U.S. patent application number 14/335544 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-19 for tube coupling.
The applicant listed for this patent is Accor Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jerry E. O'Neill, Charlie Whitney.
Application Number | 20150076816 14/335544 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26910952 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150076816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Neill; Jerry E. ; et
al. |
March 19, 2015 |
TUBE COUPLING
Abstract
A fluid coupling having an outer housing with an internal bore,
an O-ring fitted within the bore, a spacer bushing fitted against
the O-ring, a gripper ring fitted against the axially outer side of
the spacer ring, the gripper ring having axially and radially
inwardly protruding circumferentially spaced gripping teeth, and an
end bushing holding the gripper ring, spacer bushing, and O-ring
within the outer housing. A second gripper ring and a second spacer
ring are used in some embodiments.
Inventors: |
O'Neill; Jerry E.;
(Kirkland, WA) ; Whitney; Charlie; (Rock Island,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Accor Technology, Inc. |
Bellevue |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
26910952 |
Appl. No.: |
14/335544 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12426828 |
Apr 20, 2009 |
8820799 |
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14335544 |
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11764712 |
Jun 18, 2007 |
7523966 |
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12426828 |
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11061139 |
Feb 18, 2005 |
7232159 |
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11764712 |
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10266935 |
Oct 7, 2002 |
6860523 |
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11061139 |
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09570846 |
May 12, 2000 |
6464266 |
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10266935 |
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09425909 |
Oct 21, 1999 |
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09570846 |
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09216376 |
Dec 18, 1998 |
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09425909 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
285/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K 1/12 20130101; B29C
66/534 20130101; B29C 66/71 20130101; F16L 37/091 20130101; B29C
66/52296 20130101; B29C 66/5344 20130101; B29C 65/08 20130101; B29C
66/52297 20130101; B29K 2027/06 20130101; B29K 2023/0691 20130101;
B29K 2023/18 20130101; B29C 66/52292 20130101; B29C 66/52298
20130101; B29C 66/71 20130101; F16L 37/088 20130101; B29C 66/71
20130101; B29C 66/71 20130101; B29C 66/1122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
285/340 |
International
Class: |
F16L 37/091 20060101
F16L037/091; F16L 37/088 20060101 F16L037/088 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 17, 1999 |
WO |
US9930149 |
Claims
1. A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising: an outer
housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, a
seal retained against axial movement within said internal bore in
fluid-tight engagement with said housing and positioned for
fluid-tight engagement with the tube when positioned within said
internal bore, a non-movable first spacer bushing retained against
axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially
inner side and an axially outer side, a non-movable second spacer
bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore
and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side, a first
gripper ring located axially outward of said seal and having a
non-movable peripheral portion retained against axial movement
within said internal bore, said first gripper ring further
including gripper teeth extending inwardly from said peripheral
portion of said first gripper ring and positioning inner edges of
said gripper teeth stationary within said internal bore in position
awaiting engagement with the tube when positioned within said
internal bore without adjusting movement of said first gripper
ring, said peripheral portion of said first gripper ring lying
adjacent and between said axially outer side of said first spacer
bushing and said axially inner side of said second spacer bushing,
and a second gripper ring located axially outward of said second
spacer bushing and having a non-movable peripheral portion retained
against axial movement within said internal bore, said second
gripper ring further including gripper teeth extending inwardly
from said peripheral portion of said second gripper ring and
positioning inner edges of said gripper teeth stationary within
said internal bore in position awaiting engagement with the tube
when positioned within said internal bore without adjusting
movement of said second gripper ring, said peripheral portion of
said second gripper ring lying adjacent said axially outer side of
said second spacer bushing.
2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said first spacer bushing has an
axially inward seal engagement portion in engagement with said seal
to retain said seal in position in said housing.
3. The coupling of claim 1 further including an end bushing
attached to said housing and retaining said first and second spacer
bushings and said peripheral portions of said first and second
gripper rings stationary in said internal bore against axial
movement.
4. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said gripper teeth of said first
and second gripper rings are held stationary within said internal
bore except for movement produced by engagement with the tube.
5. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said non-movable first
peripheral portion of said first gripper ring holds said gripper
teeth of said first gripper ring in fixed stationary positions
without radial or axial movement thereof required to position said
gripper teeth of said first gripper ring for engagement with the
tube, and said non-movable second peripheral portion of said second
gripper ring holds said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring
in fixed stationary positions without radial or axial movement
thereof required for engagement with the tube.
6. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said first spacer bushing has a
support surface toward said axially outer side thereof and said
gripper teeth of said first gripper ring engage said support
surface of said first spacer bushing, and said second spacer
bushing has a support surface toward said axially outer side
thereof and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring engage
said support surface of said second spacer bushing, said gripper
teeth of said first gripper ring extend radially inward beyond said
support surface of said first spacer bushing and are retained in
position to engage the tube when positioned within said internal
bore without adjustment of the position of said first spacer
bushing or first gripper ring within said internal bore, and said
gripper teeth of said second gripper ring extend radially inward
beyond said support surface of said second spacer bushing and are
retained in position to engage the tube when positioned within said
internal bore without adjustment of the position of said second
spacer bushing or second gripper ring within said internal
bore.
7. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said first spacer bushing has an
interior wall defining an aperture sized and positioned to receive
the tube therethrough when the tube is positioned within said
internal bore, and said second spacer bushing has an interior wall
defining an aperture sized and positioned to receive the tube
therethrough when the tube is positioned within said internal bore,
said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring protrude inwardly
beyond said interior wall of said first spacer bushing in position
to engage the tube when positioned within said aperture of said
first spacer bushing without adjustment of the position of said
first spacer bushing or first gripper ring within said internal
bore, and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring protrude
inwardly beyond said interior wall of said second spacer bushing in
position to engage the tube when positioned within said aperture of
said second spacer bushing without adjustment of the position of
said second spacer bushing or second gripper ring within said
internal bore.
8. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said first spacer bushing has a
support surface toward said axially outer side thereof and said
gripper teeth of said first gripper ring are held stationary
against said support surface of said first spacer bushing prior to
engagement with the tube, and said second spacer bushing has a
support surface toward said axially outer side thereof and said
gripper teeth of said second gripper ring are held stationary
against said support surface of said second spacer bushing prior to
engagement with the tube.
9. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said gripper teeth of said first
gripper ring extending radially inward beyond said first spacer
bushing and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring
extending radially inward beyond said second spacer bushing, said
gripper teeth of said first and second gripper rings being held in
stationary non-retractable position within said internal bore,
whereby at all times said gripper teeth of said first and second
gripper rings are held ready to engage the tube without prior
adjusting movement of said first and second gripper rings by a user
of the coupling.
10. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said gripper teeth of said
first and second gripper rings are held in stationary
non-retractable position within said internal bore in position at
all times to engage the tube when positioned within said internal
bore.
11. A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising: an outer
housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall,
said internal bore being sized to receive the tube therein, a
non-movable first spacer bushing retained against axial movement
within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an
axially outer side, a non-movable second spacer bushing retained
against axial movement within said internal bore and having an
axially inner side and an axially outer side, a first gripper ring
having a non-movable peripheral portion retained against axial
movement within said internal bore, said first gripper ring further
including gripper teeth extending inwardly from said peripheral
portion of said first gripper ring and positioning inner edges of
said gripper teeth stationary within said internal bore in position
awaiting engagement with the tube when positioned within said
internal bore without adjusting movement of said first gripper
ring, said peripheral portion of said first gripper ring lying
adjacent and between said axially outer side of said first spacer
bushing and said axially inner side of said second spacer bushing,
and a second gripper ring having a non-movable peripheral portion
retained against axial movement within said internal bore, said
second gripper ring further including gripper teeth extending
inwardly from said peripheral portion of said second gripper ring
and positioning inner edges of said gripper teeth stationary within
said internal bore in position awaiting engagement with the tube
when positioned within said internal bore without adjusting
movement of said second gripper ring, said peripheral portion of
said second gripper ring lying adjacent said axially outer side of
said second spacer bushing.
