Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
FITTING ASSEMBLY FOR FLUID AND VAPOR CONNECTION
Background of the Invention
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application serial no.
09/385,898 filed on August 30, 1999.
This invention relates to fluid and vapor line systems which include fittings,
and
more particularly, to a fitting having an axially movable swaging ring.
For the automotive and other industries, fittings are commonly used to connect
metal tubes and pipes to each other to provide a fluid or vapor connection.
One type of fittings often used is a ring having a conical bore for securing a
male
member formed at the end of a first tube inserted into a radially enlarged
female body
formed at the end of a second tube. For this type of fitting, the ring is
loosely and
slidably mounted on the first tube. The ring is mounted such that the enlarged
diameter
portion of the conical bore is directed toward the male member. To provide the
fluid or
vapor connection, the male member is first inserted into the female body. The
ring is
then slid along the first tube toward the female body and swaged over the
female body
with the male member inserted within. The swaging of the ring over the female
body
crushes the female body radially inward and creates a sealing surface between
the female
body and the male member. Once the ring is swaged over the female body, it
retains the
male member within the female body. The ring constantly applies a radially
inward force
to the female body. The female body reacts by applying a radially inward force
to the
male member. This radially inward force by the female body onto the male
member
prevents the male member from withdrawing from the female body, thus securing
the
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
male member within the female body. This type of fitting is prevalent in the
art, and has
proven effective in many fluid or vapor line applications.
Nevertheless, such fittings have occasionally been prone to failure. During
insertion of the male member into the female body, the male member may not
have been
inserted sufficiently into the female body. Thus, when the ring is swaged over
the female
body, there is not suflzcient surface between the crushed female body and the
relational
male member to form as effective sealing surface. Furthermore, if the male
member has
not been inserted sufficiently into the female body, upon swaging the ring
over the
female body the ring can bypass the portion of the female body overlaying the
male
member. Should such a situation occur, there is no ra.dially inward force
applied by the
female body onto the male member, thus allowing the male member to be easily
withdrawn from the female body.
While the swaging of the ring over the female body creates a sealing surface
between the female body and the male member, the surface is still prone to
leak should a
gap develop between the female body and the male member.
One solution disclosed in prior art references is to apply a bonding agent
onto the
male member just prior to insertion of the male member into the female member.
Examples of such bonding agents include solder and anaerobic. After insertion
of the
male member into. the female body, the bonding agent bonds the outer surface
of the male
member to the inner surface of the female body. The bonding agent thus fills
any gaps
developed between the female body and the male member. However, the bonding
agent
must be applied just prior to insertion of the male member into the female
body. Should
the bonding agent be applied in advance, contaminants will adhere to the outer
surface of
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CA 02314062 2000-07-18
the bonding agent. This lack of ability to apply the bonding agent in advance
increases
complexity and labor for the final assembly manufacturer's assembly plant.
Another disadvantage of this type of fitting is the need to install the ring
onto the
tube forming the male member just prior to the insertion of the male member
into the
female body. Since the ring is loosely and slidably mounted, the ring can
slide off the
end of the male member or up the tube away from the male member, thus
preassembly of
the ring onto the tube is not feasible. This lack of feasibility for
preassembly of the ring
increases complexity and labor for the final assembly manufacturer's assembly
plant.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a fitting assembly for fluid and vapor
connection comprising a first tube, a second tube and a thin strip of
polymeric material.
A male member is formed at the end of the first tube. A hollow female body is
formed at
end of the second tube. The male member is received in the female body. The
strip of
polymeric material has a layer of adhesive applied to one surface of the
strip. The strip is
bonded to the male member and unbonded to the female body. The strip is
compressed
between the male member and the female body.
