Abstract:
An apparatus for assembling or disassembling a pipe in a pipe holder, includes: a washer having a body having an annular portion and an extended portion having central bore passing therethrough, the body made of a memory material; a compression fitting for insertion into the pipe holder, the extended portion fitting in the compression fitting; and, a lock for insertion into the pipe holder. The lock is for moving the compression fitting to deform the annular portion against the holder if inserted to form a seal between the pipe, the compression fitting and the holder. The lock also is for allowing the annular portion to reform and move against the holder if the lock is removed such that the compression fitting may be removed if the lock is removed.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/603,121, which was filed on Oct. 21, 2009. Cross reference is made to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/603,161, filed on Oct. 21, 2009, entitled “SUPPLY STOP WITH CONNECTION VERIFICATION” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/603,142, filed on Oct. 21, 2009, entitled “ANTI-ROTATION GRIPPER RING”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Snap-fit or quick connectors are employed in a wide range of applications including automotive and industrial applications, among others. Such quick connectors utilize retainers or locking elements for securing one connector component, such as a tubular conduit, within a complimentary bore of another connector component or body. These retainers are typically of the axially-displaceable or radially-displaceable type. The terms “axially-displaceable” or “radially-displaceable” are taken relative to the axial bore through a female component. 
     In a typical quick connector with an axially displaceable retainer, the retainer is mounted within a bore in a body of one connector component. The retainer has a plurality of radially and angularly extending legs that extend inwardly toward the axial center line of the bore in the body. A tube to be sealingly mounted in the bore in one component includes an outwardly extending portion or a flange that abuts an inner peripheral surface of the retainer legs. Seal and spacer members as well as a bearing or top hat are typically mounted in the bore ahead of the retainer to form a seal between the body and the component if the component is lockingly engaged with the retainer legs in the body. 
     Radially displaceable retainers are also known in which the retainer is radially displaceable through aligned bores or apertures formed transversely to the main through bore in the body. The radially displaceable retainer is typically provided with a pair of depending legs that are sized and positioned to slip behind the outwardly extending portion or flange on the tube only when the tube is fully seated in the bore in the body. This ensures a positive locking engagement of the tube with the body as well as providing an indication that the tube is fully seated since the radially displaceable retainer can be fully inserted into the body only when the tube has been fully inserted into the bore in the body. 
     Other quick connectors utilize retainers designed to lockingly engage beadless endforms. One type of such retainers forms an annular clip with a plurality of radially inward extending, flexible fingers, that engage the endform at an angle to resist pullout of the endform from the connector body. Another type has a radially inward projection which engages a recess in the endform. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment disclosed herein, an apparatus for assembling or disassembling a pipe in a pipe holder, includes: a washer having a body having an annular portion and an extended portion having central bore passing therethrough, the body made of a memory material; a compression fitting for insertion into the pipe holder, the extended portion fitting in the compression fitting; and, a lock for insertion into the pipe holder. The lock is for moving the compression fitting to deform the annular portion against the holder if inserted to form a seal between the pipe, the compression fitting and the holder. The lock also is for allowing the annular portion to reform and move against the holder if the lock is removed such that the compression fitting may be removed if the lock is removed. 
     According to a further embodiment disclosed herein, a washer for use in assembling or disassembling a pipe in a pipe holder in conjunction with a compression fitting, and being used as a seal therein, is shown. The washer has a body made of a memory material, the body having a flange and a central bore extending axially along an axis extending through the bore from the flange. The central bore is for fitting in the compression fitting. The flange is for being compressed if the washer is driven into the holder and is for uncompressing after the washer is not driven into the holder such that the washer regains its form. 
     According to a still further embodiment disclosed herein, a method of assembling or disassembling a pipe in a pipe holder includes the steps of: providing a washer having a body having an annular portion and an extended portion having central bore passing therethrough, the body made of a memory material; inserting a compression fitting into the pipe holder; inserting the extended portion in the compression fitting; driving the compression fitting and the washer fitting against the pipe holder with a lock; to seal the pipe holder while deforming the annular portion; and locking the compression fitting and the washer from moving. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, disassembled view of an embodiment of a supply stop. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled, cutaway view of the supply stop of  FIG. 1  in an installed position. 
         FIG. 2A  is a, cutaway view of the supply stop of  FIG. 2  in an un-installed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a retainer of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a gripper ring of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective, end view of an assembled retainer, gripper ring and body of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a verification cartridge of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a compression ring of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a verification clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8A  is an end schematic view of an assembled verification clip seated in a body of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of a spring/washer used in the supply stop of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is front view of the spring/washer of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the spring/washer of  FIG. 9  partially assembled. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a non-limiting embodiment of a supply stop  10  is shown. The embodiment has a body  15 , a valve portion  20 , a verification clip  25 , a spring/washer  300 , a verification cartridge  30 , a compression ring  35 , a backer ring  40 , a gripper ring  45 , a retainer  50  and a collet  55 . The supply stop may also be described as a pipe joint assembly. 