12. A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising: a outer
housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, a
seal in said internal bore in fluid-tight engagement with said
housing and positioned for fluid-tight engagement with the tube
when positioned within said internal bore, a non-movable first
spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal
bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side, a
non-movable second spacer bushing retained against axial movement
within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an
axially outer side, a first gripper ring located axially outward of
said seal and held in a fixed axial position between said axially
outer side of said first spacer bushing and said axially inner side
of said second spacer bushing, said first gripper ring having
non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly
into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when
positioned within said internal bore, and a second gripper ring
held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially outer side of
said second spacer bushing, said second gripper ring having
non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly
into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when
positioned within said internal bore.
13. A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising: a housing
having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, said
internal bore being sized to receive the tube therein, a
non-movable first spacer bushing retained against axial movement
within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an
axially outer side, a non-movable second spacer bushing retained
against axial movement within said internal bore and having an
axially inner side and an axially outer side, a first gripper ring
held in a fixed axial position between said axially outer side of
said first spacer bushing and said axially inner side of said
second spacer bushing, said first gripper ring having
non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly
into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when
positioned within said internal bore, and a second gripper ring
held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially outer side of
said second spacer bushing, said second gripper ring having
non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly
into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when
positioned within said internal bore.
14. A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising: a housing
having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, a seal in
said internal bore in fluid-tight engagement with said housing and
positioned for fluid-tight engagement with the tube when positioned
within said internal bore, a non-movable spacer bushing retained
against axial movement within said internal bore and having an
axially inner side and an axially outer side, a first gripper ring
located axially outward of said seal and held in a fixed axial
position adjacent said axially inner side of said spacer bushing,
said first gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with
inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient
to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore, and a
second gripper ring held in a fixed axial position adjacent said
axially outer side of said spacer bushing, said second gripper ring
having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding
inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when
positioned within said internal bore.
15. The coupling of claim 14 wherein said spacer bushing has an
interior wall defining an aperture sized and positioned to receive
the tube therethrough when the tube is positioned within said
internal bore, said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring
protrude inwardly beyond said interior wall of said spacer bushing
in position to engage the tube when positioned within said aperture
of said spacer bushing without adjustment of the position of said
spacer bushing or first gripper ring within said internal bore, and
said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring protrude inwardly
beyond said interior wall of said spacer bushing in position to
engage the tube when positioned within said aperture of said spacer
bushing without adjustment of the position of said spacer bushing
or second gripper ring within said internal bore.
16. A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising: a housing
having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, said
internal bore being sized to receive the tube therein, a
non-movable spacer bushing retained against axial movement within
said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially
outer side, a first gripper ring held in a fixed axial position
adjacent said axially inner side of said spacer bushing, said first
gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges
protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage
the tube when positioned within said internal bore, and a second
gripper ring held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially
outer side of said spacer bushing, said second gripper ring having
non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly
into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when
positioned within said internal bore.
17. The coupling of claim 16 wherein said first gripper ring has a
peripheral portion with said gripper teeth thereof extending
inwardly therefrom and said second gripper ring has a peripheral
portion with said gripper teeth thereof extending inwardly
therefrom, said peripheral portions of said first and second
gripper rings being retained against axial movement within said
internal bore.
18. The coupling of claim 17 further including an end bushing
attached to said housing and retaining said peripheral portions of
said first and second spacer bushings against axial movement within
said internal bore.
19. The coupling of claim 17 further including an end bushing
attached to said housing and applying an axially inward force to
retain said peripheral portions of said first and second spacer
gripper rings against axial movement within said internal bore
toward said end bushing.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
12/426,828 filed Apr. 20, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S.
Ser. No. 11/764,712 filed Jun. 18, 2007 and issued Apr. 28, 2009 as
U.S. Pat. No. 7,523,966, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
11/061,139 filed Feb. 18, 2005 and issued Jun. 19, 2007 as U.S.
Pat. No. 7,232,159, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
10/266,935 filed Oct. 7, 2002 and issued Mar. 1, 2005 as U.S. Pat.
No. 6,860,523, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/570,846
filed May 12, 2000 and issued Oct. 15, 2002 as U.S. Pat. No.
6,464,266, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.
