Apparatus and method of attaching a tube member to a housing of a vacuum brake booster

• US 6,623,048 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Castel, Philippe Georges, Fanelli, Michael William
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M.
• Application Number:
  US09/859,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 285/19, 285/20, 285/31, 285/382, 285/382.4, 285/382.5, 913/76.R
• US Class Current: 285/382
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 25/00 Uniting components to form integral members, e.g. turbine wheels and shafts, caulks with inserts, with or without shaping of the components uniting by interference- or press-fitting B23P11/02, B21K19/02
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/567 characterised by constructional features of the casing or by its strengthening or mounting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/5675 Supportstruts
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/082 Non-disconnectible joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive or caulked joints

Abstract

An apparatus and method for attaching a tube member to a housing of a vacuum brake booster is provided. A tube member includes a body portion, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end. A first collar portion is disposed between the first end and the body portion, and extends outward from the outer surface. A lip portion is disposed at the first end and extends outward from the outer surface. The first collar portion and the lip portion define a recess to receive a first housing member. The tube member may further include a second collar portion spaced apart from the first collar portion and extending outward from the outer surface. The second collar portion may preferably define a contact surface for contacting an inner surface of a second housing member.

Claims

1. A connector apparatus attached to a housing of a vacuum brake booster comprising a tube member including a body portion, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end, a first collar portion between the first end and the body portion, the first collar portion extending outward from the outer surface, a lip portion at the first end and extending outward from the outer surface, the first collar portion and the lip portion defining a recess receiving a first housing member of the housing,

wherein the tube member further includes a second collar portion spaced apart from the first collar portion, the second collar portion extending outward from the outer surface, the second collar portion defining a contact surface contacting an inner surface of a second housing member of the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second collar portion extends outward substantially perpendicular from the outer surface of the tube member.

3. A method of attaching a tube member to a housing of a vacuum brake booster comprising the steps of:

providing a first housing member including an inner surface, an outer surface, and an opening formed therein, the tube member including an outer surface, a first end, a first portion, and a body portion, the first portion between the first end and the body portion;

inserting the first end of the tube member through the opening in the first housing member;

applying a force to the first end of the tube member;

deforming the first portion to create a first collar portion extending outward from the outer surface;

contacting the first collar portion against the inner surface of the first housing member;

applying a second force to the first end of the tube member;

deforming an end portion of the first portion to create a lip portion extending outward from the outer surface; and

contacting the lip portion against the outer surface of the first housing member to create a seal between the first housing member and the tube member.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first collar portion is adjacent to the first end of the tube member.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the first collar portion includes a body portion, the body portion of the first collar portion extending outward from the outer surface in a direction towards the first housing member.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the first collar portion has a conical shape.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the first portion includes a first wall thickness and the body portion includes a second wall thickness, the first wall thickness being less than the second wall thickness.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the first housing member further includes a flange portion;

the step of contacting the first collar portion against the inner surface of the first housing member comprises contacting the first collar portion against the flange portion; and

the step of contacting the lip portion against the outer surface of the first housing member comprises contacting the lip portion against the flange portion.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the flange portion is angled with respect to the first housing member.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the first housing member is a planar member.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the tube member further includes a third portion, the third portion disposed between the body portion and a second end of the tube member and further comprising the steps of:

deforming the third portion to create a second collar portion extending outward from the outer surface.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

contacting the second collar portion against a second housing member to create a seal between the tube member and the second housing member.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second housing member includes an inner surface and further comprising the steps of:

contacting the second collar portion against the inner surface of the second housing member.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the body portion includes a second wall thickness and the third portion includes a third wall thickness, the third wall thickness being less than the second wall thickness.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the second collar portion extends outward substantially perpendicular from the outer surface of the tube member.

16. A connector apparatus for attaching to a housing of a vacuum brake booster comprising a tube member including a body portion, an outer surface, a first end, and a first portion for creating a collar portion extending outward from the outer surface, the first portion between the first end and the body portion, the first portion including an end portion for creating a lip portion extending outward from the outer surface,

wherein the first portion includes a first wall thickness and the body portion includes a second wall thickness, the first wall thickness being less than the second wall thickness.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the third portion includes a third wall thickness, the third wall thickness being less than the second wall thickness.

18. A vacuum brake booster comprising:

a housing member including an outer surface and an opening formed therein, the housing member including a flange portion surrounding the opening, a tube member including a body portion, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end, a first collar portion between the first end and the body portion, the first collar portion extending outward from the outer surface of the tube member, a lip portion at the first end and extending outward from the outer surface of the tube member, the first collar portion and the lip portion defining a recess receiving the flange portion of the housing member.

19. The vacuum brake booster of claim 18 wherein the lip portion lies in a plane of the outer surface of the housing member that is adjacent to the flange portion.

20. The vacuum brake booster of claim 18 wherein the flange portion is bent inward from the outer surface of the housing member.

21. The vacuum brake booster of claim 18 wherein an inner surface of the lip portion contacts the flange portion.

22. The vacuum brake booster of claim 21 wherein an outer surface of the lip portion is flush with the outer surface of the housing member.