Cross-linked pex forming after assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11504918-B2
Application number	US-202016791391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2020
Priority date	Feb 14, 2020
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

A tube assembly including a cross-linked polyethylene tube having a radial projection and a coupler, and a method for forming the tube assembly. A forming assembly is configured to dispose the radial projection of the cross-linked polyethylene tube through the coupler after the completion of the cross-linking process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A forming assembly comprising:
a press block including a main body and an extension extending from the main body, the extension and the main body defining a holder recess configured to receive at least a portion of a tube; and
a forming block cooperating with the press block, the forming block including a body defining a first recess tapering from a first opening proximate the press block to a second opening spaced distally from the first opening, the first opening being larger than the second opening, the first recess longitudinally aligned with the extension of the press block, the extension configured to position at least a portion of the tube within the first recess, and a second recess configured to receive a coupler.

2. The forming assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a guide pin, wherein the press block includes at least one aperture for selectively receiving the guide pin, and the forming block includes at least one aperture for selectively receiving the guide pin so that the press block and the forming block are aligned.

3. The forming assembly of claim 1 , wherein the press block includes a first press member and a second press member, the second press member cooperating with the first press member to form the extension and define the holder recess.

4. The forming assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first press member includes apertures and the second press member includes apertures corresponding with the apertures of the first press member, the apertures configured to receive a fastener to couple the first press member with the second press member.

5. The forming assembly of claim 1 , wherein the forming block includes a first forming member and a second forming member, the second forming member cooperating with the first forming member to define the first recess and the second recess.

6. The forming assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first forming member includes apertures and the second forming member includes apertures corresponding with the apertures of the first forming member, the apertures configured to receive a fastener to couple the first forming member with the second forming member.

7. The forming assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tube is comprised of cross-linked polyethylene.

8. The forming assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension of the press block includes an end surface, a radial projection is supported by an end of the tube, and the radial projection is configured to be engaged by the end wall of the extension and deformed by the first recess of the forming block.

9. The forming assembly of claim 8 , wherein the radial projection comprises an anchor fitting.

10. The forming assembly of claim 9 , wherein the anchor fitting is overmolded to the tube.

11. The forming assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first opening of the first recess is on a surface of the first forming block and the second opening of the first recess is in communication with the second recess.

12. The forming assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first recess of the first forming block is conical in shape.

13. The forming assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second opening has a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of a through-hole of the coupler.

14. The forming assembly of claim 13 , wherein the coupler is a coupling nut.

15. A forming assembly comprising:
a press block;
a forming block cooperating with the press block;
wherein the press block includes a main body and an extension extending from the main body, the main body and the extension defining a recess configured to receive at least a portion of a tube formed of cross-linked polyethylene, the extension including an end surface, the tube including an anchor fitting overmolded to an end of the tube so that when the tube is received within the recess of the press block, the anchor fitting extends from the end surface of the extension; and
wherein the forming block includes a first conical recess configured to receive at least a portion of the anchor fitting and the extension, and a second recess configured to receive a coupling nut.

16. The forming assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the press block includes a plurality of apertures, each aperture configured to selectively receive a guide pin; and
the forming block includes a plurality of apertures, each aperture corresponding to an aperture of the press block and configured to selectively receive the respective guide pin of the corresponding press block aperture so that the press block and the forming block are aligned.

17. The forming assembly of claim 15 , wherein the press block is comprised of a first press member and a second press member.

18. The forming assembly of claim 15 , wherein the press block is manufactured as a single piece.

19. The forming assembly of claim 15 , wherein the forming block is comprised of a first forming member and a second forming member.

20. The forming assembly of claim 15 , wherein the forming block is manufactured as a single piece.

21. The forming assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first conical recess of the forming block has a first opening on a surface of the forming block and a second opening in communication with the second recess and the first opening being larger than the second opening, wherein the second opening is equal to or less than the size of a through-hole of the anchor nut.

22. A method for forming a tube, the method comprising:
providing a press block including a holder recess defined by a main body of the press block and an extension of the press block;
positioning a tube having a radial projection within the holder recess of the press block;
providing a forming block including a first recess and a second recess;
positioning a coupler in the second recess of the forming block;
aligning the press block with the forming block;
moving at least one of the press block and the forming block relative to the other of the forming block and the press block so that the radial projection of the tube is pressed through the first recess of the forming block and into the second recess of the forming block;
compressing the radial projection of the tube by the first recess of the forming block; and inserting the tube through the coupler so that the radial projection of the tube passes through the coupler.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the aligning step includes inserting a guide pin through both of an aperture of the press block and a corresponding aperture of the forming block.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the tube is comprised of polyethylene.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising forming the tube of polyethylene and cross-linking the tube before the step of positioning the tube within the recess of the press block.

26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising overmolding an anchor fitting on an end of the tube to define the radial protrusion.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising disposing the anchor fitting through the coupler.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the coupler comprises a coupling nut.

29. A method for forming a tube, the method comprising:
providing a tube of polyethylene;
cross-linking the polyethylene;
coupling an anchor fitting to an end of the tube;
providing a press block including a holder recess defined by a main body of the press block and an extension of the press block;
providing a formi

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co

Inventors

• Devries Adam M
• Thomas Kurt Judson

Classifications

• F16L47/04 Primary

  with a swivel nut or collar engaging the pipe · CPC title

• B29C70/68

  by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers {, e.g. foam blocks (mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70)} · CPC title

• B29C70/766

  on the end part of a tubular article · CPC title

• B29L2023/22

  Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid (bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004) · CPC title

• F16L33/006

  for hoses of plastics other than artificial rubber · CPC title