US4879819A — Gauge for coupling component

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

A gauge assembly for fittings of the type including a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening and adapted to encircle a cylindrical member and a ferrule positioned on the cylindrical member, the gauge being used for determining the pull up of the ferrule and the deformation or swaging that the cylindrical member has undergone, the gauge assembly comprising: an indicating unit having a readout means for showing whether the swaging of the cylindrical member is within tolerances; and, a piston movably mounted in said indicating unit and operatively connected to said readout means, said piston comprising: a body having a bore, an external thread means on said body circumferentially of said bore for threadedly engaging the threaded internal opening of the coupling nut carried on the cylindrical member, and a means within said bore for aligning the cylindrical member with said bore and limiting the extent of movement of the cylindrical member into said bore.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 156 words

A gauge assembly for fittings of the type including a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening and adapted to encircle a cylindrical member and a ferrule positioned on the cylindrical member, the gauge being used for determining the pull up of the ferrule and the deformation or swaging that the cylindrical member has undergone, the gauge assembly comprising: an indicating unit having a readout means for showing whether the swaging of the cylindrical member is within tolerances; and, a piston movably mounted in said indicating unit and operatively connected to said readout means, said piston comprising: a body having a bore, an external thread means on said body circumferentially of said bore for threadedly engaging the threaded internal opening of the coupling nut carried on the cylindrical member, and a means within said bore for aligning the cylindrical member with said bore and limiting the extent of movement of the cylindrical member into said bore.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The gauge assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for aligning said cylindrical member and limiting the movement of said cylindrical member comprises a tapered mouth surface formed in said bore, said tapered surface cooperating with the ferrule located on the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The gauge assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first means for limiting a movement of said piston in said indicating unit.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 67 words

The gauge assembly of claim 3 wherein said indicator unit further comprises a base section having an axially extending bore in which said piston is movably mounted and wherein said first means for limiting the movement of said piston comprises parallel surfaces provided on said base and on the nut, respectively, the movement of said piston into said base ceasing when said parallel surfaces contact each other.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The gauge assembly of claim 1 wherein said readout means comprises a dial provided with a pivotable needle and wherein said needle is adapted to pivot as said piston is slid into said indicating unit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

The gauge assembly of claim 4 further comprising: a means for securing said piston in said base; and, a second means for limiting the movement of said piston in relation to said base.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The gauge assembly of claim 6 wherein said means for securing said piston in said base comprises: a fastener including a head and a stem; and, a bore extending through said base for accommodating said fastener stem.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The gauge assembly of claim 7 wherein said second means for limiting the movement of said piston in said base comprises an elongated slot into which a free end of said fastener stem extends.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The gauge assembly of claim 1 further comprising a means for calibrating the proper setting of said readout means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 61 words

The gauge assembly of claim 9 wherein said means for calibrating comprises: a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening; a gauge pin extending through said coupling nut and having a section of suitable diameter that it engages said means within said piston bore for aligning and limiting; and, a fastener means for securing said gauge pin to said coupling nut.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The gauge of claim 1 further comprising a means for biasing said piston away from said indicating unit.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 171 words

A gauge assembly for determining the pull up to an outer periphery of a cylindrical pipe or tube that a ferrule has undergone and the swaging of the pipe or tube by a fitting of the type including a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening and adapted to encircle the pipe or tube and a ferrule positioned on the pipe or tube, comprising: an indicating unit; a base secured to said indicating unit and including an axially extending bore; a piston slidable in said base bore, said piston comprising: a body having an axially extending bore, an external thread means on said body circumferentially of said bore to threadedly engage the threaded internal opening of the coupling nut carried on the pipe or tube, and a tapered mouth formed in said bore for aligning the pipe or tube with said bore and limiting the extent of movement of the pipe or tube into said bore; and, a means for limiting a sliding movement of said piston in said base bore.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 171 words

A gauge assembly for determining the pull up to an outer periphery of a cylindrical pipe or tube that a ferrule has undergone and the swaging of the pipe or tube by a fitting of the type including a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening and adapted to encircle the pipe or tube and a ferrule positioned on the pipe or tube, comprising: an indicating unit; a base secured to said indicating unit and including an axially extending bore; a piston slidable in said base bore, said piston comprising: a body having an axially extending bore, an external thread means on said body circumferentially of said bore to threadedly engage the threaded internal opening of the coupling nut carried on the pipe or tube, and a tapered mouth formed in said bore for aligning the pipe or tube with said bore and limiting the extent of movement of the pipe or tube into said bore; and, a means for limiting a sliding movement of said piston in said base bore.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The gauge assembly of claim 12 wherein said indicating unit comprises: a body; a dial provided on said body; and, a dial needle pivotally secured to said dial and operatively connected to said piston.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

