The present invention relates to the connection of a micro-tube to a structure.
The tubes in question can be flexible, rigid or semi-rigid, have a very small diameter of approximately one millimetre and are able to carry gaseous or liquid fluids at a pressure of several bars.
The sealing at the ends of such micro-tubes is not then easy to ensure in an appropriate manner and requires either crimping, which reduces the opening cross-section of the tube, or complicated and costly fitting, or bonding, which does not permit an easy replacement of the tubes.
The present invention proposes a simple, reliable and dismantlable connection. It is characterized in that it comprises an elastic, cambered joint surrounding the micro-tube, a flange fashioned around the micro-tube tapering out of the micro-tube and extending up to a bulging circumference of the joint, and a collar on the structure, joined to such structure whilst forming a recess in which the joint is held between the faces of the recess on which it bears, the flange bearing on one of said faces.
The flange bearing on one of the faces of the recess ensures a good sealing at this location and this is perfected by the joint which, compressed in the recess in the axial direction of the micro-tube, presses the flange against said face of the recess, whilst offering a supplementary sealing ring around the flange.
Other features, characteristics and advantages of the invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
A micro-tube 1 is shown in
The joint 3 is introduced onto the micro-tube 1 and bears on the turned-up flange 2. Its small diameter is substantially equal to the external diameter of tube 1 and the turned-up flange 2 tapers continuously towards the outside (on moving away from the micro-tube 1) and is cancelled out at a diameter corresponding to that of the bulge 4.
In a preferred embodiment, the mean diameter of the toroidal sealing ring 3 is approximately equal to the external diameter of the turned-up flange 2, so as to ensure a pressure on said flange 2 and the sealing between said flange and the face 6 of the structure 8.
As the joint 3 is pressed by the collar 9, as a consequence it presses the turned-up flange 2 against the opposite surface 6, thus opposing a detachment under the pressure of the fluid flowing through the micro-tube 1 and channel 10 of the main part 8 and tending to separate them. Sealing is mainly produced at the bulge 4 and experience has proved that it remains for fluid pressures reaching 10 bars. In the case of a high fluid pressure, it is advantageous to place the joint 3 in a recess 14, 15 made either on the face 7 of the collar 9, or on the face 6 of the structure 8, so that the areas round the corresponding bulge 4 or 5 of the joint 3 penetrate the same and the radial expansion of the joint 3 is in this way combatted. The recesses 14 and 15 are illustrated in
A production method for the turned-up flange 2 will be described relative to
This process is suitable for most micro-tube materials. However, others can be used, more particularly if the micro-tube 1 is flexible. It can then be hardened by heating or some other means, as a function of its composition, once the deformation has taken place. It is also possible to use glass micro-tubes. The aforementioned process will be accompanied by a heating operation in order to soften the glass.
Generally the flanges are produced by a permanent material deformation process.
The sealing ring or joint 3 illustrated is toroidal. Cross-sections other than circular are suitable provided that they have bulges bearing on the opposite faces 6 and 7 of the recess 12 in order to press the flange 2 against the face 6. In the same way a flange 2 is shown stopping at the diameter of the joint 3 corresponding to the greatest height (between bulges 4 and 5), but it is unnecessary to precisely respect this condition and the flange 2 could be slightly wider or narrower. However, the configuration shown is preferred.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
00 08736 | Jul 2000 | FR | national |
This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/627,511 filed Jul. 25, 2003, now abandoned which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/898,733 filed Jul. 3, 2001 now abandoned.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1592850 | Hansen | Jul 1926 | A |
1894700 | Parker | Jan 1933 | A |
2463196 | Parker | Mar 1949 | A |
3751002 | Folkerts et al. | Aug 1973 | A |
4690437 | Anderson, Jr. | Sep 1987 | A |
4776618 | Barree | Oct 1988 | A |
5433454 | Ramberg | Jul 1995 | A |
5806166 | Fuser | Sep 1998 | A |
6200113 | Van Davelaar | Mar 2001 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
616276 | Jul 1935 | DE |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20050035598 A1 | Feb 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10627511 | Jul 2003 | US |
Child | 10943605 | US | |
Parent | 09898733 | Jul 2001 | US |
Child | 10627511 | US |