Patent US20030130571A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3698419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Devices for piercing tubes in closed pressure systems
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-05-11
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A device for use in the servicing of a sealed fluid system, such as a refrigeration or air conditioning system, comprising a plier-like tool, preferably of the Vice-grip type, one jaw having a cradle for receiving a part of the peripheral wall of a tube in the system, and the other jaw having a piercing needle for piercing a hole in the wall portion of the tube opposite to that being cradled. A resilient bushing seal surrounds the piercing needle and is compressed between the jaw carrying the needle and the tube wall surrounding the pierced hole to prevent leakage of fluid during the piercing operation. A lever is provided for pivotal connection to the pliers tool for squeezing the tubing closed at either side of the pierced hole so that the tool may be removed without loss of fluid from the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Natale G Tura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:46
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B45/00; B; B26; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/0015; B26F1/32; B26F1/36; F16; F16K; F16K7/00; F16K7/02; F16K7/04; F16K7/06; F16K7/063; F16L; F16L41/00; F16L41/04; F16L41/06; F16L41/065; B26F2001/365; F25B2345/00; F25B2345/006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/598; Y10T137/612; Y10T137/6123
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A device for forming an opening in the wall of a tube, comprising a pair of levers in pivotal relation to form a pair of opposed handle portions and a pair of opposed jaws, a cradle formed in one of said jaws for receiving a part of the peripheral wall of said tube, an injection needle carried by the other jaw and having a pointed end for piercing a hole in the wall of the tube opposed to that within said cradle when said jaws are moved toward each other by application of force on said handle portions, said injection needle having a longitudinal opening establishing communication between the pointed end and a valve housing, a valve in said housing for normally blocking fluid flow through said injection needle, and a bushing seal also carried by said other jaw, said seal being formed of resilient material and surrounding said injection needle and movable therewith, an end of said seal engaging said tube wall before said pointed end pierces said tube wall, said seal being compressed between said other jaw and said tube wall when said pointed end pierces said tube wall to form an annular seal around said pointed end.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
A device for forming an opening in the wall of a tube, comprising a pair of levers in pivotal relation to form a pair of opposed handle portions and a pair of opposed jaws, a cradle formed in one of said jaws for receiving a part of the peripheral wall of said tube, an injection needle carried by the other jaw and having a pointed end for piercing a hole in the wall of the tube opposed to that within said cradle when said jaws are moved toward each other by application of force on said handle portions, said injection needle having a longitudinal opening establishing communication between the pointed end and a valve housing, a valve in said housing for normally blocking fluid flow through said injection needle, and a bushing seal also carried by said other jaw, said seal being formed of resilient material and surrounding said injection needle and movable therewith, an end of said seal engaging said tube wall before said pointed end pierces said tube wall, said seal being compressed between said other jaw and said tube wall when said pointed end pierces said tube wall to form an annular seal around said pointed end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein means is provided to lock said levers in position whereby said injection needle is retained in piercing relation with said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein said valve may be moved from fluid blocking position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to receive the end of a hose in fluid tight relation, said hose when connected to said housing automatically moving said valve from fluid blocking position whereby fluid flow is provided from the interior of said tube, through said injection needle, said housing and to said hose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein said valve is of the tire valve type and is normally urged to seating relation to block fluid flow, said valve having an operating stem accessible from the open end of said housing, pressure on said stem in a direction inwardly of said housing unseating said valve and permitting flow of fluid from the interior of said tube, through said injection needle and outwardly of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The construction of claim 1 and including a further lever pivoted to at least one of said first named levers and having a jaw cooperable with thE jaw providing said cradle for squeezing the tube closed at one side of the pierced hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The construction of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal opening in said injection needle is off-center and said pointed end is on-center, whereby said opening is at the side of said pointed end and unaffected by the piercing operation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
51 words
A device for use with sealed fluid units, such as a refrigeration system, having a fluid conducting tube, comprising a body for piercing a hole in the wall of said tube, and means carried by said body for squeezing a tube portion adjacent to said hole to close said tube thereat.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
51 words
A device for use with sealed fluid units, such as a refrigeration system, having a fluid conducting tube, comprising a body for piercing a hole in the wall of said tube, and means carried by said body for squeezing a tube portion adjacent to said hole to close said tube thereat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
The device of claim 8 including a plier-like body having a pair of pivotally related levers, the jaw of one lever having a cradle for receiving a part of the peripheral wall of said tube and the jaw of the other lever having a piercing point for piercing a hole in the wall of the tube opposed to that within said cradle when said jaws are moved together, and a further lever pivoted to at least one of the pair of levers and having a jaw cooperable with the jaw having said cradle to squeeze said tube closed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The construction of claim 9 wherein said further lever may be disposed on either side of said pair of levers to squeeze said tube on either side of the pierced opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The construction of claim 10 wherein said cradle has seats on opposite sides thereof, a selected seat being cooperable with the jaw of said further lever when the latter is disposed on a selected side of said pair of levers.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for use with sealed fluid units, such as a refrigeration system, having a fluid circulation tube, comprising a body having a pair of U-shaped arms extending therefrom, the free ends of said arms being spaced to pass said tube and said body being rotatable on said tube to cause said arms to grip around said tube, said body having an interiorly threaded opening to receive an exteriorly threaded injection needle adapted to be threaded toward the tube gripped by said arms so that its pointed end forms or enters a hole in the wall of said tube, said injection needle having a longitudinal opening extending from said pointed end to a valve chamber, and a valve in said chamber for normally blocking fluid flow through said injection needle.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for use with sealed fluid units, such as a refrigeration system, having a fluid circulation tube, comprising a body having a pair of U-shaped arms extending therefrom, the free ends of said arms being spaced to pass said tube and said body being rotatable on said tube to cause said arms to grip around said tube, said body having an interiorly threaded opening to receive an exteriorly threaded injection needle adapted to be threaded toward the tube gripped by said arms so that its pointed end forms or enters a hole in the wall of said tube, said injection needle having a longitudinal opening extending from said pointed end to a valve chamber, and a valve in said chamber for normally blocking fluid flow through said injection needle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The construction of claim 12 wherein said valve chamber is formed in an exteriorly threaded enlargement which is integral with said injection needle, an interiorly threaded sleeve at the end of a fluid hose adapted to be threaded on said enlargement, said sleeve including means engaging said valve when the sleeve is screwed home on said enlargement to automatically shift said valve to position permitting fluid flow through said injection needle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The construction of claim 12 and including a fused sealing connection around said needle and the exterior wall of said tube surrounding the hole to seal the opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3395724A
Cited
US3543788A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |