Pre-assembled sealing connection

• US 20040232696A1
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andre, Maxime
• Application Number:
  US10/488,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/319
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0985 the flexible hook extending radially inwardly from an outer part and engaging a bead, recess or the like on an inner part F16L37/0982 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention provides a pre-assembled coupling for leaktight coupling of a fluid transport tube and an endpiece provided with at least one coupling element. The coupling comprises:

a said tube, which tube presents an annular bead at a front end;

a fastener device slid onto said tube and presenting at least one fastener element complementary to a fastener element of the endpiece; and

an elastomer sealing element disposed around said tube and presenting an inner surface for providing sealing with an outer surface of the tube, and an outer surface for providing sealing with the endpiece.

The invention is particularly suitable for fluid circuits in motor vehicles.

Claims

1. A pre-assembled coupling for leaktight coupling of a fluid transport tube and an endpiece provided with at least one fastener element, the coupling comprising:

a said tube, which tube presents an annular bead at a front end;

a fastener device slid onto said tube and presenting at least one fastener element complementary to a fastener element of the endpiece; and

an elastomer sealing element disposed around said tube and housed between the fastener device and the annular bead, said sealing element presenting an inner sealing surface for sealing relative to an outside surface of the tube, and an outer sealing surface for sealing relative to inner surface of the endpiece.

2. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the fastener device presents at least one grip member exerting a lever effect on a fastener element to enable the coupling to be uncoupled from the endpiece.

3. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the fastener device presents a cylindrical region slidable along the tube.

4. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the fastener device presents a cylindrical region slidable under force along the tube.

5. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the fastener device presents at least one arm forming a snap-fastening element.

6. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the fastener device presents a face forming a rear abutment for the sealing element.

7. A coupling according to claim 6, wherein said face is plane.

8. A coupling according to claim 6, wherein said face is concave, and wherein the sealing element presents a convex face complementary to said concave face.

9. A coupling according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said arms is connected to a said annular ring of the fastener device.

10. A coupling according to claim 9, wherein at least one grip member is connected to said annular ring.

11. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the annular bead and/or the front portion of the gasket presents at its periphery an angular indexing element, in particular a flat.

12. A coupling according to claim 1, wherein the fastener device presents at least one element suitable for being engaged by force against the inner perimeter of the rear portion of the gasket.

13. A coupling according to claim 1, the coupling being pre-assembled with the fastener device being put into abutment against the gasket and with the gasket being put into abutment against the annular bead.

14. A coupling according to claim 12, the coupling being pre-assembled with the fastener device being put into abutment against the gasket and with the gasket being put into abutment against the annular bead, and wherein the fastener device is pre-assembled, being angularly indexed relative to said angular indexing element.

15. A leaktight connection between a transport tube and an endpiece, the connection comprising a coupling according to claim 1 assembled with the endpiece by co-operation between the fastener elements of the fastener device and of the endpiece.

16. A leaktight connection according to claim 15, wherein the sealing element is prevented from moving by being held in abutment between the annular bead of the tube and the fastener device.

17. A leaktight connection according to claim 16, wherein the coupling presents at least one said angular indexing element, and wherein the fastener device is angularly indexed relative to said angular indexing element.