Method and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system. A distal portion of tubing is heated and then pushed over a sleeve so that the distal portion can have a shrink-tight fit over the sleeve to reduce accidental or unintentional pulling of the tubing from the fitting. Other benefits are also achieved, such as minimal flow restriction of liquid flowing through the fitting and tubing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments and aspects described herein relate to methods and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system. Background Art

[0002] High purity liquid dispensing systems require various interconnected piping and other components 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. When assembling these types of high purity liquid dispensing systems, certain drawbacks exist.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for assembling a high purity liquid dispensing system. Summary of the invention

[0004] The various aspects described herein address deficiencies in the art. For example, a machine, pipe, sleeve, fittings, and union nuts for assembling a high-purity liquid distribution system are shown. In addition, a method for assembling a high-purity liquid distribution system using the machine, pipe, sleeve, fittings, and union nuts is described herein. The method and apparatus described herein allow a shrink-tight fit connection between the pipe and the sleeve to increase the pull-out strength of the pipe when the joint is assembled. In addition, deformation in the joint is minimized to minimize fluid flow constraints through the joint. In addition, the inner diameter of the joint is the same before the union nut is installed and after the union nut is installed and removed from the fitting.

[0005] More particularly, a method for attaching a pipe made of a PFA material to a sleeve made of a PFA material is disclosed. The method may include the following steps: heating a heating body to a temperature at least 15 degrees Celsius lower than the softening temperature of the PFA material; arranging a distal portion of the pipe in a hole formed in the heating body until the distal portion of the pipe is in a flexible state; arranging the sleeve on a cylindrical rod of a mandrel; holding the pipe by hand; while holding the pipe by hand, pulling the distal portion of the pipe out of the hole of the heating body; within 10 seconds after the removal step, pushing the heated distal portion of the pipe over the cylindrical rod and the sleeve; within 10 seconds after the pushing step, immediately removing the attached pipe and sleeve from the cylindrical rod of the mandrel; allowing the distal portion of the pipe to remain in air at a temperature between 15 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees Celsius until the temperature of the distal portion of the pipe is below 38 degrees Celsius.

[0006] The method may further include the step of reducing the inner diameter of the tubing at a faster rate than the outer diameter of the tubing to shrink the distal portion of the tubing onto the sleeve.

[0007] In the method, the pushing step may include the step of pushing the distal portion of the heated tubing until a distal end of the distal portion of the tubing contacts a stop flange of the sleeve.

[0008] In the method, the connection percentage 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 connection percentage may be between 90% and 96%.

[0009] In the method, the removing step may be performed within 3 seconds after the pushing step.

[0010] In the heating step, the heating body may be heated to a temperature between 250 degrees Celsius and 290 degrees Celsius.

[0011] In another aspect, a machine for installing a pipe to a sleeve is disclosed. The machine may include a heating body, a heater, a controller, and a mandrel, the heating body having a hole with an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the pipe and the hole having a depth greater than 3 / 4 of the length of the sleeve; the heater is thermally connected to 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 pipe material; the controller is electrically connected to the heater and is operable to turn the heater on and off; the mandrel is adjacent to the controller and has a cylindrical rod defining an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the pipe.

[0012] The mandrel may also have a retainer sleeve slidably disposed on 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 deployed outwardly to a greater extent from the central axis of the retainer sleeve and the cylindrical rod than when the retainer sleeve is in the disengaged position.

[0013] In another aspect, a method of attaching a pipe to a fitting is disclosed. The method may include the steps of providing a pipe arranged on a sleeve, the sleeve and the pipe defining a mating extrusion surface when coupled to each other, which extends between a base and an apex of an enlarged portion of the sleeve and has a conical configuration, the mating extrusion surfaces of the pipe and the sleeve being connected to each other over at least 75% of the length of the conical surface of the sleeve; inserting the pipe and the sleeve into the fitting; screwing a nut onto the threads of the fitting so that the extrusion surface of the nut contacts and pushes against an outer surface of the pipe aligned with the mating extrusion 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.

[0014] In this method, the increment of the added connections may be at least 2%.

[0015] In this method, after the nut is torqued onto the fitting, the connection percentage may be 98% or greater. In this method, the nut may be torqued onto the fitting to a level limited to the level of the common elastic limit of the sleeve, pipe and fitting so that if the nut is removed after the torqueing step, the inner diameter of the sleeve remains the same as before the nut was torqued onto the fitting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heating machine for joining pipes and sleeves;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 a front view of the mandrel shown with the sleeve disposed over the mandrel;

[0019] Figure 2A yes Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of the mandrel and sleeve shown;

[0020] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A An enlarged partial view of the mandrel and sleeve is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 is a front view of the mandrel with the sleeve arranged on the mandrel and the slidingly retained sleeve in an upward position;

[0022] Figure 3A yes Figure 3 A cross section of the mandrel and sleeve is shown;

