Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVED FLUID COUPL NG ASSEMBLY
Field Of The Invention
__ _ ____
The present invention relates to a fluid coupling
assembly for connecting an oil cooler disposed within the
header of an automobile radiator to the tubular connector
end portion of an oil line. This invention finds utility
in the automotive industry where a transmission oil cooler
is frequently disposed within the header of a radiator
for a water cooled engine.
Back~round
___
A typical automobile radiator consist~ of ~pac~d
apart inlet and outlet headers which are interconnected
by a plurality of tubes which ext:end through a number of
parallel fins over which amblent air is drawn by a fan
(or by the forward movement of the automobile), the alr
serving to cool the engine coolant. If the automobile
is provided with an automatic transmission, it may be
necessary to provide a heat exchanger for cooling the
12165~;S4
transmission oil or fluid. An oil cooler may be provided
over which air may pass ln one form of transmlssion oil
cooler. In another form, which is more typical of many
automobiles, the transmission oil cooler is actually
disposed within one of the headers of the automobile
radiator, and therefore the transmission oil is cooled
by the engine coolant as it passes over this heat
exchanger~ To this end, a radiator which utilizes this
form of a transmission oil cooler is provided with a
header having a pair of spaced apart apertures. The
associated oil cooler is provided with fittin~s which
extend through the apertures and to which oil lines may
be secured directly.
In practice, a number of disadvantages have been
found with this prior art construction. One disadvantage
relates to the use of seal plugs. Thus, after the assembly
of the fitting to the oil cooler, it is necessary to seal
the oil cooler for testing and to prevent the introducation
of foreign elements into the cooler. This is done by screw~
i.ng threaded plugs into the oil cooler fittings. At the
final assembly location, which may be many hundreds of miles
away from the location where the oil cooler and radiator
are fabricated, it is then necessary to remove these plugs.
It has been found in practice that it is frequently difficult
to remove these plugs which disassembly may take place many
months after the plugs were installed. The labor costs
associated with the removal of these seal pl~lgs, and ~he
subsequent waste of these plug5 i.S consiclerc~d ~0 I)e
excessive.
Another disadvantage of the prior art construction
relates to the labor costs associated with the time in-
volved in assembling the oil line to the fitting and the
subsequent testing which is required. If the securing nut
~2~sg~
. 3 .
which secures the oil line in place is not torqued sufficiently, anq~or
if the oil line (or fl æ e seat) has not been properly flared, leakage
will probably result. On the other hand, if the securing nut is
torqued too much, there is a danger that the securing nut may shear,
which will then require repairs.
A further disadvantage relates to the subsequent servicing of
the vehicle. Once the transmission oil line has been secured to the
existing fitting of the prior art, it has been found that during
servicing of an automobile it is frequently necessary to cut the oil
line in order to remove the radiator, as servicemen are reluctant to
disconnect the end of the oil line from the radiator in view of a
variety of problems.
Also, it has been noted that the existing fittings of the
prior art, which are made of a ferrous material, will frequently
corrode and up to one half of the antirust ingredient of the initial
coolant fill may be utilized in overcomlng the rust attributable to the
transmission oil line fittings.
Summary of the Present In_ ntion
Broadly spe~king, the present invention provides a fluid
couplin~ assembly for connecting an oil cooler disposed within a
radiator header to an oil line which terminates outside the radiator,
the header having at least one aperture in a wall thereof which
receives a portion of the fluid coupling assembly, the oil cooler
having a port aligned with the aperture, and the oil line terminating
in a tubular connector end portion having a terminal end; the fluid
couplung assembly comprising: a tubular fitting having a bore
extending throughout its length, the tubular fitting being braz~l to
the oil cooler in fluid-tight relationship about the port and a second
portion being secured to ~le header in ~luid-tight relationship within
the aperture, the tubular fitting and the tubular connector end
portion being adapted to be telescoped one within the other from a
disassembled position to an assembled position; an axially compressible
tubular cylindrical elastomeric seal mounted within one of either the
tubular fittin~ or the tubular comlector end portion and capable of
being axially compressed when the tubular connector end portion and the
S
12~5554
. 3a .
tubular fitting are in their assembled position to provide a fluid-
tight æal between the oil line and the oil cooler; and coupler means
capable of holdm g the tukular fitting and the tubul æ connector end
portion in their assembled position, the coupler mKans including an
outw ædly-extending surface mounted on one of either the tubular
connector end portion or the tubular fitting, and the coupler means
further including catch means mounted on the other one of either the
tubular fitting or the tubular connector end portion, the catch means
lo biased into locking engagement with the outwardly-extndirg surface
when the tubul æ fitting and the tubular connector end portion æe
telescoped into their assembled position whereby the parts are held
together in their assembled position.
m e advantages of the present invention are accomplished in
one design by providing a novel fluid coupling assembly which includes
a female fitting, a male fitting, and a quick disconnect coupling. Ihe
female fitting can be secured directly to the surface of a side wall of
an oil cooler about an aperture therein, the female fitting being
provided with a threaded neck portion which extends at least partially
through an aperture in said side wall. Ihe male fittLng has one end
~hich can be threaded into the female fitting, a break-off end plug at
the other end, a radially outwardly extending nut or washer-like
element adjacent the threaded end portion, and a cylindrical portion
extending between the outw ædly extending element and the break-off end
plug, which cylindrical portion is provided with a groove for the
reception of a quick disconnect coupling. The quick disconnect
coupling can be secured to one end of an oil line, the quick disconnect
coupling also being capable of being secured to the male Eitting aPtQr
the break-off ~nd plug has be~n brolcen oP~.
