Component retaining structure for conduit fitting

Abstract

A preassembly for a conduit fitting includes an annular fitting component and a conduit gripping device. The annular fitting component has an interior wall extending along a central axis from an inboard end to an outboard end. The interior wall includes an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall. The conduit gripping device is retained within the annular fitting component and includes a projection extending radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the conduit gripping device, and axially toward an inboard end of the conduit gripping device, with an end portion of the projection being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.

1 . A preassembly for a conduit fitting, comprising:
 an annular fitting component having an interior wall extending along a central axis from an inboard end to an outboard end, the interior wall including an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall; and   at least a first conduit gripping device retained within the annular fitting component and including a projection extending radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the first conduit gripping device, and axially toward an inboard end of the first conduit gripping device, with an end portion of the projection being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.   
     
     
         2 . The preassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the projection extends at an angle between about 90° and about 130° with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The preassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the projection extends around an entire circumference of the outer surface of the first conduit gripping device. 
     
     
         4 . The preassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the projection is plastically deformable about a radially inward hinge portion of the projection. 
     
     
         5 . The preassembly of  claim 4 , wherein the hinge portion has a first thickness and the end portion has a second thickness greater than the first thickness. 
     
     
         6 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The preassembly of  claim 1 , wherein when an outward axial force is applied to the first conduit gripping device to force the end portion of the projection against the outboard radial wall, the projection is bent axially inward to position the end portion of the projection at a third diameter smaller than the first diameter, to permit removal of the first conduit gripping device from the annular fitting component. 
     
     
         9 . The preassembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second conduit gripping device axially captured between the first conduit gripping device and an annular shoulder at the outboard end of the annular fitting component. 
     
     
         10 . The preassembly of  claim 9 , wherein when the second conduit gripping device is axially positioned such that an outboard end surface of the second conduit gripping device abuts the annular shoulder of the annular fitting component, and the first conduit gripping device is axially positioned such that the end portion of the projection abuts the outboard radial wall of the annular fitting component, an outboard end surface of the first conduit gripping device abuts an inboard end surface of the second conduit gripping device. 
     
     
         11 . The preassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outboard radial wall extends at an angle between about 90° and about 135° with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The preassembly of  claim 1 , wherein the projection comprises a circumferential skirt having an inboard wall surface and an outboard wall surface together defining a thickness of the skirt. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The preassembly of  claim 13 , wherein the inboard wall surface and the outboard wall surface diverge from each other in a radially outward direction, such that an inner radial portion of the skirt has a smaller thickness than an outer radial portion of the skirt. 
     
     
         16 . The preassembly of  claim 13 , wherein the inboard wall surface and the outboard wall surface both extend axially outward from an outboard end surface of the first conduit gripping device. 
     
     
         17 . The preassembly of  claim 13 , wherein the inboard wall surface extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first conduit gripping device, and the outboard wall surface extends radially outward from an outboard end surface of the first conduit gripping device at a location radially inward of the outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         18 . The preassembly of  claim 13 , wherein when an outward axial force is applied to the first conduit gripping device to force an inner radial portion of the skirt axially outward of the outboard radial wall, the skirt is bent to engage a portion of the outboard wall surface with the outboard surface of the interior wall. 
     
     
         19 . The preassembly of  claim 13 , wherein the outboard surface of the annular fitting component interior wall is tapered radially inward from the outboard radial wall. 
     
     
         20 .- 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A preassembly for a conduit fitting, comprising:
 an annular fitting component having an interior wall extending along a central axis from an inboard end to an outboard end, the interior wall including an inboard surface having a first diameter, an outboard surface having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and an intermediate surface recessed from the inboard surface by an outward facing inboard radial wall and recessed from the outboard surface by an inward facing outboard radial wall; and   at least a first conduit gripping device retained within the annular fitting component and including a projection extending radially outward of an outer surface of the first conduit gripping device to an end portion at a first angle between about 70° and about 130° with respect to the central axis, with the end portion being axially captured between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall;   wherein the projection is plastically deformable about a radially inward hinge portion, such that an axial force applied to the first conduit gripping device sufficient to bend the projection to extend at a second angle between about 145° and about 180° with respect to the central axis positions the end portion of the projection radially inward of the inboard surface for removal of the first conduit gripping device from the annular fitting component.   
     
     
         42 .- 103 . (canceled) 
     
     
         104 . A method of assembling an annular fitting component with at least a first conduit gripping device, the method comprising:
 inserting the first conduit gripping device into an inboard end of the annular fitting component, such that a projection extending radially outward of the first conduit gripping device to a first diameter is loosely received through an inboard surface of an interior wall of the annular fitting component along a central axis, and axially aligns with an annular recess of the interior wall, the annular recess being disposed between an outward facing inboard radial wall extending radially inward to the inboard surface of the interior wall at a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and an inward facing outboard radial wall extending radially inward to an outboard surface of the interior wall at a third diameter smaller than the first diameter; and   applying an outward axial force to the first conduit gripping device to force an end portion of the projection against the outboard radial wall, such that the projection is bent to position the end portion of the projection at a fourth diameter greater than the second diameter, to axially capture the projection between the inboard radial wall and the outboard radial wall.   
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein when the projection is initially axially aligned with the annular recess of the interior wall, the projection extends at an angle between about 30° and about 70° with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein when the projection is bent to position the end portion of the projection at the fourth diameter, the projection extends at an angle between about 70° and about 130° with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         107 . (canceled) 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein when the projection is bent to position the end portion of the projection at the fourth diameter, the projection plastically deforms about a radially inward hinge portion of the projection. 
     
     
         109 . (canceled) 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 104 , further comprising inserting a second conduit gripping device into the inboard end of the annular fitting component prior to inserting the first conduit gripping device into the inboard end of the annular fitting component, such that the second conduit gripping device is axially captured between the first conduit gripping device and an annular shoulder at the outboard end of the annular fitting component. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein applying the outward axial force to the first conduit gripping device to force the end portion of the projection against the outboard radial wall comprises moving an outboard end surface of the first conduit gripping device into abutment with an inboard end surface of the second conduit gripping device, with an outboard end surface of the second conduit gripping device abutting the annular shoulder of the annular fitting component. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the projection comprises a circumferential skirt having an inboard wall surface and an outboard wall surface together defining a thickness of the skirt, wherein when the projection is bent to position the end portion of the projection at the fourth diameter, the outboard wall surface engages the outboard radial wall of the annular fitting component. 
     
     
         113 .- 180 . (canceled)