GB1562921A

GB1562921A - Hose coupling

Info

Publication number: GB1562921A
Application number: GB4338176A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-10-19
Filing date: 1976-10-19
Publication date: 1980-03-19

Description

(54) HOSE COUPLING (71) I, WILLIAM HENRY TODD, a citizen of the United States of America, of P.O. Box 49, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27102, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a hose coupling adapted to be fixedly connected to one end of a hose.

In connecting hydraulic and pneumatic hoses to various external components such as valves, pumps, and motors it is conventional practice to initially fixedly attach a hose coupling to one end of the hose. Normally, the fitting of the external component will not be designed to mate directly with the hose coupling, and it is is common to attach an "adapter" to the hose coupling for the purpose of converting the fitting of the hose to one which will properly mate with the fitting of the external component.

Since there is a large number of standard hose coupling sizes (resulting from the large number of standard hose sizes), and since there is a large number of fitting designs which are used on the various external components, a large inventory of adapters must ordinarily be maintained by fabricators or users so that they may readily convert a hose coupling to a desired different fitting configuration.

Conventional hydraulic and pneumatic hose couplings are adapted to sealably mate only with a fitting of a single specific configuration, and fittings of a different design will not usually provide the desired sealing engagement. This lack of interchangeability aggravates the inventory problem since an entire set of adapters must be maintained which have the specific fitting which conforms to the hose coupling, and another complete set must be maintained for each of the other conventional fitting configurations which are employed with the various external components.

In certain installations, it is desirable that the hose coupling be able to swivel so that a coupling at one end of a hose may be tightened without loosening the opposite end. For example, if both ends of a hose mount a rigid, one piece coupling having a right handed nut portion, any rotation of one coupling while tightening the same to an external component would tend to release the previously assembled coupling at the opposite end.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling which sealably receives either of two dissimilar externally threaded male fittings so that the required inventory of adapters may be reduced, and which may be readily standardized for all hose sizes to further reduce the required inventory of adapters.

From one aspect, the present invention consists in a hose coupling comprising a tubular stem defining a central axis and having one end adapted to be inserted into the end of a hose, and an opposite end, a nut mounted on the opposite end of said stem in sealing relationship therewith and such as to permit relative rotation between said stem and nut about said central axis, said stem and nut defining a bore of which a first portion is in said stem, and a second portion is in said nut, which second portion is internally threaded and has a diameter larger than that of said first portion, the bore having a frust-conical portion positioned between said first portion and said second portion and defining a first outwardly taprede sealing surface, and an entry end portion communicating with said second portion and defining a second outwardly tapered sealing surface, and means for securing an end of the hose coaxially to said one end of said stem, whereby said coupling is capable of sealingly receiving either of an externally threaded male fitting having a frusto-conical inwardly tapered forward end with which the taper of said first sealing surface conforms and, an externally threaded male fitting having an external O-ring with which said second sealing surface is sealingly engageable.