Brief Description of the Drawin .mss
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a fitting assembly prior
to
~~bly.;
Fig. 2 is a partial section view of the fitting assembly of Fig. 1 after a
ring is
preassembled onto an upset and a male member is inserted into a female body;
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CA 02314062 2000-07-18
Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view of the fitting assembly of Fig. 1 after the
ring is
swaged over the female body;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a fitting assembly prior
to
assembly;
Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of the fitting assembly of Fig. 4 after a
ring is
swaged over a female body;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a fitting assembly prior
to
assembly;
Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of the fitting assembly of Fig. 6 after a
ring is
swaged over a female body;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a fitting assembly prior
to
assembly;
Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view of the fitting assembly of Fig. 8 after a
ring is
swaged over a female body;
Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a fitting
assembly as
assembled;
Fig. 11 is a partial sectional view of the first tube of Fig. 10; and
Fig. 12 is a partial sectional view of a sixth embodiment of a fitting
assembly as
assembled.
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CA 02314062 2000-07-18
Detailed Description of the Invention
Figs. 1-3 illustrate a first embodiment of a fitting assembly of the present
invention. The fitting assembly 10 comprises a male member 12, a female body
14 and a
ring 16.
The male member 12 is formed at the end of a first hollow and rigid tube 18
which forms a part of a fluid line system. The tube 18 may lead to a component
in a fluid
line system, or may itself be a portion of a component in a fluid line system.
Formed at a
given distance from the distal end 20 of the male member 12 is a radially
enlarged upset
22. The upset 22 is situated between the male member 12 and the remaining
portion of
the first tube 18.
The female body 14 is formed at the end of a second hollow and rigid tube 24
which forms the other part of a fluid line system. The female body 14 is
enlarged radially
in relation to the remaining portion of the second tube 24. The length of the
female body
14 is slightly longer than the length of the male member 12. The inner
diameter Dl of the
female body 14 is slightly larger than the outer diameter D2 of the male
member 12. The
inner diameter Dl of the female body 14 is smaller than the outer diameter D3
of the upset
22 of the first tube 18.
The ring 16 has a generally cylindrical outer surface 32. The ring 16 has an
axial
bore 34 extending axially inward fi~om an entrance 36. The entrance 36 is
defined by a
first conical surface 38. The first conical surface 38 acts as a lead-in
surface to facilitate
the swaging of the ring 16 over the female body 14. Axially inward from the
first conical
surface 38 is a first cylindrical surface 40. The diameter D4 of the first
cylindrical surface
40 is sized such that the first cylindrical surface 40 will crush the female
body l4.radially
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CA 02314062 2000-07-18
inward, but will not crush the male member 12. Therefore, the diameter D4 of
the first
cylindrical surface 40 is smaller than the outer diameter DS of the female
body 14, but
larger than the outer diameter D2 of the male member 12 plus twice the wall
thickness Tl
of the female body 14. Axially inward from the first cylindrical surface 40 is
a second
conical surface 48. The second conical surface 48 acts as a lead-in surface to
a second
cylindrical surface 50. The diameter D6 of the second cylindrical surface 50
is sized such
that the second cylindrical surface 50 will crush both the female body 14 and
the male
member 12 radially inward. Therefore, the diameter D6 of the second
cylindrical surface
50 is smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the male member 12 plus twice the
wall
thickness Tl of the female body 14.
The diameter D6 of the second cylindrical surface 50 also sized to be slightly
smaller than a portion of the upset 22 of the first tube 18, thus creating an
interference fit
between the second cylindrical surface 50 and a portion of the upset 22. The
upset 22 as
illustrated in Figs. 1-3 has a cylindrical surface. However, it should be
noted that the
upset can have a further radially enlarged surface in which only the further
radially
enlarged surface of the upset creates an interference fit with the second
cylindrical
surface. The upset can also have a conical surface such that a portion of the
conical upset
creates an interference fit with the second cylindrical surface.
The first embodiment of a fitting assembly 10 functions as follows. The ring
16 is
preassembled onto the upset 22 of the first tube 18. The ring 16 is slid
axially onto the
upset 22 such that the first conical surface 38 is directed toward the distal
end 20 of the
male member 12. Since a portion of the upset 22 creates an interference fit
with the
second cylindrical surface 50 of the ring 16, the ring is retained on the
upset 22. This
6
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
preassembly can be performed prior to the components of the fitting assembly
arriving at
the final assembly manufacturer's assembly plant, thus reducing the complexity
and labor
required at the assembly plant.
