Spring lock coupling

• US 5,816,626 A
• Filed: 12/05/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanon Systems (Hahn & Co. Auto Holdings Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Campbell, David Alan, Anderson, Claudia Mills, Schroeder, Fred Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US08/567,617
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 285/318, 285/351, 285/231
• US Class Current: 285/318
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/22 in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a tubular coupling comprising a first tube, a cage disposed on an end portion of the first tube, a bead for retaining the cage on the end portion of the first tube and a second tube telescopically engageable with the first tube. The coupling further include a spring disposed around the cage for preventing telescopic disengagement of the second tube from the first tube as well as a plurality of o-rings disposed on the end of the first tube. One of the o-rings is disposed at the pivot point of the coupling, the pivot point being defined as the midpoint of the distance between a first contact point and a second contact point between the first tube and the second tube when the tubes are engaged.

Claims

1. A tubular coupling comprising:

a first tube having an end portion with a terminal end, the end portion being connected to the first tube;

a cage means disposed on the end portion of the first tube, the cage means including;

a radial base portion having a circular aperture through which the end portion of the first tube projects;

a curved wall portion connected to the radial base portion, the curved wall portion forming an annular chamber; and

a circular flange portion connected to the curved wall portion and angularly inclined toward the end portion of the first tube in the general direction of the terminal end, the circular flange terminating in radially spaced relation to an outer surface of the end portion of the first tube;

means for retaining the cage means on the end portion of the first tube to hold the cage means against axial displacement;

a second tube having an end portion telescopically mounted on the end portion of the first tube, the end portion of the second tube including a cylindrical portion, a transition portion and a flange portion circumferentially surrounding the terminal edge thereof, the flange portion projecting into the space between the surface of the end portion of the first tube and the cage means when the first and second tube ends are in engagement;

a spring means disposed within the cage means interposed between the flange portion of the second tube and the circular flange portion, thereby preventing telescopic disengagement of the second tube from the first tube when the first and second tubes are in engagement; and

sealing means disposed between the end portion of the first tube and the end portion of second tube for preventing leakage between the end portions, the sealing means including;

a plurality of O-rings laterally disposed on the terminal end of the first tube, one of the plurality of O-rings being disposed at a pivot point of the coupling, the pivot point being defined as the midpoint of the distance between a first contact point and a second contact point between the first tube and the second tube when the first and second tubes are in engagement, said first contact point being defined as the contact of the second tube transition portion and the outer surface of the first tube when the first and second tubes are engaged.

2. A tubular coupling according to claim 1, wherein said second contact point is defined as the contact of the first tube terminal end with the inner surface of the second tube when the first and second tubes are engaged.

3. A tubular coupling according to claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the first tube is integral with the first tube.

4. A tubular coupling according to claim 1, wherein the cage means is disposed on the end portion of the first tube in an axially inwardly spaced relation to the terminal end thereof.

5. A tubular coupling according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means engages with the radial base portion of the cage means.

6. A tubular coupling according to claim 1, wherein the spring means comprises a garter spring.

7. A tubular coupling according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means is formed by a bead in the end portion of the first tube.

8. A tubular coupling according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of O-rings includes three O-rings.

9. A tubular coupling comprising:

a first tube having an end portion with a terminal end, the end portion being connected to the first tube;

a cage means disposed on the end portion of the first tube, the cage including;

a radial base portion having a circular aperture through which the end portion of the first tube projects;

a curved wall portion connected to the radial base portion, the curved wall portion forming an annular chamber; and

a circular flange portion connected to the curved wall portion and angularly inclined toward the end portion of the first tube in the general direction of the terminal end, the circular flange terminating in radially spaced relation to an outer surface of the end portion of the first tube;

means for retaining the cage on the end portion of the first tube to hold the cage against axial displacement, the retaining means being formed by beads in the end portion of the first tube;

a second tube having an end portion telescopically mounted on the end portion of the first tube, the end portion of the second tube including a curved portion and a flange portion circumferentially surrounding the terminal edge thereof, the flange portion projecting into the space between the surface of the end portion of the first tube and the cage when the first and second tube ends are in engagement;

a garter spring disposed within the cage interposed between the flange portion of the second tube and the circular flange portion, thereby preventing telescopic disengagement of the second tube from the first tube when the first and second tubes are in engagement; and

a first point of contact defined by the contact of the second tube curved portion and the outer surface of the first tube when the first and second tubes are engaged;

a second point of contact defined by the contact of the first tube terminal end and the inner surface of the second tube when the first and second tubes are engaged;

three O-rings disposed between the end portion of side first tube and the end portion of second tube for preventing leakage between the end portions, one of the O-rings being disposed at a pivot point of the coupling, the pivot point being defined as the midpoint of the distance between the first and second contact points.