End fitting for flexible conduit

• US 5,364,134 A
• Filed: 04/26/1991
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Watts Regulator Company (Watts Water Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Anderson-Barrows Metals Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Neill E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHACKELFORD, HEATHER CHUN
• Application Number:
  US07/691,700
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 285/39, 285/242, 285/249, 285/354, 285/259, 285/334.3, 285/256, 277/102, 277/110, 277/115, 277/117, 277/120
• US Class Current: 285/38
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/021 Devices for positioning or connecting of water supply lines connection to the tap body E03C1/0403
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/0212 using specially adapted sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/2076 by plastic deformation

Abstract

An end fitting for flexible conduit or the like includes a generally cylindrical conduit insert which has a retainer rim, a journal barrel, and a base ring. The retainer rim and journal barrel are inserted into the conduit up to the base ring. A crimp ring dimensioned to engage the outer surface of the conduit, press fits the conduit to the journal barrel. The retainer rim being of a diameter larger then the diameter of the journal barrel prevents removal of the insert past the crimp ring. The base ring also being of a larger diameter than the journal barrel limits the depth of insertion of the insert into the conduit. The conduit insert further has a force flange and a tip which extend outward from the base ring. A cone washer is received by the tip and abuts a first surface of the force flange. A threaded cap has an end wall with a coaxial bore which is in rotatable engagement with the base ring with the end wall engaging a second surface of the force flange. The threaded cap further has an outer digitally engageable surface so that the conduit may be installed or removed without the use of tools.

Claims

1. An end fitting for flexible conduit and the like, for effecting a water tight seal between said conduit and the bore of an externally threaded water faucet fitting, said bore having an entry position, said end fitting comprising:

a generally cylindrical conduit insert having a retainer rim, a journal barrel, a base ring, a force flange and a tip, said journal barrel being disposed intermediate said retainer rim and said base ring, said force flange being disposed intermediate said base ring and said tip, said retainer rim and said journal barrel being of a dimension for insertion into an end of said conduit;

a cone washer having a washer bore, a disk shaped back portion, a conical sealing surface and a front end portion, said washer bore being received by said tip, said back portion abutting a first surface of said force flange and said conical surface tapering from said back portion to said front portion which is smaller than said back portion;

a threaded cap to fit onto said faucet fitting and having an outer digital engaging surface, an end wall and a coaxial bore in said end wall, said coaxial bore being of a dimension for rotatable engagement with said base ring, said end wall engaging a second surface of said force flange; and

a crimp ring of a dimension to engage an outer surface of said conduit and press fit said end of said conduit to said journal barrel, said retainer rim preventing removal of said insert past said crimp ring, said base ring limiting the depth of insertion of said insert into said conduit whereby manual rotation of said cap onto said faucet fitting causes said cap to push against said insert and said insert to push against said cone washer and said cone washer front end to be pushed into said faucet bore with said conical surface sealing against said entry portion of said bore.

2. An end fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second surface of said force flange has a bevelled edge and said end wall of said cap has a countersink coaxial with said bore, said countersink being dimensioned to receive said bevelled edge in rotatably slidable engagement.

3. An end fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer rim has a frustoconical extension extending coaxially outwardly therefrom to facilitate insertion of said insert into said conduit.

4. An end fitting as set forth in claim 3 wherein said crimp ring extends over said frustoconical extension to press fit said conduit to said frustoconical section.

5. An end fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said journal barrel has a diameter less than a diameter of each of said retainer rim and said base ring.

6. An end fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said force flange has a diameter greater than a diameter of said base ring.

7. An end fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cap is received by said base ring prior to insertion of said insert into said conduit.

8. An end fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said crimp ring has a generally arcuate flange extending intermediate an end of said conduit and an end of said base ring.

9. An end fitting as set forth in claim 1 wherein said digitally engageable surface is a knurled surface.

10. An end fitting for flexible conduit and the like, said fitting comprising:

a generally cylindrical conduit insert having a retainer rim, a journal barrel, a base ring, a force flange and a tip, said journal barrel being disposed intermediate said retainer rim and said base ring, said force flange being disposed intermediate said base ring and said tip, said retainer rim and said journal barrel being of a dimension for insertion into an end of said conduit;

a cone washer having a bore and a disk shaped back portion, said bore being received by said tip, said back portion abutting a first surface of said force flange;

a threaded cap having an outer digital engaging surface, an end wall and a coaxial bore in said end wall, said bore being of a dimension for rotatable engagement with said base ring, said end wall engaging a second surface of said force flange; and

a crimp ring of a dimension to engage an outer surface of said conduit and press fit said end of said conduit to said journal barrel, said retainer rim preventing removal of said insert past said crimp ring, said base ring limiting the depth of insertion of said insert into said conduit, wherein said tip has a retainer ring at an edge of said insert and said cone washer has a counter bore therein to receive said retainer ring.

11. An end fitting as set forth in claim 10 wherein said retainer ring has a bevelled edge at said edge of said insert to facilitate mounting of said cone washer to said tip.

