Abstract:
A quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly comprises male and female half hose assemblies wherein the half hose assemblies respectively comprise a male and female connector, an outer tube member for conducting a first fluid therethrough, an inner tube member for conducting a second fluid therethrough, a joint retainer nut member for securing the male and female connectors together, and a sleeve member mechanically and fluidically connecting axially inner ends of the inner tube members together. Threaded disengagement of the joint retainer nut member releases the male and female connectors from each other, whereby the half hose assemblies may be readily pulled apart in opposite axial directions disengaging the axially inner end of one of the inner tube members from the sleeve member so as to achieve quick disconnection of the hose assembly. Subsequent axial engagement of the inner end of the inner tube member with the sleeve member, insertion of the male connector within the female connector, and re-engagement of the joint retainer nut member achieves quick connection of the hose assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to coaxial pipe, tube, and/or hose connection assemblies, and more particularly to a coaxial pipe, tube, and/or hose connection assembly which is particularly adapted for use in connection with power tools which employ such a system or assembly in order to simultaneously supply power-driving or coolant air and lubricant to the power tool. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Coaxial pipe, tube, and/or hose connection assemblies, particularly those which are used to supply a combination of power-driving or coolant air and lubricating oil to power tools, are known in the art. Exemplary of one type of such known prior art is the fitting or assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,475, which issued to Glaser et al. on Sep. 26, 1978. In accordance with such typical or conventional prior art assemblies or fittings, a quick disconnect coaxial coupling socket  17  is disclosed in FIG. 1, for example, as comprising a male pipe threaded fitting  18  within which there is disposed a central or axial tube  24 , for mating with a barbed insert  13  of an injection lubricator so as to conduct a suitable lubricant therethrough, and a surrounding annular air passage  19 . A three-legged spacer or locator  26  radially supports the axially disposed lubricant tube  24  with respect to the housing  18  and the air passage  19 . Other similar embodiments are disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     While the aforenoted patent to Glaser et al. discloses a typical coaxial pipe or tubular assembly or connector for conducting a combination of fluids therethrough, such as, for example, air and a lubricating oil, such an assembly is not directed to an assembly of the type which can readily accommodate coaxially disposed hoses and connections between hose sections. It is frequently required in connection with the use of such hose assemblies upon, for example, cutting tools or the like, to shorten or lengthen or otherwise change or replace the hose sections or assemblies. In addition, in order to minimize operational downtime as much as possible, the exchange or replacement process must be able to be accomplished relatively quickly and easily. These criteria cannot be readily satisfied or met with the assembly of Glaser et al. 
     While the patent to Glaser et al. characterizes the structural assembly thereof as being of the quick disconnect/connect type, it is seen that the entire coupling socket  17 , comprising male pipe threaded fitting  18 , must be rotated relative to the fitting  10  in order to mount the coupling socket  17  upon the fitting  10  as a result of the threaded engagement of the male pipe threaded fitting  18  of the coupling socket  17  and the female pipe thread  11  of the fitting  10 . This is difficult or awkward to accomplish whereby the assembly may not necessarily be considered a quick connect/disconnect type assembly. In addition, it is noted that due to the axially recessed disposition of the barbed insert  13  within the fitting  10 , it is sometimes difficult to properly coaxially align the barbed insert  13  with the grommet  21  in order to provide fluidic communication between tubes  16  and  24  of the fitting  10  and socket  17  because the forward end of the coupling socket  17  is already partially disposed internally of the fitting  10  before the barbed insert  13  can engage the grommet  21 . 
     Another quick disconnect coupling for coaxial fluid lines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,827 which issued to Boelkins on Jun. 28, 1974. The quick connection/disconnection process of such coupling, however, is relatively complex. More particularly, the coupling assembly comprises a plurality of locking balls  22  and a slidable sleeve  26  mounted upon a valve body member  18  of a socket portion  10 . In addition, a sleeve valve  32  is also slidably mounted upon the body member  18 . In order to therefore disconnect the plug portion  12  from the socket portion  10 , the sleeve valve  32  must first be moved to the left as shown in FIG. 2 whereupon the locking mechanism sleeve  26  can then also be moved to the left so as to release the locking balls  22  and thereby allow the plug portion  12  to be withdrawn from the socket portion  10 . 
