Pull-up by torque fitting with female threaded nut and integral dynamic wedge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9611961-B2
Application number	US-201414269949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 2, 2006
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A fitting is provided that may optionally be pulled-up to its final assembled condition by torque rather than by turns. In one embodiment, at least one fitting component includes a structure that facilitates pull-up by torque. The structure may take a wide variety of different forms.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conduit fitting comprising:
a first threaded fitting component comprising a male threaded body having an external surface and an internal surface;
at least one conduit gripping device;
a second threaded fitting component comprising a female threaded nut adapted to be joined to said first threaded fitting component to cause said at least one conduit gripping device to grip and seal when the conduit fitting is pulled-up on a conduit end, said female threaded nut comprising an engagement surface that is radially outward of female threads of said female threaded nut and that engages a portion of said external surface of said male threaded body when the conduit fitting is pulled-up,
at least one of said portion of said external surface of said male threaded body and said engagement surface of said female threaded nut comprises an incline,
wherein upon pull-up of the conduit fitting contact of said portion of said external surface of said male threaded body with said engagement surface of said female threaded nut forces said female threaded nut radially inward.

2. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein contact between said engagement surface of said female threaded nut and said portion of said external surface of said male threaded body causes an amount of torque required to continue pulling-up the conduit fitting after said contact to increase more than if contact were not made.

3. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said first threaded fitting component includes a marking and an axial position of said female threaded nut with respect to said marking provides a visual indication of whether the conduit fitting is properly pulled up.

4. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said female threaded nut includes a marking and wherein an axial position of said first fitting component with respect to said marking provides a visual indication of whether the conduit fitting is properly pulled up.

5. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said incline forms an angle of about 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the conduit fitting.

6. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein each of said external surface of said first threaded fitting component and said engagement surface of said female threaded nut comprises an incline.

7. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said external surface of said first threaded fitting component comprises said incline and said engagement surface of said female threaded nut comprises a rounded surface.

8. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said external surface of the first threaded fitting component comprises a rounded surface and said engagement surface of said female threaded nut comprises an incline.

9. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said engagement surface is configured to urge female threads of said female threaded nut radially inward when contact is made between said engagement surface and said external surface of said first threaded fitting component.

10. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said external surface of said first threaded fitting component is tapered.

11. The conduit fitting of claim 10 wherein said engagement surface of said second threaded fitting component is tapered.

12. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said first threaded fitting component and said second threaded fitting component and said at least one conduit gripping device comprise stainless steel and produce grip and seal of a stainless steel conduit when the conduit fitting is pulled up.

13. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein the conduit fitting can be remade after at least one previous pull-up.

14. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said at least one conduit gripping device comprises a single ferrule.

15. The conduit fitting of claim 1 wherein said at least one conduit gripping device comprises two ferrules.

Assignees

• Swagelok Co

Inventors

• Bennett Mark A
• Berry Tobin
• Clason Mark A
• Karkosiak John D
• Lippucci Thomas A
• Marshall Andrew P
• Rubinski Jeffrey Michael
• Stroberg Edward A
• Williams Peter C

Classifications

• F16L25/00 Primary

  Construction or details of pipe joints not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F16L13/00 - F16L23/00 (adjustable or allowing movement F16L27/00; with fluid cut-off means F16L29/00; quick-acting F16L37/00; for double-walled or multi-channel pipes F16L39/00; connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/00) · CPC title

• F16L19/065

  the wedging action being effected by means of a ring · CPC title

• F16L2201/10

  Indicators for correct coupling · CPC title

• F16L19/103 Primary

  with more than one ring per pipe end being used · CPC title

• F16L19/083

  the longitudinal cross-section of the ring not being modified during clamping · CPC title