12. A faucet supply line assembly for connecting a faucet valve to a shut-off valve each of said valves having a valve fitting including a cap receiving threaded exterior and a cone washer receiving internal fitting bore having an internally beveled open bore end, said assembly comprising:

a flexible conduit of a length sufficient to extend between each valve, said tube having a pair of ends;

a generally cylindrical conduit insert disposed within and at each end of said tube, said insert having a retainer rim, a journal barrel, a base ring, a force flange, and a tip, said journal barrel being disposed intermediate said retainer rim and said base ring, said force flange being disposed intermediate said base ring and said tip, said retainer rim and said journal barrel being of a dimension for insertion into a respective end of said tube;

a cone washer mounted on each insert, each cone washer having a washer bore, a front end portion, a conical sealing surface and a disk-shaped back portion, said washer bore being received by said tip and said back portion abutting a first surface of said force flange;

an internally threaded cap mounted on each inert, each cap having a digitally engaging surface, an end wall and a coaxial bore, said coaxial bore being of a dimension for rotatable engagement with said base ring, said end wall engaging the second surface of said force flange; and

a crimp ring holding each insert within said conduit, each ring being of a dimension to engage an outer surface of said conduit and to press fit said respective end of said conduit tube to said journal barrel, said retainer rim preventing removal of said insert past said crimp ring, said base ring limiting depth of insertion of said insert into said respective end of said tube whereby manual rotation of said cap onto a threaded valve fitting associated with either said faucet valve forces said insert via said force flange to wedge said cone washer front end into the associated valve fitting internal fitting bore and said conical sealing surface into a water tight wedging engagement and with said internally beveled open bore end of said valve fitting.

13. An end fitting as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second surface of said force flange has a bevelled edge and said end wall of said cap has a countersink coaxial with said bore, said countersink being dimensioned to receive said bevelled edge in rotatably slidable engagement.

14. An end fitting as set forth in claim 12 wherein said retainer rim has a frustconical extension extending coaxially outwardly therefrom to facilitate insertion of said insert into said conduit.

15. An end fitting as set forth in claim 14 wherein said crimp ring extends over said frustoconical extension to press fit said conduit to said frustoconical extension.

16. An end fitting as set forth in claim 12 wherein said journal barrel has a diameter less than each of said retainer rim and said base ring.

17. An end fitting as set forth in claim 12 wherein said force flange has a diameter greater than said base ring.

18. An end fitting as set forth in claim 12 wherein said cap is received by said base ring prior to insertion of said insert into said conduit.

19. An end fitting as set forth in claim 12 wherein said crimp ring has a generally arcuate flange extending intermediate an end of said conduit and an end of said base ring.

20. An end fitting as set forth in claim 12 wherein said digitally engageable surface is a knurled surface.

21. A faucet supply line assembly for connecting a faucet valve to a shut-off valve comprising:

.

a flexible conduit of a length sufficient to extend between each valve, said tube having a pair of ends;

a generally cylindrical conduit insert disposed within and at each end of said tube, said insert having a retainer rim, a journal barrel, a base ring, a force flange, and a tip, said journal barrel being disposed intermediate said retainer rim and said base ring, said force flange being disposed intermediate said base ring and said tip, said retainer rim and said journal barrel being of a dimension for insertion into a respective end of said tube;

a cone washer having a bore and a disk-shaped back portion, said bore being received by said tip and said back portion abutting a first surface of said force flange;

a threaded cap having a digitally engaging surface, an end wall and a coaxial bore, said bore being of a dimension for rotatable engagement with said base ring, said end wall engaging the second surface of said force flange; and

a crimp ring of a dimension to engage an outer surface of said conduit and to press fit said respective end of said conduit tube to said journal barrel, said retainer rim preventing removal of said insert past said crimp ring, said base ring limiting depth of insertion of said insert into said respective end of said tube, wherein said tip has a retainer ring at an edge of said insert and said cone washer has a counter bore therein to receive said retainer ring.

22. An end fitting as set forth in claim 21 wherein said retainer ring has a bevelled edge at said edge of said insert to facilitate mounting of said cone washer to said tip.

23. A faucet supply line assembly to interconnect a shut-off valve to a faucet valve fitting having an internally beveled open end, said assembly comprising:

a flexible conduit having a pair of ends;

a pair of end fittings, each of said end fittings being disposed at a respective one of said ends, each of said end fittings including a conduit insert, a threaded cap mounted on the insert and having an internal thread to engage a male threaded fitting on said valves and a digitally engaging surface to manually grip said cap for installation and removal of said supply line from said valves;

a force flange on the conduit insert of each of said pair of end fittings engaged by the associated cap; and

a cone washer mounted on each insert, each such cone washer having a front portion, a back portion and a conical external sealing surface tapering downwardly from said back portion to said front portion which is smaller in diameter than said back portion, each said cone washer being mounted on each insert with said back portion being against the associated force flange and said front portion facing axially outwardly of the associated one of said end fittings whereby interconnection of each of said end fittings to each of said valves causes each cap to force the associated insert force flange against the associated cone washer to effect a water tight seal without rotational engagement between the cap and washer, through a wedging of said conical external sealing surface of said cone washer against said internally beveled open end.

24. A faucet supply line as set forth in claim 23 wherein said digitally engageable surface is a knurled surface.

25. An end fitting for a flexible conduit to be threaded onto an externally threaded male fitting having an internally beveled bore open end, said end fitting comprising:

a conduit insert to be inserted at the end of a conduit and having a force flange and a tip;

a cone washer having a washer bore to fit said washer onto said insert tip on one side of said force flange, said cone washer including a disk-shaped back portion seated against said force flange, a smaller front end facing away from said flange and a conical sealing surface extending between said front end back portions;

a threaded cap having an end wall to engage said force flange on another side thereof; and

a crimp ring about said conduit to hold the assembled washer and insert to said conduit whereby rotation of said cap onto said male fitting will push said insert against said cone washer and thereby push said cone washer conical sealing surface into engagement with said internal beveled bore open end in a fluid tight wedging seal therebetween in response to manual rotation of said cap onto said fitting.