Patent ID: 6655491
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: B62D,F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
A power steering apparatus comprising:a housing defining a chamber for holding power steering fluid, said housing having an opening defined by a projection formed on said housing, said projection including a lip with a radially extending lower surface; a conduit extending into said opening, said conduit including a bead that extends radially outwardly of said conduit, said bead including opposite first and second side surfaces; a connector assembly connecting said conduit with said projection on said housing, said connector assembly including a clip having a base with an opening, said conduit extending through said opening in said base and a portion of said base engaging said first side surface of said bead of said conduit, said clip further including a plurality of resilient fingers that extends axially from said base and beyond said second side surface of said bead of said conduit, said fingers including portions for snapping over said lip of said projection on said housing and engaging said radially extending lower surface of said lip for connecting said conduit with said projection; and an annular seal interposed between said projection on said housing and said second side surface of said bead of said conduit, said second side surface of said bead and said projection contacting opposite surface portions of said annular seal, said clip being, dimensioned so that, when said portion of said base of said clip engages said first side surface of said bead of said conduit and said portions of said fingers of said clip engage said radially extending lower surface of said lip of said projection, said annular seal is axially compressed by said bead and said projection and all of said lip of said projection, said bead of said conduit, and said annular seal are interposed between said portion of, said base and said portions of said fingers of said clip.