Tube-to-hose coupling (spin-sert) and method of making same

• US 5,370,425 A
• Filed: 08/25/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: S&H Fabricating and Engineering Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Michael L., Warner, Norman E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US08/112,751
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 265/256, 265/258, 265/286, 228/2, 228/113
• US Class Current: 285/39
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/207 only a sleeve being contracted on the hose

Abstract

A tube coupling comprising a metal tube of relatively uniform thickness and having a radially outwardly expanded integral sleeve at one end thereof, and a radially extending tube shoulder being defined at the juncture at which the sleeve is expanded outwardly, the tube having a throughbore of a first inner diameter, and the expanded sleeve having a throughbore of a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter and concentric therewith. A cylindrical, hollow insert is located concentric with the axis of the tube, the insert including a radially extending annular collar at one end thereof. The collar has a tube end face abutting the radial tube shoulder and inertially welded to the tube at the interface of the tube end face and the radial tube shoulder. The insert includes at its other end a cylindrical barrel portion having hose locking and sealing means. A flexible hose is supported on the insert barrel portion and secured and sealed relative to the sleeve and the insert by the sleeve being crimped over the insert barrel portion to thereby extrude the hose into the sealing and locking grooves permanently holding the hose in compression.

Claims

1. A tube coupling comprising a metal tube of relatively uniform thickness and having a radially outwardly expanded integral sleeve at one end thereof, and a radially extending tube shoulder being defined at the juncture at which said sleeve is expanded outwardly, said tube having a throughbore of a first inner diameter, and said expanded sleeve having a throughbore of a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter and concentric therewith;

a cylindrical, hollow insert concentric with the axis of said tube, said insert including a radially extending annular collar at one end thereof, said collar having a tube end face abutting said radial tube shoulder and being inertially welded to said tube at the interface of said tube end face and said radial tube shoulder;

said insert including at its other end a cylindrical barrel portion having hose locking and sealing means;

a flexible hose supported on said insert barrel portion and being secured and sealed relative to said sleeve and said insert by said sleeve being crimped over said insert barrel portion to thereby extrude the hose into the sealing and locking grooves permanently holding said hose in compression.

2. A tube coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said insert further including an annular tube groove immediately adjacent and contiguous with said tube end face, and said radial tube shoulder being extruded within and at least partially filling said tube groove.

3. A tube coupling as defined in claim 2 wherein said barrel portion includes a series of equally spaced locking and sealing grooves of substantially uniform depth and width and providing a series of equally spaced hose locking and sealing ribs of substantially uniform width between each pair of said grooves.

4. A tube coupling as defined in claim 3 wherein said insert, including said locking and sealing grooves, are screw machined thereby providing an enhanced surface finish.

5. A tube coupling as defined in claim 4 wherein said insert includes a throughbore of non-cylindrical cross-section to thereby provide means for imparting rotational torque to the insert and maintaining the cross-sectional area of the insert throughbore as it is being inertially welded to said tube.

6. A tube coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein the insert throughbore is hexagonal in cross-section thereby providing a cross-sectional area equivalent to that of a cylindrical throughbore and thus maintaining the fluid flow rate of the coupling without significantly reducing the hoop strength of the insert.

7. A tube coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said insert includes a throughbore of non-cylindrical cross-section to thereby provide means for imparting rotational torque to the insert and maintaining the cross-sectional area of the insert throughbore as it is being inertially welded to said tube.

8. A tube coupling as defined in claim 7 wherein the insert throughbore is hexagonal in cross-section thereby providing a cross-sectional area equivalent to that of a cylindrical throughbore and thus maintaining the fluid flow rate of the coupling without significantly reducing the hoop strength of the insert.

9. A method of making a tube coupling, the tube coupling comprising a metal tube having an expanded radially outwardly flared integral sleeve at one end thereof, and a radially extending tube shoulder being defined a the juncture at which said sleeve is flared outwardly, said tube having a throughbore of a first inner diameter, and said expanded sleeve having a throughbore of a second inner diameter greater than said first inner diameter and concentric therewith;

a cylindrical, hollow inert concentric with the axis of said tube and at one end being inertially welded to said tube at said radial tube shoulder;

said insert including at its other end a cylindrical barrel portion having hose locking and sealing means;

a flexible hose being supported on said insert barrel portion and being secured and sealed relative to said sleeve and said insert by said sleeve being crimped over said insert barrel portion to thereby extrude the hose into the sealing and locking grooves permanently holding said hose in compression;

said insert including a radially extending annular collar at one end thereof, said collar having a tube end face abutting said radial tube shoulder and being inertially welded thereto, said insert further including a tube groove immediately adjacent said tube end face and said radial tube shoulder being extruded within and at least partially filling said groove during the inertial welding step;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) locating said tube within a chuck member having a throughbore opening into a radially enlarged generally concave seat portion at one end thereof, the chuck seat portion closely conforming in radial dimension to said radially extending tube shoulder and providing a stop for the radial tube shoulder,

(b) locating the insert on a rotatable mandrel,

(c) rotating said mandrel under power,

(d) inserting said insert and mandrel into said sleeve until said insert collar is brought into contact with said radial tube shoulder, and

(e) thereafter terminating the rotational power to said mandrel and allowing the mandrel and insert to free-spin while holding the radial tube shoulder in compression between the chuck seat portion and the insert collar and thereby inertially welding the sleeve to the insert.

10. A method of making a tube coupling as shown in claim 9, further including the steps of:

(f) inserting a flexible hose over said insert, and

(g) crimping said sleeve in preselected locations throughout the length of said sleeve to thereby extrude the hose end into the locking and sealing grooves along the barrel portion of said insert.