Tube coupling

Abstract

A fluid coupling having an outer housing with an internal bore, an O-ring fitted within the bore, a spacer bushing fitted against the O-ring, a gripper ring fitted against the axially outer side of the spacer ring, the gripper ring having axially and radially inwardly protruding circumferentially spaced gripping teeth, and an end bushing holding the gripper ring, spacer bushing, and O-ring within the outer housing. A second gripper ring and a second spacer ring are used in some embodiments.

1 . A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising:
 an outer housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall,   a seal retained against axial movement within said internal bore in fluid-tight engagement with said housing and positioned for fluid-tight engagement with the tube when positioned within said internal bore,   a non-movable first spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a non-movable second spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a first gripper ring located axially outward of said seal and having a non-movable peripheral portion retained against axial movement within said internal bore, said first gripper ring further including gripper teeth extending inwardly from said peripheral portion of said first gripper ring and positioning inner edges of said gripper teeth stationary within said internal bore in position awaiting engagement with the tube when positioned within said internal bore without adjusting movement of said first gripper ring, said peripheral portion of said first gripper ring lying adjacent and between said axially outer side of said first spacer bushing and said axially inner side of said second spacer bushing, and   a second gripper ring located axially outward of said second spacer bushing and having a non-movable peripheral portion retained against axial movement within said internal bore, said second gripper ring further including gripper teeth extending inwardly from said peripheral portion of said second gripper ring and positioning inner edges of said gripper teeth stationary within said internal bore in position awaiting engagement with the tube when positioned within said internal bore without adjusting movement of said second gripper ring, said peripheral portion of said second gripper ring lying adjacent said axially outer side of said second spacer bushing.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said first spacer bushing has an axially inward seal engagement portion in engagement with said seal to retain said seal in position in said housing. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling of  claim 1  further including an end bushing attached to said housing and retaining said first and second spacer bushings and said peripheral portions of said first and second gripper rings stationary in said internal bore against axial movement. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said gripper teeth of said first and second gripper rings are held stationary within said internal bore except for movement produced by engagement with the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said non-movable first peripheral portion of said first gripper ring holds said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring in fixed stationary positions without radial or axial movement thereof required to position said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring for engagement with the tube, and said non-movable second peripheral portion of said second gripper ring holds said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring in fixed stationary positions without radial or axial movement thereof required for engagement with the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said first spacer bushing has a support surface toward said axially outer side thereof and said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring engage said support surface of said first spacer bushing, and said second spacer bushing has a support surface toward said axially outer side thereof and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring engage said support surface of said second spacer bushing, said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring extend radially inward beyond said support surface of said first spacer bushing and are retained in position to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore without adjustment of the position of said first spacer bushing or first gripper ring within said internal bore, and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring extend radially inward beyond said support surface of said second spacer bushing and are retained in position to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore without adjustment of the position of said second spacer bushing or second gripper ring within said internal bore. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said first spacer bushing has an interior wall defining an aperture sized and positioned to receive the tube therethrough when the tube is positioned within said internal bore, and said second spacer bushing has an interior wall defining an aperture sized and positioned to receive the tube therethrough when the tube is positioned within said internal bore, said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring protrude inwardly beyond said interior wall of said first spacer bushing in position to engage the tube when positioned within said aperture of said first spacer bushing without adjustment of the position of said first spacer bushing or first gripper ring within said internal bore, and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring protrude inwardly beyond said interior wall of said second spacer bushing in position to engage the tube when positioned within said aperture of said second spacer bushing without adjustment of the position of said second spacer bushing or second gripper ring within said internal bore. 
     
     
         8 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said first spacer bushing has a support surface toward said axially outer side thereof and said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring are held stationary against said support surface of said first spacer bushing prior to engagement with the tube, and said second spacer bushing has a support surface toward said axially outer side thereof and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring are held stationary against said support surface of said second spacer bushing prior to engagement with the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring extending radially inward beyond said first spacer bushing and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring extending radially inward beyond said second spacer bushing, said gripper teeth of said first and second gripper rings being held in stationary non-retractable position within said internal bore, whereby at all times said gripper teeth of said first and second gripper rings are held ready to engage the tube without prior adjusting movement of said first and second gripper rings by a user of the coupling. 
     
