US 12,129,945 B2
Tube assembly
Naleen Kumar Verma, Bengaluru (IN); Mario Alberto Bolaños Jimenez, Querétaro (MX); and Daniel Drew Smith, Mason, OH (US)
Assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/478,333.
Claims priority of application No. 202111032593 (IN), filed on Jul. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0025292 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 27/06 (2006.01); F16L 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 27/06 (2013.01) [F16L 13/141 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tube assembly comprising:
a first fluid carrying tube having a distal end;
a second fluid carrying tube having a distal end, the distal end of the second fluid carrying tube being received by the distal end of the first fluid carrying tube; and
a tube coupling for coupling the first fluid carrying tube to the second fluid carrying tube, wherein the tube coupling provides a weld-free connection between the first fluid carrying tube and the second fluid carrying tube, the tube coupling comprising:
(a) a plurality of protrusions on an outer surface of the first fluid carrying tube; and
(b) a compressive band placed on the outer surface of the first fluid carrying tube, the compressive band configured to provide an elastic compressive force to the distal end of the first fluid carrying tube and the distal end of the second fluid carrying tube such that the first fluid carrying tube is secured to the second fluid carrying tube,
wherein the plurality of protrusions receives the compressive band, thereby axially aligning the compressive band relative to the first fluid carrying tube.