Fluid fitting

Claim 2

A fluid fitting comprising a sleeve having a first portion at one end thereof, and a second portion inwardly to said end thereof, said first portion having ridge means on the inner periphery thereof adapted to penetrate the periphery of a tubular member inserted therein for forming a retention thereto, the inner periphery of said second portion including an annular land, and an annular groove adjacent said land, said groove including a relatively deep central portion and a relatively shallow portion on either side of said relatively deep portion so that the wall of said groove forms intersecting corners between said relatively deep portion and said relatively shallow portions, whereby upon application of an external inward radial force said land and said wall of said groove at said corners is forced against the periphery of a tubular member received in said sleeve for forming a seal therewith.

Claim 3

A device as recited in claim 1 including in addition a sealing member only in said relatively deep portion of said groove.

Claim 4

A device as recited in claim 1 in which said sealing member is an elastomeric O-ring.

Claim 5

A device as recited in claim 3 in which said sealing member occupies a volume less than that of said relatively deep portion prior to the application of said external force, and a volume substantially equal to that of said relatively deep portion following application of said external force.

Claim 6

A device as recited in claim 1 in which said sleeve has an annular ridge around the exterior of said second portion of engagement by a tool for exerting such a radial force, said ridge being radially outwardly of said land and said groove for concentrating said force at said land and said groove.

Claim 7

A device as recited in claim 5 in which said land is positioned axially outwardly of said groove.

Claim 8

A device as recited in claim 6 in which said sleeve includes a third portion axially inwardly of said second portion, said third portion having a greater wall thickness than said second portion, and an outside lateral dimension greater than that of said annular ridge.

Claim 9

A fluid fitting for interconnecting two tubular members comprising a metal sleeve having opposite ends and a central portion intermediate said ends, said sleeve including a duality of spaced attaching portions for attachment to tubes received in said sleeve, one of said attaching portions being adjacent one of said ends and the other of said portions being adjacent the other of said ends, each of said attaching portions including internal ridge means for penetration into the exterior of a tube received in said sleeve upon inward swaging of said attaching portion, and having a first cylindrical exterior surface of a first diameter, said sleeve having a second cylindrical exterior surface of a greater diameter than that of said first diameter intermediate said attaching portions, and including a duality of spaced sealing portions for sealing against the exteriors of tubes so received in said sleeve, one of said sealing portions being adjacent and inwardly of one of said attaching portions and the other of said sealing portions being adjacent and inwardly of the other of said attaching portions, said sleeve including at least one internal annular groove at each of said sealing portions, each of said sealing portions including an annular external ridge radially outwardly of said groove and of greater diameter than said second exterior surface for concentrating an externally applied swaging force at said groove, an additional external annular ridge intermediate and spaced from said annular ridges of said sealing portions and of greater diameter than the diameter of said second exterior surface for providing an increased wall thickness at said central portion of said sleeve, and an additional internal annular groove intermediate each of said sealing portions and the adjacent one of said attaching portions for providing a separation between said sealing portions and said attaching portions.

Claim 10

A fluid fitting for interconnecting two tubular members comprising a metal sleeve having opposite ends and a central portion intermediate said ends, said sleeve including a duality of spaced attaching portions for attachment to tubes received in said sleeve, one of said attaching portions being adjacent one of said ends and the other of said portions being adjacent the other of said ends, each of said attaching portions including internal ridge means for penetration into the exterior of a tube received in said sleeve upon inward swaging of said attaching portion, and having a first cylindrical exterior surface of a first diameter, said sleeve having a second cylindrical exterior surface of a greater diameter than that of said first diameter intermediate said attaching portions, and including a duality of spaced sealing portions for sealing against the exteriors of tubes so received in said sleeve, one of said sealing portions being adjacent and inwardly of one of said attaching portions and the other of said sealing portions being adjacent and inwardly of the other of said attaching portions, said sleeve including at least one internal annular groove at each of said sealing portions, each of said sealing portions including an annular external ridge radially outwardly of said groove and of greater diameter than said second exterior surface for concentrating an externally applied swaging force at said groove, an additional external annular ridge intermediate and spaced from said annular ridges of said sealing portions and of greater diameter than the diameter of said second exterior surface for providing an increased wall thickness at said central portion of said sleeve, and an additional internal annular groove intermediate each of said sealing portions and the adjacent one of said attaching portions for providing a separation between said sealing portions and said attaching portions.

