CA2127506A1 - Quick connect swivel coupling - Google Patents
Quick connect swivel couplingInfo
- Publication number
- CA2127506A1 CA2127506A1 CA002127506A CA2127506A CA2127506A1 CA 2127506 A1 CA2127506 A1 CA 2127506A1 CA 002127506 A CA002127506 A CA 002127506A CA 2127506 A CA2127506 A CA 2127506A CA 2127506 A1 CA2127506 A1 CA 2127506A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- diameter portion
- conduit
- coupling device
- pair
- members
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 121
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 121
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 121
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 126
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000838 Al alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 101150110503 END3 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013013 elastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006351 engineering plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000789 fastener Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001084 poly(chloroprene) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000002226 simultaneous effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L41/00—Branching pipes; Joining pipes to walls
- F16L41/08—Joining pipes to walls or pipes, the joined pipe axis being perpendicular to the plane of the wall or to the axis of another pipe
- F16L41/086—Joining pipes to walls or pipes, the joined pipe axis being perpendicular to the plane of the wall or to the axis of another pipe fixed with screws
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/00507—Details, e.g. mounting arrangements, desaeration devices
- B60H1/00557—Details of ducts or cables
- B60H1/00571—Details of ducts or cables of liquid ducts, e.g. for coolant liquids or refrigerants
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L39/00—Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/0246—Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/0246—Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
- F28F9/0256—Arrangements for coupling connectors with flow lines
- F28F9/0258—Arrangements for coupling connectors with flow lines of quick acting type, e.g. with snap action
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A quick connect coupling for securing a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines to a system component of an automotive air conditioning system. The quick connect coupling is capable of being operated with one hand so as to allow both refrigerant lines to be simultaneously connected or disconnected from the system component. The quick connect coupling also incorporates a safety feature which prevents the refrigerant lines from being disengaged from the coupling unless the coupling is sufficiently loosened to allow the coupling to be rotated out of engagement with one or both refrigerant lines.
A quick connect coupling for securing a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines to a system component of an automotive air conditioning system. The quick connect coupling is capable of being operated with one hand so as to allow both refrigerant lines to be simultaneously connected or disconnected from the system component. The quick connect coupling also incorporates a safety feature which prevents the refrigerant lines from being disengaged from the coupling unless the coupling is sufficiently loosened to allow the coupling to be rotated out of engagement with one or both refrigerant lines.
Description
- `~ 2~2~6 QUICX CONNECT SWIVEL COUPLING
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF T~ INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to connections for securing refriyerant hoses or tubes to a hou~ing or body. More specifically, this invention relates to a quick connect coupling which can be operated with one hand to ~electively couple and uncouple one or two air conditioning refrigerant lines with an expansion valve body, compressor manifold, or a condensar block wherein the quick connect coupling incorporates a safety feature which positively ~ecures the refrigerant lines until the refrigerant line pilot clsars the mating connection refrigerant lines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF T~ INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to connections for securing refriyerant hoses or tubes to a hou~ing or body. More specifically, this invention relates to a quick connect coupling which can be operated with one hand to ~electively couple and uncouple one or two air conditioning refrigerant lines with an expansion valve body, compressor manifold, or a condensar block wherein the quick connect coupling incorporates a safety feature which positively ~ecures the refrigerant lines until the refrigerant line pilot clsars the mating connection refrigerant lines.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ~RT
The air conditioning system o~ an automobile conventionally includes an expansion valve or fi~ed orifice which delivers a high pressure liquid refrigerant from the system B condenser to an evaporator, where the refrigerant i~ vaporized. The refrigerant is then drawn from the condenser by a vacuum crea-ted by the system's compressor, where the vaporized re~rigerant is compressed and redelivered to the condenser. The condenser returns the refrigerant to a li.quid 3tate before being returned to the expansion valve or orif.ice.
The system component~ of an a:ir conditioning system are typically interconnected with refrigerant-carrying lines such as tubes, hoses, or a combinatlon of both. To permit the connecting joint to be serviced in the ~5 field, it is generally preEerable to couple refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components in a manner that readily permits disassembly. Various methods and device~ for coupling refrigerant lines within the system have been suggested, as illustrated in V.S~ Patent NosO
The air conditioning system o~ an automobile conventionally includes an expansion valve or fi~ed orifice which delivers a high pressure liquid refrigerant from the system B condenser to an evaporator, where the refrigerant i~ vaporized. The refrigerant is then drawn from the condenser by a vacuum crea-ted by the system's compressor, where the vaporized re~rigerant is compressed and redelivered to the condenser. The condenser returns the refrigerant to a li.quid 3tate before being returned to the expansion valve or orif.ice.
The system component~ of an a:ir conditioning system are typically interconnected with refrigerant-carrying lines such as tubes, hoses, or a combinatlon of both. To permit the connecting joint to be serviced in the ~5 field, it is generally preEerable to couple refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components in a manner that readily permits disassembly. Various methods and device~ for coupling refrigerant lines within the system have been suggested, as illustrated in V.S~ Patent NosO
3,869,153 and 3,929,356 to DeVincent et al.
:
,,., ~' ~ 2~7~0~
For convenience, it is often preferable to couple the refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components in pairs. Such an arrangement allows the paired refrigerant lines to be ~imultaneously coupled with or uncoupled from the expansion valve body. Examples of coupling devices configured to achieve such a result arz taught in U.S. Patent Mo. 3,869,152 to DeVincent et al. and U.S. Patent No. 4,46~,054 to Or-th.
A diaadvantage with the coupling device taught by DeVincent et al.
is the complicated design of the device. The coupling device is composed of a cooperating pair of brackets, each of which must be physically interlocked with a clamp fitted to each refrigerant line. The assembly is secured by flanges formed on each clamp which must be bent to interlock the assembly.
Accordingly, the coupling device taught by DeVincent et al. permits only limited field servicing, in that the flanges will eventually fatigue and fracture.
Orth teaches a coupling device which can be more easily removed in service, and substantially withou-t the concern for the formation of fatigue Eractures in the device. The coupling clevice ia composed of a flat plate having a pair of apertures formed therein. Each aperture i~ slotted, with each slot extending from its respective aperture to the periphery of the plate. The apertures and 610-ts are sized to clo~ely receive a pair of tube~. Each tube is formed with an annular upset bead whose diameter is larger than the diameter of its corre3ponding aperture. The plate is installed by slipping each tube through one of the slots and into one of the apertures, ~uch that each tube' 5 bead i9 between the plate and the end of the tube. ~B the pla-te is secured to an e~pansion valve body with a fastener, the periphery of each aperture abuts its corresponding bead.
Tightening the plate to the expansion valve body traps each bead between the plate and valve body, 90 a~ to positively ~ecure the tubes to the valve body.
While the coupling device taught by Orth can potentially be operated with a aingle hand, a di~advanta~e with this couplin~ device i~
~127~
. .
that two hands are required in order to more readily uncouple the refrigerant lines from the valve body. Specifically, the tube~ cannot be readily disconnected from the valve body until the plate is completely removed, and the fastener must be completely removed before the plate can be removed. While it i8 at times a matter of convenience to re~uire only one hand to operate a device, the limi-ted amount of space within the engine compartment of an automobile often makes it difficult, if not impossible, for service personnel to use two hands to couple or uncouple the air conditioning refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components.
An additional disadvantage with the coupling device taught by Orth i8 that, if the plate is sufficiently loosened or a tube is sheared at the valve body, it is possible for a tube to slip out of its aperture through the corresponding slot. The potential for such an occurrence exists because the width of each slot is slightly greater than the diameter of its corresponding tube.
From the above discussion it can be readily appreciated that the prior art does not disclose a device for coupling a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines interconnecting the sy~tem components, wherein the coupling device can be readily operated with one hand to permit coupling and uncoupling of the refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components.
Furthermore, the prior art does not di~close a coupling device which is able to reliably ~ecure the refrigerant line~ even after the refrigerant lines have become disengaged from the system components.