09/425,909 filed Oct. 21, 1999 (now abandoned) and a
continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/216,376 filed Dec. 18,
1998 (now abandoned), and claims the benefit of PCT/US99/30149,
filed Dec. 17, 1999, which applications are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention pertains to removable couplings of the type
for securing a plastic or copper tube by pressing on the tube
without the need for welding or solder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,406 shows a tube coupling in which a
metal or plastic tube can be coupled in a fluid-tight connection to
a valve or the like simply by pressing the tube into the coupling.
The tube is held into the coupling by a flexible gripper ring
having teeth, which bite into the tube to prevent the tube from
being pushed out by the fluid pressure in the coupling. The teeth
are arranged such that the tube can be removed from the coupling by
unscrewing the coupling but cannot be removed simply by axially
pulling the tube without rotation of the tube. An O-ring seal is
provided to prevent leakage of fluid outside of the coupling around
the tube.
[0004] One of the advantages of the invention of the U.S. Pat. No.
4,911,406 is that by screwing the tube out of the gripper ring
there is minimal damage to the surface of the tube. This then
enables other advantageous arrangements of the seal and the gripper
ring within the coupling. With the introduction of softer plastic
tubing, such as, polybutylene or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene,
plastic) to the plumbing industry, the demands on the holding power
of the gripper ring have increased. The softer tubing material can
cause the teeth of the gripper ring to gouge grooves in the tubing
when the tubing is subjected to high numbers of repeated cycles at
higher hydrostatic pressures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an axial section of the coupling embodying the
principles of the invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the coupling shown in FIG.
1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of the gripper ring showing
one of the gripper teeth.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a generic illustration of what could be a test cap
or a valve or other coupling device product embodying the
principles of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 5 shows the O-ring seal and gripper ring arrangement of
this invention within the valve of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,911,406.
[0010] FIG. 6 is an axial section of the coupling embodying the
principles of the invention with multiple gripper rings for use,
for example, with a valve.
[0011] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the coupling shown in FIG.
6.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section of the gripper ring showing
one of the gripper teeth.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a generic illustration of uses for the coupling
with what could be a valve, a shower head, a tub faucet coupling, a
tube coupling, or any other application or use for this unique
coupling.
[0014] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the invention with three
gripper rings. This view is intended to show that the number of
gripper rings can be any multiple of two or more.
[0015] FIG. 11 shows still another embodiment of the coupling used
for a test cap. These various views are intended to show that the
coupling has a wide variety of uses and configurations not all of
which are shown for purposes of brevity.
[0016] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the coupling.
[0017] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment in which a valve using the
push-on invention is used to replace a conventional metal valve
with its normal compression ring.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] One improvement described herein is the reverse position of
a gripper ring in the coupling from the position shown in the U.S.
Pat. No. 4,911,406. In the illustrated embodiments with this
improvement, the seal, such as an O-ring seal, is arranged axially
inward of the gripper ring in the outer housing of the coupling.
This is followed by a spacer bushing which holds the ring in place
and the gripper ring, with its teeth, is on the axially outer side
of the spacer bushing. This enables the detection of a leak caused
by inadequately inserting a tube into the O-ring seal. It is
particularly advantageous also in the situation of re-piping or
replacing a previous metal valve to enable the existing compression
ring used with metal valves to fit into a valve using this gripper
ring arrangement.
[0019] Another improvement described herein over U.S. Pat. No.
4,911,406 is the provision of two or more gripper rings for
increasing the holding power of the rings in the coupling for use
with the softer tubing. The two or more gripper rings co-act on the
tubing in a synergistic effect distributing the load between them
to substantially increase the holding power of the rings in the
softer tubing. It is believed that the softness of the tubing
allows movement of the teeth in the plastic until the load on the
rings is distributed over more of the rings thus increasing the
ultimate holding power of the rings.
[0020] Other embodiments are illustrated and described herein.
[0021] As best shown in FIG. 1, the unique coupling is shown in one
form as a generic coupling but could be a test cap. A test cap, for
example, is used in the plumbing industry for checking temporarily
on the pressure of a plumbing system to see if all of the joints
are free from leaks and that the proper pressure may be maintained.
Usually then the test cap is removed and a permanent valve soldered
or bonded onto the tube. The many applications for the coupling is
further shown generically in phantom lines in FIG. 4, in which the
phantom line box is a test cap coupling, a valve, an end unit like
a shower-head, a coupling for joining two pieces of tubing
together, etc. FIG. 5 shows more specifically the invention for the
valve. The details of these different applications are obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art and the details of U.S. Pat. No.
