CA2177270A1 - Conduit coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

A conduit coupling (20) is comprised of a male conduit (22), a mating female member (24), means for sealing (26) and a fastener (28) to couple the male conduit (22) to the female member (24). The male conduit (22) has a first and second expanded diametral portions (46 and 50) separated by a nominal diametral portion (48). The sealing means (26) externally surrounds the nominal diametral portion (48) and prevents fluid from passing between an exterior surface (40) of the male conduit (22) and an adjacent inside surface (74) of the female member (24). Thus, the total longitudinal length of the conduit coupling (20) is less than most threaded couplings.

Description

~ WO95/14879 ~ 1 77 270 PCT~S93/ll622 CONDUIT COUPLING
CROSS n[rcn[~cE TO RELATED APPLICATION
~, This ,, " 1 is a continuation-in-part of co-pending:,, ' 5 Serial No. PCT/US92/08007 filed September 21, 1992.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a conduit coupling through which fluid flows and ~F ~ 'l~ to a male conduit having expanded diametral portions thereof for insertion within a female member.
In the automotive industry, as well as for many other industries, the need always exists for low cost, reliable and easy to assembly c~, n~ul ,e"~s.
This need is especially apparent with respect to providing a cr,l",e-,ti~", between fluid conveying conduits such as fuel, brake or .~f~ ,d"l lines.
Tl ddiLiorl ':J, such a co, l~ ", is cu" ",, iat:CI of a male tubular member being 15 retained within a female housing by a threaded ftting, bolted-on flanged brackets or flare fittings.
More recently, snap together quick connect dLLa~,lllllt~llLa have been used in place of the dfUlt~ ecl conventional devices. In order to retain such a quick connect fastener, many tubular members have a bead 20 circu",f~,~" 'l~ located therearound. This bead may be integrally formed or " ,e.:l lal ,i~ J attached onto the outside surface of the male conduit.
Fu,Ll,t:,,,,u,t:,itisimportantthatthisbeadbeflrmlyattachedtoa~,,~cl~,'~,,,,i,~e~longitudinal posltion on the male conduit in order to maintain a secure and leakresiâtant fit within the mating female housing or connector half. If such a 25 c~""t,~,tio" were to become dislodged or leak, the vehicle could become disabled. While quick connect fasteners are signiflcant improvements within the art, the male conduits used in ColllLilld~iull therewith have not Ar~eqll '~
provided a low cost and secure sealing seat integral with the male conduit.
Furthermore, conventional couplings allow the male conduit to axially move in 30 relation to the adjacent female housing. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a conduit coupling w~hich provides a low cost, longitudinally secure and 2 1 7 72 7 0 PCT/IJS93/11622 ~
integral sealing seat on a male conduit which also promotes axial alignment with the mating female housing thereby avoiding the d~ lioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
in a~u, .Id,)ce with the present invention, the preferred 5 ~",~odi",~,lt of a conduit coupling is ~;c",~ ,ed of a male conduit, a mating female member, means for sealing and a fastener to couple the male conduit to the female member. The male member has a first and second expanded diametral portions separated by a nominal diametral portion. The sealing means externally surrounds the nominal diametral portion and prevents fluid 10 from passing between an exterior surface of the male conduit and an adjacent inside surface of the female member. In another aspect of the present invention, a quick connect fastener couples the male conduit within the female member.
The conduit coupling of the present invention is advantageous 15 over conventional couplings in that a sealing seat is integrally formed within a male conduit. Thus, a low cost and longltudinally accurate sealing retention area is created. Furthermore, the present invention conduit coupling is also advantageous since a first and second expanded diametral portions on the male conduit also serve as axial alignment bearing surfaces against an inside 20 surFace of a female member. An additional benefit is that the conduit coupling of the present invention is longitudinally compact as c~"l~.dlt,d to many traditional dlld-,lllllt:lll systems. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following d~5~,1i, " ~ and d~.~.el ,.lt:d claims, taken in conjunction with the a~iu" IIJdl ,ying drawings.
2~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DPAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first preferred t",l~o.li",~"l of a conduit coupling of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second preferred ~"lbo~i",t:"l of a conduit coupling of the present invention;

~ WO 9S/14879 2 1 7 7 2 7 0 PCT~US93/11622 FIG. 3 is an exploded pt71:~ ~iv~ view of a first aHernate udi~ l of the present invention conduit coupling of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectlonal view, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, of the first aHernate t~l l Ibùdil l l~l lI of the present invention conduit coupling;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a second aHernate t", IL,o-li" ,~"I
of a male conduit and means for sealing of the present invention conduK
coupling of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an end elevational view showing a first preferred ~" Ib~dil "cn 1~ of a quick connect fastener used in the present invention conduit 10 coupling of FIGS. 1 and 2; and FIG. 7 is an end elevational view showing a second preferred t,l I IL o~ l 1l of a quick connect fastener used in the present invention conduit coupling of FIGS. 3 and 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE l l ILI Ll ~1 ILL) EMBOD''''NTS
A conduit coupling cdn be used to join a pair of mating tubular members or conduits to one another. For example, a pair of brake, coolant, pneumatic or other flexible hoses may be attached to one another within an vehicle. A conduit coupling can also be used to join a condue to a fluid carrying structure. For example, a flexible or rigid conduit may be 20 coupled to an engine block, radiator or exhaust pipe.
~ eferring to FIG. 1, a first preferred ~"l~odi",~"l of a swivelableconduit coupling 20 is c~, I IlJl iaed of a male conduit 22, a female member 24,a seal 26 and a quick connect fastener 28. Male conduit 22 is a SUIII3 rigid metallic member which is securely aflixed within the end of a flexible hose 25 (not shown). Male conduit 22 has an exterior surface 40 and an interior surface 42 joined by a distal edge 44. Male conduit 22 also has a first expanded diametral portion 46, a nominal diametral portion 48 and a second expanded diametral portion 50. Each diametral portion 46, 48 and 50 has a subaldl ,ti.ll:~
cylindrical cross sectional shape thereto. Furthermore, expanded diametral 30 portions 46 and 50 each have s~ba~dllt;..'l~ the same diameter while the wo gs~l487g ~ 7 7 2 7 0 PCT/IJS93/11622 ~
diameter of nominal diametral portion 48 is relatively smalier. Thus, a sealing seat is defined wlthin this radially grooved area.
Female member 24 has a female conduit 60, a l~ctl~Ad~ 62, a flanye 64 and a coll~r 66. Female condult 60 has an inner surface 68 of 5 s~b~ld~ cylindrical cross sectional shape defining a l~ - J 70 therethrough. It~,utd~ 62 is joined to female conduit 60 by a radially projecting ledge 72. Receptacle 62 has an inside surface 74 which defines a s~ cylindrical bore therethrough. Flange 64 has a frusto conical cross sectional shape with a COIlallk,l~Cl portion 76 cu,,,,eul~d to l~ct~JIdcle 62.
10 Flange 64 also has a distal edge 78 which is opposite from uû"~ d portion 76. Collar 66 has a suLald ,t;.,:,,/ cylindrical body 90 which snugly surrounds a portion of l~,utd;ld 62 and flange 64. An arm 92 is inwardly turned from body 90 of collar 66 so as to create a shoulder 94. Collar 66 further has a lead-in portion 96 which defines an open end of female member 24. An 15 inwardly projecting tab or other means may also be i"~, ~u, _ d within collar66 to prevent longltudinal l ' lia~uldc~l 1 le:l ll along I t~U~I~td~ 62.
Seal 26 is preferably an ~Idalul "~(ic O-ring which is ,~" ~daa~l, Ibl~d to male conduit 22 within the sealing seat defined by portions 46, 48 and 50 of male conduit 22. However, seal 26 could " " rcly consist of a closed cell 20 spûnge-like material, a pumpable sealant, a thumb grade sealant, or other sealing means known to one skilled in the art.
As can best be observed in FIGS. 1 and 6, quick connect fastener 28 is a flat washer-like device having a pair of central jaws 120, also known asa central ~ dUIllll~ll~ section, and a pair of outer jaws 122, also known as an 25 outer dtldUI 111 It:l 11 section. Central jaws 120 and outer jaws 122 are .iUI~l It:.,lt:d to each other through a neck section 124. Furthermore, central jaws 120 define a subaldl 1" 'Iy semi-circular shape ll l~l ~b~ which is c~" ,~ aaiLIy aflixed around exterior surface 40 of male conduit 22 longltudinally adjacent to second expanded diametral portion 50 thereof opposite from distal edge 44. Outer 30 jaws 122 create a substantially circular shape substantially CUllC~lltliC with central jaws 120. However, a gap 126 is located between a distal end 128 of each outer jaw 122. Moreover, a peripheral edge 130 of outer jaws 122 is ~ W095/14879 2 1 7 7 2 7 0 PCT/US93/116ZZ

inwardly ~" ,,.,, eased by lead-in portion 96 and inwardly turned amm 92 of collar 66 when quick connect fastener 28 is longitudinally inserted within female member 24. Insertion may be further enhanced through use of a tool (not shown) which can be inserted within openings 132 in outer jaws 122. When -~ 5 fully inserted, outer iaws 122 are outwardly urged such that a face 134 thereof abuts against shoulder 94 of collar 66. Quick connect fastener 28 is made from a sheet of strip stock steel.
When male conduit 22 is fully inserted within leCe,uLdCle 62, expanded diametral portions 46 and 50 provide bearing surfaces which inhibit 10 axial " 'i~ Illlell~ in relation to female member 24. FulUlelll~ule~ the sealing seat created between portions 46, 48 and 50 of male conduit 22 accurately control the radial c~lll,~nèaaiull and longitudinal location of seal 26.
A second preferred ~" ,i o~ii, I~el ~I of a quick connect fastener 28 is shown in FIG. 7. This fastener 28 is formed from a semi-flexible wire and has15 a pair of central jaws 150, also known as a central dLh~:lllllelll section, and a pair of outer jaws 152, also known as an outer dtLa~,lllllel,L section. Central jaws 150 and outer jaws 152 are cu~ e~,Led to each other through elbow sections 154. Central jaws 150 cul l l,~n essiLJly engage male conduit 22 (see FIG.
1) and outer jaws 152 engage collar 66 (see FIG. 1) of female member 24 (see 20 FIG. 1).
A secûnd preferred ellliJO~iilllellL of conduit coupling 20 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. A female member 170 has a female conduit 172 and a female, eueluLd~le 174. Female, e~Jh~le 174 is defined by a first inside sur-ace 176 and a longitudinally adjacent second inside surface 25 178. First inside surface 176 has a relatively smaller sui alal 'l~ cylindricai cross sectional diameter as cûmpared to second inside surface 178 which also has a sui aLd"tk.l:" cylindrical cross sectional shape. n~cieyLd~.le 174 furtherhas a 1;l Idl, If t:l ed surface 180, a grooved undercut 182, an i"te", le~ , surface 184 and a tapered lead-in suriace 186. Tapered lead-in surface 186 is 30 proximate with an open end 188 of female member 170. In this ellliJO~iilllellL~
a male conduit 190 is s~i,a~d, I~ Jr similar to that of the first preferred el,,i u~ii,,lel ,l, however, a first expanded diametral portion 192 has a diameter WO 95/14879 2 1 7 7 2 7 0 PCT/I~S93/11622 ~

