Pipe joints or couplings – Movable jaw
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-05
2001-05-01
Arola, Dave W. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Movable jaw
C285S331000, C285S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224117
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to quick connect tube couplings, and more particularly, to improvements in configurations for such couplings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tube couplings are used to connect flexible tubes in numerous fluid power and control systems. Each of the tubes require couplings to connect the ends of the tube to bodies which, for example, may be conventional fittings, valves, manifolds or similar devices for transmitting and receiving pressurized air. In the past, connecting and disconnecting tubes was a time-consuming and therefore expensive task frequently performed in the field where specialized tools may not have been readily available. To solve this problem a wide variety of “push-to-connect” type couplings have been developed which permit a tube to be quickly and easily connected or disconnected without the use of tools. With these couplings, a tube is connected by simply press-fitting a coupling into a bore and then inserting the leading end of the tube into the coupling. Typically, the coupling contains a plurality of components which releasably or permanently retain the tube therein.
Quick-connect couplings are widely used in the trucking industry for fittings in and on cabs, so that pressurized air in the cab can be transmitted for numerous purposes. Fittings used outside of the cab on the chassis of the cab are subject to environmental degradation due to dirt, grime, moisture and atmospheric conditions which are not present within the passenger compartment of the cab. To date, failure of these fittings in the field has not occurred; however, there is a need to address this concern by improving the fittings so that the effects of adverse environment conditions are minimized, thus minimizing the risk of failures in the future.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a new and improved coupling for connecting a tube to a body member, wherein the effects of adverse environmental conditions are minimized.
In view of this feature, and other features, the present invention is directed to a coupling using a collet in which the collet has an end boss and longitudinally extending slots which are axially displaced from the end boss. According to the invention, the end boss has a diameter complementing the diameter of the bore into which the collet is received. The slots and end boss minimize access of dirt, grime and moisture through the collet into the interior of the coupling.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4407526 (1983-10-01), Cicenas
patent: 5048872 (1991-09-01), Gehring
patent: 5171045 (1992-12-01), Pasbrig
patent: 5205594 (1993-04-01), Stoll et al.
patent: 5230539 (1993-07-01), Olson
patent: 5468028 (1995-11-01), Olson
patent: 5474336 (1995-12-01), Hoff
patent: 5673945 (1997-10-01), Olson
patent: 5681061 (1997-10-01), Olson
patent: 5683120 (1997-11-01), Brock
patent: 4108221 (1992-09-01), None
Elchaer Jerios
Olson Darwin
Arola Dave W.
Dana Corporation
Millen White Zelano & Branigan P.C.
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