Titeflex Corporation

Jordan Strunk

Donald Bradley Campbell

David Daughtry

One aspect of the invention provides a composite refrigeration line set including at least one selected from the group consisting of: a suction line and a return line, characterized in that one or more of the suction line and the return line are a composite refrigeration line set tube include: an inner plastic tube; a first adhesive layer positioned about the inner plastic tube; an aluminum layer positioned about the first adhesive layer and coupled to the inner plastic tube via the first adhesive layer; a second adhesive layer positioned about the aluminum layer; and an outer plastic layer positioned about the aluminum layer coupled to the aluminum layer via the second adhesive layer. The inner plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The outer plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The aluminum layer comprises AL 3005-O.

Multilayer composite pipe and pipe assemblies including reflective insulation

One aspect of the invention provides a composite tube including: an inner plastic tube; an aluminum layer circumferentially surrounding the inner plastic tube; and an outer plastic layer circumferentially surrounding the aluminum layer. The aluminum layer is an alloy selected from the group consisting of: AL 3004, AL 3005, AL 3105, AL 5052, AL 6061, and AL 8006. The aluminum layer has a thickness within a corresponding range disclosed for the alloy in Table 2. Another aspect of the invention provides: a composite tube including: an inner plastic tube; an aluminum layer circumferentially surrounding the inner plastic tube; and an outer plastic layer circumferentially surrounding the aluminum layer. The aluminum layer can be an alloy having 0.1% or greater magnesium by mass.

One aspect of the invention provides a composite refrigeration line set including: a suction line and a return line. One or more of the lines are a composite refrigeration line set tube including: an inner plastic tube; a first adhesive layer external to the inner plastic tube; an aluminum layer surrounding the first adhesive layer and coupled to the inner plastic tube via the first adhesive layer; a second adhesive layer external to the aluminum layer; and an outer plastic layer surrounding the aluminum layer and coupled to the aluminum layer via the second adhesive layer. The outer plastic tube includes a flame-resistant compound combined with PERT. The composite refrigeration line set tube has a flame and smoke spread rating of no more than 25/50 when tested in isolation using Appendix A1.22 of the CAN/ULC-S102-10 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials and Assemblies.

Multilayer composite tube with flame-resistant layers

One aspect of the invention provides a system including: a length of energy-dissipative tubing; a first sealing device coupled to a first end of the length of energy-dissipative tubing; and a second sealing device coupled to a second end of the length of energy-dissipative tubing. Exposure to one or more selected from the group consisting of: fault currents or lightning strikes at an exposure point along the length of energy-dissipative tubing will produce arcs at the exposure point and at least one of the first end and the second end.

Energy dissipative tubes, arc-trapping bushings, and kits, systems, and methods incorporating the same

One aspect of the invention provides a method including: obtaining a kit as described herein; advancing a cut end of the length of CSST over the nipple of the fitting; placing the crimping jaw over the cut end of the length of CSST and the fitting such that: the one or more alignment bosses are seated within the one or more alignment grooves; the one or more crimping points are seated within one or more of the corrugation valleys; and the one or more crimping points and the corrugation valleys are radially over the one or more annular corrugation grooves; and applying force to the crimping jaws, thereby forming a gas-tight seal between the cut end of the CSST and the fitting.

Crimp fittings and systems, kits, and methods incorporating the same

One aspect of the invention provides a composite refrigeration line set including at least one selected from the group consisting of: a suction line and a return line, characterized in that one or more of the suction line and the return line are a composite refrigeration line set tube include: an inner plastic tube; a first adhesive layer positioned about the inner plastic tube; an aluminum layer positioned about the first adhesive layer and coupled to the inner plastic tube via the first adhesive layer; a second adhesive layer positioned about the aluminum layer; and an outer plastic layer positioned about the aluminum layer coupled to the aluminum layer via the second adhesive layer. The inner plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The outer plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The aluminum layer comprises AL 3004-O.

