Abstract: A connector having a body with a through-way open at one end. A shoulder in the through-way faces the open end and supports an O-ring. A cap is fitted to an open end of the body and extends from the open end toward the opposite end. The cap is a different color than the body. A gripping ring in the cap has inwardly facing teeth to grip a tube in the through-way to prevent the tube from being pulled out of the open end of the connection during use. A locking ring is fitted over the open end of the body and cap. The locking ring is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking ring has a window that lines up with the body in one of the locked and unlock positions and the cap in the other of the locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A mold for molding a body or cap for a connector. The mold comprises a mold body (1) and an axial core (2) which together define a mold cavity in the shape of the body or cap. The core has a sleeve (3) and an inner pin (4) each having complementary castellations (8, 10) which interdigitate in a first configuration. In the first configuration, the castellations (8, 10) are arranged such that respective recesses (11) are formed each bound by the proximal end of a first castellation (8) and the side walls of adjacent second castellations (10). Each recess has a shape to form a respective first portion of the body or cap. The sleeve (3) and inner pin (4) are axially movable to a second configuration in which the castellations (8, 10) are disengaged from one another. The inner pin (4) is rotatable to a third configuration in which the first castellations (8) can be axially withdrawn following a path occupied by the second castellations (10) in the first configuration.

Abstract: A connector comprising a body (1) having a through-way defining an axis and which is open at one end (4) and a shoulder (8) in the through-way faces the open end and supports an O-ring (9). A cap (2) is fitted within an open end of the body and extends from the open end towards the opposite end, the cap being retained in the body (1) by a snap fit. The cap has a plurality of legs (24) extending away from the open end, the legs each having an outwardly extending tooth (22) at the end opposite to the open end to engage with a complimentary recess (12) in the body to provide the snap fit. A collet (3) in the cap has a plurality of legs (31) extending away from the open end, at least one collet leg engaging with a leg of the cap and having an inwardly facing tooth (32) to grip a tube in the through-way.

Abstract: A ball valve assembly includes a duct with a central passage for the flow of fluids. A ball valve is rotatably mounted within the duct. The ball valve has a through bore selectively alignable in an operational position with the central passage to allow flow through the valve assembly. A lateral opening is provided in the duct. A handle attached to the ball valve extends through the lateral opening such that it is accessible from outside the duct to allow rotation of the ball valve. The ball valve, handle and duct are sized so that the ball valve and handle together are insertable into one end of the duct in a first orientation to an intermediate position, from which position and orientation the ball valve and handle together can be manipulated without the ball valve leaving the duct to a final position with a second orientation in which the handle extends out through the lateral opening and the ball valve is in its operational position.

Abstract: A tube coupling to receive and hold a tube includes a coupling body (10) having a throughway to receive a portion of a tube. A collet (17) in the coupling body has legs (21) with outer surfaces that engage with a tapered surface (24) in the coupling body which urges the legs inwardly to resist withdrawal of the tube. A biasing member (26) provides a biasing force without the tube inserted to urge the legs axially onto the tapered surface. The collet (17) can grip a large variety of pipe diameters. The coupling may be supplied with a number of inserts (30A-D) for sealing with the inner diameter of a pipe, the inserts having different diameters. A tool (50) for preparing the end of a pipe to receive the coupling is also contemplated.

Abstract: A connector comprising a body (1) having a throughway (5) which is open at one end (4). A shoulder (8) in the throughway faces the open end and supports an O-ring (9). A collet (3) in the open end of the throughway has a plurality of legs (18) extending away from the open end, each engaging with the body and having an inwardly facing tooth to grip, in use, a tube in the throughway. The body has a plurality of fingers (11) extending to the open end. The connector further comprises a cap (2) fitting over the open end of the body and extending from the open end towards the opposite end. The cap has a plurality of recesses (23) in a wall at the open end into each of which a finger is retained by a snap fit.

