Connector for connecting a hose to a fluid path within a bore

Details Connector for connecting a hose to a fluid path within a bore Connector for connecting a hose to a fluid path within a bore

2000-04-27

2001-11-06

Dayoan, B. (Department: 3627)

Pipe joints or couplings

Pipe to discreet nipple or sleeve to plate

Nipple bolted to plate

C285S205000, C285S206000, C285S256000, C285S319000, C285S331000, C285S137110, C411S508000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06312020

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connector for fluid paths. In particular, it relates to a connector for connecting a flexible hose to a fluid path within a bore of a fluid handling device.
In a typical automotive braking system, a brake actuated master cylinder is suitably mounted on the vehicle body or chassis and from which master cylinder and a plurality of hydraulic lines are connected to distribute hydraulic pressure to the various brake actuating mechanisms. Since the vehicle wheels move vertically and rotationally relative to the vehicle chassis or body, it is necessary to connect the wheel mounted brake mechanism to the vehicle body mounted hydraulic supply lines through a conduit assembly including a flexible hose portion. The end of the flexible hose assembly is adapted to be connected to the wheel-located brake caliper.
The connector for connecting the flexible hose to the caliper has typically been a banjo end fitting assembly.
FIG. 1
depicts a typical prior art banjo end fitting assembly
10
, comprising a banjo fitting
12
, a bolt
14
and two washers
16
and
18
.
The banjo fitting
12
includes a hollow toroidal structure
20
having an axial bore
22
with front and rear openings
24
and
26
surrounded by external ring-shaped planar coaxial surfaces
28
and
30
, and an internal contour defining an annular hollow region
32
into which a radial bore
34
opens. A hollow tubular sleeve
36
projects radially outward, coaxial with the opening of the bore, to form a transition between the opening
34
and a mating tube or flexible hose
38
.
Connection between the banjo fitting
12
and the bore
40
of the caliper
42
is accomplished by means of a banjo bolt
14
. The banjo bolt
14
includes a hollow, bored-out shank portion
44
and a hexagonal cross-shaped head
46
. The shank
44
includes an externally-threaded distal end
48
and an unthreaded proximal end
50
. The unthreaded proximal end
50
includes angularly-spaced radial bores
52
which communicate the shank axial bore exteriorly.
The shank
44
of the bolt
14
is inserted through the openings
24
and
26
of the banjo fitting
12
into threading engagement with the bore
40
of the caliper
42
. Flat washers
16
and
18
are inserted intermediate the fitting and the underside of the head
46
and surface of the caliper
42
, respectively. When the bolt
14
is threaded tightly into the bore
40
, fluid is communicated through the flexible hose
38
into the hollow tubular sleeve
36
, out through the opening
34
, into the central hollow of the shank
44
and into the bore of the caliper
40
.
While the banjo end fitting assembly is effective in connecting a flexible hose to the bore of a component, it does have several disadvantages. One disadvantage of the banjo end fitting assembly is that it has a propensity to leak between the ring-shaped planar surfaces of the banjo fitting and the adjacent washers. Such problem with leakage between ring-shaped planar surfaces of the banjo fitting and adjacent washers was discussed and addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,192 to Campo. Campo teaches a circular washer having a symmetrically deformed inner circumference. While a washer having a deformed inner circumference is less likely to leak than a washer having a flat inner circumference, the propensity to leak still remains since possible leak paths between the banjo fitting and the washers still exist.
Another disadvantage of the banjo fitting is the labor involved in installing the banjo end fitting assembly. Installation of a banjo end fitting assembly involves sliding a bolt through a first washer, a banjo fitting and a second washer. The bolt would then need to be threaded into the bore of the caliper and tightened to a narrow range of torque specification to assure a tight seal between the washers and the banjo fitting. This process is very labor intensive.
The present invention is directed to a connector which greatly reduces the propensity to leak by eliminating the leak path between the banjo fitting and the washers. The present invention also provides for a method of installation which is much less labor intensive than a banjo end fitting assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connector for connecting a hose to a fluid handling device having a first bore defining a fluid path and a second bore. The connector comprises a connector housing and a retaining mechanism.
The connector housing has a first bore, a second bore and a third bore. The first bore has an entrance and a terminal end. The second bore has an entrance and a terminal end. The third bore has an entrance. The terminal end of the first bore intersects the terminal end of the second bore. The entrance of the first bore communicates with the hose. The entrance of the second bore communicates with the fluid path within the first bore of the fluid handling system. The third bore of the connector housing is parallel to the second bore and the entrance of the third bore of the connector housing is located longitudinally between the entrance of the first bore and the entrance of the second bore.
The retaining mechanism retains the connector housing to the fluid handling device. The retaining mechanism has a first end and a second end. The retaining mechanism is retained to the third bore of the connector housing at the first end of the retaining mechanism and to the second bore of said fluid handling device at the second end of the retaining mechanism.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2676037 (1954-04-01), Mueller
patent: 3219366 (1965-11-01), Franck
patent: 3315988 (1967-04-01), Schroter
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patent: 4142741 (1979-03-01), Fiala
patent: 4626006 (1986-12-01), Noguchi et al.
patent: 4798522 (1989-01-01), Kaga et al.
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patent: 5163716 (1992-11-01), Bolton et al.
patent: 5174612 (1992-12-01), Schnell
patent: 5228725 (1993-07-01), Aoyagi et al.
patent: 5271588 (1993-12-01), Doyle
patent: 5533764 (1996-07-01), Williamson
patent: 5593279 (1997-01-01), Hayashi
patent: 5727304 (1998-03-01), Eybergen
patent: 5829794 (1998-11-01), Schulz-Hausmann et al.
patent: 5853201 (1998-12-01), Izumi et al.
patent: 6095777 (2000-08-01), Nishihata et al.
patent: 6193283 (2001-02-01), Pickett et al.

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