Connecting assembly

• US 8,469,404 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Gadawski, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/861,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20120043754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 285/305, 285/239, 285/319, 285/921, 285/321
• US Class Current: 285/305
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/098 by means of flexible hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/1225 using a retaining member the extremities of which, e.g. in the form of a U, engage behind a shoulder of both parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1157 using hooks, pawls, or other movable or insertable locking members
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0243 Header boxes having a circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0275 with multiple branch pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/06 by dismountable joints
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A connecting assembly that can be coupled to a tubular wall is provided. The assembly includes a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and an arcuate-shaped tubular body. The abutment ring is disposed around an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion a predetermined distance from a first end of the tubular coupling portion. An end of the tubular body is coupled to a second end of the tubular coupling portion. The assembly further includes a retaining member having a ring-shaped portion and first and second finger portions extending from the ring-shaped portion. The arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting is received through a central aperture of the ring-shaped portion such that the ring-shaped portion is slidably disposed on the tubular body of the connecting fitting and is further slidably disposed against the abutment ring.

Claims

1. A connecting assembly for coupling to a tubular wall, comprising:

a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and an arcuate-shaped tubular body, the tubular coupling portion having first and second ends, the abutment ring being disposed around an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion a predetermined distance from the first end of the tubular coupling portion, an end of the arcuate-shaped tubular body being coupled to the second end of the tubular coupling portion, an outer diameter of the tubular coupling portion being greater than an outer diameter of the arcuate-shaped tubular body, an inner diameter of the tubular coupling portion being substantially equal to an inner diameter of the arcuate-shaped tubular body;

a retaining member having a ring-shaped portion, first and second finger portions, and at least first and second tabs, the first and second finger portions extending in a first direction from the ring-shaped portion, the ring-shaped portion defining a central aperture, the first and second tabs of the retaining member being coupled to and extending inwardly from the ring-shaped portion into the central aperture, the arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting being received through the central aperture of the ring-shaped portion, a diameter of the central aperture being less than a diameter of the abutment ring; and

the retaining member being configured to be slidably disposed on the arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting and against the abutment ring such that the first and second finger portions extend from the ring-shaped portion past the abutment ring in the first direction with the abutment ring being disposed between the first and second finger portions, and first and second tabs on the first and second finger portions, respectively, are configured to engage first and second notches, respectively, in the tubular wall to removably hold the connecting fitting against the tubular wall.

2. The connecting assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular coupling portion is configured to be received within the tubular wall.

3. The connecting assembly of claim 2, wherein the arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting has a 90 degree bend therein.

4. The connecting assembly of claim 1, wherein the arcuate-shaped tubular body has first and second circumferentially disposed ledges extending outwardly from an outer surface of the arcuate-shaped tubular body.

5. The connecting assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting fitting is constructed of plastic.

6. The connecting assembly of claim 5, wherein the plastic is at least one of polyethylene and polypropylene.

7. A connecting assembly for coupling to a tubular wall, comprising:

a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and an arcuate-shaped tubular body, the tubular coupling portion having first and second ends, the abutment ring being disposed around an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion a predetermined distance from the first end of the tubular coupling portion, an end of the arcuate-shaped tubular body being coupled to the second end of the tubular coupling portion, the arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting having a 90 degree bend therein, an outer diameter of the tubular coupling portion being greater than an outer diameter of the arcuate-shaped tubular body, an inner diameter of the tubular coupling portion being substantially equal to an inner diameter of the arcuate-shaped tubular body;

a retaining member having a ring-shaped portion, first and second finger portions, and at least first and second tabs, the first and second finger portions extending in a first direction from the ring-shaped portion, the ring-shaped portion defining a central aperture, the first and second tabs of the retaining member being coupled to and extending inwardly from the ring-shaped portion into the central aperture, the arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting being received through the central aperture of the ring-shaped portion, a diameter of the central aperture being less than a diameter of the abutment ring; and

the retaining member being configured to be slidably disposed on the arcuate-shaped tubular body of the connecting fitting such that the first and second finger portions extend from the ring-shaped portion past the abutment ring in the first direction with the abutment ring being disposed between the first and second finger portions, and first and second tabs on the first and second finger portions, respectively, are configured to engage first and second notches, respectively, in the tubular wall to removably hold the connecting fitting against the tubular wall.