Quick connector

• US 5,135,268 A
• Filed: 11/08/1990
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Huron Products Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Ketcham, Mark G., McNaughton, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHACKELFORD, HEATHER CHUN
• Application Number:
  US07/610,817
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 285/239, 285/319, 285/351, 285/921, 285/348, 285/320, 72/88, 29/446, 29/453, 29/450
• US Class Current: 285/239
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/30 comprising parts inside the hoses only F16L33/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0987 the flexible hook being progressively compressed by axial tensile loads acting on the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

A connector assembly has a metallic female housing socket. The female housing socket has a pair of flanges substantially perpendicular to the axis of the socket to retain sealing rings and a conduit retainer within the socket. The socket also has one or more barb corners on its stem to enhance retention of a conduit onto the stem.

Claims

1. A female socket housing for a connector assembly comprising:

a one-piece cylindrical hollow body with an extending hollow stem at one end of said body, an axial bore extending through said stem and said body and having a central axis; and

said body including a first cylindrical wall portion inner and outer walls, substantially parallel to said axis having a radially inward extending flange in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis defining a shoulder within the axial bore, said shoulder providing an abutting surface, a frustro-conical shaped inner and outer wall portion defining a frustro-conical portion of said axial bore and having its smaller end continuous with said first wall portion, a second cylindrical wall portion defining inner and outer cylindrical walls continuous with the larger end of said frustro-conical shaped inner and outer wall portion, said second wall portion having an axis substantially coincident with said axis, and a radially inward extending flange at the other end of said second wall portion defining an opening into said socket, said flange being in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis and defining a shoulder in said axial bore in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis, said shoulder providing said socket with an abutting surface, said frustro-conical and second wall portions being adapted to receive a retainer means;

said stem including a cylindrical wall portion define an inner and outer cylindrical walls continuous with said body first wall portion having a radially outwardly extending shoulder defining an outwardly extending portion of said bore and having an exterior face at an acute angle with respect to said axis forming a barb for retaining a conduit on said stem, and an annular groove in said stem cylindrical wall adapted for receiving a sealing ring, said groove defined by an abutment surface being in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis and extending into said axial bore, and a frustro-conical tip at the end of said stem cylindrical wall enhancing insertion into a conduit.

2. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said stem further includes a second frustro-conical wall portion at the end of said stem first cylindrical wall continuous with said abutment surface.

3. The housing according to claim 2 wherein said stem further includes a third cylindrical wall portion and a forth frustro-conical wall portion continuous with one another and continuous with said annular groove and said barb.

4. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said body further including a forth cylindrical wall portion continuous with said radially inward flange and said stem, said forth cylindrical wall portion adapted to house a tip of a conduit inserted into said housing.

5. The housing according to claim 4 wherein said body first, third and forth cylindrical wall portions are right cylindrical wall portions.

6. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said barb is formed by roll forming.

7. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said annular groove is formed by roll forming.

8. A female housing for a connector assembly comprising:

a cylindrical hollow body with an extending hollow stem at one end of said body, an axial bore defining an axis through said stem and said body;

said body including a retainer housing portion, a sealing means housing portion and a conduit tip housing portion, said retainer housing portion including an opening at one end for enabling passage of a conduit and continuous with said sealing means housing at its other end, said tip housing portion being continuous with said stem and said sealing means housing portion;

said retainer housing portion including;

first frustro-conical shaped inner and outer wall portions each having the smaller end continuous with said sealing means housing portion and first cylindrical inner and outer wall portions continuous with the larger end of said first frustro-conical shaped wall portion, said first cylindrical wall portion having it axis substantially coincident with said axis, and a radially inward extending flange at the other end of said first cylindrical wall portion defining said opening into said housing, said flange being on a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis and defining a shoulder to act as an abutting surface in said axial bore adapted for retaining a retainer in said retainer housing by abutting arms of the retainer to maintain the retainer in said housing.

9. The housing according to claim 8 wherein said frustro-conical wall portion angle enhances centering of the retainer within said retainer housing portion.