4,911,406 are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0022] In all of the couplings of FIGS. 1-5, the invention includes
an outer housing 10 having an inner bore 12 with a side wall 14.
The inner bore has a seal support surface 16 against which is
fitted a conventional O-ring seal 15. The seal is held in the bore
by a spacer bushing 18. The spacer bushing has circumferentially
spaced axial grooves 33, as best shown in FIG. 2. A metallic
gripper ring 27 is provided with circumferentially spaced axially
and radially inwardly protruding teeth 29. The spacer bushing has a
flat 36 aligned with a flat 30 on the gripper ring 27. The inside
wall of the housing has a protruding flat 31 to receive the flats
on the bushing and gripper ring. The gripper ring is also provided
with a notch 39 and the spacer bushing provided with a notch 41,
which notches engage a protrusion 40 (FIG. 1) on the inside wall 14
of the outer housing 10. The flats on the inner bushing and the
gripper ring and the notches are provided to assure proper
installation of the gripper ring and inner bushing within the
housing.
[0023] An end bushing 20 is positioned against the gripper ring and
holds the O-ring, spacer bushing, and gripper ring tightly together
so that the teeth of the gripper ring extend into the inner bore
12. The end bushing is held within the internal bore of the outer
housing 10 by sonic welds 22. The end bushing has a passageway 24
provided with guide ribs 28 for guiding a plastic or copper tube 26
into the coupling. The tube end inserted into the coupling is shown
in phantom lines in FIG. 1. Inner ribs 35 are provided in the side
wall 14 of the internal inner bore 12. In general, the gripper ring
is made from a full hard stainless steel, the coupling parts from
plastic, such as, acetal, or for larger couplings, metal, and the
tubes or pipe made from copper or conventional PVC used in plumbing
polybutylene, CPVC, PEX or other metals and plastics used in
plumbing.
[0024] As best shown in FIG. 1, the coupling is assembled by
placing the O-ring against the ring support surface 16, the spacer
bushing is aligned with its flat 36 against the flat 31 of the
outer housing and slid into place against the O-ring, the gripper
ring is then placed against the spacer bushing with its flat 30
aligning the teeth 29 into the grooves 33 of the spacer bushing.
Then the end bushing is placed within the outer housing and welded
into place by sonic welding 22. For metal couplings, the outer
housing can be secured by any suitable permanent attachment such as
crimped or interfering threads. When a tube 26 is to be inserted in
the coupling or the coupling inserted over a tube, the tube and the
coupling are moved axially to one another with the tube engaging
the teeth. The teeth extend into the inner bore of the housing a
distance further than the outer diameter of the tube 26 so that the
teeth are deflected by the tube as the tube and housing are moved
axially to one another. This creates an immediate gripping
engagement of the teeth even before any fluid pressure is applied
in the coupling. The tube is inserted until it tightly engages the
end wall 50 of the bore 12. This can be felt by the user of the
coupling since the tube can be pushed to move axially, albeit
tightly, until the end of the tube stops against the end wall 50
and cannot be pushed any further relative to the outer housing.
[0025] The O-ring seal maintains the fluid seal around the tube.
The tube cannot be solely axially withdrawn by fluid pressure
without destroying the coupling and will maintain quite a high
fluid pressure. The tube can be removed by unscrewing the coupling
relative to the tube. The teeth 29 in the gripper ring can be
manufactured with a slight twist or by using the full hard
stainless steel or equivalent material, such as manganese, or
composites, and a ring thickness of no greater than about 0.012
inches, preferably 0.008 inches, then the twist can be created by
the forces acting on the teeth as the tube 26 is simultaneously
rotated and pulled out of the housing. By rotating the tube while
pulling, edges of the gripper teeth will move within the grooves 30
causing friction on one edge of the teeth allowing the teeth to
twist and the tube screw out of the gripper ring. If the tube is
initially not inserted past the gripper ring, or is not inserted
through the O-ring seal, leakage will be apparent almost
immediately when the pressure is applied to the plumbing system.