To connect the fitting assembly 10, the male member 12 is first inserted into
the
female body 14 until the terminal end 54 of the female body 14 abuts the upset
22 of the
male member 12. Hence, the upset 22 does not only serve as a retainer for the
ring 16
during preassembly, but the upset 22 also serves as a positive stop during the
insertion of
the male member 12 into the female body 14. The upset 22 allows for
consistency in the
amount of male member 12 inserted into the female body 14.
After the male member 12 is fully inserted into the female body 14, the ring
16 is
slid axially toward the female body 14. As the ring is slid over the female
body 14, the
first conical surface 38 contacts the terminal end 54 of the female body 14.
Thereafter,
the trailing end 56 of the first conical surface 38 and the first cylindrical
surface 40 apply
a radially inward force, crushing the female body 14 radially inward, thus
creating a
sealing surface between the inner surface of the female body 14 and the outer
surface of
the male member 12. Once the second conical surface 48 contacts the terminal
end 54 of
the female body 14, the second conical surface 48 and the second cylindrical
surface 50
further apply a greater radially inward force, crushing both the female body
14 and the
male member 12. The crushed female body 14 and male member 12, along with the
constant radially inward force applied by the ring 16, prevents the withdrawal
of the male
member 12 from the female body 14.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of a fitting assembly 100 of the
present invention. The second embodiment is the same as the first, but
includes an
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CA 02314062 2000-07-18
additional sealing layer 102 surrounding a male member 104. The sealing layer
102 is a
thin layer of polymeric material bonded to the male member 104, but is not
bonded to a
female body 106. Since the sealing layer does not have any adhesion
characteristic on
the outer surface, the concern of contaminants attaching to the sealing layer
has been
eliminated, thus the sealing layer can to be applied to the male member well
before the
male member 104 is inserted into the female body 106.
Suitable polymeric materials for the sealing layer 102 include, but are not
limited
to, elastomers, fluoropolymers, polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes,
polyvinyl
chlorides, polyketones, polyolefins and mixtures thereof. The preferred
polymeric
material for forming the sealing layer is elastomer. The polymeric material
can be
applied by being painted onto the male member. A brush is used to coat the
male
member with the liquid form of the polymeric material onto the male member. A
liquid
form of the polymer material can also be extruded around the male member
through use
of an extruder.
Alternatively, the polymeric material can be formed into thin strips. A layer
of
adhesive is applied to one side of the strip. The strip of polymeric material
with adhesive
applied can be rolled up for storage, similar to a roll of tape. The rolled
strip can later be
spirally wrapped around the male member to provide a layer of polymeric
material
surrounding and bonded to the male member.
The strip of polymeric material is applied to the portion of the male member
104
radially inward of a swaging ring 108 after the ring 108 has been fully swaged
around the
female body 106.
8
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
The second embodiment of a fitting assembly 100 functions the same as the
first
embodiment, but provides a sealing layer which fills any gap between the male
member
104 and the female body 106. A layer 102 of polymeric material is pre-applied
to the
outer surface of the male member 104. The male member 104 is inserted into the
female
body 106 until the terminal end 110 of the female body 106 abuts an upset 112
foamed
axially inward of the male member 104. The ring 108 is slid over the female
body 106.
The trailing end of a first conical surface 114 and a first cylindrical.
surface 116 apply a
radially inward force, crushing the female body 106 radially inward. Located
between
the male member 104 and the female body 106 is the layer 102 of polymeric
material.
The radially inward force compresses the layer 102 of polymeric material
tightly between
the male member 104 and the female body 106 to create an effective seal.
A second conical surface 118 and a second cylindrical surface 120 then apply a
greater radially inward force, crushing the female body 106 and the male
member 104
radially inward to prevent the male member 104 from withdrawing from the
female body
106.
Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a third embodiment of a fitting assembly 150 of the
present
invention. The third embodiment is the same as the first, but includes an
additional
O-ring 152 surrounding a male member 154. The male member 154 of the third
embodiment further has a channel 156 formed between the distal end 158 of the
male
member and an upset 159 formed axially inward of the male member 154.
Situated in the channel 156 is the elastomeric O-ring 152. The channel 154
retains the O-ring 152 onto the male member 154 and prevents the O-ring 152
firm
sliding or rolling axially along the male member 154. The channel 156 is
located in a
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CA 02314062 2000-07-18
portion of the male member 154 such that, after a swaging ring 160 is fully
swaged
around a female body 162, the portion of the female body 162 radially outward
of the
channel 156 is crushed radially inward, but the male member 154 is not
crushed. Thus, a
first cylindrical surface 164 of the ring 160 is located radially outward of
the channel 156
after the ring 160 is fully waged around the female body 162.
The third embodiment of a fitting assembly 150 functions the same as the first
embodiment, but provides a channel formed on the male member and an O-ring
situated
in the channel. The O-ring 152 is pre-installed in the channel 156. The male
member
154 is inserted into the female body 162 until the terminal end 166 of the
female body
162 abuts the upset 159. The ring 160 is slid over the female body 162. The
trailing end
of a first conical surface 170 and the first cylindrical surface 164 apply a
radially inward
force crushing the female body 162 radially inward. Located between the
channel 156 of
the male member 154 and the female body 162 is the O-ring 152. The radially
inward
force 152 compresses the O-ring tightly between the channel 156 of the male
member
154 and the female body 162 to create an effective seal. A second conical
surface 172
and a second cylindrical surface 174 then apply a greater radially inward
force, crushing
the female body 162 and the male member 154 radially inward to prevent the
male
member 154 from withdrawing from the female body 162.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a fourth embodiment of a fitting assembly 200 of the
present invention. The fourth embodiment is the same as the third, but
includes a second
channel 202 adjacent to an upset 204 formed axially inwardly of a male member
206 and
a radially outward protrusion 208 at the terminal end 210 of a female body
212. Upon
' 10
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
full insertion of the male member 206 into the female body 212, the protrusion
208 is
directly radially outward of the second channel 202 of the male member 206.
The fourth embodiment of a fitting assembly 200 functions the same as the
first,
but provides a second channel formed on the male member and a protrusion at
the
S terminal end of the female body. The male member 206 is inserted into the
female body
212 until the terminal end 210 of the female body 212 abuts the upset 204. A
ring 214 is
slid over the female body 212. The trailing end of a first conical surface 216
and a first
cylindrical surface 220 first apply a radially inward force crashing and
deforming the
protrusion 208 radially inward toward the second channel 202. The trailing end
218 of
the first conical surface 216 and the first cylindrical surface 220 then apply
a radially
inward force, crushing the remaining portion of the female body 212 radially
inward. A
second conical surface 222 and a second cylindrical surface 224 then apply a
greater
radia.lly inward force, fiufiher crushing and deforming the protrusion 208
into the second
channel 202 of the male member 206. The deformed protrusion 208 acts as an
abutment
1 S surface, preventing: the withdrawal of the male member 206 from the female
body 212.
Since the second conical surface 222 and the second cylindrical surface 224 do
not crush
the male member 206 radially inward, less effort is required to swage the ring
2I4 over
the female body 212.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a fifth embodiment of a fitting assembly 300 of the
present invention. The fitting assembly includes a first tube 302 having a
male member
304 received within a female body 308 of a second tube 306. A portion of a
deformable
cylindrical ring or sleeve 310 is fixed at one end to the first tube 302. ~
The remainder of
sleeve 310 overlies the female body 308 for substantially the full length of
male member
11
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
304 and is crimped in a manner described below about the second tube 306 to
secure and
seal the fitting assembly 300.
