Distributor collector assembly

Claim 2

In combination a rigid conduit provided with a plurality of apertures in the wall thereof and having an end portion, an axially rigid tubular grid fitted over said conduit, said end portion of said conduit extending beyond one end of said grid, an annular, resilient sealing gasket positioned over said tube and said conduit adjacent to and beyond said one end of said grid, one end portion of said tube being folded back on the external side of itself over said gasket, and internally screw threaded closure means secured to said end of said conduit for sealing said end of said conduit, said closure means having an annular skirt portion extending over said gasket and overlying portions of said tube for compressing said gasket and overlying portions of said tube into sealing relationship with said conduit.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1, wherein said closure means comprises a sleeve fitted on said conduit adjacent said one end of said grid, said sleeve having a counterbore facing said grid and receiving said gasket and the folded over portion of said tube.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 comprising a manifold, said conduit being threadedly secured to said manifold, a shoulder on said manifold facing said grid, and means sealing said tube to conduit adjacent said shoulder.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1, said skirt portion having an outwardly divergent inner annular wall surface which engages said tube and compresses it and said gasket against said conduit as said closure means is threaded into said conduit.

Claim 6

In combination, a plurality of lengths of plastic tubing, a plurality of plastic connectors sealably connected between respective lengths of said tubing, and a plurality of the combinations of claim 1 wherein each said conduit is sealably connected to one of said connectors.

Claim 7

In combination a rigid conduit provided with a plurality of apertures in the wall thereof, an axially rigid tubular grid fitted over said conduit, said conduit extending beyond one end of said grid, a fine mesh flexible tube fitted over said grid and extending beyond said one end of said grid, an annular, resilient sealing gasket positioned over said tube adjacent said one end of said grid, one end portion of said tube being folded back on itself over said gasket, closure means threaded on the end of said conduit for sealing said end of said conduit and for compressing said gasket and overlying portions of said tube into sealing relationship with said conduit, a manifold, said conduit being threadedly secured to said manifold, a shoulder on said manifold facing said grid, means sealing said tube to said conduit adjacent said shoulder, and said means sealing said tube to said conduit including a sleeve surrounding said conduit and abutting said shoulder, a counterbore in said sleeve facing toward said grid, a second annular, resilient sealing gasket, the other end portion of said tube being folded back on itself over said second gasket, and said second gasket and the portion of said tube folded thereover being disposed between the other end of said grid and said shoulder in said counterbore in said second sleeve.

Claim 8

In combination a rigid conduit provided with a plurality of apertures in the wall thereof, an axially rigid tubular grid fitted over said conduit, said conduit extending beyond one end of said grid, a fine mesh flexible tube fitted over said grid and extending beyond said one end of said grid, an annular, resilient sealing gasket positioned over said tube adjacent said one end of said grid, one end portion of said tube being folded back on itself over said gasket, closure means threaded on the end of said conduit for sealing said end of said conduit and for compressing said gasket and overlying portions of said tube into sealing relationship with said conduit, a manifold, said conduit being threadedly secured to said manifold, a shoulder on said manifold facing said grid, means sealing said tube to said conduit adjacent said shoulder, and said means sealing said tube to said conduit including a sleeve surrounding said conduit and abutting said shoulder, a counterbore in said sleeve facing toward said grid, a second annular, resilient sealing gasket, the other end portion of said tube being folded back on itself over said second gasket, and said second gasket and the portion of said tube folded thereover being disposed between the other end of said grid and said shoulder in said counterbore in said second sleeve.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 6 wherein said gaskets are held under compression between said sleeves and the respective ends of said grid.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 7 wherein said gaskets, when in the relieved state, are circular in cross-section.

Claim 11

In combination, a plurality of lengths of plastic tubing, a plurality of plastic connectors sealably connected between respective lengths of said tubing, and a plurality of the combinations of claim 7 wherein each said conduit is sealably connected to one of said connectors.