One aspect of the invention provides a composite refrigeration line set including at least one selected from the group consisting of: a suction line and a return line, characterized in that one or more of the suction line and the return line are a composite refrigeration line set tube include: an inner plastic tube; a first adhesive layer positioned about the inner plastic tube; an aluminum layer positioned about the first adhesive layer and coupled to the inner plastic tube via the first adhesive layer; a second adhesive layer positioned about the aluminum layer; and an outer plastic layer positioned about the aluminum layer coupled to the aluminum layer via the second adhesive layer. The inner plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The outer plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The aluminum layer comprises AL 3555-O.

One aspect of the invention provides a composite refrigeration line set including: a suction line and a return line. One or more of the suction line and the return line are a composite refrigeration line set tube including: an inner plastic tube; a first adhesive layer circumferentially surrounding the inner plastic tube; an aluminum layer circumferentially surrounding the first adhesive layer and coupled to the inner plastic tube via the first adhesive layer; a second adhesive layer circumferentially surrounding the aluminum layer; and an outer plastic layer circumferentially surrounding the aluminum layer coupled to the aluminum layer via the second adhesive layer. The inner plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The outer plastic tube is polyethylene of raised temperature. The aluminum layer includes an alloy selected from the group consisting of: AL 3004-O, AL 3005-O, and AL 3555-O. The aluminum layer is butt-welded to itself.

One aspect of the invention provides an elastomeric bushing including: a plurality of rigid members defining one or more internal annular ribs and one or more elastic members. The rigid members include: a first internal annular rib adapted and configured to engage a corrugation valley of corrugated tubing; and one or more trailing lips adapted and configured to extend through a central opening of a nut and engage said nut, thereby preventing axial movement of the bushing when a corrugated tubing is advancing through the bushing. The one or more elastic members are adapted and configured to: hold the plurality of rigid members in a substantially annular configuration; allow the plurality of rigid members to expand to allow a corrugation peak to pass under the first internal rib; and hold the plurality of rigid members against the corrugated tubing so that the first internal rib lies within a corrugation valley.

Bushings and fittings, tubing assemblies, and methods incorporating the same

One aspect of the invention provides an energy-dissipative fuel gas tube including: a length of corrugated stainless steel tubing; an inner resin layer surrounding a radially outer surface of the corrugated stainless steel tubing; a laminated foil layer surrounding a radially outer surface of the inner resin layer; and an outer resin layer extruded over a radially outer surface of the laminated foil. The laminated foil layer includes: a foil and a high-tensile-strength material bonded to the foil. Another aspect of the invention provides an energy-dissipative fuel gas tube including: a length of corrugated stainless steel tubing; a resin layer surrounding a radially outer surface of the corrugated stainless steel tubing; and a laminated foil layer surrounding and bound directly to a radially outer surface of the resin layer. The laminated foil layer includes: a foil and an outer protective layer bonded to the foil.

Energy-dissipative tubes, arc-trapping bushings, and kits, systems, and methods incorporating the same

One aspect of the invention provides a jacket-stripping tool including: a reference stop adapted and configured to contact an end of corrugated stainless steel tubing; and one or more cutting blades arranged substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the tool and adapted and configured to create one or more cuts through one or more external jacket layers of the corrugated stainless steel tubing. At least one of the one or more cutting blades is positioned relative to the reference stop such that the at least one of the one or more cutting blades is a multiple of a distance between adjacent corrugation valleys of the corrugated stainless steel tubing.

Jacket-stripping tool kits, methods of removing one or more external jacket layers, and blades

One aspect of the invention provides a bushing including: a plurality of rigid members defining one or more internal ribs including a first internal rib adapted and configured to engage a corrugation valley of corrugated tubing; and one or more elastic members adapted and configured to: hold the plurality of rigid members in substantially annular configuration; allow the plurality of rigid members to expand to allow a corrugation peak to pass under the first internal rib; and hold the plurality of rigid members against the corrugated tubing so that the first internal rib lies within a corrugation valley. Another aspect of the invention provides a fitting including: a body member defining a sleeve portion; and a bushing as described herein received within the sleeve portion of the body member.

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Portland, TN, United States of America

Jordan Strunk