Torque limiting cap for air conditioning service ports

• US 8,118,186 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Ehlers, Mark S., Thomas, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELOSHWAY, NIKI MARINA
• Application Number:
  US12/060,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20090242057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 220/288, 220/378, 220/304
• US Class Current: 220/288
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1152 fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9247 With closure

Abstract

A torque-limiting cap (100) for an air conditioning service port (14) includes an inner body assembly (122) having a retaining body (116) configured for engagement on the service port, and an outer body assembly (134) annularly disposed around the inner body assembly. The outer body assembly (134) has a first ratchet portion (140) configured for engagement with a second ratchet portion (146) that is disposed on the inner body assembly (122). When the outer body assembly (134) is torqued, the outer body assembly transmits the torque to the inner body assembly (122) from the first ratchet portion (140) to the second ratchet portion (146) to threadably engage the retaining body (116) onto the service port (14). When there is a preset amount of torque resistance, the first ratchet portion (140) slips with respect to the second ratchet portion (146) such that no additional torque is transmitted to the inner body assembly (122) from the outer body assembly (134).

Claims

1. A torque-limiting cap for an air conditioning service port, comprising:

an inner body assembly having a retaining body configured for threadable engagement on the service port, a sealing surface generally normal to the retaining body, and an inner body that extends generally perpendicularly to the sealing surface and generally outwardly annularly to the retaining body, the inner body has a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion with a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the first and second portions are generally parallel to the retaining body, disposed between the first portion and the second portion is a shoulder, and disposed at an interior surface of the first portion facing the retaining body is a pocket that houses an annular O-ring seal for sealing the service port;

an outer body assembly disposed outwardly annularly around the inner body and disposed outwardly annularly around the retaining body, the outer body assembly having a first ratchet portion configured for engagement with a second ratchet portion disposed on the inner body;

wherein torquing of the outer body assembly transmits torque to the inner body assembly from the first ratchet portion to the second ratchet portion to threadably engage the retaining body onto the service port, and wherein at a preset amount of torque resistance, torquing of the outer body assembly causes the first ratchet portion to slip with respect to the second ratchet portion such that no additional torque is transmitted to the inner body assembly.

2. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body having a radial surface and an angled surface.

3. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the outer body assembly comprises a top surface, an outer body generally normal to the top surface, and the first ratchet portion is concentrically disposed inwardly with respect to an outer body.

4. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the first ratchet portion comprises an annular extension that extends generally normally from a top surface of the outer body assembly, and a pawl that extends generally radially inwardly from the annular extension, and wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body assembly configured to receive the pawl.

5. The torque-limiting cap of claim 4 further comprising an annular ratchet spring disposed between the first ratchet portion and an outer body.

6. The torque-limiting cap of claim 4 wherein the pawl has a radial side and an angled side, and wherein the receiving pocket has a radial surface and an angled surface.

7. The torque-limiting cap of claim 4 wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a first direction, the pawl is configured for slipping with respect to the receiving pocket at the preset amount of torque resistance, and wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a second direction, the pawl is prevented from slipping with respect to the receiving pocket.

8. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 wherein the first ratchet portion comprises multiple first ratchet portions disposed on the outer body assembly, and wherein the second ratchet portion comprises multiple second ratchet portions disposed on the inner body assembly.

9. The torque-limiting cap of claim 1 further comprising an annular snap ring configured to locate the inner body assembly and the outer body assembly together.

10. A torque-limiting cap for an air conditioning service port, comprising:

an inner body assembly having a retaining body configured for threadable engagement on the service port, a sealing surface generally normal to the retaining body, and an inner body that extends generally perpendicularly to the sealing surface and generally outwardly annularly to the retaining body;

an outer body assembly outwardly annularly disposed around the inner body, the outer body assembly including a top surface, an outer body generally normal to the top surface, a first ratchet portion that is concentrically inwardly disposed with respect to the outer body and that extends from the top surface, and a spring disposed radially between the outer body and the first ratchet portion, the first ratchet portion is configured for engagement with a second ratchet portion disposed on the inner body assembly;

wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a first direction, the first ratchet portion is configured for slipping with respect to the second ratchet portion at a preset amount of torque resistance, and wherein when the outer body assembly is torqued in a second direction, the first ratchet portion is prevented from slipping with respect to the second ratchet portion; and

wherein the inner body has a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion with a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and disposed between the first portion and the second portion is a shoulder.

11. The torque-limiting cap of claim 10 wherein an O-ring seal is disposed on the first portion.

12. The torque-limiting cap of claim 10 wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body having a radial surface and an angled surface.

13. The torque-limiting cap of claim 10 wherein the first ratchet portion comprises an annular extension that extends generally normally from a top surface of the outer body assembly, and a pawl that extends generally radially inwardly from the annular extension, and wherein the second ratchet portion comprises a receiving pocket on the inner body assembly configured to receive the pawl.

14. A torque-limiting cap for an air conditioning service port, comprising:

an inner body assembly having a retaining body configured for threadable engagement on the service port, a sealing surface generally normal to the retaining body, and an inner body that extends generally perpendicularly to the sealing surface and generally outwardly annularly to the retaining body, the inner body has a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion with a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the first and second portions are generally parallel to the retaining body, disposed between the first portion and the second portion is a shoulder, and disposed at an interior surface of the first portion facing the retaining body is a pocket that houses an annular 0-ring seal for sealing the service port; and

an outer body assembly outwardly annularly disposed around the inner body, the outer body assembly including a top surface, an outer body generally normal to the top surface, a first ratchet portion that is concentrically inwardly disposed with respect to the outer body and extends from the top surface, and a spring disposed radially between the outer body and the first ratchet portion, the first ratchet portion is configured for engagement with a second ratchet portion disposed on the inner body assembly;

wherein torquing of the outer body assembly transmits torque to the inner body assembly from the first ratchet portion to the second ratchet portion to threadably engage the retaining body onto the service port, and wherein at a preset amount of torque resistance, torquing of the outer body assembly causes the first ratchet portion to slip with respect to the second ratchet portion such that no additional torque is transmitted to the inner body assembly;

wherein the first ratchet portion is a pawl having an angled side and a radial side, and the second ratchet portion is a receiving pocket having an angled surface and a radial surface.