Crimped tube coupling and a crimping apparatus for making a crimped tube coupling

Abstract

A tube coupling ( 10 ) has a tubular fitting ( 14 ) with a nipple ( 18 ) with at least one exterior annular groove ( 20 ). A deformable tube ( 12 ) has one end to fit over the nipple and has a crimp section ( 28 ) deformed into the groove with longitudinally extending ribs ( 30 ) circumferentially spared about the tube.

1 . A tube coupling comprising: 
 a tubular fitting having a central passage, an annular wall with at least one exterior annular groove;    a tube being made of a deformable material having one end sized to fit over said fitting;    said tube having a crimp section deformed to be crimped into said annular groove;    said tube having a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs spanning said crimp section circumferentially spaced about said tube.    
   
   
       2 . A tube coupling as defined in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 said fitting having two exterior annular grooves axially spaced from each other with an exterior raised ring section interposed therebetween.    
   
   
       3 . A tube coupling as defined in  claim 2  further comprising: 
 said exterior raised ring section tapered toward its outer diameter with an outer diameter wall and opposing canted walls; and    said crimp sections having opposing walls abutting said opposing canted walls.    
   
   
       4 . A tube coupling as defined in  claim 3  further comprising: 
 said ribs spanning each of said crimped sections; and    said ribs formed by deformation of said tube wall by folding said wall onto itself and said thickness of said ribs being slightly less than twice the thickness of said tube material from its inner and outer diameter.    
   
   
       5 . A crimping machine for crimping a tube over a grooved fitting said machine comprising: 
 a first driver base and a first cage mounted thereon;    a second driver base and a second cage mounted thereon;    said first driver base and first cage movable with respect to the second driver base and second cage between a closed position and an open position; and    at least one crimp die finger having a jaw tooth mounted on each cage for movement between an open and closed position;    said at least one die finger having distal wall sections that abut an adjacent finger when in the closed position;    said jaw tooth ending short of the distal wall sections to form a notch in said finger such that when adjacent fingers are in a closed position, said notches provide a gap between said fingers in which said tube can be deformed.    
   
   
       6 . A crimping machine as defined in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 each cage having a plurality of crimp die fingers;    one of said crimp die fingers in each cage being aligned along the axis of motion of said cage;    the remaining crimp die fingers set at an angle from the axis of motion of said cage;    said driver base movably connected to said respective mounted cage;    each driver base having a drive surface perpendicular to the axis of motion of said cage section for engaging said one of said crimp die fingers;    opposing canted drive surfaces angled with respect to the axis of motion of said cage for abutting the remaining crimp die fingers;    said crimp die fingers being movable in each cage as said cage moves from an open position to a closed position; and    said driver base movable from its open position to its closed position to move all the crimp die fingers in said cages to achieve a closed crimping position simultaneously.    
   
   
       7 . A crimp machine as defined in  claim 6  further comprising: 
 said respective driver base being spring loaded away from its respective cage; and    said crimp die fingers being spring loaded in their cages toward the open position.    
   
   
       8 . A crimp die for a crimp die machine; 
 said crimp die having its jaw tooth ending short of its distal wall section such that two crimp dies are in the closed position and the distal wall sections are in abutment, a gap is formed between the jaw teeth of adjacent crimp dies.    
   
   
       9 . A crimping machine for crimping a tube over a grooved fitting said machine comprising: 
 a first driver base and a first cage mounted thereon;    a second driver base and a second cage mounted thereon;    said first driver base and cage movable with respect to the second driver base and cage between a closed position and an open position;    each cage having a plurality of crimp die fingers;    one of said crimp die fingers in each cage being aligned along the axis of motion of said cage; and    remaining crimp die fingers set canted from the axis of motion of said cage.    said driver base movably connected to said respective mounted cage;    each driver base having a drive surface perpendicular to the axis of motion of said cage section for engaging said one of said crimp die fingers;    opposing canted drive surfaces angled with respect to the axis of motion of said cage section for abutting the remaining crimp die fingers;    said crimp die fingers being movable in each cage as each cage moves from an open position to a closed position; and    said driver base movable from its open position to its closed position to move all the crimp die fingers in said cages to achieve a closed crimping position simultaneously.    
   
   
       10 . A crimp machine as defined in  claim 9  further comprising: 
 said respective driver base being spring loaded away from its respective cage; and    said crimp die fingers being spring biased in its cage toward the open position.    
   
   
       11 . A crimping machine for crimping a tube over a grooved fitting said machine comprising: 
 a first driver base and a first cage mounted thereon;    a second driver base and a second cage mounted thereon;    said first driver base and cage movable with respect to the second driver base and cage between a closed position and an open position;    each cage having a plurality of crimp die fingers arranged circumferentially about a central axis between the two cages when in a closed position;    each crimp die finger in each cage having the same length and having a flat proximate drive end and a distal jaw end;    said crimp die fingers set at varying angles from the axis of motion of said cage;    said driver base movably connected to said respective mounted cage;    each driver base having a plurality of drive surfaces fixed with respect to each other and to flushly abut the flat proximate drive end of said crimp die fingers;    some of said drive surfaces being angled with respect to the axis of motion of said cage section for flushly abutting respective crimp die fingers;    said crimp die fingers being movable in each cage as each cage moves from an open position to a closed position; and    said driver base movable from its open position to its closed position to move all the crimp die fingers in said cages at rates to achieve a closed crimping position simultaneously.    
   
   
       12 . A crimp machine as defined in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 said respective driver base being spring loaded away from its respective cage; and    said crimp die fingers being spring loaded in their cages toward the open position.    
   
   
       13 . A crimping machine as defined in  claim 12  further comprising: 
 each cage having a plurality of crimp die fingers;    one of said crimp die fingers in each cage being aligned along the axis of motion of said cage.    
   
   
       14 . A crimping machine as defined in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 each cage having a plurality of crimp die fingers;    one of said crimp die fingers in each cage being aligned along the axis of motion of said cage.