Abstract: A connector having a body 1 with a central throughway in which a tube T is received. A collet 30 within the body has a plurality of flexible legs 32 arranged to grip the tube T if a force is applied to withdraw the tube. The connector further comprises at least one first tooth 14, the first tooth having a gripping edge in a plane angled to a plane perpendicular to the main axis of the connector, and being mountable with respect to the body so as to be non-rotatable about the main axis X.

Abstract: A connector comprising a body (1) having a throughway (5) which is open at one end (4). A shoulder (8) in the throughway faces the open end and supports an O-ring (9). A collet (3) in the open end of the throughway has a plurality of legs (18) extending away from the open end, each engaging with the body and having an inwardly facing tooth to grip, in use, a tube in the throughway. The body has a plurality of fingers (11) extending to the open end. The connector further comprises a cap (2) fitting over the open end of the body and extending from the open end towards the opposite end. The cap has a plurality of recesses (23) in a wall at the open end into each of which a finger is retained by a snap fit.

Abstract: A tube coupling includes a body (1) to receive a tube (22). The body has lateral recesses (12) extending outwardly from an internal wall. An O-ring (3) is retained by the body distally of the recesses. A collet (5) includes a ring (6) and collet legs (7) to be received in the lateral recesses and having a tooth (8) facing the passageway. Proximal movement of the collet with respect to the body causes the fingers to deflect inwardly. A tube support (10) includes a ring (12) and has a key to align with the body. Castellations (13, 14) extend proximately from the tube support ring and are complementary to the collet legs to align the collet with respect to the body as the collet is inserted into the body.

Abstract: A tube coupling to receive and hold a tube (T) includes a coupling body (10) having a throughway with an annular step (24) facing an open end (12). An annular seal (25) is located in the coupling body adjacent to the annular step. An end cap (13) engages the coupling body and is axially moveable. A collett (17) in the cap has legs (20) with outer surfaces that engage with a tapered surface (23) in the end cap to urge the legs inwardly to grip the tube. The seal (25) is compressed axially in response to the forward movement of the end cap (13) to cause the tube end to be pressed into sealing engagement with the seal end. A biasing member (28) provides a biasing force to urge the legs (20) axially onto the tapered surface (23) when the cap is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A tube coupling to receive and hold a tube includes a coupling body (10) having a throughway to receive a portion of a tube. A collet (17) in the coupling body has legs (21) with outer surfaces that engage with a tapered surface (24) in the coupling body which urges the legs inwardly to resist withdrawal of the tube. A biasing member (26) provides a biasing force without the tube inserted to urge the legs axially onto the tapered surface. The collet (17) can grip a large variety of pipe diameters. The coupling may be supplied with a number of inserts (30A-D) for sealing with the inner diameter of a pipe, the inserts having different diameters. A tool (50) for preparing the end of a pipe to receive the coupling is also contemplated.

Abstract: A tube coupling to receive and hold a tube (T) includes a coupling body (10) having a throughway with an annular step (24) facing an open end (12). An annular seal (25) is located in the coupling body adjacent to the annular step. An end cap (13) engages the coupling body and is axially moveable. A collett (17) in the cap has legs (20) with outer surfaces that engage with a tapered surface (23) in the end cap to urge the legs inwardly to grip the tube. The seal (25) is compressed axially in response to the forward movement of the end cap (13) to cause the tube end to be pressed into sealing engagement with the seal end. A biasing member (28) provides a biasing force to urge the legs (20) axially onto the tapered surface (23) when the cap is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A connector for a conduit for a cable (e.g. an optical fiber cable or a power cable). The connector comprises a hollow body having a throughway for the cable with a coupling for a conduit at one end and a cavity in which an annular seal is located. An actuator is provided to compress the seal radially inwardly into engagement with the cable and into engagement with said side of the cavity to block flow of fluid (gas or liquid) through the cavity and/or to grip the cable. The connector may have means to retain the actuator in the position in which it compresses the seal.