200920978 九、發明說明： 【相關申請案】 本申請案主張基於2007年5月14日提出申請之美國臨時申請 案第60/917,880號之權利，該美國臨時申請案以引用方式全文倂 入本文中。 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係關於塑膠管之耦合件，且更具體而言，本申請案係關 於用以輸送例如半導體加工行業中所用之超純流體之粞合件、此 等耦合件之製造方法以及此等耦合件之組合方法。 【先前技術】 許多行業利用由含氟聚合物（fluoropolymer )、例如由聚四氟乙 稀（polytetrafluoroethylene ; PTFE )、全氟烧氧基樹脂 (perfluoroalkoxy ; PFA )及其他合成樹脂所製成之管及接頭在極 高溫度及極端條件下傳送各種流體。該等含氟聚合物接頭具有極 高之耐腐蝕性以及高純度，此使該等材料非常適合於半導體加工 行業。然而，此等塑膠接頭及管因係由塑膠製成，而非由傳統材 料製成，例如不錄鋼、青銅（bronze )及銅（copper)等，故其不 具有傳統接頭之剛度及強度。因此，原本可能非常適用於金屬接 頭及金屬管之特殊連接配置當由聚合物且尤其由含氟聚合物材料 製成時將不能充分發揮作用。為使製程保持清潔且無害，使為管 之耦合段所配備之接頭不容易斷開並保持管/接頭介面之完整性至 關重要。為達此目的，人們已提供各種類型之含氟聚合物接頭。 一種被稱作FLARETEK®接頭之標準類型接頭（可自本申請案之 200920978 提供—接頭本體，該接頭本體具有-鼻部以及位於 螺紋部，其中該鼻部具有1料端及圓柱段。 之^=擴°之别’通常放置—接頭螺母於該管上。具擴口端 ^。卩被置於該鼻段上’且該接觀母沿㈣滑套於並緊固 ^頊本體’以使該螺母之套環在該鼻部壓縮該擴口端，進而 之内表面與鼻部間形成—密封。於組裝後，該螺母完全延 2過該擴口段。該密封係圍繞該實質圓柱形鼻部形成，但主要 八於4鼻部之尖端處。於料接财，該擴 該管之非擴口部之外徑。該管之U = 擴二又沿轴向延伸且具有一恒定之直徑。該擴口係藉由加熱管之 ^部並將其擴張成—恰當成形之形狀而形成。 此等擴口接頭本體具有鼻部，該鼻部包含當未組裝時會使密封 件外露之部分，致使該料頭本體容μ到潛在損壞。同樣地， 1 卜螺紋亦暴露在外，致使其容易受到可能之損壞。然而，於某, :形中，希望具有—能提供更多優點之擴口接頭，例如使該擴口 接頭^額外之輔助密封、當接頭未組裝時使接頭本體之密封面 不暴路在外、而且當組裝後為密封元件提供更多保護。 在。亥等應用中已得龍可之另_軸合件揭露於美國專利第 5’154’453 #u及第5,743,572中。該等接頭被稱作柱式接頭（削π fmlng)，其利用—具極高公差之環形嵌件，該環形嵌件被嵌置於 並固持於-管_。W件迫使該管變成—球形狀，並於該礙件 内側具有-圓柱孔。帶該嵌件之變形管端㈣合至另—具極高公 差之接頭本财並藉螺㈣合該朗本料側之螺紋而緊 6 200920978 固於該接料射。㈣料供與㈣尖端 形狀，以密㈣管似嵌件至該接财L =向力至該球 完整性很高之福合件，特別是好之球形外表2等接頭提供― 然而其難以被製造至所需之確切公差。 ，之完整性’。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 . BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a coupling for a plastic tube, and more particularly to a coupling for conveying an ultrapure fluid, such as used in the semiconductor processing industry, such couplings Manufacturing method and combination method of such coupling members. [Prior Art] Many industries utilize tubes made of fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), and other synthetic resins. The joint delivers a variety of fluids at extremely high temperatures and extreme conditions. These fluoropolymer joints are extremely resistant to corrosion and high purity, making these materials well suited for the semiconductor processing industry. However, these plastic joints and tubes are made of plastic instead of traditional materials such as steel, bronze and copper, so they do not have the rigidity and strength of conventional joints. Therefore, the special connection configuration that may otherwise be very suitable for metal joints and metal tubes will not function adequately when made of a polymer and especially a fluoropolymer material. In order to keep the process clean and harmless, it is important that the fittings provided for the coupling section of the tube do not easily break and maintain the integrity of the tube/joint interface. Various types of fluoropolymer joints have been provided for this purpose. A standard type of joint known as a FLARETEK® joint (available from 200920978 of the present application - a joint body having a nose and a threaded portion, wherein the nose has a material end and a cylindrical section. = expansion ° 'normally placed - joint nut on the tube. With a flared end ^. is placed on the nose section 'and the joint mother edge (four) slips and tightens the body 'to make The collar of the nut compresses the flared end at the nose, and the inner surface and the nose form a seal. After assembly, the nut extends completely through the flared section. The seal surrounds the substantially cylindrical shape. The nose is formed, but mainly at the tip of the nose of the 4th. The material is harvested, and