Press-style fittings and systems, kits, and methods incorporating the same
AssigneeTiteflex Corporation
InventorsConnor Welcome, Jordan Strunk, Paul Beshear
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aspect of the invention provides a method for installing a malleable crimping sleeve over a fitting. The method includes: providing a tube having a composite HVAC/R line set tubing; advancing a cut end of the tube over the nipple of a fitting as described herein; placing a crimping jaw over the malleable crimping sleeve and the cut end of the tube; and applying force to the crimping jaw, thereby forming a gas-tight seal between the cut end of the tube and the fitting and deforming the cut end of the tube to impart a radial deflection between 0.012 and 0.040 inches (0.305 and 1.016 mm) relative to its pre-crimping state.
Claims20
A fitting comprising:
- a nipple comprising:
- a first annular groove along a radially-outer surface of the nipple;
- a second annular groove distal to the first annular groove, the second annular groove also along the radially-outer surface of the nipple;
- and
- a distal end distal to the first annular groove and the second annular groove, the distal end adapted and configured for insertion within a cut end of tubing having a complementary inner diameter;
- a malleable crimping sleeve positioned radially over at least a portion of the first annular groove, the second annular groove, and the distal end of the of the nipple, the malleable crimping sleeve comprising:
- a locking rib adapted and configured to:
- sit radially over, but not within the first annular groove of the nipple when in an uncrimped state;
- and
- engage with the first annular groove of the nipple upon crimping;
- and
- a retaining ring seated within the second annular groove of the nipple and engaged with complementary geometry of the malleable crimping sleeve to distally retain the malleable crimping sleeve such that the locking rib sits radially over, but not within the first annular groove of the nipple when in an uncrimped state.
A fitting comprising:
- a nipple comprising:
- a distal end distal to a first annular groove and a second annular groove of the nipple, the distal end adapted and configured for insertion within a cut end of a tube having a complementary inner diameter;
- and
- one or more annular grooves along a radially-outer surface of the nipple;
- a malleable crimping sleeve positioned radially over at least a portion of the one or more annular grooves, wherein the malleable crimping sleeve is configured to compress the cut end of the tube onto the one or more annular grooves to allow for deformation of the cut end of the tube such that a diameter of the cut end of the tube has a radial deflection between 0.012 and 0.040 inches (0.305 and 1.016 mm) relative to its pre-crimping state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.