The second tube 306 is of the composite reinforced type and includes an outer
layer 312 typically of a suitable synthetic rubber material such as styrene
butadiene, and
the like, with an intermediate layer of suitable reinforcing material such as
a braided fiber
material 314 such as polyamide or polyester fabric or the like .disposed
therebetween. An
inner liner 316 is also provided which is fabricated from a suitable polymeric
material
such polyamide, polyethylene or other similar material.
The male member 304 comprises an elongated generally cylindrical body portion
having a plurality of spaced annular radially outwardly extending ribs 318
provided on
the outer surface thereof adjacent one end. Each of the ribs is defined by
sidewalls 320
extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of first tube
302.
Disposed between ribs 318a and 318b, which constitute sealing ribs, is an
annular sealing
channel 322 which is adapted to receive a polymeric strip 324.
The polymeric strip 324 is a thin strip of polymeric material. A layer of
adhesive
is applied to one surface of the strip 324. The strip 324 with adhesive
applied can be
rolled up for storage, similar to a roll of tape. The rolled strip can later
be wrapped
around the male member 304 to provide a layer of polymeric material
surrounding and
bonded to the male member 304. The strip 324 is bonded to the male member 304
but is
not bonded to the female body 308 of the second tube 306. Since the strip 324
does not
have any adhesive characteristic on the outer surface, the concern of
contaminants
attaching to the strip 324 has been eliminated, allowing the strip 324 to be
wrapped
around the male member 304 well before the male member 304 is inserted into
the
12
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
female body 308. Suitable polymeric materials for forming the strip 324
include, but are
not limited to, elastomers, fluoropolymers, polyamides, polyesters,
polyurethanes,
polyvinyl chlorides, polyketones, polyolefins and mixtures thereof. The
preferred
polymeric material for forming the strip 324 is elastomer.
Disposed between each of the ribs 318 on opposite sides of the sealing channel
322 are locking channels 326. Each of the ribs 318 are of equal diameter to
that of the
nominal diameter of the first tube 302. The male member 304 may therefore by
machined or roll formed. If roll formed, it is desirable that the outside
diameter of the
ribs 318 be held as closely as possible to that of the remainder of the first
tube 302. At
the terminal end of the male member 304, there is formed a transition member
which
includes a tapered end portion 328 and a guide surface 330 having the same
outside
diameter as that of the ribs 318.
The female body 308 of the second tube 306 is secured to first tube 302 by the
sleeve 310 surrounding the female body 308 of the second tube 306 and adapted
to be
swaged, crimped or otherwise radially inwardly compressed at a plurality of
axially
spaced locations332 therealong so as to clamp second tube 306 between first
tube 302
and sleeve 310. As clamped, there will be formed at each of the crimp
locations 332 a
radially inwardly directed crimp rib 334 and a centrally located clown 336
between each
crimping 332. It will be noted that each of the crimp ribs 334 are disposed
directly above '
a respective locking channel 326 and that the polymeric strip 324 is located
directly under
one of the crowns 336.
To assemble the present invention, the polymeric strip 324 is wrapped around
the
sealing channel 322 where a portion thereof extends radially beyond the
sealing ribs 318a
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CA 02314062 2000-07-18
and 318b. Thereafter, the female body 308 of the second tube 306 is slid onto
the male
member 304 of the first tube 302. Preferably, the inside diameter of the
female body 308
is~ slightly less than the outside diameter of the male member 304 and thus
placing the
liner 316 in tension when it is assembled to the male member 304. As the
female body
308 is slipped onto the male member 304, the female body 308 is expanded by
the
tapered end 328 of the male member 304. The guide surface 330 then guides the
female
body 308 over the ribs 318 and the polymeric strip 324 with minimum
interference.
Upon the female body 308 slipped over the polymeric strip 324, the polymeric
strip 324
is substantially compressed within the sealing channel 322 by the liner 316.
