Coaxial quick connector

• US 6,550,815 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zitkowic, Michael T. Jr., Klinger, Gary O., Walker, Daniel H., Terry, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, GIOVANNA COLLINS
• Application Number:
  US09/929,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 285/120.1, 285/123.1, 285/123.15, 285/125.1
• US Class Current: 285/120.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/144 the securing element being U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/565 Concentric pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit

Abstract

A quick connect body having first, second and third ports carries an insert extending from the first port to the third port and forming first and second flow paths through the body from the first and second ports, respectively, to concentrically mounted conduits attached to the third port and to one end of the insert. Retainer elements are mounted on the body and/or the insert to sealingly couple first and second conduits to the body and the insert.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting first and second conduits to third and fourth coaxial conduits, the connector comprising:

a body defining first, and second and third ports;

first and second bores extending respectively from the first and second ports;

an insert fixedly mounted in the body and defining first and second outlet flow paths through the third port, the insert fluidically coupling the first port to the first outlet flow path and the second port to the second outlet flow path;

a retainer carried by the insert, the retainer engagable with the first conduit to latch the first conduit to the body in fluid communication with the first outlet flow path through the third port.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the insert comprises:

a tubular body having a through bore defining a flow path through the first port and the first outlet flow path to the third port of the body.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the insert further comprises:

a plurality of ribs carried on the insert, the ribs mounting the insert concentrically within the first bore of the body.

4. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:

the insert sealingly coupled to the body to sealingly isolate the first outlet flow path from the second outlet flow path.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the first and second conduits has a raised flange spaced from a tip end;

the retainer including first and second retainers mountable in the first and second ports of the body, respectively, to latchingly couple the first and second conduits to the body.

6. The connector of claim 5 further comprising:

a latch recess carried in the body adjacent the first and second ports; and

at least one latch member carried on the first and second retainers for releasably latching each of the first and second retainers in the recess in the body in a temporary storage position allowing insertion of one of the first and second conduits therethrough into the body.

8. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:

a seal element mountable between the insert and the body for sealingly coupling the insert to the body.

10. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:

the body including fourth and fifth ports;

another insert carried in the body and defining third and fourth outlet flow paths through the fifth port, the another insert fluidically coupling the fourth port to the third outlet flow path and the fifth port to one of the first and second ports in the body.

11. The connector of claim 10 wherein:

the first and third ports are coaxially aligned;

the fourth and fifth ports are coaxially aligned; and

the first and third ports are substantially in parallel with the fourth and fifth ports.

7. A connector for connecting first and second conduits to third and fourth coaxial conduits, the connector comprising:

a body defining first, and second and third ports;

first and second bores extending respectively from the first and second ports;

an insert carried in the body and defining first and second outlet flow paths through the third port, the insert fluidically coupling the first port to the first outlet flow path and the second port to the second outlet flow path;

at least one of the first and second conduits having a raised flange spaced from a tip end;

first and second retainers mountable in the first and second ports of the body to latchingly couple the first and second conduits to the body;

a latch recess carried in the body adjacent the first and second ports;

at least one latch member carried on the first and second retainers for releasably latching each retainer in the recess in the body in a body in a temporary storage position allowing insertion of one of the first and second conduits therethrough into the body;

opposed apertures formed in the body adjacent each of the first and second ports for receiving one retainer therethrough; and

the latch member on the retainer extendable through the apertures externally of the body to latch the one retainer in a fully locked position with respect to the body to sealingly couple the first and second conduits to the body.

9. A connector for connecting first and second conduits to third and fourth coaxial conduits, the connector comprising:

a body defining first, and second and third ports;

first and second bores extending respectively from the first and second ports;

an insert carried mounted in the body and defining first and second outlet flow paths through the third port, the insert fluidically coupling the first port to the first outlet flow path and the second port to the second outlet flow path;

at least one of the first and second conduits having a raised flange spaced from a tip end;

first and second retainers mountable in the first and second ports of the body to latchingly couple the first and second conduits to the body;

one of the first and second retainers mountable in the body; and

the other of the first and second retainers mountable on the insert.

12. A connector for connecting first and second conduits to third and fourth coaxial conduits, the connector comprising:

a body defining first, second and third ports;

first and second bores extending respectively from the first and second ports through the body;

a tubular member mounted in the body and having a first end at the first port and a second end extendable from the third port, the tubular member forming concentric flow paths through the third port of the body from the first and second ports, respectively; and

a retainer carried by the insert, the retainer engagable with the first conduit to latch the first conduit to the body in fluid communication with the first outlet flow path through the third port.

13. The connector of claim 12 wherein the tubular member further comprises:

a second end extending outwardly from the third port in the body; and

at least one mounting member carried on the body adjacent to the third port and at least one mounting member carried on the tubular member adjacent to the second end for concentrically receiving third and fourth fluid flow conduits.

14. The connector of claim 12 wherein the tubular member further comprises:

a body having a through bore defining a flow path from the first port formed at one end of the tubular member to the first outlet flow path at the third port of the body.

15. The connector of claim 14 further comprising:

a plurality of ribs carried on the body of the tubular member, the ribs mounting the tubular member concentrically within the first bore of the body.

16. The connector of claim 12 further comprising:

seal means mounted in the first and second bores for sealingly coupling