From another aspect, the present invention consists in a hose coupling comprising a tubular stem defining a bore and having a central axis, said stem having a rear end portion adapted to be inserted into the end of a hose, and a forward end portion in which the bore of the tubular stem terminates in a forwardly facing frusto-conical surface, the forward end portion having an external coaxial annular shoulder extending radially of said central axis, a nut rotatably carried by said stem and comprising a forward end portion having a bore of a diameter larger than that of the bore of said stem and including internal threads, and a forwardly facing frustoconical sealing surface at the forward end of the nut, communicating with said internal threads, and a rear end portion including a coaxial, internal annular radial shoulder facing said external shoulder of said stem, sealing means carried between said forward end portion of said stem and rear end portion of said nut for sealing the nut with respect to the stem, and locking means for maintaining a firm pressure between said shoulders, whereby to maintain the assembly of the stem and nut while permitting relative rotation therebetween during connection of the coupling by means of the nut to an externally threaded male fitting, and whereby said coupling is capable of sealingly receiving either of an externally threaded male fitting having a frusto-conical forward end which conforms with the first mentioned forwardly facing frusto-conical surface and an externally threaded male fitting having an external O-ring with which the second mentioned forwardly facing frusto-conical sealing surface is sealingly engageable.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation view, partly sectioned, on a reduced scale, of a prior art hose coupling and mating adapter; Figure 2 is an elevation view, partly sectioned, of a hose coupling constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hose coupling shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing the hose coupling sealably receiving a male fitting at one end of the adapter shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the hose coupling sealably receiving a male fitting at the opposite end of the adapter shown in Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a standard conventional hose coupling of a type well known in the art is indicated at 10 in Figure 1. Generally, the hose coupling 10 is adapted to be fixedly connected to one end of a hydraulic or pneumatic hose, and it includes a nipple 12 comprising a cylindrical stem 13 and a "swivel" nut 14 carried at the front end of the stem. A tubular bore 15 extends through the stem and the nut 14 includes an internal screw-thread 16. A portion of the peripheral surface of the stem 13 is screwthreaded at 17, and the entry end of the bore 15 includes a frusto-conical surface 18. A ferrule 19 is screw-threadedly connected to the threads 17 of the stem 13, and it further includes an internal screwthreaded portion 20 for engaging and locking the end of a hose positioned in the annular orifice defined between the ferrule 19 and stem 13.

In order to convert the hose coupling 10 to a desired fitting configuration, it is common to employ an adapter having a fitting at one end designed to sealably engage the coupling, and a fitting at the other end of the desired different configuration. A typical and conventional adapter of this type is illustrated at 22 in Figure 1. The adapter 22 includes what is known in the art as a "flare" fitting 24 at one end for sealably engaging the coupling 10, and a "straight thread O-ring boss" fitting 25 at the opposite end. The flare fitting 24 includes the frusto-conical forward end 26 which conforms to the frusto-conical surface 18 of the coupling 10 (generally either 37 or 45 ). Also, the fitting 24 includes an external screw-threaded portion 27 which conforms to the threads in the nut 14 so that the two frusto-conical surfaces 18 and 26 may be brought into operative sealing contact by screw-threading the fitting 24 into the nut 14.

The "straight thread O-ring boss" fitting 25 is commonly used in conjunction with various external components such as valves, pumps, and motors, but is not designed to be sealably connected to the hose coupling 10. Generally, the fitting 25 includes a screw-threaded end portion 28 which also conforms to the threads in the nut 14, and a resilient O-ring 29 positioned on the boss 30 which lies between the screwthreaded portion 28 and the integral nut portion 31. The fitting 25 may also include a washer 32 positioned intermediate the O-ring 29 and the nut portion 31. As will be apparent, if the fitting 25 were to be screw-threaded into the nut 14, the end of the fitting would engage the frusto-conical surface 18 prior to the O-ring 29 being contacted by the end of the nut 14, and in any event, any engagement between the end of the nut 14 and the O-ring 29 would not necessarily result in a sealed relationship.

The hose coupling shown in Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings is adapted to sealably receive either the flare fitting 24, or the straight thread O-ring boss fitting 25. Such interchangeability greatly increases the versatility of the coupling since the fabricator or user of such coupling will normally have on hand a large number of fittings of both types. For example, if the fabricator desires to convert from the hose coupling of the present invention to a male pipe fitting, he may employ either an adapter which converts from a flare fitting to a male pipe fitting, or an adapter which converts from a "straight thread O-ring boss" fitting to a male pipe fitting. This being the case, one of these duplicating adapters may be eliminated from his inventory.

Referring to Figure 2, the hose coupling comprises a tubular stem 34 which includes a rear end portion 35 which is adapted to be inserted into the end of a conventional hose 36, and an integral forward end portion 37. A cylindrical bore 38 extends through the stem which defines a central axis 39, and the forward end portion 37 includes a forwardly facing frusto-conical surface 40 communicating with the bore 38.

