Self-locking push-to-connect insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9447906-B2
Application number	US-201414564293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A universal self-locking push-to-connect plumbing insert assembly provides flexibility to an installer to use the assembly in the field with a variety of different plumbing fittings for coupling conduits to such fittings. The assembly comprises first and second interlocking cartridges holding a dual function gripping ring. The gripping ring has inwardly projecting tines for gripping and holding a fluid conduit and outwardly projecting tines for holding the assembly within a plumbing fitting. A sealing ring is captively held by the first cartridge and is positioned to seal the insert assembly to a plumbing fitting when inserted therein and also seal a conduit extended into the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly further includes a release ring held within the second cartridge for selectively engaging the inwardly projecting tines of the gripping ring to allow a fluid conduit to be removed from the insert assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-locking push-to-connect insert assembly for coupling plumbing components together, said plumbing components having an input socket with a cylindrical side wall terminating in an annular shoulder, said assembly comprising:
a first cartridge having generally cylindrical wall having a diameter less than the diameter of said socket and an annular surface for receiving a seal;
a gripping ring positioned adjacent and in contact with said first cartridge, said gripping ring having a washer-shaped body with inwardly projecting annularly spaced tines for gripping and holding a fluid conduit inserted into said assembly and outwardly extending annularly spaced tines on a side of said body opposite said inwardly projecting tines for engaging said cylindrical side wall of said socket for holding said assembly in a plumbing fitting;
a second generally cylindrical cartridge positioned in said housing adjacent said gripping ring on a side opposite said first cartridge, wherein said second cartridge is coupled to said first cartridge with said gripping ring held therebetween; and
a washer-shaped ring seal coupled to said annular surface of said first cartridge and engaging said shoulder and cylindrical side wall of said input socket of said plumbing fitting when said assembly is inserted into said socket to seal said assembly to said fitting and form a seal between said assembly and a conduit extended into said assembly.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein an end of said cylindrical wall of said first cartridge facing said gripping ring is beveled to provide clearance to allow said inwardly projecting tines of said gripping ring to flex.

3. A self-locking push-to-connect insert assembly for coupling plumbing components together, said assembly comprising:
a first cartridge having generally cylindrical wall;
a gripping ring positioned adjacent and in contact with said first cartridge, said gripping ring having a washer-shaped body with inwardly projecting annularly spaced tines for gripping and holding a fluid conduit inserted into said assembly and outwardly extending annularly spaced tines on a side of said body opposite said inwardly projecting tines for holding said assembly in a plumbing fitting;
a second generally cylindrical cartridge positioned in said housing adjacent said gripping ring on a side opposite said first cartridge, wherein said second cartridge is coupled to said first cartridge with said gripping ring held therebetween, wherein an end of said cylindrical wall of said first cartridge facing said gripping ring is beveled to provide clearance to allow said inwardly projecting tines of said gripping ring to flex, and wherein an end of said second cartridge facing said gripping ring is beveled to provide clearance to allow said outwardly projecting tines of said gripping ring to flex.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said second cartridge includes an internal annular shoulder.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 4 and further including a cylindrical release ring having a tapered end with a locking surface, said release ring inserted into said second cartridge with said locking surface engaging said internal annular shoulder of said second cartridge for retaining said release ring to said assembly.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said first cartridge includes a plurality of annularly spaced axially extending tabs extending from an end of said cylindrical wall opposite said beveled surface.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 6 and further including a ring seal having apertures aligned with said axially extending tabs of said first cartridge for affixing said ring seal to said first cartridge.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said ring seal is washer shaped.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said ring seal has a tapered surface on its inner diameter which is dimensioned to sealably engage a fluid conduit inserted into said assembly from a direction of said second cartridge.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said ring seal has an outer diameter selected to sealably engage a wall of a plumbing fitting into which said assembly is installed.

11. A self-locking push-to-connect assembly for coupling plumbing components together, said assembly comprising:
a first cartridge having a generally cylindrical wall with annularly spaced apertures which extend axially and radially through said generally cylindrical wall;
a gripping ring positioned adjacent and in contact with said first cartridge, said gripping ring having a washer-shaped body with inwardly projecting annularly spaced tines for gripping and holding a fluid conduit inserted into said assembly and outwardly extending annularly spaced tines on a side of said body opposite said inwardly projecting tines, said body including apertures aligned with said axially extending apertures of said first cartridge; and
a second generally cylindrical cartridge positioned in said housing adjacent said gripping ring on a side opposite said first cartridge, wherein said second cartridge includes locking tabs aligned with said axially extending apertures of said first cartridge and extending through said apertures in said gripping ring for holding said first and second cartridges together with said gripping ring therebetween.

12. The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said locking tabs include a tapered end including a locking surface and wherein said tapered end extends through the radially extending section of said apertures of said first cartridge to snap-lock said first and second cartridges together.

13. The assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein an end of said cylindrical wall of said first cartridge facing said gripping ring is beveled to provide clearance to allow said inwardly projecting tines of said gripping ring to flex.

14. The assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein an end of said second cartridge facing said gripping ring is beveled to provide clearance to allow said outwardly projecting tines of said gripping ring to flex.

15. The assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein said second cartridge includes an internal annular shoulder.

16. The assembly as defined in claim 15 and further including a cylindrical release ring having a tapered end with a locking surface, said release ring inserted into said second cartridge with said locking surface engaging said internal annular shoulder of said second cartridge for retaining said release ring to said assembly.

17. The assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said first cartridge includes a plurality of annularly spaced axially extending tabs extending from an end of said cylindrical wall opposite said second cartridge.

18. The assembly as defined in claim 17 and further Including a ring seal having apertures aligned with said axially extending tabs of said first cartridge for affixing said ring seal to said first cartridge.

19. The assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein said ring seal is washer-shaped and has an annular indentation formed in an outer surface.

20. The assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein said ring seal has a tapered surface on its inner diameter which is dimensioned to sealably engage a fluid conduit inserted into said assembly from a direction of said second cartridge.

21. The assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein said ring seal has an outer diameter selected to sealably engage a wall of a plumbing fitting into which said assembly is installed.

Assignees

• Nibco

Inventors

• Bobo David
• Lafortune James
• Oldsen Derek
• Frische-Mouri Paul
• Kelsey Robert B
• Rinkenberg Ken

Classifications

• F16L37/091 Primary

  by means of a ring provided with teeth or fingers · CPC title

• F16L37/0915 Primary

  with a separate member for releasing the coupling · CPC title

• F16L37/008

  for branching pipes; for joining pipes to walls · CPC title