Patent ID: 9145989
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A coupler for joining sections of tubing, comprising: a hollow outer coupling member having an outer member first end, an outer member second end, and an outer member aperture that extends between the first end and the second end, the outer member aperture having an outer member inner surface of a constant cross-section and at least one outer member protrusion that extends into the outer member aperture, the outer member protrusion being positioned near the outer member second end, said outer member protrusion being mounted from an end cap that is fixedly attached to the outer member, said end cap comprising a ring having a brim section and an engagement section, the engagement section having a cylindrical inner portion and an external portion, the external portion of the engagement section having a plurality of external teeth, and the outer member second end having an inner surface having a plurality of inner teeth, the external teeth being adapted for engaging the inner teeth, said external portion of the engagement section further comprises at least one raised lug portion having a top, and said inner member outer surface includes at least one recessed area adapted for accepting the raised lug portion, said external teeth being mounted on the top of the raised lug portion, and the inner teeth being mounted on the recessed area, so that when the end cap is inserted into the outer member second end the inner teeth engage the external teeth to retain the end cap against the inner member second end; a hollow inner member that includes an inner member first end and an inner member second end, the inner member first end having an inner member outer surface that has an outer surface cross-section, the outer surface cross section being smaller than the outer member inner surface cross-section, the outer surface being adapted for being substantially parallel to the outer member inner surface when the hollow inner member first end is inserted into the outer member aperture; the hollow inner member further having at least one helical recess on the outer surface, the helical recess extending between a location near the inner member second end and a location near the inner member first end outer surface, the helical recess being adapted for accepting the outer member protrusion telescopically inside of said outer tubular coupling member; and a seal positioned between the hollow inner member outer surface and the outer member inner surface, so that inserting the outer member protrusion into the helical recess and rotating the outer member relative to the inner member causes the inner member second end to move in an axial manner relative to the outer member.