Ferrule with relief to reduce galling

• US 7,100,949 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swagelok Company
• Original Assignee: Swagelok Company
• Inventors: Williams, Peter C., Kuhns, Howard C. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNWOODY, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US10/374,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20030178848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 285/341, 285/348, 285/382.7, 285/342
• US Class Current: 285/382.7
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/10 the profile of the ring being altered
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/103 with more than one ring per pipe end being used

Abstract

High localized loading, galling, and high torque forces have been generally eliminated or greatly reduced in a two ferrule tube fitting assembly through suitable modification of the rear ferrule so as to redirect the reaction forces acting between the front ferrule and the drive nut. The rear ferrule has a cylindrical interior wall that closely surrounds the tube end and is provided on the interior cylindrical wall with a circumferentially continuous radial recess that is located between the nose and rear wall of the rear ferrule. The rear ferrule also has a radially external wall that is substantially conical and additionally shaped to extend radially outward toward the enlarged diameter portion or flange of the rear ferrule. The rear ferrule further includes a contoured face on the rear driven surface of the ferrule that engages the drive surface of the drive nut.

Claims

1. A tube fitting comprising:

a fitting body having a cylindrical bore for receiving a tube end and including a tapered mouth at one end of said bore;

a drive member having a threaded engagement with said body and having a ferrule drive surface;

a first ferrule having a tapered first end that extends into said tapered mouth of the fitting body and having a second end with a tapered recess that axially extends toward said first end; and

a second ferrule having a continuous cylindrical interior wall, said second ferrule is case hardened over its entire surface;

a tapered nose that extends into said tapered recess of said first ferrule, and a driven surface on a back end thereof that engages said drive member ferrule drive surface;

said second ferrule driven surface having a convex contour;

said second ferrule having a forward edge that penetrates an outer surface of the tube end caused by radial inward compression of said forward edge as said second ferrule tapered nose slides against said first ferrule tapered recess during pull-up;

said second ferrule back end being radially spaced from the tube end upon pull up of the fitting;

said second ferrule also hinges between said back end and said forward edge to produce a swaged region near said forward edge which in longitudinal cross-section upon pull up is a convex portion of said interior cylindrical wall;

said swaged region having high gripping pressure and frictional engagement with the tube end.

2. The tube fitting of claim 1 wherein said convex contour comprises at least two non-parallel straight portions when viewed in longitudinal cross-section.

3. The tube fitting of claim 2 wherein said straight portions join at an apex formed by a radius.

4. The tube fitting of claim 1 wherein said first ferrule tapered recess is frusto-conical.

5. The tube fitting of claim 1 wherein said first ferrule tapered recess is linear when viewed in longitudinal cross-section.

15. The tube fitting of claim 1 wherein upon pull-up of the fitting said second ferrule back end is radially spaced from the tube end and a forward edge portion of said second ferrule nose penetrates an outer surface of the tube end, and said ferrule nose has a convex portion that is radially compressed to collet the tube end near said forward edge.

16. The tube fitting of claim 15 wherein said convex portion is adjacent said forward edge portion.

17. The tube fitting of claim 15 wherein said convex portion adjoins said forward edge portion.

18. The tube fitting of claim 15 wherein said convex portion is contiguous with said forward edge portion.

19. The tube fining of claim 18 wherein said convex portion isolated said forward edge portion from vibration.

21. The tube fitting of claim 1 wherein said second ferrule driven surface comprises a straight portion and an elliptical portion when viewed in longitudinal cross-section.

6. A tube fitting comprising:

a fitting body having a cylindrical bore for receiving a tube end and including a tapered mouth at one end of said bore;

a drive member having a threaded engagement with said body and having a ferrule drive surface;

a first ferrule having a tapered first end that extends into said tapered mouth of the fitting body and having a second end with a tapered recess that axially extends toward said first end; and

a second ferrule having a continuous cylindrical interior wall, a tapered nose that extends into said tapered recess of said first ferrule, and a driven surface on a back end thereof that engages said drive member ferrule drive surface;

said second ferrule is case hardened over its entire surface;

said second ferrule having a forward edge that penetrates an outer surface of the tube end caused by radial inward compression of said forward edge as second tapered nose slides against said first ferrule tapered surface during pull-up;

said second ferrule back end being radially spaced from the tube end upon pull up of the fitting;

said second ferrule also hinges between said back end and said forward edge to produce a swaged region near said forward edge which in longitudinal cross-section upon pull up is a convex portion of said interior cylindrical wall;

said swaged region having high gripping pressure and frictional engagement with the tube end.

7. The tube fitting of claim 6 wherein said first ferrule tapered recess is frusto-conical.

8. The tube fitting of claim 6 wherein said first ferrule tapered recess is linear when viewed in longitudinal cross-section.

9. The tube fitting of claim 6 wherein a rear portion of said second ferrule cylindrical interior wall is radially spaced from the tube end after the fitting is pulled up.

10. The tube fitting of claim 6 wherein upon pull-up of the fitting said second ferrule forward edge portion of said second ferrule nose penetrates an outer surface of the tube end, and said ferrule nose has a convex portion that is radially compressed to collet the tube end near said forward edge.

11. The tube fitting of claim 10 wherein said convex portion is adjacent said forward edge portion.

12. The tube fitting of claim 10 wherein said convex portion is adjoins said forward edge portion.

13. The tube fitting of claim 10 wherein said convex portion is contiguous with said forward edge portion.

14. The tube fitting of claim 10 wherein said convex portion isolated said forward edge portion from vibration.

20. A method of forming a sealing tube grip on a tube end during pull-up of a two ferrule tube fitting of the type having a front ferrule and a rear ferrule axially driven together by a threaded nut and body, comprising the steps of:

case hardening the rear ferrule over its entire surface;

plastically deforming the rear ferrule during pull-up of the tube fittings the rear ferrule having a nose portion that hinges radially inward during pull-up;

said deforming of the rear ferrule during pull-up including radially compressing a forward end of said nose portion of the rear ferrule to penetrate an outer surface of the tube end to form a stress riser that resists axial movement of the tube end relative to the rear ferrule;

said hinging of the rear female nose portion including forming a swaged region near said forward end, said swaged region in longitudinal cross-section being a convex portion of said interior cylindrical wall formed upon pull-up of the fitting;

said swaged region having high gripping pressure and frictional engagement against said outer surface of the tube end axially behind said stress riser; and

producing a radial space between a back end portion of the rear ferrule and the tube end.