One aspect of the invention provides a bushing including: a plurality of rigid members defining one or more internal ribs including a first internal rib adapted and configured to engage a corrugation valley of corrugated tubing; and one or more elastic members adapted and configured to: hold the plurality of rigid members in substantially annular configuration; allow the plurality of rigid members to expand to allow a corrugation peak to pass under the first internal rib; and hold the plurality of rigid members against the corrugated tubing so that the first internal rib lies within a corrugation valley. Another aspect of the invention provides a fitting including: a body member defining a sleeve portion; and a bushing as described herein received within the sleeve portion of the body member.

A guide ring includes a guide ring body defining a guide outer surface, a guide inner surface opposite the guide outer surface, a first lateral end, a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end, a first circumferential end, and a second circumferential end opposite the first circumferential end, the guide inner surface defining a guide ring opening; a gap defined between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end; and an arcuate guide slot extending laterally into the guide ring body and disposed radially between the guide outer surface and the guide inner surface and configured to receive a grip ring; wherein the guide ring body is configured to be compressed radially inward to reduce a width of the gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end.

A guide ring includes a guide ring body defining a guide outer surface, a guide inner surface opposite the guide outer surface, a first lateral end, a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end, a first circumferential end, and a second circumferential end opposite the first circumferential end, the guide inner surface defining a guide ring opening; a gap defined between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end; and an arcuate guide slot extending laterally into the guide ring body and disposed radially between the guide outer surface and the guide inner surface and configured to receive a grip ring; wherein the guide ring body is configured to be compressed radially inward to reduce a width of the gap between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end.

Disclosed herein is a back ferrule having a bellows-shaped elastic part. The back ferrule (40) is used, for pipe connection, along with: a connector body (10) having an external thread on an outer circumferential surface thereof; a drive nut (20) having an internal thread on an inner circumferential surface thereof; and a front ferrule (30). The back ferrule (40) includes: a nose part (41) having a front-end inclined surface (41b); a tail part (42) having a rear-end inclined surface (42b); and an outer circumferential surface (43) and an inner circumferential surface (44) connecting the nose part to the tail part. An outer circumferential corrugated surface (45) and an inner circumferential corrugated surface (46) are respectively formed on the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface between the nose part and the tail part.

A coupling system for interconnecting a tube to a valve body is provided. The valve body has a body portion and a nipple extending from the body portion, and the nipple has a threaded external surface and an internal wall defining a bore. The coupling system further includes an adapter having opposing first and second ends, a nut defining a hole through which the first end passes, and a compression fitting located between the nipple, the adapter, and the nut such that when the nut is tightened onto the nipple, the compression fitting inhibits removal of the adapter from the valve body. The adapter defines a passageway extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end is received in the bore and the second end is configured to couple to the tube. The nut has an internally threaded surface configured to engage the threaded external surface.

Methods for forming a pipe end for a pipe having an inner surface lined with a liner are provided, wherein the pipe is cut at an axial location to provide a first end having an initial inner diameter defined by an inner surface of the pipe; and a length of the pipe is expanded from the first end to form an upset, bell end where an inner diameter of the upset, bell end is larger than the initial diameter, thereby defining an annulus between the inner surface of the pipe and the liner. A clamp for limiting a pipe's movement during various operations is also provided.

Methods for forming a pipe end for a pipe having an inner surface lined with a liner are provided, wherein the pipe is cut at an axial location to provide a first end having an initial inner diameter defined by an inner surface of the pipe; and a length of the pipe is expanded from the first end to form an upset, bell end where an inner diameter of the upset, bell end is larger than the initial diameter, thereby defining an annulus between the inner surface of the pipe and the liner. A clamp for limiting a pipe's movement during various operations is also provided.

The present application discloses methods and apparatus for installing fitting components, such as a conduit gripping device, on a conduit to form an assembly. The assembly is joinable with at least one other fitting component to form a fitting. The present application also discloses methods and apparatus for evaluating characteristics of components of a mechanically attached connection. Characteristics that may be evaluated include, but are not limited to, the position of a conduit gripping device on a conduit, an amount of axial compression or stroke of the conduit gripping device, an amount of clamping force applied to the conduit gripping device as the conduit gripping device is compressed, and an amount of torque applied to members that compresses the conduit gripping device.

A method of coupling first and second pipe elements in end-to-end facing relationship includes obtaining a coupling, the coupling including an annular gasket, at least one segment, and a fastener, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least two ends, each end including at least one of a tongue and a groove, each tongue protruding circumferentially from at least one end, each groove defined circumferentially in at least one end; slipping the coupling onto the first pipe element beyond any groove proximate the end of the first pipe element; aligning the second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship with the first pipe element; slipping the coupling onto the second pipe element such that the segments of the coupling straddle the ends of the first and second pipe elements; and engaging each fastener to deform each segment into contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second pipe elements.

This invention relates to a partially carbonitriding heat treated stainless steel ferrule, having a first region with a first hardness and a second region with a second hardness, wherein the first region includes a nitrogen layer having a nitrogen concentration higher than a carbon concentration, and a carbon layer formed under the nitrogen layer and having a carbon concentration higher than a nitrogen concentration, so that the first hardness is greater than the second hardness. Thereby, partial heat treatment is effective at preventing rotational torque of the region, except for the portion to be heat treated, from increasing due to the total hardening.