Jumper Tube Connector/Connection Apparatus and Method

Abstract

Embodiments of a jumper tube connection assembly generally include a retention clip having beveled and locking surfaces, a retention clip frame, and a biasing means, wherein the clip is restrained partially within the frame and is pivotable in response to a jumper connector contacting the beveled surface during shunt tube engagement therewith, and wherein the biasing means positions the locking surface to prevent jumper connector reverse movement. Other embodiments generally include a retention clip having a locking component, a retention clip support, and a biasing means, wherein the clip is restrained partially within the support and is pivotable in response to force biasing the locking component away from a shunt tube during jumper connector engagement therewith, wherein upon force cessation the biasing means positions the locking component in engagement with a jumper connector orifice, thereby preventing disengagement thereof from the shunt tube. Methods of utilizing the embodiments are also provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A jumper tube connection assembly for shunt tube connection, comprising:
 a retention clip;   a retention clip frame; and   a biasing means;   wherein:
 said retention clip comprises a beveled surface and a locking surface; 
 said retention clip is disposed at least partially within said retention clip frame; 
 said retention clip frame is attachable to the exterior of a first substantially tubular component; 
 said retention clip frame comprises a guard component proximate a first end thereof, wherein said guard component restrains said retention clip at least partially within said retention clip frame; 
 said retention clip frame comprises a bottom stop disposed proximate a second end thereof, wherein said bottom stop substantially prevents movement of said retention clip in the direction of said retention clip frame second end; 
 said biasing means is at least partially disposed within a first end portion of said guard component and biases a portion of a retention clip proximate, a first end thereof, toward a second end portion of said guard component; 
 said biasing means restrains said retention clip in an initial position in relation to said retention clip; 
 said retention clip disposed in said initial position is pivotable at least partially within said retention clip frame in response to a force applied against said beveled edge by a first end of a second substantially tubular component being advanced into sliding circumferential engagement with said first substantially tubular component; and 
   advancement of said second substantially tubular component into sliding circumferential engagement with said first substantially tubular component such that a second end of said second substantially tubular component is disposed between said first end of said retention clip and said locking surface allows said retention clip to be forced by said biasing means back into said initial position, whereby said locking surface prevents longitudinal movement of said second substantially tubular component in the direction of said retention clip frame second end.   
     
     
         2 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retention clip comprises a recess adapted and configured such that a portion of said second end portion of said guard component is disposable therein. 
     
     
         3 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing means comprises a spring. 
     
     
         4 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of a second end of said retention clip comprises a step adapted and configured to engage a portion of said retention clip frame bottom stop. 
     
     
         5 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retention clip comprises a connector stop disposed between said locking surface thereof and said first end thereof, wherein said connector stop is adapted and configured to prevent movement of said second substantially tubular component in the direction of said first end of said retention clip. 
     
     
         6 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locking surface comprises a groove. 
     
     
         7 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retention clip frame is attached to or integral with the exterior of said first substantially tubular component. 
     
     
         8 . A method for connecting shunt tubes, comprising: 
       providing a jumper tube connector assembly longitudinally intermediate two said shunt tubes to be connected, wherein:
 said jumper tube connector assembly comprises:
 a jumper tube; and 
 two jumper connectors, each comprising a first end and a second end; 
 
 
       wherein:
     the first end of a one jumper connector is circumferentially slidingly engageable around a first end of said jumper tube;   the first end of the other jumper connector is circumferentially slidingly engageable around a second end of said jumper tube; and     
 affixed, directly or indirectly, to the exterior of at least a first said shunt tube is one or more jumper tube connection assemblies; wherein:
 at least one said jumper tube connection assembly comprises:
 a retention clip; 
 a retention clip frame; and 
 a biasing means; wherein:
 said retention clip comprises a beveled surface and a locking surface; 
 said retention clip is disposed at least partially within said retention clip frame; 
 said jumper tube connection assembly is affixed to the exterior of one said shunt tube via said retention clip frame; 
 said retention clip frame comprises a guard component proximate a first end thereof, wherein said guard component restrains said retention clip at least partially within said retention clip frame; 
 said retention clip frame comprises a bottom stop disposed proximate a second end thereof, wherein said bottom stop substantially prevents movement of said retention clip in the direction of said retention clip frame second end; 
 said biasing means is at least partially disposed within a first end portion of said guard component and biases a portion of said retention clip, proximate a first end thereof, toward a second end portion of said guard component; 
 said retention clip is pivotable at least partially within said retention clip frame in response to a force applied against said beveled edge by an end of a jumper connector being advanced into sliding circumferential engagement with the shunt tube to which said retention clip frame is affixed; and 
 said locking surface is adapted and configured to contact the second end of a jumper connector that is circumferentially engaged with said first shunt tube; and 
 
