Sealed connector

Claim 2

A sealed connector structure for fluid-tight connection to the end of at least one conduit in a refrigeration circuit comprising an externally threaded, cup-shaped male member, an internally threaded, cup-shaped female member threadingly received thereon and defining a chamber therewith, at least one of said members having axial opening means therethrough leading into said chamber, a conduit extending through the opening means of said one member into the chamber, the inner end of said conduit being flared radially outwardly, a compression ring rotatably received on said conduit within said chamber between said flared inner end and an adjacent surface of said one member, said compression ring having an angled end surface abutting one side of said flared inner end of the conduit, a sealing element within said chamber between said flared inner end of the conduit and an adjacent surface of the other of said members, said sealing element comprising an outer sleeve fabricated of an elastomeric, relatively stiff polymeric material capable of withstanding relatively high temperatures, said outer sleeve having an angled end surface abutting the other side of said flared inner end of the conduit, an inner metallic sleeve within said outer sleeve, said male and female members being threaded together sufficiently to compress said outer sleeve and cause cold-flow thereof into sealing contact with adjacent surfaces of the male member, said other side of the flared inner end of the conduit, and said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve extending axially slightly beyond said inner sleeve to define an unrestricted portion thereof for said cold flow.

Claim 3

A sealed connector structure as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said inner sleeve is fabricated of a relatively soft metal.

Claim 4

A sealed connector structure as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said outer sleeve is fabricated of nylon filled with finely divided particles of molybdenum disulphide.

Claim 5

A sealed connector structure for fluid-tight connection of the ends of a pair of conduits in a refrigeration circuit comprising an externally threaded, cup-shaped male member, an internally threaded, cup-shaped female member threadingly received thereon and defining a chamber therewith, said members having axial opening mean therethrough leading into said chamber, a separate conduit extending through the opening means of each of said members into the chamber, the inner end of each of said conduits being flared radially outwardly, a compression ring rotatably received on one of said conduits within said chamber between the flared inner end of the conduit and an adjacent surface of one of said members, said compression ring having an angled end surface abutting one side of the adjacent flared inner end, a sealing element within said chamber between the flared ends of said conduits, said sealing element comprising an outer sleeve fabricated of an elastomeric, relatively stiff polymeric material capable of withstanding relatively high temperatures, the ends of said outer sleeve being angled and abutting the adjacent surfaces of said flared inner ends of the conduits, an inner metallic sleeve within said outer sleeve, the other of said members having an angled surface abutting against the flared inner end of the other of said conduits, said male and female members being threaded together sufficiently to compress said outer sleeve and cause cold-flow thereof into sealing contact with adjacent surfaces of the male member, the flared ends of the conduits and said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve extending axially slightly beyond said inner sleeve to define an unrestricted portion thereof for said cold flow.

Claim 6

A sealed connector structure for fluid-tight connection of the ends of a pair of conduits in a refrigeration circuit comprising an externally threaded, cup-shaped male member, an internally threaded, cup-shaped female member threadingly received thereon and defining a chamber therewith, said members having axial opening mean therethrough leading into said chamber, a separate conduit extending through the opening means of each of said members into the chamber, the inner end of each of said conduits being flared radially outwardly, a compression ring rotatably received on one of said conduits within said chamber between the flared inner end of the conduit and an adjacent surface of one of said members, said compression ring having an angled end surface abutting one side of the adjacent flared inner end, a sealing element within said chamber between the flared ends of said conduits, said sealing element comprising an outer sleeve fabricated of an elastomeric, relatively stiff polymeric material capable of withstanding relatively high temperatures, the ends of said outer sleeve being angled and abutting the adjacent surfaces of said flared inner ends of the conduits, an inner metallic sleeve within said outer sleeve, the other of said members having an angled surface abutting against the flared inner end of the other of said conduits, said male and female members being threaded together sufficiently to compress said outer sleeve and cause cold-flow thereof into sealing contact with adjacent surfaces of the male member, the flared ends of the conduits and said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve extending axially slightly beyond said inner sleeve to define an unrestricted portion thereof for said cold flow.

Claim 7

A sealed connector structure as defined in claim 4, further characterized in that said inner sleeve is fabricated of a relatively soft metal.

Claim 8

A sealed connector structure as defined in claim 4, further characterized in that said outer sleeve is fabricated of a nylon filled with finely divided particles of molybdenum disulphide.