~ccordingly, what is needed is a reusable coupling device suitable for use in the automotive industry to couple a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines between air conditioning system components, wherein the coupling device is capable of being operated with a single hand to allow the refrigerant lines to be uncoupled from the respective system components for servicel while simultaneously providing a ~afety feature which prevents the refrigerant line~ from becoming accidently or prematurely disengaged from the coupling device, even after the coupling device has become partially loosened.
~1 ~7~
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a quick connect coupling for securirlg a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines between components of an automotive air conditioning system. The quick connect coupling is capable of being operated with one hand so as to allow both refriqerant lines to be simultaneou~ly disconnected from the expansion valve body. The quick connect coupling also incorporates a safety feature which prevents the refrigerant lines from being disengaged from the coupling unless the coupling is sufficiently loosened so as to be rotatable out of engagement with the refrigeran~ line~.
Conventionally, the system component includes a pair of bosses, each of which is equipped to be engageable with a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines. In accordance with this invention, each refrigerant line terminates with an enlarged diameter por~ion from which a flange portion extends radially. Each enlarged diameter portion is sized to closely couple with a corresponding pilot member provided by the system component. In accordance with this invention, each pair of refrigerant lines is secured to the qystem component with a single quick connect coupling which is rotatably mounted to the system component.
The quick connect coupling i9 generally a clamping member which is configured to engage the flange por-tions of the pair of refrigerant lines, and clamp the flange portions against the system component when the quick connect coupling i~ fully secured with a suitable fastener. The clamping member includes a pair of apertures, each of which is sized to receive one of the refrigerant lines. More specifically, each aperture is sized to closely receive the enlarged diameter portion of its corresponding refrigerant line.
A particular ~spect of this invention ia that at leas-t ona of the apertures has a retention feature which i5 contiyuous wi-th the aperture and the periphery of the clamping member. The retention feature allows limited access by -the corresponding refriyerant line to the aperture. More ' 7 ~ ~ 6 particularly, the access provided by the rstention feature has a maximum w dth which is less than the diameter of its corre~ponding aperture and the enlarged diameter portion of the corresponding refrigerant line, but is greater than the diameter of the refrigerant line immediately adjacent the snlarged diameter portion. A~ a result, the refrigerant line can only be inaerted into the aperture by pas~ing the ~maller diameter portion of the refrigerant line through the retention feature, a maneuver which can be accomplished by rotating the clamping member about an axis of rotation which is substantially normal to the surface of the system component. When the clamping member is moved into engagement with the refrigerant line's enlarged diameter portion, the refrigerant line is effectively prevented from becoming dislodged from the aperture unless the clamping member is again aligned with the ~maller diameter portion of the refrigerant line.
The clamping member i3 secured to the system component 50 a~ to permit the clamping member to rotate about an axis which i5 sub~tantially normal to the surface of the system component. Accordingly, the clamping member cannot be rotated unless the clamping member is displaced relative to the system component, such that the aperture with the reten-tion feature is disengaged from the enlarged diameter portion of its refrigerant line and aligned with the refrigerant line's smaller diameter por-tion.
According to a preferred aspect of thi~ invention, the quick connect caupling described above is an uncomplicated, reusable and relatively low cost device which can reliably secure a pair of refrigerant lines to a ~ystem component. The clamping load nececsary -to secure the refrigerant linea to the system component can be generated with a single fastener which also serves to ~ecure the quick connect coupling to the ~ystem component.
In addition, the quick connect coupling of thi~ invention is capable of bsing operated with a single hand, 80 aq to allow the refrigerant lire~ to be coupled and uncoupled from the ~ystem component with only a minimal amount of clearance within an engine compartment. ~ncoupling of the ~ :~ 2 ~
refrigerant lines only requires that the quick connect coupling be sufficiently loosened so as to align the retention feature with the smaller diameter portion of its corresponding refrigerant line, ~uch that the ~uick connect coupling can be rotated clear of the refrigerant line.
In addition, a significant advantage of the present invention is that the quick connect coupling incorporates a safety feature which prevents the refrigerant line~ from becoming disengaged from their respective apertures unless the quick connect coupling has been sufficiently loosened so as to align the retention feature with the smaller diameter portion of its corresponding refrigerant line. As a result, the refrigarant lines ar re~trained and remain coupled to the quick connect coupling while the sealing member of the quick connect coupling i5 moved clear of its mating part, allowing the refrigerant, under pressure, to escape without dislodging the tube from the sy3tem component, even if the quick connect coupling is partially loosened.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling device fox simultaneously securing a pair of refrigerant lines to an air conditioning system component, such as a pair of air conditioning refrigerant line3 to an expansion valve body.
It is a further object of the invention that the coupling device be operable with a single hand, 90 as to allow an operator to couple and uncouple the refrigerant lines from the system component with minimal clearance between the sy~tem component and its surrounding environment.
It is still a further object of the invention that the coupling device incorporate a positive retention feature which cooperate~ with an enlarged dlameter portion of at least one of the refrigerAnt lines to positively retain the refrigerant line within an aperture formed in the coupling device.
It is another object of the invention -that the retention feature be formed so a~ to permit selective disengagement of at leas-t one of the refrigerant lines with the coupling device.
J ~ ~ 6 It is yet another object of the invention that the coupling device be securable to the system component with a single fastener which also serves to generate a clamping load that secures the refrigerant lines to the ~ystem component.
It i9 still another object of the invention tha-t the coupling device be uncomplicated, reusable and relatively low cost.
Other objects and advantayes of this invention will be mor0 apparent after a reading of the following detailed descripcion taken in conjunction with the drawings provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 i9 an automotive air conditioning expansion valve body equipped with a quick connect coupling in accordance with a preferred embodiment oE this invention;
Figure 2 i5 a cross-sectional side view of the expansion valve 1~ body taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, Figure 3 is an isolated view of the clamping member of the quick connect coupling of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional 3ide view of a portion of an alternative expansion valve body and conduit assembly equipped with the quick connect coupling of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ D MENT
With reference to Figure 1, thare is shown an expansion valve body 10 for an automotive air conditioning system. As illus-trated, the expansion ~5 valve body 10 is configured to be coupled with a pair of air condi-tloning refrigerant lines lfi and 16. A pair of mounting bolts 12 enable~ the expansion valve body 10 to be mounted within the engine compartment of an automobile in a conventional manner.
It is conventional to furnish an expansion valve body with a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces, only one of which i9 shown in Figure 1.
Each boss is equipped to receive a corresponding pair oE refrigerant line~, , . .. , . .,~. , , ,.,, ,., .. ~ .. , . . . ,. ~ . ... ;, 2~L~7~6 as illustrated in Figure 1. Typically, a first reErigerant line, such a~
the refrigerant line 14, is coupled to the expansion valve body 10 and delivers high pressure liquid refrigerant from the air conditioning sy3t2m's condenser (not shown) to the expansion valve body 10, while a second refrigerant line 16 on the opposite boss delivers the refrigerant at a much lower pressure to the system's compreasor (not shown), where the refrigerant i9 compressed. A third refrigerant line (not 3hown), transports the compressed refrigerant rom the compressor to the conden~er (not ~hown).
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, at least one of the pair of refrigerant lines 14 and 16 iq secured to the expan~ion valve body lO with a quick connect coupling 20 which i3 rotatably mounted to the expansion valve body 10 with a threaded fastensr 18 and a wa3her 44. Preferably, the fastener 18 is received within a bolt hole 36 which is intermediate a pair of aperture3 38 and 40 formed in the quick connect coupling 20. The pair of apertures 38 and 40 are siæed to closely receive the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, respectively. The quick connect coupling 10 secures the pair of refrigerant lines 14 and 16 to the expansion valve body 10 by engaging radial flanged portions 46 and 48 formed on the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, respectively. The flanged portions 46 and 48 are clamped to the expansion valve body 10 by -the quick connect coupling 20.
Accordingly, the quick connect coupling 20 is preferably formed from a suitably strong material, such as ASM 6Q61 aluminum alloy, though it is foreseeable that other structural materials, such as an engineering plastic or steel, could be used.
As shown in Figure 2, the flanged portions 46 and 48 are formed at the terminal end3 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16. The terminal ends define enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, respectively. The enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 are sized to fit over appropriately sized inserts 26 and 28, resp2ctively. The inserts 26 and 28 are preferably permanently 3ecured within the expansion valve body 10 ~:
2 1l 2 ~
:
by an interference fit integrated with an 0-ring seal or, more pr0ferably, by being brazed or welded within their corresponding bores 22 and 24. The inserts 26 and 2~ serve to pilot the enlarged diameter por-tions 52 and 54, respectively, as the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 are being coupled with the expansion val~e body 10. Preferably, each insert 26 and 2~ is provided with a pair of seals 30 which are disposed bet.ween backup rings 32. As is conventional, the seals 30 must be formed from an elastic material which i~
compatible with an air c~nditioning cooling refrigerant, which is conventionally the refrigerant ~-134-a. A conventionally suitable material for the seals 30 is ~NBR or Neoprene, while a suitable material for the backup rings 32 is a nylon, though it i~ foreseeable that other materials could be u3ed.
In a conventional manner, the refrigarant line 16 and its corre~ponding enlarged diameter portion 54, insert 28, seals 30, backup rings 32 and aperture ~0 are each illustrated as being larger than their counterparts corresponding to the refrigerant line 14.
From Figure~ 1 and 3, it can be seen that the quick connect coupling 20 of the preferred embodiment ia generally S-shaped, with each aperture 38 and 40 being provided with a retention feature in the form of a chamfered slot 42a and 42b, respectively. In accordance with this invention, the ma~imum width of each slot 42a and 42b is less than the outer diameter.of the enlarged diameter portion 52 and 54 of its corresponding , refrigerant line 14 and 16, as can be more readily seen in Figure 1. The purpose of this feature is to prevent the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from becoming disengaged with their respective apertures 38 and 40 while the quick connect coupling 20 is engaged with the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16. To disengage the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from the quick connect coupling 20, the quick connect coupling 20 must be aligned with a smaller diameter region 56 and 58 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 above the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54, .
2 ~
, . .
so as to enable the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 to disengage their corresponding apertures 38 and 40 by paasing through the slots 42a and 42b, respectively. While the slots 42a and 42b are each illustrated as being formed with a chamfer, it i9 foreseeable that the geometry of the slots 42a and 42b could be conaiderably altered while still providing the functional aspects of the slots 42a and 42b, namely, the ability to retain the refrigerant lines 14 and 16.
Aligning the quick connect coupling 20 with the ~maller diameter regions 56 and 58 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 requires the quick connect coupling 20 to be displaced from the expansion valve body 10.
Preferably, the fastener 18 is formed to be long enough to allow the quick connect coupling 20 to be sufficiently backed off from the expansion valve body 10 without requiring removal of the fastener 18. As a result, the faatener 18 is able to serve as a pivot ~:hat defines an axis of rotation ; 15 which is substantially normal to the surface of the expansion valve body 10.
Accordingly, the quick connect coupling 20 is able to rotate free of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 once the apertures 38 and 40 clear the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16.
Preferably, a compre3sion spring 34 is provided in a countersLnk 50 formed in the expansion valve body 10 which circumscribes the fastener 18. The spring 34 biases the quick connect coupling 20 in a direction away from the expansion valve body 10, so as ~o eliminate the requirement to manually lift the quick connect coupling 20 away from the expansion valve body 10. Conaequently, as the fastener 18 iB loosened, the quick connect coupling 20 iB automatically displaced from the expansion valve body 10.
Sufficient loosening of the fastener 18 eventually aligns the aperturea 38 and 40 with the smaller diameter regions 56 and 58 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, which permits the quick connect device 20 to be rotated relative . to the expansion valve body 10. As the quick connect coupling 20 i~
rotated, the refrigerant line~ 14 and 16 pass out of their respective aperturea 38 and 40 through their respective slots 42a and 42b.
7t~ ~ $
With the quick connect coupling 20 described above, a novel method i3 enabled for coupling and uncoupling the pair of refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from the expan~ion valve body 10. The method for coupling the refrigerant llnea 14 and 16 to the expansion valve body 10 is generally commenced by connecting the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 to their respective inserta 26 and 28. Preferably, the quick connect coupling 20 is previously mounted to the expansion valve body 10 prior to connecting the refrigeran-t lines 14 and 16 to the expansion valve body 10, so as to avoid the requirement to maneuver the fastener 18 between the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 in order to mount the quick connect coupling 20. The quick connect coupling 20 is then coupled with the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 by rotating the quick connect coupling 20 about the fastener 18 so as to slip the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 through their respective slot~ 42a and 42b and into their respective apertures 38 and 40. Clamping of the flanged portions 46 and 48 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 can then be achieved simply by tightening the fastener 18 until the quick connect coupling 20 clamp~ the flanged portion~
46 and 48 against the surface of the expansion valve body 10.
Uncoupling of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 simply involve3 loosening the fa3tener 18 90 as to permit the compression spring 34 to disengage the quick connect coupling 20 from the flanged portions 46 and 48 of the refrlgerant lines 14 and 16, and displace the guick connect coupliDg 20 away from the ~urface of the expansion valve body 10. The fastener 18 is loosened to the degree necessary to allow the aperture~ 38 and 40 to be displaced from the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, so as to allow the quick connect coupling 20 to be rotated about the fastener 18. By rotating the quick connect coupling 20, the refxigerant lines 14 and 16 are di~engaged from their reapective apertures 38 and 40 and pass through their corresponding alots 42a and 42b, so as to free the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from the quick connect coupling 20.
The refrigerant llnes 14 and 16 can then be disconnected from their inserts 26 and 28 to allow servicing of the expansion valve body 10 or replacement of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16.
2~
The quick connect coupling 20 of this invention i5 also suitable for ~ecu.ing refrigerant lineq which differ structurally from that shown in Fi.gures 1 and 2. With reference to Figure ~, there is represented a second valve body 110 which employs a pair of refrigerant lines tha-t, in a manner similar to the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 of Figure ~, a~e to be secured to the expan~ion valve body 110. Only one of the refrigerant lines are illustrated in Fiyure 4, for the ~ake of brevity.
The refrigerant line 116 shown in Figure 4 corresponds to the refrigerant line 16 of the first embodiment, and includes a small diameter region 158 and an enlarged diameter portion 154 formed at one end thereof.
The enlarged diameter portion 154 is sized to be received in a bore 124 formed in the expansion valve body 110, as shown. The refrigerant line 116 differs structurally from that shown in Figure 2 by having a ~waged flange 148 formed on the enlarged di.ameter portion 154. The swaged flange 148, which can be formed in any suitable manner, is clamped against the surface of the expansion valve body 110 by the quick connect coupling 20 of this invention. A pair of seals 130, corre~ponding to the seals 30 employed in Figure ~, are received in a pair of grooves 132 formed in the bore 124. As before, the seals 130 provide a refrigerant-tight seal between the refrigerant lin0 116 and the expansion valve body ~10. Because tho seals 130 are to be installed prior to in~ertion of the refrigerant line 116 lnto the bore 124, it is preferable to form a chamfer 128 on the refrigerant line 116 so as to reduce the likelihood of damaging the seals 130 during ~clsembly.
In use within the environment described above, the quiclc connect coupling 20 functions in a substantially identical manner as that shown in Figure 2. The quick connect coupling 20 is mounted to the expansion valve body 110 with a fas-tener (not ~hown), ~uch that the quick connect coupling 20 i~ able -to pivot about the ~a~tener when suficiently displaced fro~ the aurface of the expan~ion valve body 110. Tightening the fastener causes the quick connect coupli.ng 20 to clamp the ~waged flange 14a to the expansion ,:
,", 2 ~ 2 P~
valve body 110, so as to positively retain the refrigerant line 116 within the bore 124. The refrigerant line 116 cannot be removed from the bore 124 until the quick connect coupling 20 is sufficiently displaced from the expansion valve body 110 by looseniny the fastener, at which point the quiclc connect coupling 20 can be pivoted in order to rotate clear of the refrigerant line 116. Accordingly, this safety f0ature is present with each of the two environments disclosed for the quick connect coupling 20 of this invention.
From -the above, it can be seen that a significant advantage of this invention is that the quick connect coupling 20 of this invention is capable of being loosened and tightened with a single hand, so as to allow refrigerant lines to be coupled and uncoupled from an expan~ion valve body with minimal clearance within an engine compartment. Specifically, uncoupling of the refrigerant lines requires only that the quick connect coupling 20 be sufficiently displaced from -the expansion valve body 90 as to align the slots 42a and 42b with the smaller diameter region of the corresponding refrigerant line, such that the quick connect coupling 20 can be rotated to allow the reErigerant lines to be disconnected from the expansion valve body.
Another significant advantage of the present invention is that the refrigerant lines cannot be disengaged from the expan~ion valve body unless the quick connect coupling 20 ha~ been ~uff.iciently loosened 90 as to align the slots 42a and 42b with the smaller di.ameter region of their correspondiny refrigerant lines. As a result, the refrigerant lines are : 25 positively restrained and remain coupled to the expansion valve body, even if the quick connect coupling 20 is partially loosened.
In addition, the advantages of the quick connect coupling can be . realized with minimal hardware and can be readily adapted to a conventional expan3ion valve body. Accordingly, the quick connect coupling of this invention is an uncomplicated coupling device which is relatively inexpensive and reusable, yet is able to reliably secure a pair of ;'' .. ,, .", ~ ~ ~
~ ` 2 1 2 7 ~
refrigerant lines to an expansion valve body without requiring significant space within the engine compartment and without contributing significant weight to the vehicle.
While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodimsnt, it i8 apparent that other forma could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the shapes of the quick connect coupling 20, the apertures 3B and 40, and the slots 42a and 42b could be modified from that shown in the Figures, the quick connect coupling 20 could be secured to an expansion valve body with a fastening device other than the threaded fastener shown, the manner in which the refrigerant lines are interconnected to the expansion valve body could be altered, and the quick connect coupling 20 could be used in application~ other than to secure air conditioning refrigerant lines to an expanaion valve body. Accordingly, the ~cope of the invention iB to be limited only by the following claims.
What is claimed is:
:
,,., ~' ~ 2~7~0~
For convenience, it is often preferable to couple the refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components in pairs. Such an arrangement allows the paired refrigerant lines to be ~imultaneously coupled with or uncoupled from the expansion valve body. Examples of coupling devices configured to achieve such a result arz taught in U.S. Patent Mo. 3,869,152 to DeVincent et al. and U.S. Patent No. 4,46~,054 to Or-th.
A diaadvantage with the coupling device taught by DeVincent et al.
is the complicated design of the device. The coupling device is composed of a cooperating pair of brackets, each of which must be physically interlocked with a clamp fitted to each refrigerant line. The assembly is secured by flanges formed on each clamp which must be bent to interlock the assembly.
Accordingly, the coupling device taught by DeVincent et al. permits only limited field servicing, in that the flanges will eventually fatigue and fracture.
Orth teaches a coupling device which can be more easily removed in service, and substantially withou-t the concern for the formation of fatigue Eractures in the device. The coupling clevice ia composed of a flat plate having a pair of apertures formed therein. Each aperture i~ slotted, with each slot extending from its respective aperture to the periphery of the plate. The apertures and 610-ts are sized to clo~ely receive a pair of tube~. Each tube is formed with an annular upset bead whose diameter is larger than the diameter of its corre3ponding aperture. The plate is installed by slipping each tube through one of the slots and into one of the apertures, ~uch that each tube' 5 bead i9 between the plate and the end of the tube. ~B the pla-te is secured to an e~pansion valve body with a fastener, the periphery of each aperture abuts its corresponding bead.
Tightening the plate to the expansion valve body traps each bead between the plate and valve body, 90 a~ to positively ~ecure the tubes to the valve body.
While the coupling device taught by Orth can potentially be operated with a aingle hand, a di~advanta~e with this couplin~ device i~
~127~
. .
that two hands are required in order to more readily uncouple the refrigerant lines from the valve body. Specifically, the tube~ cannot be readily disconnected from the valve body until the plate is completely removed, and the fastener must be completely removed before the plate can be removed. While it i8 at times a matter of convenience to re~uire only one hand to operate a device, the limi-ted amount of space within the engine compartment of an automobile often makes it difficult, if not impossible, for service personnel to use two hands to couple or uncouple the air conditioning refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components.
An additional disadvantage with the coupling device taught by Orth i8 that, if the plate is sufficiently loosened or a tube is sheared at the valve body, it is possible for a tube to slip out of its aperture through the corresponding slot. The potential for such an occurrence exists because the width of each slot is slightly greater than the diameter of its corresponding tube.
From the above discussion it can be readily appreciated that the prior art does not disclose a device for coupling a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines interconnecting the sy~tem components, wherein the coupling device can be readily operated with one hand to permit coupling and uncoupling of the refrigerant lines interconnecting the system components.
Furthermore, the prior art does not di~close a coupling device which is able to reliably ~ecure the refrigerant line~ even after the refrigerant lines have become disengaged from the system components.
~ccordingly, what is needed is a reusable coupling device suitable for use in the automotive industry to couple a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines between air conditioning system components, wherein the coupling device is capable of being operated with a single hand to allow the refrigerant lines to be uncoupled from the respective system components for servicel while simultaneously providing a ~afety feature which prevents the refrigerant line~ from becoming accidently or prematurely disengaged from the coupling device, even after the coupling device has become partially loosened.
~1 ~7~
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a quick connect coupling for securirlg a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines between components of an automotive air conditioning system. The quick connect coupling is capable of being operated with one hand so as to allow both refriqerant lines to be simultaneou~ly disconnected from the expansion valve body. The quick connect coupling also incorporates a safety feature which prevents the refrigerant lines from being disengaged from the coupling unless the coupling is sufficiently loosened so as to be rotatable out of engagement with the refrigeran~ line~.
Conventionally, the system component includes a pair of bosses, each of which is equipped to be engageable with a pair of air conditioning refrigerant lines. In accordance with this invention, each refrigerant line terminates with an enlarged diameter por~ion from which a flange portion extends radially. Each enlarged diameter portion is sized to closely couple with a corresponding pilot member provided by the system component. In accordance with this invention, each pair of refrigerant lines is secured to the qystem component with a single quick connect coupling which is rotatably mounted to the system component.
The quick connect coupling i9 generally a clamping member which is configured to engage the flange por-tions of the pair of refrigerant lines, and clamp the flange portions against the system component when the quick connect coupling i~ fully secured with a suitable fastener. The clamping member includes a pair of apertures, each of which is sized to receive one of the refrigerant lines. More specifically, each aperture is sized to closely receive the enlarged diameter portion of its corresponding refrigerant line.
A particular ~spect of this invention ia that at leas-t ona of the apertures has a retention feature which i5 contiyuous wi-th the aperture and the periphery of the clamping member. The retention feature allows limited access by -the corresponding refriyerant line to the aperture. More ' 7 ~ ~ 6 particularly, the access provided by the rstention feature has a maximum w dth which is less than the diameter of its corre~ponding aperture and the enlarged diameter portion of the corresponding refrigerant line, but is greater than the diameter of the refrigerant line immediately adjacent the snlarged diameter portion. A~ a result, the refrigerant line can only be inaerted into the aperture by pas~ing the ~maller diameter portion of the refrigerant line through the retention feature, a maneuver which can be accomplished by rotating the clamping member about an axis of rotation which is substantially normal to the surface of the system component. When the clamping member is moved into engagement with the refrigerant line's enlarged diameter portion, the refrigerant line is effectively prevented from becoming dislodged from the aperture unless the clamping member is again aligned with the ~maller diameter portion of the refrigerant line.
The clamping member i3 secured to the system component 50 a~ to permit the clamping member to rotate about an axis which i5 sub~tantially normal to the surface of the system component. Accordingly, the clamping member cannot be rotated unless the clamping member is displaced relative to the system component, such that the aperture with the reten-tion feature is disengaged from the enlarged diameter portion of its refrigerant line and aligned with the refrigerant line's smaller diameter por-tion.
