Patents by Inventor Mark D. Bearer

Mark D. Bearer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11703165
    Abstract: A ferrule subassembly for a conduit fitting includes first and second ferrules. The first ferrule includes a front body portion defining a forward tapered surface, a rear body portion defining an interior camming surface, and a retaining extension joined with the rear body portion radially outward of the camming surface and extending axially rearward and radially inward from the inner axial portion. The second ferrule includes a front portion having a tapered forward contact surface adjacent the first ferrule camming surface, an outer radial portion extending axially rearward of the forward contact surface, and a recessed portion axially rearward of the outer radial portion. An end portion of the retaining extension is received in the recessed portion of the second ferrule to retain the second ferrule with the first ferrule as a discontinuous subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Bearer, Ronald P. Campbell, Douglas J. McClure, Cal R. Brown, Peter C. Williams, Douglas S. Welch, Stephen J. Zaborszki, Richard J. Mlinarik, Robert A. Fotta, Matthew K. Messer, Gregory S. Kalata
  • Patent number: 11519531
    Abstract: A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. A first axial side of the ferrule defines a first end portion, a first end camming surface disposed on the first end portion at a first angle with respect to the central axis, and a first end driven surface disposed at a second angle with respect to the central axis, the second angle being greater than the first angle. A second axial side of the ferrule defines a second end portion, a second end camming surface disposed on the second end portion at a third angle with respect to the central axis, the third angle being substantially equal to the first angle, and a second end driven surface disposed at a fourth angle with respect to the central axis, the fourth angle being substantially equal to the second angle. A central boss portion extends radially outward to define a radially outermost surface at an axial center point of the ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Donald E. Negrelli, Mark D. Bearer
  • Patent number: 11473703
    Abstract: Two conduit gripping devices that are to be used together in a conduit fitting assembly are interconnected or held together as a cartridge or subassembly prior to assembly with fitting components to form a fitting assembly. In a more specific embodiment, one or both of the conduit gripping devices comprises a retaining structure by which the devices are mechanically connected together as a subassembly. For example, in one embodiment a front ferrule and a back ferrule for a tube fitting may be snapped together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Bennett, Cal R. Brown, John D. Karkosiak, Peter C. Williams, Mark A. Clason, Jeffrey S. Rayle, Mark D. Bearer
  • Publication number: 20210247005
    Abstract: A ferrule subassembly for a conduit fitting includes first and second ferrules. The first female includes a front body portion defining a forward tapered surface, a rear body portion defining an interior camming surface, and a retaining extension joined with the rear body portion radially outward of the camming surface and extending axially rearward and radially inward from the inner axial portion. The second ferrule includes a front portion having a tapered forward contact surface adjacent the first ferrule camming surface, an outer radial portion extending axially rearward of the forward contact surface, and a recessed portion axially rearward of the outer radial portion. An end portion of the retaining extension is received in the recessed portion of the second female to retain the ferrule with the first ferrule as a discontinuous subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Mark D. Bearer, Ronald P. Campbell, Douglas J. McClure, Cal R. Brown, Peter C. Williams, Douglas S. Welch, Stephen J. Zaborszki, Richard J. Mlinarik, Robert A. Fotta, Matthew K. Messer, Gregory S. Kalata
  • Publication number: 20210148495
    Abstract: A preassembly for a conduit fitting includes a fitting nut, a ferrule disposed within the fitting nut, and a retaining feature configured to retain the ferrule with the fitting nut prior to assembly of the fitting nut with a fitting body, such that the ferrule is axially spaced from a drive surface of the fitting nut. When the fitting nut is assembled with a fitting body on a conduit end, axially movement of the ferrule toward the drive surface of the fitting nut causes deformation of the retaining feature to release the ferrule from the fitting nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Kelli Sandra Swan, Theodore J. Gausman, Cal R. Brown, Gregory S. Kalata, Peter C. Williams, Donald E. Negrelli, Mark D. Bearer
  • Publication number: 20200240556
    Abstract: A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. A first axial side of the ferrule defines a first end portion, a first end camming surface disposed on the first end portion at a first angle with respect to the central axis, and a first end driven surface disposed at a second angle with respect to the central axis, the second angle being greater than the first angle. A second axial side of the ferrule defines a second end portion, a second end camming surface disposed on the second end portion at a third angle with respect to the central axis, the third angle being substantially equal to the first angle, and a second end driven surface disposed at a fourth angle with respect to the central axis, the fourth angle being substantially equal to the second angle. A central boss portion extends radially outward to define a radially outermost surface at an axial center point of the ferrule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Donald E. Negrelli, Mark D. Bearer
  • Publication number: 20200200306
    Abstract: Two conduit gripping devices that are to be used together in a conduit fitting assembly are interconnected or held together as a cartridge or subassembly prior to assembly with fitting components to form a fitting assembly. In a more specific embodiment, one or both of the conduit gripping devices comprises a retaining structure by which the devices are mechanically connected together as a subassembly. For example, in one embodiment a front ferrule and a back ferrule for a tube fitting may be snapped together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Mark A. Bennett, Cal R. Brown, John D. Karkosiak, Peter C. Williams, Mark A. Clason, Jeffrey S. Rayle, Mark D. Bearer
