Swagelok Company

Other

Mark A Clason

Peter C Williams

Cal R Brown

Mark A Bennett

Jeffrey S Rayle

Jeffrey Michael Rubinski

Dale C Arstein

John D Karkosiak

Andrew P Marshall

Tobin Berry

Douglas S Welch

Gregory S Kalata

Douglas J McClure

Mark D Bearer

Michael Mussig

Raymond Scott Milhoan

Kennan Joseph Malec

William J Menz

Eric M Kvarda

Sanjeev S Moghe

George A Carlson

Ronald P Campbell

Benjamin Chan

Jason Fruh

Edward A Stroberg

William H Glime, Iii

Michael J Mohlenkamp

Gerhard H Schiroky

William J Knaggs

Daniel G Trivett

Thomas A Lippucci

Ronald Hamilton

Justin Hamilton

Jeffrey Nathan Overton

Connor M Dorony

Robert Scott Headings

Erick R Shelley

Tobin Barry

Alexandra M Fort

Robert A Fotta

Prasanna Bhamidipati

Stephen J Zaborski

Ross A Clark

Charles W Hayes

Jason M Fruh

Bret M Anderson

J D Stump

Harry A Nedelka

Appasahed T Patil

Mark Bennet

Tobin P Berry

Harry Slaven

Charles W Ii Hayes

Peter Williams

Robert Fotta

Bret Anderson

Harry Nedelka

The present application discloses methods and apparatus for installing fitting components, such as a conduit gripping device, on a conduit to form an assembly. The assembly is joinable with at least one other fitting component to form a fitting. The present application also discloses methods and apparatus for evaluating characteristics of components of a mechanically attached connection. Characteristics that may be evaluated include, but are not limited to, the position of a conduit gripping device on a conduit, an amount of axial compression or stroke of the conduit gripping device, an amount of clamping force applied to the conduit gripping device as the conduit gripping device is compressed, and an amount of torque applied to members that compresses the conduit gripping device.

Fitting assembly evaluating apparatus and methods

A fluid control assembly includes a body having a female threaded end port, and an end adapter including a male threaded end screw threadably assembled with the female threaded end port, an end connector, and an internal passage extending from the end connector to the end screw. One of the body and the end adapter includes at least one outer peripheral recess, and the other of the body and the end adapter includes a peripheral flange. A portion of the peripheral flange in circumferential alignment with the at least one recess is deformed into interlocking engagement with the at least one recess to rotationally secure the end adapter with respect to the body.

Mechanically locking end screw arrangements

Two conduit gripping devices that are to be used together in a conduit fitting assembly are interconnected or held together as a cartridge or subassembly prior to assembly with fitting components to form a fitting assembly. In a more specific embodiment, one or both of the conduit gripping devices comprises a retaining structure by which the devices are mechanically connected together as a subassembly. For example, in one embodiment a front ferrule and a back ferrule for a tube fitting may be snapped together.

Ferrule assembly for conduit fitting

A push to connect fitting includes a body member adapted to receive a conduit end, a conduit comprising a first end that can be axially inserted into the body member and a conduit gripping device attached to an exterior surface of the conduit, and a retainer that retains the conduit in place when said conduit is fully inserted into the body member. Additional embodiments include providing a seal with the fitting that seals the exterior surface of the conduit, an optional load retaining sleeve for the conduit gripping device, and an optional gimbal. The push to connect aspect may be realized in the form of a single action unthreaded mechanical connection.

Push to connect conduit fitting with ferrule

A fitting subassembly includes a threaded fitting nut, a ferrule, and a retaining member. The fitting nut includes a radial drive surface and an interior wall defining a socket, with the ferrule at least partially disposed in the socket. The retaining member is separate from and retained in a recess in the fitting nut. The retaining member retains the ferrule with the fitting nut when the retaining member is in a first position prior to the fitting nut being assembled with the fitting body. The retaining member is radially movable from the first position to a second position within the fitting nut to release the ferrule from the fitting nut.

