Patent US3743324A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3743324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
One-piece sleeve and nut coupling means
Assignee: Imperial Eastman Corp
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Filing: 1972-03-15
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1992-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A coupling for use in coupling a tube. The coupling means includes a one-piece sleeve and nut element connected by a frangible connector with the sleeve being constructed to permit turning under of the connector upon shearing thereof in the makeup of the fitting. By thusly accommodating the connector within the sleeve, the connector is prevented from wedging between the tube and nut and thereby permits ready disassembly of the coupling when desired.
Inventors
- 👤 A Schwarz
- 👤 R Misak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L19/00; F16L19/08; F16L19/10; F16L19/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
313 words
For use with a female coupling element having a port defining an axially inner camming surface and an axially outer thread, a one-piece male coupling element for coupling a tube to said female coupling element comprising a tubular member having an axial bore adapted to coaxially receive the tube to be coupled, an axially inner sleeve portion having a tapered outer surface adapted to engage said camming surface of the female coupling element and be deflected radially inwardly thereby into sealed, locked association with the tube as thE result of an axially inward movement of said inner portion thereagainst, an axially threaded nut outer portion adapted to threadedly engage said thread of the female coupling element for effecting axial movement of said male coupling element relative to said female coupling element as an incident of rotation of the male coupling element relative to the female coupling element, a frangible mid-portion connecting said sleeve portion and nut portion adapted to be broken adjacent said nut portion in the make-up of the coupling, said mid-portion being defined by a radially outwardly opening annular groove, and an annular recess extending coaxially about said bore from the axially inner end thereof to radially inwardly adjacent said mid-portion groove, said frangible portion defining a radially thin connection extending axially between said sleeve portion and nut portion and radially between said radially outwardly opening annular groove and said annular recess and having an inner diameter substantially greater than the inner diameter of said nut portion whereby the broken frangible portion is caused to turn under from said sleeve portion substantially 180* and extend into said recess radially within the sleeve portion the end of said frangible portion facing toward the axially inner end of the bore, whereby said frangible portion is prevented from projecting to between the tube and said nut portion in the made-up arrangement of the coupling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
313 words
For use with a female coupling element having a port defining an axially inner camming surface and an axially outer thread, a one-piece male coupling element for coupling a tube to said female coupling element comprising a tubular member having an axial bore adapted to coaxially receive the tube to be coupled, an axially inner sleeve portion having a tapered outer surface adapted to engage said camming surface of the female coupling element and be deflected radially inwardly thereby into sealed, locked association with the tube as thE result of an axially inward movement of said inner portion thereagainst, an axially threaded nut outer portion adapted to threadedly engage said thread of the female coupling element for effecting axial movement of said male coupling element relative to said female coupling element as an incident of rotation of the male coupling element relative to the female coupling element, a frangible mid-portion connecting said sleeve portion and nut portion adapted to be broken adjacent said nut portion in the make-up of the coupling, said mid-portion being defined by a radially outwardly opening annular groove, and an annular recess extending coaxially about said bore from the axially inner end thereof to radially inwardly adjacent said mid-portion groove, said frangible portion defining a radially thin connection extending axially between said sleeve portion and nut portion and radially between said radially outwardly opening annular groove and said annular recess and having an inner diameter substantially greater than the inner diameter of said nut portion whereby the broken frangible portion is caused to turn under from said sleeve portion substantially 180* and extend into said recess radially within the sleeve portion the end of said frangible portion facing toward the axially inner end of the bore, whereby said frangible portion is prevented from projecting to between the tube and said nut portion in the made-up arrangement of the coupling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein said recess is defined by a radial, planar axially outer end surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein said groove is defined by a right cylindrical, radially inner bottom surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein said groove is defined by radial, planar axially inner and outer side surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein said recess is defined by an axially outer end surface disposed substantially congruently to the axially outer end of said groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein said frangible portion has a radial thickness of approximately 0.003 inch where said bore of said nut portion has a diameter approximately one-fourth inch or smaller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein the depth of the annular recess and the strength characteristics of the frangible mid-portion are preselected to correlate with the deflectibility of the sleeve axially inner portion whereby the sleeve inner portion is deflected substantially into engagement with the tube prior to the breaking of the frangible mid-portion in the make-up of the coupling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein said frangible mid-portion is broken substantially at the nut portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein said recess has a radial depth of approximately 0.002 to 0.003 inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The coupling element structure of claim 1 wherein the radial thickness of said frangible portion is similar to the radial depth of said recess.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A one-piece nut and sleeve tube-coupling element comprising: an annular sleeve having a tapered, deflectible nose and an outer rigid end; a nut having a rigid inner end and a bore adapted to coaxially snugly receive a tube to be coupled, the internal diameter of said sleeve being substantially greater than said tube to define an annular recess therebetween; and a frangible, thin walled annular connector extending between said sleeve and nut coaxially of said bore, said frangible connector defining a radially thin connection extending axially between said sleeve and nut and having an inner diameter substantially greater than the inner diameter of said nut whereby the broken frangible connector is caused to turn under from said sleeve substantially 180* and extend into said recess radially within the sleeve, the end of said frangible connector facing toward the axially inner enD of the bore, whereby said frangible connector is prevented from projecting to between the tube and said nut in the made-up arrangement of the coupling.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
166 words
A one-piece nut and sleeve tube-coupling element comprising: an annular sleeve having a tapered, deflectible nose and an outer rigid end; a nut having a rigid inner end and a bore adapted to coaxially snugly receive a tube to be coupled, the internal diameter of said sleeve being substantially greater than said tube to define an annular recess therebetween; and a frangible, thin walled annular connector extending between said sleeve and nut coaxially of said bore, said frangible connector defining a radially thin connection extending axially between said sleeve and nut and having an inner diameter substantially greater than the inner diameter of said nut whereby the broken frangible connector is caused to turn under from said sleeve substantially 180* and extend into said recess radially within the sleeve, the end of said frangible connector facing toward the axially inner enD of the bore, whereby said frangible connector is prevented from projecting to between the tube and said nut in the made-up arrangement of the coupling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tube-coupling element of claim 11 wherein said sleeve has an inner diameter approximately 0.002 to 0.003 inch greater than the inner diameter of the nut.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tube-coupling element of claim 11 wherein said connector has a constant wall thickness.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |