Claims
- 1. A fluid conduit system comprising:
a fluid conduit having an inner diameter; a crimp formed on the fluid conduit, the crimp having an inside dimension that is smaller than the inner diameter; and a fitting having a structural portion and a seal portion, the structural portion having at least one crimp groove into which the crimp is at least partially received, the at least one crimp groove extending about the circumference of the structural portion, the seal portion being carried by the structural portion and sealingly engaging the inner diameter of the fluid conduit, the seal portion being axially offset from the crimp groove.
- 2. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein the seal portion is disposed between two crimp grooves.
- 3. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein the fitting further includes an annular flange that is axially spaced apart from the crimp groove by a predetermined distance.
- 4. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein the seal portion includes an elastomeric seal.
- 5. The fluid conduit system of claim 4, wherein the elastomeric seal includes at least one O-ring.
- 6. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the fluid conduit is formed of hard drawn tubing sticks.
- 7. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the fluid conduit is formed of flexible metal tubing.
- 8. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein the crimp groove is generally U-shaped.
- 9. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein the seal portion includes a plurality of discrete seal members, each seal member being configured to sealingly engage the inner diameter of the fluid conduit.
- 10. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein the crimp extends in a continuous manner about the perimeter of the fluid conduit.
- 11. The fluid conduit system of claim 1, wherein the crimp comprises at least one crimp section, each crimp section extending only partially about the perimeter of the fluid conduit.
- 12. A method for forming a fluid conduit system, the method comprising:
providing a fitting having a structural portion and a seal portion, the seal portion being coupled to the structural portion; inserting the structural portion into a tube such that the seal portion sealingly engages an inside surface of the tube; and deforming only the tube to couple the fitting to the tube.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the structural portion has one or more crimp grooves, each of the crimp grooves extending about a circumference of the structural portion and wherein a portion of the tube being received into at least one crimp groove when the tube is deformed.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fitting further includes a flange and wherein the tube is deformed at a location that is axially spaced apart from the flange by a predetermined dimension.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein before the deforming step the method further comprises locating a crimping tool against a surface of the flange.
- 16. The method of claim 13, wherein prior to deforming the tube, a plurality of dies are positioned about the tube and the dies are forced against the tube.
- 17. The method of claim 13, wherein portions of the tube are received into each crimp groove when the tube is deformed.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portions of the tube are deformed substantially simultaneously.
- 19. A tool for securing a fitting to a tube, the tool including a jaw and a pair of die members, the jaw being disposed about a first axis and including a pair of opposed die members, each of the die members being pivotably coupled to an associated one of the opposed members and pivotable about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis.
- 20. The tool of claim 19, wherein the jaw is rotatably disposed about the first axis.
- 21. A method for forming a fluid conduit system, the method comprising:
providing a fitting having a structural portion and a seal portion, the seal portion being removably coupled to the structural portion; selecting one of a plastic tube and a metal tube; if the plastic tube is selected:
installing a crimp collar about the plastic tubing; inserting only the structural portion of the fitting into the plastic tubing; and deforming the crimp collar to fix the plastic tubing to the structural portion of the fitting; otherwise, inserting the fitting into the metal tube such that the seal portion is proximate an inside surface of the metal tube; and deforming only the tube to couple the fitting to the metal tube.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/470,599 filed May 15, 2003.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60470599 |
May 2003 |
US |