Flared cone fitting

Abstract

The present invention is an improved flared cone fitting of the type having a male portion and a female portion having a tube, an inverted conical annulus, a nut, and a joinder portion. It is improved by the joinder portion including a back-side annular face, which may define a void. The joinder portion may also include an abutment intended to contact a shoulder of a fitting nut and properly direct forces exerted on the nut.

1 . A flared cone fitting comprising:
 a male portion; and   a female portion adapted to sealingly mate with said male portion, said female portion comprising a tube; defining a joinder portion, said joinder portion comprising an inverted conical annulus including a back-side annular face.   
     
     
         2 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 1  wherein said tube has an inside diameter with an extended peripheral limit having a diameter corresponding to said tube inside diameter, and said joinder portion further comprises a void having a portion extending radially beyond said extended peripheral limit and axially interior to said inverted conical annulus. 
     
     
         3 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 2 , wherein said backside annular face defines said void. 
     
     
         4 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 2 , wherein said void enables said female potion to flex relative to said male portion without loosening a nut joining said male portion and said female portion. 
     
     
         5 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 2 , wherein said void reduces friction between said tube and a nut joining said male portion and said female portion. 
     
     
         6 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 5 , wherein said reduction in friction reduces loosening of said nut. 
     
     
         7 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 1  wherein said joinder portion is unitary and further comprises an abutment substantially orthogonal to said tube. 
     
     
         8 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 7 , wherein a nut joining said male portion and said female portion defines an internal shoulder that orthogonally contacts said abutment. 
     
     
         9 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 8 , wherein said internal shoulder orthogonally contacting said abutment secures said female portion to said male portion. 
     
     
         10 . A flared cone fitting female portion comprising a tube with an inside diameter, an extended peripheral limit having a diameter corresponding to said inside diameter, an inverted conical annulus, and a joinder portion, said joinder portion including a void having a portion extending radially beyond said extended peripheral limit and axially interior to said inverted conical annulus. 
     
     
         11 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 10 , wherein said joinder portion defines backside annular face, said backside annular face defining said void. 
     
     
         12 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 10 , wherein said void enables said female potion to flex relative to a male fitting portion to which said female portion is sealingly secured without loosening a nut joining said male portion and said female portion. 
     
     
         13 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 10 , wherein said void reduces friction between said tube and a nut joining said female portion with a male portion of said flared cone fitting. 
     
     
         14 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 13 , wherein said reduction in friction reduces loosening of said nut. 
     
     
         15 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 10  wherein said joinder portion is unitary and further comprises an abutment substantially orthogonal to said tube. 
     
     
         16 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 15 , wherein a nut joining said female portion and a male portion of said flared cone fitting defines an internal shoulder that orthogonally contacts said abutment. 
     
     
         17 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 16 , wherein said internal shoulder orthogonally contacting said abutment secures said female portion to said male portion. 
     
     
         18 . A flared cone fitting female portion comprising a tube with an inside diameter, an extended peripheral limit having a diameter corresponding to said inside diameter, an inverted conical annulus, and a unitary joinder portion, said joinder portion including an abutment substantially orthogonal to said tube. 
     
     
         19 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 18 , wherein a nut joining said female portion and a male portion of said fitting defines an internal shoulder that orthogonally contacts said abutment. 
     
     
         20 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 19 , wherein said internal shoulder orthogonally contacting said abutment secures said female portion to said male portion. 
     
     
         21 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 18  wherein said tube has an inside diameter with an extended peripheral limit having a diameter corresponding to said tube inside diameter, and said joinder portion further comprises a void having a portion extending radially beyond said extended peripheral limit and axially interior to said inverted conical annulus. 
     
     
         22 . The flared cone fitting female portion of  claim 21 , wherein said backside annular face defines said void. 
     
     
         23 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 21 , wherein said void enables said female potion to flex relative to said male portion without loosening a nut joining said male portion and said female portion. 
     
     
         24 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 21 , wherein said void reduces friction between said tube and a nut joining said male portion and said female portion. 
     
     
         25 . The flared cone fitting of  claim 24 , wherein said reduction in friction reduces loosening of said nut. 
     
     
         26 . A method of producing a female portion of a flared cone fitting comprising the steps of:
 providing a tube;   cutting said tube to length;   reshaping said tube to include an inverted conical annulus; and,   reshaping said tube to include an axial restraining portion.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said axial restraining portion extends substantially orthogonally to said tube. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 reshaping said tube to include a void having a portion extending radially beyond an extended peripheral limit of said tube and axially interior to said inverted conical annulus.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein a backside of annular face defines said void. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said inverted conical annulus and said axial restraining portion comprise an integral joinder portion of said female portion of a flared cone fitting. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising:
 placing said tube over a die;   punching to reshape said tube until said inverted conical annulus is formed; and   punching to reshape said tube until said axial restraining portion is formed.