Abstract: An axial swaged fitting for permanently joining to a tube to achieve an elastic strain preload condition comprises an annular body including at least one body compression ball cavity. The body laterally surrounds at least a portion of the tube. An annular retainer includes at least one retainer compression ball cavity. The retainer laterally surrounds at least a portion of the body. A compression ball is located concurrently in both of the body compression ball cavity and the retainer compression ball cavity. The compression ball is deformed into both the body and the retainer. An annular collar laterally surrounds at least a portion of the retainer. The collar selectively exerts a predetermined compression force laterally inward toward the tube to urge the at least one compression ball into a deformation contact with at least one of the body compression ball cavity and the retainer compression ball cavity into the elastic strain preload condition.

Abstract: A tool roll forms an end of a thick walled conduit so that a conventional compression fitting may be used. The tool can include a forming roller with two ridges to make two ferrule-receiving seats in the conduit and a pair of edges forming witness lines that indicate when the seats have been fully formed by the tool. In addition the witness lines are located to show when a conduit had been fully inserted into a fitting and when the fitting has been fully made up.

Abstract: A fitting includes a body and a subassembly to connect to the body. The subassembly includes a gland, a nut and one or more collets captured between gland and nut. An O-ring is seated in a recess in one of the body and the gland. The gland can receive a conduit and the nut serves both to compress the collets around the conduit and to press the gland against the body. The nut may be retracted to a position where the subassembly may be moved transverse to the axis of the conduit, gland and nut without first retracting the gland and conduit axially.

Abstract: A fitting comprises a body with a generally flat first face, a gland with a generally flat second face, and a collet assembly adapted to be squeezed onto the outside of the conduit. A nut surrounds the gland and is adapted to engage the body, to force the first and second faces into sealing engagement with each other and to force the collet assembly into sealing engagement with a conduit and with an internal passage in the gland. When the nut is an advanced position, it engages the body, transmitting an axially compressive force to the first collet and pressing the forward end face of the gland against the rear end face of the body. When the nut is a retracted position, it has its forward end face no farther forward than the plane of the forward end face of the gland.

Abstract: A tube coupling is disclosed which electrically insulates the tube from the coupling. A metallic nut and body interact with a non-metallic coupling to constrict the non-metallic coupling about the tube end providing multiple seals and seats while avoiding metal-to-metal contact between the tube and either the nut or body. Multiple cooperating cam surfaces are provided on the body and non-metallic coupling to achieve a tube coupling stronger than, yet electrically insulated from, the tube.