Abstract:
A clamp guide for joining a flexible hose to a rigid, hollow shaft has an arced first bump for interfacing with a head bead of at least two beads of the rigid, hollow shaft and has two legs. The legs extend from ends of the arced first bump, each having at least one bump aligned with subsequent beads of the at least two beads thereby forming registration areas between adjacent bumps. At least one lateral support extends from at least one of the legs at an edge of the legs at the registration area. Each of the lateral supports has a shape of a segment of a cylinder having an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the flexible hose.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a method for connecting a hose to a fitting. More particularly, it refers to a method and apparatus for connecting a hose to a fitting using one or more clamps and using a clamp guide. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Air conditioning hose assembly connection systems are known. The simplest is to fit an end of a flexible, compressible hose over a metal fitting or stem and attaching clamps on the hose over the fitting to hold the hose to the fitting and to prevent leaks in various applications such as with high pressure refrigerants. Often, this is not sufficient for such high pressure connections because the hose tends to slip off the fitting. To improve this type of connection, the fitting is made with one or more beads that help hold the hose to the fitting. Still, in high-pressure applications, it is still possible for the hose to come free from the fitting. 
         [0003]    To further improve the connection, guides have been deployed to guide the installation of the clamps such that the clamps situate themselves between the beads, making it even more difficult for the hose to slip off of the fitting. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a guide that aligns the clamps between the beads that reduces skewing of the cable guides and clamps to better hold the hose to the fitting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention includes a method of joining a flexible hose to a rigid, hollow shaft. The rigid, hollow shaft has a groove, a head bead adjacent to the groove, and at least one bead (a bead that will be positioned beneath the hose). The method includes the steps of providing a flexible hose, a first end of the flexible hose cut at 90 degrees with respect to an axis of the flexible hose and (b) providing a clamp guide. The clamp guide has an arced surface for interfacing with the groove and two legs. Each of the legs has at least two bumps, each bump corresponding to and aligned with each bead, thereby forming registration areas between adjacent bumps. At least one lateral support extends from an edge of at least one of the legs at the registration area. Each of the lateral support(s) has a shape of a segment of a cylinder, the segment of the cylinder having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the flexible hose. The method continues with (c) placing at least one hose clamp loosely over the flexible hose then (d) pushing the first end of the flexible hose over the rigid, hollow shaft, the first end of the flexible hose abutting the head bead. The clamp guide is then attached (e) by interfacing the arced surface with the groove and resting the clamp guide arms against the flexible hose. Next, each of the hose clamps are positioned (f) over each of the registration areas and (g) the hose clamps are tightened, thereby compressing the flexible hose between the hose beads. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a method of joining a flexible hose to a rigid, hollow shaft is disclosed. The rigid, hollow shaft has three beads, a first head bead, a second bead, and a third bead, wherein the second bead and third bead are on one side of the head bead and the third bead is further from the head bead than the second bead. (a) A flexible hose is provided and has a first end cut at 90 degrees with respect to an axis of the flexible hose. A clamp guide is provided (b). The clamp guide has an arced first bump for interfacing with a head bead, and two legs. The legs extend from the arced first bump and each leg has a second bump aligned with a second bead and a third bump aligned with the third bead thereby forming a first registration area between the first bump and the second bump and forming a second registration area between the second bump and the third bump. At least one lateral support extends from at least one of the legs at an edge of the leg(s) at the registration areas. Each of the lateral supports has a shape of a segment of a cylinder, the segment of the cylinder having an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the flexible hose; The next step is (c) placing two hose clamps loosely over the flexible hose. Next, (d) pushing the first end of the flexible hose over the rigid, hollow shaft, the first end of the flexible hose abutting the head bead then (e) attaching the clamp guide by interfacing the arced first bump with the head bead and resting the clamp guide arms and lateral support(s) against the flexible hose. A first hose clamp of the two hose clamps is positioned (f) over the first registration (between the first bump and the second bump) and a second hose clamp of the two hose clamps is positioned (g) over the second registration (between the second bump and the third bump). The first and second hose clamp are tightened (h), thereby compressing the flexible hose between the beads. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a clamp guide for joining a flexible hose to a rigid, hollow shaft is disclosed. The rigid, hollow shaft has at least two beads, the clamp guide has an arced first bump for interfacing with a head bead of the at least two beads and has two legs. The legs extend from ends of the arced first bump, each having at least one bump aligned with subsequent beads of the at least two beads thereby forming registration areas between adjacent bumps. At least one lateral support extends from at least one of the legs at an edge of the legs at the registration area. Each of the lateral supports has a shape of a segment of a cylinder having an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the flexible hose. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a guide of the prior art. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of a guide of the prior art. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of an improved clamp guide. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  illustrate an end plan view of the improved clamp guide. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3C  illustrate a top plan view of the improved clamp guide. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3D  illustrate a bottom plan view of the improved clamp guide. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the improved clamp guide as it attaches to a hose and fitting. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the improved clamp guide attached to a hose and fitting before adding claims. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the improved clamp guide attached to a hose and fitting after adding claims. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a hose connecting two fittings using the improved clamp guide and clamps. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a perspective view and a plan view of a clamp guide  110  of the prior art is shown. The prior art for connecting a flexible hose  120  to a rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105  includes a clamp guide  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The clamp guide  110  has registrations  121  between ridges  112  that align with beads  109  on a hose-connection end  101  of the rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105 . The clamp guide  110  has a semi-circular portion  111  that fits inside a groove  103  in the rigid hollow shaft  101 / 105  so that the clamp guide arms  115  are on exactly opposite sides of the flexible hose  120  when the flexible hose  120  is positioned over the receiving end  101  of the rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105 . The rigid, hollow shaft  101 / 105  is anticipated to be a component of a variety of connectors and fittings, one example is shown having a threaded fitting  107  at an end  105  distal from where a flexible hose  120  is attached using the clamp guide  110  and clamps  117 . 
         [0021]    As pressure increases, using the clamp guides  110  and claims  117  of the prior art, the hose  120  tends to pull off of the shaft  101  of the fitting, deforming the clamp guide  110  and skewing the arms  115  of the clamp guide  110  until the hose eventually pulls off of the shaft  101  of the fitting. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3A-D , views of the improved clamp guide  10  are shown. The clamp guide  10  includes two clamp guide arms  16  attached to each other by an arc  14  that has an inner edge  17  that, in some embodiments, is greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees. In such embodiments, the inner surface  17  of the arc  14  has an inner diameter that is approximately the same or slightly greater than an outer diameter of the hollow shaft  2  (see  FIG. 4 ) where it rests. Also, in such embodiments, the circumferential length of the inner surface  17  of the arc  14  is greater than one half of the outer circumference of the rigid, hollow shaft  2  (see  FIG. 4 ). Being such, as the hose clamps  30  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) are tightened around the flexible hose  20 , the flexible hose  20  compresses around the hose end  7  of the rigid hollow shaft  5 / 7  and the arc  14  is pulled tighter around the rigid, hollow shaft  5 / 7 , thereby forming a stronger bond between the fitting/connector  3 / 5 / 7  and the flexible hose  20 . Any known types of hose clamps  30  are anticipated. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the arc  14  is interfaced with a groove  2  while in other embodiments, there is no groove  2  (e.g., groove bead  27  is absent) and the arc  14  is interfaced with a head bead  29 . 
         [0024]    There are several beads  9 / 29 / 27  on the hollow rigid shaft  5 / 7 . The bead  9 / 29 / 27  that aligns with the arc  17  is the head bead  29 . The groove bead  27  is present in some embodiments to form the groove  2  between the groove bead  27  and the head bead  29 . 
         [0025]    The clamp guide arms  16  have bumps  11  that align with the beads  9  (see  FIG. 4 ) and registration areas  15  that are aligned between the beads  9 . The hose clamps  30  (see  FIG. 5-7 ) are placed over the clamp guide arms  16  such that the hose clamps  30  seat into the registration areas  15 . In this way, as the hose clamps  30  are tightened, the flexible hose  20  is compressed in between the beads  9 , providing a stronger connection between the flexible hose  20  and the rigid, hollow shaft  5 / 7 , thereby resisting separation under high pressure. 
         [0026]    Although two registration areas  15  are shown, the present invention is not limited to any particular number of registration areas  15  and any number of registration areas  15  is anticipated including one registration area  15 . 
         [0027]    It is preferred to fabricate the clamp guide arms  16  from a stiff, sturdy metal such as steel. 
