초록 ▼

A connecting fastener is provided. The fastener includes a cylindrical base that includes a first end and a second end and a wall. A central bore is defined in the base and an aperture is defined in the wall. At least one projection extends from an inner surface of the wall into the central bore pro

A connecting fastener is provided. The fastener includes a cylindrical base that includes a first end and a second end and a wall. A central bore is defined in the base and an aperture is defined in the wall. At least one projection extends from an inner surface of the wall into the central bore proximate the first end of the base. A cylindrical collar has a first end disposed proximate the second end of the base, defines a central bore and includes a wall that defines a gap in the wall and a central bore. A shoulder is connected to and extends between the second end of the base and the first end of the collar along at least a portion of the respective circumferences of the base and the collar. A method of connecting tubing is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A fastened tubing connection, comprising: (a) a tube, including: (i) a shaft with an operational end; and (ii) a sealing surface on the shaft proximate the operational end, wherein the sealing surface includes a shoulder; (b) a connector member, including: (i) a cylind

The invention claimed is: 1. A fastened tubing connection, comprising: (a) a tube, including: (i) a shaft with an operational end; and (ii) a sealing surface on the shaft proximate the operational end, wherein the sealing surface includes a shoulder; (b) a connector member, including: (i) a cylindrical base that includes a first end, a second end and a wall having a gap in the wall and a first central bore; (ii) at least two uniformly spaced projections, extending from an inner surface of the wall into the first central bore proximate the first end of the base; (iii) a cylindrical collar that includes a first end disposed proximate the second end of the base and a wall with an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the wall of the cylindrical base, wherein the wall defines the gap and the collar defines a second central bore; and (iv) a shoulder connected to and extending between the second end of the base and the first end of the collar along at least a portion of the respective circumferences of the base and the collar; (c) a receiving member, including: (i) a cylindrical body that includes a first end, a second end and an outer diameter that is less than the distance between the at least two uniformly spaced projections on the base of the connector member across the diameter of the first central bore, and defines a third central bore; and (ii) means to engage at least a portion of the body of the receiving member in the first central bore; and (d) whereby the sealing surface of the tube passes through the aperture in the base of the connector member into the first central bore and the shaft of the tube above the shoulder passes through the gap in the collar to the second central bore, allowing the shoulder of the sealing surface to contact an end surface of the collar at the first end of the collar of the connector member, and the receiving member secures the shoulder and end surface in contact with one another by receiving the operational end of the shaft in the third central bore while the means to engage the receiving member in the first central bore are engaged. 2. The connection of claim 1, wherein the means to engage at least a portion of the body of the receiving member in the first central bore include at least two opposing tabs projecting from the outer surface of the cylindrical body proximate the first end of the body. 3. The connection of claim 2, wherein there are two uniformly spaced projections on the receiving member and each projection includes a locking surface, and wherein each of the two tabs contacts a respective locking surface to effectuate the engagement of the receiving member in the connector member. 4. The connection of claim 3, wherein the engagement of the receiving member in the first central bore of the connector member is effectuated with a turn of the connector member that is approximately one-quarter of the circumference of the outer surface of the receiving member. 5. The connection of claim 1, wherein the bevel on the shaft defines a channel about its circumference and includes a supplemented sealing means disposed in said sealing means. 6. The connection of claim 5 wherein said supplemental sealing means is a gasket. 7. The connection of claim 6 wherein said gasket is an o-ring. 8. The connection of claim 1, wherein the projections are opposed about the first central bore. 9. The connection of claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposing wings projecting from the outer surface of the collar and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collar along the length of the collar. 10. A fastened tubing connection, comprising: (a) a tube, including: (i) a shaft with an operational end; and (ii) a sealing surface on the shaft proximate the operational end, wherein the sealing surface includes a shoulder; (b) a connector member, including: (i) a cylindrical base that includes a first end, a second end and a wall; (ii) at least two uniformly spaced projections, extending from an inner surface of the wall into the first central bore proximate the first end of the base; (iii) a cylindrical collar that includes a first end disposed proximate the second end of the base and a wall with an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the wall of the cylindrical base; and (iv) a shoulder connected to and extending between the second end of the base and the first end of the collar along at least a portion of the respective circumferences of the base and the collar; (c) a receiving member, including: (i) a cylindrical body that includes a first end, a second end and an outer diameter that is less than the distance between the at least two uniformly spaced projections on the base of the connector member across the diameter of the first central bore, and defines a third central bore; and (ii) means to engage at least a portion of the body of the receiving member in the first central bore; and (d) whereby the sealing surface of the tube passes through the aperture in the base of the connector member into the first central bore and the shaft of the tube above the sealing surface shoulder passes through the collar to the second central bore, allowing the shoulder of the sealing surface to contact an end surface of the collar at the first end of the collar of the connector member, and the receiving member secures the shoulder and end surface in contact with one another by receiving the operational end of the shaft in the third central bore while the means to engage the receiving member in the first central bore are engaged. 11. The connection of claim 10, wherein the means to engage at least a portion of the body of the receiving member in the first central bore include at least two opposing tabs projecting from the outer surface of the cylindrical body proximate the first end of the body. 12. The connection of claim 11, wherein there are two uniformly spaced projections on the receiving member and each projection includes a locking surface, and wherein each of the two tabs contacts a respective locking surface to effectuate the engagement of the receiving member in the connector member. 13. The connection of claim 12, wherein the engagement of the receiving member in the first central bore of the connector member is effectuated with a turn of the connector member that is approximately one-quarter of the circumference of the outer surface of the receiving member. 14. The connection of claim 10, wherein the bevel on the shaft defines a channel about its circumference and includes a supplemented sealing means disposed in said sealing means. 15. The connection of claim 14 wherein said supplemental sealing means is a gasket. 16. The connection of claim 15 wherein said gasket is an o-ring. 17. The connection of claim 10, wherein the projections are opposed about the first central bore. 18. The connection of claim 10, further comprising a pair of opposing wings projecting from the outer surface of the collar and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collar along the length of the collar.