Hose end fittings

Claim 1

A tube end fitting comprising: a body having an axially extending, annular nipple adapted for insertion into a tube; a substantially cylindrical axially extending ring fitted over said nipple; said ring having axially opposite ends; said ring being split only through one side of said ring such that said ring has only a single split therein; said split extending completely axially along said ring and through its said ends; said ring having an interior with an inner diameter; said nipple having an exterior with an outer diameter; said ring inner diameter being greater than said nipple outer diameter and said ring interior being spaced from said nipple exterior; cooperating engaging means on said ring and on said body and being normally in continuous engagement with said ring clamped and unclamped; said engaging means of said body comprising an annular retainer passing around and seating on and outside said nipple; a first group of ribs on the exterior of said retainer and positioned axially along said retainer to define grooves for receiving other ribs; said engaging means of said ring comprising a second group of ribs projecting radially inwardly of said ring and being of radial height and spacing so as to mate with and engage said first group of ribs, thereby to engage said ring and said body; said engaging means of said ring being spaced away from one said end of said ring, so that between said nipple and said ring, starting at said one end of said ring and moving away therefrom toward said engaging means of said ring, there is defined between said ring and said nipple an annular cavity that is adapted to accommodate a tube end; clamp means carried by said ring for clamping said split thereof together, to effect a clamping action of said ring about a tube disposed around said nipple wherein said clamp means acts upon said ring to take up the resultant play between the components of said engaging means and to retain said ring upon said body; said nipple exterior being contoured with a third plurality of outwardly projecting ribs, all having respective axial boundaries, and said ring interior being contoured with a fourth plurality of radially inwardly projecting ribs also all having respective axial boundaries; each said radially outwardly projecting rib being radially aligned with and having the same axial boundaries as a respective one of said radially inwardly projecting ribs, such that cooperation of said radially aligned ribs enhances the clamping and securing of a tube between said nipple and said ring.