the outer diameter of the non-flared portion of the tube is expanded. The U=2 of the tube extends in the axial direction and has a constant Diameter. The flare is formed by heating the tube and expanding it into a suitably shaped shape. The flared joint body has a nose that includes the seal when exposed. Partly, the body of the material is soaked to potential damage. Similarly, 1 thread is also Exposed to the outside, making it susceptible to possible damage. However, in a certain shape, it is desirable to have a flared joint that provides more advantages, such as an additional auxiliary seal for the flared joint, when the joint is not assembled The sealing surface of the joint body is not violent, and the sealing element is provided with more protection when assembled. In the application of Hai, etc., the other has been disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5'154'453 # u and 5,743,572. These joints are referred to as column joints (cut φ fmlng), which utilize an annular insert with extremely high tolerances, which is embedded and held in the tube _. Forcing the tube into a ball shape and having a cylindrical bore on the inside of the obstruction member. The deformed pipe end (4) with the insert is joined to another joint with a very high tolerance and the snail (4) is combined with the slab Thread and tight 6 200920978 is fixed on the shot. (4) Material supply and (4) Tip shape, with dense (4) tube-like inserts to the joint L = force to the ball with high integrity, especially good Spherical exterior 2 joints are provided - however it is difficult to manufacture to the exact tolerances required Integrity’
f發明内容J 有-擴張端(例如一球形狀)並具有一相應之内側球升;狀，，: f 本發明提供一種耦合件 头利用 端部與-制切㈣合，轉縣體具#—球料表面及1 近該球科表面之環頻，”端部及制藉 :部與接頭本體拉至-起一起。該槽具有相:= ’純佳實施财，糾具有—收_，該二表面 相互平行並沿徑向向内收斂。 仪敏邛 ~於本發明之—較佳實施例中，藉由將-球形心軸嵌人欲結合之 官翻並抽出之’而於管端部形成該球形狀。此可於室溫下方便 地完成。龍地，藉由町方式嵌人,n先與管端部之尖端 相對地從將形成球形部之位置處緊固—夾環總成至管末端位置之 外側並於肷入該心軸之同時利用該夾環總成緊固該管，隨後抽 出^軸㈣成該球形狀。較佳地，該夾環總成被永久性地附裝， 且當該管端部被附裝至接頭本體時亦為—螺母提供—喷合部件。 °亥夹％總成可具有—失環，該«具有複數沿軸向延伸且沿圓周 相間之手指，於該等手指之端部具有夾緊齒。―第二鎖定環部藉 由棋形作用沿徑向滑至夹環上，以將夹緊齒壓至管之外側中。 °亥夾％總成可具有一朝外之凸輪楔形面，以使螺母能夠滑套於組 7 200920978 裝後之夹核總成上並保持於央環總成上 :f佳實細例卜藉由沿抱向擴張—管端部而製作一連接， 其=徑向擴張沿軸向延伸一轴向距離，該轴向距離係為管之原 σ二之至夕-倍。於-較佳實施例中，於徑向擴張後，該管部 之半υ先從具有所量測半徑之尖端開始，隨著遠離該尖端而增 :’然後減小至原始管半徑。於一特定實施例中，該擴張係於室 進行或者於從6〇華氏度（Fahre*it)至卯華氏度之 下進行。 & 於一，定實施例中，利用一心軸沿徑向擴張該管端部，該心軸 ^有-嵌人端頭及—圓柱部或—球形部’該欲人端頭帶有一旦有 一錐形部之尖端’該圓柱部或球形部之徑向尺寸大於該管之内部 尺寸。於擴張期間，可將該心軸完全嵌人，以使該心軸之半徑減 小部至少位於該管端部之尖端處。 於一較佳實施例中，該接頭本體具有一外螺紋部、及被該螺紋 部局部覆蓋之—球形凸部，該球形部及該螺紋部界定—環形槽， =形槽向内收似其尺寸適可密封地容置具有所形成之球^之 官端。該方法亦包含-種用以製造沿徑向向内钱之環形槽底切 部之技術。 於某些實施例中，該接頭本體可由二部分形成：—内本體部及 一外本體部。該内本體部具有—流體流動孔及表面、該球形外表 面及朝向該環形槽之該二表面外側之該内4面。該外本體部具有又 朝内之外表面，且於一較佳實施例中，一螺紋 本發明之一優點在於，製造公差不像其他球形連接件—樣嚴 200920978 ' 格。而且，所存在之洩露路徑少於其他使用球形連接之連接器。 另一優點在於，可出人意料地利用簡單工具手工形成管端之球 形狀。再一優點在於，該接頭之底切部可出人意料地注射成型 (injection molded )且在模具中具有最少之活動部件（模具喪件）。 本發明之一態樣係為一種於一全氟烷氧基樹脂（PFA)聚合物管 端部與一聚合物接頭間製作一連接件之方法，其藉由利用一心轴 貼合該聚合物接頭之一環形凹槽將該端部冷成型，進而製成該連 接件。另一態樣係如本文所述。 本發明之一態樣係為一種如本文所述及所示製作一流體流動連 接件之方法。 本發明之一態樣係為一種用於本文所述及所示流體連接件之元 件。 本發明之一態樣係為一種如本文所述及所示之流體連接件。 本發明之一態樣係為一種具有本文所述及所示之連接件之一元 件之流體流動閥或感測器。 本發明之態樣包含用以製造本文所述及所示之元件及/或連接器 i . 之方法。 本發明之一態樣係為用以完成本文所述及所示元件及/或連接器 之製造及/或組裝之工具以及一種包含該等工具之工具箱。 【實施方式】 參見第1圖、第2圖及第3圖，圖中顯示耦合件12或連接器之 主要元件。管18具有一管端部20,且管18具有一連續之壁21， 壁21具有一鼓凸或球形部22，鼓凸或球形部22具有一球形外表 9 200920978 •球形内表面26、具有—開口 29之—尖端28、以及 … ， 一 J 穴少)¾ 厶ϋ ， 的久一册 欠形或均勻之半徑部3 ”’、 其 沒大知28具有一内徑d〗及半徑r〗。該 Ί内彳’内彳f :2亦料該均勻半徑部之内半徑。該 1二之内半徑隨者距尖端距離之增大而增大至最大半徑點（顯 不為半輕Γ3 )。麸德 '、，、⑨該球形部之内半徑減小至管半徑r2,或者可 下文所述夹環總成而略小於管半徑。 -f太興圖中該&端部2〇可喃合或已喃合一接頭本體部32。