Process for forming a connector for tube and pipe fittings
Connector that includes a first element having a threaded portion and a rounded end, a second element having an end structured to slidably contact the rounded second end of the first element, and a third element having a conical bore. The second element extends through the conical bore for movement within the conical bore, and a threaded end structured and arranged to mate with the threaded portion of the first element. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
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The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/855,424 filed May 28, 2004, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for forming a fitting for connecting tubes, pipes, and/or solid rods together. Moreover, when the tubes or pipes are utilized for transmitting fluids, e.g., liquids or gases, the connections provide sufficient sealing to prevent leakage of the fluid.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Prior designs allow for one directional alignment at a point of contact between the fitting and the mating part. If it were necessary or desired to connect, via a tube, pipe, or rod, two objects having connector mounts that are offset from each other, i.e., not positioned in a straight line, some bending of the tube, pipe, or rod would be required in order to provide proper alignment for connecting the tube, pipe, or rod with the connector mounts. Thus, if not properly aligned, stress (tension) arises within the connected objects and/or parts, i.e., either a pushing or pulling force occurs between the objects and/or parts being connected.
Moreover, as engineering variances and tolerances make it impossible to produce two tubes, pipes, or rods that are exactly alike, such production is likewise impossible when producing large volumes of parts. Even with the standard tolerances given in the manufacturing process, stresses arise when connections are made. These variables can be exhibited as wall thickness variation, material hardness, diameter variation, and length of part variation, and can add to the amount of stress created in the connection. As the two parts being connected are most likely intended to be stationary, all flexibility in the area of the connection must come in the tube, pipe, or rod fittings.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,384 to Krenz shows a clamp for spherical joints in which a ball and socket joint is held in place by a clamping nut. As shown in FIG. 1, upper tube 5 can pivot relative to lower tube 7, and lower tube 7 includes a flange 9 to contact a flange 12 of cup 10. This arrangement, while allowing pivoting movement, does not provide support for the tubes in the region of the pivoting movement.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,299 to Yamaga shows a piping connection device in which a ball and socket arrangement is provided between a gas inlet pipe and a gas outlet pipe. The ball and socket arrangement is clamped together by plates. As with the above-described patent to Krenz, the clamp of Yamaga does not provide support for the gas pipes in the pivoting region.
A pipeline ball and socket swiveling coupling is disclosed by Aaron, III in U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,781. In this patent, the ball structure is welded to the end of a pipe 11 to be clamped inside of a correspondingly shaped housing for pivoting. Once again, the housing of Aaron, III does not provide support for the pivoting pipe, which could result in the failure of the weld, and, therefore, the entire coupling.
Chen, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,014, shows a universally rotatable nipple for a brake cable. In this patent, a brake cable is guided through a first tube, a ball and socket coupling, and a second tube, such that, when the brake cable is pulled, pivoting between the first and second tubes occurs. It is noted that maintaining a seal or supporting the tubes is not a concern in Chen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a process for forming a fitting for coupling parts, e.g., pipes, tubes, or rods, that enables a defined pivoting range of movement of the parts relative.
In particular, the present invention allows for a defined range of directional alignments at point of contact between the fitting and the mating part, such that, even when two objects having mounting devices that are offset relative to each other, i.e., not in a straight line, need connection by parts, such as tubes, pipes, or rods, the present invention essentially eliminates any need for bending such parts, which bending can reduce structural integrity of the part, increase flow resistance in the bend region, and/or create stress in the connection.
According to the invention, the fittings of the instant invention can be utilized on one or both mounting devices of the objects to be connected by a tube, pipe, or rod and/or to interconnect tubes, pipes, or rods between the objects. In this manner, stress arising in and between the two objects being connected would not occur. Thus, the present invention allows for more tolerance between the two objects being connected.
Moreover, the present invention enables telescoping tube configurations between the objects being connected.
The present invention is directed to a connector that includes a first element having a threaded portion and a rounded end, a second element having an end structured to slidably contact the rounded second end of the first element, and a third element having a conical bore. The second element extends through the conical bore for movement within the conical bore, and a threaded end structured and arranged to mate with the threaded portion of the first element.
