Braze-free connector utilizing a sealant coated ferrule
First Claim
1. A braze free connector suitable for use in a refrigeration system that includes:
- a connector body having a circular opening that passes through said body for receiving a refrigerant tube therein, said opening having a converging section that tapers downwardly from the entrance of the opening toward the rear of the opening;
a refrigerant tube insertable into said opening and having a ferrule slidably mounted upon the tube;
a drive member for advancing the ferrule into said opening;
said ferrule further including a non-collapsible section that is pushed by said drive member so that the ferrule moves into the connector body opening as the drive member is threaded upon the connector body and a collapsible section having an outer surface that is arranged to move into engagement with the converging section of the opening as the ferrule advances into the opening and an inner surface that is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube when the ferrule has advanced a given distance into the opening; and
a sealant that is pre-coated upon the outer and/or inner surface of the collapsible and/or non-collapsible section of the ferrule, said sealant containing a pressure responsive component for rapidly curing the sealant as the collapsible section of the ferrule is forced into engagement with said refrigerant tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A braze-free connector suitable for use in a refrigeration system that includes a connector body having a circular opening passing therethrough. The opening has a converging section that tapers downwardly from the entrance to the opening toward the back of the opening. A ferrule is slidably mounted upon a refrigerant tube which is inserted into the opening to place a tapered collapsible section of the ferrule in contact with the tapered section of the opening. The non-collapsible section of the ferrule is keyed to a nut which in turn is mated with a male thread formed on the connector body whereby the collapsible section of the ferrule is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube. A pressure sensitive sealant is pre-coated upon at least the collapsible section of the ferrule which is activated as the ferrule is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A braze free connector suitable for use in a refrigeration system that includes:
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a connector body having a circular opening that passes through said body for receiving a refrigerant tube therein, said opening having a converging section that tapers downwardly from the entrance of the opening toward the rear of the opening;
a refrigerant tube insertable into said opening and having a ferrule slidably mounted upon the tube;
a drive member for advancing the ferrule into said opening;
said ferrule further including a non-collapsible section that is pushed by said drive member so that the ferrule moves into the connector body opening as the drive member is threaded upon the connector body and a collapsible section having an outer surface that is arranged to move into engagement with the converging section of the opening as the ferrule advances into the opening and an inner surface that is forced into engagement with the refrigerant tube when the ferrule has advanced a given distance into the opening; and
a sealant that is pre-coated upon the outer and/or inner surface of the collapsible and/or non-collapsible section of the ferrule, said sealant containing a pressure responsive component for rapidly curing the sealant as the collapsible section of the ferrule is forced into engagement with said refrigerant tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of establishing a braze-free, leak tight connection between a refrigerant tube and a connector body that includes the steps of:
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forming an opening in the connector body that passes through said connector body, said opening having a converging section;
passing a refrigerant tube into said opening;
slidably mounting a ferrule upon said refrigerant tube, said ferrule having a non-collapsible section and a collapsible section;
forming indentations upon the outer surface of the ferrule and pre-coating the outer surface with a sealant having a pressure responsive component for activating said sealant;
connecting the ferrule to a threaded member so that the ferrule will turn with the threaded member;
mating the threaded member with threads located upon the connector body at the entrance to the opening; and
turning the threaded member on the mating threads of the connector body to drive the collapsible section of the ferrule into collapsing engagement with the converging section of the opening so that the inside surface is driven into sealing engagement with the tube and the pressure responsive component of the sealant is activated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification