Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch
Patent
1996-05-20
1998-10-27
Nicholson, Eric K.
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
285321, F61L 3708
Patent
active
058269207
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a conduit coupling through which fluid flows and specifically 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 components. This need is especially apparent with respect to providing a connection between fluid conveying conduits such as fuel, brake or refrigerant lines. Traditionally, such a connection is comprised of a male tubular member being retained within a female housing by a threaded fitting, bolted-on flanged brackets or flare fittings.
More recently, snap together quick connect attachments have been used in place of the aforementioned conventional devices. In order to retain such a quick connect fastener, many tubular members have a bead circumferentially located therearound. This bead may be integrally formed or mechanically attached onto the outside surface of the male conduit. Furthermore, it is important that this bead be firmly attached to a predetermined longitudinal position on the male conduit in order to maintain a secure and leak resistant fit within the mating female housing or connector half. If such a connection were to become dislodged or leak, the vehicle could become disabled. While quick connect fasteners are significant improvements within the art, the male conduits used in combination therewith have not adequately provided a low cost and secure sealing seat integral with the male conduit. Furthermore, conventional couplings allow the male conduit to axially move in relation to the adjacent female housing. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a conduit coupling which provides a low cost, longitudinally secure and integral sealing seat on a male conduit which also promotes axial alignment with the mating female housing thereby avoiding the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the preferred embodiment of a conduit coupling is comprised 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 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 over conventional couplings in that a sealing seat is integrally formed within a male conduit. Thus, a low cost and longitudinally 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 surface of a female member. An additional benefit is that the conduit coupling of the present invention is longitudinally compact as compared to many traditional attachment systems. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first preferred embodiment of a conduit coupling of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second preferred embodiment of a conduit coupling of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the present invention conduit coupling of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3, of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention conduit coupling;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a second alternate embodiment of a male conduit a
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Nicholson Eric K.
Proprietary Technology, Inc.
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