Patent Application
20080149503
The present invention relates generally to systems having tubes, and, more particularly, to devices and methods for crimping and separating tubes.
In the pharmaceutical, chemical, and other fields that use tubing in the processing and transport of fluids, there is often a need for crimping and cutting portions of the tubing, to seal off and isolate the fluids within from contamination from the external environment. In one method, a cylindrical metal collar or sleeve is placed over a portion of the tube, and the collar and tube are deformed and cut, thus forming a crimped end, as is known in the art. To this end, various types of devices have been created to achieve this type of crimping.
In certain circumstances, however, present crimping devices have certain deficiencies. For example, the crimps formed by present crimping devices tend to be relatively prone to loosening, or coming off of the silicone tubing, with normal usage or moderate pulling. Further, present crimping devices for use with tubing that use a cutting edge to separate the sleeve are subject to wear and tear on the cutting edge that can result in dulling or breaking of the cutting blade, depending on the hardness of the material used for the collar or sleeve. Such wear and tear can result in a shortened useful life for the crimping and cutting jaws. In particular, use of stainless steel sleeves is advantageous in pharmaceutical applications for reasons well known in the art, but stainless steel is a particularly hard material that requires great force to cut, often requiring the use of a heat-treated or otherwise hardened (such as by applying a hardening plating or coating) cutting edge, which can also increase the cost of the tool. Cutting edges also pose a potential hazard to the user. In addition, with present crimping devices, it is often difficult to consistently position tubes and collars within the crimping device for consistent crimping and/or cutting.
Thus, there is a need for an improved device and method for crimping and separating tubes.
Embodiments of the present invention satisfy these and other needs by providing an improved device and method for crimping and separating tubes.
Embodiments can include a device for contamination-free sealing of a tube having a collar positioned thereon. The device can include a first jaw portion and a second jaw portion. The first jaw portion can include two pressing bars extending outwardly therefrom, and a pressing piece extending outwardly therefrom. The pressing piece can include a substantially flat surface, and can be positioned between the pressing bars. The pressing bars each have a pressing surface. The second jaw portion can include a support surface. Each of the pressing surfaces can be substantially flat. When the first jaw portion is moved toward the second jaw portion, each of the two pressing bars contacts the collar proximate an end portion of the collar, and the pressing piece contacts the collar proximate a center portion of the collar.
In some embodiments, the second jaw portion can comprise first and second stabilizer recesses, each of the stabilizer recesses being located adjacent a respective folding pocket, and being designed and dimensioned to receive a respective first and second end of the collar. The stabilizer recesses facilitate positioning of the collar for crimping.
In some embodiments, at least one of the folding arms, when inserted at least partially into one of the folding pockets, can form at least one indentation in the collar. Each of the folding arms and each of the folding pockets can impart a radial compression in both a longitudinal direction and a latitudinal direction on the collar.
Thus, embodiments of the invention provide for a crimping tool that facilitates efficient and advantageous crimping and separating tubes and collars.
The device and method will be more readily understood from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments presented below, considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, of which:
a and 7b are perspective views of an embodiment of first and second jaw portions of a crimping device;
a and 5b are perspective views of an embodiment of first and second jaw portions of a crimping device;
a and 9b are perspective views of an embodiment of a second jaw portion with a crimp collar positioned thereon;
a and 10b are perspective views showing features of another embodiment of a crimping device;
a-11e show features of another embodiment of a crimp collar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
a and 14b are perspective views showing features of another embodiment of a crimping device.
It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and may not be to scale.
With reference to
Jaw portions 400 include a first jaw portion 460, and a second jaw portion 410, each of which may be positioned within one of jaw holders 110, 112. In some embodiments, fasteners 201, 202 can be used to secure first and second jaw portions 460, 460 to jaw holders 110, 112, respectively. Fasteners 201, 202 can be a screw or other fastening device, as would be known to one of skill in the art, as instructed by the present disclosure.
A collar 310 can be positioned on a silicone or other appropriate tube 300, as is known to those skilled in the art. The tube 300 and collar 310 can be positioned between the first and second jaw portions 460, 410, and, when the first and second handles 102, 104 are brought together, and moved toward one another, the first and second jaw portions 460, 410 move toward each other to crimp and cut the tube 300 and collar 310, as is described in further detail below.
With reference to
Second jaw portion 410 includes a cutter recess 420 defined therein. Cutter recess 420 is designed and dimensioned to receive a portion of cutter portion 462 when the first jaw portion 460 and second jaw portion 410 are moved toward one another. Second jaw portion 410 also has first and second folding pockets 426, 428 defined therein. The first and second folding pockets 426, 428 are designed and dimensioned to receive corresponding folding arms 466, 468 when the first jaw portion 460 and second jaw portion 410 are moved toward one another.
In some embodiments, second jaw portion 410 can include support portions 414, 416, that extend outward from second jaw portion 410. Support portions 414, 416 are positioned adjacent to, and outside of respective first and second folding pockets 426, 428. In some embodiments, each of inner surfaces 422, 424 extend adjacent to and between cutter recess 420 and a respective one of the first and second folding pockets 426, 428. An alignment portion 440, having and abutment surface 442, can be used to facilitate positioning of collar 310 in a fixed position, while allowing the tube 300 to pass through the collar 310, and past alignment portion 440, as is described in further detail below.
In some embodiments, cutter portion 462 can be selectively removably coupled or connected to first jaw portion 460. Cutter portion 462 can be coupled to first jaw portion 460 by a tongue in groove connection, set screw, and/or other known fastening methods, as would be known to those of skill in the art, as informed by the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, second jaw portion 410 can include cutter portion 462, and first jaw portion 460 can include cutter recess 420.
In some embodiments, second jaw portion 410 can include alignment portion 440, with first jaw portion 410 not including folding arms 466, 468.
With reference to
In use, by way of crimping with an embodiment of the present invention, the cutter portion 462 moves toward and within cutter recess 420, advantageously forming a complete cut and separation of the tube portions 300a, 300b and corresponding collar portions 310a, 310b, without need for further bending or fracturing by a user. Also, due to the pivoting closing motion of jaw holders 110, 112 and corresponding jaw portions 460, 410, when the first jaw portion 460 and the second jaw portion 410 are moved together, the cutter portion 462 approaches the cutter recess 420 in an arcuate path. In this manner, the collar 310 and tube 300 are gradually cut as the cutter portion 462 progressively contacts the collar 310 and tube 300.
In addition, in some embodiments, indented portions 314a, 314b can be formed on the collar portions 310a, 310b and tube portions 300a, 300b, such that the collar portions 310a, 310b are relatively firmly secured to respective tube portions 300a, 300b, by way of the movement of the folding arms 466, 468 toward respective folding pockets 426, 428. In addition, with specific reference to
With reference to
As described above, second jaw portion 410 includes a cutter recess 420 defined therein. The first and second folding pockets 426, 428 are designed and dimensioned to receive corresponding folding arms 466, 468 when the first jaw portion 460 and second jaw portion 410 are moved together. In some embodiments folding pockets 426, 428 can have a radius R2 in the range of 0.2 to 0.8 inches, preferably 0.2 inches. In other embodiments, different radius dimensions and pocket shapes can be employed.
Second jaw portion 410 can also include first and second stabilizer recesses 430, 432, located adjacent folding pockets 426, 428. First and second stabilizer recesses 430, 432 facilitate the positioning and stabilizing of a collar 310, and tube 300 within, during the crimping and cutting process. In some embodiments first and second stabilizer recesses 430, 432 can have a radius R3 in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 inches, and preferably 0.1 inches. In other embodiments, different radius dimensions can be employed.
With additional reference to
Thus, a device and method for crimping tubing has been shown and described that can be used in conjunction with non-reinforced silicone tubing and is not limited to use with reinforced tubing or hose. By way of embodiments of the invention, a device has been described whereby a relatively higher crimping force is created in comparison to existing devices that require greater user effort. Such generation of a greater and concentrated crimping force allows embodiments of the invention to be used in conjunction with a collar made from stainless steel, and is not limited to use with collars formed from relatively “softer” materials such as nickel or chrome plated brass.
A device in accordance with embodiments of the invention includes a small, lightweight, ergonomic design that is relatively easy for a user to wield in confined and low-access spaces. In embodiments of the invention, the jaws can be formed in a single-piece construction for durability. Such embodiments have certain benefits as compared to some prior art designs that include bolt-on adapters which can be easily broken or result in lost pieces when, for example, screws fall out and parts get lost during use or during installation.