     It is also desirable from a manufacturing and assembly point of view that the mating hose sections of the coaxial hose assembly be substantially identical or at least complementary with respect to each other to the greatest possible extent. In addition, from an operational point of view, whereby the various fluids are able to flow through the hose assemblies with maximized flow efficiency and minimized flow resistance, substantially straight-through axial flow paths are desired. Still further, the hose assemblies must be provided with a requisite amount of structural integrity so as to ensure proper and desired mechanical interconnection between the various components of the assembly as well as to ensure the integrity of the fluidic communication between the hose sections. U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,414 which issued to Inaba on Mar. 22, 1988 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,160,703 which issued to Fleming on Nov. 16, 1915 are exemplary of additional coaxial pipe joint assemblies wherein substantially axial flow of both the inner and outer fluids through the assemblies are provided. It is noted, however, that aside from the external joint nut or joint body  1  and  26 , respectively, there is no provision of a mechanical joint or interengaging interface between the pipe components because the joint interfaces of both patented assemblies are of the butt-joint type which also require packing  25  and  29 , respectively. 
     A need therefore exists in the art for a quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly which in fact readily enables quick and easy connection and disconnection of the hose assemblies, which is comprised of substantially identical or complementary component parts, which provides substantially axial flow-through of the dual fluids, and which provides good mechanical interconnections so as to ensure both structural and fluidic integrity of the assembly. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly for conducting dual fluids therethrough. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly for conducting dual fluids therethrough and wherein such hose assembly overcomes the various drawbacks characteristic of the prior art assemblies. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly for conducting dual fluids therethrough and wherein such hose assembly comprises substantially identical or complementary component parts. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly for conducting dual fluids therethrough in a substantially axial manner and wherein the component parts of such hose assembly provide good mechanical interconnections so as to ensure both the structural and fluidic integrity of the assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objects are achieved in accordance with the teachings of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly which comprises a pair of outer tubular members fabricated, for example, from polyurethane, and a pair of inner tubular members fabricated, for example, from nylon, and wherein the assembly further comprises connector members for quickly and easily connecting free end portions of the inner and outer tubular members in a coaxial manner so as to provide for the dual coaxial transmission of lubricant and air fluids through the inner and outer tubular members. 
     More particularly, the connector members of the hose assembly comprise a tubular male connector upon an external portion of which a free end of a first one of the outer polyurethane tubes is secured by a first threaded tube retainer. In a similar manner, the free end of a second one of the outer polyurethane tubes is secured by a second threaded tube retainer upon an external portion of a tubular female connector. Each one of the inner nylon tubes is respectively disposed internally within one of the outer polyurethane tubes as well as within one of the tubular male and female connectors, and a pair of centering spacers are respectively disposed around the inner nylon tubes and within the internal bores of the male and female connectors so as to maintain the inner nylon tubes properly coaxially disposed within the male and female connectors. A central sleeve member is disposed about the internally mating free ends of the inner nylon tubes so as not only to, in effect, mechanically interconnect the nylon tubes together, but in addition, to ensure the integrity of the fluidic flow of the lubricant through the nylon tubes. An external, threaded joint nut, which in effect threadedly connects the male and female connectors, and more particularly, respective hose assembly halves together, completes the hose assembly. 
     When it is desired to disconnect the respective hose assembly halves, the external threaded joint nut, which is slidably disposed upon the female connector, is threadedly disengaged from an externally threaded portion of the male connector, and the male and female connectors are simply pulled apart in opposite axial directions. Such an operation disengages the male connector from its internal disposition within the female connector, and in addition, causes separation of the free end of one of the inner nylon tubes from the central sleeve member which remains secured upon the free end of the other one of the inner nylon tubes. 
     In order to reconnect the respective hose assembly halves, or to exchange or replace one of the respective hose assembly halves with a new or different hose assembly half, the male connector, having the first one of the outer polyurethane tubes disposed thereon and a first one of the inner nylon tubes disposed therein, is axially inserted into the female connector, having the second one of the outer polyurethane tubes disposed thereon and a second one of the inner nylon tubes disposed therein, so as to, in effect, define therewith the outer annular air passageway through the hose assembly. At substantially the same time, the sleeve member, which may, for example, have been retained upon the first one of the inner nylon tubes operatively associated with the male connector, is easily axially mated with the free end of the second one of the inner nylon tubes operatively associated, for example, with the female connector. When the male and female connectors are fully mated with each other, whereby the sleeve member is also fully or properly seated upon the free end of the second one of the inner nylon tubes, the external joint nut is subsequently threadedly re-engaged with the externally threaded portion of the male connector, whereby the re-connection of the hose assembly is completed, locked, and secured. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, axial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention and showing the cooperative parts thereof; 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, axial cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing, however, a second embodiment of the new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, axial cross-sectional view similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing, however, a third embodiment of the new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention is disclosed and generally indicated by the reference character  10 . More particularly, the quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly  10  comprises, in effect, two mating half hose assemblies, that is, a male half hose assembly  12  and a female half hose assembly  14 . Considering first the male half hose assembly  12 , the latter comprises a tubular male connector  16  which has an internally stepped configuration defined by a first annular wall member  18  extending axially inwardly and forwardly from an axially outer or rearward end portion  20  so as to define a first relatively small internal bore region  22 , and a second annular counterbored wall member  24  extending axially inwardly and rearwardly from an axially inner or forward end portion  26  so as to define a second relatively large internal bore region  28 , the wall members  18  and  24  defining a shoulder portion  30  at the interface or intersection thereof. 
     The axially outer or rearward end portion  20  of the male connector  16  comprises an external surface portion  32  which has a substantially frusto-conical configuration and is adapted to have a free or open end of a first outer tube member  34  mounted thereon. The male connector  16  also comprises a second external surface portion  36 , at an axial position which is substantially coincident with the stepped shoulder portion  30 , which is provided with external threads  38  for mating with an internally threaded portion  40  provided upon a first end portion  41  of a first tube retainer nut  42 . The opposite or second end portion  43  of the tube retainer nut  42  is provided with an internal frusto-conical portion  44  which is substantially similar or complementary to the external frusto-conical portion  32  of the male connector  16 . In this manner, when the free or open end of the first outer tube member  34  is mounted or disposed upon the external surface portion  32  of the male connector  16 , and the respective threaded portions  38  and  40  of the male connector  16  and the tube retainer nut  42  are threadedly engaged with each other such that the tube retainer nut  42  is axially moved upon the male connector  16  in a tightening direction, the frusto-conical surfaces  32  and  44  of the male connector  16  and tube retainer nut  42  wedgingly secure the open or free end of the outer tube member  34  upon the male half hose assembly  12 . The male connector  16  also comprises a radially enlarged flanged portion  46  at a substantially axially central portion thereof, and when the tube retainer nut  42  is fully tightened upon the male connector  16 , the first end portion  41  of the tube retainer nut  42  will engage the flanged portion  46  of the male connector  16 . 
     The female half hose assembly  14  is substantially identical to the male half hose assembly  12  except for the obvious male-female engagement portions which will be discussed shortly. More particularly, the female half hose assembly  14  comprises a tubular female connector  48  which has an internally stepped configuration defined by a first annular wall member  50  extending axially inwardly and forwardly from an axially outer or rearward end portion  52  so as to define a first relatively small internal bore region  54 , and a second annular, first counterbored wall member  56  so as to define a second relatively large internal bore region  58 . The wall members  50  and  56  define a first annular shoulder portion  60  at the interface or intersection thereof, and the tubular female connector  48  is seen to further comprise a third annular, second counterbored wall member  62  which extends axially inwardly and rearwardly from an axially inner or forward end portion  64  so as to define a third relatively large internal bore region  66 . The wall members  62  and  56  define a second annular shoulder portion  68 , and it is therefore seen that the second relatively large internal bore region  58  is defined or extends between the shoulder portions  60  and  68 . In addition, when the male and female connectors  16  and  48  are engaged with each other and connected together, the forward end portion  26  of the male connector  16  is accommodated within the internal bore or socket region  66  of the female connector  48  and is adapted to abut annular shoulder portion  68  of the female connector  48 . The forward end portion  26  of the male connector  16  also comprises an annular recessed portion  70  within which an annular O-ring sealing member  72  is disposed so as to provide fluidic sealing of the internal bore regions  28  and  58  of the assembly  10  as will be appreciated shortly. 