The gauge of claim 12 wherein said means for limiting the movement of said piston comprises parallel surfaces provided on said base and on the nut, the sliding movement of said piston into said base ceasing when said parallel surfaces contact each other.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The gauge of claim 12 further comprising a means for securing said piston to said base.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 74 words

The gauge of claim 15 wherein said means for securing comprises: a fastener including a head and a threaded stem; a threaded bore extending through said base for accommodating said fastener threaded stem; and, an elongated slot provided on an outer periphery of said piston into which slot a free end of said fastener stem extends, said piston being able to slide in relation to said fastener to the extent allowed by said slot.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 57 words

The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a master which calibrates the readout provided by said dial needle, said master comprising: a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening; a gauge pin extending through said coupling nut and adapted for engaging said piston tapered mouth; and, a fastener for securing said gauge pin to said coupling nut.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for determining the swaging that a cylindrical member has undergone by a ferrule positioned on the outer periphery of the cylindrical member, comprising: providing a swaged cylindrical member having a coupling nut with a threaded internal opening that is adapted to encircle the cylindrical member and a ferrule pulled up on the cylindrical member; providing an indicator unit having a readout means for indicating acceptable and unacceptable swaging, a base and a piston secured thereto, said piston including a bore, adapted to receive at least a portion of the cylindrical member, and an external threaded section; threading said fitting coupling nut onto said piston threaded section; pushing said swaged cylindrical member into contact with said indicator base thereby changing said readout means; and, viewing said readout means of said indicator unit to ascertain whether the swaged cylindrical member is acceptable.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for determining the swaging that a cylindrical member has undergone by a ferrule positioned on the outer periphery of the cylindrical member, comprising: providing a swaged cylindrical member having a coupling nut with a threaded internal opening that is adapted to encircle the cylindrical member and a ferrule pulled up on the cylindrical member; providing an indicator unit having a readout means for indicating acceptable and unacceptable swaging, a base and a piston secured thereto, said piston including a bore, adapted to receive at least a portion of the cylindrical member, and an external threaded section; threading said fitting coupling nut onto said piston threaded section; pushing said swaged cylindrical member into contact with said indicator base thereby changing said readout means; and, viewing said readout means of said indicator unit to ascertain whether the swaged cylindrical member is acceptable.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said readout means comprises a needle pivotally mounted on a dial and wherein said step of pushing will pivot said needle in relation to said dial.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said step of pushing ceases when said coupling nut contacts said indicator unit base.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 72 words

A device for calibrating a gauge which measures the swaging of a cylindrical member, comprising: a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening; a gauge pin extending through said coupling nut internal opening, said gauge pin comprising: a first section of a first diameter, and a second section of a second diameter which is larger than said first diameter; and, a fastener means for securing said gauge pin to said coupling nut.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 72 words

A device for calibrating a gauge which measures the swaging of a cylindrical member, comprising: a coupling nut having a threaded internal opening; a gauge pin extending through said coupling nut internal opening, said gauge pin comprising: a first section of a first diameter, and a second section of a second diameter which is larger than said first diameter; and, a fastener means for securing said gauge pin to said coupling nut.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 39 words

The device of claim 21 wherein a front end of said gauge pin extends past a front face of said coupling nut and a rear end of said gauge pin extends past a rear face of said coupling nut.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 45 words

The device of claim 22 wherein said fastener means comprises: a groove provided on an outer periphery of said gauge pin at a location rearwardly of said coupling nut rear face; and, a snap ring which can be selectively secured in said gauge pin groove.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 40 words

The device of claim 21 further comprising: a pair of spaced flanges extending radially outwardly from said gauge pin; and, a first seal member positioned between said flanges and adapted to seal between said gauge pin and said coupling nut.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 37 words

The device of claim 21 further comprising: a circumferential groove provided in said gauge pin; and, a second seal member positioned in said circumferential groove and adapted to seal between said gauge pin and said coupling nut.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 21 wherein said coupling nut threaded internal opening is adapted to cooperate with an external threaded section of a piston of the gauge.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-11-13	1993-05-15	1993-11-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-11-13	1997-05-15	1997-11-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-11-13	2001-05-15	2001-11-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gauge for coupling component

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