Flexible hydraulic brake line assembly for motor vehicle wheels

• US 20050040646A1
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harco Industries, Inc
• Original Assignee: Harco Industries, Inc
• Inventors: Meckstroth, Alan F., Poeppelman, James A., Brumfield, Merle T.
• Application Number:
  US10/916,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040646A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/256
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/043 Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/023 acting on fluid pressure systems

Abstract

Hydraulic fluid is supplied to hydraulic brake cylinders for calipers and brake shoes of a motor vehicle through brake line assemblies each including a flexible multi-layer high pressure brake hose having an end portion receiving an inwardly forged end portion of a small diameter high pressure steel tube. A metal collar receives each tube and is secured to the tube by a crimp or threads and/or a spring retaining washer, and is also crimped onto an end portion of the hose. The opposite end portion of each metal tube is flared and receives a tubular flare nut which may be threaded directly into a brake caliper or a brake control valve. The collar may be progressively formed from sheet metal, and may be secured to the tube by a non-circular crimp. Circumferentially spaced ears may be formed on the tube and project into corresponding grooves within the collar.

Claims

1-20. -20. (cancelled)

21. A flexible hydraulic line assembly adapted for use as a brake line assembly on a motor vehicle, comprising an elongated multi-layer high pressure flexible hose having a longitudinally uniform inner diameter, an elongated bendable metal tube having a longitudinally uniform outer diameter greater than said inner diameter of said hose, said metal tube having a reduced integral tubular end portion with an outer diameter smaller than said outer diameter of said metal tube along the entire length of said tubular end portion and generally the same as said inner diameter of said hose and extending into an end portion of said hose, a drawn sheet metal tubular collar having a substantially uniform wall thickness along the entire length of said tubular collar and including a tubular first end portion crimped radially inwardly against said end portion of said hose and positively compressing said end portion of said hose against said reduced end portion of said tube, said tubular collar including an opposite tubular second end portion integral with said tubular first end portion and substantially smaller than said first end portion along the entire length of said second end portion, and said tubular second end portion of said collar having a crimped section crimped radially inwardly against a radially inwardly reduced neck portion of said tube at a location spaced axially from said reduced tubular end portion of said tube.

22. An assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said crimped section of said tubular second end portion of said collar and said radially reduced neck portion of said tube have peripherally spaced mating flat surfaces.

23. An assembly reduced as defined in claim 22 wherein said crimped section of said tubular second end portion of said collar and said radially reduced neck portion of said tube have a substantially square cross-sectional configuration.

24. An assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said tubular second end portion of said collar has a plurality of circumferentially spaced and inwardly projecting integral dimples spaced axially from said crimped section and engaging a shoulder on said metal tube at an inner end of said reduced tubular end portion of said metal tube.

25. A flexible hydraulic brake line assembly for use on a motor vehicle, comprising an elongated multi-layer high pressure flexible brake hose having a predetermined inner diameter, an elongated bendable metal tube having a predetermined outer diameter, said metal tube having an end portion with an outer diameter generally the same as said inner diameter of said hose and extending into an end portion of said hose, a sheet metal tubular collar having a substantially uniform wall thickness, said collar having a first tubular end portion crimped radially inwardly against said end portion of said hose and positively compressing said end portion of said hose against said end portion of said tube, said collar having a second opposite end portion positively secured to said metal tube, a molded plastic body encapsulating said collar and said end portions of said hose and said tube., and said plastic body includes a vehicle mounting portion for supporting said assembly.

26. A flexible hydraulic brake line assembly for use on a motor vehicle, comprising an elongated multi-layer high pressure flexible brake hose having a predetermined inside diameter, an elongated bendable metal tube having an outer surface with an outer diameter greater than said inside diameter of said hose, said metal tube having an inwardly forged and integral reduced end portion with an outer diameter generally the same as said inside diameter of said hose, said integral and reduced end portion of said metal tube extending into an end portion of said hose, an annular metal collar having a first end portion engaging said outer surface of said metal tube, said collar having a crimped second end portion surrounding said end portion of said hose and positively compressing said end portion of said hose against said reduced end portion of said tube, and an annular spring retaining washer within said collar and gripping said outer surface of said metal tube to resist pulling said collar axially from said metal tube engaged by said first end portion of said collar.