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OwnerForrest Nixon, Michael J. Wilson +3inventors
InventorsForrest Nixon, Michael J. Wilson, Bradley Arment, Steven L. Baue, Michael J. Duggan
Estimating the term…
A crimp fitting comprises a female socket that is configured to be crimped to an end portion of a hard tube. The socket comprises an annealed annular wall that has an inner cylindrical surface portion and at least one annular sealing portion. The cylindrical surface portion lies axially between the socket opening and the annular sealing portion, and has a diameter matched to the OD of the tube. The annular sealing portion has an innermost diameter that is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical surface portion. As the end of the tube is inserted into the socket, the tube cannot slideably contact the annular sealing portion. Thus, the annular sealing portion will not be damaged by the insertion of the tube. Thereafter, the annular sealing portion is radially crimped and ultimately contacts and deforms a portion of the tube in a manner creating interlocking geometry and a pressure seal.
A crimp fitting comprising a monolithic and homogeneous female socket configured to receive and be crimped to an end portion of a tube, the socket comprising an annular wall and an axial opening, the annular wall comprising an inner cylindrical surface portion and at least one annular sealing portion that protrudes radially inward from axially adjacent portions of the annular wall, the cylindrical surface portion having a diameter and being axially between the opening and the annular sealing portion, the annular sealing portion having an innermost diameter that is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical surface portion.
A crimp fitting comprising a monolithic and homogeneous female socket configured to receive and be crimped to an end portion of a tube;
A method of crimping a monolithic and homogeneous female socket portion of a crimp fitting to an end portion of a hardened tube, the socket portion comprising an annular wall and an axial opening, the annular wall comprising an inner cylindrical surface portion and at least one annular sealing portion, the cylindrical surface portion having a diameter and being axially between the opening and the annular sealing portion, the annular sealing portion having an inward facing surface that has an innermost diameter that is initially greater than the diameter of the cylindrical surface portion, the annular wall of the fitting being annealed, the method comprising;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.