US4076287A — Prepared joint for a tube fitting

Claim 1

Independent Claim 325 words

A tube assembly, comprising: a flange having an axis, first, second, third, fourth and fifth portions as consecutively measured along the axis from a first end of the flange, an annular opening extending therethrough and defining inner walls, a plurality of annular grooves, at least one annular land, and an annular rear land, said opening of said first portion being of a first preselected diameter, said opening of said second portion being of a second preselected diameter, said opening of said third portion being defined by annular grooves of a third preselected diameter spaced one from the other by said annular land which has a fourth preselected diameter, said annular rear land having a fifth preselected diameter, said opening of said fifth portion being of a sixth preselected diameter, said second, fourth and fifth preselected diameters being of a substantially uniform, common value, said sixth preselected diameter being of a substantially uniform value greater than said second, fourth, and fifth preselected diameters, and said third preselected diameters being of a substantially uniform, common value greater than said sixth preselected diameter; a metal tube having first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth portions as consecutively measured from the first portion of the flange along the axis, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth tube portions extending into the flange opening, said first portion of the tube having an edge portion adjacent the first portion of the flange, said second and fifth portions of the tube being in forcible contact with inner walls of the respective second and fifth portions of the flange, portions of said third portion of the tube adjacent the annular land being in forcible contact with said annular land, portions of said third portion of the tube adjacent the annular grooves extending into said annular grooves, said fourth portion of the tube being in forcible contact with the annular rear land, and said sixth portion of the tube extending outwardly from the flange.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 325 words

A tube assembly, comprising: a flange having an axis, first, second, third, fourth and fifth portions as consecutively measured along the axis from a first end of the flange, an annular opening extending therethrough and defining inner walls, a plurality of annular grooves, at least one annular land, and an annular rear land, said opening of said first portion being of a first preselected diameter, said opening of said second portion being of a second preselected diameter, said opening of said third portion being defined by annular grooves of a third preselected diameter spaced one from the other by said annular land which has a fourth preselected diameter, said annular rear land having a fifth preselected diameter, said opening of said fifth portion being of a sixth preselected diameter, said second, fourth and fifth preselected diameters being of a substantially uniform, common value, said sixth preselected diameter being of a substantially uniform value greater than said second, fourth, and fifth preselected diameters, and said third preselected diameters being of a substantially uniform, common value greater than said sixth preselected diameter; a metal tube having first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth portions as consecutively measured from the first portion of the flange along the axis, said first, second, third, fourth and fifth tube portions extending into the flange opening, said first portion of the tube having an edge portion adjacent the first portion of the flange, said second and fifth portions of the tube being in forcible contact with inner walls of the respective second and fifth portions of the flange, portions of said third portion of the tube adjacent the annular land being in forcible contact with said annular land, portions of said third portion of the tube adjacent the annular grooves extending into said annular grooves, said fourth portion of the tube being in forcible contact with the annular rear land, and said sixth portion of the tube extending outwardly from the flange.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the annular grooves is greater than the outside diameters of the portions of the tube extending into said grooves.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the portions of the tube extending into the annular grooves extend into the grooves a distance of at least one-half the depth of said grooves.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first end of the flange has a groove extending substantially concentrically about the opening of the flange.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 90 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth portions of the tube have an enlarged inside diameter relative to the inside diameter of the sixth portion of the tube and portions of the fifth portion of the tube within the flange and adjacent the sixth portion of the tube have an inside diameter intermediate the inside diameter of other portions of said fifth portion of the tube and the inside diameter of said first, second, third and fourth portions of the tube.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the sixth portion of the tube is less than the outside of the portions of the tube within the flange.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opening of the first portion of the flange is of less diameter than the second opening diameter and forms a shoulder.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 7, wherein a portion of the end of the tube is abutting the flange shoulder.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fifth portion of the flange has a length, as measured along the axis, greater than the total of the lengths of the annular grooves.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of annular lands each positioned between annular grooves.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 190 words

A tube assembly, comprising: a flange having an axis, a central opening extending along said axis, inner walls, a plurality of annular grooves extending about the inner walls, at least one annular land extending about the inner walls and separating the annular grooves one from the other, an annular rear land extending about the inner walls, an annular exit groove extending about the inner walls and having a predetermined length as measured along the axis and a uniform diametral dimension greater than the diametral dimension of said annular rear land; and a metal tube positioned within the flange opening and being deformed outwardly into forcible contact with the annular lands and the annular exit groove along the entire lengths thereof and deformed into the annular grooves, said annular grooves, metal tube and annular exit groove being of relative sizes sufficient for maintaining the internal diameter of the portion of the tube within the flange at a substantially uniform value and maintaining the external diameter of the portions of the tube immediately adjacent the flange at a value less than the external diameter of the portion of tube within the flange.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 190 words

