TORQUE LIMITING CAP FOR AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE PORTS

• US 20090242057A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Thomas, James A., Ehlers, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/800
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1152 fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9247 With closure

Abstract

A torque-limiting cap (100) for an air conditioning service port (14) includes an inner body assembly (122) having a retaining body (116) configured for engagement on the service port, and an outer body assembly (134) annularly disposed around the inner body assembly. The outer body assembly (134) has a first ratchet portion (140) configured for engagement with a second ratchet portion (146) that is disposed on the inner body assembly (122). When the outer body assembly (134) is torqued, the outer body assembly transmits the torque to the inner body assembly (122) from the first ratchet portion (140) to the second ratchet portion (146) to threadably engage the retaining body (116) onto the service port (14). When there is a preset amount of torque resistance, the first ratchet portion (140) slips with respect to the second ratchet portion (146) such that no additional torque is transmitted to the inner body assembly (122) from the outer body assembly (134).

Claims

1. A torque-limiting cap for an air conditioning service port, comprising:

an inner body assembly having a retaining body configured for engagement on the service port;

an outer body assembly annularly disposed around the inner body assembly and having a first ratchet portion configured for engagement with a second ratchet portion disposed on the inner body assembly;

wherein torquing of the outer body assembly transmits torque to the inner body assembly from the first ratchet portion to the second ratchet portion to threadably engage the retaining body onto the service port, and wherein at a preset amount of torque resistance, torquing of the outer body assembly causes the first ratchet portion to slip with respect to the second ratchet portion such that no additional torque is transmitted to the inner body assembly.

2. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the inner body assembly comprises a retaining body that is threadably received by the service port, a sealing surface generally normal to the retaining body, and an inner body that extends generally normal to the sealing surface.

3. The torque-limiting cap of claim 2 wherein the inner body has a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion with a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and disposed between the first portion and the second portion is a shoulder.

4. The torque-limiting cap of claim 3 wherein an O-ring seal is disposed on the first portion.

5. The torque-limiting cap of claim 2 wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body having a radial surface and an angled surface.

6. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the outer body assembly comprises a top surface, an outer body generally normal to the top surface, and the first ratchet portion is concentrically disposed with respect to an outer body.

7. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the first ratchet portion comprises an annular extension that extends generally normally from a top surface of the outer body assembly, and a pawl that extends generally radially inwardly from the annular extension, and wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body assembly configured to receive the pawl.

8. The torque-limiting cap of claim 7 further comprising an annular ratchet spring disposed between the first ratchet portion and an outer body.

9. The torque-limiting cap of claim 7 wherein the pawl has a radial side and an angled side, and wherein the receiving pocket has a radial surface and an angled surface.

10. The torque-limiting cap of claim 7 wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a first direction, the pawl is configured for slipping with respect to the receiving pocket at the preset amount of torque resistance, and wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a second direction, the pawl is prevented from slipping with respect to the receiving pocket.

11. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the first ratchet portion comprises multiple first ratchet portions disposed on the outer body assembly, and wherein the second ratchet portion comprises multiple second ratchet portions disposed on the inner body assembly.

12. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 further comprising an annular snap ring configured to locate the inner body assembly and the outer body assembly together.

13. A torque-limiting cap for an air conditioning service port, comprising:

an inner body assembly having a retaining body configured for engagement on the service port;

an outer body assembly annularly disposed around the inner body assembly and having a first ratchet portion configured for engagement with a second ratchet portion disposed on the inner body assembly;

wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a first direction, the first ratchet portion is configured for slipping with respect to the second ratchet portion at a preset amount of torque resistance, and wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a second direction, the first ratchet portion is prevented from slipping with respect to the second ratchet portion.

14. The torque-limiting cap of claim 13 wherein the inner body assembly comprises a retaining body that is threadably received by the service port, a sealing surface generally normal to the retaining body, and an inner body that extends generally normal to the sealing surface.

15. The torque-limiting cap of claim 14 wherein the inner body has a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion with a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and disposed between the first portion and the second portion is a shoulder.

16. The torque-limiting cap of claim 15 wherein an O-ring seal is disposed on the first portion.

17. The torque-limiting cap of claim 14 wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body having a radial surface and an angled surface.

18. The torque-limiting cap of claim 13 wherein the outer body assembly comprises a top surface, and outer body generally normal to the top surface, and the first ratchet portion is concentrically disposed with respect to an outer body.

19. The torque-limiting cap of claim 13 wherein the first ratchet portion comprises an annular extension that extends generally normally from a top surface of the outer body assembly, and a pawl that extends generally radially inwardly from the annular extension, and wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body assembly configured to receive the pawl.

20. A torque-limiting cap for an air conditioning service port, comprising:

an inner body assembly having a generally annular retaining body configured for engagement on the service port, and a generally annular inner body having an O-ring on an inside surface, wherein a second ratchet portion is disposed on an outside surface of the inner body;

an outer body assembly annularly disposed around the inner body assembly and having a generally annular outer body and a first ratchet portion configured for engagement with the second ratchet portion disposed on the inner body assembly;

wherein torquing of the outer body assembly transmits torque to the inner body assembly from the first ratchet portion to the second ratchet portion to threadably engage the retaining body onto the service port, and wherein at a preset amount of torque resistance, torquing of the outer body assembly causes the first ratchet portion to slip with respect to the second ratchet portion such that no additional torque is transmitted to the inner body assembly;

wherein the first ratchet portion is a pawl having an angled side and a radial side, and the second ratchet portion is a receiving pocket having an angled surface and a radial surface.