     A body  15  has as a main inlet bore  60 , an outlet bore  65 , a minor bore  70  in which the valve portion  20  is disposed, and a handle assembly  75 . The body further has a semi-circular opening  80  (see also  FIG. 8A ) in which the verification clip  25  may be inserted as will be discussed herein. The body  15  also has a pair of outboard openings  85  (see also  FIG. 5 ) extending from the main bore  60  into which ears  90  extending from the backer ring  40  are inserted (see also  FIG. 5 ) as will be discussed herein below. 
     The body  15  has a chamfered surface  95  that extends from the main bore  60  to the minor bore  70  to form an interference fit with the verification cartridge  30  and the spring/washer  300  as will also be discussed herein below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the collet  55 , the retainer  50  and gripper ring  45 , the backer ring  40  form an assembly  100  in the body  15 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the backer ring  40  is shown having a plurality of indentations  105  and an inner wall  110 , and a flange  115  backing the indentations depending inwardly therefrom. The flange  115  has approximately the same inner diameter as a pipe  120  (see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ) that might be passed therethrough to provide fluid through the inlet bore  60  to the valve portion  20 . An outer surface  125  of the backer ring  40  has a pair of ears  90  that fit into a pair of outboard openings  85  (see also  FIG. 5 ) in the body  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the gripper ring  45  has a plurality of outwardly depending fingers  130  that mate with the indentations  105  in the backer ring  40 . The gripper ring  45  also has a plurality of teeth  135  that extend within the inner bore  60  of the body  15  through which the pipe  120  extends and form an interference fit with the pipe when the pipe is inserted through the gripper ring  45 . The teeth  135  extend in the direction the pipe  120  is inserted into the body  15  so that attempts to remove the pipe from within the body are opposed by the teeth  130  that dig into the pipe  120  during such an attempt. The teeth  130  also oppose rotation of the gripper ring  45  about the pipe  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the ears  90  of the backer ring  40  are inserted into the outboard openings  85  in the body  15  thereby preventing the backer ring  40  from any rotation therein. Further, the outwardly extending fingers  130  of the gripper ring  45  fit within the indentations  105  in the backer ring  40  thereby preventing the gripper ring  45  from rotating within the backer ring  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , after insertion of the insertion of the backer ring  40 , the gripper ring  45 , the collet  55  is inserted into the retainer  50 . An outward extension  140  of the collet  55  gets hung up on an interior shoulder of the retainer  50 . The retainer  50 , similar to the backer ring  40 , has a pair of ears  150  for insertion into the outboard openings  85  in the body  15  body to seal the body and prevent leakage therefrom. The retainer  50  also serves to hold the gripper ring  45  within the extension  105  in the backer ring  40 . The collet, the retainer  50 , and the backer ring  40  in the body  15 , may be constructed of a similar material, such as a plastic or polymer, that may be sonically welded or the like together. A sonic weld provides a strong bond and helps minimize leaks through the end of the body  15 . The collet  55  has an inner diameter  155  that approximates the diameter of the pipe  120  through the collet and assist in guiding the pipe into the body for positive retainment therein. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , verification cartridge  30  is shown. The verification cartridge has a first interior diameter  160 , a second interior diameter  165  and a third interior diameter  170 . The first interior diameter  160  is designed to hold the compression ring  35 , the second interior diameter  165 , is designed to hold an end of the pipe  120  to be inserted therein, and the third interior diameter  170  forms a passageway through which receives a cylindrical bore  305  of the spring/washer  300  (see  FIGS. 9 and 11 ) through which fluid flows to the valve portion  20 . The spring/washer  300  interacts with chamfered surface  95  in the body  15  as will be discussed infra. The first inner diameter  160  has a seal  205  disposed thereon a juncture between the second inner diameter  165  and the first inner diameter  160 . Interference tab  265  helps prevent insertion of verification clip  25  if the verification cartridge and compression ring are not properly in position as will be discussed herein below. 