According to a preferred aspect of thi~ invention, the quick connect caupling described above is an uncomplicated, reusable and relatively low cost device which can reliably secure a pair of refrigerant lines to a ~ystem component. The clamping load nececsary -to secure the refrigerant linea to the system component can be generated with a single fastener which also serves to ~ecure the quick connect coupling to the ~ystem component.
In addition, the quick connect coupling of thi~ invention is capable of bsing operated with a single hand, 80 aq to allow the refrigerant lire~ to be coupled and uncoupled from the ~ystem component with only a minimal amount of clearance within an engine compartment. ~ncoupling of the ~ :~ 2 ~
refrigerant lines only requires that the quick connect coupling be sufficiently loosened so as to align the retention feature with the smaller diameter portion of its corresponding refrigerant line, ~uch that the ~uick connect coupling can be rotated clear of the refrigerant line.
In addition, a significant advantage of the present invention is that the quick connect coupling incorporates a safety feature which prevents the refrigerant line~ from becoming disengaged from their respective apertures unless the quick connect coupling has been sufficiently loosened so as to align the retention feature with the smaller diameter portion of its corresponding refrigerant line. As a result, the refrigarant lines ar re~trained and remain coupled to the quick connect coupling while the sealing member of the quick connect coupling i5 moved clear of its mating part, allowing the refrigerant, under pressure, to escape without dislodging the tube from the sy3tem component, even if the quick connect coupling is partially loosened.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling device fox simultaneously securing a pair of refrigerant lines to an air conditioning system component, such as a pair of air conditioning refrigerant line3 to an expansion valve body.
It is a further object of the invention that the coupling device be operable with a single hand, 90 as to allow an operator to couple and uncouple the refrigerant lines from the system component with minimal clearance between the sy~tem component and its surrounding environment.
It is still a further object of the invention that the coupling device incorporate a positive retention feature which cooperate~ with an enlarged dlameter portion of at least one of the refrigerAnt lines to positively retain the refrigerant line within an aperture formed in the coupling device.
It is another object of the invention -that the retention feature be formed so a~ to permit selective disengagement of at leas-t one of the refrigerant lines with the coupling device.
J ~ ~ 6 It is yet another object of the invention that the coupling device be securable to the system component with a single fastener which also serves to generate a clamping load that secures the refrigerant lines to the ~ystem component.
It i9 still another object of the invention tha-t the coupling device be uncomplicated, reusable and relatively low cost.
Other objects and advantayes of this invention will be mor0 apparent after a reading of the following detailed descripcion taken in conjunction with the drawings provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 i9 an automotive air conditioning expansion valve body equipped with a quick connect coupling in accordance with a preferred embodiment oE this invention;
Figure 2 i5 a cross-sectional side view of the expansion valve 1~ body taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, Figure 3 is an isolated view of the clamping member of the quick connect coupling of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional 3ide view of a portion of an alternative expansion valve body and conduit assembly equipped with the quick connect coupling of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ D MENT
With reference to Figure 1, thare is shown an expansion valve body 10 for an automotive air conditioning system. As illus-trated, the expansion ~5 valve body 10 is configured to be coupled with a pair of air condi-tloning refrigerant lines lfi and 16. A pair of mounting bolts 12 enable~ the expansion valve body 10 to be mounted within the engine compartment of an automobile in a conventional manner.
It is conventional to furnish an expansion valve body with a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces, only one of which i9 shown in Figure 1.
Each boss is equipped to receive a corresponding pair oE refrigerant line~, , . .. , . .,~. , , ,.,, ,., .. ~ .. , . . . ,. ~ . ... ;, 2~L~7~6 as illustrated in Figure 1. Typically, a first reErigerant line, such a~
the refrigerant line 14, is coupled to the expansion valve body 10 and delivers high pressure liquid refrigerant from the air conditioning sy3t2m's condenser (not shown) to the expansion valve body 10, while a second refrigerant line 16 on the opposite boss delivers the refrigerant at a much lower pressure to the system's compreasor (not shown), where the refrigerant i9 compressed. A third refrigerant line (not 3hown), transports the compressed refrigerant rom the compressor to the conden~er (not ~hown).
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, at least one of the pair of refrigerant lines 14 and 16 iq secured to the expan~ion valve body lO with a quick connect coupling 20 which i3 rotatably mounted to the expansion valve body 10 with a threaded fastensr 18 and a wa3her 44. Preferably, the fastener 18 is received within a bolt hole 36 which is intermediate a pair of aperture3 38 and 40 formed in the quick connect coupling 20. The pair of apertures 38 and 40 are siæed to closely receive the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, respectively. The quick connect coupling 10 secures the pair of refrigerant lines 14 and 16 to the expansion valve body 10 by engaging radial flanged portions 46 and 48 formed on the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, respectively. The flanged portions 46 and 48 are clamped to the expansion valve body 10 by -the quick connect coupling 20.
Accordingly, the quick connect coupling 20 is preferably formed from a suitably strong material, such as ASM 6Q61 aluminum alloy, though it is foreseeable that other structural materials, such as an engineering plastic or steel, could be used.
As shown in Figure 2, the flanged portions 46 and 48 are formed at the terminal end3 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16. The terminal ends define enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, respectively. The enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 are sized to fit over appropriately sized inserts 26 and 28, resp2ctively. The inserts 26 and 28 are preferably permanently 3ecured within the expansion valve body 10 ~:
2 1l 2 ~
:
by an interference fit integrated with an 0-ring seal or, more pr0ferably, by being brazed or welded within their corresponding bores 22 and 24. The inserts 26 and 2~ serve to pilot the enlarged diameter por-tions 52 and 54, respectively, as the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 are being coupled with the expansion val~e body 10. Preferably, each insert 26 and 2~ is provided with a pair of seals 30 which are disposed bet.ween backup rings 32. As is conventional, the seals 30 must be formed from an elastic material which i~
compatible with an air c~nditioning cooling refrigerant, which is conventionally the refrigerant ~-134-a. A conventionally suitable material for the seals 30 is ~NBR or Neoprene, while a suitable material for the backup rings 32 is a nylon, though it i~ foreseeable that other materials could be u3ed.
In a conventional manner, the refrigarant line 16 and its corre~ponding enlarged diameter portion 54, insert 28, seals 30, backup rings 32 and aperture ~0 are each illustrated as being larger than their counterparts corresponding to the refrigerant line 14.
From Figure~ 1 and 3, it can be seen that the quick connect coupling 20 of the preferred embodiment ia generally S-shaped, with each aperture 38 and 40 being provided with a retention feature in the form of a chamfered slot 42a and 42b, respectively. In accordance with this invention, the ma~imum width of each slot 42a and 42b is less than the outer diameter.of the enlarged diameter portion 52 and 54 of its corresponding , refrigerant line 14 and 16, as can be more readily seen in Figure 1. The purpose of this feature is to prevent the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from becoming disengaged with their respective apertures 38 and 40 while the quick connect coupling 20 is engaged with the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16. To disengage the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from the quick connect coupling 20, the quick connect coupling 20 must be aligned with a smaller diameter region 56 and 58 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 above the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54, .
2 ~
, . .
so as to enable the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 to disengage their corresponding apertures 38 and 40 by paasing through the slots 42a and 42b, respectively. While the slots 42a and 42b are each illustrated as being formed with a chamfer, it i9 foreseeable that the geometry of the slots 42a and 42b could be conaiderably altered while still providing the functional aspects of the slots 42a and 42b, namely, the ability to retain the refrigerant lines 14 and 16.
Aligning the quick connect coupling 20 with the ~maller diameter regions 56 and 58 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 requires the quick connect coupling 20 to be displaced from the expansion valve body 10.
Preferably, the fastener 18 is formed to be long enough to allow the quick connect coupling 20 to be sufficiently backed off from the expansion valve body 10 without requiring removal of the fastener 18. As a result, the faatener 18 is able to serve as a pivot ~:hat defines an axis of rotation ; 15 which is substantially normal to the surface of the expansion valve body 10.
Accordingly, the quick connect coupling 20 is able to rotate free of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 once the apertures 38 and 40 clear the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16.
Preferably, a compre3sion spring 34 is provided in a countersLnk 50 formed in the expansion valve body 10 which circumscribes the fastener 18. The spring 34 biases the quick connect coupling 20 in a direction away from the expansion valve body 10, so as ~o eliminate the requirement to manually lift the quick connect coupling 20 away from the expansion valve body 10. Conaequently, as the fastener 18 iB loosened, the quick connect coupling 20 iB automatically displaced from the expansion valve body 10.
Sufficient loosening of the fastener 18 eventually aligns the aperturea 38 and 40 with the smaller diameter regions 56 and 58 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, which permits the quick connect device 20 to be rotated relative . to the expansion valve body 10. As the quick connect coupling 20 i~
rotated, the refrigerant line~ 14 and 16 pass out of their respective aperturea 38 and 40 through their respective slots 42a and 42b.
7t~ ~ $
With the quick connect coupling 20 described above, a novel method i3 enabled for coupling and uncoupling the pair of refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from the expan~ion valve body 10. The method for coupling the refrigerant llnea 14 and 16 to the expansion valve body 10 is generally commenced by connecting the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 to their respective inserta 26 and 28. Preferably, the quick connect coupling 20 is previously mounted to the expansion valve body 10 prior to connecting the refrigeran-t lines 14 and 16 to the expansion valve body 10, so as to avoid the requirement to maneuver the fastener 18 between the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 in order to mount the quick connect coupling 20. The quick connect coupling 20 is then coupled with the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 by rotating the quick connect coupling 20 about the fastener 18 so as to slip the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 through their respective slot~ 42a and 42b and into their respective apertures 38 and 40. Clamping of the flanged portions 46 and 48 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 can then be achieved simply by tightening the fastener 18 until the quick connect coupling 20 clamp~ the flanged portion~
46 and 48 against the surface of the expansion valve body 10.
Uncoupling of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 simply involve3 loosening the fa3tener 18 90 as to permit the compression spring 34 to disengage the quick connect coupling 20 from the flanged portions 46 and 48 of the refrlgerant lines 14 and 16, and displace the guick connect coupliDg 20 away from the ~urface of the expansion valve body 10. The fastener 18 is loosened to the degree necessary to allow the aperture~ 38 and 40 to be displaced from the enlarged diameter portions 52 and 54 of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16, so as to allow the quick connect coupling 20 to be rotated about the fastener 18. By rotating the quick connect coupling 20, the refxigerant lines 14 and 16 are di~engaged from their reapective apertures 38 and 40 and pass through their corresponding alots 42a and 42b, so as to free the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 from the quick connect coupling 20.
The refrigerant llnes 14 and 16 can then be disconnected from their inserts 26 and 28 to allow servicing of the expansion valve body 10 or replacement of the refrigerant lines 14 and 16.
2~
The quick connect coupling 20 of this invention i5 also suitable for ~ecu.ing refrigerant lineq which differ structurally from that shown in Fi.gures 1 and 2. With reference to Figure ~, there is represented a second valve body 110 which employs a pair of refrigerant lines tha-t, in a manner similar to the refrigerant lines 14 and 16 of Figure ~, a~e to be secured to the expan~ion valve body 110. Only one of the refrigerant lines are illustrated in Fiyure 4, for the ~ake of brevity.
The refrigerant line 116 shown in Figure 4 corresponds to the refrigerant line 16 of the first embodiment, and includes a small diameter region 158 and an enlarged diameter portion 154 formed at one end thereof.
The enlarged diameter portion 154 is sized to be received in a bore 124 formed in the expansion valve body 110, as shown. The refrigerant line 116 differs structurally from that shown in Figure 2 by having a ~waged flange 148 formed on the enlarged di.ameter portion 154. The swaged flange 148, which can be formed in any suitable manner, is clamped against the surface of the expansion valve body 110 by the quick connect coupling 20 of this invention. A pair of seals 130, corre~ponding to the seals 30 employed in Figure ~, are received in a pair of grooves 132 formed in the bore 124. As before, the seals 130 provide a refrigerant-tight seal between the refrigerant lin0 116 and the expansion valve body ~10. Because tho seals 130 are to be installed prior to in~ertion of the refrigerant line 116 lnto the bore 124, it is preferable to form a chamfer 128 on the refrigerant line 116 so as to reduce the likelihood of damaging the seals 130 during ~clsembly.
In use within the environment described above, the quiclc connect coupling 20 functions in a substantially identical manner as that shown in Figure 2. The quick connect coupling 20 is mounted to the expansion valve body 110 with a fas-tener (not ~hown), ~uch that the quick connect coupling 20 i~ able -to pivot about the ~a~tener when suficiently displaced fro~ the aurface of the expan~ion valve body 110. Tightening the fastener causes the quick connect coupli.ng 20 to clamp the ~waged flange 14a to the expansion ,:
,", 2 ~ 2 P~
valve body 110, so as to positively retain the refrigerant line 116 within the bore 124. The refrigerant line 116 cannot be removed from the bore 124 until the quick connect coupling 20 is sufficiently displaced from the expansion valve body 110 by looseniny the fastener, at which point the quiclc connect coupling 20 can be pivoted in order to rotate clear of the refrigerant line 116. Accordingly, this safety f0ature is present with each of the two environments disclosed for the quick connect coupling 20 of this invention.
From -the above, it can be seen that a significant advantage of this invention is that the quick connect coupling 20 of this invention is capable of being loosened and tightened with a single hand, so as to allow refrigerant lines to be coupled and uncoupled from an expan~ion valve body with minimal clearance within an engine compartment. Specifically, uncoupling of the refrigerant lines requires only that the quick connect coupling 20 be sufficiently displaced from -the expansion valve body 90 as to align the slots 42a and 42b with the smaller diameter region of the corresponding refrigerant line, such that the quick connect coupling 20 can be rotated to allow the reErigerant lines to be disconnected from the expansion valve body.
Another significant advantage of the present invention is that the refrigerant lines cannot be disengaged from the expan~ion valve body unless the quick connect coupling 20 ha~ been ~uff.iciently loosened 90 as to align the slots 42a and 42b with the smaller di.ameter region of their correspondiny refrigerant lines. As a result, the refrigerant lines are : 25 positively restrained and remain coupled to the expansion valve body, even if the quick connect coupling 20 is partially loosened.
In addition, the advantages of the quick connect coupling can be . realized with minimal hardware and can be readily adapted to a conventional expan3ion valve body. Accordingly, the quick connect coupling of this invention is an uncomplicated coupling device which is relatively inexpensive and reusable, yet is able to reliably secure a pair of ;'' .. ,, .", ~ ~ ~
~ ` 2 1 2 7 ~
refrigerant lines to an expansion valve body without requiring significant space within the engine compartment and without contributing significant weight to the vehicle.
While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodimsnt, it i8 apparent that other forma could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the shapes of the quick connect coupling 20, the apertures 3B and 40, and the slots 42a and 42b could be modified from that shown in the Figures, the quick connect coupling 20 could be secured to an expansion valve body with a fastening device other than the threaded fastener shown, the manner in which the refrigerant lines are interconnected to the expansion valve body could be altered, and the quick connect coupling 20 could be used in application~ other than to secure air conditioning refrigerant lines to an expanaion valve body. Accordingly, the ~cope of the invention iB to be limited only by the following claims.
