Patent ID: 6929289

Claim:
A tube coupling to receive and hold a tube comprising: a coupling body having a throughway with an open end to receive a tube having an end face, an annular step in the throughway facing the open end, the throughway extending through the coupling body so as to allow fluid to pass through the coupling body; an end cap engaging the coupling body for axial movement between forward and retracted positions on the coupling body, the end cap having an opening for the tube to extend through; a device mounted in the end cap to receive and lock a tube in the end cap; a seal located in the coupling body between the annular step and the open end of the body and in the form of an annular sleeve encircling the throughway, the seal having an out-turned annular flange at one end which engages with the annular step, the seal engaging with the end face of the tube inserted into the throughway; and means operable by the end cap for compressing the seal around an outer surface of the tube adjacent said end face of the tube to form a seal with the end of the tube the means comprising a compression sleeve having one end located in the end cap and projecting into the open end of the throughway around the seal, wherein forward movement of the end cap drives the compression sleeve between the seal and the coupling body to compress the seal inwardly into sealing engagement with the tube and retraction movement of the end cap withdraws the compression sleeve to release the sealing engagement between the seal and the tube.