# US 9,435,476 B2 · Tubing connector system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,476 B2 - Document ID: US9435476B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/733,002 - Filed: 2015-06-08 - Published: 2015-12-31 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-26 - Assignees: Le Groupe Dsd Inc. - Applicants: Le Groupe Dsd Inc. - Inventors: Leandre Vachon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435476B2 ## CPC - F16L 41/12: using attaching means embracing the pipe - A01G 23/14: Tapping-spouts; Receptacles for juices - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) ## Abstract The tubing connector system (100) provides a removable air-tight and water-tight sealing connection under vacuum conditions between an end portion (102) of a flexible tubing (104) and a tapping hole (108) on a main conduit (106). It includes a single screw-type clamp (120) having an adjustable tension mechanism (122) and a flexible metallic band (124) cooperating with the adjustable tension mechanism (122), a tube fitting (150), and a resilient gasket (180), to be interposed between an outer surface of the main conduit (106) and the inner side face of a flange (170) provided on the tube fitting (104), to seal a space immediately surrounding a tapping-hole engaging portion (162) on the tube fitting (104) when brought into cooperative engagement with the inner periphery of tapping hole (108). The sealing attachment can be created very quickly, even by an unexperienced operator, using parts that are relatively inexpensive and simple. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tubing connector system for providing a removable air-tight and water-tight sealing connection under high vacuum conditions between an end portion of a flexible tubing and a tapping hole on a main conduit, the tubing connector system including: a single clamp having an adjustable tension mechanism and a flexible band cooperating with the adjustable tension mechanism, the band forming a circular loop encompassing the main conduit and having opposite inner and outer side faces, the clamp including an opening, extending between the inner and outer side faces of the band, to be positioned in registry with the tapping hole; a tube fitting forming an internal fluid circuit extending between a tubing fixation portion, over which the end portion of the flexible tubing can be removably inserted with a frictional engagement, and a tapping-hole engaging portion, opposite the tubing fixation portion, and that can be brought into cooperative engagement with an inner peripheral surface of the tapping hole, the tube fitting including a deformable surrounding flange extending radially outward and located adjacent to the tapping-hole engaging portion, the flange having inner and outer side faces with the outer side face being engageable by an area on the inner side face of the band that surrounds the band opening, the flange being larger in width than the band opening; a resilient gasket to be interposed between an outer wall surface of the main conduit and the inner side face of the flange to seal a space immediately surrounding the tapping-hole engaging portion when brought into cooperative engagement with the tapping hole inner periphery; and a slide clamp to constrict the end portion of the flexible tubing in a withdrawal-resisting frictional engagement with the tubing fixation portion, the slide clamp including an annular sleeve portion and a plug portion. ### Claim 2 A tubing connector system for use between an end portion of a flexible tubing and a tapping hole on a main conduit, the tubing connector system including: a single clamp having an adjustable tension mechanism and a flexible band cooperating with the adjustable tension mechanism, the band having an opening to be positioned in registry with the tapping hole, the opening extending between inner and outer side faces of the band, the adjustable tension mechanism including a housing that is rigidly attached over the band and the housing pivotally supporting a worm screw disposed tangentially with reference to the band, the band being wrapped around the main conduit and then closed by inserting an end of the band through the housing and into engagement with the worm screw to form a circular loop encompassing the outer wall surface of the main conduit; a monolithic tube fitting forming an internal fluid circuit extending between a tubing fixation portion, over which the end portion of the flexible tubing can be removably inserted with a frictional engagement, and a tapping-hole engaging portion, opposite the tubing fixation portion, which includes a projecting tip part that can be brought into cooperative engagement with an inner peripheral surface of the tapping hole, the tube fitting including a resiliently-deformable flange extending outward and surrounding an outer surface of the tube fitting, the flange having inner and outer side faces with the outer side face being engageable by an area on the inner side face of the band that surrounds the band opening, the flange being larger in width than the band opening; and a resilient gasket to be interposed between an outer wall surface of the main conduit and the inner side face of the flange to seal a space immediately surrounding the tapping-hole engaging portion when brought into cooperative engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the tapping hole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 2, wherein the tube fitting includes first and second tube sections, the tubing fixation portion being located at an open end of the first tube section and the tapping-hole engaging portion being located at an open end of the second tube section, the flange being provided on the second tube section and being spaced apart from the open end of the second tube section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 3, wherein the first tube section and the second tube section, up to its flange, are smaller in width than the band opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 3, wherein the first tube section and the second tube section are disposed substantially perpendicularly from one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 2, wherein the gasket is annular in shape, the gasket including an inner section and an outer section that are coaxially disposed around a center axis, the inner section having a projecting portion on one side that fits into an annular centering groove made on the inner