  • Patent number: 10648598
    Abstract: A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. The first end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70° and 90° with respect to the central axis, and an axially inner first end camming surface disposed at a second angle between 0° and 40° with respect to the central axis. The second end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer second end driven surface disposed at a third angle substantially equal to the first angle, and an axially inner second end camming surface disposed at a fourth angle substantially equal to the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Donald E. Negrelli, Mark D. Bearer
  • Patent number: 10648595
    Abstract: A preassembly for a conduit fitting includes an annular fitting component and a conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending along a central axis from an inboard end to an outboard end. The interior wall includes an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall. The conduit gripping device is retained within the annular fitting component and includes a projection extending radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the conduit gripping device, and axially toward an inboard end of the conduit gripping device, with an end portion of the projection being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Mark D. Bearer, Cal R. Brown, Stephen J. Zaborszki, Douglas S. Welch, Ronald P. Campbell, Gregory S. Kalata, Douglas J. McClure
  • Patent number: 10648596
    Abstract: In a method of assembling a conduit fitting, a conduit fitting is provided, including a first coupling member, a second coupling member, an internal conduit gripping device disposed between said first coupling member and said second coupling member, and an external deformable structure. The first coupling member is pulled up with the second coupling member on an end portion of a conduit to engage the external deformable structure with an external surface of one of the first and second coupling members. After engaging the external deformable structure with the external surface of one of the first and second coupling members, the first coupling member is further pulled up with the second coupling member to axially compress the external deformable structure, until an amount of torque required to continue pulling up the first coupling member increases to a predetermined torque. The predetermined torque corresponds to an initial pulled-up position in which the conduit gripping device grips and seals the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark D. Bearer, Mark A. Bennett, John D. Karkosiak, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, Peter C. Williams, Tobin Berry, Mark A. Clason, Eric M. Kvarda
  • Patent number: 10619770
    Abstract: Two conduit gripping devices that are to be used together in a conduit fitting assembly are interconnected or held together as a cartridge or subassembly prior to assembly with fitting components to form a fitting assembly. In a more specific embodiment, one or both of the conduit gripping devices comprises a retaining structure by which the devices are mechanically connected together as a subassembly. For example, in one embodiment a front ferrule and a back ferrule for a tube fitting may be snapped together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SWAGELOK COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark A. Bennett, Cal R. Brown, John D. Karkosiak, Peter C. Williams, Mark A. Clason, Jeffrey S. Rayle, Mark D. Bearer
  • Patent number: 10359134
    Abstract: A conduit fitting preassembly includes an annular fitting component and at least a first conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending axially from a forward end to a rearward end, and a first projection extending radially inward from the interior wall. The first conduit gripping device is received within the annular fitting component and includes a second projection extending radially outward of an outer surface of the first conduit gripping device. The first projection includes an outward tapered rear surface and the second projection includes an inward tapered front surface. The rear surface of the first projection is radially aligned with the front surface of the second projection, such that when the first conduit gripping device is in a forward-most position, the first projection interlocks with the second projection to prevent axial withdrawal of the first conduit gripping device from the annular fitting component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Swagelok Company
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Prasanna Bhamidipati, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, Mark A. Clason, Cal R. Brown, Jeffrey S. Rayle, John D. Karkosiak, Mark A. Bennett, Mark D. Bearer, Douglas S. Welch, Ronald P. Campbell, Douglas J. McClure, Gregory S. Kalata, Connor M. Dorony, Stephen J. Zaborski, Dale C. Arstein
  • Publication number: 20190040980
    Abstract: A preassembly for a conduit fitting includes an annular fitting component and at least a first conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall including an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall. The first conduit gripping device is retained within the annular fitting component and includes a body portion and an annular ring portion having an inner radial portion secured to a rear surface of the body portion, and a flange portion extending radially outward of the inner radial portion to define a projection extending radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the first conduit gripping device, with an end portion of the projection being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mark D. Bearer, Cal R. Brown, Ronald P. Campbell, Gregory S. Kalata, Douglas J. McClure, Douglas S. Welch, Peter C. Williams, Stephen J. Zaborszki
  • Publication number: 20180195651
