Tube compression fitting and flared fitting used with connection body and method of making same

Abstract

A high pressure tube compression fitting/flared fitting for use in combination with a thick-walled tube and a connection body wherein a sleeve is in engagement with a thick-walled tube. The sleeve is generally cylindrically shaped with the exterior thereof coated and then etched. The sleeve includes a first and second sharp inner circumferential biting edges which interengage and bite into and through the exterior of the end portion of the thick-walled tube and into the wall portion of the end portion of the thick-walled tube without narrowing the passageway through the thick-walled tube. The process for making the fitting includes placing an end portion of the thick-walled tube into engagement with a tube engaging surface of a tapered generally cylindrical wall of a guide rod.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with a tube, said tube includes a passageway therethrough defined by a cylindrically shaped interior surface, said tube includes a cylindrically shaped exterior surface, said tube includes a wall portion, and, said tube includes an end portion, comprising the steps of:
 placing an end portion of a tube into engagement with a die, said end portion of said tube engages a surface of a tapered, generally cylindrical, wall of a guide rod of said die such that said interior surface of said tube interengages said tube engaging surface of said tapered, generally cylindrical wall of said guide rod of said die, said tube further engages a transitioning surface from said guide rod to the bottom of said die; said die supported by a driving piston;   sliding a sleeve over said tube, said sleeve includes: a first end portion, an intermediate portion and a second end portion; an inner bore through said first end portion, said intermediate portion and said second end portion of said sleeve; said inner bore of said sleeve includes an interior surface; said sleeve includes an exterior surface; said first end portion of said sleeve includes a first varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said first end portion; said second end portion of said sleeve includes a second varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said second end portion; said intermediate portion of said sleeve includes a varying wall thickness between said interior surface and said exterior surface of said sleeve proximate said intermediate portion; said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a first shoulder terminating in a first sharp inner circumferential biting edge; said inner bore of said sleeve through said first end portion includes a second shoulder terminating in a second sharp inner circumferential biting edge; and, said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a first diameter and said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge having a second diameter;   restraining, using a gland, said sleeve in position with respect to said sleeve and said die;   driving said die into said tube and said sleeve with said driving piston flaring said end of said tube and securing said sleeve into forceful engagement with said tube, said die forces said first sharp inner circumferential biting edge into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube, and, said die forces said second sharp inner circumferential biting edge into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube without narrowing said passageway of said tube.   
     
     
         16 . A process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with a tube as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said exterior of said sleeve is coated with an XADC-Armoloy® coating. 
     
     
         17 . A process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with a tube as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said coating on said exterior of said sleeve is etched. 
     
     
         18 . A process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with a tube as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 applying a lubricant to said die prior to placing an end portion of a tube into engagement with said die.   
     
     
         19 . A process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with a tube as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the step of driving said die into said tube continues until said die abuts said gland. 
     
     
         20 . A process for making a tube fitting for use in combination with a tube as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said step of driving said die into said tube and said sleeve with said driving piston, flaring said end of said tube, and securing said sleeve into forceful engagement with said tube, includes forcing said first and second sharp inner circumferential biting edges into and through said exterior of said end portion of said tube and into said wall portion of said end portion of said tube equidistantly without narrowing said passageway of said tube. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled)