# US 2017/0254451 A1 · Ferrule for a conduit fitting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254451 A1 - Document ID: US20170254451A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/428,194 - Filed: 2017-02-09 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-09 - Assignees: Swagelok Company - Applicants: Swagelok Company - Inventors: Peter C. Williams; Donald E. Negrelli; Mark D. Bearer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254451A1 ## CPC - F16L 19/065: the wedging action being effected by means of a ring - F16L 19/10: the profile of the ring being altered - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. The first end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70° and 90° with respect to the central axis, and an axially inner first end camming surface disposed at a second angle between 0° and 40° with respect to the central axis. The second end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer second end driven surface disposed at a third angle substantially equal to the first angle, and an axially inner second end camming surface disposed at a fourth angle substantially equal to the second angle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ferrule for a conduit fitting, the ferrule comprising: an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end; the first end portion of the ferrule including an axially outer first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70° and 90° with respect to the central axis, and an axially inner first end camming surface disposed at a second angle between 0° and 40° with respect to the central axis; the second end portion of the ferrule including an axially outer second end driven surface disposed at a third angle substantially equal to the first angle, and an axially inner second end camming surface disposed at a fourth angle substantially equal to the second angle. ### Claim at position 2 -10. (canceled) ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the first end driven surface and the first end camming surface are joined by a first radius portion, and the second end driven surface and the second end camming surface are joined by a second radius portion. ### Claim at position 4 -18. (canceled) ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the ferrule is symmetrical about a plane that bisects an axial center point of the ferrule. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, further comprising a first narrowed portion axially inward of and necked down from the first end portion, and a second narrowed portion axially inward of and necked down from the second end portion. ### Claim at position 7 -22. (canceled) ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The ferrule of claim 20, further comprising a central boss portion disposed axially between and extending radially outward from the first and second narrowed portions. ### Claim at position 9 -25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The ferrule of claim 23, wherein the central boss portion defines a radially outermost surface of the ferrule. ### Claim at position 11 -34. (canceled) ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the first end driven surface and the second end driven surface are frustoconical. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the first end camming surface and the second end camming surface are frustoconical. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the ferrule comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the ferrule is case hardened. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the first end portion includes a first end outer biting edge extending around the interior wall. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The ferrule of claim 39, wherein the first end portion includes a first end inner biting edge extending around the interior wall, the first end inner biting edge being axially spaced from the first end outer biting edge by a first circumferential recess in the interior wall. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The ferrule of claim 40, wherein the first end outer biting edges is disposed at a first diameter and the first end inner biting edges is disposed at a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The ferrule of claim 38, wherein the second end portion includes a second end outer biting edge extending around the interior wall. ### Claim at position 20 -44. (canceled) ### Claim 45 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, further comprising a central circumferential recess in the interior wall, axially aligned with an axial center point of the ferrule. ### Claim 46 (depends on 1) The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the ferrule is rotationally symmetrical about the central axis. ### Claim 47 In combination, a first fitting component and a ferrule for a conduit fitting, the first fitting component including an interior bore for receiving a conduit end therethrough and an annular interior shoulder that forms a drive surface, the ferrule comprising: an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end; a first hinge portion axially inward of the first end portion; a second hinge portion axially inward of the second end portion; the first end portion of the ferrule including a first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70° and 90° with respect to the central axis; and the second end portion of the ferrule including a second end driven surface disposed at a second angle with respect to the central axis, the second angle being substantially equal to the first angle; wherein when the ferrule and the first fitting component are assembled with a second fitting component to form a conduit fitting, with the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component and the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component, and the conduit fitting is completely installed on a conduit end to compress the first end portion into gripping and sealing engagement with the conduit end, the second hinge portion hinges