Press fitting device, components and method
View Patent ↗A press fitting device, components and method provide one or more indicators to provide a visual indication that the fitting has been properly pressed around a tube and that the correct amount of pressure has been provided to create a permanent seal. In embodiments, a sealing ring is retained within an indentation of a main body component of the fitting and the sealing ring is expandable upon compression to be visible through an opening in the main body component.
1 . A fitting, comprising:
a main body component having interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the interior surface defines a cavity extending through the main body component along an axis, wherein the interior surface comprises an axially inner segment and an axially outer segment, wherein the axially outer segment is formed with an indentation comprising a radial distance from the axis that is greater than a radial distance from the axis to the axially inner segment, wherein the indentation is formed with an apex and an axially outer part extending on a curve comprising a concave portion extending from the apex of the indentation to a convex portion, wherein the convex portion extends to an axially outer floor portion of the axially outer segment of the main body component, wherein the axially outer segment is further formed with an opening extending from a first axial position in the convex portion of the curve to a second axial position in the axially outer floor portion; and
a sealing ring securely maintained within the indentation.
2 . The fitting of claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a plurality of openings spaced about a periphery of the main body component.
3 . The fitting of claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the main body component is formed with a tube stop extending radially inwardly and wherein the plurality of openings are generally axially equidistant from the tube stop.
4 . The fitting of claim 1 , wherein the indentation is rounded.
5 . The fitting of claim 1 , wherein the indentation comprises an axially inner part, wherein the axially inner part extends from the axially inner segment on a first curve to the apex of the indentation.
6 . The fitting of claim 5 , wherein the first curve comprises a convex curve.
7 . The fitting of claim 1 , wherein a first radial distance from the axis to the axially inner segment of the interior surface is substantially the same as a second radial distance from the axis to a radially inner surface of the sealing member.
8 . A fitting, comprising:
a main body component having interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the interior surface defines a cavity extending through the main body component along an axis, wherein the interior surface comprises an axially inner segment and an axially outer segment, wherein the axially outer segment is formed with an indentation comprising an axially inner part and an axially outer part, and wherein the axially outer part is formed with an opening extending radially therethrough, wherein the axially inner part of the indentation extends from the axially inner segment on a first curve to an apex of the indentation and wherein the axially outer part of the indentation extends on a second curve from the apex of the indentation to an axially outer floor portion of the axially outer segment of the main body component, wherein the opening extends through the second curve and wherein the second curve is not a mirror image of the first curve; and
a sealing ring securely maintained within the indentation.
9 . The fitting of claim 8 , wherein the opening comprises a plurality of openings spaced about a periphery of the main body component.
10 . The fitting of claim 9 , wherein the interior surface of the main body component is formed with a tube stop extending radially inwardly and wherein the plurality of openings are generally axially equidistant from the tube stop.
11 . The fitting of claim 8 , wherein the indentation is rounded.
12 . The fitting of claim 8 , wherein a first radial distance from the axis to the axially inner segment of the interior surface is substantially the same as a second radial distance from the axis to a radially inner surface of the sealing member.