Fitting subassembly with retained ferrule

In a method of assembling a conduit fitting, a conduit fitting is provided, including a first coupling member, a second coupling member, an internal conduit gripping device disposed between said first coupling member and said second coupling member, and an external deformable structure. The first coupling member is pulled up with the second coupling member on an end portion of a conduit to engage the external deformable structure with an external surface of one of the first and second coupling members. After engaging the external deformable structure with the external surface of one of the first and second coupling members, the first coupling member is further pulled up with the second coupling member to axially compress the external deformable structure, until an amount of torque required to continue pulling up the first coupling member increases to a predetermined torque. The predetermined torque corresponds to an initial pulled-up position in which the conduit gripping device grips and seals the conduit.

Method of assembling a conduit fitting

A single action push to connect fitting for conduit such as tube or pipe. The fitting includes a first fitting component and a second fitting component that are joined or assembled together to form a fitting assembly. The fitting assembly includes a conduit seal device and a conduit retaining device. A conduit may be manually or otherwise inserted into the assembled fitting assembly with a single axial movement and be retained and sealed without need for further action or movement of the fitting components.

Single action push to connect conduit fitting

A conduit fitting of the type having first and second threaded fitting components and at least one conduit gripping device, further includes a stroke limiting member that allows the fitting to be pulled up by applying a predetermined torque. In one embodiment, the stroke limiting member may be a non-integral torque collar. Alternatively, the fitting may also be pulled up by turns or may have an integral torque collar. In still another embodiment, a stroke limiting member is provided that may be used to enable a fitting that is designed to be pulled up by turns to also be pulled up by torque. In other embodiments, the non-integral torque collar may be installed onto one of the fitting components, and then deformed so as to prevent or make it more difficult to remove the torque collar after installation onto the fitting component.

Conduit fitting with attached torque collar

A fitting subassembly includes a threaded fitting nut that can be joined with a threaded fitting body to form a fitting assembly. The fitting nut includes a radial drive surface and an interior wall defining a socket. A back ferrule is disposed entirely in the socket and includes a driven surface adjacent to the drive surface, and a front ferrule is at least partially disposed in the socket. A retaining member retains the front and back ferrules with the fitting nut as a subassembly prior to the fitting nut being assembled with a threaded fitting body. The retaining member applies a retaining force that is limited to permit removal of the front ferrule and the back ferrule from the fitting nut by exposure to a force applying environment.

Conduit gripping device having retaining structure for conduit fitting

A conduit fitting preassembly includes an annular fitting component and at least a first conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending axially from a forward end to a rearward end, and a first projection extending radially inward from the interior wall. The first conduit gripping device is received within the annular fitting component and includes a second projection extending radially outward of an outer surface of the first conduit gripping device. The first projection includes an outward tapered rear surface and the second projection includes an inward tapered front surface. The rear surface of the first projection is radially aligned with the front surface of the second projection, such that when the first conduit gripping device is in a forward-most position, the first projection interlocks with the second projection to prevent axial withdrawal of the first conduit gripping device from the annular fitting component.

Component retaining structure for conduit fitting

A fitting is provided that may optionally be pulled-up to its final assembled condition by torque rather than by turns. In one embodiment, at least one fitting component includes a structure that facilitates pull-up by torque. The structure may take a wide variety of different forms.

Pull-up by torque fitting with female threaded nut and integral dynamic wedge

A valve and tool assembly includes a valve seat, a valve seat recess, a seat carrier and a valve seat displacement tool. A valve seat installation tool is also described, as well as a valve seat replacement kit and a method for replacing a valve seat. The valve may be a diaphragm valve, for example.

Valve and valve with seat insertion tool and extraction tool

A fitting for a tube or pipe capable of functioning a high pressures having a first fitting component adapted to receive the conduit end; a conduit gripping device such as a ferrule or ferrules and a second fitting component that can be joined to the first fitting component to cause the conduit gripping device to grip the conduit and seal when assembled. In one aspect of the invention, the first fitting component is constructed from a material that is softer than the material used to construct the second fitting component. An additional aspect of the invention include a retaining portion on the second fitting component that constrains the tube gripping device against pressure. The retaining portion can also be configured to retain the tube gripping device to the second fitting component prior to installation and in a finger-tight condition. A further aspect of the invention includes a first fitting component in which an exterior portion of the component is work hardened radially outward from the tube gripping device. The fitting may optionally be provided with a structure to effect the pull-up by torque functionality.

Conduit fitting subassembly and retaining tool

Growing community of inventors

Orwell, OH, United States of America

Mark A Clason