An intake for quick coupling pipes, to form a joint, including a body defining a central axis and a first channel at least partially centered relative to the central axis to partially house the joint, an annular sealing element movably within the first channel including a plurality of fastening sectors to reciprocally radially move and define release and clamping positions, an extractor partially in the body, movable along the central axis relative to the body and allowing the sealing element to pass from the clamping position to the release position. The body includes an obstruction defining a ring within the first channel. The sealing element defines an interference portion interfering with the obstruction. The obstruction and interference portion form a circular fulcrum around which the fastening sectors rotate and provide the release position as result of opening thrust caused by the extractor or joint passing in the sealing element.

A fitting assembly includes a first fitting component having an outboard end that receives the conduit end portion, a second fitting component joined to the first fitting component to define an interior cavity, a seal device disposed in the interior cavity, and a retainer assembled with at least one of the first and second fitting components. The seal device forms a seal between one of the first and second fitting components and an outer surface of a conduit end portion. The retainer includes a gripping portion received in a circumferential groove of the conduit end portion to grip the conduit end portion, and a colleting portion outboard of the gripping portion and configured to apply a colleting force to the outer surface of the conduit end portion at least when an outboard axial load is applied to the conduit.

A push to connect fitting includes a body member adapted to receive a conduit end, a conduit comprising a first end that can be axially inserted into the body member and a conduit gripping device attached to an exterior surface of the conduit, and a retainer that retains the conduit in place when said conduit is fully inserted into the body member. Additional embodiments include providing a seal with the fitting that seals the exterior surface of the conduit, an optional load retaining sleeve for the conduit gripping device, and an optional gimbal. The push to connect aspect may be realized in the form of a single action unthreaded mechanical connection.

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preserved storage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or other liquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquid does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to a dispensing/pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent delivery system. In at least several novel embodiments thereof, the system and method of the present invention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (“WinB”) products.

A push to connect fitting includes first and second fitting components and a conduit releasing insert. The first and second fitting components are assembled to define an internal cavity enclosing a conduit retaining arrangement axially movable between an outboard conduit gripping position and an inboard conduit releasing position. The conduit releasing insert includes a fitting interlocking feature releasably engaging the second fitting component, and a releasing feature engaging the conduit retaining arrangement to secure the conduit retaining arrangement in the conduit releasing position against axial outboard movement. Movement of the conduit releasing insert to disengage the fitting interlocking feature from the second fitting component permits outboard axial movement of the conduit retaining arrangement to the conduit gripping position.

An improved method of securing a pipe to a connector is provided that includes inserting an end of the pipe into the connector with sufficient force for the pipe to fully seat in the connector. The inventive improvement is generating an auditory signal, a visual signal, or combination thereof in response to pipe fully seating in the connector. The signal generation is provided by components within the connector itself or through resort to a sensing tool.

A push-to-connect coupling with integrated filtration is disclosed. In one aspect, the coupling comprises a tube support, a collet and a filter element. The coupling may include a seal. The coupling connects to a cavity, which may be a portable fitting. The cavity may be a connection on a separate device or system, such as an air tank or other devices. The filter element may be dome-shaped. The tube support is easily assembled with the cavity, for example by threading, to capture the filter element. The tube is connected to the coupling by pushing the tube over the tube support and through the collet. The collet interacts with a reduced diameter section of the cavity to apply a clamping force from the collet on the tube and secure the tube in place. The tube is easily removed from the cavity simply by pushing the collet farther into the cavity to remove the clamping force on the tube, and then pulling the tube out.

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preserved storage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or other liquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquid does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to a dispensing/pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent delivery system. In at least several novel embodiments thereof, the system and method of the present invention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (WinB) products.

A connector comprising a body (1) having a through-way defining an axis and which is open at one end (4) and a shoulder (8) in the through-way faces the open end and supports an O-ring (9). A cap (2) is fitted within an open end of the body and extends from the open end towards the opposite end, the cap being retained in the body (1) by a snap fit. The cap has a plurality of legs (24) extending away from the open end, the legs each having an outwardly extending tooth (22) at the end opposite to the open end to engage with a complimentary recess (12) in the body to provide the snap fit. A collet (3) in the cap has a plurality of legs (31) extending away from the open end, at least one collet leg engaging with a leg of the cap and having an inwardly facing tooth (32) to grip a tube in the through-way. The cap (2) has an inwardly facing tapered surface (29) that is tapered to provide a cap angle that engages with the collet legs (31) such that axial movement of the collet (3) towards the open end (4) causes inward deflection of the collet legs and causes a radially outward force to be applied to the legs (24) of the cap (2) via the tapered surface (29) to urge the or each tooth of the cap into its respective complimentary recess (12).

A hose connector assembly for connecting a hose to a port of a pressurized fluid system, the system including a socket and an adapter tube in fluid communication, with an end portion of the socket adapted to be connected to a port and having a receiving opening. The adapter tube has a plug-in end portion to be pushed into the receiving opening which is adapted to cooperate with the plug-in end portion to form a plug-in connection mechanism. The adapter tube has a hose connector end fitting adapted to be received in, hold and retain a hose end portion. Complementary locking surfaces of the receiving opening and plug-in end portion are engaged when the plug-in end portion is connected by the plug-in connection mechanism to the socket to lock the adapter tube with respect to the socket against rotation about the longitudinal axis of the adapter tube within the socket.