Patent ID: 7954857
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. An assembly comprising a torque fitting and a length of tubing, wherein: the torque fitting comprises a threaded body portion, a torque-limiting body portion, and a tubing channel; the threaded body portion and the torque-limiting body portion are arranged concentrically along a longitudinal axis of the fitting; the tubing channel is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the fitting extending through opposite ends of the fitting and defines a cross-sectional area sufficient to accommodate the length of tubing along the longitudinal axis; the threaded body portion comprises a sealing edge on the underside of the threaded body portion at one of the opposite ends of the fitting and a mechanical thread defining a compressive direction of rotation and a decompressive direction of rotation; the threaded body portion and the torque-limiting body portion are configured such that, one of the threaded body portion or the torque-limiting body portion comprises a lever having a first arresting surface and a yielding surface, and the other of the threaded body portion or the torque-limiting body portion comprises an abutment having a second arresting surface and an engaging surface; the lever and the abutment are configured such that, when torque above the threshold level is applied by rotating the torque-limiting body portion in the compressive direction of rotation, the engaging surface contacts the yielding surface, the lever flexes toward the body portion comprising the lever and away from the body portion comprising the abutment, and the lever bypasses the abutment; the length of tubing comprises a compressible seal formed at an end of the length of tubing; and the length of tubing is accommodated by the tubing channel of the torque fitting to extend from the opposite ends of the fitting such that the compressible seal is positioned on the underside of the threaded body portion to cooperate with the sealing edge to prevent fluid leakage when the assembly is applied to a fluid-handling device.