A tube assembly, comprising: a flange having an axis, a central opening extending along said axis, inner walls, a plurality of annular grooves extending about the inner walls, at least one annular land extending about the inner walls and separating the annular grooves one from the other, an annular rear land extending about the inner walls, an annular exit groove extending about the inner walls and having a predetermined length as measured along the axis and a uniform diametral dimension greater than the diametral dimension of said annular rear land; and a metal tube positioned within the flange opening and being deformed outwardly into forcible contact with the annular lands and the annular exit groove along the entire lengths thereof and deformed into the annular grooves, said annular grooves, metal tube and annular exit groove being of relative sizes sufficient for maintaining the internal diameter of the portion of the tube within the flange at a substantially uniform value and maintaining the external diameter of the portions of the tube immediately adjacent the flange at a value less than the external diameter of the portion of tube within the flange.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the diameter of the annular grooves is greater than the outside diameters of the portions of the tube extending into said grooves.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the portions of the tube extending into the annular grooves extend into the grooves a distance of at least one-half the depth of said grooves.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first end of the flange has a groove extending substantially concentrically about the central opening of the flange.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the flange inner walls extend inwardly toward the axis and define a shoulder and an end portion of the tube is abutting the shoulder.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the preselected length of the exit groove is greater than the total of the lengths of the annular grooves.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

A tube assembly, as set forth in claim 11, wherein there are a plurality of annular lands each positioned between respective annular grooves.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 307 words

In a tube assembly including a substantially uniform deformable metal tube and a metal fitting having a prepared joint for mechanically joining the fitting onto one end of the tube, said prepared joint comprising: annular wall means defining an annular bore therethrough, said bore having an intermediate grooved portion therealong adapted for receiving the end of the tube and defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed alternating, annularly extending lands and locking grooves, said lands being of a substantially uniform diameter for initially axially slidably receiving said one end of the tube into the bore and said locking grooves having a predetermined substantially uniform depth sufficient to accommodate the amount of expanded metal of the tube necessary to form a secure mechanical joint therebetween after said mechanical joining wherein a predetermined length of the tube from its one end is radially expanded into tight sealing engagement against the grooved portion of the bore, said expanded length being sufficient so that a portion thereof extends a predetermined distance past the grooved portion of the bore for ensuring the substantial uniform extrusion of tube material into the locking grooves; and said annular wall means having a predetermined thickness for providing an extended end portion on the bore defining an elongated exit groove extending from an outermost land at one end of the grooved portion a distance greater than the distance that said portion of the expanded length of the tube extends for assuring that said portion of the expanded length of the tube is completely accommodated within the exit groove and is sufficiently radially expanded outwardly thereagainst so as to be supported entirely within the annular wall means and assuring a minimal amount of tube wall thinning occurring therein, said extended exit groove end portion having a substantially uniform diametral size greater than the diametral size of the unexpanded tube.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 307 words

In a tube assembly including a substantially uniform deformable metal tube and a metal fitting having a prepared joint for mechanically joining the fitting onto one end of the tube, said prepared joint comprising: annular wall means defining an annular bore therethrough, said bore having an intermediate grooved portion therealong adapted for receiving the end of the tube and defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed alternating, annularly extending lands and locking grooves, said lands being of a substantially uniform diameter for initially axially slidably receiving said one end of the tube into the bore and said locking grooves having a predetermined substantially uniform depth sufficient to accommodate the amount of expanded metal of the tube necessary to form a secure mechanical joint therebetween after said mechanical joining wherein a predetermined length of the tube from its one end is radially expanded into tight sealing engagement against the grooved portion of the bore, said expanded length being sufficient so that a portion thereof extends a predetermined distance past the grooved portion of the bore for ensuring the substantial uniform extrusion of tube material into the locking grooves; and said annular wall means having a predetermined thickness for providing an extended end portion on the bore defining an elongated exit groove extending from an outermost land at one end of the grooved portion a distance greater than the distance that said portion of the expanded length of the tube extends for assuring that said portion of the expanded length of the tube is completely accommodated within the exit groove and is sufficiently radially expanded outwardly thereagainst so as to be supported entirely within the annular wall means and assuring a minimal amount of tube wall thinning occurring therein, said extended exit groove end portion having a substantially uniform diametral size greater than the diametral size of the unexpanded tube.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-02-27	1981-08-29	1982-02-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-02-27	1985-08-29	1986-02-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-02-27	1989-08-29	1990-02-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Prepared joint for a tube fitting

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