Pipe joints or couplings – With indicator – alarm or inspection means
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-27
2004-04-20
Nicholson, Eric K. (Department: 3679)
Pipe joints or couplings
With indicator, alarm or inspection means
C285S319000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06722703
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a quick connector having a function to verify that a pipe is correctly connected to the quick connector in snap-engagement relation, for example, adapted in assembly in a fuel piping of an automobile.
In a fluid piping structure, for example, a gasoline fuel piping structure where a tube is joined to a pipe, a connector is used for joining the tube to the pipe. In such piping system, for example, the pipe includes an inserting end portion on one axial side thereof wherein an annular engagement projection is formed on and around an outer peripheral surface. Then, the inserting end portion of the pipe is inserted and fitted in the connector so that the annular engagement projection snap-engages in the connector to provide locking relation between the pipe and the connector. Thereby connection between the pipe and the connector is completed. A quick connector adapted in this manner comprises a tubular connector housing provided with a tube connecting portion on one axial side thereof and an annular or generally annular retainer. The connector housing has a retainer holding portion on an opposite axial side, wherein at least one engagement window is provided, for example, a pair of engagement windows are provided in diametrically opposed relation with one another. The retainer is configured so that the annular engagement projection of the pipe snap-engages therewith, and is fitted in the retainer holding portion to engage with the engagement window. That is, the pipe is inserted in the retainer so that the annular engagement projection of the inserting end portion snap-engages with the retainer. Thereby the pipe is fitted in and connected to the quick connector. However, if an operator does not take care sufficiently to complete connection between the pipe and the connector, the inserting end portion of the pipe might not be fully inserted into the retainer or the connector and the annular engagement projection of the pipe might not snap-engage with the retainer. Thus, the pipe might be in so-called half-fitting relation with respect to the connector. In case of a piping system subject to operation while the pipe is incompletely connected to the connector, as sealing property by a sealing member between the connector and the pipe is insufficient or becomes insufficient, an inner fluid usually leaks out.
Then, in order to easily verify complete connection of a pipe to a quick connector, a checker is adapted to provide the connector with a function of verifying complete connection. A checker for verifying complete connection usually has a checker body configured to have inner surface curving along or generally along an outer peripheral surface of a connector housing. The checker body is provided with a pull-out portion and at least one engagement portion. The engagement portion is integrally formed on the checker body, for example, on opposite ends or opposite end portions respectively of the checker body. The checker is fitted on the connector housing, for example, an outer peripheral surface between engagement windows wherein the engagement portion engages with, for example, snap-engages with the engagement window to restrain movement of the checker in a pull-out direction. The checker is configured to be allowable for being pulled out by the engagement portion or engagement portions deflecting and moving, for example, radially outwardly, being pressed by the annular engagement projection when the pipe is correctly fitted in the connector and the annular engagement projection of the inserting end portion snap-engages with the retainer. Accordingly, upon completion of connection work of the pipe and the quick connector, it can be verified that the pipe is completely connected in the quick connector by pulling the checker out of the connector housing with the pull-out portion in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the connector housing. If the checker cannot be removed out of the connector housing when the checker is pulled, mostly the pipe is not completely connected to the quick connector. In such case, connection work of the pipe and the quick connector should be again implemented so that the inserting end portion of the pipe is fully inserted in the quick connector.
Meanwhile, in thus configured quick connector, a locking portion of the engagement portion of the checker to be engaged in or with the engagement window is formed typically short or small sized, so that the checker can be surely pulled out when the pipe is engaged with retainer. Hence, if the checker is pulled obliquely, for example, obliquely toward an opposite axial side of the connector housing, as the checker is inclined, and an engagement portion of the checker is deformed, engagement between the locking portion and the engagement window is likely to be released. In that event, it may occur that the checker is pulled out in spite of incomplete connection between the pipe and the quick connector. In order to avoid such inconvenience, JP, A, 11-344182 discloses a structure for verifying complete connection wherein a checker body is provided with an inclining restraint portion extending in an axial direction of the connector housing. The checker is fitted on the connector housing so that the inclining restraint portion contacts an outer peripheral surface of the connector housing and embraces a large diameter retainer holding portion of the connector housing from axial opposite sides thereof.
If the structure for verifying complete connection disclosed in JP, A, 11-344182 is applied, thanks to restraint force of the inclining restraint portion there is little danger that the checker is inclined even if the checker is pulled obliquely. Then, the checker is effectively prevented from being pulled out of the connector housing under incomplete connection between the pipe and the quick connector. However, the structure for verifying complete connection is configured to be adapted to a quick connector which is provided with a large diameter retainer holding portion on an opposite axial side of the connector housing and with a sufficiently large step or stepped portion on one axial end of the retainer holding portion. So, it is impossible or difficult to adapt this structure for verifying complete connection to a quick connector wherein a tube connecting portion is formed integrally and directly on one axial end of the retainer holding portion and a tube is fitted over up to a position of an opposite axial end of the tube connecting portion to generally even out a step or stepped portion or to reduce a step or stepped portion in height. And, in case that the inclining restraint portion providing a structure not to embrace a retainer holding portion from both axial opposite sides and to fit thereon, restraint effectiveness of the inclining restraint portion is reduced by half.
Further, in order to deal with a problem that a checker is easily pulled out when inclined, known is a structure as cited as a prior art in the JP, A, 11-344182 and as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,555. In this structure, slots are formed on one axial end positions of circumferential ends of engagement windows of a connector housing, and a checker is fitted on a connector housing so that portions near engagement portions of a checker body, i.e., leg portions are slip-fitted in the slots. However, the leg portions are fitted and mounted on the connector housing so as to embrace an outer peripheral surface thereof, and thereby are unlikely to move largely in an axial direction under external force. Hence, sometimes this structure for restraining the leg portions from moving axially may not be expected to provide a satisfactory function to effectively prevent inconvenience that the checker is pulled out accidentally or mistakenly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a quick connector with function of verifying complete connection which enables to effectively prevent inconvenience that a checker is inclined due to axial mo
Andrus Sceales, Starke & Sawall
Nicholson Eric K.
Tokai Rubber Industries Ltd.
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