Tube connector assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tube connector assembly which may comprise a body provided with a through cavity extending in an axial direction, a ring adapted to be mounted at the periphery of a useful portion of the tube and provided, at one of its ends, with a support surface adapted to receive a curved end portion of the tube, a nut adapted to be screwed onto the body so as to compress the curved end portion of the tube against a receiving surface in the axial direction via said ring, and an annular receiving part forming the receiving surface and removably mounted on the body.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for a tube comprising: a body provided with a cavity extending in an axial direction, a ring adapted to be mounted at the periphery of a useful portion of the tube, the ring having at one end a support surface adapted to receive a curved end portion of the tube, a nut adapted to be screwed onto the body so as to engage the ring to press the curved end portion of the tube against a receiving surface in the axial direction, and an annular receiving part forming the receiving surface and removably mounted on the body, wherein the nut is mounted at the periphery of the ring, and wherein the ring comprises a rib.

2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, comprising a seal between the body and the receiving part.

3. The connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the seal comprises a male element and a female element.

4. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cavity of the body comprises a main section and an enlarged end section opening outwards, wherein the body comprises a shoulder at the junction between the main section and the end section, and wherein the receiving part is mounted inside the body against the shoulder.

5. The connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the receiving part has a useful internal surface configured to connect the main section of the cavity and the useful portion of the tube.

6. The connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the useful internal surface of the receiving part is cylindrical with a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the main section.

7. The connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the useful internal surface of the receiving part is frustoconical.

8. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body and the receiving part lock the receiving part relative to the body in the radial direction.

9. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein rib extends over the entire circumference of the ring and engages the nut.

10. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nut is configured to be screwed into the cavity of the body.

11. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receiving part has an annular groove.

12. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receiving part is made of a material having a first Young's modulus, wherein the ring forming the support surface is made of a material having a second Young's modulus, and wherein the first Young's modulus is less than the second Young's modulus.

13. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the receiving part, the body, the ring and the nut comprises a fluoropolymer.

14. The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the receiving part comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethyleneperfluoro-propylvinylether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene-perfluoromethylvinyl ether (MFA), and polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE).

15. The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the ring comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE).

16. The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the nut comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethyleneperfluoro-propylvinylether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene-perfluoromethylvinyl ether (MFA), and polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE).

17. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body is a pump, a valve, a manifold, a fitting, or a stopper.

18. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tube comprises an end portion which is curved against the support surface of the ring.

19. The connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein the support surface of the ring contacts only a portion of the end portion of the tube.

20. The connector assembly according to claim 19, wherein the support surface of the ring comprises a beveled surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will be well understood and its advantages will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of an embodiment, shown by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example connector assembly for a tube according to one embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is an example section according to II of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a view of the detail III of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is an example section according to IV of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a view of the detail V of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is an example section according to II of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a connector assembly 1 according to an embodiment for connecting, on a body 2 forming a T-connection with three branches, 20, 120, 220, of three tubes 10, 110, 210.

(9) The body 2 and the tubes 10, 110, 210 are, for example but not exclusively, made of PFA.

(10) As illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector assembly 1 comprises, at the first branch 20:

(11) a body part defining a through cylindrical cavity 30 of axis X1,

(12) a ring 40 adapted to be mounted at the periphery of a useful portion of the tube 10 and provided, at one of its ends, with a support surface 41 adapted to receive a curved end portion of the tube 15,

(13) an annular receiving part 50 removably mounted in the cavity 30 of the body 2, and defining a receiving surface 54 for the curved end portion 15 of the tube 10, and

(14) a nut 60 adapted to cooperate with the ring 40 and to be screwed onto the body 2 so as to compress the curved end portion 15 of the tube 10 against the receiving surface 54 of the receiving part 50, in the axial direction, by means of the ring 40.

(15) The cavity 30, which communicates with other cavities of the body 2 and, in particular, with the through cavities of the second and third branches 120, 220, comprises at least one main section 70 of diameter D1 and a widened end section 80, of diameter D2 greater than D1 (see FIG. 2). The end section 80 opens outwards at its rear end 80b, and is connected to the main section at its front end 80a by a shoulder 90. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the shoulder 90 here comprises a first generally frustoconical part 92 connected to the enlarged end section 80, and a second part 93 extending radially (orthogonally to the axis X1) connected to the main section 70.

(16) Throughout the remainder of the present disclosure, the terms front and rear will be used with reference to the axial direction, the mounting of the ring 40 and the nut 60 through the rear end of the through cavity 30 being made towards the front (towards the body).

(17) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the widened end section 80 of the cavity is provided, at its rear end 80b, with an internal thread 81 whose function will be specified hereinafter.

(18) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ring 40 forms a tubular sleeve, the axis of which, in the mounted position, coincides with the axis X1 of the cavity 30 of the body.

(19) It is for example made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), ethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) or polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE).

(20) The ring 40 surrounds a useful portion 14 of the tube where said tube 10 is cylindrical, of internal diameter D3 and of external diameter D4 (see FIG. 2).

(21) To enable it to be mounted on the tube 10, the ring 40 has an internal diameter D5 substantially equal to or slightly greater than the external diameter D4 of the tube 10.

(22) The front end 40a of the ring 40, directed towards the body 2 in the mounted position, forms a support surface 41 adapted to receive the curved end portion 15 of the tube 10.

(23) In the embodiment (see in particular FIG. 3), the axial end 40a of the ring 40 is rounded, the support surface 41 having, in particular, an axial semi-circular cross-section with a radius of curvature r1 equal to half the thickness e4 of the ring.

(24) According to variants (not shown), the end 40a of the ring 40 may have any other suitable shape. It may, for example, have an axial section in the form of a point with a rounded end, with a radius less than e4/2.

(25) In the embodiment, the end portion 15 of the tube 10 is curved around the support surface 41 so that an axial end surface 15a of the said curved portion 15 has a semicircular axial section with a radius of curvature r2 equal to the radius of curvature r1 of the support surface 41 of the ring 4, with the added thickness e of the tube 10.

(26) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nut 60 is a separate part from the ring 40, configured to be mounted at the periphery of the ring 40 and provided with a thread 61, external in this case, adapted to cooperate by screwing with the internal thread 81 of the body 2. It is, for example, made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

(27) As illustrated in the figures, the nut 60 is not in contact with the tube 10.

(28) More particularly, the nut 60 is adapted to be engaged on the ring 40 through the rear end 40b of the latter, opposite to the support surface 41. It will be understood that during the mounting of the assembly 1, the nut 60 is engaged on the tube 10 before the ring 40, or at the same time as the latter.

(29) As shown in FIG. 2, to enable mounting of the nut 6, the ring 4 has at least one mounting section 42 extending from the rear end 40b, having an external diameter D6 substantially equal to, or smaller than the internal diameter D7 of the nut 6. At least one part 43 (in the embodiment, the entire length) of said section 42 has an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the nut 60.

(30) At the same time, and as indicated above, the nut 60 is adapted to cooperate with the ring 40 in order to move the latter integrally in the axial direction X. The ring 40 is, for this purpose, provided with abutment means with which the nut 60 is adapted to cooperate axially in order to integrally displace said ring 40 in the axial direction. These abutment means comprise, in the embodiment, an annular and continuous circumferential rib 44 formed at the periphery of the ring 40, near the front end 40a of said ring 40 carrying the support surface 41.

(31) According to an arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rib 44 may be dimensioned to bear radially against the internal surface of the body 2, in the mounted position, enabling a prepositioning of the ring before mounting the nut.

(32) The removable receiving part 50, which has an annular shape, is mounted inside the cavity 30 of the body 2. It is, for example, made of polytetrafluoroethyleneperfluoro-propylvinylether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene-perfluoromethylvinyl ether (MFA) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

(33) The receiving part 50 is configured here to cooperate positively with the body 2.

(34) For this purpose, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the part 50 comprises a cylindrical radially outer surface 51 of diameter D8 substantially identical to the diameter D2 of the widened end section 80, which ensures its blocking with respect to the body 2 in the radial direction.

(35) As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving part 50 further comprises a front surface 52, directed towards the interior of the body 2, shaped to bear, at least in part, on the shoulder 90.

(36) As shown in the figure, the sealing between the receiving part and the body is achieved here by the cooperation of an annular rib 53 projecting from the front surface 52 of the receiving part and a groove 91 formed in the surface of the second part 93 of the shoulder 90.

(37) This sealing system allows at the same time to avoid any radial deformation of the receiving part 50 which can lead to the formation of retention zones disturbing the flow of the fluid.

(38) As an alternative, the sealing between the receiving part and the body could be achieved by any other suitable system, for example, by a gasket partly compressed in at least one groove formed in one of the receiving part and the body, and another part which could be compressed against the other of the receiving part and the body.

(39) As previously indicated, the receiving part 50 therefore bears against part of the shoulder 90, and more particularly against the second part 93 of the shoulder which comprises the groove 91 and which is also directly opposite the shoulder zone of the receiving surface for receiving the curved portion of the tube.

(40) The receiving part 50 further comprises a rear surface 54 directed towards the open end of the cavity 30 forming the receiving surface on which the curved end portion 15 of the tube 10 can be clamped under the effect of the screwing of the nut 60 on the body 2.

(41) The receiving part 50 further comprises a rear surface 54, directed towards the open end of the cavity 30 forming the receiving surface on which the curved end portion 15 of the tube 10 can be clamped upon screwing of the nut 60 on the body 2.

