Patent ID: 6733046
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: E04H,F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
In hose swivel connection apparatus for connecting a pair of hose sections along an axis, including hose-end couplings and a swivel device to which the hose sections are removably attached by the couplings, the improvement comprising:a male swivel member adapted for removable attachment of one of the couplings and including an underlap portion having an outer surface with a radially-outwardly-facing first annular ball groove and an axially-facing annular first seal-abutment surface; a female swivel member adapted for removable attachment of the other coupling and including an annular second seal-abutment surface facing the first seal-abutment surface and an overlap portion which overlaps the underlap portion and has an inner surface with a radially-inwardly-facing second annular ball groove aligned with the first ball groove; bearing balls captured in and between the first and second ball grooves; a ring seal between the first and second seal-abutment surfaces; and at least one of the hose-end couplings having a sleeve member which is sleeved over a hose section near the end thereof and has a distal portion permanently secured to the end of the hose and a proximal portion adapted for snap-engagement with one of the swivel members, whereby such coupling is easily attached to and detached from such swivel member.