Method and apparatus for assembling high purity liquid dispensing system

文档序号：473976 发布日期：2021-12-31 浏览：4次中文

阅读说明：本技术 组装高纯度液体分配系统的方法和装置 (Method and apparatus for assembling high purity liquid dispensing system ) 是由 F·F·小海耶斯于 2020-05-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于组装高纯度液体分配系统的方法和装置。管道的远端部分被加热然后被推动到套筒上方,使得远端部分可以在套筒上方具有收缩密封配合,以减少管道从配件中意外或无意的拉出。还实现了其他益处,例如流过接头和管道的液体的最小流动约束。(A method and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system. The distal portion of the tube is heated and then pushed over the sleeve so that the distal portion can have a shrink-seal fit over the sleeve to reduce accidental or unintentional pulling of the tube from the fitting. Other benefits are also realized, such as minimal flow restriction of liquid flowing through the fitting and the pipe.)

1. A method of joining a conduit made of PFA material to a sleeve made of PFA material, the method comprising the steps of:

heating the heating body to at least 15 degrees celsius below the softening temperature of the PFA material;

disposing a distal portion of the conduit in an aperture formed in the heating body until the distal portion of the conduit is in a pliable state;

arranging a sleeve on the cylindrical rod of the mandrel;

holding the pipe by hand;

pulling the distal portion of the tube out of the bore of the heating body while holding the tube with the hand;

pushing the distal portion of the heated tube over the cylindrical rod and the sleeve within 10 seconds after the removing step;

removing the attached pipe and sleeve from the cylindrical rod of the mandrel within 10 seconds after the pushing step;

allowing the distal portion of the conduit to remain in air at a temperature between 15 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees Celsius until the temperature of the distal portion of the conduit is below 38 degrees Celsius.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reducing the inner diameter of the conduit at a faster rate than an outer diameter of the conduit to retract the distal portion of the conduit onto the sleeve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of pushing includes the step of pushing the distal portion of the heated conduit until a distal end of the distal portion of the conduit contacts a stop flange of the sleeve.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a percentage of connection between an inner surface of the pipe and the enlarged portion of the sleeve and the outer surface of the reduced diameter cylindrical section of the sleeve is equal to or greater than 75%.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the percent ligation is between 90% and 96%.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step is performed within 3 seconds after the pushing step.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein in the heating step, the heating body is heated to a temperature between 250 degrees celsius and 290 degrees celsius.

8. A machine for installing a pipe to a sleeve, the machine comprising:

a heating body having a bore with an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the pipe and the bore having a depth of 3/4 greater than a length of the sleeve;

a heater in thermal communication with the heating body to transfer heat from the heater to the heating body to raise the temperature of the heating body to about the softening temperature of the material of the conduit;

a controller in electrical communication with the heater and operable to turn the heater on and off;

a mandrel adjacent to the controller, the mandrel having a cylindrical rod defining an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the pipe.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the mandrel further has a retainer sleeve slidably disposed on the distal end portion of the cylindrical stem between an engaged position in which the plurality of arms are extendable outward to a greater extent from the central axis of the retainer sleeve and the cylindrical stem than when the retainer sleeve is in the disengaged position.

10. A method of attaching a pipe to a fitting, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the conduit disposed above a sleeve, the sleeve and the conduit defining a co-extrusion surface when joined to one another, the co-extrusion surface extending between a base and an apex of an enlarged portion of the sleeve and having a conical configuration, the co-extrusion surfaces of the conduit and the sleeve being interconnected over at least 75% of the length of the conical surface of the sleeve;

inserting the pipe and the sleeve into the fitting;

threading a nut onto the threads of the fitting such that a pressing surface of the nut contacts and pushes against an outer surface of the pipe that is aligned with the mating pressing surface;

twisting the nut onto the fitting;

increasing the connection between the pipe and the sleeve at the conical surface by twisting the nut onto the fitting to a predetermined level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the incremental increase in the connection that is increased is at least 2%.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the connection percentage is 98% or greater after the nut is torqued onto the fitting.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the nut is torqued onto the fitting to a level constrained to a common elastic limit of the sleeve, tubing, and fitting, such that with the nut removed after the torquing step, an inner diameter of the sleeve remains the same as before the nut is torqued onto the fitting.

Technical Field

Various embodiments and aspects described herein relate to methods and apparatus for assembling high purity liquid dispensing systems.

Background

High purity liquid distribution systems require various conduits and other components connected to each other that control the flow of liquids used in semiconductor manufacturing. Liquid dispensing systems operate at high temperatures and pressures above atmospheric pressure and therefore have certain unique requirements. There are certain drawbacks in assembling these types of high purity liquid dispensing systems.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system.

Disclosure of Invention

The various aspects described herein address deficiencies in the art. For example, machines, tubing, sleeves, fittings and union nuts are shown for assembling high purity liquid dispensing systems. Additionally, a method of assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system utilizing the machine, tubing, sleeves, fittings and union nuts is described herein. The methods and apparatus described herein allow for a shrink-fit connection between a pipe and a sleeve to improve the pull-out strength of the pipe when the joint is assembled. Further, distortion in the joint is minimized to minimize fluid flow restrictions through the joint. In addition, the inside diameter of the fitting is the same before the union nut is installed and after the union nut is installed and removed from the fitting.

More particularly, a method of joining a conduit made of PFA material to a sleeve made of PFA material is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: heating the heating body to a temperature at least 15 degrees celsius below the softening temperature of the PFA material; disposing a distal portion of the conduit in an aperture formed in the heating body until the distal portion of the conduit is in a pliable state; arranging a sleeve on the cylindrical rod of the mandrel; holding the pipeline by hands; pulling the distal portion of the tube out of the bore of the heating body while holding the tube by hand; pushing the heated distal portion of the tube over the cylindrical rod and sleeve within 10 seconds after the removing step; removing the attached pipe and sleeve from the cylindrical rod of the mandrel within 10 seconds after the pushing step; the distal portion of the conduit is allowed to remain in air at a temperature between 15 degrees celsius and 38 degrees celsius until the temperature of the distal portion of the conduit is below 38 degrees celsius.

The method may further comprise the step of reducing the inner diameter of the conduit at a faster rate than the outer diameter of the conduit to retract the distal portion of the conduit onto the sleeve.

In the method, the pushing step may include the step of pushing the distal portion of the heated conduit until the distal end of the distal portion of the conduit contacts the stop flange of the sleeve.

In the method, the percentage of connection between the inner surface of the pipe and the outer surface of the enlarged portion of the sleeve and the outer surface of the reduced diameter cylindrical section of the sleeve may be equal to or greater than 75%. The percentage of attachment may be between 90% and 96%.

In this method, the removing step may be performed within 3 seconds after the pushing step.

In the heating step, the heating body may be heated to a temperature between 250 degrees celsius and 290 degrees celsius.

In another aspect, a machine for installing a pipe to a sleeve is disclosed. The machine may include a heating body having a bore with an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the pipe and the bore having a depth greater than 3/4 of the length of the sleeve; a heater in thermal communication with the heating body to transfer heat from the heater to the heating body to raise the temperature of the heating body to about the softening temperature of the tubing material; a controller in electrical communication with the heater and operable to turn the heater on and off; the mandrel is adjacent the controller and has a cylindrical rod defining an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the pipe.

The mandrel may also have a retainer sleeve slidably disposed over the distal end portion of the cylindrical rod between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the plurality of arms may be flared outward to a greater degree from the central axis of the retainer sleeve and the cylindrical stem than when the retainer sleeve is in the disengaged position.

In another aspect, a method of attaching a pipe to a fitting is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: providing a conduit disposed on the sleeve, the sleeve and the conduit defining a co-extrusion surface when joined to one another, extending between a base and an apex of the enlarged portion of the sleeve and having a conical configuration, the co-extrusion surfaces of the conduit and the sleeve being interconnected over at least 75% of the length of the conical surface of the sleeve; inserting the pipe and sleeve into the fitting; threading the nut onto the threads of the fitting such that the pressing surface of the nut contacts and pushes against the outer surface of the pipe aligned with the mating pressing surface; twisting the nut onto the fitting; the connection between the pipe and the sleeve at the conical surface is increased by twisting the nut onto the fitting to a predetermined level.

In this method, the increment of the connection that is increased may be at least 2%.

In this method, the connection percentage may be 98% or more after the nut is torqued onto the fitting. In this method, the nut may be torqued onto the fitting to a level that is limited to the level of the common elastic limit of the sleeve, the pipe and the fitting, such that if the nut is removed after the torqueing step, the internal diameter of the sleeve remains the same as before the nut was torqued onto the fitting.

Drawings

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with reference to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heating machine for joining pipes and sleeves;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the mandrel shown in FIG. 1, with the sleeve disposed over the mandrel;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the mandrel and sleeve shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged partial view of the mandrel and sleeve shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the mandrel with the sleeve disposed thereon and the slidably retained sleeve in an upward position;

FIG. 3A is a cross-section of the mandrel and sleeve shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged partial view of the mandrel and sleeve shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the mandrel and sleeve with the slidably retained sleeve in a downward position;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the mandrel and sleeve shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged partial view of the mandrel and sleeve shown in FIG. 4A with the pipe disposed thereover;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the union nut, pipe, sleeve and fitting;

FIG. 5A is a front view of the union nut, pipe, sleeve and fitting;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the conduit and sleeve aligned with one another prior to being attached to one another;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the pipe and sleeve after they are attached to one another;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the joined pipe and sleeve aligned with the fitting prior to being attached to one another;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the joined pipe and sleeve and fitting after they are attached to one another;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the union nut and the joined pipe, sleeve and fitting prior to the union nut being attached to the fitting;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the union nut and the joined pipe, sleeve and fitting after the nut is threaded onto the fitting shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an upright view of the assembly shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fitting;

FIG. 13A is a front view of the fitment shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 13B is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the fitting shown in FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the sleeve;

FIG. 14A is a front view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 14B is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the sleeve shown in FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a conduit;

FIG. 15A is a front view of the conduit;

FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view of the conduit shown in FIG. 15A;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a union nut;

FIG. 16A is a front view of the union nut shown in FIG. 16; and

fig. 16B is a cross-sectional view of the union nut shown in fig. 16A.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, various aspects of a heating machine 10 (see fig. 1) including a fitting 20 (see fig. 12A) for making use in a high purity liquid dispensing system are disclosed. The fitting 20 may include a pipe 12 (see fig. 12A, 15-15B) and a fitting 16 (see fig. 12A, 13-13B). The pipe 12 may be attached to the sleeve 14 (see fig. 12A, 14-14B). The combined conduit/sleeve 12, 14 may be attached to the fitting 16 with a union nut 18 (see fig. 12A, 16-16B). The fitting 20 described herein may have a tubing pull force (i.e., the force required to pull the tubing 12 out of the fitting 16) that is high enough to withstand the operating pressures and temperatures of high purity liquid dispensing systems. The high pull strength of the joint 20 is achieved by one or more of the following: the pipe 12 is attached to the sleeve 14 after heating the pipe with the machine 10 and while the pipe is in a stress relieved condition (i.e., pliable condition), the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 is cooled at a faster rate than the cooling rate of the outer surface 82 of the pipe 12 (see fig. 15B), and the air cools the combined pipe 12 and sleeve 14 so that the combined pipe/sleeve is in a stress relieved condition after cooling. Furthermore, because the inner diameter of the fitting 20 is not substantially smaller than the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12 after the union nut 18 is torqued to a tightened level, the fitting 20 does not substantially restrict the flow of liquid through the high purity liquid distribution system. After torqueing the nut onto the fitting, the inner diameter of the fitting may be about 0% to 5%, and more preferably 1% to 2% (e.g., 1.5%) less than the inner diameter of the pipe. Minimal reduction of the inside diameter of the fitting 20 is achieved by providing the compression surface 132 (see fig. 16B) of the union nut 18 with a wide area that applies pressure to the sleeve 14 over the wide area. Additionally, the nut 18 may be tightened onto the fitting 16 to a level at which the fitting 20 does not exceed its elastic limit. This means that the inside diameter of the fitting 20 is the same before the union nut 18 is tightened onto the fitting 16 with operating torque and after the union nut 18 is removed from the fitting 16.

More specifically, referring now to FIG. 1, a machine 10 facilitates connecting a pipe 12 to a sleeve 14. Machine 10 may have a heating body 24. The heating body 24 may be in thermal communication with a heater (not shown). When heating the tube 12 made of FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) or PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) material, the heater may heat the heating body 24 to a temperature of 180 to 310 degrees celsius. The heating body 24 may be attached to the base 26. The base 26 may also be used to secure the controller 28 and the mandrels 30 a-e. A handle 32 may be attached to base 26 to allow a user to lift and move machine 10 from one location to another when assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system. Controller 28 and the heater of machine 10 may be powered by an electrical outlet that is powered by cord 34.

The heating body 24 may be arranged in a vertical orientation. The heating body 24 may be attached to a rod 36, the rod 36 supporting the heating body 24 in an upward direction. An upward direction means that the bores 38a-e may have vertically aligned central axes. In this way, the pipe 12 to be inserted into one of the holes 38a-e is also vertically aligned. The tube 12, which is located outside the heating body 24, can be grasped by a person's hand, first inserting the tube 12 into the holes 38a-e, and then after the finish portion 40 of the tube 12 has reached the desired temperature, the user can remove the tube 12 from the heating body 24 and push the finish portion 40 (see fig. 15B) of the tube 12 over the sleeve 14 which has been placed on one of the mandrels 30 a-e.

The tube 12 may be provided in a variety of sizes defined by its outer diameter 41 (see fig. 15B). The pipe 12 may be provided with an outer diameter of one-quarter inch, three-eighths inch, one-half inch, three-quarter inch, one inch, and one-half inch. Other dimensions between these dimensions are also contemplated. Each of these tube sizes may have a different inner diameter 44 (see fig. 1). The bores 38a-e may have an inner diameter that is slightly larger (e.g., about 3% to 5% larger) than the outer diameter 41 of the pipe 12. In this manner, the distillation end portion 40 of the tube 12 may be inserted into the appropriate aperture 38A-E. The inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12 may be equal to and between 0.125 inches and 2 inches. By way of example and not limitation, the inner diameter 42 of an 1/4 inch outer diameter pipe may be 5/32 inches, the inner diameter 42 of a 3/8 inch outer diameter pipe may be 1/4 inches, the inner diameter 42 of a 1/2 inch outer diameter pipe may be 3/8 inches, the inner diameter 42 of an 3/4 inch outer diameter pipe may be 5/8 inches and the inner diameter 42 of a 1 inch outer diameter pipe may be 7/8 inches.

By way of example and not limitation, a one inch outer diameter pipe 12 may be inserted into bore 38e, and bore 38e may have an inner diameter that is slightly larger than 1 inch (e.g., the inner diameter of bore 38e may be about 1.01 inch). The 1/4 inch bore, 3/8 inch bore 38b, 1/2 inch bore, and 0.75 inch bore 38d can have slightly larger inner diameters between 0.005 inches and 0.010 inches larger than the outer diameter and including 0.005 inches and 0.010 inches larger than the outer diameter. The bores 38a-e may have a depth 44 (see fig. 1) that is approximately equal to the sealing length 46 of the sleeve 14 or approximately greater than one-eighth of the sealing length 46 of the sleeve 14. The seal length 46 of the sleeve 14 is the area contacted by the inner surface 48 (see fig. 15B) of the pipe 12 when the pipe 12 is joined to the sleeve 14.

The heating body 24 may be made of a metal material. To insert the distillation end portion 40 of the tube 12 into the bore 38, a user may grasp the portion of the tube 12 not entering the bore 38 with his or her hand. The user pushes the distillation end portion 40 into the appropriate hole 38a-e, waits until the distillation end portion 40 is heated to the appropriate temperature, and then pulls the distillation end portion 40 of the tube 12 out of the hole 38 ae.

To turn on or off the heater that heats the heating body 24, a user may operate the control 28. In addition, through the controller, the user can raise or lower the temperature of the heating body 24 to a suitable temperature. The controller 28 may have buttons, knobs, pressure sensitive screens to control the heater. The heating body 24 may be heated to 160 degrees celsius (i.e., between 140 and 180 degrees celsius) for tubing made of FEP material and may be heated to approximately 270 degrees celsius (i.e., between 250 and 290 degrees celsius) for tubing made of PFA material.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4B, there is shown one of the mandrels 30a-e shown in FIG. 1. The mandrel 30 may be attached to the base 26 by a rod 50. A protective sleeve 52 (fig. 1) may be attached to the rod 50 by screws 54 to mitigate injury to a person. For example, if a protective sleeve is not used, a tube 12 heated above 200 degrees celsius may be contacted and burned by a person assembling the fitting 20. The protective sleeve provides a protective barrier. In addition, the protective sheath may also serve as an insulator. As discussed herein, the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 cools faster than the outer surface 82 of the pipe 12. By placing the protective sheath 52 around the mandrel 30, the protective sheath 52 can act as an insulator for the outer surface 82 of the pipe 12 to retain heat within the distal portion of the pipe. While the protective sleeve 52 is described as helping to promote faster and slower cooling of the outer surface 82 of the pipe as compared to the inner surface 48 of the pipe, the protective sleeve is not a necessary component to promote faster cooling of the inner surface 48 as compared to the outer surface 82. The heat transfer coefficients of the rod 67 (see fig. 2B) and the sliding retainer sleeve 64 (see fig. 2B) may be sufficiently high that, even without the protective sleeve 52, the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 cools faster than the outer surface 82 of the tube 12 when the tube 12 and sleeve 14 are cooled in ambient air at temperatures between 20 degrees celsius and 44 degrees celsius. For simplicity and clarity, the mandrels 30a-e shown in FIGS. 2-4B are shown without the protective sleeve 52.

The mandrels 30a-e may have an outer diameter 54 and a stop surface 56, as shown in FIG. 2B. When the sleeve 14 is disposed over the mandrel 38a-e, as shown in FIG. 3B, the distal end 58 (see FIG. 2B) of the sleeve 14 contacts the stop surface 56. In this position, the opposite end portion 60 of the sleeve 14 is aligned with the shoulder surface 62 of the mandrels 30 a-e.

The mandrels 30a-e may have a sliding retainer sleeve 64. The sliding retainer sleeve 64 can be moved laterally to an upward position as shown in fig. 3B and a downward position as shown in fig. 4B. The sliding retainer sleeve 64 may have a plurality of arms 66 (see fig. 3 and 4), the plurality of arms 66 spreading apart as the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is transferred from the upward position (see fig. 3) to the downward position (see fig. 4), as shown in fig. 4.

The stem 67 of the mandrels 30a-e may define the outer diameter 54, the shoulder surface 62, and the retainer stop. The retainer stop prevents removal of the sliding retainer sleeve 64 from the stem 66 and defines the upward and downward positions of the sliding retainer sleeve 64. In particular, the lever 66 may have an upper groove 68 (see FIG. 4B) and a lower groove 70 (see FIG. 3B). The sliding retainer sleeve 64 may have protrusions 72, with the protrusions 72 being received in the upper and lower grooves 68, 70 when the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is in the up-down position. When the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is in the downward position, as shown in fig. 4B, the arms 66 are spread apart as the shoulder surfaces 62 push the arms 66 outward.

In this downward position, the distal portion of the arm 66 is located within the gap formed by the chamfer 74 (see fig. 4B and 14B) and the shoulder surface 62 (see fig. 4B). Thus, when the tube 12 is pushed over the sleeve 14, the distal end 76 (see FIG. 4B) of the tube 14 is not caught or obstructed at the edge 78 (see FIG. 3B) of the sleeve 14 by the gap or lip 83 (see FIG. 3B) between the edge 78 and the inner diameter 80 (see FIG. 3B) of the sleeve 14. However, because the distal portions of the arms 66 of the retainer sleeve 64 abut the chamfer 74, any misalignment of the tube 12 with the sleeve 14 is corrected by the arms 66 shown in the position in fig. 4B, so that the distal end 76 of the tube 12 does not catch on the edge 78 of the sleeve.

