Abstract:
A universal connection socket includes in one embodiment a plurality of spaced radially inwardly projecting barbs spanning opposite sides of a circumferential O-ring receiving groove and dimensioned to grip, when crimped, a fluid conduit in sealable engagement within the socket. In another embodiment of the invention, an annular recess adjacent the O-ring groove releasably receives a locking sleeve for a push-type connector for compressing the O-ring during insertion of a conduit. The sleeve is subsequently partially withdrawn and has an inwardly extending locking barb to engage the conduit, lockably holding the conduit in place. An outwardly extending gripping edge cams the locking barb as a locking wedge is inserted between the end of the socket and the annular flange of the sleeve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/307,988 entitled U NIVERSAL  C ONNECTION  S OCKET , filed on Feb. 25, 2010, by Benjamin L. Lawrence, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to plumbing fittings and particularly to a fitting having a universal socket for accommodating different types of conduits and connections to the plumbing fitting. 
         [0003]    As the plumbing industry evolves, the use of soldered copper pipe connections is becoming less prevalent in favor of more modern quick-connect either push or crimp fittings. Also, in many installations, PEX tubing is employed in favor of the previous copper tubing. Each of the different types of connections typically require different tools, skills, and connectors for fittings, such as valves, T&#39;s, elbows, and the like, to mate with the corresponding tubing be it copper, cross linked polyethylene, or other material. There exists a variety of push-type connections, crimp connections, and press connections, all of which use different types of tools and plumbing skills for making connections in a plumbing system. 
         [0004]    One example of a new connection system is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0171302, entitled PUSH-TWIST CONNECTOR. The system described employs a fitting which receives a push-in pipe locked in place by a connector which includes a locking ring to secure the connection. 
         [0005]    There remains a need, however, for a universal connection system which can accommodate press joints (also known as crimp connections), PEX joints (in which plastic tubing is connected to metal fittings), and push-joints (in which no crimping is required but typically a locking member is employed). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The universal connection socket of the present invention accommodates this need by providing a socket which can be included in any type of plumbing fitting, including, for example, valves, T&#39;s, elbows, connectors, and the like. A plumbing fitting including the universal socket of the present invention includes a plurality of spaced radially inwardly projecting barbs spanning opposite sides of a circumferential O-ring receiving groove and dimensioned to grip, when crimped, a fluid conduit in sealable engagement within the socket. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment of the invention, an annular recess adjacent the O-ring groove of the socket receives a locking sleeve for a push-type connector for compressing the O-ring during insertion of a conduit. The sleeve is subsequently withdrawn and has an inwardly extending locking barb to engage the conduit, lockably holding the conduit in place. The locking sleeve in one embodiment includes an annular flange external to the socket which allows the sleeve to be moved to a locked position by a locking wedge inserted between the end of the socket and the annular flange of the sleeve. 
         [0008]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the socket is employed with a PEX fitting in which a reinforcement cylindrical metal stiffener is inserted in the end of a PEX conduit and subsequently inserted into the socket and crimped to complete the sealed connection. 
         [0009]    In each of the embodiments, the gripping barbs secure the conduit to the socket of the fitting either directly or indirectly through an intermediate locking sleeve. In each of the embodiments, the fitting is of universal design and can be manufactured of any number of copper and copper alloys, carbon steel or stainless steel alloys or leaded brass/bronze and configured to receive a universal connection method. With such a system, the cost of manufacturing fittings, such as valves, T&#39;s, elbows, connectors, and the like can be greatly reduced since they employ common tooling, assembly techniques, and manufacturing processes for their manufacturing. Also, assembly in the field requires no special tools or plumbing skills. 
         [0010]    These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary front elevational view of a fitting employing the universal socket of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the fittings shown in  FIG. 1 , shown with a copper or other metallic conduit inserted therein prior to crimping; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary front elevational view of the crimp sealing of the connection shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the universal socket applied to a PEX connection; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded top elevational view of the components of the PEX connection; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a partially assembled view of the structure shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the PEX connection shown in  FIG. 4-6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a fitting employing a push joint connection employing the universal socket of the present invention, shown in a partially assembled position to illustrate the interaction of the components; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the structure shown in  FIG. 8 , shown in a position in which a conduit can be inserted and/or released from the fitting; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the locking sleeve employed in connection with the universal socket shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the locking sleeve shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective exploded view of the fitting, including the universal socket, and a tapered locking wedge employed for moving the locking sleeve from an insertion position to a pipe locking position; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of a fitting employing the universal socket with a conduit fully installed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a press or crimp joint in which a fitting  10  includes the universal socket geometry  20  of the present invention. The fitting  10  can be any type of plumbing fitting, such as a valve, T, elbow, connector or the like, and can be made from numerous materials, which can be cast, forged, cold-formed, or machined. Such materials include, but are not limited to, the following:
       Copper and Copper Alloys
           Silicon Bronze C87600, Copper C12200, Silicon Brass C69100   
           Carbon, Stainless and Alloyed Steels
           CS1020, SS316, SS410   
           Leaded Brass/Bronze
           Red Bronze C92200   
               
 
         [0031]    Fitting  10  includes an open end  12  and an internal annular O-ring receiving groove  14  spaced from end  12  a distance sufficient for the insertion and crimping of a tube, such as copper conduit  16  shown in  FIG. 2 . Extending between the annular groove  14 , which forms an external bulge  15  as seen in  FIG. 1 , and end  12  is a first radially inwardly extending annular generally rectangular barb  18 . Adjacent barb  18  is an annular stepped recess  25  which, in the first and second embodiments, does not assist in the sealed connection but forms part of the universal socket employed in the third (push) embodiment. Adjacent the edges of annular groove  14  are annular lands  13  and  17 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 . On the opposite side of the O-ring groove  14  and an O-ring  19  inserted therein, are a pair of spaced-apart additional radially inwardly extending annular generally rectangular barbs  22  and  24 . Upon insertion of the copper conduit  16  into the fitting  10 , a circumferential crimping force is applied in areas indicated by arrows A and B, resulting in crimps  21  and  23  ( FIG. 3 ) and additional crimps extending around the periphery of the cylindrical end of fitting  10 . 
         [0032]    A conventional crimping tool is employed for providing uniform crimps  21  and  23  on opposite sides of O-ring groove  14  and around the periphery of the fitting. The crimping urges barbs  18 ,  22 , and  24  against the outer surface of conduit  16  and lockably holds the conduit  16  within fitting  10  as well as assures that the O-ring  19  seals the interface between fitting  10  and conduit  16 . Each of the barbs  18 ,  22 , and  24  are generally rectangular in cross section having relatively sharp edges and extend radially inwardly a distance of about 0.010 inches for a 0.5 inch internal diameter fitting. Depending on the internal diameter of socket  20  and mating conduit  16 , other sizes will be proportional. Lands  13  and  17 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , serve to captively hold the O-ring  19  in position against the outer surface of the conduit  16  inserted therein. Fitting  10  includes an annular stop shoulder  11  at its inner end to engage the end of conduit  16  to position the conduit  16  in predetermined relationship to fitting  10 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4-7  illustrate the use of the same fitting  10  and universal socket  20  for use in connection with a PEX tubing  30 . Fitting  10  includes the same O-ring annular groove  14 , external bulge  15 , end  12 , and rectangular barbs  18 ,  22 , and  24 , lands  13  and  17 , and stop shoulder  11 . In order to withstand the crimping forces applied again in areas indicated by arrows A and B in  FIG. 4 , a stiffener sleeve  34  made of a suitable metal, such as stainless steel or the like, is inserted in the open end  32  of PEX tubing  30 . Stiffener sleeve  34  includes an annular shoulder  36  and a cylindrical body with an outer diameter substantially conforming to the inner diameter of PEX tubing  30 .  FIG. 5  shows the exploded view of the components of the system in a fitting  10 , such as an elbow joint, prior to assembly. The sleeve  34  is first inserted into end  32  of PEX tubing  30 , as seen in  FIG. 6 , with the annular flange  36  holding the body of the sleeve in position in the area of the crimp. Thus, stiffener sleeve  34  is of sufficient length to span the area on opposite sides of the O-ring groove  14  where crimping occurs, as best seen in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]    Subsequently, the end  32  of the PEX tubing  30  is fully inserted into the fitting  10 , as seen in  FIG. 7 , and the crimp force applied circumferentially around the outer periphery of the fitting  10  on opposite sides of the bulge  15  resulting in crimps  21 ,  23 , as in the first embodiment, to hold the PEX tubing  30  in position. The barbs  18 ,  22 , and  24  secure the tube  30  preventing its removal while the O-ring  19  sealably completes the fluid connection of PEX conduit  30  to the fitting  10 . 