     The axially outer or rearward end portion  52  of the female connector  48  comprises a first external surface portion  74  which is similar to the external surface portion  32  of the male connector  16  and has a substantially frusto-conical configuration which is adapted to have a free or open end of a second outer tube member  76  mounted thereon. The female connector  48  also comprises a second external surface portion  78 , at an axial position which is substantially coincident with the first shoulder portion  60 , which is provided with external threads  80  for mating with an internally threaded portion  82  provided upon a first end portion  83  of a second tube retainer nut  84 . The opposite or second end portion  85  of the second tube retainer nut  84  is provided with an internal frusto-conical portion  86  which, similar to frusto-conical portion  44  of the first tube retainer nut  42 , is complementary to the external frusto-conical portion  74  of the female connector  48 . In this manner, when the free or open end of the second outer tube member  76  is mounted or disposed upon the external surface portion  74  of the female connector  48 , and the respective threaded portions  80  and  82  of the female connector  48  and the second tube retainer nut  84  are threadedly engaged with each other such that the second tube retainer nut  84  is axially moved upon the female connector  48  in a tightening direction, the frusto-conical surface portions  74  and  86  of the female connector  48  and the second tube retainer nut  84  wedgingly secure the open or free end of the second outer tube member  76  upon the female half hose assembly  14 . The female connector  48  is further provided with a first external, radially outward flanged portion  88 , and when the second tube retainer nut  84  is fully tightened upon the female connector  48 , the first end portion  83  of the second tube retainer nut  84  will substantially engage the flanged portion  88  of the female connector  48 . 
     In order to complete the mechanical interconnection of the male and female half hose assemblies  12  and  14  and thereby establish the quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly  10 , as will be more fully appreciated shortly, a joint retainer nut member  90  is slidably disposed upon the female connector  48 . A third external surface portion  92  of the male connector  16  is provided with external threads  94  for mating with an internally threaded portion  96  of a first end portion  98  of the joint retainer nut member  90 . The female connector  48  also comprises a second external flanged portion  100  while the joint retainer nut member  90  is provided with a radially inwardly extending flanged portion  102  at a second opposite end  104  thereof. Consequently, when the threaded portions  94  and  96  of the the male connector  16  and the joint retainer nut member  90  are threadedly engaged, flanged portion  102  of joint retainer nut member  90  engages flanged portion  100  of the female connector  48  so as to retain the male and female connectors  16  and  48  engaged with each other through means of the engagement of their inner end portions  26  and  64 . 
     In order to complete the entire hose assembly  10  and provide for the dual, coaxial transmission of two different fluids through the assembly  10 , each one of the male and female half hose assemblies  12  and  14  is also respectively provided with an inner tube member  106  and  108 . The inner tube member  106  is coaxially disposed interiorly of the first outer tube member  34  of the male half hose assembly  12  and is disposed within the internal bore regions  22  and  28  thereof, and similarly, inner tube member  108  is coaxially disposed interiorly of the second outer tube member  76  of the female half hose assembly  14  and is disposed within the internal bore regions  54  and  58  thereof. In order to maintain the coaxial disposition of the inner tube members  106  and  108  with respect to the outer tube members  34  and  76 , spacers  110  and  112  are respectively disposed internally within the male and female connectors  16  and  48  and are disposed externally about the inner tube members  106  and  108 . The spacers  110  and  112  are conventional three-legged spacers which in effect support the inner tube members  106  and  108  with respect to the male and female connectors  16  and  48  and also permit fluid flow thereabout. The spacers  110  and  112  may, for example, be press-fitted upon the internal diameter or peripheral wall portions of the male and female connectors  16  and  48 , but may have internal diameter dimensions which are just slightly larger than the outer diameters of inner tube members  106  and  108 . Spacers  110  and  112  may be fabricated as molded components from suitable plastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene or nylon. 
     Consequently, as can be appreciated, a first fluid, such as, for example, an oil or lubricant, can be axially transmitted through the inner tube members  106  and  108 , while a second fluid, such as, for example, air can be axially conducted through the first outer tube member  34 , the bore regions  22  and  28  of the male connector  16 , through the spacer  110 , and subsequently through the bore region  58  of the female connector  48 , through the spacer  112 , through the bore region  54  of the female connector  48 , and out through the second outer tube member  76 . In order to provide good mechanical interconnection between the inner ends of the inner tubes  106  and  108 , as well as to ensure the integrity of the fluidic communication or transmission of the oil or lubricant through the inner tube members  106  and  108 , a single sleeve member  114  is disposed about and envelops both inner end portions of the inner tubes  106  and  108 . It is noted that the first and second outer tube members  34  and  76  may be fabricated from any suitable material and may comprise any conventional construction which is adapted to conduct pressurized fluids therethrough, and as an example, the outer tube members  34  and  76  may be fabricated from polyurethane. Inner tube members  106  and  108  may be fabricated from, for example, nylon, and the sleeve member  114  may also be fabricated from a relatively rigid plastic material, such as, for example, nylon, polyethylene, or polypropylene. 
