Tube coupling assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11408540-B2
Application number	US-201715716580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2017
Publication date	Aug 9, 2022
Grant date	Aug 9, 2022

Abstract

A tube coupling assembly is disclosed, which comprises a first connector for connecting to a tube; a second connector for jointing with the first connector; a first member is adapted to mount on the first connector and operably affixable to the second connector; and a second member is adapted to mount on the second connector, and is capable of being engaged with the first member to prevent separation between the first connector and the second connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tube coupling assembly, comprising:
a first connector defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having a first part on a rear end for connecting with an end portion of a tube and a second part with a larger outer diameter than the first part;
a second connector jointed with the first connector, the second connector having the longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a shoulder having a hexagonal outer surface, a rear end for connecting to an end portion of another tube, and a front part for being received within the second part of the first connector, wherein the front part of the second connector and the second part of the first connector form a ball-nose fitting;
a first member mounted over the first connector and threaded onto to the second connector, the first member having at least one projection extending radially with respect to the longitudinal axis; and
a second member slidably received over the second connector, the second member having at least one recess inside a front end of the second member and a hexagonal inner surface,
wherein each of the at least one projection is configured to be received in a corresponding recess of the at least one recess,
wherein the at least one projection and the at least one recess engage the first member and the second member to prevent separation between the first connector and the second connector,
wherein the hexagonal inner surface corresponds to the hexagonal outer surface so as to secure the shoulder of the second connector, and
wherein the rear end of the second connector extends longitudinally past a distal surface of the second member.

2. The tube coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess comprises an L-shaped groove having a longitudinal pass and a transverse pass for receiving the at least one projection therein.

3. The tube coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one projection comprises at least two projections and the at least one recess comprises at least two recesses, wherein the at least two projections are spacedly apart provided around an outer edge of the first member, the second member surrounds the second connector, and the at least two recesses are spacedly apart provided around an inner edge of the second member for receiving the at least two projections.

4. The tube coupling assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first member has an inner space for receiving the first connector, comprises a flange on the rear end thereof and comprises an inner thread inside the first member; the second member has an inner shape corresponding with an outer shape of the second connector for mounting on the second connector;
and the second connector has an outer thread for screwing with the inner thread of the first member.

5. The tube coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection is detachably mounted on the first member.

6. The tube coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess comprises at least two recesses are spacedly apart provided on an outer edge of the first member, and the at least one projection comprises at least two projections which are flexible are provided on the second member, wherein each projection of the at least two projections is shaped to be adapted with a corresponding recess of the at least two recesses.

7. The tube coupling assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second member comprises a ring, and the at least two projections are provided on the ring.

8. The tube coupling assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least two projections each comprise a piece of metal sheet with one end fixed on the ring and the other end extend up and along the ring for a distance forming a shape corresponding with a corresponding recess of the at least two recesses of the first member.

9. The tube coupling assembly of claim 8 , wherein an angle formed between the piece of metal sheet and surface of the ring is between 0-90 degrees.

10. The tube coupling assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first member has an inner space for receiving the first connector, comprises a flange on the rear end thereof and has an inner thread inside the first member; the ring has an inner shape corresponding with an outer shape of a collar of the second connector for mounting on the second connector; and the second connector has an outer thread for screwing on the inner thread of the first member.

11. The tube coupling assembly of claim 10 , wherein the collar of the second connector is disposed between the outer thread and a shoulder.

12. A tube coupling assembly, comprising:
a first connector defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having a first part on a rear end for connecting with an end portion of a tube and a second part with a larger outer diameter than the first part;
a second connector jointed with the first connector, the second connector having the longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a shoulder having a hexagonal outer surface, a rear end for connecting to an end portion of another tube, and a front part for being received within the second part of the first connector, wherein the front part of the second connector and the second part of the first connector form a ball-nose fitting;
a first member mounted over the first connector and threaded onto to the second connector;
a second member slidably received over the second connector, the second member having a hexagonal inner surface;
at least one projection inside a front end of the second member extending radially with respect to the longitudinal axis; and
at least one recess on the first member,
wherein each of the at least one projection is configured to be received in a corresponding recess of the at least one recess,
wherein the at least one projection and the at least one recess engage the first member and the second member to prevent separation between the first connector and the second connector,
wherein the hexagonal inner surface corresponds to the hexagonal outer surface so as to secure the shoulder of the second connector, and
wherein the rear end of the second connector extends longitudinally past a distal surface of the second member.

13. The tube coupling assembly of claim 12 , wherein the recess has an inclined groove and the projection comprises an inclined projection to be inserted into the recess.

14. The tube coupling assembly of claim 13 , wherein at least two recesses are spacedly apart provided around an outer edge of the first member, the second member surrounds the second connector, and at least two projections are spacedly apart provided around an inner edge of the second member for inserting into the recesses.

15. The tube coupling assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first member has an inner space for receiving the first connector, comprises a flange on the rear end thereof and an inner thread inside the first member, and the second connector has an outer thread for screwing on the inner thread of the first member.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Jankin Greedaran Kubendran
• Chaudhari Vinod Shashikant
• Jonnalagadda Dattu G V
• Kumar Sandeep
• Sivaprasad Rachamadugu
• Reddy Kollam Ramana
• Sebastian Merin

Classifications

• F16L27/04

  with partly-spherical engaging surfaces · CPC title

• F16L37/252

  the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part · CPC title

• F16L19/005 Primary

  comprising locking means for the threaded member · CPC title