Fitting assembly evaluating apparatus and methods

An apparatus for evaluating installation of a conduit gripping device on a conduit comprising:

• a clamping arrangement configured to axially compress the conduit gripping device to attach the conduit gripping device to the conduit;
• a sensor configured to detect a position of an end of the conduit relative to the conduit gripping device prior to said attachment of the conduit gripping device to the conduit, wherein said sensor produces an output that indicates whether the conduit end has reached a predetermined position relative to the conduit gripping device.

An apparatus for pre-installing a conduit gripping device of a fitting onto a conduit, the apparatus comprising:

• a camming surface and a drive surface,
• a clamping device that axially advances said camming surface relative to said drive surface,
• a sensor that produces an output that indicates when said camming surface and said drive surface have reached a predetermined first relative axial stroke position.

An apparatus for evaluating an axial location of a conduit gripping device installed on an end of a conduit, the apparatus comprising:

• a conduit end accepting portion having a conduit gripping device engaging feature configured to engage a portion of the conduit gripping device to limit axial movement of the conduit gripping device with respect to the conduit end accepting portion;
• and
• a conduit position reference feature, wherein an axial distance between the conduit gripping device engaging feature and the conduit position reference feature corresponds to a distance between a desired axial position of the installed conduit gripping device and an end surface of the conduit.

A method for evaluating whether a conduit gripping device is attached to a conduit at a desired axial position on a conduit, the method comprising:

• engaging a conduit gripping device at a first reference position, wherein said engagement at the first reference position fixes the position of the conduit gripping device and the conduit;
• and
• comparing an axial position of an end surface of the conduit to a second reference position, wherein an axial distance between the first reference position and the second reference position corresponds to a desired axial distance between the conduit gripping device and the end surface of the conduit.

Apparatus for pre-installing a conduit gripping device and fitting nut onto a conduit, the apparatus comprising:

• a camming surface,
• a clamping device that can receive a conduit, said clamping device comprising a drive surface that is axially aligned with said camming surface, said drive surface will engage a fitting nut when the fitting nut and a conduit gripping device have been disposed between said camming surface and said drive surface, said clamping device being operable to produce a predetermined first relative axial advance of said drive surface and said camming surface in order to move the conduit gripping device against said camming surface so that the conduit gripping device will grip the conduit, said predetermined first relative axial advance being less that an axial advance that would cause the conduit gripping device to grip and seal the conduit,
• a sensor that produces an output that indicates when said drive surface and said camming surface have reached said predetermined first relative axial advance.