     When the half hose assemblies  12  and  14  of the overall hose assembly  10  are to be disengaged from each other, the joint retainer nut member  90  is threadedly disengaged from the male connector  16  and the two half hose assemblies  12  and  14  are simply pulled apart in opposite directions. The male connector  16  will separate from the female connector  48  as a result of the disengagement of the inner end portion  26  of the male connector  16  being disengaged from the inner end portion  64  of the female connector  48 . In addition, the inner tube  108  of the female half hose assembly  14  will be disengaged from the sleeve member  114 . In view of the fact that the sleeve member  114  is disposed upon the inner ends of the inner tubes  106  and  108  through means of, for example, a friction fit, the sleeve member  114  will always be maintained, for example, upon the inner tube  106  of the male half hose assembly  12  by disposing a greater axial length portion of the sleeve member  114  upon the inner tube  106  of the male half hose assembly  112  than a corresponding axial length portion of the sleeve member  114  upon the inner tube  108  of the female half hose assembly  14 . Of course, these interrelationships can in effect be reversed if it is desired to maintain the sleeve member  114  upon the inner tube  108  when the half hose assemblies  12  and  14  are separated from each other. It is also noted that in view of the fact that the outer diameter of the sleeve member  114  is greater than the inner diameter of the spacers  110  and  112 , the provision of the sleeve member  114  upon the inner ends of the inner tubes  106  and  108  by means of the aforenoted friction also ensures that the inner tubes  106  and  108  cannot inadvertently be removed or disengaged from their respective half hose assemblies  12  and  14 . 
     It is further noted that in connection with the particular axial disposition of the sleeve member  114  upon the inner tubes  106  and  108  that the left end of the sleeve member  114  as viewed in FIG. 1 is disposed at an axial position which in effect is substantially coplanar with the open or inner end portion  26  of the male connector  16 . In a similar manner, the inner end of the inner tube  108  is also disposed at an axial position which in effect is substantially coplanar with the inner end portion  64  of the female connector  48 . In this manner, when the half hose assemblies  12  and  14  are to be engaged or connected to each other, after, for example, one of the half hose assemblies  12  or  14  has been replaced, exchanged, or the like, axial mating of the sleeve member  114  and the inner end of the inner tube  108  is readily simplified because both inner end portions of such members or components  114  and  108  are located within externally accessible radially extending planar regions of their respective half hose assemblies  12  and  14 . Once the sleeve member  114  and the inner end of the inner tube member  108  have been initially mechanically mated, and the operator personnel can in fact readily feel or sense such mating, the half hose assemblies  12  and  14  are simply pushed together in opposite axial directions whereupon the inner end portion  26  of the male connector  16  will be fully inserted within and mechanically mated or engaged with the inner end portion  64  of the female connector  48 . Threaded engagement of the joint retainer nut member  90  with the third externally threaded portion  92 , 94  of the male connector  16  then completes the assembly or connection of the half hose assemblies  12  and  14  of the overall hose assembly  10  in a quick connect manner. It is further noted that due to the initial or prior mechanical engagement of the sleeve member  114  and the inner end of the inner tube member  108 , as well as the mechanical engagement of the inner end portion  26  of the male connector  16  with the inner end portion  64  of the female connector  48 , the threaded engagement of the joint retainer nut member  90  with the third externally threaded portion  92 , 94  of the male connector  16  is simplified and facilitated because the operator personnel do not have to physically hold the half hose assemblies  12  and  14  together while threading the joint retainer nut member  90  upon the male connector  16 . 