[0023] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A An enlarged partial view of the mandrel and sleeve is shown;

[0024] Figure 4 is a front view of the mandrel and sleeve with the slide-retained sleeve in a downward position;

[0025] Figure 4A yes Figure 4 a cross-sectional view of the mandrel and sleeve shown;

[0026] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A An enlarged partial view of the mandrel and sleeve is shown with the pipe arranged thereover;

[0027] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the union nut, pipe, sleeve, and fittings;

[0028] Figure 5A is a front view of the union nut, pipe, sleeve, and fittings;

[0029] Figure 6 is a front view of the pipe and the sleeve being aligned with each other before being attached to each other;

[0030] Figure 7 is a front view of the pipe and the sleeve after they are attached to each other;

[0031] Figure 8 is a front view of the joined pipe and sleeve aligned with the fitting before being attached to each other;

[0032] Fig. 9 is a front view of the joined pipe and sleeve and fittings after they are attached to each other;

[0033] Fig.10 is a front view of the union nut and the connected pipe, sleeve and fitting before the union nut is attached to the fitting;

[0034] Fig.11 The nut is screwed Fig.10 A front view of the union nut and the connected pipe, sleeve and fitting after the fitting is attached as shown;

[0035] Fig.12 yes Fig.11 an upright view of the assembly shown;

[0036] Fig. 12A yes Fig.12 a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown;

[0037] Fig.13 It is a perspective view of the accessories;

[0038] Fig.13A yes Fig.13 a front view of the accessory shown;

[0039] Fig. 13B yes Fig.13A an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the accessory shown;

[0040] Fig.14 It is a perspective view of the sleeve;

[0041] Fig.14A yes Fig.14 A front view of the sleeve is shown;

[0042] Fig. 14B yes Fig.14A An enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the sleeve is shown;

[0043] Fig.15 It is a perspective view of the pipeline;

[0044] Fig.15A It is the front view of the pipeline;

[0045] Fig. 15B yes Fig.15A A cross-sectional view of the pipe is shown;

[0046] Fig.16 is a perspective view of the union nut;

[0047] Fig.16A yes Fig.16 A front view of the union nut is shown; and

[0048] Fig. 16B yes Fig.16A A cross-sectional view of a union nut is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Referring now to the drawings, a method for making a connector 20 (see FIG. 1 ) for use in a high purity liquid dispensing system is disclosed. Fig. 12A ) of the heating machine 10 (see Figure 1 ) various aspects. The joint 20 may include a pipe 12 (see Fig. 12A , Figure 15-15B ) and accessories 16 (see Fig. 12A , Figure 13-13B ). The pipe 12 may be attached to the sleeve 14 (see Fig. 12A , Figure 14-14B The combined pipe / sleeve 12, 14 can be connected with a union nut 18 (see Fig. 12A , Figure 16-16B ) is attached to the fitting 16. The fitting 20 described herein can have a pipe pull-out force (i.e., the force required to pull the pipe 12 out of the fitting 16) that is high enough to withstand the operating pressures and temperatures of the high purity liquid dispensing system. The high pull-out strength of the fitting 20 is achieved by one or more of the following: attaching the pipe 12 to the sleeve 14 after the pipe is heated by the machine 10 and when the pipe is in a stress relieved state (i.e., a pliable state) to contact the outer surface 82 (see Fig. 15B ) cooling rate is greater than the faster rate at which the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 is cooled (see Fig. 15B ), and air cools the combined pipe 12 and sleeve 14 so that the combined pipe / sleeve is in a stress-relieved state after cooling. In addition, because the inner diameter of the fitting 20 is not significantly smaller than the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12 after the union nut 18 is torqued to a tightening level, the fitting 20 does not significantly restrict the flow of liquid through the high-purity liquid distribution system. After the nut is torqued onto the fitting, the inner diameter of the fitting can be about 0% to 5% smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe, and more preferably 1% to 2% (e.g., 1.5%) smaller. By providing the extrusion surface 132 of the union nut 18 with a wide area (see Fig. 16B) to achieve a minimal reduction in the inside diameter of the fitting 20, the wide area applying pressure to the sleeve 14 above the wide area. In addition, the nut 18 can be tightened onto the fitting 16 to a level where 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 at the operating torque and after the union nut 18 is removed from the fitting 16.

[0050] More specifically, now refer to Figure 1 , the machine 10 assists in connecting the pipe 12 to the sleeve 14. The machine 10 may have a heating body 24. The heating body 24 may be thermally connected to a heater (not shown). When heating the pipe 12 made of FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) or PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) material, the heater may heat the heating body 24 to a temperature of 180 degrees Celsius to 310 degrees Celsius. The heating body 24 may be attached to a base 26. The base 26 may also be used to fix the controller 28 and the spindles 30a-e. A handle 32 may be attached to the base 26 to allow the user to lift and move the machine 10 from one position to another when assembling the high-purity liquid dispensing system. The controller 28 and the heater of the machine 10 may be powered by an electrical outlet that is powered by a wire 34.