congruent with first inside surface 176 of female member 170. Also a second expanded diametral portion 194 of male conduit 190 has a diameter congruent wr~h second inside surface 178 of female member 170. Accordingly the diameter of second expanded diametral portion 194 is greater than that of first 5 expanded diametral portion 192. Nevertheless a nominal diametral portion 196 acts in concert with the adjacent expanded diametral portions 192 and 194 to provide a sealing seat for a seal 198. A quick connect fastener 200 is used to couple male conduit 190 to undercut 182 of female member 170.
In FIGS. 3 and 4 an alternate t", lI,ocJi" ,t" IL of the present invention 10 condurt coupling 20 is shown. In this t:lllbodi",~"l a male conduit 240 is identical to that of the first preferred ~",L,odi",~"l. Furthermore a female member 242 is similar to that disclosed in the second preferred ~"~odi",a~
except that a r~,uld~le 244 has a su~ldl,t;.~:ly uniform inside surface 246.
This exemplary ~" ILodi, "~"l illustrates the use of a first auxiliary dttd~ l " "c:"~ ring 15 250 and a second auxiliary dltdulllllt~l~l ring 252 in c~lllbi,l ~ wlth a quick connect fastener 254. Quick connect fastener 254 is similar in design to that shown in FIG. 7.
Both auxiliary d~dul " "~"L rings 250 and 2æ are annular in shape and have an inner dtld.:l " "t" ll section 256 which c~" "., t,:,~iL,ly engages around 20 an exterior surface 258 of male conduit 240. Auxiliary dlld~ l " "t" ,I rings 250 and 252 further have an outer dl~d~l ""~"l section 260 which snugly rides against a pair of i" ",ec;;~t~. cylindrical surfaces 262 longitudinally bordering an undercut groove 264 wlthin female member 242. Quick connect fastener 254 is longltudinally trapped between the pair of auxiliary dlldN " "t:"l rings 250 and 25 252. This construction allows quick connect fastener 254 to be made from a more radially resilient and less longitudinally rigid material as compared to the prior ~IllL,o.li",~,lt . This is d~l"~ ..,ed by allowing the pair of auxiliary dlld11 ", le~l ,I rings 250 and 252 to longltudinally support quick connect fastener 254. Ful ll l~l l l ,u, ~ four arcuate slots 266 are located between inner and outer 30 dlldN " "t" ,I sections 256 and 260, 1 I~ .t; I~.'y, of auxiliary dlld-:l l" ,~l~l rings 250 and 252 such that illaldlldliUIl or di~d~ ly tools can be inserted wlthin spaces 268 of quick connect fastener 254. An annular bushing 270 can WO 95/14879 2 1 7 7 2 7 0 PCT/U593~11622 optionally surround exterior surface 258 of male conduit 240 proximate with second auxiliary ~LLd~ ring 252. This bushing 270 aids in ensuring the desired longitudinal location of quick connect fastener 254 during inserhon thereof within female member 242. An O-ring seal 272 surrounds a nominal 5 diametral portion 274 of male conduit 240.
Referring to FIG. 5, a nominal diametral portion 290 of a male conduit 292 is longitudinally l~"~U,~"ecl so as to provide a sealing seat for a pair of O-ring type seals 294 and 296 with a washer 298 longitudinally located U ,~,~L,. ~ ~ ,. Of course, one skilled in the art would d~J~JIl that various 10 alL~Il Iy patterns of expanded diametral portions and nominal diametral portions can be longitudinally pu:,iLiû, l~cl along a male conduit without deviating from the present invention.
While various ~,,IL û~i,,,t:,~ts of this conduit coupling have been disclosed, it will be d~ idLt:d that various ", "~ " la may be made without 15 departing from the present invention. For example, the quick connector can be of a type disclosed within the parent ~ . Furthermore, a non-quick connect fastener such as a bolted-on flange or threaded fitting fastener can be used to join a male conduit to a female member. Various materials have been disclosed in an exemplary fashion, however, a variety of other materials may of 20 course be employed. It is intended by the following claims to cover these andany other departures from the disclosed t:" ,L~odi" ,~"ts which fall within the true spirit of this invention.

Claims (20)

The invention claimed is,

1. A conduit coupling for use in communicating a fluid media therethrough comprising:
a female preassembly having a receptacle with a cylindrical inside surface thereof defining a bore extending therethrough, said bore further defining a longitudinal axis centrally therealong;
a male preassembly including a male conduit having a cylindrical cross sectional shape, an exterior surface, and a distal edge thereto, said male conduit further having a first expanded diametral portion located closest to said distal edge and a second expanded diametral portion displaced longitudinally therealong, said first and second expanded diametral portions separated by a nominal diametral portion longitudinally therebetween;
said male preassembly including means for sealing externally surrounding said nominal diametral portion of said male conduit therearound;
said male preassembly further including a fastener having a first attachment section thereof attachable to said male conduit adjacent to said second expanded diametral portion thereof opposite from said distal edge thereacross, said fastener further having a second attachment section thereof attachable to said female member thereagainst;
said male preassembly being at least partially insertable within said receptacle bore such that said exterior surface of said male conduit at said first and second expanded diametral portions thereof are in registry with said receptacle inside surface thereagainst, said sealing means substantially preventing said fluid media from passing between said exterior surface of said male conduit and said inside surface of said female member; and - 8a -said fastener coupling a predetermined portion of said male conduit within said female member so as to prevent inadvertent longitudinal disassembly therefrom.

2. The conduit coupling of Claim 1 wherein:
said fastener has a quick connect configuration thereto.

3. The conduit coupling of Claim 2 wherein said quick connect fastener includes:
said first attachment section is configured from a pair of inner jaws defining a substantially semi-circular shape therebetween, said inner jaws compressibly attaching to said exterior surface of said male conduit substantially therearound; and said second attachment section is configured from a pair of outer jaws substantially surrounding said pair of inner jaws therewithin, said pair ofouter jaws substantially defining a circular shape therebetween, said pair of outer jaws connecting to said pair of inner jaws therewithin by a neck segment therebetween, said pair of outer jaws further having a pair of distal ends thereof with a gap therebetween, said pair of outer jaws coupled to said female member thereabout.

4. The conduit coupling of Claim 2 wherein said quick connect fastener includes:
said first attachment section is configured from a pair of inner jaws defining a substantially semi-circular shape therebetween, said inner jaws compressibly attaching to said exterior surface of said male conduit substantially therearound; and said second attachment section is configured from a pair of outer jaws substantially surrounding said pair of inner jaws therewithin, said pair ofouter jaws substantially defining a circular shape therebetween, said pair of outer jaws joined to said pair of inner jaws at an elbow thereof.

5. The conduit coupling of Claim 4 wherein said fastener further includes:
a first auxiliary attachment ring having an inner attachment section engagable around said exterior surface of said male conduit therein and having an outer section substantially surrounding said inner attachment section therewithin, said first auxiliary ring longitudinally located between said pair of inner jaws of said quick connect fastener and said second diametrally expanded portion of said male conduit thereagainst; and a second auxiliary attachment ring having an inner attachment section engagable around said exterior surface of said male conduit therein and having an outer section surrounding said inner attachment section therewithin, said second auxiliary attachment ring longitudinally located adjacent to said pair of inner jaws of said quick connect fastener opposite from said first auxiliary attachment ring thereacross.

6. The conduit coupling of Claim 5 wherein:
said first and second auxiliary attachment rings have a substantially annular shape thereto and have a plurality of arcuate slots juxtapositioned between each of said inner attachment sections and each of said outer sections thereof.

7. The conduit coupling of Claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes:
a first seal located externally adjacent to said nominal portion of said male conduit therearound.

8. The conduit coupling of claim 7 wherein said sealing means includes:
a second seal located externally adjacent to said nominal portion of said male conduit therearound.

9. The conduit coupling of Claim 8 further comprising:
a washer located between said first and second seals adjacent thereto.

10. The conduit coupling of Claim 1 wherein:
said inside surface of said female member is further defined by a first inside surface and a second inside surface, said first inside surface iscloser to said open end of said female member than said second inside surface longitudinally adjacent thereto; and said first expanded diametral portion of said male conduit has a diameter thereof congruent with said first inside surface of said female member,said second expanded diametral surface has a relatively greater diameter thereof congruent with said second side surface of said female member therewith.

11. The conduit coupling of Claim 1 wherein said female member includes:
a receptacle having a flange therearound closest to an open end thereof;
a collar fitting around said receptacle proximate with said flange thereupon, said collar further having an inwardly turned arm defining a shoulderthereabout; and said second attachment section of said fastener couplable between said flange and said shoulder of said collar thereagainst.

