Patent Abstract:
An orifice holder assembly provides a boss connected by at least one arm to a base having an outlet therethrough. The boss is provided below the outlet. A tube is inserted through the boss until a bead contacts a first boss surface and the tube end is then deflected to form a lip where the lip and the bead connects the tube to the boss. An orifice body is then inserted in the tube end.

Full Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/957,258 filed Aug. 22, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a tubing assembly and more particularly, to tube orifice and orifice holding assembly improvements. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Member and tube assemblies such as the improvements shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,607,194 and 5,727,303 have been performed by the applicant. While these improvements are useful, in order to connect the tube and orifice to an orifice holder, a separate connection system has been utilized to perform that connection. In the prior art, this connection was been done typically by screwing the threads such as the threads 41 of FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,194 into cooperating threads of an orifice holder. While this would provide easy installation replacement, it also could allow for such conditions to exist as imprecise placement of a tube relative to the orifice holders, (i.e., such as if the fitting was not inserted the proper amount). Furthermore, since the tubes which are connected to the fittings are not usually straight when they are installed in an oven, it may be extremely difficult to rotate a tube relative to an installed orifice holder. Furthermore, since there are not normally any moving parts at this location once installed, the opportunity for failure of these component parts is particularly small so replacement of one part relative to the other is not believed to be commonly performed. 
         [0004]    While the prior art technology is certainly useful and continues to be widely practiced by the applicant, an improved manufacturing method and completed apparatus is believed to be desirable at least for some applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a tube securely connected to an orifice holder independent of cooperating threads. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a tube connected to an orifice holder in an improved manner. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a tube secured to an orifice holder such that the tube is connected to the orifice holder by the use of at least one tool applied through an air/fuel outlet of the orifice holder during the manufacturing process. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, an orifice holder, tube and orifice assembly of the presently preferred embodiment preferably includes a tube which includes a bead or other stop on an exterior surface of the tube which contacts a first position of an orifice holder. A portion of the tube passes through a bore extending from the first position to a second position in the orifice holder. A tool such an a mandrel is preferably inserted through an outlet of the orifice holder and is used to flare out the tube at a second position of the orifice holder so that the tube is then secured to the orifice holder so that the orifice holder outlet as well as the tube outlet are disposed beyond the second position of the orifice holder. The tube is then provided with an orifice such as by screwing the orifice into the tube. The preferred method is believed to provide a cost savings to the manufacturer through construction while providing a high quality product for the completed product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an assembled orifice holder connected to a tube and an orifice of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention from a side view; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the orifice holder assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a process of manufacturing the orifice holder assembly as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed cross sectional view of a detail marked as A in  FIG. 3  after the manufacturing step has been completed and the orifice installed as would be in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an orifice holder assembly  10  having an orifice holder  12  which is typically a cast part, and in the preferred embodiment, has been cast out of aluminum. Of course, other manufacturing techniques could be utilized to make other orifice holders. Casting has been found to be economical while providing a quality product. 
         [0015]    The orifice holder  12  has an outlet  14 , shown in  FIG. 2 , at a top end  16 . The outlet  14  of this embodiment is illustrated as being at least substantially round and directs a fuel gas mixture from below through the outlet  14  past the top end  16  for use by a burner which is not shown. Many burner designs have been constructed. Other orifice holders have been utilized in the past for such uses. 
         [0016]    This orifice holder has two arms  18 , 20  which are shown in  FIG. 3 , extending from a base  22 . These arms connect at a boss  24  which is configured to have a bore therethrough which receives a portion of tube  26  therethrough. A bead  28  is preferably utilized to stop the tube  26  a desired position relative to the boss  24  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  during the assembly process. Other mechanisms known in the art can also be utilized which provide a stop so that no further travel of the tube  26  through the bore can occur due to the presence of the bead  28 . 
         [0017]    Once the tube  26  is installed as shown in  FIG. 3 , an anvil  30  or other device is inserted through the outlet  14  of the orifice holder  12  and causes the end  32  of the tube  26  to be deflected such as shown in  FIG. 4  so that the boss  24  of the orifice holder is secured relative to the lip  34  created by the bent tube  26  and the bead  28 . This method of construction is believed to be a large improvement over the prior art in that in the prior art such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,607,194 and 5,727,303. 
         [0018]    In the prior art, a separate nut and thread arrangement was utilized to secure those fittings to orifice holders. By manufacturing an orifice holder as shown and described in the figures herein, at least several manufacturing steps and parts can be omitted which is believed to result in a cost savings to at least the manufacturer, if not the end user. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bead  28  has a boss engagement flange  36  which is shown adjacent to boss surface  38  and lip  34  as a lip engagement surface  40  which engages boss surface  42 . Additionally, arms  18 , 20  are illustrated extending above the lip  34  as well as above orifice body  46 . 
         [0020]    After connecting the tube  26  to the orifice holder  12 , if the tube end  32  is not already provided with threads is may be tapped so that it has threads  44  as shown in  FIG. 4  by directing the tap (not shown) through the outlet  14  and providing the threads  44  as shown in  FIG. 4  in a similar manner as anvil  30  is shown applied in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, and more preferably, the orifice body  46  may make its own threaded connection (i.e., somewhat self tapping). The orifice body  46  with its cooperating threads is then inserted preferably through the outlet  14  so that its cooperating threads engage threads  44  so it can be provided in the position shown in  FIG. 4 . The orifice body  46  then has bore  48  which allows for the gas from the tube  26  to then mix with air in the space  49  prior to being directed through the outlet  14  where mixing can further continue to occur within a burner (not shown) before being lit and providing heat in a stove type configuration. 
         [0021]    While it is alternatively possible to provide an anvil  30 , tap or orifice at the space  48  below to the base  22  to flare the lip  34  and/or install the orifice body  46  in a similar manner, the presently preferred embodiment as described herein provides the connection of the tube  26  to the boss  24  through application through the outlet  14  as well as the machining of the tube  26  to provide threads  44  if not done prior to the installation of the tube  26  to the boss  24 . Finally it is also presently preferred to install the orifice body  46  through the outlet  14 . 
         [0022]    It is important to remember that in the prior art the machining of the tube  26  to a fitting has been performed before installing the fitting to an orifice holder  12 . 
         [0023]    Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5