side face of the flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 6, wherein the gasket includes a plurality of concentric annular grooves on an inner side to enhance sealing engagement with the outer wall surface on the main conduit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 2, further including a closing plug member substituting the tube fitting to close the tapping hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 8, wherein the closing plug member includes a top circular section fitting inside the band opening, a middle circular section of larger diameter around which the gasket fits, and a bottom circular section to be inserted inside the tapping hole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 2, further including a drill bit for making the tapping hole using a power tool, the drill bit having a drilling portion that is shorter in length than an inner diameter of the main conduit and including a sharp point projecting beyond a tip of the drilling portion to facilitate the initial positioning of the drill bit on the outer wall surface of the main conduit when the tapping hole is made. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 2, wherein the tapping-hole engaging portion includes a tapered-shaped outer surface. ### Claim 12 A tubing connector system for use between an end portion of a flexible tubing and a tapping hole on a main conduit, the tubing connector system including: a single clamp having an adjustable tension mechanism and a flexible band, the adjustable tension mechanism including a housing that is rigidly attached to the band and the housing pivotally supporting a worm screw disposed tangentially with reference to the band, the band being wrapped around the main conduit and passing through the housing while engaging the worm screw to form an adjustable circular loop encompassing the main conduit, the band having an opening to be positioned in registry with the tapping hole, the band opening extending between inner and outer side faces of the band; a tube fitting forming an internal fluid circuit extending between a tubing fixation portion, over which the end portion of the flexible tubing can be removably inserted with a frictional engagement, and a tapping-hole engaging portion, opposite the tubing fixation portion, and that can be brought into cooperative engagement with an inner peripheral surface of the tapping hole, the tube fitting including a deformable surrounding outer flange, the flange having inner and outer side faces with the outer side face being engageable by an area on the inner side face of the band that surrounds the band opening, the flange being larger in width than the band opening; and a resilient gasket to be interposed between an outer wall surface of the main conduit and the inner side face of the flange to seal a space immediately surrounding the tapping-hole engaging portion when brought into cooperative engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the tapping hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 12, wherein the band opening is substantially circular and at least equal in diameter to the tapping hole, the band opening being smaller in width than the band. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 12, wherein the flange is resiliently deformable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 12, further including a closing plug member substituting the tube fitting to close the tapping hole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 15, wherein the closing plug member includes a top circular section fitting inside the band opening, a middle circular section of larger diameter around which the gasket fits, and a bottom circular section to be inserted inside the tapping hole. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 12, wherein the tube fitting is a monolithic piece. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 12, wherein the gasket is annular in shape, the gasket including an inner section and an outer section that are coaxially disposed around a center axis, the inner section having a projecting portion on one side that fits into an annular centering groove made on the inner side face of the flange. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 18, wherein the gasket includes a plurality of concentric annular grooves on an inner side to enhance sealing engagement with the outer wall surface on the main conduit. ### Claim 20 A tubing connector system for use between an end portion of a flexible tubing and a tapping hole on a main conduit, the tubing connector system including: a single clamp having an adjustable tension mechanism and a flexible band cooperating with the adjustable tension mechanism, the band having an opening to be positioned in registry with the tapping hole, the opening extending between inner and outer side faces of the band; a monolithic tube fitting forming an internal fluid circuit extending between a tubing fixation portion, over which the end portion of the flexible tubing can be removably inserted with a frictional engagement, and a tapping-hole engaging portion, opposite the tubing fixation portion, which includes a projecting tip part that can be brought into cooperative engagement with an inner peripheral surface of the tapping hole, the tube fitting including a resiliently-deformable flange extending outward and surrounding an outer surface of the tube fitting, the flange having inner and outer side faces with the outer side face being engageable by an area on the inner side face of the band that surrounds the band opening, the flange being larger in width than the band opening; and a resilient gasket to be interposed between an outer wall surface of the main conduit and the inner side face of the flange to seal a space immediately surrounding the tapping-hole engaging portion when brought into cooperative engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the tapping hole, the gasket being annular in shape, the gasket including an inner section and an outer section that are coaxially disposed around a center axis, the inner section having a projecting portion on one side that fits into an annular centering groove made on the inner side face of the flange. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The tubing connector system as defined in claim 20, wherein the gasket includes a plurality of concentric annular grooves on an inner side to enhance sealing engagement with the outer wall surface on the main conduit.