         [0035]    In place of the crimping shown in  FIG. 4  for the PEX joint, other conventional fastening methods may be employed, such as crimp rings, clamps, or bands. The tube stiffener serves to prevent the collapse of the PEX tube  30  during the sealing process of the tube inserted into the fitting  10 . In the crimping process for either embodiment, a conventional crimping tool is employed. 
         [0036]    Finally, a push-type connection not requiring crimping but in which a fitting  10  with the same universal socket  20  is employed, as shown in  FIGS. 8-13 . Socket  20 , as in the previous embodiments, includes a stepped rectangular recess  25  adjacent the annular O-ring receiving groove  14  and immediately adjacent the barb  18  to receive the radially extending annular gripping edge  42  of a cylindrical locking sleeve  40 . The locking sleeve  40  is best seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11  and includes an annular flange  44  at one end and an O-ring compressing tapered generally conical polymeric end  46  at the opposite end. The sleeve  40  is progressively formed from steel roll stock in a conventional forming process, such as roll forming, resulting in a longitudinally extending narrow slot  45 . End  46  is over-molded (or the end of the sleeve is otherwise covered) by a polymeric material, such as PVC, on its outer surface to protect O-ring  19  when end  46  engages the O-ring, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when sleeve  40  is inserted into end  12  in a position to receive a metal conduit, such as conduit  16  shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . In this position, the gripping edge  42  extends within the stepped recess  25  for axially holding the locking sleeve  40  in position during the insertion of the conduit  16 . The conduit, once inserted, engages the inside tapered leading edge of locking barb  48  of sleeve  40 , which expands the split sleeve radially outwardly, as seen in  FIG. 9 , to hold the sleeve gripping edge  42  in recess  25 . When conduit  16  is inserted within sleeve  40 , the polymeric end  46  protects the O-ring  19  as the conduit is inserted until its end engages stop shoulder  11 . 
         [0037]    In order to lock the conduit  16  within fitting  10 , the sleeve  40  is moved axially in a direction shown by arrow C in  FIG. 9  using a semicircular tapered wedge  50  ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ). Wedge  50  is dimensioned to precisely move the sleeve  40  to provide the desired holding force for securing conduit  16  in fitting  10 . Wedge  50  is inserted between end  12  of fitting  10  and flange  44  of sleeve  40  utilizing pliers or other suitable tool for forcing the flange  44  and sleeve  40  into a position where it moves in a direction of arrow C and end  46  clears O-ring  19 . The tip of locking barb  48  of sleeve  40  is forced radially inwardly by the inclined surface  49  of gripping edge  42  having stepped recess  25  and engaging barb  18  to move barb  48  radially inwardly to a gripping and locking position against the outer surface of conduit  16 . The barb  48  extends circumferentially around the entire sleeve as does gripping edge  42 . 
         [0038]    Sleeve  40  is made of a suitable metal, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, or the like, to withstand the forces applied when moving sleeve  40  from a tube-insertion position, shown in  FIG. 9 , to a tube locking position, shown in  FIG. 13 . In this embodiment, although crimping is not necessary, if desired, the coupling can additionally be crimped with or without the locking sleeve in place, which also serves to protect the O-ring  19 . The slot  45  of sleeve  40  serves the additional function of providing a leak path manifesting a leak in the event a proper seal is not made. If it is necessary to remove the conduit  16  from fitting  10 , wedge  50  is removed and flange  44  pushed in a direction opposite arrow C to release barb  48  from the outer surface of conduit  16  and allow its removal. The axial spacing of flange  44  with respect to recess  25  assures that, as shown in  FIG. 9 , gripping edge  42  is centered in recess  25  when flange  44  abuts end  12  of fitting  10 . 
         [0039]    It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.