What is claimed is:
Claims (20)
1. A conduit coupling device for securing a pair of conduit members to a body, each of said conduit members having a first diameter portion and an enlarged diameter portion that includes a radially extending portion, said conduit coupling device comprising:
a member engageable with each of said radially extending portions so as to to couple said pair of conduit members to said body;
first means formed on said member for receiving a first member of said pair of conduit members, said first receiving means being sized to receive said enlarged diameter portion of said first member;
retention means in communication with said first receiving means, said retention means providing an access to said first receiving means, said access having a maximum width which is less than said enlarged diameter portion of said first member and greater than said first diameter portion of said first member;
second means formed on said member for receiving a second member of said pair of conduit members, said second receiving means being sized to receive said enlarged diameter portion of said second member;
means associated with said member for securing said member to said body; and pivot means associated with said member for enabling rotation of said member relative to said body;
whereby said member is prevented from being rotated unless said first receiving means is displaced from said enlarged diameter portion of said first member and aligned with said first diameter portion of said first member, so as to permit said first diameter portion of said first member to pass through said access and thereby disengage said first member from said first receiving means.
a member engageable with each of said radially extending portions so as to to couple said pair of conduit members to said body;
first means formed on said member for receiving a first member of said pair of conduit members, said first receiving means being sized to receive said enlarged diameter portion of said first member;
retention means in communication with said first receiving means, said retention means providing an access to said first receiving means, said access having a maximum width which is less than said enlarged diameter portion of said first member and greater than said first diameter portion of said first member;
second means formed on said member for receiving a second member of said pair of conduit members, said second receiving means being sized to receive said enlarged diameter portion of said second member;
means associated with said member for securing said member to said body; and pivot means associated with said member for enabling rotation of said member relative to said body;
whereby said member is prevented from being rotated unless said first receiving means is displaced from said enlarged diameter portion of said first member and aligned with said first diameter portion of said first member, so as to permit said first diameter portion of said first member to pass through said access and thereby disengage said first member from said first receiving means.
2. The conduit coupling device of Claim 1 further comprising second retention means in communication with said second receiving means, said second retention means providing a second access to said second receiving means, said second access having a maximum width which is less than said enlarged diameter portion of said second member and greater than said first diameter portion of said second member, whereby said member is prevented from being rotated unless said first and second receiving means are displaced from said enlarged diameter portions of said first and second members, respectively, so as to permit said first member to pass through said access and so as to permit said second member to pass through said second access.
3. The conduit coupling device of Claim 1 further comprising means disposed between said body and said member for biasing said member away from said body.
4. The conduit coupling device of Claim 1 wherein said access is a slat which is contiguous with said first receiving means and a peripheral portion of said member.
5. The conduit coupling device of Claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises said securing means.
6. The conduit coupling device of Claim 1 wherein said member is pivotable about an axis normal to a surface of said body.
7. A conduit coupling device for securing a pair of conduit members to a body, each of said conduit members having a first diameter portion and an enlarged diameter portion which includes a flanged portion, said enlarged diameter portions being sized for coupling with piloting means protruding from a surface of said body, said conduit coupling device comprising:
a clamping member pivotable about an axis of rotation substantially normal to said surface of said body;
a first aperture formed in said clamping member, said first aperture being sized to closely receive said enlarged diameter portion of a first member of said pair of conduit members, said first aperture having a slot formed therein whose maximum width is less than said enlarged diameter portion of said first member and greater than said first diameter portion of said first member;
a second aperture formed in said clamping member, said second aperture being sized to closely receive said enlarged diameter portion of a second member of said pair of conduit members, said second aperture having a slot formed therein whose maximum width is less than said enlarged diameter portion of said second member and greater than said first diameter portion of said second member;
means associated with said clamping member for securing said clamping member to said body;
means associated with said clamping member for biasing said clamping member away from said body; and pivot means disposed between said first and second apertures for enabling rotation of said clamping member about said axis of rotation so as to permit selective engaging and disengaging of said first and second apertures with said first and second members, respectively;
whereby said clamping member is prevented from being rotated unless said first and second apertures are disengaged from said enlarged diameter portions and circumscribe said first diameter portions so as to permit said first and second members to pass through a corresponding one of said slots formed in said first and second apertures, respectively.
a clamping member pivotable about an axis of rotation substantially normal to said surface of said body;
a first aperture formed in said clamping member, said first aperture being sized to closely receive said enlarged diameter portion of a first member of said pair of conduit members, said first aperture having a slot formed therein whose maximum width is less than said enlarged diameter portion of said first member and greater than said first diameter portion of said first member;
a second aperture formed in said clamping member, said second aperture being sized to closely receive said enlarged diameter portion of a second member of said pair of conduit members, said second aperture having a slot formed therein whose maximum width is less than said enlarged diameter portion of said second member and greater than said first diameter portion of said second member;
means associated with said clamping member for securing said clamping member to said body;
means associated with said clamping member for biasing said clamping member away from said body; and pivot means disposed between said first and second apertures for enabling rotation of said clamping member about said axis of rotation so as to permit selective engaging and disengaging of said first and second apertures with said first and second members, respectively;
whereby said clamping member is prevented from being rotated unless said first and second apertures are disengaged from said enlarged diameter portions and circumscribe said first diameter portions so as to permit said first and second members to pass through a corresponding one of said slots formed in said first and second apertures, respectively.
8. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 wherein said clamping member is substantially S-shaped, such that said slot of said first aperture is oppositely disposed on said clamping member from said slot of said second aperture.
9. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 wherein said slots are contiguous with said first and second apertures, respectively, and a peripheral portion of said clamping member.
10. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 wherein said securing means is a threaded fastener.
11. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 wherein said biasing means is a compression spring disposed between said clamping member and said body.
12. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 wherein said pivot means is a threaded fastener.
13. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 wherein said pivot means and said securing means is a threaded fastener.
14. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 wherein said first aperture has a diameter which is greater than a diameter of said second aperture.
15. The conduit coupling device of Claim 7 further comprising:
said body, said body being an expansion valve body for an air conditioning system;
insert means secured to said expansion valve body for piloting each of said conduit members into engagement with said expansion valve body;
said pair of conduit members engaged with said expansion valve body with a corresponding one of said insert means, said pair of conduit members being air conditioning refrigerant lines having said first diameter portion and said enlarged diameter portion which terminates with said flanged portion; and sealing means disposed between each said insert and each corresponding one of said air conditioning refrigerant lines.
said body, said body being an expansion valve body for an air conditioning system;
insert means secured to said expansion valve body for piloting each of said conduit members into engagement with said expansion valve body;
said pair of conduit members engaged with said expansion valve body with a corresponding one of said insert means, said pair of conduit members being air conditioning refrigerant lines having said first diameter portion and said enlarged diameter portion which terminates with said flanged portion; and sealing means disposed between each said insert and each corresponding one of said air conditioning refrigerant lines.
16. A method for coupling a pair of conduit members to a body, said method comprising the steps of:
rotatably mounting a clamping member to said body, said clamping member having a first receiving means formed therein;
rotating said clamping member such that a first diameter portion of a first member of said pair of conduit members passes through a slot formed in said clamping members so as to engage said first receiving means;
displacing said clamping member toward said body such that said first receiving means engages an enlarged diameter portion of said first member;
further displacing said clamping member toward said body such that said clamping members engages flanged portions formed on said pair of conduit members; and securing said clamping member to a surface of said body so as to clamp said flanged portions of said pair of conduit members to said surface of said body.
rotatably mounting a clamping member to said body, said clamping member having a first receiving means formed therein;
rotating said clamping member such that a first diameter portion of a first member of said pair of conduit members passes through a slot formed in said clamping members so as to engage said first receiving means;
displacing said clamping member toward said body such that said first receiving means engages an enlarged diameter portion of said first member;
further displacing said clamping member toward said body such that said clamping members engages flanged portions formed on said pair of conduit members; and securing said clamping member to a surface of said body so as to clamp said flanged portions of said pair of conduit members to said surface of said body.
17. The method of Claim 16 wherein said rotating step includes passing a second member of said pair of conduit members through a slot so as to engage a second receiving means formed in said clamping member.
18. The method of Claim 17 wherein said displacing step includes engaging said second receiving means with an enlarged diameter portion of said second member.
19. The method of Claim 16 wherein said displacing, said further displacing and said securing steps include threadably tightening a fastener which secures said clamping member to said body.
