Pipe joints or couplings – Nonmetal to metal – Internal member
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-04
2001-07-31
Nicholson, Eric K. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Nonmetal to metal
Internal member
C285S257000, C285S322000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267415
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an arrangement for fastening a corrugated pipe to an essentially hollow-cylindrical connector, in particular in connection with fuel-delivery units of motor vehicles.
Such corrugated pipes, which as a rule are flexible, are used in fuel-delivery units of motor vehicles as connecting lines between the pressure connector of an electric fuel pump integrated into a filter bowl and a connector formed in a tank flange for the delivery line leading to the internal combustion engine (DE 44 44 854 A1 or DE 42 24 981 A1). To achieve a pressure-resistant fastening between the connector and the corrugated pipe, the connector has a so-called Christmas tree profile on its exterior jacket there, onto which a specially shaped straight end element with auxiliary grooves cut therein is pushed. The shaped end element of the corrugated pipe is interlocked with the Christmas tree profile by means of the auxiliary grooves, so that the connection cannot be loosened even under delivery pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention an arrangement for fastening a corrugated tube is proposed, which has a connector with spring legs and a clamping element generating a radial clamping force directed toward the corrugated pipe on the at least one spring leg, and the connector with the spring legs are formed of one piece on a flange of a fuel tank, while the connector constitutes a pipe section protruding from the tank flange.
The fastening arrangement in accordance with the invention of a corrugated pipe on a connector has the advantage that it is possible to omit both the Christmas tree profile on the connector, which is complicated from the viewpoint of injection molding technology, and also the special contact pressure geometry of an end element of the corrugated pipe. Because of this, the corrugated pipe can be produced without an end element in the form of a so-called “endless corrugated pipe”, and can be cut to the required size during assembly. This entails cost advantages both in the manufacture and the storage of the corrugated pipe, which no longer needs to be stocked in different lengths and can now be stored in a rolled-up state as a space-saving roll. It is possible to produce the spring legs with retaining lugs on the connector by means of forced removal with cost-efficient plastic injection molding tools without elaborate transverse slides, so that a cost advantage in comparison with the Christmas tree profile also results here. As a whole, by means of the fastening arrangement in accordance with the invention a very cost-effective and qualitatively outstanding connection technique between the corrugated pipe and the connector is achieved, with the possibility of very simple and cost-saving disassembly when service is needed.
By means of the measures recited in the further claims, advantageous further developments and improvements of the measuring device disclosed in claim
1
are possible.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a seal ring in the form of an O-ring is inserted between the outer jacket of the connector and a crest of the corrugated pipe. The corrugated pipe is totally pressure sealed in respect to the exterior jacket of the connector by means of the annularly-shaped clamping element, which can be designed as a hose clamp, cable clamp or sliding sleeve and exerts a radially directed clamping force on the spring legs and, via their lugs, which engage the troughs of the corrugated pipe, on the corrugated pipe and the connector.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, for forming the spring legs a ring, which surrounds the connector coaxially at a radial distance, is provided with longitudinal slits extending from a closed annular collar as far as the free front end of the ring. In this case the O-seal can also be inserted between the inner ring surface of the annular collar supporting the spring legs, which extend axially outward, and a trough of the corrugated pipe.
REFERENCES:
patent: 921079 (1909-05-01), Burtscher
patent: 2314000 (1943-03-01), Lusher et al.
patent: 3589752 (1971-06-01), Spencer
patent: 3724882 (1973-04-01), Dehar
patent: 3751076 (1973-08-01), Thais et al.
patent: 4607867 (1986-08-01), Jansen
patent: 4705304 (1987-11-01), Matsuda et al.
patent: 5261706 (1993-11-01), Bartholomew
patent: 2904482 (1980-08-01), None
patent: 42 24 981 A1 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 44 44854 A1 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 19231 (1915-08-01), None
patent: 92/11484 (1992-07-01), None
Nicholson Eric K.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
LandOfFree
Device for attaching a corrugated tube to a connection piece does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for attaching a corrugated tube to a connection piece, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for attaching a corrugated tube to a connection piece will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2549304