Method and apparatus for connecting a tube to a machine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJeffrey S. LeBegue, Daniel E. Loringer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A connection of a tube to a machine includes a plurality of rolled grooves in a region of contact between the collet of a compression fitting and the tube. The grooves reduce the occurrence of fretting of the tube surface while a region of residual compressive stress formed in the tube proximate the bottom of each groove by the rolling process serves to counteract the stress concentration created by the grooves. In one embodiment a single groove formed in a thread pattern extends from above collet to within the area of contact.
Claims16
A connection (10) to a machine (14) comprising:
- a fitting (16) adapted to be connected to a machine (14) and adapted to receive an end of a tube for attachment thereto, the fitting comprising a collet (18) and a nut (24) for compressing the collet onto the outside surface of a tube;
- a tube (12) having an end (30) disposed within the fitting and having an area (32) in contact with the collet;
- and
- a plurality of grooves (36) formed on the outside surface (28) of the tube proximate the collet and a region of residual compressive stress in the tube proximate a radially inner surface of each of the plurality of grooves, wherein a first (44) of the plurality of grooves is located in an area of the tube not in contact with the collet proximate an end of the collet opposed the machine.
A connection (10) to a machine comprising:
- a tube (12);
- a compression fitting (16) comprising a collet (18) in contact with the tube along an area of contact (32) and further comprising a nut (24) attached to a machine (14) and in compressive contact with the collet;
- and
- a groove (36) formed in the outside surface of the tube, the groove being disposed in the tube proximate an end of the collet opposed the machine so that a location of peak stress in the tube is displaced remote from the area of contact by the presence of the groove.
A connection (10) to a machine (14) comprising:
- a tube (12) having an end (30) and an outside surface (28);
- a compression fitting (16) adapted to be connected to a machine (14) and for receiving the end of the tube for attachment thereto, the tube having a portion (32) of its outside surface in contact with the fitting;
- and
- a groove (36) formed on the outside surface of the tube and bordering the portion in contact with the fitting proximate an end of the fitting opposed the machine, a location of peak stress (42) in the tube displaced away from the portion of the outside surface in contact with the end of the fitting opposed the machine by the presence of the groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.