Patent ID: 6318768
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A tubing coupler for fluidly and mechanically connecting a first tube and a second tube comprising:(a) a first body portion for engagement to the first tube and said first body portion having a first mating face;(b) a pilot projecting from said first mating face of said first body portion;(c) wherein said first body portion defines a first passageway which begins at an opening in an end of said pilot, extends through said first body portion, and terminates at an opening on an exterior surface of said first body portion other than said first mating face;(d) a second body portion separate from said first body portion for engagement to the second tube and said second body portion having a second mating face;(e) wherein said second body portion defines a second passageway which begins at a first opening in said second mating face, extends through said second body portion, and terminates at an opening on an exterior surface of said second body portion other than said second mating face;(f) wherein an inner end of said second passageway, which is adjacent to said first opening in said second mating face, defines a cavity which is similar to in shape and slightly larger than said pilot, such that when said tubing coupler is properly assembled said pilot is disposed within said cavity;(g) a plate which defines a first opening through itself of sufficient size that said pilot can protrude through said first opening in said plate;(h) wherein when said tubing coupler is properly assembled said plate is positioned between said first mating face and said second mating face and said pilot protrudes through said first opening in said plate;(i) a primary sealing device, which circumscribes a portion of said pilot, and which is positioned at a distance from said first mating face which is greater than a thickness of said plate whereby, when said tubing coupler is properly assembled said primary sealing device entirely fills a cross-section of a space defined between an outer surface of said pilot and an inner surface of said cavity defined by said inner end of said second passageway;(j) one or more clamping devices which act on said tubing coupler to urge said first mating face of said first body portion toward said second mating face of said second body portion and maintain said tubing coupler in an assembled state;(k) a secondary sealing device positioned inside a periphery of said first opening in said plate, whereby when said tubing coupler is properly assembled, said secondary sealing device surrounds both a portion of said pilot and said first opening in said second mating face and is elastically compressed between said first mating face and said second mating face thus filling spaces which would otherwise be present between said first mating face, said plate, and said second mating face;(l) wherein said first body portion defines a third passageway which starts at an opening in said first mating face and extends into said first body portion;(m) wherein said second body portion defines a fourth passageway which starts at a second opening in said second mating face, and extends into said second body portion;(n) wherein said fourth passageway is positioned within said second body portion such that when said tubing coupler is assembled said fourth passageway aligns with said third passageway;(o) wherein said plate defines a second opening through itself which is positioned within said plate such that when said plate is assembled in said tubing coupler said second opening in said plate aligns with said third passageway and said fourth passageway; and(p) wherein one of said one or more clamping devices of said tubing coupler is at least partially comprised of a member which is disposed in said third passageway and said fourth passageway and protrudes through said second opening in said plate when said tubing coupler is assembled with said plate.