As the pipe 12 is pushed over the sleeve 14, the inner surface of the pipe contacts the outer surface of the sleeve. Heat from the inner surface of the tube is transferred out of the inner surface at a faster rate through this contact than the rate of heat from the outer surface of the tube. When the tube 12 is disposed over the sleeve 14 and on the stem 67, the stem 67 and the sliding retainer sleeve 64 of the mandrels 30a-e and the sleeve 14 are able to draw heat away from the inner surface 48 of the heated distal end portion 40 of the tube 12 at a greater rate than the outer surface 82 of the tube (see fig. 15B) so that the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 can contract at a faster rate than the outer surface 82 of the tube 12. The rod 67 may be made of a material having a higher heat transfer coefficient than air. By way of example and not limitation, the rod 67 may be made of a metallic material including, but not limited to, aluminum. Additionally, the exterior surface of the rod 67 may have a nickel alloy coating to further assist in the rapid heat transfer away from the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 and through the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 into the rod 67. It is also contemplated that the sleeve 14 can draw heat away from the inner surface of the distal portion of the conduit at a faster rate than the outer surface exposed to air.

Additionally, to facilitate heat transfer from the inner surface 48 of the pipe, the sliding retainer sleeve 64 may be made of the same material as the pipe 12 and sleeve 14. Preferably, the tubing 12 and the sleeve 14 may be made of FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) or PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) material. While the tube 12 and sleeve 14 may be made of the same material, it is also contemplated that the tube 12 and sleeve 14 may be made of different materials, including but not limited to the case where the tube 12 may be made of FEP material and the sleeve 14 may be made of PFA material, or vice versa.

Alternatively, it is also contemplated that a thermoelectric cooler may also be attached to the rod 67 to actively draw heat away from the rod 67 to cool the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 faster than the outer surface 82 of the tube. Further, it is also contemplated that fins may be attached to the rod 67 to further draw heat away from the rod 67 such that the inner surface 48 cools faster than the outer surface 82 of the tube 12.

The mandrels 38a-e are shown with a sliding retainer sleeve 64 for the purpose of retaining the distal end 76 of the reducer tube 12 against an edge 78 created by the chamfer 74 of the sleeve 14. However, it is also contemplated that sleeve 14 may be fabricated without chamfer 74 such that the opposite end portion 60 of sleeve 14 has a sharp edge that is not separated from the outer surface of stem 67 by a gap or lip 83. There is no lip 83 on the opposite end portion of the sleeve 14 that could catch on the distal end 76 of the tube 12. In this regard, the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is not required.

The sliding retainer sleeve 64, rod 67, sleeve 14, and tube 12 may be cylindrical. The cross-sections of these components shown in the figures may be characterized as any cross-section showing a central axis through components 64, 67, 14, and 12. The same applies to the union nut 18 and the fitting 16, except for the outer surface of the nut 18 and the threads formed thereon.

Referring now to fig. 5 and 13-16B, the fitting 16, sleeve 14, pipe 12 and union nut 18 are shown. As shown in fig. 13-13B, the fitting 16 may have thread(s) on opposite end portions of the fitting 16. However, it is also contemplated that the fitting 16 may have the thread(s) 86 on only one side of the fitting 16, and may be a tubular structure, such as an elbow, pipe, valve, or other configuration, on the other side of the fitting 16. The threads 86 of the fitting 16 may mate with the threads 88 of the union nut 18 (see fig. 16B). The fitting 16 may also have a wrench surface 90 to assist in holding the fitting 16 stationary when the union nut 18 is tightened onto the fitting 16.

Referring now to fig. 13B, the fitting 16 may have a chamfered surface 92 that receives the tube 12, wherein the tube 12 flares outward due to an enlarged portion 94 (see fig. 14B) of the sleeve 14. The chamfered surface 92 of the fitting may be at the same angle as the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14. The fitting 16 may also have a straight cylindrical surface 96 that receives a straight portion 98 of the conduit 12 (see fig. 12A) and a straight portion 100 of the sleeve 14 (see fig. 12A). Fig. 14B shows a straight section 100 of the sleeve 14. The straight section 100 may also have a step 102. However, even with the step 102, the straight section may still be considered straight. The fitting 16 may also have a recess 104 that receives a protrusion 106 of the sleeve 14 (see fig. 14B). The fitting 16 may also define an inner diameter 108, which may be equal to the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12 (see FIG. 15B). When assembled, fluid 22 flowing through conduit 12 also flows through sleeve 14 and fitting 16, as shown in fig. 12A. However, because the inner diameter 108 of the fitting 16 and the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve (see FIG. 14B) are equal to the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12, the fluid 22 maintains laminar flow through the fitting 20 and also does not create any significant friction to the flow of the fluid 22 through the fitting 20.

Referring now to fig. 14-14B, sleeve 14 is shown. Sleeve 14 defines an enlarged portion 94 having an outer diameter 112 at the apex thereof. The apex may be a flat cylindrical surface. In addition, enlarged portion 94 may also have two conical surfaces 114, 116. Conical surface 114 extends from edge 78 to an apex cylindrical surface 118. The conical surface 116 may extend from the apex of the enlarged portion 94 to a reduced diameter cylindrical section 120. The reduced diameter cylindrical section may have an outer diameter 112, the outer diameter 112 being less than the outer diameter 112 of the enlarged portion 94. As discussed herein, the chamfer 74 of the sleeve 14 is optional.

