Vacuum tube and connector assembly

Claim 2

A multiple tube and connector assembly for a control system including a valve with multiple male outlets, comprising: a plurality of tubes for connecting different ones of the male outlets of the valve with other parts of the control system; hollow female connectors secured to the ends of said tubes and which are adapted to sealingly engage and mate with the male outlets of the valve to communicate the male outlets with said tubes; and a terminal connector housing having a plurality of spaced apart and longitudinally tapered openings therethrough for receiving said female terminals and to align the female connectors with the male outlets of the valve, said openings in said connector housing being in communication with axially and radially extending through side slots in said housing to enable the tubes to be laterally inserted into said openings and pulled back within the tapered openings until said female connectors secured to said tubes frictionally and sealingly engage the housing whereby said female connectors will be aligned with and can be simultaneously mated with the male outlets of the valve.

Claim 3

A multiple tube and connector assembly for a control system including a valve having multiple male outlets, comprising: a plurality of tubes for connecting different ones of the male outlets of the valves with other parts of the control system; female connectors secured on the ends of said tubes and being generally cylindrical in shape and having a given external diameter, said female connectors having an axially extending passage therethrough and being adapted to mate with and communicate the male outlets of the valve with the tubes, said female connectors having integral O-ring sealing means within said passage for frictionally engaging the male outlets of the valve to provide for sealed communication between the male outlets and said tubes; and a connector housing having a plurality of annular and spaced connector retaining portions arranged in an interconnected relationship, said connector retaining portions having inner walls defining frusto-conical openings therethrough for receiving said female terminals and which gradually taper to an internal diameter smaller than said external diameter of said female terminals, said openings being alignable with the male outlets of the valve, said terminal locking portions having axially extending slots therein and co-extensive therewith to provide for said female connectors to be received within said openings by inserting said tubes laterally through said slots and by pulling said tubes through said openings, said female connectors frictionally engaging the inner walls of said connector retaining portions and being retained in interference fit therewith whereby said female terminals can be simultaneously aligned aNd mated with said male outlets by manipulating said terminal connector.

Claim 4

A multiple tube and connector assembly for a control system including a valve having multiple male outlets, comprising: a plurality of tubes for connecting different ones of the male outlets of the valves with other parts of the control system; female connectors secured on the ends of said tubes and being generally cylindrical in shape and having a given external diameter, said female connectors having an axially extending passage therethrough and being adapted to mate with and communicate the male outlets of the valve with the tubes, said female connectors having integral O-ring sealing means within said passage for frictionally engaging the male outlets of the valve to provide for sealed communication between the male outlets and said tubes; and a connector housing having a plurality of annular and spaced connector retaining portions arranged in an interconnected relationship, said connector retaining portions having inner walls defining frusto-conical openings therethrough for receiving said female terminals and which gradually taper to an internal diameter smaller than said external diameter of said female terminals, said openings being alignable with the male outlets of the valve, said terminal locking portions having axially extending slots therein and co-extensive therewith to provide for said female connectors to be received within said openings by inserting said tubes laterally through said slots and by pulling said tubes through said openings, said female connectors frictionally engaging the inner walls of said connector retaining portions and being retained in interference fit therewith whereby said female terminals can be simultaneously aligned aNd mated with said male outlets by manipulating said terminal connector.

Claim 5

In the air conditioning system of an automotive vehicle: a plurality of vacuum tubes; female connectors with an axially extending passage therethrough and being generally cylindrical in shape with a given external diameter, said female connectors having frusto-conical end portions received and molded upon the ends of said tubes, each of said female terminals also having a pair of integral radially inwardly extending O-ring seals at axially spaced locations within said passage; a one-piece connector housing having a pluraity of annular and axially aligned connector retaining portions arranged in an interconnected and enclosed configuration, each of said portions having an inner wall defining an opening extending therethrough for receiving said female connectors, each of said openings having an upper portion generally complementary in shape to said tubes and having a middle frusto-conical portion generally complementary in shape with said frusto-conical end portion of said female connectors and also having a lower portion tapering to an internal diameter less than said given external diameter of said female connectors, said connector retaining portions each having an axially extending slot therein and co-extensive with said openings to provide for said female connectors to be received within said openings by inserting said tubes laterally through said slots and by pulling said tubes through said openings, said female connectors being frictionally engaged with said inner walls of said connector retaining portions when received within said openings and being retained in an interference fit with said inner wall; and a rotary vacuum valve for controlling communication between a vacuum source and various vacuum operated devices of the air conditioning system, said valve having an end plate with a plurality of male outlet terminals complementary in shape with said female terminals of said vacuum tubes and in a configuration adapted for said openings of said terminal locking portions to be alignable therewith whereby said female terminals can be simultaneously aligned and mated in sealed communication with said male outlets of said valve.

Claim 6

In the air conditioning system of an automotive vehicle: a plurality of vacuum tubes; female connectors with an axially extending passage therethrough and being generally cylindrical in shape with a given external diameter, said female connectors having frusto-conical end portions received and molded upon the ends of said tubes, each of said female terminals also having a pair of integral radially inwardly extending O-ring seals at axially spaced locations within said passage; a one-piece connector housing having a pluraity of annular and axially aligned connector retaining portions arranged in an interconnected and enclosed configuration, each of said portions having an inner wall defining an opening extending therethrough for receiving said female connectors, each of said openings having an upper portion generally complementary in shape to said tubes and having a middle frusto-conical portion generally complementary in shape with said frusto-conical end portion of said female connectors and also having a lower portion tapering to an internal diameter less than said given external diameter of said female connectors, said connector retaining portions each having an axially extending slot therein and co-extensive with said openings to provide for said female connectors to be received within said openings by inserting said tubes laterally through said slots and by pulling said tubes through said openings, said female connectors being frictionally engaged with said inner walls of said connector retaining portions when received within said openings and being retained in an interference fit with said inner wall; and a rotary vacuum valve for controlling communication between a vacuum source and various vacuum operated devices of the air conditioning system, said valve having an end plate with a plurality of male outlet terminals complementary in shape with said female terminals of said vacuum tubes and in a configuration adapted for said openings of said terminal locking portions to be alignable therewith whereby said female terminals can be simultaneously aligned and mated in sealed communication with said male outlets of said valve.