Tubular connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11525534-B2
Application number	US-201917048557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Aug 14, 2018
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A connector includes a connecting body with a fluid passage at least part way therethrough, and a seal is provided with an outer portion of a fluid tube. A cartridge proximate to the connecting body has a hollow portion therethrough. A grab part has at least one tooth to retain the fluid tube and is between the cartridge and the seal. A demount part within the hollow portion moves the teeth to allow release of the fluid tube. A latch is located on one of the connecting body or a sleeve covering at least part of the cartridge or the connecting body. A mating catch is located on the other of the sleeve or the connecting body, and engagement of the latch with the catch connects the sleeve to the connecting body and helps restrain cartridge movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector comprising:
a connecting body having a fluid passage that extends at least part way therethrough;
a seal ring configured to provide a seal with an outer portion of a fluid tube;
a cartridge located near the connecting body, the cartridge having a hollow portion therethrough;
a grab part having one or more teeth that are configured to retain the fluid tube, the grab part being located between the cartridge and the seal ring;
a demount part being movable within the hollow portion of the cartridge and configured to move the one or more teeth to a position to allow the fluid tube to be released; and
a sleeve having sidewall, the sleeve including a distal end and a proximal end, the sleeve covering at least part of the cartridge and the connecting body, the sidewall of the sleeve having a first portion that defines a first opening at the distal end, a second portion that defines a second opening at the proximal end, and at least one reduced portion between the first and second portions, wherein the first portion defines a first diameter of the sleeve and the second portion defines a second diameter of the sleeve, the second diameter being less than the first diameter, wherein the second opening is sized such that at least a portion of the cartridge and/or the demount part extends through the second opening; and
wherein at least one latch is defined in a cutout on an outer surface of the sidewall of the sleeve and a mating catch in the form of a circumferential groove is located on the connecting body for engagement with the at least one latch to connect the sleeve to the connecting body and assist in restraining movement of the cartridge.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch includes a plurality of latches defined by cutouts on the outer surface of the sleeve.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch is configured to rotate about a sidewall connected thereto in order to engage with the mating catch.

4. The connector of claim 3 , wherein the at least one latch includes one or more protrusions extending from the sidewall.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch is configured to move in a direction away from and towards the mating catch in order to engage the mating catch.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch extends transversely from a sidewall connected thereto.

7. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the at least one latch extends in a direction of 5 degrees transversely to the sidewall.

8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein engagement of the mating catch with the at least one latch assists in preventing rotation of the sleeve relative to the connecting body.

9. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the demount part remains out of engagement with the one or more teeth, and thereby does not allow the fluid tube to be released, even when an external force is applied over a distance from at least the demount part to the cartridge.

10. The connector of claim 9 , wherein the external force is provided on a free end of the demount part.

11. The connector of claim 9 , wherein an end of the demount part end is proximal to an end of the cartridge.

12. The connector of claim 1 , wherein a protecting ring is configured to assist in protecting the seal ring.

13. The connector of claim 12 , wherein the protecting ring includes a stop that assists in ensuring the seal ring is captured in a space where retention of the seal ring is suitable.

14. The connector of claim 12 , wherein the protecting ring includes a protrusion that assists in supporting the fluid tube.

15. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has at least two reduced portions between the first and second portions.

16. A connector assembly comprising:
a connecting body having a fluid passage that extends at least part way therethrough;
one connector as claimed in claim 1 as a first connector including the connecting body; and
another connector as claimed in claim 1 as a second connector including the connecting body.

17. A connector comprising:
a connecting body having a fluid passage that extends at least part way therethrough;
a seal ring configured to provide a seal with an outer portion of a fluid tube;
a cartridge located near the connecting body, the cartridge having a hollow portion therethrough;
a grab part having one or more teeth that are configured to retain the fluid tube, the grab part being located between the cartridge and the seal ring;
a demount part being movable within the hollow portion of the cartridge and configured to move the one or more teeth to a position to allow the fluid tube to be released; and
a sleeve including a distal end and a proximal end, the sleeve covering at least part of the cartridge and the connecting body, wherein the sleeve has a first portion that defines a first opening at the distal end, a second portion that defines a second opening at the proximal end, and at least one reduced portion between the first and second portions, wherein the first portion defines a first diameter of the sleeve and the second portion defines a second diameter of the sleeve, the second diameter being less than the first diameter, wherein the second opening is sized such that at least a portion of the cartridge and/or the demount part extends through the second opening;
wherein at least one latch is defined in a cutout on an outer surface of the sleeve and a mating catch in the form of a groove extends radially around the connecting body for engagement with the at least one latch to provide a connection therebetween;
wherein the demount part is structured such that when an external force is applied over a distance from at least a free end of the demount part to the cartridge, the demount part does not move to a position that engages with the one or more teeth to allow the fluid tube to be released.

18. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the sleeve has at least two reduced portions between the first and second portions.

19. A kit for connecting two fluid tubes, the kit comprising:
a plurality of connectors as claimed in claim 1 ; and
a fluid tube.

20. The kit of claim 19 , wherein the seal ring is configured to move about 2 to 5 mm along a recess between a protecting ring and an inwardly extending shoulder on the connecting body.

21. The kit of claim 19 , wherein the connecting body comprises one of a straight-line connector, a T connector, a Y-connector, an elbow connector, a blind end connector, or a connector changing diameter.

22. A connector for a fluid tube having an outer diameter, the connector having proximal and distal ends and extending along a longitudinal axis, the connector comprising:
a connector body having a fluid passage extending at least part way through the connector body and a tube stop to limit passage of the fluid tube through the connector body;
a sealing ring encircling the longitudinal axis and having an internal diameter to provide a fluid tight seal with the fluid tube when the fluid tube passes through the sealing ring;
a protecting ring encircling the longitudinal axis, the sealing ring located between a shoulder on the connector body and the protecting ring;
a cartridge part encircling the longitudinal axis and holding the protecting ring against the connector body;
a grab ring having a plurality of teeth encircling the longitudinal axis and extending inward and toward the connector body a distance sufficient to grab the fluid t

Assignees

• Reliance Worldwide Corp

Inventors

• Kluss William V
• Pippen Eliana
• Graves Randy

Classifications

• F16L41/03

  comprising junction pieces for four or more pipe members · CPC title

• F16L37/0915 Primary

  with a separate member for releasing the coupling · CPC title

• F16L55/1157

  using hooks, pawls, or other movable or insertable locking members · CPC title

• F16L43/008

  made from plastic material · CPC title

• F16L41/023

  Y- pieces (F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence) · CPC title