In other designs the advantages of the present invention are
accomplished by providing a novel fluid coupling assembly having a
tubular fitting provided with a stepped bore, a first portion of the
tubular fitting being brazed to the oil cooler and another portion
extending through an aperture in the header wall and being secured to
the header wall in a fluid tight relationship about said aperture. The
assembly further includes a tubular cylindrical elastomeric seal
~.
~65554~
. 3b .
disposed within the bore with one end being adjacent said step. The
coupling assembly also includes coupler means including a radially
out~r~ly extending surface on the tubular connector end portion of an
oil line and a catch on the tubular fitting, the catch being a spring
clip which is adapted to engage the radially outwardly extending
surface to hold the tubular connector end portion telescoped within a
portion of the tubular fitting, with the elastomeric seal compressed
between the tubNlar fitting and the tukular connector end portion.
The preceding features and advantages of this invention will
become more apparent after a consideration of the following det~iled
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which two preferred forms of this invention are illustrated.
A
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Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. ] is a rear view of an automotive radiator in
which the principles of this invention may be embodied.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectiona] view of a
portion of a prior art rad;ator header in which an oil
cooler is installed prior to Einal assembly.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but
illustrating a novel fitting assembly of this invention.
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but
illustrating only the female fitting shown in Fig. 3, the
female fitting being associated with a temporary closure
device.
Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the fluid coupling
assembly of this inven-tion.
lS Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the
quick coupler shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the
male fitting illustrated in Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the male fitting shown in
Fi~ 7.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the
female fitting shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the Eitting shown in
Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 illustrates a quick disconnect coupling of
the type which may be utilized in this invention, the
quick disconnect coupling being adapted to receive an oil
line extendinp at r;ghl: nnglos ~o Ihe axis Or ~he quick
disconnect couplin~.
Fig. 12 is a view somewhal: similclr to Pig. 3 bul:
illustrating a secon(l emhodiment Or the present invention.
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--5--
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken generally
along the line 13-13 in Fig. 12.
Figs. 14 illustrates a seal ~lug whici-l may he
utilized with the embodiment of Figs. 12 and 13.
Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 12 hu~ illus-
trating a third emhodiment of the present invention, which
emhodiment is illustrated with the radiator header having
a metallic wall.
Fig. 16 is a view illustrating a sub-assembly of
the fluid coupling shown in Fig. 15.
Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken generally along
the line 17-17 in Fig. 6.
Figs. 18 and 19 are enlarged cross-sectional
views illustrating a portion of a modified version of the
third embodiment shown in Fig. 15 and Fig. 18 showing var-
ious parts prior to final assembly, and Fig. 19 showing
various parts aEter Einal assemhly.
Fig. 20 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3, hut
showing a fourth embodimen~ of the present invention.
Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken generally
along line 21-21 in Fig. 20.
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Detailed Description of Figs. 1 and 2
Referring first to Fig. I an automotive radiator
is illustrated, this radiator being suitable for use with
the present invention. The automotive radiator, which is
indicated generally at 10, includes spaced apart left and
right hand headers 12,14, respectively. The heat
exchanger element 16 of the radiator 10 extends between
the headers 12 and 14 and consists of a plurality of
parallel tubes and transverse fins, which fins are
parallel to the headers 12 and 14. The headers are
provided with cylindrical extensions to which radiator
hoses 18 and 20 may be secured. The radiator is also
provided with a fill port 22 which is closed by a radiator
cap 24. While a transverse flow radiator has been
illustrated, it should be appreciated tha~ many radiators
have vertically spaced apart headers interconnected by
vertically extending tubes and the present invention is
suitable for use with such radiators as wel] as the form
shown in Fig. l. As illustrated in Fig. 1 one of the
headers may be provided with an oil cooler for cooling
transmission oil, the oil cooler being indicated at 26.
In Fig. 1 only one oil cooler 26 is illustra-ted, this oil
cooler customarily being utilized for cooling transmission
oil. However, it should be appreciated that the oil
cooler 26 could be utilized ~or cooling other fluids, such
as for example, engine oil for a diesel engine. In
addition, it should also be appreciated that the radiator
may be provided with more than ono oil cooler, an(l ~hlls,
an oil cooler 26 may ~e provi(l~d in eaGh he1d(!r.
~265~iS~
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Each header has opposed walls, and each header which is to
receive an oil cooler has a pair of spaced apart apertures
in one of its opposed walls.
One end of a prior art oil cooler is illustrated
in greater detail in Fig. 2. It can be seen that the
prior art oil cooler consists o~ a plurality of spaced
apart plate-li~e elements 28 which are interconnected at
opposed ends by fluid passageway forming elements 30. On
the top plate is a locating ~lange 32 which is disposed
about a poLt in the top wall of the top plate Z8.
With further reference to Fig. 2 a portion of a
prior art coupling device is illustrated. In this regard,
it should be noted that the oil cooler 26 is provided with
two coupling devices, one for an inlet oil line and one
for an outlet oil line. The prior art fitting, which is
indicated generally at 34, includes a generally
cylindrical portion 36 provided with a flat bottom surface
and a lower recess 40 which was adapted to locate the
cylindrical portion 36 relative to the locating flange 32
prior to brazing the fitting 34 to the top plate 28 of the
heat exchanger 26, The prior art ~itting 34 is also
provided with a neck portion 42 provided with external and
internal threads 44,46, respec-tively. Disposed adjacent
the internal threads 46 is an inverted flared portion 48
about which the flared end of an oil line is adapted to be
secured. A bore 50 extends from the recess ~0 through the
inverted Elared portion. The neck portion is a-laptetl to
be passed through a suitable apertltre ln a wall 54 o~ the
header, To this end it should he noted thclt the spaced
apart ports in the oil cooler are alignable with the
spaced apart apertures 52 in the associate(l w;tl.l 5~. The
neck portion is also provided with a cylindrical portion
56 which is disposed between the cylindrical portion 36
and the external threads 4~ for propcrly locating the
fit-ting 34 within the aperture 52.
~65S~4
The prior art fittings 34 are preferably made of
steel and after a pair of fittings 34 are placed on the
top plate 28 of the oil cooler 26 and properly located,
they are suitably brazed thereto by brazing material 56.
After two fittings 34 have been brazed to the oil cooler
26 it is then necessary to pressure test the assembly for
leaks. To this end a threaded plug 58 is inserted into
one of the fittings 34 and suitable test apparatus is
inserted into the other Eitting 34 on the oil cooler.
Fluid under pressure is then introduced into the oil
cooler 26 to test for leaks. If no leaks are present the
oil cooler is considered to have passed this inspection
and the test apparatus is removed and another plug 58 is
positioned within an associated fitting.
As can be seen, the cylindrical portion 36 is
provided with a surface 60 opposite that of the bottom
brazed sur~ace 38, the surface 60 being provided with a
pair of concentric inwardly spaced grooves 62. Prior to
the assembly a compressible washer 64 is placed over the
grooves 62. The oil cooler is then positioned with the
header of the radiator. It should be appreciated that in
order to asse~ble the oil cooler with the Eitting 34 into
the header it is first necessary to position the oil
cooler with the plate 28 further away from the fitting 34
closely adjacent the wall 66 of the header, the wall 66
being opposite wall 5~, in order to provide suitable
clearance. Thus, the distance rom the top s~lrEace 68 oE
the fitting to the hottom surface 70 oE tlle lowerlllosl:
plate is on~y sli~htly less thal1 the distarlce l~etween the
inner surface oE one wall 5~ an(l the corresponding inner
surface of the other header wall 66. Thus there must be a
clearance between the bottom surEace 70 and the adjacent
surface of header wall 6fi which is in excess oE the height
of the fitting 3~ which extends through and above
555~
wall 54, this height being indicated by arrows a in Fig.
2. AEter the oil cooler 26 and fitti.ng 3~ have been
positioned in the header with the fittings 34 projecting
through apertures 52, the oil cooler is secured in place
by nuts 72 the nuts being screwed down to cause them to
bear against one surface 74 of the wall 54 and to cause
the washer 64 to bear tightly against the other surface 76
of wall 54. At this time the radiator assembly is
suitable for installation in an automobile. I-lowever, as
the radiators for a number of different assembly plants
are made at a common plant, it is necessary to ship the
radiator to a dif~erent location. It is then necessary to
remove plugs 58 prior to final assembly. As it is
possible that some time may be elapsed, and that the
radiator may have been subject to abuse during that period
of time between completion and assembly it is frequently
difficult to remove the plugs 58. Thus, it has also been
found in practice that frequently an excessive amount of
labor ti.me is in fact required to remove the plugs from
the fittings prior to final assembly. These plugs, which
are a machined part, are not returned to the radiator
plant but are thrown away.
While this prior art design has performed in a
generally satisfactory manner in the past, other
difficulties have al.so been encountered. Thus, as the
parts 34 and 58 are made oE Eerrous mater.ial, Erequent].y
corrosion of these parts takes ~1.ace to such an eXtellt Up
to one-halE of the ant:i-rust inhihitors in tlle :initial
coolant Eill are consume(l comhatirlg this corrosion.
Finally, servicemen who are require(i to repair the
automobiles after use are reluctant to disconnect the end
of the oil ].ine from Eittings 34 and customarily cut the
line when it is necessary to remove the radiator ~or
service.
126S55~
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lt should be appreciated from the above that while
the prior art design has performed in a generally
satisfactory manner, it has numerous shortcomings~ The
major shortcomîngs are the limitation on the number of
plates which the oil cooler can be provided with due to
the overall height of the fitting 34, the excessive labor
required to remove the plug 58 at the final assembly
location, the attendant waste of machined parts aEter the
plugs 58 have been removed, and the difEiculties
encountered in servicing the vehicle after use by the
owner/operator of the vehicle.
Detailed Description of Figs. 3 to_ _
In order to overcome the disadvantages of the
prior art construction, the novel fluid coupling
assemblies oE this invention have been developed.
Referring now to Fig. 5 the fluid coupling assembly is
indicated generally at 100 and consists of a quick
disconnect coupling indicated generally at 102, a fitting
assembly including a male fitting indicated generally at
104 and a female fitting indicated generally at 106, and
a compressible washer 108 disposable between the male and
female fittings of the fitting assembly. The compressible
washer 108 is of the same construction as the compressible
washer 64 illustrated in Fig. 2.
The quick disconnect coupler 102 is of a generally
conventional construction and is adapted to engage a
cylindrical element provideA with a circumEerentlal
groove, To this end the ~uick disconnect ollpler includes
a body 110 provided with a longiti(-lnally extending bore
112 which is tapped or threaded at one end. The other end
of the bore is of a greater diamter and receives a
generally cylinArical seal 114 provided with a conical
seating portion 116. The body is Eurther provided with a
plurality o recesses capable of receiving retaining balls
118. Typically, the body 110 will be provided with three
or more ball receiving recesses. The balls are held in a
~L265SS~
lOa-
coupling position such as that indicated in Fig. 6, by a
slidable sleeve 120, which is held in its normal operable
position by a retaining ring 122, the sleeve 120 normally
being spring biased
~7sss~
against the retaining ring 122 by a spring 124. It should
be appreciated that if the sleeve 120 were moved in an
upward direction as viewed in Fig. 6 against the action of
the spring 124 that the balls could move radially
outwardly into the enlarged cylindrical portion 126 of
sleeve 120 to facilitate the installation or removal of
the quick disconnect coupler. It should be appreciated
that the threaded end 128 of an oil line 130 can be
screwed into the tapped bore 112 in a fluid tight
relationship.
To this end the threads may be provided with a
curable pipe sealant which is capable of operating in the
environment of the parts. Such a sealant could be Loctite
brand PST pipe sealant which is a methyl acrylic ester
provided with a teflon filler.
Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, the nove] male
fitting of this invention is illustrated. The male
fitting 104 includes a generally cylindrical main body
portion 132. The main body portion 132 has external
threads 134 on one end thereof. The main body portion is
provided with a further cylindrical end section 136
provided with a circumferentially extending groove 138
between the ends of the cylindrical end section 136, the
cylindrical end section being provided with a conical end
surface 140. The cylindrical end section and groove act
as means which are capable oE Eacilitating the
interconnection of the oil line, throllgh ~he qllick collpler
to the male fittirlg in a ~luid tight relAtionship.
Disposed betweerl the externally threa(le(l en(l l34 and the
cylindrical end section 136 of the main body portion is a
radially outwardly extending e]ement 142. Thc element 142
is prcvided with two parallel surEaces 143 which extend
generally perpendicularly to the axis 145 of the generally
cylindrical main body portion 132. The surface 144 is
adapted to bear against the outer surface 74 of one wall
54 of the radiator header. The element is provided with
opposed parallel flats 146 which will facilitate turning
of the fitting
l~ss~
-12-
104 relation to the female fitting 106. It should be noted at this
point when the male fitting is initially manufactured it is manu-
factured with a break-off end plug 148 which is shown in Fig. 3.
The break-off end plug is provided with a cylindrical section 150,
the cylindrical section 150 having a slightly larger diameter than
the cylindrical end section 136 which will prevent the inadvertent
connection of a quick disconnect coupler 102 to a male fitting 104
prior to the breaking off of the plug 148. It can be seen from an
inspection of Fig. 3 that the conical end surface 140 extends
radially inwardly between the cylindrical end section 136 and the
break-off end plug 148. A cut surface 152 extends generally
perpendicularly to the bore 154 which extends through the full
length of the main body portion 132 and it extends radially
inwardly from the terminal ends of the conical end surface 140.
The plug 148 is provided with a radially inwardly extending conical
surface 156 which terminates closely adjacent the bore 154 where it
intersects the cut surface 152. It should be appreciated that by
utillzing this design , the end plug 148 can be broken off from
the ~ain body portion 132 wlth only minimal burrs. One way of
breaking off the plug 148 is to simply insert a closely fitting
cylindrical element about the cylindrical section 150 an~ then
applying a force at right angles to the axis of the cylindrical
section to simply break off the plug. The purpose of the break-off
end plug wlll be described in greater detail below. It ~hould be
noted that the break off end plug 148 is initially integral with the
male fitting and it caps the bore 154 ad~acent the end surEace 140.
Referring now to Figx. ~ and 1 n, Ll.e rc",.,L( Fltt~lnl, IC)l~
corresponds to a llmlted extcllt ~o l:he prlol a~ in~ . 'L'hus,
the Eemale fittln~ L9 provlde(l wlth -l rndL;IL1y olltwardly extendltlg
30 cylindrical main body portion 158, the portLon 158 havlllg a E1at
surface 160 and another surface 162 parallel to the flat surEace 160.
As can be seen Erom a compnrison o~ Figs. 2 and 9 the heLgllt of the
cylindrical portion 158, that ls to say the distance between the
surfaces 160 and 162 is considerably less than the corresponding
distances in the prior art fitting
~265554
-13-
illustrated in Fig. 2. Spaced inwardly of the surface 162
is a recessed portion portion provided with concentric
grooves 164. The cylindrical portion 158 is provivded
with a recess 166 having a diameter suitable to facilitate
the alignment of the female fitting 106 about the locating
flange 32 on the upper plate 28 of an oil cooler 26. The
female fitting is further provided with a neck portion 168
which is suitably apertured, the aperture being provided
with internal threads 170. ~s can be seen, the surfaces
160 and 162 extend generally perpendiclllarly to the
threaded aperture 170, as does the surEace 172 of the neck
portion 168.
The fluid coupling assembly of this embodiment is
coupled to an oil cooler in the following manner.
Initially the oil cooler receives the female fittings 106
about the spaced apart locating flanges 32 which define
two spaced apart ports in the oil cooler 26. The female
fittings 106 are then suitably bra~ed to the top plate 28
of the oil cooler. After brazing, the interior of the oil
cooler may be blocked off by either screwing in complete
male fittings into the female fittings, or by the
insertion of plastic caps of the form illustrate~ in Fig.
4. To this end each plastic cap, wh;ch is indicated
generally at 174, is provided with a con;cal deformable
projection 176 which can be readily screwed into the
threaded aperture 170 of -the female fitting. It should be
noted though that the plastic caps are not suitahle ~or
the pressure test seqllenoe an(l thlns, Whell this SeqllenCe iS
performed it is desir.ll)le that a ml1e ~itting l04 be
screwed into one of the felnale ~ittings 106, the male
fitting being provided with the break-off end plug 148.
Thus, during the pressure test sequence of the oil cooler
26 one male fitting 104 is screwed into one oE the female
fittings 106, and the test apparatus is screwed into the
other female fitting 106 during testing. After the
completion of the test sequence it would normally be
~26~
-14-
desirable to remove the male fitting 104 and insert the
plastic cap 174 until such time as the oil cooler 26 is to
be assembled within the header of the radiator.
When the oil cooler 26 is to be assembled within
the header it is first positioned into the header in the
same manner as the prior art oil cooler 26. However, it
should be noted that due to the reduced overall height of
the fitting between the bottom surface 160 and the
outermost surface 176 and the height of the neck portion,
which is indicated by the arrows b, it is possible with
the female fitting 106 of this inventioll to provide a five
plate oil cooler 26 in the embodiments shown in Fig. 3
rather than the four plate oil cooler in the embodiment
shown in Fig. 2. It should be noted though that prior to
positioning the oil cooler 26 within the header that
washers 108 are suitably located on the female fitting
106. After placement into the header the neck portion l68
of the female Eittings 106 are positioned within the
spaced apart apertures 52 of wall 54 and then the male
fittings lO5 are screwe-l into the female fitting ca~lsing
the lowermost surface 144 of the element I42 to bear
against the outer surface 74 of the wall 54 and similarly
to cause the washer 108 to bear against the opposed
surface 76 of the wall 54, the washer and threaded
connection insuring a fluid tight connection. In this
regard it should be appreciated that a suitable sealant
such as Loctite brand PST pipe sealant may he applie~l to
the threads 134 of the male ~itting prior to that point
where it is screwed into the threacle(l aperture in the
female fitting. After the male fittings have been secured
in place the radiatior assembly can be shipped to the
final assembly location. At the -time o~ assembly it is
then only necessary to break off the break-off end plugs
148, to screw the quick disconnect couplers onto the ends
of the oil lines which are to be secured to the oil cooler,
~2~555~
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and then to secure the quick disconnect coupler to the
cylindrical end section 136 of the male fitting. When
this is done the seal 116 will bear against the conical
surface 140 and provide a suita~le fluid-tight seal. The
seal may be made of a fluoroelastomer such as VITON which
is made by E.I. duPont, this being a high temperature oil
resistant elastomer.
Due to the high brazing heat it is desirable that
the female fitting 106 be made of a high temperature
resistant material such as ferrous metal. However, in
order to reduce corrosion during that period of time after
the oil cooler has been assembled within the radiator, the
male fitting 104 may be of non-corrosive material such as
brass.
Detailed Description of Figs. 12 to 14
In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 a
fluid coupling assembly is adapted to be associated with a
header of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, the
header is provided with a plastic wall 37 having an
aperture 34 therein. While the header described is of
plastic, it should be appreciated that the design
illustrated in this figure, as well as the design
illustrated in ~ig. 3, can also be applied to headers
having an aperture in a metallic wall, such as copper,
where it is desired to form a fluid-tight seal by
compressing a washer to one surface of the wall of the
header about the aperture. The Eluid cou~l~n~ oE the
design illustrated in r:i~s. l2 and 1~ will couple an oil
]ine 200 providet] with a tubular connector end portïon 202
to an oil cooler 26 disposed within a radiator header
having an apertured wall. The fluid coupling includes a
tubular fitting, indicated generally at 204, an axially
compressible tubular cylindrical elastomeric seal 206, and
coupler means indicated generally at 208. The tubular
fitting 204 is formed of separable first and second
portions 210,212
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-16-
respectively. The ~irst portion is provided with a
generally flat first surface 214 which is adapted to be
brazed, as at 216, to an exterior surface of the oil
cooler 26 about the flange 32 which defines one of the
ports in the oil cooler. The first portion is fu~ther
provided with a neck portion 218 which is adapted to he
received at l.east in part within the aperture 34, the neck
portion having internal threads 220. The ~irst portion
further includes a radially 0l3tward]y extending portion
provided with grooves 222 in that surface opposite the
first surface 214, the grooves being adapted to cooperate
with a compressible washer 224 to provide a seal about the
aperture 34.
The second portion 212 of the tubular ~itting is
provided with a bore throughout its length, the bore being
adapted to be disposed in concentric relationship with the
locating flange 32 and the threaded aperture 220 oE the
first portion. The bore of the second portion includes
first and second cylindrical interior surface
portions 226,228, respectively, the diameter of the ~irst
cylindrical interior surface portion being greater than the
diameter of the second cylindrical interior surface
portion~ and the two portions being separated from each
other by a radially outwardly extending step 230, Thus, it
can be seen that the bore of the second portion 212 differs
from that of the design shown in Fig. 12 by the provision
of the step 230. The exterior surface corresponds in solne
respects to that oE the desi.gn shown in Pi~. 12. Tlllls, t.lle
lower end portion is providctl wi.th ~llrelds 232 whi.ch mcly he
screwed into the threads 220, In additioll, there is an
upper cylindrical portion 23~. Disposed hetween Ihe upper
cylindrical portion 23~ and the lower threaded end 230 is
an outwardly extending ~l.ange portion 236 which may be
provided with suitable Elats to facilitate the turning
~SS5~
-17
of the second portion into the first portion. While the
flange 236 could in theory bear direc~ly against the header
wall, in order to save materials, i~ bears against the
surface of the washer 240, the washer in turn bearing
against the header wall 37. The cylindrical exterior
surface portion 234 is provided with an annular recess 242,
the recess in turn being provided with cutouts 244
(Fig. 13) which extend into ~he bore 226.
As can be seen from Fig. 12, the axially
compressible tubular cy].indrical elastomeric seal 206 is
mounted within the bore, one end of the seal abutting the
step 230. The distance between the cutouts 240 and the
step 230 is greater than the normal length (that is to say
the uncompressed length) of the seal 206.
The coupler means consists essentially of two
differing elements. The first of these tWO elements is an
outwardly extcnding surface 246 on the tubular connector
end portion 202. The second of these two elements is catch
means mounted on the tubular fitting 9 the catch means
preferably being in ~he form of a C-shaped spring wire
clip 248.
The outwardly extending surface 246 preferably
extends at right angles to the axis 250 of the tubular
connector end portion 202. In order to facilitate the
insertion of the tubular connector end portion into the
tubular fitting, a tapered leading surface or conical
surface 252 is provided on the tubular end connector
portion, the ]arger diame~t.!r of tht corlical surE..lce
intersecting the ratlial.l.y outwardly exterl(ling surrace 2~6
at ;ts periphery, and the smaller diameter oE the conical
surface being disposed at the terminal end of the end
portion 202
l~;S5~g~
-18-
As previously noted, the second portion 212 of the
tubular fitting 204 is provided wi~h an annular recess 242
provided with cutouts 244. The C-shaped spring wire
clip 248 is installed in this groove by moving it from a
disassembled position shown in Fig. 13 in the direction of
the arrow 254 to the assemhled position. As can be seen,
the C-shaped spring clip is provided wilh circumEerentially
spaced apart radially inwardly extending engaging means 256
and these engaging means will he disposed within the
cutouts 244, with the radially inner portion of the
engaging means lying within the cylindrical bore defined by
the first bore surface 226.
In the design of Figs. 12 and 13, the tubular
connector end portion may be the end portion of the oil
line, the conical surface 254 and the radially outwardly
extending surface 246 being provided by heading the end of
the oil line. Alternatively, the terminal end portion can
be a separate machined part which is braæed or otherwise
secured to the end of the oil line. When the parts are in
~heir assembled position as shown in Fig. 12, it can be
seen that the elastomeric sea] 206 bears against the
step 230 of the second portion of the tubular Eitting and
also bears against the conical surEace of the tubll]ar
connector end portion to provide a seal between the parts,
thus insuring that the flow of fluid will be through the
bore of the tubular connector end portion, the central
aperture within the seal 206, and also throu~ll tho hores
within the tubular fitting.
The tubular connector end portion c~n he removed
from the tubular fitting by removing or spreading the
C-shaped clip with a suitable tool.
~2~5S4
-19-
A seal plug may be utilized wi-ch the design shown
in ~igs. 12 and 13, the seal plug to a limited extend
resembling the tubular connector end portion. Such a seal
plug is shown in Fig. 14. The seal plug, which is
indicated generally at Z58, consists of a generally solid
cylindrical memher 260 provided with a tapered leading
surface 262 and an outwardly extending surÇace 264
adjacent the tapered leading surface. The ou~wardly
extending surface is at an angle to the axis 266 of the
cylindrical member which angle is somewhal ]ess than 90.
The angle is preferably in the range of 75-85. In
addition, the cylindrical memher is provided with a
knurled surface 268. When it is desired to connect the
tubular connector end portion 202 of an oil line to the
tubular fitting, it is possible to pull upon the knurled
surface 268 to cause the outwardly extending angled
surface 264 tO bias the spring clip outwardly permitting
the withdrawal oE the plug 258 The plug can be made from
a metallic machined part, or alterna~ively it can be made
from a molded relatively rigid plastic part.
Detailed Description of Figs. 15 to 17
In ~igs. 15 to 17 another embodiment of fluid
coupling is illustrated. However, it should be noted that
this design of fluid coupling is designed for use with a
tubular fitting which can be brazed ~o ~he copper wall 70
of a header Eormed oE copper, rather than ~lastic Wherl n
Eluid coupling is heing asselnhled ~o arl oil cooler ~Inte
and a header wall whereill the tuhular Eittirlg carl l~e
hrazed to loth the plate and the header wall it is
desirable that the fitting be made oE a single intexral
piece~ Thus, with reference to Fig. 15, it can ~e seen
that the tublllar Eitting oE this em~odiment, which is
indicated generally at 304, is provided with integral
first and second portions 310,312, respectively, the
~265S54
-20-
first portion 310 is provided with a general]y flat ~irst
surface 314 which is adapted to be hrazed, as at 316, to an
exterior surface of the oil cooler 26 ahout ]ocating flange
32, the second portion 312 being hrazed to the header wall
70. The fluid coupling illustrated in Fig. 15 further
includes an axially compressible tuhular cylindrical
elastomeric seal 306, and coupler means indicated generally
at 308, the various parts being utilized to connect the
tubular connector end portion 302 of an oil line 300 to the
oil cooler 26. The fitting 304 is provided with first and
second concentric bore surfaces 326,328 separated by a
radially extending step 330. A portion of the first bore
surface 326 may be provided with threads 332, the threads
being utilized for the reception of a steel seal p]ug.
While the seal plug is not shown, i~ resembles a flat
headed screw and is utilized to prevent contamination of
the oil cooler during brazing. Such a plug can be removed
at the location where the hrazing takes place, in which
event transport seal plug may be used during shipping to
the point of final assembly. Alternatively, the brazing
seal plug may be removed at the point of final assemhly.
The first bore surface is also provided with a first
annular recess 342, the annular recess 342 being of greater
diameter than the normal diameter of an associated C-shaped
spring wire clip 348. Il should also be noted that the end
of the first bore surface 326 is provided with a flared
portion 338.