Thus, an advantage of this embodiment is it gives an immediate
visual check on the proper placement of the tube within the
coupling or the position of the test cap over the coupling.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a phantom version of a coupling to illustrate
that the coupling could be a test cap as shown in FIG. 1, a valve
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,406, or simply a mirror image of the right
side coupling 50 being on the left side to simply join two tubes
together.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment using the valve or housing 50a of
U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,406 as the coupling. Another advantageous
feature of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 by showing that
pre-cut lengths of tubing or hose 60 can be bonded and crimped as
at 61 or otherwise permanently secured to the valve to provide a
complete connection from the plumbing system to an appliance or
other plumbing fixture. Thus, installation can be made more
economically and faster having a complete pre-cut plumbing
connection already made-up and available.
[0028] As best shown in FIG. 6, the unique coupling is shown with
multiple gripper rings in one form as a valve. However, while a
valve has been shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6, this is for
illustration purposes only and the coupling can be used for a
valve, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,406 or any other use
for a coupling. This is shown generically in phantom lines in FIG.
9, in which the phantom line box is a valve, a coupling for joining
two pieces of tubing together, a shower head, a tub faucet
coupling, or any other use where a soft tubular plumbing material
is to be joined to more tubing or to some plumbing fixture. These
different applications or uses for the coupling are obvious to one
of ordinary skill in the art and the details of U.S. Pat. No.
4,911,406 are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0029] In the couplings of FIGS. 6-11, the invention includes an
outer housing 110 having an inner bore 112 with a side wall 114.
The inner bore has a seal support surface 116 against which is
fitted a conventional O-ring seal 115. The seal is held in the bore
by a spacer bushing 118. The spacer bushing has circumferentially
spaced axial grooves 133, as best shown in FIG. 7. A metallic
gripper ring 127 is provided with circumferentially spaced axially
and radially inwardly protruding teeth 129. A second identical
gripper ring 132 is provided against the O-ring seal and thus on
the opposite side of the spacer bushing 118. The spacer bushing has
a flat 136 aligned with a flat 130 on the gripper rings 127, 132.
The inside wall of the housing has a protruding flat 131 to receive
the flats on the bushing and gripper rings. The gripper rings are
also provided with a notch 139 and the spacer bushing provided with
a notch 141, which notches engage a protrusion or key 140 (FIG. 6)
on the inside wall 114 of the outer housing 110. The flats on the
inner bushing and the gripper rings and the notches are provided to
assure proper installation of the gripper rings and inner bushing
within the housing.
[0030] An end bushing 120 is positioned against the gripper ring
127 and holds the O-ring, spacer bushing, and gripper rings tightly
together so that the teeth of the gripper rings extend into the
inner bore 112. The end bushing is held within the internal bore of
the outer housing 110 by sonic welds 122 (FIG. 10). The end bushing
is provided with an inner bore 124 and protruding guide ribs 128
for guiding a plastic or copper tube 126 into the coupling. In the
alternative, these ribs can be eliminated so that existing old
repaired plumbing tubing with existing ferrules can be fitted into
larger diameter of the end bushing 120 as in FIG. 13. The tube end
inserted into the coupling is shown in FIG. 6. Inner ribs 135 (FIG.
7) are provided in the side wall 114 of the internal inner bore
112. In general, the gripper rings are made from a full hard
stainless steel, the coupling parts from plastic, such as, acetal,
or for larger couplings, metal, and the tubes or pipe made from
copper, conventional PVC, polybutylene, PEX, or other metals and
plastics used in plumbing.
[0031] As best shown in FIG. 6, the coupling is assembled by
placing the O-ring against the ring support surface 116, the
gripper ring 132 is placed against the O-ring, the spacer bushing
is aligned with its flat 136 against the flat 131 of the outer
housing and slid into place against the gripper ring 132, the
gripper ring 127 is then placed against the opposite side of the
spacer bushing with its flat 130 aligning the teeth 129 into the
grooves 133 of the spacer bushing. Then the end bushing is placed
within the outer housing and welded into place by sonic welding
122. For metal couplings, the outer housing can be secured by any
suitable permanent attachment such as crimped or interfering
threads. When a tube 126 is to be inserted in the coupling or the
coupling inserted over a tube, the tube and the coupling are moved
axially to one another with the tube engaging the teeth. The teeth
of both rings extend into the inner bore of the housing a distance
further than the outer diameter of the tube 126 so that the teeth
are deflected by the tube as the tube and housing are moved axially
to one another. This creates an immediate gripping engagement of
the teeth even before any fluid pressure is applied in the
coupling. The tube is inserted until it tightly engages the end
wall 150 (FIG. 10) of the bore 112. This can be felt by the user of
the coupling since the tube can be pushed to move axially, albeit
tightly, until the end of the tube stops against the end wall 150
and cannot be pushed any further relative to the outer housing.
