Conduit coupling with indicator of bend plane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320459-B2
Application number	US-202217658915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2022
Priority date	Apr 12, 2022
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A conduit coupling includes a first connector at a first end of the conduit coupling, a second connector at a second end of the conduit coupling, and a stem between the first connector and the second connector. A first end of the stem is attached to the first connector. A second end of the stem is attached to the second connector. The stem is bent at a particular bend angle along a bend plane. The first connector includes an indicator that indicates an orientation of the bend plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conduit coupling, comprising:
a first connector at a first end of the conduit coupling;
a second connector at a second end of the conduit coupling; and
a stem between the first connector and the second connector, wherein:
a first end of the stem is attached to the first connector,
a second end of the stem is attached to the second connector,
the stem is bent, along a bend plane, between a first portion of the stem and a second portion of the stem at a particular bend angle that is less than 90 degrees, and
the first connector includes an indicator that indicates an orientation of the bend plane.

2. The conduit coupling of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is:
an indentation on a surface of the first connector, or
an imprint on the surface of the first connector.

3. The conduit coupling of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is shaped as at least one of:
one or more lines,
one or more arrows,
one or more polygons, or
one or more round shapes.

4. The conduit coupling of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is on a surface of the first connector and is aligned with the bend plane.

5. The conduit coupling of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is disposed on a surface of the first connector and the surface of the first connector has a cylindrical profile, and
wherein the indicator has a width that is less than or equal to a portion of a circumference of the surface of the first connector that is associated with a particular degree value.

6. The conduit coupling of claim 5 , wherein the particular degree value is less than or equal to 1 degree.

7. The conduit coupling of claim 1 , wherein the indicator further indicates an amount of precision associated with indicating the orientation of the bend plane.

8. The conduit coupling of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is an indentation on a surface of the first connector.

9. A conduit assembly, comprising:
a conduit;
a first conduit coupling attached to a first end of the conduit; and
a second conduit coupling attached to a second end of the conduit, wherein:
the first conduit coupling includes a first stem bent, along a first bend plane, between a first portion of the first stem and a second portion of the first stem at a particular bend angle that is less than 90 degrees
the first conduit coupling includes a first indicator that indicates an orientation of the first bend plane,
the second conduit coupling includes a second stem bent at a second bend angle along a second bend plane, and
the second conduit coupling includes a second indicator that indicates an orientation of the second bend plane.

10. The conduit assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first indicator is on a surface of the first conduit coupling and is aligned with the first bend plane; and
the second indicator is on a surface of the second conduit coupling and is aligned with the second bend plane.

11. The conduit assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the first indicator and the second indicator is shaped as at least one of:
one or more lines,
one or more arrows,
one or more polygons, or
one or more round shapes.

12. The conduit assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the first indicator and the second indicator is:
an indentation, or
an imprint.

13. The conduit assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first indicator is disposed on a first surface of the first conduit coupling that has a cylindrical profile,
a width of the first indicator is less than or equal to a portion of a circumference of the first surface that is associated with a particular degree value,
the second indicator is disposed on a second surface of the second conduit coupling that has a cylindrical profile, and
a width of the second indicator is less than or equal to a portion of a circumference of the second surface that is associated with the particular degree value.

14. The conduit assembly of claim 13 , wherein the particular degree value is less than or equal to 1 degree.

15. The conduit assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first indicator further indicates an amount of precision associated with indicating the orientation of the first bend plane; and
the second indicator further indicates an amount of precision associated with indicating the orientation of the second bend plane.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Ferkel Bailey Justin
• Steen Gary M

Classifications

• F16L27/0837 Primary

  the joint elements being bends · CPC title

• F16L2201/60

  Identification or marking · CPC title

• B21D7/063

  Pliers with forming dies · CPC title

• F16L43/00

  Bends; Siphons (with cleaning apertures F16L45/00) · CPC title

• F16L43/001 Primary

  made of metal · CPC title