The conical surface 114 of the sleeve 14 may be referred to as a press surface. The conical surface 114 may be at an angle 113 (see fig. 14B) equal to and between 10 and 65 degrees from a central axis 111 (see fig. 14B) of the sleeve 14. Preferably, the angle 113 may be at an angle of 15 degrees to 45 degrees (e.g., 30 degrees) from the central axis 111. The length 115 of the conical surface 114 may be equal to or between 10% and 27%, more preferably may be equal to or between 17% and 20%, of the length 117 of the sleeve 14. By way of example and not limitation, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for 1/4 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.090 inch, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for 3/8 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.127 inch, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for 1/2 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.132 inch, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for 3/4 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.173 inch, and the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for 1 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.218 inch. Lengths 115 for conduits having different outer diameter dimensions may be sized to fall within the ratios described above. The length 115 of the conical surface 114 receives a force applied thereto by the union nut over a wide area to distribute the load on the sleeve 14 and to mitigate inward deflection or reduction of the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14 as the nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16. As shown in fig. 12A, as the union 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16, the union 18 pushes the tubing 12 against the compression surface 114. In doing so, sleeve 14 is pushed further into fitting 16. In addition, the conical surface 116 presses against the tube 12, and the tube 12 also presses against the chamfered surface 92 of the fitting 16. In other words, the tube 12 is sandwiched between the chamfered surface 92 of the fitting 16 and the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14, as shown in FIG. 12A. This forms a liquid tight seal between the conical surface 116 and the inner surface of the conduit with which it is in contact to prevent the liquid 22 from flowing out of the fitting 20. The conical surface 116 may have the same size as the conical surface 114. The conical surface 116 may be a mirror image configuration of the conical surface 114 or may be different from the conical surface 114 but within the scope set forth herein for the conical surface 114.

Further, as discussed herein, the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is in a pliable state when the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is pushed over the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve 14. In the pliable state, the distal section 40 of the tube is heated and its elastic range is increased. In addition, stresses within the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 are relieved. As the distal section 40 of the tube 12 is pushed over the enlarged portion 94, the distal section 40 of the tube stretches no more than the elastic limit of the flexible distal section. Further, it is contemplated that the enlarged portion 94 may stretch the distal end portion 40 of the tube 12 without significantly exceeding its elastic limit such that the inner diameter 42 of the tube 12 does not fall back to the outer diameter 122 of the reduced diameter cylindrical portion 120 of the sleeve 14 after the distal end portion 40 has cooled. After the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 has cooled, the cooling of the distal portion 40 of the tube and the elasticity of the distal portion 40 of the tube may be sufficient to contract or reduce the inner diameter 42 of the tube so that the inner surface of the distal portion 40 of the tube may compress against the reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 and the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14. Compression of the inner surface 48 of the pipe on the sleeve 14 creates a gapless connection along more than 75% and up to 95% (e.g., more preferably 90% to 95%) of the length of the enlarged portion 94 and reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 between the inner surface 48 of the pipe and the outer surface of the sleeve 14. The conduit 12 is spaced from the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14 without a gap. The distal portion 40 of the tube 12 contracts and resiliently compresses against the sleeve 14 to enhance a tight connection with the distal portion 40 and, more particularly, with the portion of the tube 12 that is urged against the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14. In order to pull the pipe 12 off the sleeve 14, the elastic limit of the pipe 12 must be exceeded. Thus, the pull force of the tube 12 from the sleeve 14 is high enough to withstand the operating conditions of the high purity liquid dispensing system.

Referring now to fig. 15-15B, the conduit 12 is shown. The tube 12 may have a length 124 that is long enough so that a user can hold the tube in his or her hand and still insert the distal portion 40 into the bore 38 of the heating body 24. It is also contemplated that in situations where it is desired to incorporate a relatively short tube 124 into a high purity liquid dispensing system, instead of holding the tube 12 with a human hand, the tube may be held with a gripping device.

Referring now to fig. 16-16B, the union nut 18 is shown. The union nut 18 may have a toothed configuration on its outside. These castellations 126 assist in applying torque to tighten the nut 18 onto the fitting. The union nut 18 has an inner diameter 128 that is greater than the outer diameter 41 of the pipe 12. This allows the pipe 12 to be inserted into the bore 130 of the nut 18 during assembly of the fitting 20. The union nut 18 also has a pressing surface 132. By way of example and not limitation, the length 133 of the crush surface 132 is 0.079 inches for 1/4 inch outside diameter (o.d.) tubing, 0.099 inches for 3/8 inch outside diameter tubing, 0.099 inches for 1/2 inch outside diameter tubing, 0.115 inches for 3/4 inch outside diameter tubing, and 0.140 inches for 1 inch outside diameter tubing. The length 133 (see fig. 16B) for pipes having different outer diameter dimensions may be sized to conform to the ratios described above. By way of example and not limitation, the length 133 may be between 40% and 95% of the length 115 (see fig. 14B) of the conical surface of the sleeve. More preferably, length 133 may be 75% plus or minus 15% of length 115. The pressing surface 132 may have a conical configuration, which may be at the same angle as the tapered surface 114 of the sleeve 14 (see fig. 12A). During assembly of the fitting 20, the pressing surface 132 of the union 18 pushes against the outer surface of the pipe 12 at the location of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve 14. The distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is heated so that it conforms to the contour of the sleeve 14. Thus, the union nut 18 does not gouge the outer surface of the pipe 12 and does not create stress concentrations on the pipe 12. In addition, the union nut 18 does not apply sharp needle point pressure to the tube 12. Instead, the nut 18 transfers force over a wide area to the sleeve through the compression surface 132 to better distribute the pressure applied to the pipe 12 and sleeve 14. This results in less deformation of the sleeve 14 and therefore minimal disruption of the fluid flow 22 through the sleeve 14. Further, when the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16, the percentage of connection along the length of the enlarged portion and reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 between the inner surface of the pipe and the outer surface of the sleeve may increase by more than 2% (e.g., 75% to 77%, 95% to 97%, or 90% to 95% to 92% to 97%). Preferably, the percentage of connection between the inner surface of the pipe and the outer surface of the sleeve along the length of the enlarged portion and reduced diameter cylindrical section may be increased to 99% to 100% when the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16.

