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EP0532242A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Quick connect tubing connector and method of assembly

Assignee: Bundy Corp
•
Filing: 1992-09-04
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-09-04
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Abstract

Abstract A fluid connector (20) connects a tube (22) within a housing bore (25). The tube (22) has axially spaced radially greater diameter upset portions (30;34) with a sleeve (33) and a locking member (26) trapped between the upset portions (30;34). The locking member (26) includes resilient arms (27) which secure it within the housing bore (25). The sleeve (33) has a notch (35) at an inner axial end which abuts the inner upset portion (34) to retain the tube (22) within the bore (25). An O-ring (40) is positioned axially inwardly of the upset portion (34). The sleeve (33) and the inner upset portion (34) both abut the O-ring (40) to provide a fluid tight seal between the tube (22) and the housing (24).

Inventors

  • 👤 James Mcnaughton
  • 👤 Walfred J. Liimatta
  • 👤 Mark G. Ketcham

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:50
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L33/00; F16L33/20; F16L33/207; F16L33/2071; F16L33/2073; F16L33/2076; F16L37/00; F16L37/008; F16L37/08; F16L37/084; F16L37/088; F16L37/098; F16L37/0985; F16L2201/00; F16L2201/80

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 229 words
Fluid connector (20;48;64;70) having; a housing (24;49;72) defining a bore (25;47), an axis extending inwardly into said bore (25;47) from an outer end of said bore (25;47) and a sleeve (33;54;80) secured within said bore (25;47); characterised in that a tube (22;50;74) extends into said bore (25;47), with a first end (42;63;89) of said tube (22;50;74) received within said bore (25;47) and a second end of said tube (22;50;74) spaced from said first end in a direction outwardly of said bore (25;47), an inner upset portion (34;58;84) of said tube (22;50;74) having a radially greater dimension than portions of said tube (22;50;74) on either axial side of said upset portion (34;58;84), said sleeve (33;54;80) being positioned on a side of said inner upset portion (34;58;84) spaced toward said second end, said sleeve (33;54;80) having a notch (35;61) at an axial end which abuts said inner upset portion (34;58;84), said notch (35;61) being defined by a first radially inner portion (36) abutting said inner upset portion (34;58;84) and a second radially outer portion (38) extending to a position axially aligned with, and radially outwardly of, said inner upset portion (34;58;84) such that said notch (35;61) receives said inner upset portion (34;58;84) and retains said tube (22;50;74) within said bore (25;47); and a seal (40;60;88) received within said bore (25;47) and abutting said radially outer portion (38) of said sleeve (33;54;80).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 44 words
A fluid connector (20;48;64;70) according to Claim 1, characterised in that a radially inwardly extending ditch (62) is formed between said inner upset portion (34;58;84) and said first end (42;63;89) of said tube (22;50;74), and said seal (40;60;88) is received in said ditch (62).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
A fluid connector (64) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said seal consists of a first resilient washer (66) positioned axially adjacent said sleeve end, and an O-ring (60) positioned on an inner axial side of said washer (66).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 135 words
A fluid connector (20;70) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a locking member (26;78) is received within said bore (25) and secures said sleeve (33;80) within said bore (25), said locking member (26;78) having resilient arms (27) with outer ends having a relaxed outer radial dimension, an entrance (44) to said bore (25) having an inner radial dimension less than the said relaxed outer radial dimension, and said bore (25) having a radially greater portion inwardly of said entrance (44), with an inner diameter that is greater than said relaxed outer radial dimension such that said arms (27) are forced radially inwardly while moving through said entrance (44) and spring to said relaxed radial dimension, securing said locking member (26;78) within said bore (25), after reaching said radially greater portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 220 words
A fluid connector (20;70) having; a housing (24;72) defining a bore (25), an axis extending inwardly into said bore (25) from an outer end of said bore (25), said bore (25) having an entrance portion (44) of a relatively small first radial dimension at said outer end, and a greater radial portion of a second dimension positioned axially inwardly from said entrance portion (44); characterised in that a tube (22;74) is received in said bore (25), said tube (22;74) being secured within said bore (25) by a locking member (26;78), said locking member (26;78) having resilient arms (27) with a relaxed outer radial dimension intermediate said first and second dimensions, said arms (27) being biased inwardly as said locking member (26;78) is moved into said bore (25) and through said entrance portion (44), said arms (27) springing radially outwardly to said relaxed position, securing said locking member (26;78) within said bore (25) when said locking member (26;78) reaches said greater radial portion, said locking member (26;78) having a ring-shaped member (32) abutting a sleeve (33;80), and said sleeve (33;80) abutting a radially greater portion (34;84) of said tube (22;74), such that said ring-shaped member (32) of said locking member (26;78) retains said sleeve (33;80) within said bore (25), and said sleeve (33;80) retains said tube (22;74) within said bore (25).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A fluid connector (20;70) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said arms (27) have braces (45) extending circumferentially and slightly radially inwardly from circumferential sides of said arms (27) to add strength.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 52 words
A fluid connector (20;70) according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that tangs (28) extend radially inwardly from an outer axial end of said arms (27), said tangs (28) abutting an inner face (23) of said housing (24;72) to retain said locking member (26;78) within said housing (24;72).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 56 words
A fluid connector (20;64;70) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an outer upset portion (30;68) is formed on said tube (22;50;74) on an axial side of said sleeve (33;54;84) spaced towards said second end of said tube (22;50;74), said outer upset portion (30;68) retaining said sleeve (33;54;84) on said tube (22;50;74).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 92 words
A fluid connector (70) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second end of said tube (74) includes at least two spaced outer upset portions (91,92), said two spaced outer upset portions (91,92) having a radially greater dimension that a portion (96) of said tube (74) intermediate said two spaced outer upset portions (91,92), and a flexible hose (76) forced onto said upset portions (91,92) and a ferrule (94) being deformed radially inwardly at said portion (96) to hold said flexible hose (76) on said tube (74).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 57 words
A fluid connector (70) according to Claim 9, characterised in that a third outer upset portion (90) is formed axially inwardly of said two spaced outer upset portions (91,92), and said ferrule (94) includes an inner portion (100) positioned between said third outer upset portion (90) and an innermost of said two spaced outer upset portions (91,92).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 194 words
A fluid connector (70) having a relatively rigid tube (74), characterised in that said tube (74) has three spaced upset portions (90,91,92), said upset portions (90,91,92) having a outer diameter greater than the nominal diameter of said tube (74) at locations intermediate said upset portions (90,91,92); a flexible hose (76) received on said tube (74), and aligned with a central and an outer one of said upset portions (91,92); and a ferrule (94) positioned radially outwardly of said flexible tube (76), and having an axially inner end (100) extending between an inner one of said upset portions (90) and said central upset portion (91), said inner end (100) of said ferrule (94) being spaced from said tube (74) by an inner peripheral surface which has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said inner upset portion (90) and said central upset portion (91) such that said ferrule (94) cannot move axially beyond said upset portions (90,91), and said ferrule (94) being crimped radially inwardly at a location between said central upset portion (91) and said outer upset portion (92), such that said flexible tube (76) is squeezed radially inwardly at said location.

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