     With reference now being made to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly of the present invention is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  200 . This embodiment is precisely the same as the first hose assembly embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, with the exception of one part or section thereof which will be described shortly, and consequently, detailed structure of this embodiment will not be described in any lengthy detail. In addition, only the major components of the assembly have been provided with reference characters so as to disclose the descriptive continuity of this embodiment with respect to the first embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, and it is noted further that in connection with such reference characters, corresponding parts of the embodiments have been denoted by similar reference characters except that the reference characters of this second embodiment are in the 200 series. Still further, the half hose assemblies of this embodiment have been designated by the reference characters  213  and  215  so as to eliminate any confusion with one of the internal spacers  212  and the sleeve member  214 . 
     More particularly, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 2, the male and female connectors  216  and  248  may be fabricated from a suitable plastic material, and in lieu of the male connector  16  of the half hose assembly  12  being provided with the annular recessed portion  70  and the O-ring sealing member  72  disposed therein, the inner end portion  226  of the male connector  216  may have a radial thickness which is less than that of the inner end portion  26  of the male connector  16  and may be provided with an annular, radially outwardly projecting flanged portion  227  which is adapted to engage the inner peripheral wall of the inner end portion  264  of the female connector  248  so as to provide the fluidic sealing therebetween which was similarly provided by the O-ring sealing member  72  of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . In view of the fabrication of the male and female connectors  216  and  248  from a suitable plastic material, the flanged portion  227  establishes or defines a friction or interference fit with the inner peripheral wall of the inner end portion  264  of the female connector  248 . 
     With reference now being lastly made to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the present invention is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  300 . As was the case with the second embodiment of FIG. 2, this third embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, except for one section or part thereof which will be discussed shortly, and accordingly, a detailed description of the structure of this embodiment will not be set forth herein. In addition, only the major components of the assembly have been provided with reference characters so as to disclose the descriptive continuity of this embodiment with respect to the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein corresponding parts of the embodiments have been denoted by similar reference characters except that the reference characters of this embodiment are in the 300 series. 
     More particularly, it will be recalled that in accordance with the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 1, the spacers  110  and  112  were disposed internally within the male and female connectors  16  and  48  with a friction or interference fit, and the internal diameters of the spacers  110  and  112  were just slightly larger than the outer diameters of the inner tube members  106  and  108 . In accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention as disclosed in FIG. 3, the outer diameters of the spacers  310  and  312  are slightly less than the inner diameters of the male and female connectors  316  and  348  so as to permit the spacers  310  and  312  to be slidably movable with respect to the male and female connectors  316  and  348 , however, the inner diameters of the spacers  310  and  312  are such with respect to the outer diameters of the inner tube members  306  and  308  as to define a friction or interference fit therewith. In addition, spring members  323  and  325  are respectively operatively associated with the spacers  310  and  312 . 
     In particular, the spring members  323  and  325 , which may be, for example, coil springs disposed about the inner tube members  306  and  308 , are interposed between the axially outer ends of the spacers  310 , 312  and the shoulders  330 , 360 . In this manner, the spring members  323  and  325  bias the spacers  310 , 312  and the inner tube members  306 ,  308  axially inwardly such that the sleeve member  314  and the inner ends of the inner tube members  306  and  308  are disposed at their proper axial positions. In addition, the presence of the spring members  323  and  325 , as well as the friction fitting of the spacers  310  and  312  upon inner tube members  306  and  308  prevents inadvertent withdrawal of the inner tube members  306  and  308  out from the half hose assemblies  313  and  315  in view of the engagement of the spring members  323  and  325 , and also that of the spacers  310  and  312 , with the shoulders  330  and  360  should the inner tube members  306  and  308  be attempted to be withdrawn from the half hose assemblies  313  and  315 . Still further, and similarly, the spring members  323  and  325  create a biasing force which acts axially inwardly such that the inner tube members  306  and  308  are always biased toward their mating or engaged positions. In lieu of coil springs, the spring members  323  and  325  may comprise a plurality of springs disposed in an annular or circumferential pattern around the inner tube members  306  and  308 . 
     It is thus seen that in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention, a new and improved quick connect/disconnect coaxial hose assembly has been provided which not only provides for the quick connection and disconnection of the half hose assemblies with respect to each other so as to facilitate the exchange or replacement of one or more of the half hose assemblies, but in addition, each half hose assembly is comprised of substantially identical or complementary parts. Still further, straight, axial flowthrough of both fluids of the coaxial fluid system is achieved, and the assembly provides mechanical interconnections which provide or ensure both good structural and fluidic integrity. 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.