Fitting Device, Arrangement and Method

Abstract

A push-to-connect fitting assembly, device and method allows for continual contact of inserted tubing with a main body member so as to maintain conductivity for electrical applications and a tight, rotation-restricting seal. In various embodiments, an axially internal portion of the device has an interior surface that tapers from a narrower radius to a wider radius as it extends outwardly from a tube stop element to an outer rim.

1 . A fitting, comprising:
 a main body component comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface defines a cavity extending along an axis through the main body component, wherein the main body component further comprises a first segment having an axially inner portion, an axially intermediate portion and an axially outer portion, with the axially inner portion, axially intermediate portion and axially outer portion of the first segment being integrally formed, wherein the main body component further comprises a tube stop extending radially inwardly from the interior surface into the cavity, wherein the tube stop comprises an axially extending wall and first and second radially extending walls, and wherein the interior surface extends at an acute angle to the axis from the first radially extending wall of the tube stop to an axially outer rim of the axially inner portion of the first segment of the main body component, whereby a piping element inserted into the cavity can slidingly contact the interior surface from the axially outer rim of the axially inner portion of the first segment to the tube stop.   
     
     
         2 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the tube stop is integrally formed with the main body component. 
     
     
         3 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially inner portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the interior radius of the axially outer portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially inner portion, and wherein the interior radius of the axially outer portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially inner portion and the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion. 
     
     
         6 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface comprises a ledge extending radially outwardly from the axially outer rim of the axially inner portion to the axially intermediate portion. 
     
     
         7 . The fitting of  claim 6 , wherein the interior surface further comprises a ramp extending axially and radially inwardly from the ledge to the axially outer rim. 
     
     
         8 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the axially intermediate portion includes a radial step extending radially inwardly such that the axially intermediate portion includes a first interior surface portion and a second interior surface portion separated by the radial step. 
     
     
         9 . The fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the main body component has an internal diameter, and wherein the piping element has an outer diameter that is larger than the internal diameter of the interior surface of the axially inner portion of the first segment. 
     
     
         10 . A fitting, comprising:
 a main body component comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface defines a cavity extending along an axis through the main body component, wherein the main body component further comprises a first segment and a second segment each having an axially inner portion, an axially intermediate portion and an axially outer portion, with the axially inner portion, axially intermediate portion and axially outer portion being integrally formed and each comprising a respective interior radius from the axis to the interior surface, and wherein the interior radius of the axially inner portion increases from a radially innermost point to an axially outer rim of the axially inner portion of the main body component, and the interior surface of the axially inner portion extends at an acute angle to the axis from the radially innermost point to the axially outer rim, and the interior surface of the first segment and the interior surface of the second segment connect each other at the radially innermost point such that two piping elements can be respectively secured within the first segment and the second segment of the main body component so as to abut the radially innermost point.   
     
     
         11 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially inner portion. 
     
     
         12 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the interior radius of the axially outer portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion. 
     
     
         13 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially inner portion, and wherein the interior radius of the axially outer portion is larger than the interior radius of the axially inner portion and the interior radius of the axially intermediate portion. 
     
     
         14 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the interior surface comprises a ledge extending radially outwardly from the axially outer rim of the axially inner portion to the axially intermediate portion. 
     
     
         15 . The fitting of  claim 14 , wherein the interior surface further comprises a ramp extending axially and radially inwardly from the ledge to the axially outer rim. 
     
     
         16 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the axially intermediate portion includes a radial step extending radially inwardly such that the axially intermediate portion includes a first interior surface portion and a second interior surface portion separated by the radial step. 
     
     
         17 . The fitting of  claim 10 , wherein the interior surface of the main body component has an internal diameter, and wherein each of the piping elements has an outer diameter that is larger than the internal diameter of the interior surface of the axially inner portion. 
     
     
         18 . A fitting, comprising:
 a main body component comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface defines a cavity extending along an axis through the main body component, wherein the main body component further comprises a first segment having an axially inner portion, an axially intermediate portion and an axially outer portion, with the axially inner portion, axially intermediate portion and axially outer portion of the first segment being integrally formed, wherein the interior surface extends at an acute angle to the axis from a radially innermost point of the interior surface to an axially outer rim of the axially inner portion of the first segment of the main body component, whereby a piping element inserted into the cavity can slidingly contact the interior surface from the axially outer rim of the axially inner portion of the first segment to the radially innermost point of the interior surface.