[0032] The O-ring seal maintains the fluid seal around the tube.
The tube cannot be solely axially withdrawn by fluid pressure
without destroying the coupling and will maintain quite a high
fluid pressure. The tube can be removed by unscrewing the coupling
relative to the tube, although with softer plastic tubing the teeth
may dig into the tubing more deeply and the gouged surface of the
tubing may be damaged when the coupling is unscrewed. In this case,
a new tube may be needed or the damaged section of the original
tube can be cut-off and the remaining undamaged end of the tubing
can then be re-inserted into the coupling. The teeth 129 in the
gripper rings can be manufactured with a slight twist or by using
the full hard stainless steel or equivalent material, such as
manganese, or composites, and a ring thickness of no greater than
about 0.012 inches, preferably 0.008 inches, then the twist can be
created by the forces acting on the teeth as the tube 126 is
simultaneously rotated and pulled out of the housing. By rotating
the tube while pulling, edges of the gripper teeth will move within
the grooves 130 causing friction on one edge of the teeth allowing
the teeth to twist and the tube screw out of the gripper ring.
[0033] In the embodiments shown, if the tube is initially not
inserted past the gripper ring, or is not inserted through the
O-ring seal, leakage will be apparent almost immediately when the
pressure is applied to the plumbing system. Thus, an advantage of
this embodiment is it gives an immediate visual check on the proper
placement of the tube within the coupling or the position of the
valve over the coupling.
[0034] FIG. 8 shows a typical gripper ring.
[0035] FIG. 9 shows a phantom version of a coupling to illustrate
that the coupling could be a valve, a coupling joining two tubes, a
faucet coupling, a shower head, a test cap, or any other plumbing
fixture using a push on coupling.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment with the same features of
the invention but with more gripper rings (three, namely, 127, 177,
and 187 being shown) and more spacers 118, 178, and 188.
[0037] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment using the coupling as a test
cap. A test cap is used in a plumbing system to see if all of the
joints are free from leaks and that the proper pressure may be
maintained. Usually then the test cap is removed and a permanent
cap soldered or bonded onto the tube.
[0038] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment similar to FIGS. 10 and 11
but with a spacer 118a placed between the o-ring and the gripper
ring.
[0039] FIG. 13 shows a valve having an O-ring seal 115 and one or
more gripper rings, preferably two, such as, gripper rings 130 and
132. The end bushing in this embodiment is tapered internally as at
210 so that the metal compression ring 202 of a conventional metal
threaded compression type valve fitting can fit into the taper 210
and allow the end of the pipe with the compression ring left intact
on the pipe, pushed into the valve until it is past the O-ring seal
and with the compression ring abutting the tapered surface of the
end bushing. In this embodiment, the push-on valve of this
invention replaces the conventional screw on compression fitted
valve. The compression nut 200 from the old valve may be left on
the pipe exposed or can be pushed back into the hole in the
wallboard where it is hidden. The location of the O-ring axially
inward of the gripper rings is advantageously employed in this
re-piping embodiment because it allows the free end of the pipe of
the replaced pipe fitting to be inserted far enough into the valve
to pass inside the O-ring and be effectively sealed even though the
end of the pipe may not reach the end of the internal bore 112 when
the compression ring engages the tapered surface 210 of the end
bushing. The gripper rings will, of course, hold the pipe in the
valve and within the O-ring seal.
[0040] While two and three gripper rings have been shown in the
drawing, any multiple of gripper rings can be used within the
spacing of the coupling.
[0041] While the preferred embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it should be apparent that variations will be apparent
to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not to be
limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings.
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