     The seal  205  disposed in the verification clip may be co-injection molded with the body of the verification clip  30 . The seal  205  is not designed to have an interference fit initially with the pipe  120  that passes therethrough, as will be discussed herein. The verification cartridge has a groove  210  therein for receiving a position tab within the compression ring, as will be discussed herein. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, 2A and 7 , the compression ring  35  has a location tab  215  cooperating with the groove  210  of the verification cartridge. The compression ring has a chamfered surface  220  that cooperates with the verification clip  25 , as will be discussed herein. The compression ring also has an interior bore  225  through which a pipe extends therethrough. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 8A , the verification clip  25  and its relationship to the body  15  of the supply stop  10  is shown. The verification clip  25  has an upper arcuate portion  230  that conforms to the shape of the exterior of the body  15  if inserted therein, a plurality of arcuate engagement members  235  for engaging the pipe  120 , and two legs  240 . Each leg is flexible, has an angled side  245  that is designed to engage the chamfered surface  220  of the compression ring  35  to move axially towards the verification cartridge  30  and a pair of snap tabs  250  at the ends of the legs. Each of the snap tabs  250  is designed to fit within openings  255  in the body  15 . The flexibility of each of the legs  240  causes the legs to create a signal such as an audible click to be heard when the snap tabs  250  are released to extend beyond the body  15  when encountering opening  255  after being flexed inwardly to be inserted into the body  15 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 , the spring/washer  300  and the verification cartridge  30  are shown. The spring/washer  300  has a cylindrical bore  305  having a bead  310  extending around an end  315  of the bore  305 . The bead extends beyond the third interior diameter  170  to hold the spring/washer in the verification cartridge  30  during preassembly. The spring/washer  300  has an annular neck  320  extending outwardly from the bore  305  to an annular body  325  that arcs away from the bore  305 . The annular body  325  and the neck  320  form a first groove  330  for receiving the third interior diameter  170  of the verification cartridge  30 . The annular body  325  has an annular ridge  335  disposed inwardly of an outer apex  340 . A portion  345  angles towards axis  350  at a 45 degree angle. A second groove  360  is disposed between in the annular body  325  adjacent the annular ridge  335 . If the portion  345  engages the chamfered surface  195 , the annular body  335  closes the second groove  360 . The spring/washer  300  is made of an elastomer or a rubber or other flexible/malleable/compressible material that has memory. 
     Prior to assembly of the supply stop  10 , the bore  305  of the spring/washer  300  is placed within the third interior diameter  170  of the verification cartridge  30  until the bead  310  extends through the third interior diameter  170  thereby anchoring the spring/washer  300  to the verification cartridge  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , to assemble the supply stop  10 , the verification cartridge  30  and the attached spring/washer is inserted into the body  15  before the compression ring  35 . The fingers  130  of the gripper ring  45  are then inserted into the indentations  105  of the backer ring  40  so that the gripper ring does not rotate within the backer ring. The ears  90  of the backer ring  40  are inserted into the outboard openings  85  of the body  15  so that the backer ring and the gripper ring inserted in the backer ring do not rotate within the body. The collet is inserted into the retainer. Then the collet and retainer are inserted into the body  15 . The collet  55 , the retainer  50 , the gripper ring  45 , the backer ring  40  are all then sonically welded (or glued or the like) together and to the body  15 . The verification cartridge  30  and the compression ring  35  are still free to move axially within the body  15 . Note that exterior flange  195  is unbent and does not contact the chamfered surface  95  of the body  15 . Note also that verification clip  25  is blocked from insertion into opening  80  by interference tab  265  on the verification cartridge  30  and by compression ring  35 . The angled surface  245  of the legs  240  of the verification clip  25  do not reach the chamfered surface  220  of the compression ring  35  to move the compression ring towards the valve portion  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a pipe  120  is inserted into the body  15  through the collet  55 , the compression ring  35  and the verification cartridge  30 . While being inserted, an end  260  of the pipe  120  enters the second portion  165  of a reduced diameter within the verification cartridge and pushes the verification cartridge and the spring/washer  300  towards the valve portion  20  such that the portion  345  of the spring/washer  300  engages the chamfered surface  95  of the body  15  and bends forward towards the body  15 . The compression ring  35  is disposed at this time within the verification cartridge  30 . The second groove is closed by the spring/washer  300  annular body  325  thereby forming a seal to minimize leakage therefrom. The annular body  325  is compressed by such motion and will spring back if the compression of the compression ring is removed. 
     Because the interference tab  265  and the compression ring  35  are moved axially by insertion of the pipe  120 , a user may then insert the verification clip  25  within the opening  80  within the body  15 . The angled surfaces  245  of the legs  240  then have access to and engage the chamfered surface  220  of the compression ring  35 , the surfaces cooperating thereby to drive the compression ring axially towards the valve portion  20 . As the compression rings moves, the seal  205  of the verification cartridge is compressed by contact with the compression ring and the inner seal then makes contact with the pipe  120  providing sealing thereby. As the verification clip continues to move, its legs  240  extend beyond the body  15  through opening  255  and an audible click may be heard signaling to a user that installation is complete. 
     If the verification clip  25  is not fully inserted, the compression ring  35  will not compress the inner seal  215  properly and leakage will be detected if the water is turned on. Furthermore, if the compression ring  35  does not move far enough axially, because the pipe  120  is not inserted far enough, the legs  240  of the verification clip  25  will not move far enough in cooperation with the chamfered surface  220  of the compression ring  35  to provide an audible click. 
     The spring/washer  300  attached to the verification cartridge  30  provides two functions. First, if the pipe  120  is not inserted far enough into the body  15  (or not at all), the spring/washer  300  is flexible enough so that it pushes the verification cartridge  30 , and the compression ring  35  thereby, back towards the backer ring  40  thereby minimizing a probability that a user can insert the verification clip  25  far enough into the body  25  to believe the pipe  120  is properly installed. Secondly, if the supply stop has to be removed, reused or adjusted, after the verification clip is removed, the spring/washer  300  reacts against the chamfered surface  95  of the body to push the verification cartridge and compression ring back towards the backer ring  40  so they can be accessed, adjusted or reused. 
     The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.