To assemble the high purity liquid dispensing system, the tube 12 is attached to the sleeve 14. These sleeves 14 are used to attach the tubing 12 to the various fittings 16 required in high purity liquid dispensing systems. To mount the pipe 12 to the sleeve 14, the user turns on the heating machine 10 to heat the heating body 24. The temperature of the heating body 24 is set to a temperature depending on the type of material from which the pipe 12 is made. A user may control the temperature of the heating body 24 via a controller 28 of the machine 10. Once the heating body 24 has been heated to the desired temperature, the user grasps the tube 12 and inserts the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 into the appropriate aperture 38 a-e. The heating body 24 then heats the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 until the distal portion 40 reaches a temperature equal to or between the tube material softening temperature and the tube material melting temperature of less than 15 degrees celsius. Preferably, the heating body 24 heats the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 to at least the softening temperature of the tube material. At this point, the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 may be characterized as being in a pliable state. Typically, the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is held in the heating body 24 for about 45 seconds so that the temperature of the distal portion 40 can reach the same temperature as the temperature of the heating body 24. When the distal section 40 of the tube 12 is in the pliable state, the inner and outer diameters of the tube 12 will increase by about 3 to 4 percent. This allows the distal section 40 of the tube 12 to be easily pushed over the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve 14. In addition, the pliable state increases the elastic limit of the material such that when the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 passes over the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve 14, the stretch of the tube 12 over the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve 14 does not exceed the elastic limit of the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 in the heated condition. If the distal section 40 of the tube 12 does exceed its elastic limit when the section 40 is pushed over the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve, it is only slightly exceeded so that the distal section 40 of the tube 12 can elastically close over the sleeve 14.

Once the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 has reached the pliable state in the heating body 24 of the heating machine 10, the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is removed from the heating body 24. As shown in fig. 2B, before the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is removed from the heating body 24, the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is moved laterally to an upward position. The sleeve 14 is then disposed over the stem 67 of the mandrel 30. As shown in fig. 3B, the distal end 58 of the sleeve 14 contacts the stop surface 56 of the mandrel 30. As shown in fig. 4B, the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is moved laterally to a downward position. As shown in fig. 4B, the tube 12 may be removed from the heating body 24 and then inserted over the sleeve 14. Any misalignment of the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14 may be corrected by sliding the arms 66 of the retainer sleeve 64, with the arms 66 splaying outward and being disposed within the chamfer 74 and shoulder surface 62 of the sleeve 14, as shown in fig. 4B.

Inner diameter 42 of pipe 12 is preferably sized to be equal to or between inner diameter 110 of sleeve 14 and outer diameter 122 of reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 of sleeve 14. Preferably, the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12 is equal to the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14. As distal portion 40 of tube 12 is inserted over enlarged portion 94, distal portion 40 is stretched out. Because the distal portion 40 is heated to be in a pliable state, the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 has an increased range of its elastic limit. Thus, when distal section 40 is stretched out by enlarged portion 94 of sleeve 14, it is preferable not to overextend distal section 40 beyond the elastic limit of distal section 40. More preferably, the distal portion 40 remains within elastic limits. As the distal portion moves past the apex of the enlarged portion 94, the distal portion 40 contracts or closes due to its resiliency and compresses against the conical surfaces 114, 116 and the reduced diameter cylindrical section 120.

Furthermore, because the material of the rod 67, the coating on the rod 67, the material of the sliding retainer sleeve 64, and the sleeve 14 itself are capable of transferring heat faster than air, the heat transfer rate from the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 is greater than the heat transfer rate from the outer surface of the tube 12. In other words, the heat transfer coefficient of these components, either collectively or as a system, is greater than that of air. Because the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 cools at a faster rate than the outer surface 82, the distal portion 40 further shrinks onto the sleeve 14 to form a joint with a tight-fitting surface between the tube 12 and the sleeve 14. When the tube 12 is inserted over the sleeve 14, the distal end 76 of the tube 12 is inserted until the distal end 76 of the tube contacts the stepped surface 134 on the sleeve 14. Because the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is flexible, the user can push the tube 12 until the distal end 76 of the tube 12 contacts the stepped surface 134 of the sleeve 14. Additionally, due to the contact between the end surface 76 and the stepped surface 134, as the union nut 18 pushes the tube 12 and sleeve 14 further into the fitting 16, force is transferred from the distal end 76 of the tube 12 into the stepped surface 134 to further assist in the engagement of the assembly or fitting assembly 20. Once the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is fully inserted over the sleeve 14, the user may wait 1 to 3 seconds before removing the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 and the sleeve 14 from the mandrel 30. The user lifts the pipe 12 to remove the sleeve 14 and the pipe 12 from the mandrel 30. When lifted by the user, the sleeve 14 pushes the sliding retainer sleeve 64 upward to draw the arms 66 inward and allow the sleeve 14 to be removed from the mandrel 30. The distal portion 40 of the tube 12 may then be air cooled prior to assembly of the fitting 20. The air cooling allows the distal portion 40 of the conduit and the sleeve 14 to be stress relieved after cooling. Once the distal portion 40 is air cooled, there is a close fitting contact between the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 and the outer surface of the sleeve 14. Further, the portion of the distal end portion 40 disposed between the apex of the enlarged portion 94 and the step surface 134 is reshaped into this configuration.

