초록 ▼

A releasable push-to-connect tube fitting wherein a collet receiving the tube end is provided with longitudinally extending inner slots permitting constriction of the inner end of the collet about the tube end in the made-up condition of the fitting. The slots are sized so as to limit the constricti

A releasable push-to-connect tube fitting wherein a collet receiving the tube end is provided with longitudinally extending inner slots permitting constriction of the inner end of the collet about the tube end in the made-up condition of the fitting. The slots are sized so as to limit the constriction so as to maintain the outer diameter of the inner end of the collet greater than the minimum diameter of the confronting camming surface of the fitting body member, thereby effectively positively retaining the collet in the body member upon assembly of the fitting elements. The collet further includes an enlarged outer end exposed exteriorly of the fitting body in the made-up arrangement of the fitting for facilitated fingertip manipulation of the collet in releasing the tube from the fitting when desired. The collet is retained in the outer end of the body by constrictive deformation of the body outer end portion after installation of the inner portion of the collet therein. The constrictive deformation is effected by a suitable tool so as to define the desired inner surfaces of the body end cooperating with the collet in effecting the positive sealed connection of the tube end to the fitting.

대표청구항 ▼

A releasable tube fitting comprising: a body provided with a through bore, said body having an axially outer end defining a radially inner surface defining the axially outer end of said bore and including an axially outer first cylindrical portion, and an axially inwardly widening frustoconical axia

A releasable tube fitting comprising: a body provided with a through bore, said body having an axially outer end defining a radially inner surface defining the axially outer end of said bore and including an axially outer first cylindrical portion, and an axially inwardly widening frustoconical axially inner portion; and an annular collet for coaxially receiving the end of a tube for connection to said body, said collet defining an axis and being coaxially received in said bore outer end and having a tubular midportion, an axially outer radially outwardly turned flange axially outwardly of said body outer end and having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the axially outer end of the bore and no greater than the minimum outer diameter of said body outer end for ease of tube release, and to allow a deforming tool to pass thereover to form said axially outer first cylindrical portion and said axially inwardly widening frustoconical axially inner portion an axially inner end radially inwardly of said frustoconical inner portion of the bore outer end and having a radially outwardly projecting camming portion, and a radially inwardly directed tube gripping portion, said collet further having at least one longitudinally extending slot at said axially inner end permitting constriction of said collet inner end as an incident of the collet being urged axially outwardly with said camming portion engaging said frustoconcial bore surface portion, the total slot width circumferentially of the collet axis being preselected to cause the minimum outer diameter of said camming portion when said inner end of the collet is fully radially constricted to be greater than the diameter of the outer end of said frustoconical bore surface portion.