Mark A Bennett

US Patent:

7108288, Sep 19, 2006

Filed:

Feb 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/467444

Inventors:

Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
Peter C. Williams - Cleveland Heights OH, US

Assignee:

Swagelok Company - Solon OH

International Classification:

F16L 35/00

US Classification:

285 3, 285323, 285249

Abstract:

A tube fitting for a tube end has a female threaded member that cooperates with a male threaded member. The female member includes a tube gripping device in the form of a gripping ring or ferrule that is attached to the female member by a fungible web. Upon a partial pull-up the female engages a camming surface on the male threaded member and breaks off or separates from the female threaded member to become a separate piece so that the fitting then functions as a single ferrule tube fitting. Additional features include a steep camming angle on the camming surface to cause the ferrule to grip the tube end with a bite-type action and to form a primary seal between the camming surface and a front end of the separated ferrule. The ferrule front end, and optionally the entire female threaded member including the initially integral tube gripping device, are hardened to be at least about 3. 3 times harder than the material of the tube end.

US Patent:

7407196, Aug 5, 2008

Filed:

Sep 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/522814

Inventors:

Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
Peter C. Williams - Cleveland Heights OH, US

Assignee:

Swagelok Company - Solon OH

International Classification:

F16L 35/00

US Classification:

285 3, 285323, 285249

Abstract:

A tube fitting for a tube end has a female threaded member that cooperates with a male threaded member. The female member includes a tube gripping device in the form of a gripping ring or ferrule that is attached to the female member by a frangible web. Upon a partial pull-up the ferrule engages a camming surface on the male threaded member and breaks off or separates from the female threaded member to become a separate piece so that the fitting then functions as a single ferrule tube fitting. Additional features include a steep camming angle on the camming surface to cause the ferrule to grip the tube end with a bite-type action and to form a primary seal between the camming surface and a front end of the separated ferrule. The ferrule front end, and optionally the entire female threaded member including the initially integral tube gripping device, are hardened to be at least about 3. 3 times harder than the material of the tube end.

US Patent:

7677602, Mar 16, 2010

Filed:

Oct 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/928136

Inventors:

Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
Peter C. Williams - Cleveland Heights OH, US

Assignee:

Swagelok Company - Solon OH

International Classification:

F16L 35/00

US Classification:

285 3, 285323, 285249, 285389

Abstract:

A tube fitting for a tube end has a first coupling member and a second coupling member joined with the first coupling member. A tube gripping device is disposed between the first coupling member and the second coupling member such that assembly of the first coupling member with said second coupling member to a pulled-up condition causes the tube gripping device to be plastically deformed and swaged into the tube to grip and seal the tube. The first coupling member engages an internal surface of the second coupling member to provide an indication of completed pull-up.

US Patent:

7740283, Jun 22, 2010

Filed:

Oct 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/928104

Inventors:

Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
Peter C. Williams - Cleveland Heights OH, US

Assignee:

Swagelok Company - Solon OH

International Classification:

F16L 35/00

US Classification:

285 3, 285323, 285249

Abstract:

A tube fitting for a tube end has a female member that cooperates with a male member. A tube gripping device in the form of a gripping ring or ferrule is retained with the female member. Upon a partial pull-up, the tube gripping device separates from the female member.

US Patent:

8398124, Mar 19, 2013

Filed:

Nov 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/447936

Inventors:

Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
Tobin Barry - Chagrin Falls OH, US
Mark A. Clason - Orwell OH, US
John D. Karkosiak - Broadview Heights OH, US
Thomas A. Lippucci - Seven Hills OH, US
Andrew P. Marshall - University Heights OH, US
Jeffrey Michael Rubinski - Wickliffe OH, US
Edward A. Stroberg - Willoughby OH, US
Peter C. Williams - Cleveland Heights OH, US

International Classification:

F16L 25/00

US Classification:

285389, 285 89

Abstract:

A fitting is provided that may optionally be pulled up to its final assembled condition by torque rather than by turns. At least one fitting component includes a structure that facilitates pull up by torque. In one embodiment, a ring is provided that may be disposed on one of the fitting components and includes an engagement surface that engages a surface on the other of the fitting components at a first axial position that corresponds to a complete pull up. The engaging surfaces increase the torque required to continue pulling up the fitting past the first axial position.

US Patent:

20100148501, Jun 17, 2010

Filed:

Dec 10, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/635301

Inventors:

Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
Cal R. Brown - Lyndhurst OH, US
John D. Karkosiak - Broadview Heights OH, US
Peter C. Williams - Cleveland Heights OH, US
Mark A. Clason - Orwell OH, US
Jeffrey S. Rayle - Fairview Park OH, US
Mark D. Bearer - Akron OH, US

Assignee:

SWAGELOK COMPANY - Solon OH

International Classification:

F16L 19/04

US Classification:

2853827, 285 3, 285 24

Abstract:

Two conduit gripping devices that are to be used together in a conduit fitting assembly are interconnected or held together as a cartridge or subassembly prior to assembly with fitting components to form a fitting assembly. In a more specific embodiment, one or both of the conduit gripping devices comprises a retaining structure by which the devices are mechanically connected together as a subassembly. For example, in one embodiment a front ferrule and a back ferrule for a tube fitting may be snapped together.

US Patent:

20110277309, Nov 17, 2011

Filed:

Aug 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/671730

Inventors:

Mark D. Bearer - Akron OH, US
Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
John D. Karkosiak - Broadview Heights OH, US
Jeffrey Michael Rubinski - Wickliffe OH, US
Peter C. Williams - Cleveland Heights OH, US
Tobin Berry - Chagrin Falls OH, US
Mark A. Clason - Orwell OH, US
Eric M. Kvarda - Mentor OH, US

Assignee:

SWAGELOK COMPANY - Solon OH

International Classification:

F16L 19/00
B23P 11/00

US Classification:

2952503, 285 93

Abstract:

A ferrule type, flareless fitting is provided that may optionally be pulled-up to its assembled condition by torque rather than by turns. In one embodiment, at least one fitting component includes a structure that facilitates pull-up by torque and allows the fitting to be remade. The structure may take a wide variety of different forms. Examples of fitting component structures that facilitate pull-up by torque and allow the fitting to be remade include, but are not limited to, deformable or compressible devices or structures that are configured to increase the torque required to further tighten the fitting components when the fitting is properly pulled up, resiliently deformable structures that bias a tube gripping device into engagement with a conduit when the fitting is remade to an initial pull-up position, and plastically deformable retaining structures that maintain a tube gripping device in sealing en a ement with a conduit when a fittin is disassembled.

US Patent:

20130264817, Oct 10, 2013

Filed:

Apr 11, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/860763

Inventors:

Tobin Berry - Chagrin Falls OH, US
George A. Carlson - Ravenna OH, US
Andrew P. Marshall - University Heights OH, US
Mark A. Carlson - Orwell OH, US
Mark A. Bennett - Bainbridge Township OH, US
Sanjeev S. Moghe - Northfield Center OH, US

Assignee:

Swagelok Company - Solon OH

International Classification:

F16L 19/06

US Classification:

285 93, 285332

Abstract:

A fitting for a tube or pipe capable of functioning a high pressures having a first fitting component adapted to receive the conduit end; a conduit gripping device such as a ferrule or ferrules and a second fitting component that can be joined to the first fitting component to cause the conduit gripping device to grip the conduit and seal when assembled. In one aspect of the invention, the first fitting component is constructed from a material that is softer than the material used to construct the second fitting component. An additional aspect of the invention include a retaining portion on the second fitting component that constrains the tube gripping device against pressure. The retaining portion can also be configured to retain the tube gripping device to the second fitting component prior to installation and in a finger-tight condition. A further aspect of the invention includes a first fitting component in which an exterior portion of the component is work hardened radially outward from the tube gripping device. The fitting may optionally be provided with a structure to effect the pull-up by torque functionality.