A process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with a tube, said tube includes a passageway therethrough defined by a cylindrically shaped interior surface, said tube includes a cylindrically shaped exterior surface, said tube includes a wall portion, and, said tube includes an end portion, comprising the steps of:

placing an end portion of a tube into engagement with a die, said end portion of said tube engages a surface of a tapered, generally cylindrical, wall of a guide rod of said die such that said interior surface of said tube interengages said tube engaging surface of said tapered, generally cylindrical wall of said guide rod of said die, said tube further engages a transitioning surface from said guide rod to the bottom of said die;
said die supported by a driving piston;
sliding a sleeve over said tube, said sleeve includes:
a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion;
an inner bore through said first end portion, said intermediate portion and said second end portion of said sleeve;
said inner bore of said sleeve includes an interior surface;
said sleeve includes an exterior surface;
said first end portion of said sleeve includes a first varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said first end portion;
said second end portion of said sleeve includes a second varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said second end portion;
said intermediate portion of said sleeve includes a varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said intermediate portion;
said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a first shoulder terminating in a first sharp inner circumferential biting edge;
said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a second shoulder terminating in a second sharp inner circumferential biting edge;
and, said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a first diameter and said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a second diameter;
restraining, using a gland, said sleeve in position with respect to said sleeve and said die;
driving said die into said tube and said sleeve with said driving piston flaring said end of said tube and securing said sleeve into forceful engagement with said tube, said die forces said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube, and, said die forces said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/549,606Filed 28 Aug 2009
Priority: 5 Sep 2008
Published: 11 Mar 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F16L 19/028
The pipe ends having integral collars or flanges: the collars or flanges being obtained by deformation of the pipe wall
B21D 39/046
Of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods: connecting tubes to tube-like fittings
F16L 19/045
With additional sealing means: consisting of cutting edges on one of the connecting parts which penetrate into the wall of the pipe
F16L 19/10
With metal rings which bite into the wall of the pipe: the profile of the ring being altered

Family

Application12/205,840Continuation in part · filed 5 Sep 2008
Application12/549,606Continuation in part
US 10,215,315 B2Related patent
US 2010/0059996 A1Published application
US 2010/0059995 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.