    Abstract: A preassembly for a conduit fitting includes an annular fitting component and a conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending along a central axis from an inboard end to an outboard end. The interior wall includes an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall. The conduit gripping device is retained within the annular fitting component and includes a projection extending radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the conduit gripping device, and axially toward an inboard end of the conduit gripping device, with an end portion of the projection being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Mark D. Bearer, Cal R. Brown, Stephen J. Zaborszki, Douglas S. Welch, Ronald P. Campbell, Gregory S. Kalata, Douglas J. McClure
  • Publication number: 20180172188
    Abstract: In a method of assembling a conduit fitting, a conduit fitting is provided, including a first coupling member, a second coupling member, an internal conduit gripping device disposed between said first coupling member and said second coupling member, and an external deformable structure. The first coupling member is pulled up with the second coupling member on an end portion of a conduit to engage the external deformable structure with an external surface of one of the first and second coupling members. After engaging the external deformable structure with the external surface of one of the first and second coupling members, the first coupling member is further pulled up with the second coupling member to axially compress the external deformable structure, until an amount of torque required to continue pulling up the first coupling member increases to a predetermined torque. The predetermined torque corresponds to an initial pulled-up position in which the conduit gripping device grips and seals the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Mark D. Bearer, Mark A. Bennett, John D. Karkosiak, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, Peter C. Williams, Tobin Berry, Mark A. Clason, Eric M. Kvarda
  • Publication number: 20170254451
    Abstract: A ferrule for a conduit fitting includes an interior wall extending along a central axis through the ferrule between first and second end portions of the ferrule, so that the ferrule can be installed over a conduit end. The first end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer first end driven surface disposed at a first angle between 70° and 90° with respect to the central axis, and an axially inner first end camming surface disposed at a second angle between 0° and 40° with respect to the central axis. The second end portion of the ferrule includes an axially outer second end driven surface disposed at a third angle substantially equal to the first angle, and an axially inner second end camming surface disposed at a fourth angle substantially equal to the second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Donald E. Negrelli, Mark D. Bearer
  • Publication number: 20170227151
    Abstract: A preassembly for a conduit fitting includes an annular fitting component and a conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending along a central axis from an inboard end to an outboard end. The interior wall includes an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall. The conduit gripping device is retained within the annular fitting component and includes a projection extending radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the conduit gripping device, and axially toward an inboard end of the conduit gripping device, with an end portion of the projection being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Mark D. Bearer, Cal R. Brown, Stephen J. Zaborszki, Douglas S. Welch, Ronald P. Campbell, Gregory S. Kalata, Douglas J. McClure
  • Publication number: 20170059065
    Abstract: A conduit fitting preassembly includes an annular fitting component and at least a first conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending axially from a forward end to a rearward end, and a first projection extending radially inward from the interior wall. The first conduit gripping device is received within the annular fitting component and includes a second projection extending radially outward of an outer surface of the first conduit gripping device. The first projection includes an outward tapered rear surface and the second projection includes an inward tapered front surface. The rear surface of the first projection is radially aligned with the front surface of the second projection, such that when the first conduit gripping device is in a forward-most position, the first projection interlocks with the second projection to prevent axial withdrawal of the first conduit gripping device from the annular fitting component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Peter C. Williams, Prasanna Bhamidipati, Jeffrey Michael Rubinski, Mark A. Clason, Cal R. Brown, Jeffrey S. Rayle, John D. Karkosiak, Mark A. Bennett, Mark D. Bearer, Douglas S. Welch, Ronald P. Campbell, Douglas J. McClure, Gregory S. Kalata, Connor M. Dorony, Stephen J. Zaborski, Dale C. Arstein
  • Publication number: 20160281892
    Abstract: The disclosure presents exemplary embodiments of a cartridge nut concept for conduit fittings. The cartridge nut concept may include the feature of loosely retaining one or more conduit gripping devices with a fitting component such as a male or female threaded nut. The cartridge nut concept may be realized using one or more geometry or shape features or characteristics of one or more conduit gripping devices. Still further, the cartridge nut concept may be realized in combination with a ferrule cartridge concept.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Dale C. Arstein, Mark A. Bennett, Mark D. Bearer, Tobin P. Berry, Cal R. Brown, Mark A. Clason, Ross A. Clark, Robert A. Fotta, Justin Christopher Hamilton, Gregory S. Kalata, John D. Karkosiak, Kennan Joseph Malec, Andrew P. Marshall, Michael J. Mohlenkamp, Jeffrey S. Rayle, Gerhard H. Schiroky, Harry James Slaven, Douglas S. Welch, Peter C. Williams
  • Publication number: 20160195204
    Abstract: Two conduit gripping devices that are to be used together in a conduit fitting assembly are interconnected or held together as a cartridge or subassembly prior to assembly with fitting components to form a fitting assembly. In a more specific embodiment, one or both of the conduit gripping devices comprises a retaining structure by which the devices are mechanically connected together as a subassembly. For example, in one embodiment a front ferrule and a back ferrule for a tube fitting may be snapped together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Mark A. Bennett, Cal R. Brown, John D. Karkosiak, Peter C. Williams, Mark A. Clason, Jeffrey S. Rayle, Mark D. Bearer