The coupler means 308 inc]udt-~s a radially ollcwardly
extending surface 346 on the tul)u~ar corlneccor erl(l
portion 302 and a C-shaped spring wire clip 238 oE
substantially the same form as that i]lustrated in Figs. 12
and 13. Between the end 303 of the t~bular connector end
portion 302 and the radially outwardly extending surface 346
is a cylindrical section 370 and a tapered leading surEace
~265554
-21-
in the form of a cone or conical surface 352. The larger
diameter of the conical surface 352 intersects the
periphery of the radially outwardly extending sur~ace 346,
and the smaller diameter intersects the cylindrical.
section 370 away from the end 303. It should be noted ~hat
the external diameter of the cylindrical section 370 is
almost as great as the internal diameter of the second bore
surface 328.
In order to facilitate the assembly of the
C-shaped spring wire cli~ 348 and the seal 306 within the
first bore 326, a thin walled carrier housing 372 is
provided, this carrier housing being best illustrated in
Figs. 16 and 17. As can be seen, the carrier is provided
with a radially outwardly extending lip 374 at its upper
end and a radially inwardly extending lip 376 at its lower
end, and a generally cylindrical portion 378 between the
two lips. Circumferentially spaced apart slots 380 are
provided within the cyl.indrical wall 378, said slots heing
capable of receiving radially inwardly engaging means 356
formed on the C-shaped spring wire clip. The distance
between the slots and the lowermost end of the carrier
housing 372 is approximately the same distance as that
distance between the lower surface of the first annular
recess 342 an~ the step 330. As can best be seen from
Fig. 16, the axial distance between the slo~s 380 and the
upper surface of the inwardly extending lip 376 is less
than the axial length of the associated seal 306.
To assemble the seal and C-shaped spring ~ire~ clip
into the tubu].ar fitting 304, it is necessary to first
dispose the seal 306 in the carrier housing with one end of
the seal bearing against the inwardly extending lip 376.
The C-shaped spring wire clip is then installed about the
carrier housing with the engaging means 356 extending into
the slots 380. After the carrier housing sub-assembly,
~;S~i5g
which is indicated generally at 382 and which includes ~he
spring clip and the seal, has been assembled together, it
is only necessary to push the suh-assemhly into the Eirst
bore 326. This can be done manually. As the part are
being assembled, the spring clip will he initial]y
compressed as it engages the flared portion 338, however,
as the carrier assumes its fully assembled position, the
clip can initially expand into the first annular recess
34~.
When it is desired to assemble the tubu]ar
connector end portion 302 into the tubular fitting 304,
the tubular connector end portion will simply be inserted
into the tubular fitting and the sub-assembly 382 which
includes the seal and spring wire clip. As the tubular
~5 connector end portion approaches its final assembled
position, the conical surface 352 will hear against the
inwardly extending engaging means 356 of the C-shaped
spring wire clip 348, causing the spring clip to expand
into the first annular recess 342 until the conical
surface passes by the spring wire clip, at which point the
spring wire clip can then assume its normal position
illustrated in Fig. 15 to thereby hold the parts in their
final assembled position. When the parts are in this
position, it can be seen that the seal 306 will ~ear
against the step 330 and the conical surface 352 to form
an effective seal.
Detailed Description of Figs. 18 and 19
In Figs. 18 and 19 a species of the modi~icntl~n
of Figs. 15-17 is illustrated. This specios rese~ les the
modification oE Figs. 15-17 in al.l respects except that a
second annular recess 384 is provided. This recess is
disposed immediately ahove the first annular recess 342.
The diameter of the second recess 384 is essentially the
same as the unstressed diameter of the C-shaped spring
wire clip 348.
~i;555~
-~3-
~ fter the sub-assembly has been fully inserted
into the tubular fitting 304, the parts will be in the
position shown in Fig. 18. To assemble the tuhular
connector end portion into the tubular fitting, again
the tubular connector end portion is assembled in the
same manner as it is in the modification of Figs. 15,
16 and 17. However, due to the resilient nature of the
seal 306, it will tend to bias the tubular connector
end portion upwardly until the spring wire clip 348 is
disposed within the second annular rece.ss 384. The clip
348 will therefore stabilize the upper end of the tube
at the clip's internal diameter, which is defined by the
inner periphery of the engaging means 356, are substantially
the same diameter as the external portion of the tubular
connector end portion adjacent the radially outwardly
extending surface 346. Also, the cylindrical section 370
will be stabilized by the second bore surface 328 therefore
providing a relatively stable assembly which will prevent
undue wear as the parts are vibrated during use of an
automobile. It can also be seen that when the parts of
this species are in their assembled position, the seal
306 will provide a sealing sur~ace between the conical
surface 352 and the step 330.
Detaile~ Descri~ion of Fi~s. 20. and 21
While the design illustrated in Fig. 15 is
satisfactory, it does requirel in addition to the seal
306, a spring wire clip, a carri.er housing for i.nserting
the spring wire clip i.nto the f.i.ttirlg, antl ll conicnl
surface 352 on the conncctor encl por~ 3()2 of the~ oi.l
line 300. Figs. 20 an~l 21 illustrate another design which
will accomplish essentially the same result as the design
shown in Fig. 15, but will do it with fewer parts. In
this design, the oil line is indicated at 400 and the
tubular connector end portion of the oil line is indicated
~26555~
-~4-
at 402, the portion 402 terminating at the end 4Q3. The
tubular fitting, which may be o~ a copper alloy, is
indicated generally at 404 and the seal, which is an
elastomeric material such as a silicone rubber, a
fluoroelastomer such as the products sold under the
trademark VITON by E.I. duPont de Nemours Co., or the
like, is indicated at 406. Additionally, the coupler
means is indicated generally at 408. The tubular fitting
404 is provided with first and second portions 410,412,
respectively. The bottom of the first portion 410 is
provided with an annular recess which receives the locating
flange 32. The fitting 404 has a flat bottom surface 414
located outwardly of the recess which receives the locating
flange 32 and which can be brazed to the top of a plate 28
as indicated at 416. The second portion 412 of the fitting
404 can be brazed to the header wall 70 as indicated at
417.
The interior of the tubular fitting is provided
with spaced apart bores 426,428 which are separated by a
radially extending step 430. Spaced above the first bore
surface 426 is a threaded portion 438 which is adapted to
receive a seal plug, which seal plug (not shown) is removed
prior to final assembly. Spaced above the threaded portion
438 is a conical surface por~ion 440 which terminates in
an undercut 441. Disposed above the undercut portion 441
is a further cylindrical bore sur~ace 444.
The coupler means 408 con9is~s essentially of two
parts, the ~lrst of these parts being a radially outwardly
extending surface 446 on the tubular connector end portion
402. This surface 446 is spaced away from the end 403 of
the tubular connector end portion, there being a cylindrical
portion 449 on the tube between the radially outwardly
extending surface 446 and the end 403. The other part of
the coupler means 408 is a collet indicated generally at
~2~5554
450. The collet 450 is primarily a conical member formed
of a spring steel and which can be considered to be a
resilient or spring clip. With reference to Fig. 20,
it can be seen that the collet is provided with an upper
lip 451, a cylindrical portion 453, a lower portion of
the cylindrical portion 453 being provided with a radially
outwardly extending engaging portion 455 which is adapted
to engage the undercut 441 when the collet is in its
assembled position. ~elow the cyl.indrical portion 453
are first and second conical portions 457,459, the second
portion 459 being disposed adjacent the cylindrical portion
453. The cylindrical portion 453 and the second conical
portion 459 are provided with four circumferentially spaced
apart slots or cutouts 461. As can be seen from Fig. 21,
these cutouts are spaced 90 apart from each other. The
first conical portion 457 is provided with another set of
slots 463 which extend throughout the length of the first
conical portion and halfway up the second conical portion,
this second set of slots 463 also being spaced 90~ away
from each other and 45 away from the corresponding first
set of slots 461.
The various parts are assembled to each other by
~irst brazing the fittings to the top of the oil cooler,
inserting the oil cooler with fittings into the header and
then brazing the fittings 404 to the header wall 70 as
indicated at 417. After the oil cooler has been assembled
within the radiator, it i6 then necessary to test the
various par~s and a ~seal plu~ (not stlown) is ~l~ilized
for this purpose, tl~e seal plug being threaded i.nto the
fitting. A~ter the completion of the testing, seal plugs
may be utilized to seal the oil cooler during shipping
of the radiator from the location of manufacture of the
radiator to the location of final assembly. Alternatively,
the seal plugs may be removed at this point, and seal
~-65SS~
-26-
caps, which are shown in phantom at 471 in Fig. 20, may
be utilized to seal the oil cooler, the seal caps being
provided with an annular groove 473 which can engage a
corresponding groove 469 on the fitting to maint~in the
seal caps in place. At the point of final assembly the
seal cap (or s~al plug) is removed.
The final assembly can ~e made by first inserting
the seal 406 into the fitting 402 until it contacts the
step 430. After the seal has been located, ~he collet 450
is then pressed into the fitting 404 of the second conical
portion 459 will be compressed radially inwardly as the
radially outwardly extending engaging portion 455 passes
by the further cylindrical bore surface 444 until it can
snap into an assembled position, as shown in Fig. 20, with
the radially outwardly extending engaging portion 455
engaging the undercut 441, and the upper lip 451 lying on
the top surface 465 of the fitting 404.
After the seal and resilient clip 450 have been
assembled into the fitting in the manner described, it is
then only necessary to insert the tube into the assembly.
As the oil line is moved into the assembly, the radially
outwardly extending surface 446 will initially contact the
first conical portion and will spread it open, as permitted
by the second set of slots 463 until the radially outwardly
extending portion 446 passes the lowermost end of the first
conical portion at which point the lower conical portion
will snap to its normal unstressed position as indicated
in Fig. 20 to securely lock the tube 400 wi.~in the f~l:tlng
404. The parts are so sixed relati.ve to each other ~hat
the seal will be suitably compre~se~ between the radially
outwardly extending portion 446 and the step to provide
an adequate seal.
~iS5S4
To facilitate the insertion of the tube 400 within
the fitting, the tube may be provided with a second
radially outwardly extending surface 467 and the fitting
404 is also provided with an annular groove 469 disposed
above the header 70. A tool, similar to a valve spring
compressor, which is provided wlth a pair of spaced apart
bifurcated engaging elements can be disposed about the
tube 400 above the surface 467 and within the groove 469,
the tool then being able to force the tube downwardly into
its assembled position.
In another manner of assembly the seal 406 may
initially be supported by the collet 450 is a plane parallel
to the top surface of the collet, the collet then being
inserted into the fitting 404 in the manner described,
and then the tube being inserted into the collet, the
portion of the tube which forms surface 446 engaging the
seal and moving it downwardly into the fitting to its
final assembled position as the tube is moved into its
final assembled position.
While a preferred structure in which the principles
of the present invention have been incorporated is shown
and descirbed above, it is to be understood that this
invention is not to be limited to the particular details
shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely
differing means may be employed in the broader aspects
of this invention.