 
 
 
       installing said jumper tube connector assembly by sliding into circumferential engagement the second end of a first jumper connector with an end of said first shunt tube, and sliding into circumferential engagement the second end of the other jumper connector with an end of the other shunt tube; wherein:
 the second end of said first jumper connector is advanced into contact with said beveled surface, thereby forcing said retention clip to pivot at least partially within said retention clip frame, said pivoting comprising movement of said retention clip second end in a direction away from said first jumper connector; and 
 said first jumper connector is advanced to a position whereby the first end thereof is disposed between said locking surface and the second end of said first jumper connector, thereby allowing said retention clip to reversingly pivot, said reverse pivoting being at least in part due to biasing of said biasing means against said portion of said first end of said retention clip, and comprising movement of said retention clip second end in a direction toward said first jumper connector; whereby:
 longitudinal movement of the first jumper connector along the shunt tube in a direction away from said first end of said retention clip, beyond said locking surface, is prevented by said locking surface; and 
 longitudinal movement of said retention clip in a direction away from said first end of said retention clip frame, beyond said bottom stop, is prevented by said bottom stop. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said retention clip comprises a recess adapted and configured such that a portion of said second end portion of said guard component is disposable therein. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said biasing means comprises a spring. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a bottom surface of a second end of said retention clip comprises a step adapted and configured to engage a portion of said retention clip frame bottom stop. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said retention clip comprises a connector stop disposed between said locking surface thereof and said first end thereof, wherein said connector stop is adapted and configured to prevent movement there beyond of a jumper connector in the direction of said first end of said retention clip. 
     
     
         13 . A jumper tube connection assembly for shunt tube connection, comprising:
 a retention clip;   a retention clip support;   a pivot pin; and   a biasing means;   wherein:
 said retention clip comprises a locking component proximate a first end thereof; 
 said retention clip is disposed at least partially within said retention clip support; 
 said pivot pin extends transversely through said retention clip; 
 said pivot pin is disposed at least partially within at least a portion of said retention clip support; 
 said retention clip is pivotable about said pivot pin; 
 said retention clip support is attachable, via an edge thereof, directly or indirectly, to the exterior of a first substantially tubular component; 
 said biasing means is disposed at least partially within said retention clip support; 
 said biasing means contacts a portion of a second end of said retention clip, thereby biasing said retention clip second end away from said retention clip support edge, and biasing said locking component in the opposite direction; 
 said locking component is adapted and configured to engage an orifice in the exterior of a second substantially tubular component circumferentially engaged around said first substantially tubular component; thereby preventing disengagement of said second substantially tubular component from said first substantially tubular component. 
   
     
     
         14 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said biasing means comprises a spring. 
     
     
         15 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said retention clip support is attached to, directly or indirectly, or integral with, the exterior of said first substantially tubular component. 
     
     
         16 . The jumper tube connection assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said locking component comprises at least one beveled surface. 
     
     
         17 . A method or connecting shunt tubes, comprising:
 providing a jumper tube connector assembly longitudinally intermediate two said shunt tubes to be connected, wherein:
 said jumper tube connector assembly comprises:
 a jumper tube; and 
 two jumper connectors, each comprising a first end and a second end; 
 
 wherein:
   the first end of a one jumper connector is circumferentially slidingly engageable around a first end of said jumper tube;   the first end of the other jumper connector is circumferentially slidingly engageable around a second end of said jumper tube; and   
 
 affixed, directly or indirectly, to the exterior of at least a first said shunt tube is one or more jumper tube connection assemblies; 
   wherein:
 at least one said jumper tube connection assembly comprises:
 a retention clip; 
 a retention clip support; 
 a pivot pin; and 
 a biasing means; 
 
 wherein:
 said retention clip comprises a locking component proximate a first end thereof; 
 said retention clip is disposed at least partially within said retention clip support; 
 said pivot pin extends transversely through said retention clip; 
 said pivot pin is disposed at least partially within at least a portion of said retention clip support; 
 said retention clip is pivotable about said pivot pin; 
 said retention clip support is attached via an edge thereof, directly or indirectly, to the exterior of said first shunt tube; 
 said biasing means is disposed at least partially within said retention clip support; 
 said biasing means contacts a portion of a second end of said retention clip, thereby biasing said retention clip second end away from said retention clip support edge and biasing said locking component toward said first shunt tube;
 said locking component is adapted and configured to engage an orifice in the exterior surface of a jumper connector circumferentially engaged around said first shunt tube; thereby preventing disengagement of the jumper connector from said first shunt tube; 
 
 
   installing said jumper tube connector assembly by sliding into circumferential engagement the second end of one jumper connector around an end of one shunt tube, and sliding into circumferential engagement the second end of the other jumper connector around an end of the other shunt tube; wherein:
 a force is applied to said retention clip whereby said retention clip pivots about said pivot pin and said locking component is moved away from said first shunt tube; 
 the second end of a first jumper connector comprising at least one orifice in the exterior surface thereof proximate said second end thereof is then advanced into circumferential engagement around said first shunt tube; whereby a portion of said first jumper connector comprising one said orifice is disposed between said first shunt tube and said locking component; and 
 said force is then removed from said retention clip, thereby allowing said retention clip to reversingly pivot, said reverse pivoting being at least in part due to biasing of said biasing means against said portion of said second end of said retention clip, and comprising movement of said locking component in a direction toward said first jumper connector; whereby:
 said locking component at least partially engages said one said jumper connector orifice, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of said first jumper connector along said first shunt tube. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said biasing means comprises a spring. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said force is applied to said second end of said retention clip in a direction toward said edge thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said locking component comprises at least one beveled surface.