Next, sleeve 310 is positioned in overlaying relationship to the female body
308
of the second tube 306 within which the male member 304 is received. Sleeve
310 is
thereafter deformed at a plurality of locations 332. The compressive force
exerted at~
each location 334 cold forms the polymeric liner 316 causing it to flow into
and
substantially completely fill the respective locking channels 326. Over time,
the locking
channels 326 will become completely filled as the liner 316 initially flows at
the higher
operating temperatures. At the same time, each crown 336 is held substantially
to its
original outside diameter. Concurrently with or preceding the crimping of the
sleeve 310
at locations 332, the end portion 338 of the sleeve is swaged or crimped on
one or more
fitting locking ribs 340 formed on the male member 304.
Fig. 12 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a fitting assembly of the present
invention. The fitting assembly 350 includes a first tube 352 having a male
member 354
received within a female body 358 of a second tube 356 and secured therein by
means of
a deformable cylindrical ring or sleeve 360.
14
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
The male member 352 comprises an elongated generally cylindrical body portion
having a plurality of spaced annular radially outwardly extending ribs 362
provided on
the outer surface thereof adjacent one end. Ribs 362a and 362b define a
sealing channel
364 which is adapted to receive a polymeric strip 366.
The polymeric strip 366 is a thin strip of polymeric material. A layer of
adhesive
is applied to one surface of the strip. The strip with adhesive applied can be
rolled up for
storage, similar to a roll of tape. The rolled strip can later be wrapped
around the male
member to provide a layer of polymeric material surrounding and bonded to the
male
member 354. The strip is bonded to the male member 354 but is not bonded to
the
female body 358 of the second tube 356. Since the strip 366 does not have any
adhesive
characteristic on the outer surface, the concern of contaminants attaching to
the strip 366
has been eliminated, allowing the strip 366 to be wrapped around the male
member 354
well before the male member 354 is inserted into the female body 358. Suitable
polymeric materials for forming the strip include, but are not limited to,
elastomers,
fluoropolymers,-polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyvinyl chlorides,
polyketones,
polyolefins and mixtures thereof. The preferred polymeric material for forming
the strip
is elastomer.
Second tube 356 includes an outer layer 368 typically of a suitable synthetic
rubber material with a layer of suitable reinforcing material such as a
braided fiber
material 370 disposed between the inner surface of the outer layer 368 thereof
and
another layer 372 of synthetic rubber material. ~ An inner liner 374 is also
provided which
is fabricated from a suitable polymeric material such as for example
polyamide, teflon,
polyethylene or other similar material.
CA 02314062 2000-07-18
In order to secure the second tube 356 to the first tube 352, a sleeve 360 is
provided surrounding the female body 358 of the second tube 356 which is
adapted to be
swaged, crimped or otherwise radially inwardly compressed at a plurality of
axially
spaced locations 376 therealong so as to clamp the second tube 356 between the
first tube
352 and the sleeve 360. This compressive force operates to compress the
polymeric strip
366 slightly thereby forming a fluid-tight secure seal between.the strip 366
and liner 374.
It should also be noted that sealing channel 364 is preferably located along
the length of
male member 354 of first tube 352 so as to position the strip 366
approximately midway
between crimps 376 so as to avoid excessive compression force thereon.
To assemble the present invention, the polymeric strip 366 is wrapped around
the
sealing channel 364 of the male member 354. Thereafter, the female body 358 of
the
second tube 356 is expanded and the male member 354 along with the polymeric
strip
366 wrapped thereon is inserted within the female body 358. It should be noted
that
preferably the inside diameter of female body 358 is slightly less than the
outside
diameter of male member 354 and thus placing the liner 374 in tension when
second tube
356 is assembled to first tube 352. Next, sleeve 360 is positioned in
overlying
relationship to the portion of second tube 356 within which end first tube 352
is received
and is thereafter deformed at a plurality of locations so as to efr'ect a
secure mechanically
strong fluid-tight sealing relationship therebetween.
Various features of the present invention have been described with reference
to
the embodiments shown and described. It should be understood, however, that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention
as represented by the following claims.
16