Claim 11

A device as recited in claim 8 in which said additional annular grooves are wider than said internal grooves of said sealing portion.

Claim 12

A device as recited in claim 8 in which said sleeve includes a counterbore in each of said ends, and including a sealing material in each of said counterbores for sealing against the exteriors of tubes received in said sleeve.

Claim 13

A device as recited in claim 8 in which each of said ridge means includes a first wall facing toward said central portion of said sleeve, and a second wall facing toward the adjacent one of said opposite ends, said first wall being substantially vertical relative to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, said second wall being inclined relative to said axis, thereby providing said ridge means with a relatively broad base and a narrower crest.

Claim 14

A device as recited in claim 8 in which the wall of said internal annular groove at each of said sealing portions defines a central relatively deep portion and a relatively shallow portion on either side of said central portion, said wall forming a corner at the intersection of each of said relatively shallow portions and said central portion, each of said additional internal annular grooves being adjacent said internal annular groove of one of said sealing portions so as to define a land therebetween, said annular external ridge of each of said sealing portions being radially outwardly of one of said lands.

Claim 15

A device as recited in claim 12 including a sealing member in said central portion only of each of said internal annular grooves of said sealing portions.

Claim 16

A fluid fitting comprising a metal sleeve having a first portion at one end thereof, and a second portion inwardly of said end thereof, said first portion having ridge means on the inner periphery thereof adapted to penetrate the periphery of a tubular member inserted therein for forming a retention thereto upon exertion of an external inwardly directed swaging force on said first portion, said second portion having sealing means therein, said sealing means including at least one annular groove in the inner wall of said second portion, said second portion having a greater outside diameter and a greater wall thickness than that of said first portion, and having an external ridge radially outwardly of said groove for engagement by a swaging tool for exerting an external inwardly directed swaging force for compressing said second portion at said groove and effecting a seal on a tubular member received therein, said sleeve including an additional annular groove intermediate said sealing means and said ridge means for permitting said sleeve to deflect at said additional groove when a swaging force is applied to said external ridge so that such a swaging force does not affect said first portion.

Claim 17

A fluid fitting comprising a metal sleeve having a first portion at one end thereof, and a second portion inwardly of said end thereof, said first portion having ridge means on the inner periphery thereof adapted to penetrate the periphery of a tubular member inserted therein for forming a retention thereto upon exertion of an external inwardly directed swaging force on said first portion, said second portion having sealing means therein, said sealing means including at least one annular groove in the inner wall of said second portion, said second portion having a greater outside diameter and a greater wall thickness than that of said first portion, and having an external ridge radially outwardly of said groove for engagement by a swaging tool for exerting an external inwardly directed swaging force for compressing said second portion at said groove and effecting a seal on a tubular member received therein, said sleeve including an additional annular groove intermediate said sealing means and said ridge means for permitting said sleeve to deflect at said additional groove when a swaging force is applied to said external ridge so that such a swaging force does not affect said first portion.

Claim 18

A device as recited in claim 14 including in addition a sealing member in said first mentioned groove.

Claim 19

A device as recited in claim 14 in which said inner wall at said first mentioned groove defines relatively sharp corner means for penetrating the outer surface of such a tubular member and effecting a metal-to-metal seal therewith upon said compression of said second portion.

Claim 20

A device as recited in claim 16 in which a land is defined between said first mentioned annular groove and said additional groove, said sharp corner means being on the edge of said land.

Claim 21

A device as recited in claim 17 in which said additional annular groove is wider than said first mentioned annular groove.

Claim 22

A device as recited in claim 14, in which said ridge means is provided with a wall facing inwardly of said one end of said fitting which is in a substantially radial plane, and a wall facing toward said end of said fitting which is inclined relative to the axis of said fitting.

Claim 23

A device as recited in claim 19 in which said inclined wall is within the range of 30° to 60° relative to the longitudinal axis of said fitting.

Claim 24

A device as recited in claim 14 in which said ridge means is defined by an internal annular ridge, said ridge being interrupted to provide a plurality of separate segments for penetrating the periphery of said tubular member.

Claim 25

A device as recited in claim 14 in which said first portion includes an enlarged entrance at said one end of said fitting, said ridge means being inwardly of said entrance, and including a sealing material around the surface of said entrance for engaging the surface of a tubular member attached to said fitting.

