Apparatus and method for installing a fitting onto a fluid line
AssigneeCorex, LLC
InventorScott Hanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for installing a fitting onto a fluid line, the apparatus 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.
Claims20
An apparatus for installing a fitting onto a fluid line, the apparatus comprising:
- a main body comprising a base, a guide member, and a connecting portion connecting the base and the guide member, wherein the base, the guide member, and the connecting portion are fixed and non-movable relative to each other, wherein the base comprises a groove extending in a first direction configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid line;
- and
- a fitting installation member that extends through the guide member in a second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the fitting installation member is moveable between a non-inserting position and an inserting position, wherein the fitting installation member and the guide member are configured such that 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.
An apparatus for installing a fitting onto a fluid line, the apparatus comprising:
- a main body comprising a base and a guide member, wherein the base is fixed and non-movable relative to the guide member, wherein the base comprises a groove extending in a first direction and the groove is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid line, wherein the groove defines a top opening that is oriented toward the guide member and the guide member is spaced apart from the top opening;
- and
- a fitting installation member that extends in a second direction through a hole in the guide member, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the fitting installation member is moveable between a non-inserting position and an inserting position, wherein the main body and the fitting installation member are configured such that a longitudinal axis of the fitting installation member extends in the second direction in each of the non-inserting position and the inserting position.
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 and a guide member, wherein the base is fixed and non-movable relative to the guide member, wherein the base comprises a groove that extends in a first direction, wherein the fitting installation member extends 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, in the non-inserting position, the tip portion is spaced apart from the groove;
- inserting at least a portion of the fluid line through a top opening of the groove of the base, wherein the top opening is oriented toward the guide member;
- inserting at least a segment of 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 along the pathway resulting in advancing the tip portion into the groove and to the fluid line to pierce into the fluid line;
- advancing a portion of the fitting into the fluid line to couple the fitting to the fluid line;
- and
- retracting the fitting installation member from the inserting position to the non-inserting position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.