Pipe joints or couplings – With means blocking release of holding means – Key or pin
Patent
1996-05-14
1998-08-18
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With means blocking release of holding means
Key or pin
285 95, 285305, 285308, 285319, 285 45, F16L 5500
Patent
active
057949840
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to conduit couplings through which fluid flows and specifically to a quick connector which retains a male conduit within a female receptacle.
In the automotive industry, as well as for many other industries, the need always exists for low cost, reliable and easy to assemble 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 conduit being retained within a female receptacle through use of threaded fittings, flare fittings or through bolted on flanges.
More recently, a variety of snap together quick connect retainers have been used in place of the conventional methods. These quick connectors typically have a plurality of flexible legs which engage an annular bead attached to a male conduit and also engage an undercut groove formed within a female member. Two such examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,497 entitled "Swivelable Quick Connector Assembly" which issued on Jul. 22, 1986, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,203 entitled "Swivelable Quick Connector for High Temperature Connection" which issued on Oct. 18, 1988, both of which were invented by the inventor of the present invention and are incorporated by reference herewithin. Another quick connector is flat with pairs of annular arms extending therearound which are radially flexible. Other quick connectors which were invented by the inventor of the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,524,995 and 4,423,892, both of which are entitled "Swivelable Quick Connector Assembly" and which issued on Jun. 25, 1985 and Jan. 23, 1984, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herewithin.
While the aforementioned quick connectors present significant improvements in the art, each leg member of these devices must typically resist longitudinal pull out forces and must generate radial retention forces. Moreover, the legs are radially compressed during installation. Accordingly, in order to enhance the ability to either withstand forces in the longitudinal direction or generate radially directed forces, the part must often be compromised with regard to the other force perpendicular thereto. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a quick connector which can be easily installed and removed, is inexpensive to manufacture and which has separate segments for withstanding longitudinal pull out forces and generating radial retention forces, but which can be much shorter than conventional connectors by reducing the length inside the female portion of the connector to the length currently realized with threaded connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a preferred embodiment of a new and useful quick connector is used to couple a male conduit within a bore of a female receptacle. The quick connector has a pair of waist segments, a shoulder segment, a body segment with an aperture therein, and a leg segment. The leg segment is defined by a pair of projecting elements which urge the waist segments radially outward for engagement with the female receptacle. The projecting elements are also partially compressible toward one another thereby causing the pair of waist segments to move toward one another for installation and disassembly. The aperture within the body segment engagably surrounds a portion of the male conduit.
The quick connector of the present invention is advantageous over the prior art quick connectors in that the waist segments and shoulder segment are optimized to withstand radially compressive insertion and removal forces while transmitting radial retention forces in association with the female receptacle. Concurrently, the body segment is optimized to withstand longitudinal pull out forces between the attached male conduit and the adjacent waist segments. Furthermore, the present invention quick connector can be easily assembled and disassembled from within the mating female receptacle
REFERENCES:
patent: 2467370 (1949-04-01), Christensen
patent: 3603621 (1971-09-01), Parsons
patent: 4243254 (1981-01-01), Hill et al.
patent: 4423892 (1984-01-01), Barholomew
patent: 4524995 (1985-06-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4526411 (1985-07-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4541658 (1985-09-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4573716 (1986-03-01), Guest
patent: 4593943 (1986-06-01), Hanna et al.
patent: 4601497 (1986-07-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4610468 (1986-09-01), Wood
patent: 4637640 (1987-01-01), Feuraler et al.
patent: 4643466 (1987-02-01), Conner et al.
patent: 4669757 (1987-06-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4681351 (1987-07-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4721331 (1988-01-01), Lemelshtrich
patent: 4778203 (1988-10-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4810009 (1989-03-01), Legris
patent: 4811975 (1989-03-01), Paul, Jr. et al.
patent: 4828297 (1989-05-01), Tarum
patent: 4832378 (1989-05-01), Zepp
patent: 4842309 (1989-06-01), LaVerne et al.
patent: 4844515 (1989-07-01), Field
patent: 4867484 (1989-09-01), Guest
patent: 4915136 (1990-04-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4936544 (1990-06-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4943091 (1990-07-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4946205 (1990-08-01), Washizu
patent: 4948175 (1990-08-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4948176 (1990-08-01), Bartholomew
patent: 4979765 (1990-12-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5002315 (1991-03-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5009454 (1991-04-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5033513 (1991-07-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5067754 (1991-11-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5105787 (1992-04-01), Imoehl
patent: 5171028 (1992-12-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5178424 (1993-01-01), Klinger
patent: 5209523 (1993-05-01), Godeau
patent: 5226679 (1993-07-01), Klinger
patent: 5342099 (1994-08-01), Banner et al.
patent: 5425556 (1995-06-01), Szabo
patent: 5441313 (1995-08-01), Kalahastivy
Arola Dave W.
Proprietary Technology, Inc.
LandOfFree
Quick connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Quick connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quick connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1108832