Adaptor and Method For Converting Standard Tube Fitting/Port to Push-To-Connect Tube Fitting/Port

• US 20080136178A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Patel, Hiralal, Moreiras, Luis, Yu, Le, Girod, Kenneth P., Weil, Andreas, Ehrke, Dieter, Udhofer, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/337
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/0231 with specially adapted means for positioning the threaded member behind the collar
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0887 with an axially movable separate member for releasing the coupling

Abstract

An adaptor (45) for converting to a push-to-connect tube fitting/port a standard tube fitting/port body (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610) having a threaded portion (11) for threaded attachment of a nut/plug (12), comprises a coupling nut/plug (12, 112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612) having an axially inner threaded end portion for threaded attachment to the threaded portion (11) of the fitting/port body (10); a tube sealing member (15, 115, 215, 315, 415, 515, 615) contained within the nut/plug (12) for sealing to a tube (19) having a locking surface (22) spaced from the end of the tube (19); and a retention device (23) retained in the nut/plug (12), which nut/plug (12) has at an axially outer end thereof a central opening through which the tube (19) can be inserted into the coupling nut/plug (12), whereby the locking surface (22) can be engaged by the retention device (23) to prevent axial withdrawal of the tube (19) from the coupling nut/plug (12) once inserted; wherein sealing and retention of the tube (19) is effected within the confines of the coupling nut/plug (12) and separate from and without requiring modification of the standard tube fitting/port body (10).

Claims

1. An adaptor for converting to a push-to-connect tube fitting/port a standard tube fitting/port body having a threaded portion for threaded attachment of a nut/plug and a seal or sealing surface separate from the threaded portion of the standard tube fitting/port body, comprising:

a coupling nut/plug having an axially inner threaded end portion for threaded attachment to the threaded portion of the fitting/port body;

an annular tube seal contained within the coupling nut/plug for sealing to an outer diameter surface of a tube (i.e. any tubular member) having a locking surface spaced from the end of the tube;

a radially expandable and contractible retention device retained in the coupling nut/plug, which coupling nut/plug has at an axially outer end thereof a central opening through which the tube can be inserted into the coupling nut/plug, whereby the locking surface can be engaged by the retention device to prevent axial withdrawal of the tube from the coupling nut/plug once inserted;

a support ring separate from or integral with the coupling nut/plug and axially interposed between the lock ring and the tube seal; and

a body sealing surface or seal integral with or separate from the annular tube seal for sealing to the seal or sealing surface of the standard tube fitting/port body.

2. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the threaded end portion includes a straight thread.

3. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the body sealing surface or seal includes an axial end face sealing surface for sealing with an end face seal of a standard end face seal tube fitting/port body.

4. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the body sealing surface or seal includes a seal for sealing against a conical sealing surface of a cone style standard tube fitting/port body.

5. An adaptor according to claim 4, wherein the annular tube seal has an axially extending tapered lip portion for sealing between the conical sealing of a standard tube fitting/port body and the outer diameter surface of the tube.

6. An adaptor according to claim 5, wherein the annular tube seal has a radially larger portion from which the tapered lip portion axially extends, and the radially larger portion is retained in the coupling nut/plug axially inwardly of the support ring.

7. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the support ring is formed separately from the coupling nut/plug, and can be axially inserted into and removed from the coupling nut/plug.

8. An adaptor according to claim 7, wherein the retention device includes a resiliently radially expandable lock ring, and the support ring forms with a bottom wall of the coupling nut/plug a recess for accommodating the lock ring.

9. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the annular tube seal is retained by a retaining sleeve.

10. An adaptor according to claim 9, wherein the body sealing surface or seal includes an annular body seal retained by the retaining sleeve.

11. An adaptor according to claim 1, in combination with the tube, and the tube is made of metal and has a bulge formed by a wall of the tube.

13. A method of converting to a push-to-connect tube fitting/port a standard tube fitting/port body having a threaded portion for threaded attachment of a nut/plug, comprising threading onto the threaded portion of the standard tube fitting/port body an adaptor as set forth in claim 1.

12. An adaptor for converting to a push-to-connect tube fitting/port a standard tube fitting/port body having a threaded portion for threaded attachment of a nut/plug, comprising:

a coupling nut/plug having an axially inner threaded end portion for threaded attachment to the threaded portion of the fitting/port body;

a tube sealing member contained within the nut/plug for sealing to a tube (i.e. any tubular member) having a locking surface spaced from the end of the tube; and

a retention device retained in the nut/plug, which nut/plug has at an axially outer end thereof a central opening through which the tube can be inserted into the coupling nut/plug, whereby the locking surface can be engaged by the retention device to prevent axial withdrawal of the tube from the coupling nut/plug once inserted;

wherein sealing and retention of the tube is effected within the confines of the coupling nut/plug and separate from and without requiring modification of the standard tube fitting/port body.

14. Adaptor for tubes made of metal having a threaded fitting body with an interior cone and being connected to a first tube and having a coupling nut screwed on the threaded fitting body and arranged for lockable receiving of the second push-in tube, whereby inside the coupling nut a chamber is arranged for receiving a resilient extendable lock ring and having an extension which enables the reception of the lock ring and whereby at the push-in tube on its outer circumference a locking face is provided behind which the lock ring is gripping when the push-in tube is inserted, characterized in that the threaded fitting body is a standardized 24°

cone body and additionally to the lock ring a sealing ring is arranged within the chamber of the coupling nut which with a sealing grips behind the conical face of the threaded fitting body, which sealing ring on its side turned to the lock ring has a supporting face supporting axially the lock ring when the push-in tube is inserted, and that the locking face at the push-in tube is provided by deformation of the tube wall.

15. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that the sealing ring consists of a seal part and a supporting disk formed in one piece therewith and that the supporting face for the lock ring is arranged at the supporting disk.

16. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that the sealing ring is provided as a two-piece part with a seal part and a separate supporting disk and that the supporting face supporting the locking ring is arranged at the supporting disk.

17. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that at the push-in tube a radially outward raising bulge is formed out having a conical expanding face for the lock ring front to the inserting direction and having the rear conical locking face.

18. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that in the bottom wall of the chamber a stepped recess for reception of the lock ring is arranged in the inner of the coupling nut, whereby the first step of the recess neighboured to the chamber has a dimension enabling the expansion of the lock ring when the push-in tube is inserted and the second step of the recess following the first step has a dimension that the second step is holding the lock ring in contact with the circumference of the push-in tube.

19. Adaptor according to claim 18, characterized in that the radial walls of first recess step and second recess step are aligned parallel to each other.

20. Adaptor according to claim 18, characterized in that the radial wall of the second recess step is formed by a bevelled face tapering conical from the first recess step to the deepest of the second recess step.

21. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that the coupling nut having the recess on its outer side is provided with a marking which serves for distinction said coupling nut from other embodiments of coupling nuts.

22. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that the coupling nut is a standardized coupling nut having a 45°

-beveled face provided at the bottom of their chamber and that the supporting disk at their face turned to the lock ring has a corresponding arrangement with a 45°

-bevelled face extending over an outer region and is provided with a recess extending over a second inner region for the reception of the lock ring in its expanded position.

23. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that the locking face at the push-in tube is provided in the tube wall by bringing in a groove positively receiving the lock ring when the push-in tube is inserted.

24. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that the push-in tube is provided with a marking which is covered by the coupling nut when the push-in tube is inserted and thereby indicating the complete assembly position of the tube connector.

25. Adaptor according to claim 14, characterized in that the push-in tube is arranged as a tube piece with limited length whereby a hose line and/or hose fitting is attached to the tube piece.