10. A female housing for a connector assembly comprising:

a cylindrical hollow body centered on an axis with an extending hollow stem at one end of said body, an axial bore defining an axis through said stem and said body;

said body including a retainer housing portion, a sealing means housing portion and a conduit tip housing portion, said retainer housing portion including an opening at one end for enabling passage of a conduit and continuous with said sealing means housing at its other end, said tip housing portion being continuous with said stem and said sealing means housing portion;

said stem including a cylindrical wall portion continuous with said conduit tip housing portion, a radially outwardly extending shoulder having an exterior face at an acute angle with respect to said axis forming a barb corner for retaining a conduit on said stem, and an annular groove in said stem cylindrical wall adapted for receiving a sealing ring, said groove defined in-part by a first abutment surface extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis for a first distance and providing a second barb corner on the exterior of said stem, said groove being further defined by a second abutment surface spaced axially toward said retainer housing portion from said first abutment surface, said second abutment surface extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis for a second distance which is less than said first distance and a tip at the end of said stem cylindrical wall enhancing insertion into a conduit.

11. The housing according to claim 10 wherein said stem further includes a second frustro-conical wall portion at the end of said stem cylindrical wall continuous with said abutment surface.

12. The housing according to claim 10 wherein said stem further includes a third cylindrical wall portion and a forth frustro-conical wall portion continuous with one another and continuous with said annular groove and said barb.

13. The subject matter of claim 10, wherein said barb is formed by roll forming.

14. The subject matter of claim 10, wherein said annular groove is formed by roll forming.

15. A connector assembly comprising:

a male conduit having an outward annular bead spaced from its end and a metallic female socket housing for receiving said male conduit, the female socket housing including;

a cylindrical hollow body with an extending stem at one end of said body, an axial bore defining an axis through said stem and said body,

said body including a retainer housing portion, a sealing means housing portion and a conduit tip housing portion, said retainer housing portion including an opening at one end for enabling passage of a conduit and continuous with said sealing means housing portion at its other end, said tip housing portion being continuous with said stem and said sealing means housing portion;

retainer means for retaining said conduit in said female socket housing, said retainer means housed in said body retainer housing portion;

sealing means for sealing said conduit in said female socket housing, said sealing means housed in said body sealing means housing portion;

said sealing means housing portion including a right cylindrical wall portion with its axis coincident with said axis, a radially inward extending flange substantially perpendicular to said right cylindrical wall portion defining a shoulder acting as an abutting surface within the axial bore on a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis, said shoulder abutting with an O-ring seal of said sealing means for reducing displacement of the O-ring seal during insertion of said conduit;

said retainer housing portion including, a first frustro-conical shaped wall portion having its smaller end continuous with said sealing means housing portion and a second cylindrical wall portion continuous with the larger end of said first frustro-conical shaped wall portion, said second wall portion having its axis substantially coincident with said axis, and a radially inward extending flange at the other end of said second wall portion defining said opening into said housing, said flange being on a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis and defining a shoulder to act as an abutting surface in said axial bore for retaining said retainer means in said retainer housing;

said stem including a first cylindrical wall portion continuous with said conduit tip housing portion, a radially outwardly extending shoulder having an exterior face at an acute angle with respect to said axis forming a barb corner for retaining a conduit on said stem, and an annular groove in said stem cylindrical wall adapted for receiving a sealing ring, said groove defined by an abutment surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis providing a second barb corner on the exterior of said stem and a tip at the end of said stem cylindrical wall enhancing insertion into a conduit.

16. A connector assembly comprising:

a male conduit having a radially outwardly extending annular bead;

a metallic female socket housing for receiving said male conduit, said female socket housing including, a hollow body extending between a first and second end, an axial bore defining an axis through said body, said body including a retainer housing portion adjacent said second end, said retainer housing portion including an opening for enabling passage f said male conduit into said female socket housing, said opening being defined by an integral, radially inwardly extending flange which is substantially perpendicular to a wall portion of said socket body, said radially inwardly extending flange having a planar inner face perpendicular to said axis and defining an abutment surface at said second end of said female socket housing; and

a retainer having a plurality of legs extending axially and radially inwardly from said second end of said socket housing toward first end, said retainer legs having an inner peripheral surface spaced from said axis by a first distance adjacent said abutment surface, and an inner peripheral surface of said legs spaced by a second distance adjacent said outward annular bead on said male conduit, said second distance being less than the distance to the outer periphery of said annular bead such that said legs retain said male conduit within said female socket housing, said legs having a bend adjacent said second end of said female socket housing, said bends on said legs abutting said abutment surface to retain and position said retainer within said female socket housing, said female socket housing includes a frusto-conical wall portion extending axially toward said first end from a cylindrical wall portion, said frusto-conical wall portion having frusto-conical inner and outer wall portions, with said retainer being axially aligned with said inner frusto-conical wall portion, and said inner frusto-conical wall portion being positioned adjacent to and radially outward of said retainer so as to assist in centering said retainer within said female socket housing.