(42) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the receiving surface 54 may include an annular groove 55, in particular a groove with a curved axial cross-section, configured to cooperate positively with the compressed end portion 15 of the tube 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the groove 55 has at least one section in a semi-circle having a radius of curvature r2.

(43) Finally, the receiving part 50 comprises a useful radially internal surface (hereinafter the useful surface) 56 intended to make the junction between the useful portion 14 of the tube 10 and the main section 70 of the cavity 30. In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a rear end 56b of said useful surface may be in contact or flush with the internal surface of the useful portion 15 of the tube 10, and a front end 56a of said useful surface 56 may be in contact or flush with the internal surface of the main section 70.

(44) In the embodiment, the internal diameter D3 of the tube 10 and the diameter D1 of the main section 70 of the cavity 30 of the body are substantially identical. The useful surface 56 is thus exactly aligned with the internal surface of the tube 10 and the internal surface of the cavity 30, the three elements forming a cylindrical conduit of constant diameter.

(45) The useful surface 56 of the receiving part 50 is therefore cylindrical with a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter D1 of the main section 70.

(46) As will be explained hereinafter, the connector assembly 1 according to the described embodiments allows connecting tubes of different diameters to the same cavity 30 of the body 2. To do this, it suffices to adapt the receiving part 50 and the ring 40 to the diameter of the tube to be connected.

(47) In the example of FIG. 1, the cylindrical cavity 130 of the second branch 120 of the body 2 has the same structure and dimensions as the cavity 30 described above.

(48) However, the tube 110 connected to this second cavity has a smaller diameter than that of the tube 10. In particular, the internal diameter D3 of the tube 110 is smaller than the internal diameter D1 of the main section of the cavity 130.

(49) FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail the connection of the tube 110. In this figure, the elements identical or similar to those described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 are designated by the same reference number incremented by 100, and are not described again thereafter.

(50) The ring 140 is mounted at the periphery of a useful portion 114 of the tube 110. Its internal diameter is substantially equal to, or slightly greater than the external diameter of the tube 110.

(51) As in the previous embodiment, the nut 160, identical to the nut 60 described above, is adapted to be mounted on a mounting section 142 of the ring 140. To save the material of the ring on the one hand, and limit the friction between the ring 140 and the nut 160 on the other hand, only a portion 143 of the said mounting section 142 has an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the nut so that the nut 160 can bear on it.

(52) Likewise, as in the preceding example, the receiving part 150 has a useful internal surface 156 intended to make the junction between the useful portion 114 of the tube 110 and the main section 170 of the cavity 130.

(53) In the example, due to the difference in diameter between the tube 110 and the main section 170 of the cavity 130, the useful surface 156 flares over at least a part of its axial length, particularly towards the front. In other words, the useful surface 156 has a spacing c with the axis X which increases from its rear end 156b or a point between said rear end 156b and its front end 156a, towards its front end 156a.

(54) In the example of FIGS. 4 and 5, more particularly, the useful surface 156 comprises a first cylindrical portion 157 extending from its rear end 156b connected to the internal surface of the tube 110, and a second portion 158, located directly in the extension of said first portion 157, of flared shape, generally frustoconical. According to other variants, the useful surface 156 may also comprise a flared portion of a different shape, for example the useful surface 156 may comprise a flared portion with a curved profile.

(55) It should be noted that if the diameter of the tube to be connected was, unlike in the previous description, larger than the diameter of the main section of the cavity, the receiving part could also be configured so that the useful internal surface of said receiving part flares towards the rear.

(56) As shown in FIG. 6, alternate configurations for the ring (40) may provide improved performance in particular circumstances. For example, FIG. 6 shows the interface of a ring (40) with a curved end portion (15) of a tube (10). The ring (40) may have a beveled or chamfered surface (45) at the interface with the curved end portion (15) of the tube (10). Consequently, the ring (40) may only partially contact the curved end portion (15) of the tube (10) such that the ring (40) is not in contact with the curved end portion (15) of the tube (10) over the entire surface of the curved end portion (15) of the tube (10) at the interface. This feature may provide a better seal while reducing damage to the tube (10), which may result in improved sealing performance of the connector assembly and enhanced durability of the tube (10). While FIG. 6 shows the ring (40), this design may also be used in the ring (140) of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

(57) Thus, the connector assembly described above allows connecting, on through cavities of same dimensions, pipes of different diameters by simply changing the receiving part and the ring on which the tube is turned, while the nut can be retained for use with these different tubes.

(58) Many different aspects and embodiments are possible. Some of those aspects and embodiments are described below. After reading this specification, skilled artisans will appreciate that those aspects and embodiments are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the present invention. Exemplary embodiments may be in accordance with any one or more of the embodiments as listed below.