[0051] The heating body 24 can be arranged in a vertical orientation. The heating body 24 can be attached to a rod 36 that supports the heating body 24 in an upward direction. The upward direction means that the holes 38a-e can have a central axis that is vertically aligned. In this way, the pipe 12 to be inserted into one of the holes 38a-e is also vertically aligned. The pipe 12 located outside the heating body 24 can be held by a person's hand, and the pipe 12 is first inserted into the hole 38a-e, and then after the distillation end portion 40 of the pipe 12 has reached the desired temperature, the user can remove the pipe 12 from the heating body 24 and distil the distillation end portion 40 of the pipe 12 (see Fig. 15B ) is pushed over the sleeve 14 which has been placed on one of the mandrels 30a-e.

[0052] The pipe 12 may be provided with an outer diameter 41 (see Fig. 15B ) are defined by the various sizes. The conduit 12 may be provided with a quarter inch outer diameter, a three-eighth inch outer diameter, a half inch outer diameter, a three-quarter inch outer diameter, an inch outer diameter, and an inch and a half outer diameter. Other sizes between these sizes are also contemplated. Each of these conduit sizes may have a different inner diameter 44 (see Figure 1). The holes 38a-e may have an inner diameter that is slightly larger (e.g., approximately 3% to 5% larger) than the outer diameter 41 of the pipe 12. In this manner, the distillation end portion 40 of the pipe 12 may be inserted into the appropriate hole 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 a 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 a 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.

[0053] By way of example and not limitation, a one inch outer diameter pipe 12 may be inserted into a hole 38e, which may have an inner diameter slightly greater than one inch (e.g., the inner diameter of hole 38e may be approximately 1.01 inches). The 1 / 4 inch hole, the 3 / 8 inch hole 38b, the 1 / 2 inch hole, and the 0.75 inch hole 38d may have slightly larger inner diameters, ranging between and including 0.005 inches and 0.010 inches greater than the outer diameter. The holes 38a-e may have a depth 44 (see FIG. 4 ). Figure 1 ), with a depth approximately equal to or greater than one-eighth of an inch of the sealing length 46 of the sleeve 14. The sealing length 46 of the sleeve 14 is the depth of the inner surface 48 (see FIG. 1 ) of the pipe 12 when the pipe 12 is engaged to the sleeve 14. Fig. 15B ) area in contact.

[0054] The heating body 24 may be made of a metal material. To insert the distillation end portion 40 of the pipe 12 into the hole 38, the user may hold the portion of the pipe 12 that does not enter the hole 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 pipe 12 out of the hole 38ae.

[0055] In order to turn on or off the heater that heats the heating body 24, the user can operate the controller 28. In addition, through the controller, the user can increase or decrease the temperature of the heating body 24 to a suitable temperature. The controller 28 may have a button, a knob, a pressure-sensitive screen to control the heater. The heating body 24 can be heated to 160 degrees Celsius (i.e., between 140 degrees Celsius and 180 degrees Celsius) for pipes made of FEP material, and can be heated to about 270 degrees Celsius (i.e., between 250 degrees Celsius and 290 degrees Celsius) for pipes made of PFA material.

[0056] Reference now Figure 2-4B , which are shown in these figures Figure 1One of the spindles 30a-e shown. The spindle 30 can be attached to the base 26 by a rod 50. A protective cover 52 ( Figure 1 ) may be attached to the rod 50 by screws 54 to mitigate injury to personnel. For example, if a protective sleeve is not used, the pipe 12 that is heated to above 200 degrees Celsius may be touched by a person assembling the joint 20 and burn the person. The protective sleeve provides a protective barrier. In addition, the protective sleeve 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 sleeve 52 around the mandrel 30, the protective sleeve 52 may serve as an insulator for the outer surface 82 of the pipe 12 to retain heat within the distal portion of the pipe. Although the protective sleeve 52 is described as helping to promote faster and slower cooling of the outer surface 82 of the pipe 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 compared to the outer surface 82. Rod 67 (see Figure 2B ) and sliding retainer sleeve 64 (see Figure 2B ) can be high enough that even without the protective jacket 52, when the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14 are cooled in ambient air having a temperature between 20 degrees Celsius and 44 degrees Celsius, the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 cools faster than the outer surface 82 of the pipe 12. For the purpose of simplicity and clarity, Figure 2-4B The illustrated mandrels 30 a - e are shown without the protective sheath 52 .

[0057] The mandrel 30a-e may have an outer diameter 54 and a stop surface 56, such as Figure 2B When the sleeve 14 is arranged on the mandrel 38a-e, as shown in Figure 3B As shown, the distal end 58 (see Figure 2B ) 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 spindle 30a-e.

[0058] The spindle 30a-e may have a sliding retainer sleeve 64. The sliding retainer sleeve 64 may be moved laterally as Figure 3B The upward position shown and Figure 4B The sliding retainer sleeve 64 may have a plurality of arms 66 (see Figure 3 and Figure 4 ), when the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is moved from the upward position (see Figure 3 ) is shifted to the downward position (see Figure 4 ), the plurality of arms 66 are extended, such as Figure 4 shown.

[0059] The stem 67 of the mandrel 30a-e can define the outer diameter 54, the shoulder surface 62, and the retainer stop. The retainer stop prevents the sliding retainer sleeve 64 from being removed from the stem 66 and defines the upward and downward positions of the sliding retainer sleeve 64. In particular, the stem 66 can have an upper groove 68 (see Figure 4B ) and the lower groove 70 (see Figure 3B ). The sliding retainer sleeve 64 may have a protrusion 72 that is received in the upper and lower grooves 68, 70 when the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is in the upper and lower positions. Figure 4B As shown, arms 66 are extended due to shoulder surface 62 pushing arms 66 outward.

[0060] In this downward position, the distal end portion of the arm 66 is located at the position defined by the chamfer 74 (see Figure 4B and Fig. 14B ) and shoulder surface 62 (see Figure 4B ) is within the gap formed. Therefore, when the pipe 12 is pushed over the sleeve 14, the distal end 76 (see Figure 4B ) will not be due to the edge 78 and inner diameter 80 of the sleeve 14 (see Figure 3B ) between the gap or lip 83 (see Figure 3B ) and at the edge 78 of the sleeve 14 (see Figure 3B However, because the distal end portion of the arm 66 of the retainer sleeve 64 abuts against the chamfer 74, any misalignment of the pipe 12 with the sleeve 14 is prevented by Figure 4B The arm 66 is aligned with the position shown in FIG. 1 so that the distal end 76 of the pipe 12 does not get caught on the edge 78 of the sleeve.

[0061] When 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 pipe is transferred out of the inner surface through this contact at a faster rate than the rate at which heat is transferred from the outer surface of the pipe. When the pipe 12 is placed over the sleeve 14 and on the rod 67, the rod 67 and the sliding retainer sleeve 64 of the mandrel 30a-e and the sleeve 14 can contact the outer surface 82 of the pipe (see Fig. 15B ) draws heat away from the inner surface 48 of the heated distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 at a greater rate than the outer surface 82 of the pipe 12, so that the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 can shrink at a faster rate than the outer surface 82 of the pipe 12. The rod 67 can be made of a material having a higher heat transfer coefficient than air. By way of example and not limitation, the rod 67 can be made of a metal material including, but not limited to, aluminum. In addition, the outer surface of the rod 67 can have a nickel alloy coating to further assist in the rapid thermal transfer of heat away from the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 and into the rod 67 through the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12. It is also contemplated that the sleeve 14 can draw heat away from the inner surface of the distal portion of the pipe at a faster rate than the outer surface exposed to air.

[0062] Furthermore, to facilitate heat transfer away 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 the sleeve 14. Preferably, the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14 may be made of FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) or PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) material. Although the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14 may be made of the same material, it is also contemplated that the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14 may be made of different materials, including but not limited to the case where the pipe 12 may be made of FEP material and the sleeve 14 may be made of PFA material, or vice versa.

[0063] Optionally, 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, thereby cooling the inner surface 48 of the tube 12 faster than the outer surface 82 of the tube. In addition, it is also contemplated that a heat sink may be attached to the rod 67 to further draw heat away from the rod 67, causing the inner surface 48 to cool faster than the outer surface 82 of the tube 12.

[0064] For the purpose of mitigating the catching of the distal end 76 of the tube 12 on the edge 78 created by the chamfer 74 of the sleeve 14, the mandrels 38a-e are shown with a sliding retainer sleeve 64. However, it is also contemplated that the sleeve 14 may be made without the chamfer 74 so that the opposing end portion 60 of the sleeve 14 has a sharp edge that is not separated from the outer surface of the rod 67 by the gap or lip 83. There is no lip 83 on the opposing 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.

[0065] The sliding retainer sleeve 64, rod 67, sleeve 14 and pipe 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 the components 64, 67, 14 and 12. The same applies to the union nut 18 and fitting 16, except for the outer surface of the nut 18 and the threads formed thereon.

[0066] Reference now Figure 5 and Figure 13-16B , showing the fitting 16, sleeve 14, pipe 12 and union nut 18. Figure 13-13B As shown, the fitting 16 may have (multiple) threads on opposite end portions of the fitting 16. However, it is also contemplated that the fitting 16 may have (multiple) threads 86 on only one side of the fitting 16, and the other side of the fitting 16 may be a tubular structure, such as an elbow, pipe, valve, or other structure. The threads 86 of the fitting 16 may mate with the threads 88 of the union nut 18 (see FIG. 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.

