Coupling fitting

• US 6,299,215 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirby, Kyle K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri Pham
• Application Number:
  US09/630,922
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 285/81, 285/82, 285/148.19, 285/148.21, 285/360, 285/911, 285/361, 285/906
• US Class Current: 285/81
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/113 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 49/06 Joints in which sealing surfaces are pressed together by means of a member, e.g. swivel nut, screwed on, or into, one of the joint parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/906 Equivalents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/911 Glass

Abstract

A ramp-lock quick-connect fitting is adapted to be placed between conventional type fittings on pipes and tubes, such as quartz pipes and synthetic resin tubes used in chemical processing systems for semiconductor device fabrication. The quick-connect fitting includes a first coupling member having a pipe receiving section adapted to receive a conventional fitting on a pipe, and a ramp support section with a pair of spiral ramps formed therearound. The quick-connect fitting also includes a second coupling member that sealingly engages the first coupling member. An extension portion of the second coupling member is adapted to receive a conventional fitting on a tube. A locking collar is movably engaged with the second coupling member and has a pair of lock members disposed on an interior surface of the collar that slidably engage with the spiral ramps when the collar is rotated around the ramp support section of the first coupling member.

Claims

1. A coupling fitting comprising:

a first coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the first coupling member including a pipe receiving section open at the proximal end thereof for threadably engaging with a first threaded fluid conduit, a ramp support section with a pair of spiral ramps formed therearound that terminate in a pair of lock seats;

a second coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the second coupling member including a sealing member at the proximal end thereof for engaging the distal end of the first coupling member, and a threaded extension portion protruding away from the sealing member for threadably engaging a second threaded fluid conduit; and

a locking collar movably engaged with the second coupling member and having a pair of lock buttons disposed on an interior surface at the proximal end of the collar that is slidably engaged with the pair of spiral ramps of the first coupling member, wherein leak-proof communication from a first threaded fluid conduit to a second threaded fluid conduit is provided by five engagements which consist of;

the engagement of the first coupling member to a first threaded fluid conduit;

the engagement of the second coupling member to a second threaded fluid conduit;

the engagement of the second coupling member to the first coupling member;

the engagement of the first coupling member to the locking collar; and

the engagement of the second coupling member to the locking collar.

2. The coupling fitting of claim 1, wherein the pipe receiving section of the first coupling member defines an internally threaded cavity portion for engaging an externally threaded fitting of a first threaded fluid conduit.

3. The coupling fitting of claim 1, wherein the threaded extension portion of the second coupling member includes a plurality of external threads for engaging a second threaded fluid conduit that is internally threaded.

4. The coupling fitting of claim 1, wherein the lock seats receive the lock buttons when the coupling fitting is assembled.

5. The coupling fitting of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling members comprise a chemically resistant fluorocarbon material.

6. The coupling fitting of claim 5, wherein the fluorocarbon material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, polyvinylidene difluoride, and combinations thereof.

7. The coupling fitting of claim 1, further comprising:

a container;

a pipe extending from the container, the pipe including an externally threaded fitting; and

a fluid conduit having an internally threaded fitting on one end thereof that is compatible with the externally threaded fitting on the pipe, wherein said first and second coupling members provide fluid communication between the pipe and the fluid conduit, and wherein said second coupling member includes an externally threaded fitting at the distal end thereof for engaging the internally threaded fitting of the fluid conduit.

8. The coupling fitting of claim 7, wherein:

the container and the pipe are composed of quartz; and

the fluid conduit is composed of synthetic resin.

9. A coupling fitting comprising:

a first coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the first coupling member including a pipe receiving section defining a threaded cavity with a tube member disposed therein for extending into an opening of a pipe, and a ramp support section with a pair of spiral ramps formed therearound that terminate in a pair of lock seats;

a second coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the second coupling member including a sealing member at the proximal end thereof for engaging the distal end of the first coupling member, and an extension portion protruding away from the sealing member for receiving a threaded fitting on a tube; and

a locking collar movably engaged with the second coupling member and having a pair of lock buttons disposed on an interior surface at the proximal end of the collar that will slidably engage with the pair of spiral ramps when the collar is rotated around the ramp support section of the first coupling member.

10. The coupling fitting of claim 9, wherein the extension portion of the second coupling member includes a plurality of external threads for engaging an internally threaded fitting on a flexible tube.

11. The coupling fitting of claim 9, wherein the lock seats receive the lock buttons when the coupling fitting is assembled.

12. The coupling fitting of claim 9, further comprising a resilient bias means disposed between an annular ridge at the proximal end of the second coupling member and an annular lip on the locking collar, the resilient bias means allowing the lock buttons to ride over the tops of the ramps and fall into the lock seats.