Embodiment 1

(59) A connector assembly (1) for a tube (10, 110) comprising a body (2) provided with at least one through cavity (30, 130) extending in an axial direction (X), at least one ring (40, 140) adapted to be mounted at the periphery of a useful portion (14, 114) of the tube (10, 110) and provided, at one of its ends (40a, 140a), with a support surface (41, 141) adapted to receive a curved end portion (15,115) of the tube (10,110), at least one nut (60, 160) adapted to be screwed onto the body (2) so as to compress the curved end portion (15,115) of the tube (10,110) against a receiving surface (54, 154) in the axial direction (X) via said ring (40, 140), characterized in that it further comprises at least one annular receiving part (50, 150) forming the receiving surface (54, 154) and removably mounted on the body (2).

Embodiment 2

(60) The connector assembly according to embodiment 1, comprising sealing means between the body and the receiving part (50, 150).

Embodiment 3

(61) The connector assembly according to embodiment 2, wherein the receiving part or the body is provided with at least one male element and the other, from the receiving part or the body, is provided with a female element adapted to cooperate by clamping with the male element to achieve sealing between the two parts.

Embodiment 4

(62) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the cavity (30, 130) of the body comprises a main section (70, 170) and an enlarged end section (80, 180) opening outwards, the body (2) having a shoulder (90, 190) at the junction between the main section (70,170) and the end section (80,180), and the receiving part (50, 150) is adapted to be mounted inside the body (2) bearing against said shoulder (90, 190).

Embodiment 5

(63) The connector assembly according to embodiment 4, wherein the receiving part (50, 150) has a useful internal surface (56, 156) configured to connect the main section (70, 170) of the cavity (30,130) and the useful portion (14,114) of the tube (10,110).

Embodiment 6

(64) The connector assembly according to embodiment 5, wherein the useful internal surface (56) of the receiving part (50) is cylindrical with a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the main section (70).

Embodiment 7

(65) The connector assembly according to embodiment 5, wherein the useful internal surface (156) of the receiving part (150) flares over at least part of its axial length.

Embodiment 8

(66) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the body (2) and the receiving part (50, 150) are configured to positively cooperate for blocking the receiving part (50, 150) relative to the body (2) in the radial direction.

Embodiment 9

(67) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the nut (60, 160) is configured to be mounted at the periphery of the ring (40,140), and the ring (40, 140) is provided with abutment means (44, 144) with which the nut (60, 160) is adapted to cooperate to integrally move said ring (40, 140) in the axial direction.

Embodiment 10

(68) The connector assembly according to embodiment 9, wherein the abutment means (44, 144) comprise a rib formed at the periphery of the ring (40, 140), in particular a rib extending over the entire circumference of the ring, (40,140).

Embodiment 11

(69) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the nut (60, 160) is configured to be screwed into the cavity (30, 130) of the body (2).

Embodiment 12

(70) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the receiving part (50, 150) has an annular groove (55, 155), especially an axial section curved groove, configured to positively cooperate with the compressed end portion (15, 115) of the tube (10, 110).

Embodiment 13

(71) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the receiving part (50, 150) is made of a material less rigid than the ring (40, 140) forming the support surface (41, 141).

Embodiment 14

(72) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein at least one of the receiving part (50, 150), the body (2), the ring (40, 140) and the nut (60, 160) is made of fluoropolymer.

Embodiment 15

(73) The connector assembly according to embodiment 14, wherein the receiving part is made of one of the materials chosen from polytetrafluoroethyleneperfluoro-propylvinylether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene-perfluoromethylvinyl ether (MFA) and polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE), or a combination thereof.

Embodiment 16

(74) The connector assembly according to embodiment 14 or 15, wherein the ring (40, 140) is made of one of materials selected from poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), ethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), or a combination thereof.

Embodiment 17

(75) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the body (2) is a pump, a valve, a manifold, a fitting, in particular a T-, an I-, an L- or a U-fitting, or a stopper.

Embodiment 18

(76) The connector assembly according to any one of embodiments 1 to 17, further comprising a tube, one end portion of which is curved against the support surface of the ring.

(77) Note that not all of the activities described above in the general description or the examples are required, that a portion of a specific activity may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed in addition to those described. Still further, the order in which activities are listed is not necessarily the order in which they are performed.

(78) Certain features that are, for clarity, described herein in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any subcombination. Further, reference to values stated in ranges includes each and every value within that range.

(79) Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.

(80) The specification and illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The specification and illustrations are not intended to serve as an exhaustive and comprehensive description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that use the structures or methods described herein. Separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment, and conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any subcombination. Further, reference to values stated in ranges includes each and every value within that range. Many other embodiments may be apparent to skilled artisans only after reading this specification. Other embodiments may be used and derived from the disclosure, such that a structural substitution, logical substitution, or another change may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.