Pipe joints or couplings – Pipe to discreet nipple or sleeve to plate – Pipe to nipple connection dependent on nipple to plate...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-02-27
Arola, Dave W. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Pipe to discreet nipple or sleeve to plate
Pipe to nipple connection dependent on nipple to plate...
C285S142100, C285S368000, C285S906000, C029S525110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193283
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to block conduit connections. More specifically, this invention relates to a block conduit connection, wherein a device is used to hold a connecting block in place and indicate if the connection has been completely engaged.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior to the present invention, many types of sealing configurations have been proposed for connecting a tube to another component of a fluid system. Perhaps most common was the use of a simple O-ring encircling an end of a tube mounted into a port. The tube would be connected to the port using a coaxial fastener that encircled and entrapped the tube. The coaxial fastener would then be screwed down over corresponding threads on the port-similar to a compression fitting - as is known in the art. Although this configuration was very simple and robust against leakage, its primary drawback was that it could not be assembled quickly enough for the modern-day assembly line. In order to torque the fastener to the female port it was necessary to use hand tools, which was too time consuming. Therefore, devices such as cantilevered block connections were developed since they are quickly and easily torqued down using a power tool.
The cantilevered block connection involves a connecting block typically having a teardrop-shaped profile. The cantilevered block entraps the conduit through a conduit passage therein. Also, the connecting block houses a fastener through another passage just offset from and parallel to the conduit passage. A simple bolt-style fastener is used to draw the connecting block and conduit to the port, where the connection can be fastened quickly with a power tool. However, the cantilevered block connection tends to be more susceptible to leakage than coaxial fastener connections and can present significant warranty problems to automobile manufacturers, if not assembled properly.
Cantilevered conduit connections may leak due to incomplete engagement. Such a connection IOP is illustrated in FIG.
1
. For example, during final torque-down a conduit
12
P and connecting block
60
P tend to misalign, cross-axially, relative to a conduit port
44
P in a housing
40
P. This misalignment is often the result of the cantilever nature of the cantilevered block connection
10
P. That is, since the longitudinal axis of a fastener
80
P is not coaxially aligned with the conduit
12
P, but is instead offset, any torquing of the fastener
80
P often imparts a cantilever effect across the connecting block
60
P. The cantilever effect results in a maximum hold-down force along the axis of the fastener
80
P and a minimum hold-down force at the opposite end of the connecting block
60
P at the far edge of the conduit
12
P. Therefore the connecting block
60
P often does not mount squarely to the housing
40
P and likewise the conduit
12
P does not mount squarely within the conduit port
44
P. Such cross-axial misalignment results in assembly defects such as cutting, pinching, or insufficient “squeeze” of an O-ring
14
P, thus permitting fluid to leak by. Therefore, it is important to ensure a square fit between the connecting block
60
P and housing
40
P.
To ensure a square fit between the connecting block and the housing it is preferable that the assembler have some way of verifying whether the connection is completely engaged. Devices for verifying are well known in the art of coaxially fastened conduit connections, but, until now, there have not been any attempts to adapt similar technology for a cantilevered conduit connection.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,326 to Blair addresses the problem of incomplete engagement of coaxial tubular fittings. Blair discloses a visible snap ring indicator seated within an opening of a female collar that circumscribes a male tube. The male tube mounts into a female tube where the female tube in turn interlocks with the female collar. Blair teaches that upon complete engagement of the female tube into the female collar the visible snap ring becomes unseated and breaks loose of the female collar to provide verification that the connection is completely engaged. While the Blair reference may represent a novel advance in the art of coaxially fastened conduit connections, the structure does not lend itself to cantilevered conduit connections nor does the snap ring indicator provide any audible or tactile verification in the event the snap ring cannot be seen during the assembly process.
Therefore, what is needed is a device for a cantilevered conduit connection that provides an assembler with verification that the connection is completely engaged. What is also needed is a device that provides visible, audible, and tactile feedback to the assembler to provide redundant verification that the connection is completely engaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a device for a cantilevered conduit connection that provides an assembler with visible, audible, and tactile redundant verification that the connection is completely engaged, wherein the device is adapted to facilitate fastening a connecting block to a housing.
In one form of the invention, the cantilevered conduit connection includes a housing that has a fastener port with a fastener fastened therein. The fastener includes an engagement device circumscribing a portion of the fastener, and the engagement device includes a locking portion at one end thereof. Also included is a connecting block that is mounted to the housing and has a fastener passage circumscribing the engagement device. The connecting block further includes an engagement surface where the locking portion of the engagement device engages the engagement surface to assist in fastening the connecting block to the housing. The locking portion of the engagement device expands against the engagement surface of the connecting block to provide visible, audible, and tactile verification that the connecting block is completely engaged to the housing and held in place. Additionally, a method of using the engagement device with the cantilevered conduit connection is also disclosed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide visible, audible, and tactile verification that a cantilevered conduit connection is fully engaged wherein a conduit is mounted squarely within a conduit port of the housing.
It is another object to provide an engagement device that assists in fastening a connecting block to a housing by trapping the connecting block between the engagement device and the housing.
It is still another object to provide an engagement device that is pre-assembled to a threaded stud.
It is yet another object to provide an engagement device that is compatible with a threaded bolt.
These objects and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention will be more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3319980 (1967-05-01), Demetriff et al.
patent: 4020734 (1977-05-01), Bell
patent: 4401326 (1983-08-01), Blair
patent: 4676530 (1987-06-01), Nordgren et al.
patent: 4733888 (1988-03-01), Toelke
patent: 4753458 (1988-06-01), Case et al.
patent: 5161832 (1992-11-01), McNaughton et al.
patent: 5163716 (1992-11-01), Bolton et al.
patent: 5215336 (1993-06-01), Worthing
patent: 5220967 (1993-06-01), Monyak
patent: 5228724 (1993-07-01), Godeau
patent: 5280967 (1994-01-01), Varrin
patent: 5297818 (1994-03-01), Klinger
patent: 5340163 (1994-08-01), Merrer et al.
patent: 5472242 (1995-12-01), Petersen
patent: 5507531 (1996-04-01), Aldridge
patent: 5660417 (1997-08-01), Reeves
patent: 5727304 (1998-03-01), Eybergen
patent: 5992899 (1999-11-01), Strowe
Pickett, Jr. Paul Matthews
Slais Robert Jay
Arola Dave W.
Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
Vanophem Meehan & Vanophem P.C.
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