Abstract: A groove forming station configured to simultaneously form a groove on an end of a plurality of tubes includes a conveyor system configured to receive one of the plurality of tubes and align the one of the plurality of tubes for a subsequent grooving process; a first groove forming device configured to form a first groove on one end of a plurality of tubes; a second groove forming device configured to form a second groove on another end of the plurality of tubes. The conveyor system is configured to convey the plurality of tubes to the first groove forming device; and the conveyor system being further configured to convey the plurality of tubes to the second groove forming device.
Abstract: A coupling assembly includes a first member having a male mating portion and a first conduit receiving portion and a second member having a female mating portion and a second conduit receiving portion, wherein the male mating portion is engaged with the female mating portion to prevent disassociation of the first member and the second member while permitting free rotation of the first member and the second member with respect to each other. A method of coupling a first conduit and a second conduit includes providing a first coupling member having a first mating portion and a second coupling member having a second mating portion, and compression fitting the first mating portion with the second mating portion to prevent disassociation of the first member and the second member while permitting relative rotation of the first member and the second member with respect to each other.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 26, 2013
Date of Patent:
May 22, 2018
Assignee:
ZEKELMAN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Inventors:
Marcello Cuzzolino, Richard Flading, Jeff Kneubehl, John Parks, Jay Burris, Edward Feeney