radially inward to prevent compression of the second end portion against the conduit end; and wherein when the ferrule and the first fitting component are assembled with the second fitting component to form a conduit fitting, with the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, and the conduit fitting is completely installed on a conduit end to compress the second end portion into gripping and sealing engagement with the conduit end, the first hinge portion hinges radially inward to prevent compression of the first end portion against the conduit end. ### Claim at position 24 -77. (canceled) ### Claim 78 A fitting assembly comprising: a first fitting component including an interior bore for receiving a conduit end and a camming mouth defining a fitting component camming surface; a second fitting component joinable with the first fitting component and including an interior bore for receiving the conduit end therethrough and an annular interior shoulder that forms a drive surface; and a ferrule comprising an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over the conduit end, the ferrule further including a first hinge portion axially inward of the first end portion and a second hinge portion axially inward of the second end portion; wherein when the fitting assembly is assembled with the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, and the fitting assembly is completely installed on a conduit end, the first hinge portion of the ferrule hinges radially inward to collet the conduit end and the second hinge portion of the ferrule hinges radially inward to prevent compression of the second end portion of the ferrule against the conduit end; and wherein when the fitting assembly is assembled with the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, and the fitting assembly is completely installed on a conduit end, the second hinge portion of the ferrule hinges radially inward to collet the conduit end and the first hinge portion of the ferrule hinges radially inward to prevent compression of the second end portion against the conduit end. ### Claim 79 (depends on 78) The fitting assembly of claim 78, wherein the first end portion of the ferrule includes a first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70° and 90° with respect to the central axis and positioned to engage the drive surface of the second fitting component when the fitting assembly is assembled with the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, and the second end portion of the ferrule includes a second end driven surface disposed at a second angle with respect to the central axis, the second angle being substantially equal to the first angle, and positioned to engage the drive surface of the second fitting component when the fitting assembly is assembled with the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component. ### Claim 80 (canceled) ### Claim 81 (depends on 78) The fitting assembly of claim 78, wherein when the fitting assembly is assembled with the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, the first end driven surface engages the drive surface of the second fitting component to form a radially inward opening difference angle between the first end driven surface and the drive surface, the difference angle diminishing during installation of the conduit fitting on the conduit end, and when the fitting assembly is assembled with the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, the second end driven surface engages the drive surface of the second fitting component to form a radially inward opening difference angle between the second end driven surface and the drive surface, the difference angle diminishing during installation of the fitting on the conduit end. ### Claim 82 (depends on 81) The fitting assembly of claim 81, wherein the difference angle is between 0° and 20°. ### Claim 83 (depends on 78) The fitting assembly of claim 78, wherein the first end portion of the ferrule includes a first end camming surface disposed at a third angle between 0° and 40° with respect to the central axis and positioned to engage the fitting component camming surface of the first fitting component when the fitting assembly is assembled with the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, and the second end portion of the ferrule includes a second end camming surface disposed at a fourth angle with respect to the central axis, the fourth angle being substantially equal to the second angle, and positioned to engage the fitting component camming surface of the first fitting component when the fitting assembly is assembled with the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component. ### Claim 84 (canceled) ### Claim 85 (depends on 83) The fitting assembly of claim 83, wherein when the fitting assembly is assembled with the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, the first end camming surface engages the fitting component camming surface of the first fitting component to form a radially outward opening difference angle between the first end camming surface and the fitting component camming surface, the difference angle diminishing during installation of the fitting on the conduit end, and when the fitting assembly is assembled with the second end portion of the ferrule engaging the first fitting component and the first end portion of the ferrule engaging the second fitting component, the second end camming surface engages the fitting component camming surface of the first fitting component to form a radially outward opening difference angle between the second end camming surface and the fitting component camming surface, the difference angle diminishing during installation of the fitting on the conduit end. ### Claim 86 (depends on 85) The fitting assembly of claim 85, wherein the difference angle is between 0° and 15°. ### Claim at position 34 -102. (canceled) ### Claim 103 (depends on 78) The fitting assembly of claim 78, wherein the ferrule is symmetrical about a plane that bisects an axial center point of the ferrule.