Swagelok Company

Mark D Bearer

Peter C Williams

Cal R Brown

Mark A Bennett

Mark A Clason

John D Karkosiak

Jeffrey S Rayle

Jeffrey Michael Rubinski

Gregory S Kalata

Douglas S Welch

Douglas J McClure

Ronald P Campbell

Eric M Kvarda

Stephen J Zaborszki

Donald E Negrelli

Tobin Berry

Dale C Arstein

David J Hasak

Connor M Dorony

Matthew K Messer

Prasanna Bhamidipati

Stephen J Zaborski

Robert A Fotta

Richard J Mlinarik

A ferrule subassembly for a conduit fitting includes first and second ferrules. The first ferrule includes a front body portion defining a forward tapered surface, a rear body portion defining an interior camming surface, and a retaining extension joined with the rear body portion radially outward of the camming surface and extending axially rearward and radially inward from the inner axial portion. The second ferrule includes a front portion having a tapered forward contact surface adjacent the first ferrule camming surface, an outer radial portion extending axially rearward of the forward contact surface, and a recessed portion axially rearward of the outer radial portion. An end portion of the retaining extension is received in the recessed portion of the second ferrule to retain the second ferrule with the first ferrule as a discontinuous subassembly.

Ferrule assembly for conduit fitting

A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. A first axial side of the ferrule defines a first end portion, a first end camming surface disposed on the first end portion at a first angle with respect to the central axis, and a first end driven surface disposed at a second angle with respect to the central axis, the second angle being greater than the first angle. A second axial side of the ferrule defines a second end portion, a second end camming surface disposed on the second end portion at a third angle with respect to the central axis, the third angle being substantially equal to the first angle, and a second end driven surface disposed at a fourth angle with respect to the central axis, the fourth angle being substantially equal to the second angle. A central boss portion extends radially outward to define a radially outermost surface at an axial center point of the ferrule.

Ferrule for a conduit fitting

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.

A preassembly for a conduit fitting includes an annular fitting component and a conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending along a central axis from an inboard end to an outboard end. The interior wall includes an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall. The conduit gripping device is retained within the annular fitting component and includes a projection extending radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the conduit gripping device, and axially toward an inboard end of the conduit gripping device, with an end portion of the projection being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.

Component retaining structure for conduit fitting

A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. The first end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70&#xb0; and 90&#xb0; with respect to the central axis, and an axially inner first end camming surface disposed at a second angle between 0&#xb0; and 40&#xb0; with respect to the central axis. The second end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer second end driven surface disposed at a third angle substantially equal to the first angle, and an axially inner second end camming surface disposed at a fourth angle substantially equal to the second angle.

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 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.

A ferrule type, flareless fitting is provided that may optionally be pulled-up to its 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 and allows the fitting to be remade. The structure may take a wide variety of different forms. Examples of fitting component structures that facilitate pull-up by torque and allow the fitting to be remade include, but are not limited to, deformable or compressible devices or structures that are configured to increase the torque required to further tighten the fitting components when the fitting is properly pulled up, resiliently deformable structures that bias a tube gripping device into engagement with a conduit when the fitting is remade to an initial pull-up position, and plastically deformable retaining structures that maintain a tube gripping device in sealing en a ement with a conduit when a fittin is disassembled.

Pull-up by torque fitting with compressible member

Ball valves that include a gland that is interposed between a spring and a seat. The ball valves include a valve body, a ball, a valve seat, and an annular spring. The spring urges the gland member toward the valve seat to urge the valve seat toward the ball.

Growing community of inventors

Akron, OH, United States of America

Mark D Bearer