After the distal section 40 has cooled, the elastic limit of the distal section is now less. To remove the distal portion 40 of the tube 12 from the sleeve, the portion of the tube 12 between the apex of the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve and the stepped surface 134 must be stretched more. This is difficult to do because the elastic limit of the cooled distal portion 40 of the tube 12 is reduced. This helps to retain the pipe 12 on the sleeve 14.

Referring now to fig. 5-12A, the assembly of the joint 20 is discussed. In particular, as described above, the distal portion 40 of the conduit 12 may be disposed over the sleeve 14. This is shown in fig. 6 and 7. After the pipe 12 is attached to the sleeve 14, the sleeve 14 is inserted into the fitting 16, as shown in fig. 8 and 9. The projection 106 of the sleeve is inserted into the recess 104 of the fitting 16 (fig. 12A). The union nut 18 may then be threaded onto the fitting 16 as shown in fig. 10 and 11.

A cross-section of the joint 20 is shown in fig. 12A. The union nut 18 may be torqued to apply pressure to the sleeve 14 through the pressing surface 132 of the nut 18. This force is transmitted through the pipe 12 into the conical surface 114 of the sleeve 14. The axial directional component of this pressure applies a compressive force to the conduit 12 between the chamfered surface 92 of the fitting 16 and the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14 to form a fluid tight seal therebetween.

The pressing surface 132 of the union nut 18 also exerts an inwardly directed force on the conical surface 114. The inwardly directed force is perpendicular to the axial direction. However, because the pressing surface 132 exerts this force over a wide area, minimal inward deflection of the sleeve 14 occurs near the conical surface 114 of the sleeve 14. By way of example and not limitation, the inner diameter of the sleeve 14 may be reduced by equal to and between 0.25% and 1.75%, and more preferably a minimum reduction of about 1% may be achieved. Before the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16, the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16 to the level where the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14 returns to its original inner diameter. In other words, before distal section 40 is coupled to sleeve 14, the sleeve has an inner diameter 110 sized 0.87 inches for a 1.00 inch outer diameter pipe. After the distal portion of tubing 12 is connected to sleeve 14, inner diameter 110 of sleeve 14 is slightly smaller due to the compressive force exerted by tubing 12 on the sleeve. As the pipe 12 and sleeve 14 are inserted into the fitting 16, the sleeve 14 may also apply an inwardly directed compressive force to further reduce the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14. As the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16, the pressing surface 132 of the nut 18 exerts inward pressure on the pipe 12 and sleeve 14. Preferably, after the nut 18 is torqued and removed, the inside diameter of the fitting 12 is the same as the inside diameter of the fitting 20 before the nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16. The inner diameter of the nipple 20 is determined by inserting a circular gauge into the nipple. The torque applied to the nut 18 does not cause the fitting 20 to exceed its elastic limit. In other words, the inner diameter of the fitting 20 is determined before the nut is torqued onto the fitting 16. The nut is torqued onto the fitting and then removed. Optimally, the inside diameter of the fitting 20 is tested to ensure that the inside diameter is the same before the nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16. The maximum torque is at a level just before the inner diameter of the fitting 20 is smaller after the nut 18 is torqued and removed from the fitting 16.

The high purity liquid dispensing system employing fitting 20 can operate at liquid temperatures equal to and between 21 degrees celsius and 200 degrees celsius and pressures between 37 pounds per square inch and 276 pounds per square inch. High purity liquid distribution systems are also known as chemical distribution systems and are also known by the acronyms CCSS, CDS or SDS and refer to the fluid or liquid transported by the system. The high purity liquid dispensing systems discussed herein can carry liquids having high acid degrees between 0-14 and can carry fluids such as sulfuric acid. The linker 20 described herein may meet the standard Semi F57-0301.

The above description is given by way of example and not limitation. In view of the above disclosure, those skilled in the art can devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Furthermore, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in different combinations from one another, and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinations described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the claims is not limited by the illustrated embodiments.

The claims (modification according to treaty clause 19)

1. A method of joining a conduit made of PFA material to a sleeve made of PFA material, the method comprising the steps of:

heating the heating body to a temperature below the softening temperature of the PFA material;

disposing a distal portion of the conduit in an aperture formed in the heating body at least until the distal portion of the conduit is in a pliable state;

arranging a sleeve on the cylindrical rod of the mandrel;

pulling the distal portion of the conduit out of the aperture of the heating body;

after the pulling step, pushing the distal portion of the heated conduit over the cylindrical rod and the sleeve;

removing the attached pipe and sleeve from the cylindrical rod of the mandrel after the pushing step;

allowing the distal portion of the conduit to remain in air to reduce the temperature of the distal portion of the conduit.