Thomas R Fellabaum

US Patent:

20070046026, Mar 1, 2007

Filed:

Aug 31, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/216508

Inventors:

Billy Wells - Hillsdale MI, US
Thomas Fellabaum - Coldwater MI, US

International Classification:

F16L 13/14

US Classification:

285382000, 285347000, 285334500, 029511000

Abstract:

A sealed, tube-to-tube connection is made up of a first tubing member, a second tubing member and an elastomeric O-ring, the connection being free of any separate member to maintain the first tubing member, the second tubing member and the elastic O-ring in assembled relationship. The first tubing member is provided with an outwardly projecting annular bead at a location inwardly of a free or distal end of the first tubing member, and an outer diameter pilot portion of reduced diameter between the annular bead and the free or distal end of the first tubing member. The second tubing member is provided with an enlarged diameter end portion, a first enlarged portion axially inwardly of the enlarged diameter end portion and an annular shoulder joining the first enlarged diameter portion and the enlarged diameter portion. The pilot portion of the first tubing member is inserted into the second tubing member, after mounting the elastomeric O-ring over the pilot section of the first tubing member, until the O-ring is compressed around its circumference between one side surface of the annular bead of the first tubing member and the annular shoulder of the second tubing member. At this time, the pilot section of the first tubing joint section will be snuggly surrounded by the first enlarged diameter portion of the second tubing member to accurately axially align and seal the first tubing member to the second tubing member. Thereafter, an outermost terminal portion of the second tubing member is rolled inwardly to engage an opposed side surface of the annular bead of the first tubing member to secure the first tubing member, the second tubing member and the O-ring in assembled relationship with one another.