Fluid conduit system and fittings therefor

Abstract

A fluid conduit system that employs fittings having ends with a structural portion and a seal portion. The ends of the fittings are inserted into a tube, which may be a hard, i.e., rigid, or soft, i.e., flexible, tube. The seal portion sealingly engages the inner diameter of the tube upon its insertion into the tube. The tube is deformed to prevent the fitting from being withdrawn from the tube; the portion of the tube in the immediate vicinity of each seal that forms the seal portion is not deformed. A method for forming a fluid conduit system is also provided.

1 . A method for forming a fluid conduit system, the method comprising: 
 providing a fitting having a structural portion and a seal portion, the seal portion being coupled to the structural portion;    inserting the structural portion into an annealed copper tube such that the seal portion sealingly engages an inside surface of the annealed copper tube and a portion of the structural portion outwardly extends from an end of the annealed copper tube; and    deforming only the annealed copper tube to couple the fitting to the annealed copper tube.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the structural portion has one or more crimp grooves, each of the crimp grooves extending about a circumference of the structural portion and wherein a portion of the annealed copper tube being received into at least one crimp groove when the annealed copper tube is deformed.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fitting further includes a flange and wherein the annealed copper tube is deformed at a location that is axially spaced apart from the flange by a predetermined dimension.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein before the deforming step the method further comprises locating a crimping tool against a surface of the flange.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein prior to deforming the annealed copper tube, a plurality of dies is positioned about the annealed copper tube and the dies are forced against the annealed copper tube.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein portions of the annealed copper tube are received into each crimp groove when the annealed copper tube is deformed.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the portions of the annealed copper tube are deformed substantially simultaneously.  
   
   
       8 . A tool for securing a fitting to a tube, the tool including a jaw and a pair of die members, the jaw being disposed about a first axis and including a pair of opposed die members, each of the die members being pivotably coupled to an associated one of the opposed members and pivotable about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis.  
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the jaw is rotatably disposed about the first axis.  
   
   
       10 . A method for forming a fluid conduit system, the method comprising: 
 providing a fitting having a structural portion and a seal portion, the seal portion being removably coupled to the structural portion;    selecting one of a plastic tube and an annealed copper tube;    if the plastic tube is selected: 
 installing a crimp collar about the plastic tubing;  
 inserting only the structural portion of the fitting into the plastic tubing such that at least a first portion of the structural portion outwardly extends from an end of the plastic tubing; and  
 deforming the crimp collar to fix the plastic tubing to the structural portion of the fitting;  
   otherwise, inserting the fitting into the annealed copper tube such that the seal portion is proximate an inside surface of the annealed copper tube and at least a second portion of the structural portion outwardly extends from an end of the annealed copper tube; and    deforming only the annealed copper tube to couple the fitting to the annealed copper tube.    
   
   
       11 . A method for forming a fluid conduit system, the method comprising: 
 providing a fitting having a structural portion and a seal portion, the structural portion defining a first tube stop and a second tube stop that are spaced apart from one another, the seal portion being mounted on the structural portion;    inserting the structural portion into a tube such that the seal portion sealingly engages an inside surface of the tube and a portion of the structural portion outwardly extends from an end of the tube; and    deforming the tube to couple the fitting to the tube;    wherein relative axial movement between the tube and the structural portion of the fitting is inhibited by contact between the tube and the first and second tube stops.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first tube stop includes a circumferentially extending flange.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second tube stop includes a circumferentially chamfered surface on the structural portion, the circumferentially chamfered surface being generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the structural portion.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second tube stops includes a circumferentially-extending groove formed at least partially about the structural portion.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the circumferentially-extending grooves are disposed on opposite sides of the seal portion.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the seal portion comprises a pair of O-rings.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the seal portion extends between the first and second tube stops.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second tube stops are spaced axially apart from the seal portion.  
   
   
       19 . A method for forming a fluid conduit system, the method comprising: 
 providing a fitting having a structural portion and a seal portion, the structural portion defining a first tube stop and a second tube stop that are spaced apart from one another, the seal portion being mounted on the structural portion;    inserting the structural portion into a tube such that the seal portion sealingly engages an inside surface of the tube and a portion of the structural portion outwardly extends from an end of the tube; and    deforming the tube to couple the fitting to the tube;    wherein relative axial movement between the tube and the structural portion of the fitting is inhibited by contact between the tube and the first and second tube stops,    wherein the first tube stop is selected from a group consisting of circumferentially extending flanges, circumferentially chamfered surfaces, circumferentially extending grooves and combinations thereof;    wherein the first and second tube stops are spaced axially apart from the seal portion; and    wherein the seal portion comprises a pair of O-rings.