According to a feature of the invention, the end of the second element can have a flared end in which an inside of the flared end is structured to correspond to the rounded end of the first element. The third element may further include a rounded bore portion structured to correspond to an outside of the flared end. Further, the rounded bore portion can be coupled to the conical bore.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the conical bore may be structured to enable the second element to move at least 20° relative to an axis of the through hole.
Moreover, the first element can further have a through hole extending through the threaded portion and the rounded end, and the second element may include a tube or pipe structured to cover the through hole extending through the second end.
The present invention is directed to a process of forming a connector that includes placing a tube in a forming die, punching the end of the tube in the forming die to form a spherical flare, and positioning the spherical flare against a spherical element. The process also includes forming a conical bore in a coupling nut, placing the coupling nut over the spherical flare and the spherical element, pivoting the tube within the conical bore, and tightening a connection between the spherical element and the spherical flare.
In accordance with a feature of the instant invention, the spherical flare may be a double angle flare.
Further, a second tube can be slidably extendable into and through the spherical element and slidably extendible into and out of the tube, and the process can further include telescopically changing a length of the connected tube and second tube.
The instant invention is directed to a connector including a first element having a rounded portion, a second element having an end structured to slidably contact the rounded portion, and a third element having a conical bore. The second element extends through the conical bore for movement within the conical bore.
According to the invention, the connector can also include a fourth element having a rounded bore. The third element may further have a rounded bore, and the third and fourth elements can be couplable to each other to form a rounded cavity structured receive the rounded portion and to accommodate movement of the rounded portion within the rounded cavity. Further, the connector may include a tube structured to slidably extend into and through the first element and the fourth element. The fourth element can further include a conical bore structured to accommodate movement of the tube. The tube may be structured to be slidable into the second element.
According to another feature, the first element may have a through hole extending through the rounded portion, and the end of the second element can be structured to cover the through hole extending through the rounded portion.
The present invention is directed to a process for assembling a connector that includes forming a rounded end on a first element, forming a conical bore in a connector nut, sliding a second element through the conical bore, forming a flared end on the second element to slidably contact the rounded end, and coupling the connector nut to the first element.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.
As shown in
As discussed above, situations often arise in which one desires to connect two objects, e.g., object A and B, that have mounting elements that are offset, i.e., not aligned, with each other.
In accordance with the instant invention, male plug fitting 10′ can be connected to the mounting elements of objects A and B, as shown in
As shown in
In a further embodiment, as shown in
Flared end 16 of tube 15 can be formed in accordance with standard SAE J533a to form single or double 37° flares or single or double 45° flares, as illustrated in
While not intended to be in any manner limiting, it is noted that tubes utilized in accordance with the instant invention can be, e.g., metals (both ferrous and non ferrous), resin materials, plastics, pvc, and cpvc. Moreover, in accordance with the features of the invention, the fitting can be formed by forging, casting, extruding, and molding. Still further, additional processes, such as machining, can be operated on the fitting to render it in compliance with the features of the invention.
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A process of forming a connector comprising:
- placing a tube in a forming die;
- punching the end of the tube in the forming die to form a spherical flare;
- positioning the spherical flare against a spherical element;
- forming a conical bore in a coupling nut;
- placing the coupling nut over the spherical flare and the spherical element;
- pivoting the tube within the conical bore; and
- tightening a connection between the spherical element and the spherical flare.
2. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spherical flare is a double angle flare.
3. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein a second tube is slidably extendable into and through the spherical element and slidably extendible into and out of the tube, and the process further comprises telescopically changing a length of the connected tube and second tube.
4. A process for assembling a connector comprising:
- forming a rounded end on a first element;
- forming a conical bore in a connector nut;
- sliding a second element through the conical bore;
- forming a flared end on the second element to slidably contact the rounded end;
- coupling the connector nut to the first element.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2006
Applicant: Tru-Fit Alignment Solutions, Inc. (Meadowview, VA)
Inventor: Arthur Porter (Meadowview, VA)
Application Number: 11/374,060
International Classification: B23P 17/00 (20060101);