Embodiments of the invention make use of a relatively simple scissor-like action for crimping, as opposed to a relatively more complex cam design employed by prior art devices. In addition, in certain embodiments of the invention, the jaws of the device can be easily replaced by removal of a fastener 201, 202 (see
In embodiments of the invention, in use, a second, or lower jaw engages a first, or upper jaw in a radial arcuate path. Such engagement on an angle creates a gradual compression, starting from one side of the crimp collar and traversing across the crimp collar and tube perpendicularly. Such angular engagement requires less force to be applied by the user than with prior art devices wherein crimping engagement is not performed at an angle.
With reference to
With reference to
Collar 360 has end 374, and wall 372 having a circumferential recess 380 defined therein, which creates a region 373 having a reduced wall thickness. In some embodiments, collar 360 can have a length L3 in the range of 1.0 to 1.50 inches, preferably 1.25 inches. In some embodiments, wall 372 can have a thickness L5 in the range of 0.010 to 0.020 inches, preferably 0.007 inches, and collar 360 can have an outer diameter L4 in the range of between 7/32 and 11/32 of an inch, preferably 9/32 of an inch. Reduced wall thickness region 373 can preferably have a thickness L6 that is less than one-half of wall thickness L5, and more preferably in the range of one-fourth to one-tenth the thickness of wall thickness L5. With reference to
In use, the first and second jaw portions 460, 410 move toward each other, to crimp the tube 300 and collar 360, such that flat surface 510 contacts wall 372, and compresses collar 360 and tube 300 within. Support surface 630 contacts wall 372 of collar 360 at a position substantially opposite from flat surface 510, and can provide a surface against which flat surface 510 can compress collar 360. Collar 360 can be designed and dimensioned such that alignment portion 440 and abutment surface 442 facilitate positioning of collar 360, as described above with respect to other embodiments. Flat surface 510 can contact collar 360 and circumferential recess 380 such that flat surface 510 contacts collar 360 in a region overlying circumferential recess 380.
In some embodiments, particularly where collar 360 is formed of a relatively brittle metal such as stainless steel, as flat surface 510 compresses collar 360 and tube 300 within, stresses induced in reduced wall thickness region 373 of collar 360 cause collar 360 to fracture or separate into two portions 360a and 360b (see
In some embodiments, after collar 360 and tube 300 are compressed, collar 360 can be bent about circumferential recess 380 such that collar 360 can be easily separated into two distinct pieces. Tube 300 can be separated into two respective pieces as well, as the compression of collar 360 and tube 300 by flat surface 110 can cause walls 381, 382 of circumferential recess 380 to be deformed and partially or fully sever tube 300. In embodiments where tube 300 is not severed during the crimping process, tube 300 can be cut with a cutting tool to separate it into two portions.
Where collar 310 (which does not include circumferential recess 380) is used, crimped and compressed collar 310 can have a flattened region where flat surface 510 has compressed collar 310. Crimped collar 310 can subsequently be separated by cutting along the flattened region with a cutting tool.
With reference to
Second jaw portion 410 can include third protrusions 620, 621 and fourth protrusions 622, 623 extending outwardly therefrom. Third protrusions 620, 621 and fourth protrusions 622, 623 can be hemispheroidal in shape. Third protrusions 620, 621 can be adjacently positioned, and fourth protrusions 622, 623 can be adjacently positioned, such that, when first jaw portion 460 is moved toward second jaw portion 410, first protrusion 610 moves to a position proximate third protrusions 620, 621, and second protrusion 612 moves to a position proximate fourth protrusions 622, 623.
Thus, as first jaw portion 460 is moved toward second jaw portion 410, protrusions 610, 620, 621, can cooperate to compress one end of collar 360 (or collar 310) and protrusions 612, 622, 622, can cooperate to compress the other end of collar 360 (or collar 310).
With reference to
In some embodiments, second jaw portion 410 can include folding pockets 426, 428 (not shown) as described above with respect to other embodiments (see, e.g.,
In some embodiments, instead of pressing piece 500, first jaw portion 460 can include a cutter portion 462 (not shown), as described above with respect to other embodiments (see e.g.,
With reference to
Straight pressing bars 700, 710 are designed and dimensioned such that, when the first jaw portion 460 and second jaw portion 410 are moved together, pressing surfaces 702, 712 each contact a crimp collar, such as collar 360, as described above, such that the end portions of the collar 360 (or collar 310) and corresponding tube portions can be compressed, advantageously forming a relatively secure crimp connection between the collar 360 end portions and corresponding tube portions.
It is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that all such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
