Patent ID: 6543817
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A method of securing a connector on an end of a tube comprising:providing a connector having a bore, an end face and an away face; providing a major recess in the connector formed as a pocket defined by a cut-back from each the end face and the central bore; providing a minor recess in the connector formed by a cutback from each the away face and the central bore; providing a desired length of tube having an end portion and a tube end; passing the connector over the end portion of the tube, through the bore, with the end face of the connector nearest the tube end and the away face of the connector farthest from the tube end; gripping the tube with a fixture and positioning the away face of the connector against the fixture, with a preferred length of the tube end portion extending axially beyond the end face of the connector; applying force axially to the tube end, causing a major radially outward upset of the tube in the major recess of the connector and causing a minor radially outward upset of the tube in the minor recess of the connector; forcing a tapered punch into the tube end axially, causing an end most portion of the tube to flare outwardly; and releasing the tube from the fixture.