12. The conduit coupling of Claim 1 wherein said female member includes:
a frusto-conical tapered lead-in surface proximate with an open end thereof, said tapered lead-in surface having a constricted portion thereof;
an intermediate inside surface juxtapositioned longitudinally adjacent to said constricted portion of said tapered lead-in surface;
a grooved undercut radially extending outward from said intermediate surface; and said second attachment section of said fastener radially compressible by interference with said tapered lead-in surface thereagainst during longitudinal insertion therepast, said second attachment section of said fastener engaging said undercut thereabout when longitudinally located therewith.

13. The conduit coupling of Claim 1 further comprising:
means for preventing longitudinal translation of said quick connect fastener along said male conduit.

14. The conduit coupling of claim 13 wherein:
said preventing means includes an annular bushing longitudinally affixed around said exterior surface of said male conduit.

15. A conduit coupling for use in combination with a female member having a receptacle with a cylindrical inside surface thereof defining a bore extending therethrough, said bore further defining a longitudinal axis centrallytherealong, said conduit coupling comprising:
a male conduit having a cylindrical cross sectional shape defined by an exterior surface, having a distal edge, said male conduit further having a first expanded diametral portion located closest to said distal edge and a second expanded diametral portion displaced longitudinally therealong, said first and second expanded diametral portions separated by a nominal diametral portion longitudinally therebetween, said first and second expanded diametral portions having outer bearing surfaces formed thereon, said second expanded diametral portion including a pair of side walls with said outer bearing surface being formed between said side walls, said surface defining a constant diameter between said walls;
- an elastomeric seal externally surrounding said nominal diametral portion of said male conduit therearound;
a quick connect fastener having a first attachment section attachable to said male conduit adjacent to said second expanded diametral portion, said fastener further having a second attachment section attachable to said female member thereagainst, said fastener being substantially planar - 13a -said male conduit insertable within said receptacle bore such that said outer bearing surface of said first and second expanded diametral portions thereof are in registry with said receptacle inside surface thereagainst for inhibiting axial misalignment of said male conduit in relation to said bore of said female member, said seal substantially preventing said fluid media from passing between said exterior surface of said male conduit and said inside surface of said female member; and said fastener coupling a predetermined portion of said male conduit within said female member so as to prevent inadvertent longitudinal disassembly therefrom.

16. A conduit coupling for use n attaching a male conduit having an exterior surface thereof into a female member having an inside surface thereof, said conduit coupling comprising:
a quick connect fastener having a pair of inner jaws attachable around said exterior surface of said male conduit, said quick connect fastener further having a pair of outer jaws attachable to female member;
a first auxiliary attachment ring having an inner attachment section engageable around said exterior surface of said male conduit therein and having an outer section slidable along said inside surface of said female member:
a second auxiliary attachment ring having an inner attachment section engageable around said exterior surface of said male conduit therein and having an outer section slidable along said inside surface of said female member; and said first and second auxiliary attachment rings longitudinally displaced along said male conduit with said quick conned fastener juxtapositioned therebetween,

17. The conduit coupling of Claim 16 wherein:
said first and second auxiliary attachment rings have a substantially annular shape thereto and have a plurality of arcuate slots juxtapositioned between each of said inner attachment sections and each of said outer sections thereof.

- 14a -

18. The conduit coupling, of Claim 16 further comprising:
means for preventing longitudinal translation of said quick connect fastener along said male conduit.

19. The conduit coupling of claim 18 wherein:
said preventing means includes an annular bushing longitudinally affixed around said exterior surface of said male conduit.

20. A conduit coupling for use in attaching a male conduit having an exterior surface thereof into a female member having an inside surface thereof, said conduit coupling comprising:
a fastener ring having an inner attachment section engageable with an exterior surface of said male conduit and an outer section engageable with said inside surface of said female member for limiting relative longitudinal movement between said male and female members, said fastener ring being disposed entirely within said female member when said male member is lockingly secured thereto, an annular bearing surface on said male member adjacent the distal end thereof engageable with said inside surface of said female member, and O-ring sealing means disposed axially between said bearing surface and said attachment ring and providing a fluid tight seal between said exterior surface of said male member and said interior surface of said female member.