Patent ID: 6224117
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
A collet for a coupling, wherein the coupling has a body with a bore therein for receiving a tube, the body bore having a frustoconical surface therein intermediate the length thereof, the body having a tube support fixed therein to prevent movement in an axial direction with respect to the body, the tube support having a tubular portion which receives the tube thereover and the bore of the body having a first end with a first cylindrical surface of a selected axial length, the collet comprising:a first end and a second end;the first end having a cylindrical barrel portion defining boss of a constant diameter extending axially with respect to the collet by a length greater than the selected axial length of the first cylindrical surface of the bore and projecting radially from the collet to define a shoulder, the barrel portion being adapted to receive the tube therein to hold the tube against the tubular portion of the tube support;a plurality of spring arms cantilevered adjacent the shoulder and defined by slots in the collet which extend through the second end of the collet and terminate before the shoulder of the boss;at least one barb located on each spring arm proximate the second end of the collet adapted to engage the tube lo retain the tube in the body, andflanges projecting radially outwardly from the spring arms, the flanges being adapted to engage the frustoconical surface in the bore of the body to press the spring arms against the tube to prevent retraction of the tube from the collet and therefore from the body.