     
         10 . The coupling of  claim 1  wherein said gripper teeth of said first and second gripper rings are held in stationary non-retractable position within said internal bore in position at all times to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore. 
     
     
         11 . A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising:
 an outer housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, said internal bore being sized to receive the tube therein,   a non-movable first spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a non-movable second spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a first gripper ring having a non-movable peripheral portion retained against axial movement within said internal bore, said first gripper ring further including gripper teeth extending inwardly from said peripheral portion of said first gripper ring and positioning inner edges of said gripper teeth stationary within said internal bore in position awaiting engagement with the tube when positioned within said internal bore without adjusting movement of said first gripper ring, said peripheral portion of said first gripper ring lying adjacent and between said axially outer side of said first spacer bushing and said axially inner side of said second spacer bushing, and   a second gripper ring having a non-movable peripheral portion retained against axial movement within said internal bore, said second gripper ring further including gripper teeth extending inwardly from said peripheral portion of said second gripper ring and positioning inner edges of said gripper teeth stationary within said internal bore in position awaiting engagement with the tube when positioned within said internal bore without adjusting movement of said second gripper ring, said peripheral portion of said second gripper ring lying adjacent said axially outer side of said second spacer bushing.   
     
     
         12 . A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising:
 a outer housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall,   a seal in said internal bore in fluid-tight engagement with said housing and positioned for fluid-tight engagement with the tube when positioned within said internal bore,   a non-movable first spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a non-movable second spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a first gripper ring located axially outward of said seal and held in a fixed axial position between said axially outer side of said first spacer bushing and said axially inner side of said second spacer bushing, said first gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore, and   a second gripper ring held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially outer side of said second spacer bushing, said second gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore.   
     
     
         13 . A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising:
 a housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, said internal bore being sized to receive the tube therein,   a non-movable first spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a non-movable second spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a first gripper ring held in a fixed axial position between said axially outer side of said first spacer bushing and said axially inner side of said second spacer bushing, said first gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore, and   a second gripper ring held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially outer side of said second spacer bushing, said second gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore.   
     
     
         14 . A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising:
 a housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall,   a seal in said internal bore in fluid-tight engagement with said housing and positioned for fluid-tight engagement with the tube when positioned within said internal bore,   a non-movable spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a first gripper ring located axially outward of said seal and held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially inner side of said spacer bushing, said first gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore, and   a second gripper ring held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially outer side of said spacer bushing, said second gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore.   
     
     
         15 . The coupling of  claim 14  wherein said spacer bushing has an interior wall defining an aperture sized and positioned to receive the tube therethrough when the tube is positioned within said internal bore, said gripper teeth of said first gripper ring protrude inwardly beyond said interior wall of said spacer bushing in position to engage the tube when positioned within said aperture of said spacer bushing without adjustment of the position of said spacer bushing or first gripper ring within said internal bore, and said gripper teeth of said second gripper ring protrude inwardly beyond said interior wall of said spacer bushing in position to engage the tube when positioned within said aperture of said spacer bushing without adjustment of the position of said spacer bushing or second gripper ring within said internal bore. 
     
     
         16 . A coupling for holding a tube therein, comprising:
 a housing having an internal bore with a circumferential side wall, said internal bore being sized to receive the tube therein,   a non-movable spacer bushing retained against axial movement within said internal bore and having an axially inner side and an axially outer side,   a first gripper ring held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially inner side of said spacer bushing, said first gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore, and   a second gripper ring held in a fixed axial position adjacent said axially outer side of said spacer bushing, said second gripper ring having non-retractable gripper teeth with inner edges protruding inwardly into said internal bore sufficient to engage the tube when positioned within said internal bore.   
     
     
         17 . The coupling of  claim 16  wherein said first gripper ring has a peripheral portion with said gripper teeth thereof extending inwardly therefrom and said second gripper ring has a peripheral portion with said gripper teeth thereof extending inwardly therefrom, said peripheral portions of said first and second gripper rings being retained against axial movement within said internal bore. 
     
     
         18 . The coupling of  claim 17  further including an end bushing attached to said housing and retaining said peripheral portions of said first and second spacer bushings against axial movement within said internal bore. 
     
     
         19 . The coupling of  claim 17  further including an end bushing attached to said housing and applying an axially inward force to retain said peripheral portions of said first and second spacer gripper rings against axial movement within said internal bore toward said end bushing.