20. The method of Claim 19 wherein said rotating step includes rotating said clamping member about said fastener.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US14182693A | 1993-10-22 | 1993-10-22 | |
| US08/141,826 | 1993-10-22 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2127506A1 true CA2127506A1 (en) | 1995-04-23 |
Family
ID=22497435
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002127506A Abandoned CA2127506A1 (en) | 1993-10-22 | 1994-07-06 | Quick connect swivel coupling |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH07293776A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU660129B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2127506A1 (en) |
| CZ (1) | CZ170494A3 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4432562A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2121492B1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2711761B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2283070A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1270089B (en) |
| PT (1) | PT101584A (en) |
Families Citing this family (21)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0886536A (en) * | 1994-09-14 | 1996-04-02 | Zexel Corp | Expansion valve mounting member |
| FR2727494B1 (en) * | 1994-11-25 | 1997-04-25 | Manuli Automobile France Sa | JOINT WITH SPECIAL PROFILE FOR WATERPROOF CONNECTION BETWEEN A TUBE END AND A PART |
| NL9500190A (en) * | 1995-02-02 | 1995-06-01 | Applied Power Inc | Hydraulic power unit for a hydraulic system. |
| JPH0949578A (en) * | 1995-08-07 | 1997-02-18 | Smc Corp | Pipe joint installation mechanism in selector valve |
| FR2758605B1 (en) * | 1997-01-23 | 1999-04-09 | Valeo Climatisation | DEVICE FOR QUICK CONNECTION OF TUBULAR ELEMENTS TO A CONNECTION BLOCK |
| FR2764948B1 (en) * | 1997-06-19 | 1999-08-20 | Hispano Suiza Sa | HYDRAULIC BLOCK EQUIPPED WITH A CONNECTION SAFETY MOUNTING SYSTEM |
| FR2765946B1 (en) * | 1997-07-11 | 1999-09-10 | Valeo Climatisation | IMPROVED DEVICE FOR QUICK CONNECTION OF PARALLEL TUBULAR ELEMENTS TO A CONNECTION BLOCK |
| DE19743185A1 (en) * | 1997-09-30 | 1999-04-01 | Itt Mfg Enterprises Inc | Multiple connector for pipelines |
| DE19838273A1 (en) * | 1998-08-22 | 2000-02-24 | Itw Gema Ag | Spray coating arrangement has blocking yoke mounted rotatably about axis parallel to fluid channel with blocking finger that can be engaged with aperture in connecting tube by rotating yoke |
| AU6154699A (en) | 1998-10-02 | 2000-04-26 | Aeroquip Corporation | Coupling assembly |
| US6382678B1 (en) | 1998-10-02 | 2002-05-07 | Parker-Hannifin Corporation | Coupling assembly |
| US6834893B2 (en) | 2001-11-01 | 2004-12-28 | Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. | Peanut fittings for CO2 air conditioning systems |
| GB2382391B (en) * | 2001-11-01 | 2004-10-13 | Visteon Global Tech Inc | Peanut fittings for CO2 air conditioning systems |
| DE102004028655A1 (en) * | 2004-06-15 | 2006-01-05 | Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg | Heat exchanger, in particular soldered radiator |
| US7591485B2 (en) * | 2005-07-11 | 2009-09-22 | Simmons Tom M | Connections for tubing and method of connecting tubing segments |
| DE202006005550U1 (en) * | 2006-04-05 | 2006-07-06 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration device, e.g. refrigerator or freezer, has opening with at least two widenings that are suitable for holding pipe with different external dimensions in shape-locking manner |
| CH705623A2 (en) * | 2011-09-29 | 2013-04-15 | Peter A Mueller | Plug-in coupling for fluid and / or electricity. |
| US9777878B2 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2017-10-03 | Hanon Systems | Connector |
| EP3670984B1 (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2022-03-09 | Hecht Technologie GmbH | Device for changing a flow of bulk material, in particular a dosing device and device for connecting pipelines |
| US11067202B2 (en) * | 2019-12-19 | 2021-07-20 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Puzzle-lock pipe mount assembly |
| TWI743888B (en) * | 2020-07-14 | 2021-10-21 | 泰威群聯股份有限公司 | Pipeline holder |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB140352A (en) * | 1919-11-28 | 1920-03-25 | Thomas Sugden | Improvements relating to superheaters |
| GB328056A (en) * | 1929-01-30 | 1930-04-24 | Malcolm Mcphail | Improvements in or relating to tube joints more particularly for use in steam superheaters |
| US3142358A (en) * | 1962-08-20 | 1964-07-28 | Champ Items Inc | Kit for auxiliary lubrication system for an engine |
| US3958418A (en) * | 1974-09-03 | 1976-05-25 | General Motors Corporation | Clamp arrangement |
| US4468054A (en) * | 1982-11-03 | 1984-08-28 | The Singer Company | Flange mounted thermostatic expansion valve |
| FR2665238B1 (en) * | 1990-07-24 | 1992-10-16 | Valeo | DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING TUBING TO A WALL, ESPECIALLY AIR CONDITIONING TUBING FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE. |
| FR2668242B1 (en) * | 1990-10-17 | 1993-01-22 | Valeo | FLANGE FOR CONNECTING THE INLET AND OUTLET TUBES OF AN EVAPORATOR. |
| FR2678706B1 (en) * | 1991-07-05 | 1993-11-05 | Peugeot Automobiles | FLANGE FOR CONNECTING TWO PIPES TO TWO CONDUITS, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. |
-
1994
- 1994-07-06 CA CA002127506A patent/CA2127506A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-07-14 CZ CZ941704A patent/CZ170494A3/en unknown
- 1994-07-19 GB GB9414547A patent/GB2283070A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-07-29 AU AU68818/94A patent/AU660129B1/en not_active Ceased
- 1994-09-13 DE DE4432562A patent/DE4432562A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-09-16 ES ES09401964A patent/ES2121492B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-09-27 IT ITMI941958A patent/IT1270089B/en active IP Right Grant
- 1994-10-06 PT PT101584A patent/PT101584A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-10-21 FR FR9412619A patent/FR2711761B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-10-24 JP JP6282466A patent/JPH07293776A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ES2121492A1 (en) | 1998-11-16 |
| FR2711761B1 (en) | 1996-03-01 |
| FR2711761A1 (en) | 1995-05-05 |
| PT101584A (en) | 1995-05-31 |
| AU660129B1 (en) | 1995-06-08 |
| ITMI941958A0 (en) | 1994-09-27 |
| ITMI941958A1 (en) | 1996-03-27 |
| GB2283070A (en) | 1995-04-26 |
| CZ170494A3 (en) | 1995-11-15 |
| JPH07293776A (en) | 1995-11-10 |
| GB9414547D0 (en) | 1994-09-07 |
| DE4432562A1 (en) | 1995-04-27 |
| ES2121492B1 (en) | 1999-06-01 |
| IT1270089B (en) | 1997-04-28 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA2127506A1 (en) | Quick connect swivel coupling | |
| US5374084A (en) | Coupling for automobile air conditioning system | |
| US5540463A (en) | Couplings for automobile air conditioning system conduits | |
| US6481756B1 (en) | Coupling assembly | |
| US5467611A (en) | Two plate TXV block connector for automotive A/C system with common bolts and independently attachable sides | |
| US6869107B2 (en) | Air conditioning block fitting with two surface sealing | |
| EP1571385A2 (en) | Swivel pipe coupling with retention mechanism | |
| JP2002517682A (en) | Pipe fitting with high flow valve | |
| US20030042737A1 (en) | Banjo clip for flange head flow bolt | |
| WO2005012781A1 (en) | Conduit coupling assembly | |
| US5308125A (en) | Sealed connector for automotive A/C system | |
| US5010743A (en) | Test fitting adapter for refrigerant lines | |
| US3858915A (en) | Snap together coupling with integral spring | |
| US7510217B2 (en) | Retainer assembly for conduit connection | |
| CA2902492A1 (en) | Multipositional fitting | |
| WO2022025514A1 (en) | Stabilized h-plate | |
| US20040094288A1 (en) | Vehicle condenser fluid connection and mounting bracket combined as a single item | |
| US5992894A (en) | Plural conduit quick-connect | |
| JPH07117354B2 (en) | Heat exchanger refrigerant coupling | |
| US6260888B1 (en) | Manifold attachment | |
| KR20200001974A (en) | Air conditioning fitting with axial and radial elastomeric sealing element and metal to metal taper saddle | |
| KR200175563Y1 (en) | Anti-overfixing apparatus of pipe of airconditioner | |
| JP2583725Y2 (en) | Hose fitting | |
| US20220341527A1 (en) | Mechanical Outlet | |
| JPH0749161A (en) | Liquid receiver for refrigerator |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |