MXPA06006472A - Quick connect collet retainer with self-centering structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A collet quick connect fluid coupling includes a self-centeringstructure that is received within a channel (36) in a pilot (32) . The channel and self-centering leg (28) ensures the collet (26) is approximately centered within the housing (22) as a tube (38) is moved into the housing. This prevents misalignment of the collet relative to the tube (38). In a preferred embodiment, the collet (26) has a ramp (30) on an inwardly facing surface that cams along a surface on the pilot (32), assisting the collet (26) in expanding when a tube (38) is moved into a housing (22).

Description

QUICK CONNECTION NECKLACE WITH SELF-CENTERING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application relates to a quick-connect collar connector for fluid handling, wherein the collar is self-centering within a tube housing. The fluid connectors include a type known as a quick connect coupling. A quick connect coupling includes an elastic portion that is tilted away from a relaxed position by a fluid handling member such as a tube. Generally, the tube includes a thickened or enlarged portion passing through the quick connect retainer, moving the elastic portion of the quick connect retainer away from the relaxed position. Once the thickened portion has passed these portion, the portion can be moved back to its relaxed position, now securing the tube within the housing structure. One type of quick connect retainer is a collar retainer. In a collar retainer, the retainer is generally cylindrical, with an expansion space through the collar retainer in a circumferential position. As the thickened portion engages with the collar detent, the collar retainer expands in its expansion space so that the thickened portion can pass. Once the thickened portion has passed the collar retainer, the collar retainer returns to its relaxed position, away from the thickened portion, and retaining the tube within the housing. The collar seals have been very successful. However, a challenge of a collar detent is that it may be off center within an opening in the housing. When this occurs, and the tube moves in the housing, the tube can sometimes move the collar detent even further from an acceptable position. This, of course, is undesirable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a described embodiment of this invention, a collar retainer with self-centering structure is provided to hold the collar retainer in a position approximately centered in the housing until the tube is inserted into the housing. More preferably, the self-offset structure includes a leg extending from the collar retainer portion that fits into a channel. The channel is preferably formed within a pilot positioned inwardly of the collar detent. In another aspect, the collar retainer preferably has an inward facing ramp surface that has cam effect along a guide surface as the collar is brought inwardly by the thickened portion of the tube. The ramp surface helps the collar retainer to be raised to its open position. Thus, the thickened portion moves more easily beyond the collar retainer. Again, in a more preferred embodiment, it is the pilot positioned inwardly of the collar detent that causes the ramp surface to be lifted outwardly.

These and other aspects of the present invention may be understood to be improved from the following specification and drawings, of which the following is a brief description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a fluid handling assembly. Figure 2 is a front view of a collar detent according to this invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through Figure 2. Figure 4 shows an aspect of the collar retainer as a tube is inserted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figure 1 illustrates an assembly 20 for fluid handling. As shown, a housing 22 includes an external structure 24 that retains a collar retainer 26. The collar retainer 26 is formed with a leg 28 extending axially inwardly. In addition, an inward facing surface of the collar retainer 26 is formed at an inclined angle. In a preferred embodiment, this angle is at 45 ° relative to a central axis of the collar retainer 26. A pilot 32 has an inner end 34 that faces the ramp surface 30. In addition, a channel 36 is formed in the pilot 32. As can be seen in Figure 1, the leg 28 that is received inside the channel 36. The placement of the leg 28 within the channel 36 ensures that the collar retainer remains at least approximately centered within the housing 22 until the insertion of the tube 38. As is known, the tube 38 is formed with a thickened portion 40 that moves into the housing 22, and beyond the collar retainer 26, so that it is secured as shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 is a front view of the collar retainer 26. As is known, a collar detent has an expansion space 44 between two circumferential ends. This space allows the pilot retainer to expand radially outwardly when the thickened portion 40 engages the collar retainer 26, allowing the thickened portion 40 to move into the housing 22 and beyond the collar retainer 26. A slot 42 is formed approximately at a location circumferentially opposite the space 44, and further aids this expansion. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through a collar 26, and shows the ramp surface 30 and the centering leg 28. As shown in Figure 4, as the tube 38 is inserted, the thickened portion 26 makes initial contact with an outer surface of the collar retainer 26. The thickened portion 44 will bring the collar detent inward until the ramp surface 30 engages the end 34 of the pilot 32. At that point, the ramp surface 30 will cam out along the end 34, causing the collar retainer 26 expands radially outwardly around slot 42, and separates in space 44 to be circumferentially larger so that thickened portion 40 can move past collar retainer 26. At that point, the collar retainer 26 will snap back inward to its relaxed position, away from the thickened portion 40 and maintaining the tube 38 as shown in Figure 1. By providing the centering structures 28 and 36, the present invention ensures that the collar retainer is properly positioned in the housing 22 prior to insertion of the tube. In addition, the ramp surface 30 helps this expansion radially outward. Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, a worker of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that certain modifications would fall within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims must be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS 1. A fluid handling combination assembly comprising: a housing for receiving a tube; a collar retainer received within said housing, said collar retainer extending generally circumferentially around a central axis, with an expansion space in a circumferential location, said collar retainer being provided with self-centering structure to ensure that said collar detent is generally centered around a central axis of said housing; and a tube held within said housing having a thickened portion positioned inwardly of said collar detent. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said self-centering structure of the collar detent includes a leg extending axially inward and received within a channel for centering said collar detent. An assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein a pilot is positioned axially inwardly of said collar detent, said pilot member including said channel for receiving said leg, and centering said collar detent. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said collar has an inward facing surface at a ramp angle, said ramp facing inward surface contacting a cam surface when a tube is moved to bringing said collar detent axially towards said housing, said cam surface causing said angled inwardly facing surface of said collar detent to have a cam effect radially outwardly and assist radial expansion of said collar detent as a tube moves to said housing. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said cam surface is in a pilot positioned inwardly of said collar detent. 6. A fluid handling combination assembly comprising: a housing for receiving a tube; a collar retainer received within said housing, said collar retainer extending generally circumferentially about a central axis, but having an expansion space in a circumferential location, said collar retainer being provided with an auto structure - centering to ensure that said collar detent is generally centered about a central axis of said housing; and a tube maintained within said housing having a thickened portion positioned inwardly of said collar detent; and said collar has an inward facing surface at a ramp angle, said ramped inward facing surface coming into contact with a cam surface when a tube is moved to bring said collar detent axially toward said housing, said surface cam which causes said ramp facing inwardly facing surface of said collar detent to have a camming effect radially outwardly and aiding radial expansion of said collar detent as a tube moves towards said housing. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cam surface is in a pilot positioned inwardly of said collar detent.