TUBE JOINT HAVING SEALING AND CRIMPING MEANS

• US 3,596,939 A
• Filed: 08/15/1968
• Issued: 08/03/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glenn J. Gibson
• Original Assignee: Glenn J. Gibson
• Inventors: Gibson, Glenn J.
• Application Number:
  US04/752,842
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• US Class Current: 285/382.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 13/161 the pipe or collar being deformed by crimping or rolling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49927 Hollow body is axially joined cup or tube

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for simplified joining of sections of metallic tubing, especially stainless steel tubing. A thin-walled fitting made from tubular stock is described which in one form involves a single O-ring seated in a formed annulus, and a ridgelike stop adjacent to the annulus. The inside diameter of the fitting provides a small clearance with the tube to be joined. The tube section is inserted into the fitting by hand, compressing the O-ring to form the seal. The tube section abuts the stop, and in this position the joint is locked as by crimping the fitting sleeve so that it engages the tube section.

Claims

1. In combination:

a length of thin-walled metallic tubing and a thin-walled fitting overlying the end of said tubing, said fitting comprising an internally facing annular recess integrally formed in the wall thereof at least one fitting diameter removed from the end of said fitting overlying said tubing, a resilient O-ring in said recess encircling said tubing and radially compressed by virtue of insertion of said tube into said fitting to between 60 percent and 80 percent of its original crosssectional diameter to form a hermetic seal between said tubing and said fitting, said tubing end having an outside diameter reduced sufficiently to permit insertion past said O-ring, an inward projection in said fitting, said projection being contacted by said tubing end and being located sufficiently far from said recess to permit full compression of said O-ring before said contact occurs, said projection being not more than three tubing diameters distant from said tubing end, and a complementary deformation of said fitting and said tubing along their overlapping portions applied after said full compression of said O-ring and a sufficient axial distance from said recess so as not to deform or disturb said recess or said O-ring, said deformation preventing longitudinal displacement of said fitting with respect to said tubing.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said complementary deformation comprises at least one circular crimp having an indentation upon said fitting of about 0.010 inches, resulting in a circular depression of the exterior of said tubing therebeneath of about 0.005 inches.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said deformation comprises a plurality of dimple indentations applied to said fitting and impinging upon and deforming said tubing outer surface.