13. The coupling fitting of claim 9, wherein the resilient bias means is a spring.

14. The coupling fitting of claim 9, wherein the first and second coupling members comprise a chemically resistant fluorocarbon material.

15. The coupling fitting of claim 14, wherein the fluorocarbon material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, polyvinylidene difluoride, and combinations thereof.

16. The coupling fitting of claim 9, further comprising:

a container;

a pipe extending from the container, the pipe including an externally threaded fitting; and

a fluid conduit having an internally threaded fitting on one end thereof that is compatible with the externally threaded fitting on the pipe, wherein said first and second coupling members provide fluid communication between the pipe and the fluid conduit, and wherein said second coupling member includes an externally threaded fitting at the distal end thereof for engaging the internally threaded fitting of the fluid conduit.

17. The coupling fitting of claim 16, wherein:

the container and the pipe are composed of quartz; and

the fluid conduit is composed of synthetic resin.

18. A coupling fitting comprising:

a first coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the first coupling member including a pipe receiving section defining a threaded cavity with a tube member disposed therein for extending into an opening of a pipe received by the pipe receiving section, and a ramp support section with a spiral ramp formed therearound that terminates in a pair of lock seats;

a second coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the second coupling member including a sealing member at the proximal end thereof for engaging the distal end of the first coupling member, and an extension portion protruding away from the sealing member for receiving a threaded fitting on a tube; and

a locking collar movably engaged with the second coupling member and having a pair of lock buttons disposed on an interior surface at the proximal end of the collar that will slidably engage with the pair of spiral ramps when the collar is rotated around the ramp support section of the first coupling member.

19. The coupling fitting of claim 18, wherein the extension portion of the second coupling member includes a plurality of external threads for engaging an internally threaded fitting on a flexible tube.

20. The coupling fitting of claim 18, wherein the lock seats receive the lock buttons when the coupling fitting is assembled.

21. The coupling fitting of claim 18, wherein the first and second coupling members comprise a chemically resistant fluorocarbon material.

22. The coupling fitting of claim 21, wherein the fluorocarbon material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, polyvinylidene difluoride, and combinations thereof.

23. The coupling fitting of claim 18, further comprising:

a container;

a pipe extending from the container, the pipe including an externally threaded fitting; and

a fluid conduit having an internally threaded fitting on one end thereof that is compatible with the externally threaded fitting on the pipe, wherein said first and second coupling members provide fluid communication between the pipe and the fluid conduit, and wherein said second coupling member includes an externally threaded fitting at the distal end thereof for engaging the internally threaded fitting of the fluid conduit.

24. The coupling fitting of claim 23, wherein:

the container and the pipe are composed of quartz; and

the fluid conduit is composed of synthetic resin.

25. A coupling fitting comprising:

a first coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the first coupling member including a pipe receiving section open at the proximal end thereof, and a ramp support section with a pair of spiral ramps formed therearound that terminate in lock seats;

a second coupling member having a proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough, the second coupling member including a sealing member at the proximal end thereof for engaging the distal end of the first coupling member, and an extension portion protruding away from the sealing member for receiving a tube; and

a locking collar movably engaged with the second coupling member and having a pair of spiral ramps on an interior surface of the collar that will slidably engage with the pair of spiral ramps on the first coupling member when the collar is rotated around the ramp support section.

26. The coupling fitting of claim 25, wherein the pipe receiving section of the first coupling member defines a threaded cavity portion for receiving an externally threaded fitting on a pipe.

27. The coupling fitting of claim 25, wherein the lock seats receive a pair of lock members formed on the interior surface of the locking collar when the coupling fitting is assembled.

28. The coupling fitting of claim 25, further comprising a resilient bias member disposed between an annular ridge at the proximal end of the second coupling member and an annular lip on the locking collar.

29. The coupling fitting of claim 28, wherein the resilient bias member is an o-ring.

30. The coupling fitting of claim 25, wherein the first and second coupling members comprise a chemically resistant fluorocarbon material.

31. The coupling fitting of claim 30, wherein the fluorocarbon material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy, polyvinylidene difluoride, and combinations thereof.

32. The coupling fitting of claim 30, further comprising:

a container;

a pipe extending from the container, the pipe including an externally threaded fitting; and

a fluid conduit having an internally threaded fitting on one end thereof that is compatible with the externally threaded fitting on the pipe, wherein said first and second coupling members provide fluid communication between the pipe and the fluid conduit, and wherein said second coupling member includes an externally threaded fitting at the distal end thereof for engaging the internally threaded fitting of the fluid conduit.

33. The coupling fitting of claim 32, wherein:

the container and the pipe are composed of quartz; and

the fluid conduit is composed of synthetic resin.