接 :j部32可與—流體流動元件本體部34形成-體，流體流動 兀*件本體部34例如係為—閥體、一 哭 歧官（manifold )、一流量控制 —過濾本體、-三通接頭（Tee)、-;^lj5| ==接頭本體部32具有—鼻部％及一二 面广具有-外徑…鼓凸或球形部36具有一朝外 二=外之密封面被配置成具有一外徑d之一朝外球面 ’、有 轴線Ot之一實暂fll j G延伸貫穿接頭本體部32， 垓軸線α構成一流體流動 。亥孔將較佳具有一等於管半徑r2 之+徑r6。該接頭本體部且 部尖端28，用於容置及密封管端 1^28,補具有_朝外之表面43、—朝内 底牦，此皆可提供與管端部 一槽 人a °卩2〇之相應表面之密封嚙合，以迳忐鉍 δ件之密封，藉以防止該輪 之朝外表面43並與該朝外表::路朝外之球面38_^ 朝外表面43共同延伸。 ，見第1圖、第3圖及第4圖，緊固於管部 有—夹環54以及與該办浐〇 總成52具 大衣54相配合之一楔形鎖 locking ring) 58，其中 貞疋 ％ ( wedge '、&具有藉間隙56隔開之沿轴向延伸 10 200920978 且沿徑向撓曲之夾爪55。該夹環 兮雜—J具有一疋位凸耳56，用以與 6亥鎖疋核之一開孔57相配合。 吁 59 > 、夾衣54上提供楔形鎖定凸耳 以將該總成52 —同鎖定於管之外表面上。 參見圖式，一具有朝内螺紋62之 蝾妗<7π —Mm 嘴母60喃合該接頭本體之外 …’。该螺母60具有-止撞面 76·此外，楔形或凸輪部59可自―用叫合本體部之一凸緣 ^ ^ °疋玉畏或該夾環54延伸出，以 棱供與螺母60之鎖定作用，藉 夹環總成52之管端部20上之轴向^或固疋該螺母6〇在緊固有 6位置。而且，藉由將螺母60沿 由向固疋於㈣部2G上’能將螺母從接頭部上旋下，以將管 7之球形部拉離該接頭部之球形部。該螺母之_推動部8 : %總成52，並由此嚙合管端部2〇。可# ° 母60旋至接頭上。 4扁平部82以幫助將螺 第2圖及第3圖顯㈣合件準備組裝成—高完整性連接件 圖係為「已製成」之高完整性連接件。應注意，螺母6〇於 ^上自由旋轉。管部之球形部22面對並接觸接頭本體部Μ之鼻 =5，於該接觸點上，螺母6()可藉由螺則合接頭本體部3 ㈣紋。由此’螺母60之旋轉藉由與夾環總成Μ之軸 朝前（朝接頭本體）推動管端部2G之球形部，以使 ^骨套於接頭本體之球形部36上並密封地私球形部^ 2 官端部20密封地嚙合於接頭本體部之槽142中。 ^ 重要的是，於較佳實施例中，管端部2Q之尖端心 係大於接頭本體部32之鼻部之外半徑，進㈣夠容㈣管^二 導向及定向，以利於使管部環繞喃合接頭本體部32之&/進行 I开5部。應 200920978 注意’於某些實施例巾，接頭本體部之球形部之外半徑μ大於尖 端28之内半徑r卜此使得當該等元件喷合於-起時，需要尖端: ，口擴張-疋程度。亦較佳地’内球面r3之内半徑小於接頭本體 部32之球形部之外半徑r5，以利於相應表自（亦即管端部加之 内球面與接頭本體部32之球形部之外球面）達成—可靠之密封喃 合0 接頭本體部32具有該球形端及—相對之連接端則，連接端㈣ 可成-體地或藉由習知連接件或藉由本文所述之另—種連接件附 連至其他流體it件。該接頭本體可係為—閥門或_流體流動量測 裝置或連接件（例如-三通接頭或f管接頭）之—整體組成部分。 該接頭本體具有—螺紋部132，螺紋部132與球形部叫目結合界 定朝内收斂之槽142。該槽之尺寸適於容置該尖❹及管端部如 之球形部之一部分。 參見第6圖，其顯示一替代實施例，其中接頭本體部2ι〇係由 -内體部214與一外體部216構成，内體部214與外體部216藉 由螺紋相互搞合於—起並密封_合於—燕尾榫（d〇Vetail)連接 件咖處。該内體部2H與外體部21δ界定環形槽如。此種槽很 難機器加工’且當流體流動元件本體230係由不能以傳統方式模 製之聚四氟乙烯（PTFE)製成且與接頭本體部形成一體時，該二 部分使得可利用此種搞合配置。該圖亦顯示一正確耗合指示環 240,其可於螺母⑼被充分或恰當旋緊於接頭本體部”上時提供 -聽覺或視覺指示。指示環·於組裝之前被容置於—第一圓周 槽冰中，且當螺母被旋緊於接頭本體部上時，該指示環細貼 12 200920978 靠接頭本體部之一止擔面248，且當轴向移動之螺母被進_步旋緊 時，指示環240被推動並最終「砰」地—聲被推入第二圓周槽祝 中。可於該等槽中增加著色（例如紅色條紋），以利於對是否連接 充分進行視覺指示。 第7圖顯示-適宜之手動操作工具3〇〇，其可用於在管端部之— 適宜位置將緊固環骸至夾環。另外，圖中顯示一心軸31〇_ 於圓柱體M4内部並藉由手動螺母218旋緊，以形成球形端部： p第8圖顯示嵌於一管端部之心轴31〇。於移出心轴則之後，管端 '部保持球形狀，如第2圖所心令人驚魏，該球形狀朝管端部 之，面220收斂。-元件主要由例如全氟院氧基樹脂（pFA)或聚 四乱乙稀（PTFE)等流體聚合物製成。該夹環可由利用聚喊喊綱 (PEEK ; polyetheretherket〇ne )等更具剛性之聚合物製成。 /見第7 11圓，根據本發明組裝一耦合件之步驟如下所述。首 先，將螺母60滑套至欲結合之一管端部2〇。接著，將夾環總成 52田地疋位於該管端部2〇之上管端面與螺母卯之間。將鎖定 (Μ固於該夹環54上’以將夾環總成W鎖定於管端部外表面 之疋位上。可利用該手工卫具達成該連接，藉由合攏該工具之握 達成D亥疋位及夹緊效果。然後，可利用手工工具200將心軸 =〇 ^入f端部中並隨後立即抽出之’以利用該夾緊總成形成球形 :，藉以於嵌人及抽出心軸時提供—軸向支撐。該操作較佳可於 至庞下進4亍’並可藉由旋轉握把· 218以向前驅動心軸而達成。然 後可藉由可旋轉之同一握把而退出心轴。接頭本體部Η可已經 緊口至*11流動元件或流體流動管上，或者可在此時藉由一焊 13 200920978 接連接進行恰當緊固。然後，使管端部面對接頭本體部32之球形 部’並使螺母⑼唾合接頭本體之螺紋。藉由將螺母60旋轉帶螺 狀本體上，較佳直到該螺料合接頭本體之凸緣％為止吏 管端部20之球形部移動至接頭本體之球形部上，進而擴張尖财 之開口 ’並將管端部之球形部密封地唾合至接頭本體部& 部上及收斂之環形槽222内。 ' 應注意，該接頭本體可利用一中央孔模具後件及—其形狀相摩 於收敛槽或凹槽142之輔助可移開式模製嵌件注射成型。於將: 融之塑膠射人模具内並使其固化之後，便可移出該中央孔嵌件， 由此便能隨後移“於該㈣凹槽或槽之辅助模具嵌件，以使接 頭本體之球料心向暫時撓曲而錢接财體之該球形部明顯 變形。 本發明亦可實施為其他具體形式，此並不背離本發明之精神及 本質屬’因此’所不實施例在每—方面皆應被視為例示性而非 限定性實施例，本發明之範圍應參照隨附中請專利範圍而非上文 說明加以指示。 【圖式簡單說明】 第1圖係為根據本發明實施例之一耦合件之剖視圖； 第2圖係為根據本發明實施例之一管部及一配合接頭本體之立 體圖’其中該管部上之球形部、及«總相及螺母已準備就緒， 且该配合接頭本體與一通用流體流動元件形成一體； 第3圖係為根據本發明實施例，準備耦合之一接頭本體及—管 端部之剖視圖； 14 200920978 第4圖係為根據本發明實_之—鎖定環總紅立體圖，· 第5 _'為於形成球形部之前’―管端部上之—螺母之立體圖； 第6圖係為—_合件之^—實_之舰圖；以及 第7圖至第11圖係為根據本發明實施例之一手動操作工具之立 ，圖’射動操作工具適用於將夾環總成安裝於管部上並適 嵌置及移開心軸’圖巾亦顯示連接器元件。 ； 【主要元件符號說明】 12 :耦合件 20 :管端部 22 :球形部 2 6 ·球形内表面 29 :開口 32 :接頭本體部 35 :鼻部 3 8 ·朝外球面 42 ·'環形槽 44 :朝内之表面 52 :夾環總成 55 :夾爪 58 :楔形鎖定環 60 :螺母 70 :外螺紋 76 .凸緣 18 :管 21 :壁 24 :球形外表面 28 :尖端 30 :半徑部 34 .