Patent ID: 6102449
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: F16L,G01N

Abstract:
A connector for connecting a first fluid-bearing conduit to a second fluid-bearing conduit, thereby providing fluid communication between the first and second fluid-bearing conduits, the first fluid bearing conduit being located in a capillary tube and the second fluid-bearing conduit being located in a receiver and communicating with a receiver port having a receiver port surface, comprising:an internal fitting assembly having an internal fitting body, a body cavity for receiving a ferrule and a self-compensating nut, said ferrule and self-compensating nut being locatable on the capillary tube, and an internal ferrule seat located on a portion of the body cavity, against which a tapered portion of the ferrule is applied to so as to obtain a first seal between the capillary tube, the ferrule, and the ferrule seat;wherein a forward end of the internal fitting body includes a nose cone, having thereon an annular projection, a neck portion which connects the nose cone to the remainder of the internal fitting body, an annular seal located on the neck portion, wherein the annular projection defines a first frustoconical segment and the annular seal includes a second frustoconical segment, the first and second frustoconical segments being configured to contact the receiver port surface as the forward end of the internal fitting body is coaxially aligned with the receiver port and thrust into the receiver cavity, and a biasing system for coupling a biasing force to an aft transverse surface of the annular seal in a direction parallel to the central axis of the internal fitting body, so as to: a) urge the annular seal against an aft surface of the annular projection of the nose cone, so as to reduce discontinuity between the first and second frustoconical segments; b) urge both the first and second frustoconical segments against corresponding first and second portions of the receiver port surface, so as to reduce dead volume in the receiver cavity; c) simultaneously urge the annular seal against the aft surface of the annular projection and urge the second frustoconical segment to conform to the receiver port surface, so as to form a second fluid-tight seal between the forward end of the internal fitting body and the receiver port surface.