         [0028]    The improved clamp guide  10  has one or more lateral supports  1202  extending from the legs  16  in the registration areas  15 . The lateral supports  1202  are curved to follow the outer diameter of the intended hose  20  such that, when the clamps  30  are placed in the registration areas, the lateral supports  1202  are positioned beneath the clamps and, as the clamps are tightened, the lateral supports  1202  are pressed onto the surface of the hose  20 , thereby holding the legs  16  of the improved clamp guide  10  from twisting and/or deforming. Although two lateral supports  1202  are shown extending from each registration area  15 , any number of lateral supports  1202  is anticipated in any configuration. For example, in some embodiments, there are multiple registration areas and only one registration area has two lateral supports, while in another embodiment, one registration area  15  has two lateral supports  1202  and another registration area  15  has no lateral supports  1202 . Likewise, in some embodiments, there are mixed numbers of lateral support  1202 , for example, one registration area  15  has one lateral supports  1202  on a first side of the leg  16  and another registration area  15  has one lateral supports  1202  on an opposing side of the leg  16 . 
         [0029]    The lateral supports  1202  are preferably formed/cut from the same material as the legs  16  and are preferably bent/formed during the manufacturing process. The lateral supports  1202  are in the shape of a segment of a cylinder having an inner diameter approximately the same as an outer diameter of the target hose  20 . 
         [0030]    Although not required, in some embodiments, a rim  1204  is formed along one or both edges of the lateral supports, thereby defining a contained area in which the clamp  30  will rest. 
         [0031]    Although not required, in some embodiments, a clamp alignment nub  1206  is formed on one of the clamp legs  16 , preferably approximately central to the registration areas  15 . The claim alignment nub  1206  forces the head of the clamp  30  to be correctly positioned over the clamp alignment nub  1206 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4-6 , plan views of the present invention as it attaches to a hose is shown. In  FIG. 4 , the flexible hose  20  is shown cut at 90 degrees and is ready to be pushed over the connection end  7  of the rigid, hollow shaft  5 / 7 . To facilitate connection, two hose clamps  30  are placed loosely over the flexible hose  20 , typically before the flexible hose  20  is pushed over the connection end  7 . The improved clamp guide  10  is shown ready to be placed over the flexible hose  20 , the arc  17  of which is positioned to interface with the groove  2  (or the head bead  29 ) of the hollow shaft  5 / 7 , thereby aligning the registrations  15  with the spaces between the beads  9 . 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 5 , the clamp guide  10  is on the flexible hose  20 , and the arc  17  of the clamp guide  10  is interfaced with the groove  2  or head bead  29  of the rigid, hollow shaft  5 / 7 . The clamps have not been positioned into the registration areas  15 . The lateral supports  1202 , having an internal diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the hose  20 , rest on the hose  20  with little or no gap between the hose  20  and the lateral supports  1202 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 6 , the hose clamps  30  are positioned in the registration areas  15  and tightened, thereby forming a strong bond between the flexible hose  20  and the rigid, hollow shaft  5 / 7 . Although shown with a threaded fitting  3  at one end, any type of fitting/connection is anticipated including a second groove  2  and any number of beads  9  for joining to flexible hoses  20 . The clamps  30  are positioned and held between the optional rims  1204  of the lateral supports  1202 . As the clamps  30  are tightened, the clamps  30  apply pressure over the registration areas  15  and the lateral supports  1202  and evenly compress the hose  20  in an area between the beads  9 / 29  (not visible in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , of a perspective view of a hose  20  connecting two fittings using the improved clamp guide  10  and clamps  30  is shown. The hose clamps  30  are positioned in the registration areas  15  and tightened, thereby forming a strong bond between the flexible hose  20  and the rigid, hollow shaft  5 / 7 . Although shown with a threaded fitting  3  at one end, any type of fitting/connection is anticipated including a second groove  2  and any number of beads  9  for joining to flexible hoses  20 . The clamps  30  are positioned and held between the optional rims  1204  of the lateral supports  1202 . As the clamps  30  are tightened, the clamps  30  apply pressure over the registration areas  15  and the lateral supports  1202  and evenly compress the hose  20  in an area between the beads  9 / 29  (not visible in  FIG. 7 ). If present, the nubs  1206  (not visible) are located on the legs  16 , approximately central to the registration area  15 . The clamps  30 , having some amount over clearance beneath the clamp ears, fit in the registration area only when the ear of the clamp aligns with the nub  1206 , thereby assuring proper rotational location of the clamp  30 . 
         [0036]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0037]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.