Claim 26

A device as recited in claim 14 in which said sleeve includes a third portion inwardly of said second portion, said third portion having a greater outside diameter and a greater wall thickness than said second portion.

Claim 27

A fluid fitting comprising a sleeve having a first portion at one end thereof, and a second portion inwardly of said end thereof, said first portion having ridge means on the inner periphery thereof adapted to penetrate the periphery of a tubular member inserted therein for forming a retention thereto, the inner periphery of said second portion having a circumferential groove therein, said groove having a relatively deep portion and two relatively shallow portions positioned one on either side of said relatively deep portion so that the wall of said groove defines a corner at the intersection of said relatively deep portion and each of said relatively shallow portions, whereby upon application of an external radial force said wall of said groove at each of said corners is forced against the periphery of a tubular member received in said sleeve for forming a seal therewith.

Claim 28

A fluid fitting comprising a sleeve having a first portion at one end thereof, and a second portion inwardly of said end thereof, said first portion having ridge means on the inner periphery thereof adapted to penetrate the periphery of a tubular member inserted therein for forming a retention thereto, the inner periphery of said second portion having a circumferential groove therein, said groove having a relatively deep portion and two relatively shallow portions positioned one on either side of said relatively deep portion so that the wall of said groove defines a corner at the intersection of said relatively deep portion and each of said relatively shallow portions, whereby upon application of an external radial force said wall of said groove at each of said corners is forced against the periphery of a tubular member received in said sleeve for forming a seal therewith.

Claim 29

A device as recited in claim 24 in which said relatively deep portion includes a circumferential wall and two opposed substantially radial walls, and each said relatively shallow portion includes a substantially radial wall, and a circumferential wall connecting to one of said substantially radial walls of said relatively deep portion, thereby to define one of said corners.

Claim 30

A fluid fitting for connecting two tubular members comprising a sleeve having opposite ends which are adapted to receive end portions of tubular members to be joined, said sleeve including a retention portion adjacent each of said ends thereof, each of said retention portions including ridge means on the inner surface thereof for penetration into a member received therein upon inward swaging of said retention portion, and having a substantially constant exterior diameter, a duality of sealing portions, one of which is spaced inwardly from each of said retention portions, each of said sealing portions including groove means on the inner surface thereof and having an exterior annular ridge radially outwardly of said groove means for engagement by a tool for inward swaging of said sealing portion at said exterior annular ridge, said exterior annular ridge being of greater exterior diameter than that of said retention portion, and a central portion intermediate said sealing portions, said central portion having an annular ridge on the outer surface thereof which is spaced from and positioned between said annular ridges of said sealing portions, for providing said central portion with an increased wall thickness, said sleeve having an additional internal groove means intermediate each of said retention portions and the adjacent one of said sealing portions for isolating said sealing portions from said retention portions upon such inward swaging of said sealing portions and said retention portions, said sleeve including a counterbore at either of said ends for providing an entrance to said ridge means, and a sealing material along the circumferential wall of each of said counterbores.

Claim 31

A fluid fitting for connecting two tubular members comprising a sleeve having opposite ends which are adapted to receive end portions of tubular members to be joined, said sleeve including a retention portion adjacent each of said ends thereof, each of said retention portions including ridge means on the inner surface thereof for penetration into a member received therein upon inward swaging of said retention portion, and having a substantially constant exterior diameter, a duality of sealing portions, one of which is spaced inwardly from each of said retention portions, each of said sealing portions including groove means on the inner surface thereof and having an exterior annular ridge radially outwardly of said groove means for engagement by a tool for inward swaging of said sealing portion at said exterior annular ridge, said exterior annular ridge being of greater exterior diameter than that of said retention portion, and a central portion intermediate said sealing portions, said central portion having an annular ridge on the outer surface thereof which is spaced from and positioned between said annular ridges of said sealing portions, for providing said central portion with an increased wall thickness, said sleeve having an additional internal groove means intermediate each of said retention portions and the adjacent one of said sealing portions for isolating said sealing portions from said retention portions upon such inward swaging of said sealing portions and said retention portions, said sleeve including a counterbore at either of said ends for providing an entrance to said ridge means, and a sealing material along the circumferential wall of each of said counterbores.