Tube joint leak repair coupling consists of 2 split seals, 1 male split nut, 1 female split nut, and two aligning pins. Each split nut consists of 2 half-shell sections which, when engaged, are held together by a dovetail joint and an aligning pin

Ferguson, W. B.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1968	 Brief 68-10540 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
S
-.--------,----.-
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Tube Joint Leak Repair Coupling
II 
Aligning Pin	 Leaky Joint
Nuts 
Split Plastic Seals	
DOVETAIL 
Female Split Nuts
 
Prior methods of repairing leaking tube joints in-
volved replacement of the soldered joint. This en-
tailed removal of the union by debrazing or by ma-
chining and necessitated system flushing, purging, and 
recharging. 
A technique has been conceived that accomplishes 
an effective repair to a leaking joint and requires 
none of the tasks mentioned above. The device con-
sists of 2 split seals, I male split nut, 1 female split nut, 
and two aligning pins. Each split nut consists of 2 
half-shell sections which, when engaged, are held to-
gether by a dovetail joint and an aligning pin. In appli-
cation, the male split nut is inserted into the female 
split nut and retained by standard threads. The two
split nuts are torqued together, thus compressing the 
two split seals about the union and completely encap-
sulating the joint. This eliminates union leakage and 
prevents tubes from creeping out of the fitting due to 
shock or vibration. 
Notes: 
I. Hydrostatic leak testing with the split nuts set at 
50 inch pounds torque resulted in no leakage under 
system pressures from 30 to 300 psi. Failure did not 
occur until 350 psi was reached. The same hard-
ware was reassembled and the assembly torqued to 
100 inch pounds. Testing was started at 300 psi 
and raised in 100 psi increments to 1150 psi, at 
which point failure occurred.
(continued overleal) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19680000496 2020-03-12T06:30:45+00:00Z
Documentation for the innovation is available 
from:
Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific 
and Technical Information 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Price $3.00 
Reference: B68-10540
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: William B. Ferguson 
of North American Rockwell Corporation 
under contract to 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
(MSC-15022) 
Brief 68-10540	 Category 05


Tube joint leak repair coupling

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