Method and apparatus for coupling a conduit to a fitting
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDennis Malone, David Bruce Rader, Jerry Gordon Glatt, James H. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for coupling a conduit to a fitting. The method includes providing a fitting having at least one groove defined therein and a collar having a flange extending from an end of the collar, aligning the flange with the groove, and compressing the collar around a portion of the fitting to facilitate fixedly securing the flange within the groove, such that the collar is fixedly secured to the fitting.
Claims18
A method for coupling a conduit to a fitting, said method comprising:
- providing a fitting having at least one groove defined therein and a collar having a flange extending from an end of the collar;
- inserting a portion of a conduit within a portion of the collar and aligning the flange with the groove;
- and
- compressing the collar around a portion of the fitting such that a portion of the flange is compressed against an inner surface of the collar to facilitate fixedly securing the flange within the groove, such that the collar is fixedly secured to the fitting.
A collar for coupling a conduit to a fitting having a surface including a groove defined therein, said collar comprising:
- a body extending between a first end and a second end, at least one of said body first end and said body second end sized to receive a portion of the fitting therein;
- and
- a flange extending from said body first end and configured to be fixedly secured within the fitting groove when said collar body is compressed around the portion of the fitting received within the body, such that a portion of said flange is compressed against a radially inner surface of the collar within said fitting groove to facilitate fixedly securing said collar to the fitting;
- and
- wherein the fitting includes an external surface, and the groove is formed in the external surface.
A fitting assembly comprising:
- a conduit comprising a body extending between a first end and a second end;
- a fitting comprising a body extending between a first end and a second end, said fitting body comprising a groove defined in an external surface thereof, and a nipple portion adjacent said fitting first end;
- a collar comprising a body extending between a first end and a second end, and a flange extending from said collar first end, said conduit first end at least partially received within said collar body, said fitting nipple portion at least partially received within said conduit first end, said collar body compressed radially around said conduit first end, said fitting nipple portion, and said fitting groove such that a portion of said flange is compressed against a radially inner surface of the collar within said fitting groove to facilitate fixedly securing said flange within said fitting groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.