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US 7,677,609 B2Granted
Reusable fitting for corrugated tubing
AssigneeOmega Flex, Inc.
InventorsSteven A. Treichel, Mark Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fitting for use with corrugated tubing, the fitting comprising: a nut having a passage therethrough for receiving the tubing, the tubing being corrugated tubing having a series of peaks and valleys; a plurality of retainers positioned forward of the nut, the retainers having a sealing surface for placement in a valley of the corrugated tubing; a body having an annular pocket formed circumferentially around the retainers, the body having a body sealing surface, wherein upon sealing, the tubing is compressed between the sealing surface and the body sealing surface; a spring positioned within a cavity in the retainers, the spring driving the retainers into the pocket when the fitting is not sealed.
Claims8
A fitting for use with corrugated tubing, the fitting comprising:
- a nut having a passage therethrough for receiving the tubing, the tubing being corrugated tubing having a series of peaks and valleys;
- a plurality of retainers positioned forward of the nut, the retainers having a sealing surface for placement in a valley of the corrugated tubing;
- a body having an annular pocket formed circumferentially around the retainers, the body having a body sealing surface, wherein upon sealing, the tubing is compressed by contact between the retainer sealing surfaces and the body sealing surface thereby deforming the tubing to form a seal;
- a spring positioned within a cavity in the retainers, the spring driving the retainers into the pocket when the fitting is not sealed;
- wherein the body sealing surface is substantially perpendicular to a centerline of the fitting;
- wherein the nut includes a nut surface at a forward end of the nut, the nut surface engaging a retainer surface on the retainers to direct the retainers towards a centerline of the fitting upon engagement of the nut and body;
- and
- the body includes a body surface at a forward end of the body, the body surface having an oblique angle with respect to a centerline of the fitting, the body surface engaging the retainer to direct the retainers towards the centerline of the fitting upon engagement of the nut and body.
5 more elements
A fitting for use with corrugated tubing, the fitting comprising:
- a nut having a passage therethrough for receiving the tubing, the tubing being corrugated tubing having a series of peaks and valleys;
- a plurality of retainers positioned forward of the nut, the retainers having a sealing surface for placement in a valley of the corrugated tubing;
- a body having an annular pocket formed circumferentially around the retainers, the body having a body sealing surface, wherein upon sealing, the tubing is compressed by contact between the retainer sealing surfaces and the body sealing surface thereby deforming the tubing to form a seal;
- a spring positioned within a cavity in the retainers, the spring driving the retainers into the pocket when the fitting is not sealed;
- wherein the body sealing surface is substantially perpendicular to a centerline of the fitting;
- wherein the body includes a tapered surface at a forward end of the body, the tapered surface providing a pilot surface to align the tubing with the body, the tapered surface extending beyond the body sealing surface.
3 more elements
A fitting for use with corrugated tubing, the fitting comprising:
- a nut having a passage therethrough for receiving the tubing, the tubing being corrugated tubing having a series of peaks and valleys;
- a plurality of retainers positioned forward of the nut, the retainers having a sealing surface for placement in a valley of the corrugated tubing;
- a body having an annular pocket formed circumferentially around the retainers, the body having a body sealing surface, wherein upon sealing, the tubing is compressed by contact between the retainer sealing surfaces and the body sealing surface thereby deforming the tubing to form a seal;
- a spring positioned within a cavity in the retainers, the spring driving the retainers into the pocket when the fitting is not sealed;
- wherein the body sealing surface is substantially perpendicular to a centerline of the fitting;
- wherein the nut includes a nut surface at a first, forward end of the nut, the nut surface engaging a retainer surface on each retainer to direct the retainer towards a centerline of the fitting upon engagement of the nut and body;
- wherein the nut surface has an oblique angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the centerline of the fitting;
- the oblique angle is mirrored on the retainer surface;
- wherein the retainers include a rear retainer cavity opposite the sealing surface, the rear retainer cavity receiving a peak of the corrugated tubing;
- when the fitting is not sealed, the spring and the retainers both have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the tubing;
- wherein the body includes a tapered surface at a forward end of the body, the tapered surface providing a pilot surface to align the tubing with the body, the tapered surface extending beyond the body sealing surface to enter the tubing.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.