Means of coupling of non-threaded connections

• US 5,775,738 A
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Proprietary Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Proprietary Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Bartholomew, Donald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US08/403,930
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 285/321, 285/319, 285/282, 285/115, 285/114, 285/423, 285/906
• US Class Current: 285/114
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0887 with an axially movable separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0915 with a separate member for releasing the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0985 the flexible hook extending radially inwardly from an outer part and engaging a bead, recess or the like on an inner part F16L37/0982 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 285/906 Equivalents

Abstract

A connector assembly 10 for use with tubular conduits 30 is disclosed which is a male portion that is put into a female portion. The male portion makes use of the end of the conduit itself, and the female portion only requires a stepped bore. The seal 50, stabilizing bushings areas 34 and retainer 138 are carried on the male portion. The seal 50 may be retained on the male, and the connection may be either a quick connect or require a tool to assemble. The connection may seal the highest pressures and withstand very high forces on the male and female portions. Also disclosed is the use of this connection in a multiple port device. The connection may be completed in the depth and diameter that is allotted to a "thread-in" or "flare" connection.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for use in communicating a fluid, said connector assembly comprising:

a male conduit having an expanded diameter member firmly affixed to a first peripheral portion thereof;

a female housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough, said female housing further having a substantially lateral abutting wall, a portion of said male conduit fitting within said female housing;

a seal sealably surrounding a second and continuously smooth peripheral portion of said male conduit and sealing against a smooth continuous internal portion of said female housing;

a bushing firmly affixed around a third peripheral portion of said male conduit;

a retainer associated with said female housing, said retainer having at least a portion thereof fitting within said female housing longitudinally internal to said abutting wall;

said conduit being prevented from separation from said housing by said retainer which expands into said housing, and ring means for abutting one side of said retainer for preventing the separation of said conduit from said housing.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said bushing is longitudinally disposed between said expanded diameter member and said seal.

3. The connector of claim 1 where said conduit includes said expanded diameter member as an integral part of said conduit and of the same material of said conduit.

4. The connector of claim 1 where said conduit includes said expanded diameter member as a separate bushing that is permanently attached to said conduit.

5. The connector of claim 1 where said male conduit includes a central axis and said female housing includes a central axis and wherein said male conduit includes said expanded diameter member formed of said conduit that is spaced apart from said housing, said expanded diameter member and bushing engaging said male conduit and female housing to limit the angular departure of said male conduit axis from said female housing axis, said bushing being permanently affixed to said conduit.

6. The connector of claim 5 where said reinforcement includes a portion that limits said axial departure and prevents removal of said seal from installation over said conduit.

7. The connector of claim 6 where said portion of said reinforcement prevents removal of a separate other bushing that acts to limit the said axial relative movement between said conduit and said housing, said other bushing is located between said seal and said portion of said reinforcement.

8. The connector of claim 1 where said conduit is reinforced on the inside thereof by a separate reinforcement that is located adjacent an end area of said conduit.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 which includes a means to urge said retainer into said housing.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1 which includes a means to urge said retainer into said housing by urging a tool that is used to cause a reduction in the outside diameter.

11. The connector of claim 1 where said housing causes a reduction of the outside diameter of said retainer.

12. The connector of claim 1 wherein said seal seals the internal portion of said housing from intrusion of material external to said conduit and said housing.

13. The connector of claim 1 which is hand releasable.

14. The connector of claim 1 further comprising a second housing coupled to said first housing.

15. A combination connector assembly for use in communicating a fluid, said connector assembly comprising:

a first male conduit having an expanded diameter member surrounding a first peripheral portion thereof;

a first female housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough, said first female housing further having a substantially lateral abutting wall, a portion of said first male conduit fitting within said first female housing;

a first seal sealably surrounding a second and continuously smooth peripheral portion of said first male conduit and sealing against an internal portion of said first female housing;

a first bushing firmly affixed around a third peripheral portion of said first male conduit;

a first snap together and releasable retainer carried on and fastened to said first female conduit, said first retainer having at least a portion thereof fitting within said first female housing longitudinally internal said abutting wall; and

a second female housing coupled to said first male conduit for fluid movement therebetween;

a second male conduit sealably coupled into said second female housing; and

a second and releasable retainer fastening said second male conduit to said second female housing.

16. The combination connector assembly of claim 15 wherein a radial groove is disposed within said second female housing.

17. The combination connector assembly of claim 15 wherein said retainer expands into an area provided in said second female housing.

18. The combination connector assembly of claim 17 wherein said second retainer creates an abutting wall on the male conduit.

19. The combination connector assembly of claim 15 wherein one of said male conduits is permanently attached to one of said female housings thereby forming a joint therebetween.

20. The combination connector assembly of claim 19 wherein at least one of said male conduits enabling rotational movement at said joint.

21. The combination connector assembly of claim 20 further comprising a rotation limiting member preventing over-rotation of said joint.

22. A combination connector assembly comprising:

a male conduit coupled to a female housing against removal therefrom thereby forming an angled joint therebetween;

said male conduit is flexible in relation to said female housing for allowing pivoting movement at said joint; and

a pivot limiting means cooperating with said female conduit said pivot limiting means extending from said male conduit toward said female conduit such that said pivot limiting means contacts said female conduit for preventing over pivoting of said joint.

23. The combination connector assembly of claim 22 wherein said pivot limiting means includes at least one member transversely extending from said male housing toward said female housing.

24. A connector comprising:

a male conduit having first and second branches angularly and flexibly coupled together; and

a rotation limiting means including at least one projection extending from one of said branches which is positioned inside a bore of a female conduit for preventing circumferential over-rotation between said male conduit first and second branches and the female conduit.