Entegris, Inc.

Fluroware, Inc.

Eric Soderstrom

Michael Stoick

James Donoho

Michael A Stein

Steven A Fischer

Todd J Edlund

Jeffrey C Kubesh

A method for sealingly coupling a first component and a second component. The method includes forming a polymer male portion attached to the first component. The male portion has a first axis and a first bore extending therethrough. The male portion has a first stop surface, a second stop surface and an annular sealing portion intermediate the first stop surface and the second stop surface. The method also includes forming a polymer female portion attached to the second component. The female portion has a second axis and a second bore extending therethrough. The female portion has a third stop surface, a fourth stop surface and an annular ring intermediate the third stop surface and the fourth stop surface. The male portion is urged towards the female portion so that at least one of the first stop surface is adjacent the third stop surface or the second stop surface is adjacent the fourth stop surface. The annular ring is subjected to a compressive force in an oblique direction with respect to at least one of the first axis and the second axis by contact with the annular sealing portion.

Component to component sealing method

A coupling ideally suited for sealing between components such as a fluoropolymer valve body ( ) and a fluoropolymer manifold ( ) or for coupling tubing end portions, utilizes structure on said components for defining the sealing surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling comprises a male protruding portion ( ), a recessed female receiving portion ( ), and a clamping means. The clamping means ( ) has an inner threaded surface for engaging a correspondingly threaded portion of the male protruding portion. The male protruding portion is shaped, generally, as a converging rounded conical frustum ( ) having an exterior surface, a primary sealing surface, a first stop surface ( ), a second cooperating stop surface, and a fluid flow duct. The fluid flow duct is preferably concentrically positioned. The recessed portion has a circular perimeter, an inwardly projecting annular ring ( ), a first cooperating stop surface, a second stop ( ) surface, and a fluid flow duct. The male protruding portion forms a seal by confronting the primary sealing surface and the annular sealing ring.

A plastic fitting couples a section of tubing with a concave flared end to a fitting body. In a preferred embodiment, the flared tube has an expanded s-shape in the cross-section and the plastic fitting generally comprises a fitting body and a fitting nut. The fitting body includes an internal nose section having a curvilinear sidewall and a cylindrical surface that have been preformed to substantially match in shape the flare of the tubing. In a preferred embodiment, the nut has external threads that engage internal threads on the fitting body. The fitting nut is threadably coupled to the fitting body and includes a flare-engaging collar which secures the flared end of the tubing to the fitting body through a circumferential point contact. Additional securement of the tubing is provided by an axially inset annular recess, proximate the tapered nose section, which defines a seat sized to receive the end edge of the tube.

Plastic fitting for flared tubing

The self-flaring plastic fitting is generally utilized in coupling one section of tubing to another section of tubing. In the present invention, at least one of the sections of tubing has an end portion with a substantially uniform diameter and a groove about its periphery. The fitting itself includes a fitting body and a fitting nut. The fitting body is provided with a tapered nose section while the fitting nut is provided with a groove engaging device. In assembling the fitting, the end of the section of tubing incorporating the groove is place proximate the tapered nose section of the fitting body while the opposite end of the section of tubing is inserted through the fitting nut. The fitting nut is then pushed towards the fitting body where the groove engaging device of the fitting nut engages the groove of the tubing. As the fitting nut is joined with the fitting body, the fitting nut is drawn over the fitting body and, correspondingly, the tubing is drawn against and over the tapered nose section of the fitting body causing the tubing to flare and a seal to be created between the tapered nose section and tubing.

Self-flaring plastic fittings

The torque confirmation fitting is used for coupling one section of tubing to another and includes a fitting body, a fitting nut, and a torque confirmation portion. The fitting body has a nose section that supports an end of one of the sections of tubing. The torque confirmation portion has a collar portion and one or more prongs. The fitting nut is operably joinable to the fitting body and engageable with the torque confirmation portion. To operate, the non-supported end of the tubing is inserted through the torque confirmation portion and the fitting nut. The fitting nut is then joined to the fitting body and in doing so engages the torque confirmation portion. The continued joining of the fitting nut to the fitting body causes the prong of the torque confirmation portion to provide a visual indication that the fitting nut has been sufficiently, tightly joined to the fitting body.

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Lauderdale, MN, United States of America

Eric Soderstrom