The forward end portion 37 further includes a rearwardly facing external coaxial annular radial shoulder 42 which is perpendicular to the central axis 39, and external screw-threads 43 positioned adjacent the external shoulder. An external annular abutment 45 is mounted at a medial location on the stem 34, and a plurality of external locking shoulders 46 are positioned on the rear end portion 35 for the purpose of retaining the hose 36 as hereinafter further described.

A nut 50 is sealably and rotatably carried by the stem 34 to permit swiveling, i.e., relative rotation about the central axis between the stem and nut. The nut 50 comprises a forward end portion 51 having an internal bore 52 which is larger in diameter than the diameter of the bore 38 and somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the forward end portion 37 of the stem, note Figure 2. The bore 52 includes internal screw-threads 53, and an entry end portion in the form of a forwardly facing outwardly tapered frusto-conical surface 54 which communicates with the screwthreads 53 of the bore. The rear end portion 55 of the nut 50 includes a radial flange which defines a forwardly facing internal shoulder 57 disposed parallel to and opposing the external shoulder 42 of the stem, and a rearwardly facing shoulder 58.

The forwardly facing outwardly tapered frusto-conical surface 40 will be seen to be positioned between the bore 38 of the stem and the bore 52 of the nut to thereby define a first outwardly facing sealing surface.

Also, the frusto-conical entry end surface 54 of the nut 50 defines a second outwardly facing sealing surface. Since the standard flare fitting has a frusto-conical forward end angled at either 37 or 45 , the angle A of the frusto-conical surface 40 will preferably conform to one of these standard values.

Also, the angle B of the frusto-conical entry end surface 54 will typically be about 45".

As will be apparent from the drawings, the frusto-conical surface 40 has an axial depth equal to at least substantially one half the diameter of the bore 30 such that a relatively broad sealing surface is presented for engagement by the frusto-conical surface 26 of the flare fitting 24. Also, the frusto-conical entry end surface 54 of the nut has an axial depth and maximum diameter sufficient to permit the O-ring 29 of the fitting 25 to be substantially received therewithin.

In the illustrated embodiment, a resilient sealing O-ring 60 is operatively disposed intermediate the external shoulder 42 and internal shoulder 57, and a locking nut 62 is carried by the screw-threads 43 for maintaining a firm pressure engagement across the O-ring 60 and between the shoulders 42 and 57. By this arrangement, the nut 50 may be swiveled or rotated about the axis 39 relative to the stem 34 while the O-ring 60 maintains a seal therebetween. Also, the nut 50 and locking nut 62 may include a hexagonal peripheral surface in cross section to facilitate engagement by a conventional wrench, and a washer 63 may, if desired, be interposed between the locking nut 62 and the shoulder 58 of the nut to facilitate the swiveling of the nut.

The illustrated hose coupling further comprises means for securing an end of the hose 36 to the rear portion 35 of the stem 34. This securing means comprises the external abutment 45 and locking shoulders 46 noted above, and further comprises a tubular ferrule 65 positioned coaxially about the rear end portion 35 of the stem.

The ferrule 65 includes a radial flange 66 at the forward end thereof for locking the same behind the abutment 45, and a main body portion 67 which overlies in spaced relation the outer periphery of the rear end portion 35 of the stem to define an annular orifice 68 therebetween for receiving the end of the hose 36. Also, the interior of the ferrule 65 includes a number of unitary locking rings 70 designed to bite into and deform the cover of the hose 36 to thereby maintain the hose 36 within the annular orifice 68.

To assemble the hose coupling to the hose 36, the ferrule 65 is initially positioned to overlie the end of the hose, and the rear end portion 35 of the stem 34 is then inserted into the end of the hose. The ferrule 65 is then crimped or reduced in diameter by means of, for example, a suitable power crimping machine to result in the flange 66 being moved radially inwardly and behind the abutment 45 to thereby preclude relative axial movement between the ferrule and stem. Also, the locking rings 70 will move inwardly to bit into the cover of the hose to lock the same within the annular orifice 68.

Figure 4 illustrates the hose coupling of Figures 2 and 3 s ealably receiving the "straight thread O-ring boss" fitting 25 of the adapter 22. In particular, it will be seen that the frusto-conical entry end surface 54 of the nut 50 is positioned to provide a relatively broad engagement surface with the O-ring 29, while compressing the same to effect the seal between the surface 54 and the boss 30. Concurrently, the O-ring 60 acts to maintain a seal between the nut 50 and stem 34 while permitting the nut 50 to swivel with respect to the stem 34 and hose 36.

Figure 5 shows the hose coupling of Figures 2 and 3 sealably receiving a flare fitting 24. In this case, the further conical end surface 26 of the fitting 24 is in sealing contact with the relatively broad frustoconical surface 40 of the stem.

As will be apparent from the drawings, the stem 34 of the illustrated embodiment is fabricated from two components which are fixedly interconnected by any suitable method, such as brazing or soldering. Alternatively, the stem 34 could be fabricated from a unitary stock piece by employing conventional machining operations. Also, it will be apparent that the illustrated ferrule 65 in Figures 2, 4 and 5 could take the form of the ferrule 19 in Figure 1 and wherein there is a screw-threaded interconnection between the ferrule and the stem.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A hose coupling comprising a tubular stem defining a central axis and having one end adapted to be inserted into the end of a hose, and an opposite end, a nut mounted on the opposite end of said stem in sealing relationship therewith and such as to permit relative rotation between said stem and nut about said central axis, said stem and nut defining a bore of which a first portion is in said stem, and a second portion is in said nut, which second portion is internally threaded and has a diameter larger than that of said first portion, the bore having a frusto-conical portion positioned between said first portion and said second portion and defining a first outwardly tapered sealing surface, and an entry end portion communicating with said second portion and defining a second outwardly tapered sealing surface, and means for securing an end of the hose coaxially to said one end of said stem, whereby said coupling is capable of sealingly receiving either of an externally threaded male fitting having a frusto-conical inwardly tapered forward end with which the taper of said first sealing surface conforms and an externally threaded male fitting having an external O-ring with which said second sealing surface is sealingly engageable.

2. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stem has a first coaxial annular shoulder adjacent said opposite end thereof and extending radially of said central axis, a second coaxial annular radial shoulder on said nut and facing said first shoulder, means for maintaining a firm pressure between said first and second shoulders while permitting relative rotation about said central axis and a sealing O-ring disposed between said stem and nut.

3. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for maintaining a firm engagement between said first and second shoulders comprises external threads positioned on said stem, and a locking nut oepratively engaging said external threads.

4. A hose coupling as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said securing means comprises a tubular ferrule positioned coaxially about said stem and defining an annular orifice between said stem and ferrule for receiving the end of the hose, and means for locking the hose in said annular orifice.

5. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 4, wherein said securing means further comprises means for preventing relative axial movement between said ferrule and said stem.

6. A hose coupling as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said frustoconical portion of said bore is inclined at an angle in the range of 37 to 450 with respect to said central axis.

7. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 6, wherein said frusto-conical portion of said bore has an axial depth equal to at least substantially one half the diameter of said first portion of said bore such that the first sealing surface is relatively broad.

8. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second outwardly tapered sealing surface is frusto-conical.

9. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second outwardly tapered sealing surface has an axial depth and maximum diameter sufficient to permit an external O-ring on a mating male fitting to be substantially received therewithin.

10. A hose coupling as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said nut includes a peripheral surface defining a hexagon in cross section and which is adapted to be engaged by a conventional wrench.

11. A hose coupling comprising a tubular stem defining a bore and having a central axis, said stem having a rear end portion adapted to be inserted into the end of a hose, and a forward end portion in which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. relative axial movement between the ferrule and stem. Also, the locking rings 70 will move inwardly to bit into the cover of the hose to lock the same within the annular orifice 68. Figure 4 illustrates the hose coupling of Figures 2 and 3 s ealably receiving the "straight thread O-ring boss" fitting 25 of the adapter 22. In particular, it will be seen that the frusto-conical entry end surface 54 of the nut 50 is positioned to provide a relatively broad engagement surface with the O-ring 29, while compressing the same to effect the seal between the surface 54 and the boss 30. Concurrently, the O-ring 60 acts to maintain a seal between the nut 50 and stem 34 while permitting the nut 50 to swivel with respect to the stem 34 and hose 36. Figure 5 shows the hose coupling of Figures 2 and 3 sealably receiving a flare fitting 24. In this case, the further conical end surface 26 of the fitting 24 is in sealing contact with the relatively broad frustoconical surface 40 of the stem. As will be apparent from the drawings, the stem 34 of the illustrated embodiment is fabricated from two components which are fixedly interconnected by any suitable method, such as brazing or soldering. Alternatively, the stem 34 could be fabricated from a unitary stock piece by employing conventional machining operations. Also, it will be apparent that the illustrated ferrule 65 in Figures 2, 4 and 5 could take the form of the ferrule 19 in Figure 1 and wherein there is a screw-threaded interconnection between the ferrule and the stem. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A hose coupling comprising a tubular stem defining a central axis and having one end adapted to be inserted into the end of a hose, and an opposite end, a nut mounted on the opposite end of said stem in sealing relationship therewith and such as to permit relative rotation between said stem and nut about said central axis, said stem and nut defining a bore of which a first portion is in said stem, and a second portion is in said nut, which second portion is internally threaded and has a diameter larger than that of said first portion, the bore having a frusto-conical portion positioned between said first portion and said second portion and defining a first outwardly tapered sealing surface, and an entry end portion communicating with said second portion and defining a second outwardly tapered sealing surface, and means for securing an end of the hose coaxially to said one end of said stem, whereby said coupling is capable of sealingly receiving either of an externally threaded male fitting having a frusto-conical inwardly tapered forward end with which the taper of said first sealing surface conforms and an externally threaded male fitting having an external O-ring with which said second sealing surface is sealingly engageable.

the bore of the tubular stem terminates in a forwardly facing frusto-conical surface, the forward end portion having an external coaxial annular shoulder extending radially of said central axis, a nut rotatably carried by said stem and comprising a forward end portion having a bore of a diameter larger than that of the bore of said stem and including internal threads, and a forwardly facing frusto-conical sealing surface at the forward end of the nut, communicating with said internal threads, and a rear end portion including a coaxial, internal annular radial shoulder facing said external shoulder of said stem, sealing means carried between said forward end portion of said stem and rear end portion of said nut for sealing the nut with respect to the stem, and locking means for maintaining a firm pressure between said shoulders, whereby to maintain the assembly of the stem and nut while permitting relative rotation therebetween during connection of the coupling by means of the nut to an externally threaded male fitting, and whereby said coupling is capable of sealingly receiving either of an externally threaded male fitting having a frustoconical forward end which conforms with the first mentioned forwardly facing frustoconincal surface and an externally threaded male fitting having an external O-ring with which the second mentioned forwardly facing frusto-conical sealing surface is sealingly engageable.

12. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 11, wherein said locking means comprises external threads carried by said stem adjacent said external shoulder, a third coaxial annular radial shoulder carried by said nut and facing said internal annular shoulder, and a threaded member encircling said stem and carried by said external threads and adapted to engage said third annular shoulder to thereby maintain said internal annular shoulder of said nut in firm engagement with said external annular shoulder of said stem.

13. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein said sealing means comprises a sealing O-ring disposed between said external and internal shoulders.

14. A hose coupling as claimed in claim 13, wherein said locking means further comprises a washer positioned about said stem and between said threaded member and third shoulder to facilitate the relative rotation between said stem and nut.

15. A hose coupling constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.