流體流動元件本體部 36 :球形部 4〇 :實質圓柱形孔 43 :朝外之表面 45 :槽底 54 :夾環 56 :定位凸耳 59 :楔形鎖定凸耳 62 :朝内螺紋 74 :止措面 80 :推動部 15 200920978 82 :扁平部 210 :接頭本體部 214 :内體部 216 :外體部 220 :燕尾榫連接件 222 :環形槽 230 :流體流動元件本體 240 :指示環 244 :第一圓周槽 248 :止擋面 250 :第二圓周槽 300 :手動操作工具 310 :心軸 314 :圓柱體 rl :尖端半徑 r2 :管半徑 r3 :最大半徑 r4 :鼻部外徑 r5 :朝外球面之外徑 r6 :孔之半徑 dl :尖端内徑 16SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION J has a diverging end (for example, a spherical shape) and has a corresponding inner ball swell; shape,: f The present invention provides a coupling member head using end-to-cut (four) combination, turn county body tool# - the surface of the ball and the ring frequency of the surface of the ball, "end and the borrowing: the part is pulled together with the joint body. The groove has the phase: = 'pure good implementation, corrective - receive _, The two surfaces are parallel to each other and converge radially inwardly. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the -spherical mandrel is embedded and extracted The shape of the ball is formed. This can be conveniently performed at room temperature. The dragon is embedded by the town, and n is fastened from the tip of the end of the tube from the position where the spherical portion will be formed. Extending the tube to the outer side of the end position of the tube and tightening the tube while inserting the mandrel, and then withdrawing the shaft (4) into the shape of the ball. Preferably, the ring assembly is permanently Attached, and when the end of the pipe is attached to the joint body, it is also provided as a nut-spraying component. °Hai clip% assembly can have The finger having a plurality of axially extending and circumferentially spaced fingers having clamping teeth at the ends of the fingers. The second locking ring portion slides radially to the clamping ring by a chevate action to Clamp the tooth pressure into the outer side of the tube. The °Clamp % assembly can have an outward cam wedge surface to allow the nut to be slipped over the clamped core assembly of Group 7 200920978 and held in the central ring. In the above: f is a good example to make a connection by expanding the end of the tube - the radial expansion extends axially by an axial distance, which is the original σ of the tube In the preferred embodiment, after the radial expansion, the half of the tube begins with the tip having the measured radius and increases with the tip: 'and then decreases to the original Tube radius. In a particular embodiment, the expansion is performed in a chamber or from 6 Fahrenheit to Fahrenheit. & In a preferred embodiment, a mandrel edge is utilized Radially expanding the end of the tube, the mandrel has an inlaid end and a cylindrical portion or a spherical portion a tip end of the tapered portion having a radial dimension greater than an inner dimension of the tube. During expansion, the mandrel can be fully embedded such that the radius reduction portion of the mandrel is at least In a preferred embodiment, the joint body has an externally threaded portion and a spherical convex portion partially covered by the threaded portion, the spherical portion and the threaded portion defining an annular groove, The groove is inwardly received to be sized to sealingly receive the official end of the formed ball. The method also includes a technique for making an undercut of the annular groove in the radially inward direction. In some embodiments, the joint body can be formed in two parts: an inner body portion and an outer body portion. The inner body portion has a fluid flow hole and a surface, the spherical outer surface, and an outer side of the two surfaces facing the annular groove. The outer body portion has an inwardly facing outer surface, and in a preferred embodiment, one thread of the invention has the advantage that manufacturing tolerances are not like other spherical connectors - the same as 200920978'. Moreover, there are fewer leak paths than other connectors that use a ball joint. Another advantage is that the shape of the ball end of the tube can be manually formed by a simple tool. Yet another advantage is that the undercut of the joint can be unexpectedly injection molded and has minimal moving parts (mold pieces) in the mold. One aspect of the present invention is a method of making a joint between a polymer end of a perfluoroalkoxy resin (PFA) polymer tube and a polymer joint by bonding the polymer joint with a mandrel One of the annular grooves cold-forms the end to form the connector. Another aspect is as described herein. One aspect of the present invention is a method of making a fluid flow connection as described and illustrated herein. One aspect of the present invention is an element for use in the fluid connections described and illustrated herein. One aspect of the invention is a fluid connection as described and illustrated herein. One aspect of the invention is a fluid flow valve or sensor having one of the connectors described and illustrated herein. Aspects of the invention include methods for making the components and/or connectors described and illustrated herein. One aspect of the present invention is a tool for performing the manufacture and/or assembly of the components and/or connectors described and illustrated herein, and a kit containing such tools. [Embodiment] Referring to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, the main components of the coupling member 12 or the connector are shown. The tube 18 has a tube end 20 and the tube 18 has a continuous wall 21 having a bulge or spherical portion 22 having a spherical outer surface 9 200920978 • a spherical inner surface 26 having - The opening 29 - the tip 28, and ..., a J hole is less) 3⁄4 厶ϋ , a long-formed or uniform radius portion 3 ′′, which is not well known 28 has an inner diameter d and a radius r. The inner radius of the inner 彳 彳 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The inner radius of the spherical portion of bran ',,, 9 is reduced to the tube radius r2, or may be slightly smaller than the tube radius as described below. -f Taixing diagram of the & end portion The joint body portion 32 is merged or merged. The j portion 32 can be formed with the fluid flow element body portion 34, and the fluid flow body portion 34 is, for example, a valve body, a crying officer (manifold) ), a flow control - filter body, - tee joint (Tee), -; ^ lj5 | = = joint body portion 32 has - nose % and a two-sided wide - outer diameter The bulge or spherical portion 36 has an outwardly facing outer surface. The sealing surface is configured to have one of the outer diameters d facing the outer spherical surface, and one of the axes Ot extends from the joint body portion 32. The axis α constitutes a fluid flow. The hole will preferably have a diameter r6 equal to the tube radius r2. The joint body portion and the tip end 28 are used for accommodating and sealing the tube end 1^28, and have a _ outward The surface 43, the inwardly facing bottom, can provide a sealing engagement with the corresponding surface of the slot end of the tube to seal the 迳忐铋δ member, thereby preventing the outward facing surface 43 of the wheel. And the outer surface of the road: the outwardly facing spherical surface 38_^ extends toward the outer surface 43. See Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, fastened to the tube portion with a clamp ring 54 and with the handle 〇 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 58, 58, 58, 58, 58, 58, 58, 58, 58, ( ( ( ( wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge wedge 55. The clamp ring noisy-J has a clamping lug 56 for cooperating with one of the 6-locked nucleus openings 57. 59 > A wedge-shaped locking lug is used to lock the assembly 52 to the outer surface of the tube. Referring to the drawing, a 具有<7π-Mm mouthpiece 60 having an inward thread 62 is smothered outside the joint body... The nut 60 has a stop surface 76. In addition, the wedge or cam portion 59 can be extended from the flange of the body portion or the clamp ring 54 to provide a nut for the rib. The locking action of 60 is achieved by the axial direction of the tube end 20 of the clamp ring assembly 52 or by the securing of the nut 6 〇 in the 6 position. Further, the nut can be unscrewed from the joint portion by the nut 60 being fixed to the (four) portion 2G to pull the spherical portion of the tube 7 away from the spherical portion of the joint portion. The pusher 8 of the nut: the % assembly 52, and thereby engages the end 2 of the tube. # ° Mother 60 is screwed onto the connector. 4 Flat portion 82 to help assemble the screw Figure 2 and Figure 3 (4) assembly into a high integrity connector. The figure is a "made" high integrity connector. It should be noted that the nut 6 is free to rotate on ^. The spherical portion 22 of the tube portion faces and contacts the nose of the joint body portion = 5, at which the nut 6 () can be screwed to the joint body portion 3 (four). Thus, the rotation of the nut 60 pushes the spherical portion of the tube end portion 2G toward the front (toward the joint body) with the shaft of the clamp ring assembly 以 so that the bone is sleeved on the spherical portion 36 of the joint body and sealed privately. The spherical portion 2 is sealingly engaged in the groove 142 of the joint body portion. ^ Importantly, in the preferred embodiment, the tip end of the tube end 2Q is larger than the radius outside the nose of the joint body portion 32, and the (4) is sufficient to accommodate the orientation and orientation of the tube to facilitate the circumference of the tube. The &/ of the merging joint main body portion 32 is opened and five parts are opened. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the radius μ outside the spherical portion of the joint body portion is greater than the inner radius r of the tip end 28, so that when the elements are sprayed on, the tip is required: degree. It is also preferable that the inner radius of the inner spherical surface r3 is smaller than the outer radius r5 of the spherical portion of the joint main portion 32 to facilitate the corresponding surface self (that is, the end portion of the tube plus the spherical surface of the inner spherical surface and the spherical portion of the joint main portion 32) Achieved - a reliable sealing ridge 0 The connector body portion 32 has the spherical end and the opposite connecting end. The connecting end (4) can be connected in a body or by a conventional connecting member or by another type described herein. Attachment to other fluids. The joint body can be an integral part of a valve or a fluid flow measuring device or a connector (e.g., a three-way joint or an f-joint). The joint body has a threaded portion 132, and the threaded portion 132 and the spherical portion are combined to define a groove 142 that converges inwardly. The slot is sized to receive the tip and a portion of the tube end such as a spherical portion. Referring to Fig. 6, an alternative embodiment is shown in which the joint body portion 2i is comprised of an inner body portion 214 and an outer body portion 216, and the inner body portion 214 and the outer body portion 216 are engaged by threads. Start and seal _ in the - dovetail (d〇Vetail) connector coffee shop. The inner body portion 2H and the outer body portion 21δ define an annular groove such as. Such a groove is difficult to machine 'and when the fluid flow element body 230 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that cannot be molded in a conventional manner and is integral with the joint body portion, the two portions make it possible to utilize this Get the configuration. The figure also shows a correct fit indicator ring 240 that provides an audible or visual indication when the nut (9) is fully or properly screwed onto the joint body portion. The indicator ring is housed prior to assembly - first In the circumferential groove ice, and when the nut is screwed on the joint body portion, the indicator ring is closely attached to the stop face 248 of the joint body portion, and when the axially moving nut is tightened The indicator ring 240 is pushed and eventually "snapped" - the sound is pushed into the second circumferential slot. Coloring (e.g., red stripes) can be added to the grooves to facilitate adequate visual indication of whether or not the connection is made. Figure 7 shows a suitable hand operated tool 3〇〇 that can be used to pry the fastening ring to the clamp ring at the end of the tube. In addition, a mandrel 31 〇 is shown inside the cylinder M4 and is tightened by a manual nut 218 to form a spherical end: p Figure 8 shows the mandrel 31 嵌 embedded in the end of a tube. After the mandrel is removed, the end of the tube retains the shape of the ball. As shown in Fig. 2, the shape of the ball converges toward the end of the tube. - The component is mainly made of a fluid polymer such as perfluoro-homopolymer (pFA) or polytetracycline (PTFE). The clamp ring can be made from a more rigid polymer such as PEEK; polyetheretherket〇ne. / See the 7th 11th, the steps of assembling a coupling member in accordance with the present invention are as follows. First, the nut 60 is sleeved to the end of one of the tubes to be joined. Next, the clamp ring assembly 52 field is located between the end face of the tube at the end 2 of the tube and the nut bore. Locked (sucked on the clamp ring 54) to lock the clamp ring assembly W to the clamp on the outer surface of the end of the tube. The joint can be used to achieve the connection, by folding the grip of the tool to achieve D The clamping position and the clamping effect. Then, the hand tool 200 can be used to insert the mandrel into the end of the f and then immediately extract it to form a spherical shape using the clamping assembly: by embedding and withdrawing the heart The shaft is provided with an axial support. This operation can preferably be performed by turning the handle 218 forward by driving the grip 218. Then the same grip can be rotated by the same grip. Exit the mandrel. The joint body portion can be tightened to the *11 flow element or fluid flow tube, or it can be properly tightened at this time by a weld 13 200920978. Then, the tube end faces the joint The spherical portion of the body portion 32 and the nut (9) is splined to the thread of the joint body. By rotating the nut 60 onto the screw-like body, preferably until the flange of the screw joint body is %, the end portion of the tube 20 The spherical portion moves to the spherical portion of the joint body, thereby expanding the opening of the fortune And sealing the spherical portion of the end of the tube to the joint body portion & and the converging annular groove 222. 'It should be noted that the joint body can utilize a central hole mold back piece and its shape is compatible with The auxiliary movable insert of the converging groove or the groove 142 is injection-molded. After the plastic is injected into the mold and solidified, the central hole insert can be removed, thereby being able to be moved later. "Auxiliary mold insert of the (four) groove or groove, so that the spherical core of the joint body is temporarily deflected and the spherical portion of the money body is obviously deformed. The present invention may also be embodied in other specific forms, and The present invention is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention should be construed as BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling member according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tube portion and a mating connector body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Spherical part on the tube And «the total phase and the nut are ready, and the mating joint body is integrated with a common fluid flow element; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one of the joint body and the tube end ready to be coupled according to an embodiment of the invention; 200920978 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the total red of the locking ring according to the present invention, and the fifth _' is a perspective view of the nut on the end of the tube before forming the spherical portion; Fig. 6 is a _ Figure 7 - Figure 11 is a manual operation tool according to one embodiment of the present invention, and the figure 'ejection operation tool is suitable for mounting the clamp ring assembly to the pipe portion The upper and the appropriate inserting and moving shafts are also shown as connector components. [Main component symbol description] 12: Coupling member 20: tube end portion 22: spherical portion 2 6 · spherical inner surface 29: opening 32: joint Body portion 35: nose portion 3 8 · outward facing surface 42 · 'annular groove 44 : inwardly facing surface 52 : clamp ring assembly 55 : jaw 58 : wedge shaped locking ring 60 : nut 70 : external thread 76 . : tube 21: wall 24: spherical outer surface 28: tip 30: radius portion 34. fluid flow element Piece body portion 36: spherical portion 4〇: substantially cylindrical hole 43: outward facing surface 45: groove bottom 54: clamping ring 56: positioning lug 59: wedge locking lug 62: inwardly threaded 74: stop face 80 : pushing portion 15 200920978 82 : flat portion 210 : joint body portion 214 : inner body portion 216 : outer body portion 220 : dovetail joint 222 : annular groove 230 : fluid flow element body 240 : indicating ring 244 : first circumferential groove 248: stop face 250: second circumferential groove 300: manual operation tool 310: mandrel 314: cylinder rl: tip radius r2: tube radius r3: maximum radius r4: nose outer diameter r5: outer diameter of the outer spherical surface R6 : radius of the hole dl : inner diameter of the tip 16