Quick connect fluid fitting

• US 5,366,262 A
• Filed: 07/23/1992
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hubbell Industrial Controls, Inc. (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Furnas Electric Co. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Couvreur, Jean-Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHACKELFORD, HEATHER CHUN
• Application Number:
  US07/918,247
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 285/340, 285/361, 285/359, 285/396, 285/402, 285/330, 285/81
• US Class Current: 285/340
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/091 by means of a ring provided with teeth or fingers

Abstract

A quick connect fitting for connecting a plastic or metallic tube (42) in a fluid circuit includes a fitting body (20) having an interior cavity (22) opening to the exterior of the body (20) via a generally circular port (36). A peripheral step (48) is located in the port (36) and an O-ring (50) is abutted against the step (48). A washer (52) is located in the port (36) and has a central opening (54) slightly larger than the outer dimension of the plastic or metallic tube (42). A peripheral flange (56) is disposed on the washer is directed away from the O-ring (50). A retaining ring (62) is disposed in the port (36) and nominally abuts the flange (56). The retaining ring (62) has a central opening (64) substantially greater than the outer dimension with a plurality of resilient, radially inwardly directed, angularly spaced fingers (66). The radially inner ends (70) of the fingers define a tube passage area (68) and are provided with cutting surfaces (72) for digging into the outer surface of the plastic or metallic tube (42). A lock member having a central opening (100) for receiving the plastic or metallic tube (42) is provided and is secured in the port (36) against the retaining ring (62) and abuts the fingers (66) so that they can only deflect into and out of the washer and not toward the member to provide positive retention of the tube (42).

Claims

1. A quick connect fitting for connecting a plastic or metallic tube in a fluid circuit comprising:

a fitting body having an interior cavity opening to the exterior of the body via a generally circular port;

a peripheral step in said port;

an O-ring in said port and nominally abutted against said step;

a washer in said port on the side of said O-ring remote from said step and having a central opening slightly larger than the outer dimension of the plastic or metallic tube with which the fitting is to be used;

a peripheral flange on said washer and directed away from said O-ring;

a retaining ring in said port and nominally abutting said flange, said retaining ring having a central opening substantially greater than said outer dimension with a plurality of resilient, radially inward directed, angularly spaced fingers;

the radially inner ends of said fingers defining a tube passage of a dimension somewhat less than said outer dimension and being provided with cutting surfaces for digging into the outer surface of said tube; and

a lock member having a central opening for receiving said tube, said lock member being removably secured and rotatable in said port between a position lodged against said retaining ring and abutting said fingers so that said fingers can only deflect into and out of said washer and not toward said member, and a position removed from said port.

2. The quick connect filtting of claim 1 further including a bayonet slot connection between said member and said fitting body.

3. The quick connect fitting of claim 1 further including a second step within said port, said retaining ring being held against said second step by said lock member.

4. The quick connect fitting of claim 1 wherein each of said fingers have tips which have concave circular recesses and said outer dimension is an outer diameter, the radii of said recesses being less than half said outer diameter.

5. The quick connect fitting of claim 4 wherein said fingers are diametrically opposite from one another and maximum spacing between corresponding parts of the recesses of diametrically opposite fingers is just less than said outer dimension.

6. A quick connect fitting for connecting a tube of "X" outside diameter in a fluid circuit comprising:

a fitting body having a circular, tube receiving opening;

said opening, within said body having a first section with a diameter somewhat larger than "X", a second section having a diameter larger than said first section and joined thereto by a first step, and a third section having a diameter greater than that of said second section and joined thereto by a second step;

an O-ring seal having an inner diameter somewhat less than "X" and an outer diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said second section, said O-ring seal being located in said second section and against said first step;

a resilient retaining ring in said third section and abutted against said second step, said retaining ring having a central opening provided with a plurality of radially inward directed fingers which in turn define a tube receiving area having a diameter less than "X", said fingers including biting surfaces for biting into the exterior of a tube in said receiving area;

means in said third section for allowing said fingers to deflect from a first position to one side toward said O-ring seal and preventing said fingers from deflecting from said first position toward the opposite side away from said O-ring seal; and

means for holding said retaining ring in said third section against said second step.

7. The quick connect fitting of claim 6 including a lock member secured in said third section, said lock member abutting said retaining ring to constitute both said allowing and preventing means and said holding means.

8. The quick connect fitting of claim 7 wherein said third section includes a cylindrical wall having diametrically opposite L-shaped grooves extending to the exterior of said body, and said lock member has diametrically opposite projections sized to be received in said grooves, said grooves and said projections defining a bayonet slot connection between said lock member and said filtering body.

9. The quick connect fitting of claim 6 further including a cup shaped washer in said second section and interposed between said retaining ring and said O-ring seal to prevent contact therebetween.