[0067] Reference now Fig. 13B , the fitting 16 may have a chamfered surface 92 to accommodate the pipe 12, wherein the pipe 12 is enlarged due to the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve 14 (see Fig. 14B ) and flare outward. 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 the straight portion 98 of the pipe 12 (see Fig. 12A ) and the straight portion 100 of the sleeve 14 (see Fig. 12A ). Fig. 14B A straight section 100 of the sleeve 14 is shown. 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. 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 ).like Fig. 12A As shown, when assembled, the fluid 22 flowing through the pipe 12 also flows through the sleeve 14 and the fitting 16. However, due to the inner diameter 108 of the fitting 16 and the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve (see Fig. 14B ) is equal to the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12, so that the fluid 22 maintains laminar flow through the joint 20 and does not generate any significant friction to the flow of the fluid 22 through the joint 20.

[0068] Reference now Figure 14-14B , a sleeve 14 is shown. The sleeve 14 defines an expanded portion 94 having an outer diameter 112 at its apex. The apex may be a flat cylindrical surface. In addition, the expanded portion 94 may also have two conical surfaces 114, 116. The conical surface 114 extends from the edge 78 to a cylindrical surface 118 at the apex. The conical surface 116 may extend from the apex of the expanded portion 94 to a cylindrical section 120 of reduced diameter. The cylindrical section of reduced diameter may have an outer diameter 112 that is less than the outer diameter 112 of the expanded portion 94. As discussed herein, the chamfer 74 of the sleeve 14 is optional.

[0069] The conical surface 114 of the sleeve 14 may be referred to as a pressing surface. The conical surface 114 may be aligned with the central axis 111 of the sleeve 14 (see Fig. 14B ) at an angle 113 equal to and between 10 and 65 degrees (see Fig. 14B). Preferably, the angle 113 may be at an angle of 15 to 45 degrees (e.g., 30 degrees) with the central axis 111. The length 115 of the conical surface 114 may be equal to or between 10% and 27% of the length 117 of the sleeve 14, and more preferably may be equal to or between 17% and 20%. By way of example and not limitation, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for a 1 / 4 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.090 inches, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for a 3 / 8 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.127 inches, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for a 1 / 2 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.132 inches, the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for a 3 / 4 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.173 inches, and the length 115 of the conical surface 114 of the sleeve for a 1 inch outer diameter pipe is 0.218 inches. The length 115 for pipes of different outside diameter sizes can be sized to fall within the above ratios. The length 115 of the conical surface 114 receives the force applied thereto by the union nut over a wide area to distribute the load on the sleeve 14 and mitigate the inward deflection or reduction of the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14 when the nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16. Fig. 12A As shown, as the coupling 18 is twisted onto the fitting 16, the coupling 18 pushes the pipe 12 against the pressing surface 114. In doing so, the sleeve 14 is pushed further into the fitting 16. In addition, the conical surface 116 presses against the pipe 12, and the pipe 12 also presses against the chamfered surface 92 of the fitting 16. In other words, the pipe 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. Fig. 12A This forms a fluid-tight seal between conical surface 116 and the inner surface of the pipe in contact therewith to prevent liquid 22 from flowing out of fitting 20. Conical surface 116 may be the same size as conical surface 114. Conical surface 116 may be a mirror image configuration of conical surface 114 or different from conical surface 114 but within the scope of what is stated herein for conical surface 114.

[0070] Furthermore, as discussed herein, when the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 is pushed over the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve 14, the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 is in a pliable state. In the pliable state, the distal portion 40 of the tubing is heated and its elastic range is increased. Additionally, stress within the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 is relieved. When the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 is pushed over the enlarged portion 94, the stretching of the distal portion 40 of the tubing does not exceed the elastic limit of the pliable distal portion. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the enlarged portion 94 may stretch the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 but not significantly beyond its elastic limit, such that after the distal portion 40 has cooled, the inner diameter 42 of the tubing 12 does not fall back to the outer diameter 122 of the reduced diameter cylindrical portion 120 of the sleeve 14. After the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 has cooled, the cooling of the distal portion 40 of the tubing and the elasticity of the distal portion 40 of the tubing may be sufficient to shrink or reduce the inner diameter 42 of the tubing so that the inner surface of the distal portion 40 of the tubing can be compressed against the reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 and conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14. The compression of the inner surface 48 of the tubing against the sleeve 14 creates a gap-free 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 tubing and the outer surface of the sleeve 14. The tubing 12 is separated from the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14 by no gap. The distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 shrinks and elastically compresses against the sleeve 14 to enhance a tight connection with the distal portion 40, and more specifically, with the portion of the tubing 12 that pushes against the conical surface 116 of the sleeve 14. In order to pull the tubing 12 away from the sleeve 14, the elastic limit of the tubing 12 must be exceeded. Therefore, the pull-out force of the tubing 12 from the sleeve 14 is high enough to withstand the operating conditions of the high purity liquid dispensing system.

[0071] Reference now Figure 15-15B , showing the tubing 12. The tubing 12 may have a sufficiently long length 124 that a user can hold the tubing with his or her hand and still insert the distal portion 40 into the hole 38 of the heating body 24. It is also contemplated that in situations where a shorter tubing 124 is required to be installed in a high purity liquid dispensing system, instead of holding the tubing 12 with a person's hand, the tubing may be held with a gripping device.

[0072] Reference now Figure 16-16B, a union nut 18 is shown. The union nut 18 may have a toothed configuration on its outside. These toothed protrusions 126 assist in applying torque to tighten the nut 18 onto the fitting. The union nut 18 has an inner diameter 128 that is larger than the outer diameter 41 of the pipe 12. This allows the pipe 12 to be inserted into the hole 130 of the nut 18 during assembly of the fitting 20. The union nut 18 also has an extrusion surface 132. By way of example and not limitation, the length 133 of the extrusion surface 132 is 0.079 inches for a 1 / 4 inch outside diameter (OD) pipe, 0.099 inches for a 3 / 8 inch OD pipe, 0.099 inches for a 1 / 2 inch OD pipe, 0.115 inches for a 3 / 4 inch OD pipe, and 0.140 inches for a 1 inch OD pipe. Lengths 133 for pipes with different OD sizes (see Fig. 16B ) can be sized to conform to the above ratios. By way of example and not limitation, length 133 can be greater than length 115 (see FIG. Fig. 14B ) is between 40% and 95% of the length 115. More preferably, the length 133 may be 75% of the length 115 plus or minus 15%. The extrusion surface 132 may have a conical configuration that may mate with the conical surface 114 of the sleeve 14 (see Fig. 12A ) are at the same angle. During assembly of the connector 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 pipe 12 is heated so that it conforms to the contour of the sleeve 14. Therefore, the union nut 18 does not dig into 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 pinpoint pressure to the pipe 12. Instead, the nut 18 transmits force over a wide area to the sleeve through the pressing surface 132 to better distribute the pressure applied to the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14. This results in less deformation of the sleeve 14 and, therefore, minimal interruption of the fluid flow 22 through the sleeve 14. Furthermore, the percentage of connection along the length of the expanded portion and reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 between the inner surface of the pipe and the outer surface of the sleeve can be increased by more than 2% (e.g., 75% to 77%, 95% to 97%, or 90% to 95% to 92% to 97%) when the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16. Preferably, the percentage of connection along the length of the expanded portion and reduced diameter cylindrical section between the inner surface of the pipe and the outer surface of the sleeve can be increased to 99% to 100% when the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16.

[0073] In order to assemble the high purity liquid dispensing system, the pipe 12 is attached to the sleeve 14. These sleeves 14 are used to attach the pipe 12 to various accessories 16 required in the high purity liquid dispensing system. In order to install 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 that depends on the type of material from which the pipe 12 is made. The user can control the temperature of the heating body 24 through the controller 28 of the machine 10. Once the heating body 24 has been heated to the desired temperature, the user holds the pipe 12 and inserts the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 into the appropriate holes 38a-e. The heating body 24 then heats the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 until the distal portion 40 reaches a temperature between the softening temperature of the pipe material and the melting temperature of the pipe material equal to or below 15 degrees Celsius. Preferably, the heating body 24 heats the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 at least to the softening temperature of the pipe material. At this point, the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 can be characterized as being in a pliable state. Typically, the distal portion 40 of the tubing 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 portion 40 of the tubing 12 is in the pliable state, the inner and outer diameters of the tubing 12 will increase by about 3 to 4 percent. This allows the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 to be easily pushed over the expanded portion 94 of the sleeve 14. In addition, the pliable state increases the elastic limit of the material so that when the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 passes over the expanded portion 94 of the sleeve 14, the stretching of the tubing 12 over the expanded portion 94 of the sleeve 14 does not exceed the elastic limit of the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 in the heated condition. If the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 does exceed its elastic limit when it 40 is pushed over the expanded portion 94 of the sleeve, it only exceeds it slightly so that the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 can be elastically closed on the sleeve 14.

[0074] Once the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 has reached a pliable state within the heating body 24 of the heating machine 10, the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 is removed from the heating body 24. Figure 2B As shown, before the distal end portion 40 of the pipe 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 arranged over the rod 67 of the mandrel 30. Figure 3B As shown, the distal end 58 of the sleeve 14 contacts the stop surface 56 of the mandrel 30. Figure 4B As shown, the sliding retainer sleeve 64 is moved laterally to a downward position. Figure 4BAs shown, the pipe 12 can be removed from the heating body 24 and then inserted over the sleeve 14. Any misalignment of the pipe 12 with the sleeve 14 can be corrected by sliding the arms 66 of the retainer sleeve 64, which are flared outward and arranged within the chamfer 74 and shoulder surface 62 of the sleeve 14, as shown. Figure 4B shown.

[0075] The size of the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12 is preferably set to be equal to or between the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14 and the outer diameter 122 of the reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 of the sleeve 14. Preferably, the inner diameter 42 of the pipe 12 is equal to the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14. As the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 is inserted above the enlarged portion 94, the 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 pipe 12 has an increased range of its elastic limit. Therefore, when the distal portion 40 is stretched out due to the enlarged portion 94 of the sleeve 14, it is preferably not over-extended to the elastic limit of the distal portion 40. More preferably, the distal portion 40 remains within the elastic limit. When the distal portion moves past the apex of the enlarged portion 94, the distal portion 40 contracts or closes and compresses on the conical surfaces 114, 116 and the reduced diameter cylindrical section 120 due to its elasticity.

[0076] In addition, 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 can transfer heat faster than air, the heat transfer rate from the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 is greater than the heat transfer rate from the outer surface of the pipe 12. In other words, the heat transfer coefficient of these components together or as a system is greater than the heat transfer coefficient of air. Because the inner surface 48 of the pipe 12 cools at a faster rate than the outer surface 82, the distal portion 40 further contracts on the sleeve 14 to form a joint with a close fitting surface between the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14. When the pipe 12 is inserted over the sleeve 14, the distal end 76 of the pipe 12 is inserted until the distal end 76 of the pipe contacts the stepped surface 134 on the sleeve 14. Because the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 is flexible, the user can push the pipe 12 until the distal end 76 of the pipe 12 contacts the stepped surface 134 of the sleeve 14. In addition, due to the contact between the end surface 76 and the step surface 134, as the union nut 18 pushes the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14 further into the fitting 16, force is transferred from the distal end 76 of the pipe 12 into the step surface 134 to further assist in the engagement of the assembly or joint assembly 20. Once the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 is fully inserted over the sleeve 14, the user can wait 1 to 3 seconds before removing the distal portion 40 of the pipe 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. As the user lifts, the sleeve 14 pushes upward on the sliding retainer sleeve 64 to pull the arms 66 inward and allow the sleeve 14 to be removed from the mandrel 30. The distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 can then be air cooled before assembling the fitting 20. The air cooling allows the distal portion 40 of the pipe 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. In addition, the portion of the distal portion 40 disposed between the apex of the enlarged portion 94 and the stepped surface 134 is reshaped to this configuration.

[0077] After the distal portion 40 is cooled, the elastic limit of the distal portion is now smaller. In order to remove the distal portion 40 of the pipe 12 from the sleeve, the portion of the pipe 12 between the apex of the expanded portion 94 of the sleeve and the stepped surface 134 must be stretched more. This is difficult to do due to the reduced elastic limit of the cooled distal portion 40 of the pipe 12. This helps to keep the pipe 12 on the sleeve 14.

[0078] Reference now Figure 5-12A , discusses the assembly of the connector 20. In particular, as described above, the distal portion 40 of the tubing 12 may be disposed above the sleeve 14. This Figure 6 and Figure 7After the pipe 12 is attached to the sleeve 14, the sleeve 14 is inserted into the fitting 16, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The protrusion 106 of the sleeve is inserted into the recess 104 of the accessory 16 ( Fig. 12A ).like Fig.10 and Fig.11 As shown, the union nut 18 may then be threaded onto the fitting 16 .

[0079] The cross section of the joint 20 is Fig. 12A 1. The union nut 18 can be torqued to apply pressure to the sleeve 14 via the compression 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 component of this pressure applies a compressive force to the pipe 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.

[0080] The extrusion 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 extrusion surface 132 exerts this force over a wide area, the minimum 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 can be reduced by equal to and between 0.25% and 1.75%, and more preferably a minimum reduction of about 1% can be achieved. Before the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16, the union nut 18 is torqued onto the fitting 16 until the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14 returns to the level of its initial inner diameter. In other words, before the distal portion 40 is connected to the sleeve 14, the sleeve has an inner diameter 110 of 0.87 inches for a 1.00 inch outer diameter pipe. After the distal end portion of the pipe 12 is connected to the sleeve 14, the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14 is slightly smaller due to the compressive force applied by the pipe 12 to the sleeve. When the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14 are inserted into the fitting 16, the sleeve 14 can also apply an inwardly directed compressive force to further reduce the inner diameter 110 of the sleeve 14. When the union nut 18 is twisted onto the fitting 16, the pressing surface 132 of the nut 18 exerts an inward pressure on the pipe 12 and the sleeve 14. Preferably, after the nut 18 is twisted and removed, the inner diameter of the fitting 12 is the same as the inner diameter of the fitting 20 before the nut 18 is twisted onto the fitting 16. The inner diameter of the fitting 20 is determined by inserting a circular gauge into the fitting. 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 twisted onto the fitting 16. The nut is twisted 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 the level just before the inside diameter of the fitting 20 is smaller after the nut 18 is torqued and removed from the fitting 16.

[0081] A high purity liquid distribution system employing the connector 20 can operate at a liquid temperature equal to and between 21 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius and at a pressure between 37 pounds per square inch and 276 pounds per square inch. A high purity liquid distribution system is also referred to as a chemical distribution system and is also referred to by the abbreviations CCSS, CDS or SDS and refers to the fluid or liquid transported by the system. The high purity liquid distribution system discussed herein can transport liquids with a high acidity between 0-14 and can transport fluids such as sulfuric acid. The connector 20 described herein can meet the standard Semi F57-0301 standard.

[0082] The above description is given by way of example and not limitation. In view of the above disclosure, those skilled in the art may devise variations within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. In addition, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein may be used alone or in different combinations from one another, and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinations described herein. Therefore, the scope of the claims is not limited by the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. A joint used in a liquid distribution system and connected to a pipe, the pipe being made of perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), the joint comprising: A sleeve made of perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), the sleeve defining a sealing length and a total length, the sealing length being defined by an enlarged portion and a cylindrical portion, the total length being defined by the enlarged portion, the cylindrical portion and a distal portion, the enlarged portion having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion, the enlarged portion having a conical surface, the conical surface being at an inclined angle to a central axis of the sleeve, the conical surface having a length, the length of the conical surface being equal to the total length of the sleeve or between 10% and 27% of the total length, wherein the conduit is insertable over the enlarged portion and the cylindrical portion; a fitting having threads and recesses for engaging an inner surface and a protrusion of said distal portion, said conduit being positionable between said inner surface of said fitting and said enlarged and cylindrical portions of said sleeve; and a union nut having a conically configured pressing surface and threads, the threads engaging the threads of the fitting, the length of the pressing surface being shorter than the length of the conical surface of the sleeve and the length of the pressing surface being completely below the apex of the conical surface of the sleeve, the conical pressing surface being at an inclined angle to a central axis of the union nut before the union nut is engaged with the fitting, the central axis of the union nut being coaxially aligned with the central axis of the sleeve when the union nut is engaged to the fitting, and the conical pressing surface pressing against the conical surface of the sleeve when the union nut is fully tightened on the fitting to form a fluid-tight joint; The conical extrusion surface is formed integrally with the union nut and maintains the same inclination angle when the union nut is engaged with and disengaged from the fitting. 2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the length of the extrusion surface is 40% to 95% of the length of the conical surface.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the length of the extrusion surface is 60% to 90% of the length of the conical surface.

4. The fitting of claim 1, wherein the conical surface makes an angle equal to or between 10 and 65 degrees with the central axis of the sleeve.

5. The fitting of claim 4, wherein the conical surface makes an angle equal to or between 15 and 45 degrees with the central axis of the sleeve.

6. The fitting of claim 1, wherein the pressing surface has a conical shape and an angle of the pressing surface is equal to the angle of the conical surface of the sleeve.

7. The fitting of claim 1 wherein the end of the pipe is heated to the softening temperature of the pipe and the interior of the end of the pipe engaging the sleeve cools at a faster rate than the exterior of the pipe, thereby compressing the interior surface of the pipe onto the sleeve.

8. The fitting of claim 7, wherein no gap exists between the inner surface of the pipe and at least 75% of the length of the enlarged portion of the sleeve.

9. A method of attaching a pipe to a fitting, the method comprising the steps of: providing the duct disposed above the sleeve, the sleeve and the duct defining a mating extrusion surface when coupled to each other, the mating extrusion surface extending between a base and an apex of the enlarged portion of the sleeve and having a conical configuration, the mating extrusion surfaces of the duct and the sleeve being connected to each other 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 so that an extrusion surface of the nut contacts and pushes against an outer surface of the pipe aligned with the mating extrusion surface; twisting the nut onto the fitting; increasing the connection between the pipe and the sleeve at the conical surface by torqueing the nut onto the fitting to a predetermined level; The pressing surface of the nut is formed integrally with the nut and maintains the same inclination angle when the nut is engaged with and disengaged from the fitting.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the increment of the connection that is enlarged is at least 2%.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the connection percentage is 98% or greater after the nut is torqued onto the fitting.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the nut is torqued onto the fitting to a level limited by the common elastic limit of the sleeve, pipe and fitting so that if the nut is removed after the torqueing step, the inner diameter of the sleeve remains the same as before the nut was torqued onto the fitting.

Images