HOSE COUPLING

Abstract: A hose coupling comprising an insert (l) having one end portion (3) for engagement in the end of a hose, a central latching portion (5) and an opposite end portion with a shoulder (ll) thereon with which an internal shoulder (l7) on a slip-on nut (l3) engages. The slip-on nut is assembled on the insert (l) in the direction of the arrow (l5) and is retained in position by a spring clip or other locking device (2l). The coupling is completed by a ferrule (23) which has an internal collar (29) engaging with latching ribs (7 and 9) after a crimping operation to sandwich a hose (H) between an end portion (3) of the insert (l) and a serrated internal periphery (25) of the ferrule (23). The slip on nut may be forged and because the nut is slipped on and held in position by a spring clip, the insert can be formed of reduced diameter bar stock. Preferably, the spring clip is of T-shaped cross-section.

Description: This invention relates to couplings of the insert ferrule type for attachment to reinforced, flexible hose. Couplings that are post assembled to a hose typically include an insert which inserts into a hose end and a ferrule that is concentric with the insert which together define an annular cavity for encircling the hose end. The coupling is retained on the hose end by pinching the hose end between the ferrule and insert. Pinching is accomplished by either radially reducing the ferrule or radially increasing the insert. In high pressure hose applications, it is necessary to latch the ferrule to the insert. In many coupling designs, the ferrule has an internal collar that extends behind an external collar of the insert. Hose inserts have a fitting end portion, a hose end portion, and an intermediate locking collar for the ferrule. The fitting end portion may have any suitable fitting configuration. As examples, the fitting end portion may be configured with male pipe threads, an external collar that retains a female or male swivel nut, or a tubular extension that terminates into an O-ring retaining flange. The present invention is concerned with the type that have an external collar for retaining a swivel nut. Traditionally, the coupling is formed of several individual parts for economical reasons or to accommodate various fitting configurations. However, assembly of several parts may introduce performance problems. For example, the swivel nut may be attached to the stem by crimping a portion of it over an external collar. The so crimped portion is subject to bending or deformation when the fitting is attached to another part or when the hose is subjected to high pressure. Such bending or deformation of the crimped nut portion may cause leakage making such a fitting unsuitable for some applications. U.S.Patent No.2926029 to St.Clair et al, shows a two-piece hose insert where the ferrule locking collar is made as an integral part of the fitting end portion. A nipple is partially inserted into the fitting end and brazed to form a hose end portion. The problem with an insert of this type is that any failure of the brazed joint subjects the coupling to leakage. Another example of the multi-piece insert is the type where a locking collar is formed as an integral part of the hose end portion. A tubular extension that terminates into an O-ring retaining flange is partially inserted into the hose end portion and brazed thereto. Like the previous example, the problem with such an insert is that any failure of the brazed joint subjects the assembled coupling to leakage. To overcome the problem of using a crimped on swivel nut, slip on nuts have been proposed, and one such coupling is disclosed in EP-A-85300568.4. This coupling relies upon a screw-on or crimped-on retaining sleeve behind the swivel nut, to hold the nut in place, and a retaining latch for the ferrule is formed on the exterior of this sleeve. This means that a special sleeve has to be machined for attachment to the insert, which makes the coupling expensive. Also, because the latch is formed on a separate sleeve, failure can occur. The present invention seeks to provide an improved hose coupling which does not suffer from the above disadvantages. According to the present invention, we provide a hose coupling comprising a ferrule, a nut and an insert, a portion of the insert at one end thereof being adapted to be received in an end portion of a hose, a central portion of said insert being provided with latch means with which a latching collar on an end of the ferrule may be engaged following a crimping operation which results in the hose end portion being trapped between the ferrule and insert, and an end of the insert opposite said one end portion being provided with a shoulder which engages a complementary internal shoulder on the nut, whereby said nut can be slipped onto said insert from said one end of the insert only, and including a locking device to hold said nut on said opposite end of the insert. Preferably, the locking device comprises a spring clip which engages in a recess in the opposite end portion of the insert, on the side of the shoulder adjacent the said central portion of the insert. It is preferred that the spring clip be of generally T-shaped cross-section. Preferably, the stem of the 'T' fits snugly into the recess, and the cross-bar of the 'T' is symmetrical, with each arm thereof equal in length to the distance between the edge of the recess nd that of the latch means, so that when located in position, a side face of the spring clip is in line with a solid face of a groove forming part of said latch means. Preferably, the spring clip subtends an arc of about 3l5°, with its two leading edge portions being of reduced section to enable the clip easily to be slipped onto the insert for engagement in its recess. By using a slip-on nut, a hardier construction than is the case with a crimp-on nut is achieved. Also, using a slip-on nut design allows the use of forging techniques which make the component considerably less expensive. Secondly, using a spring clip and slip-on nut reduces the overall diameter of the insert and allows smaller bar stock to be utilised. Lastly, the clip not only retains the nut in the correct position but allows the nut to be used to push the insert fully home on the hose and locates the ferrule above the retaining latch prior to crimping. Without the clip the nut would slide forward and push the ferrule into position but not the insert. Two preferred embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE l is a longitudinal half section of a known hose coupling insert incorporating a crimp-on nut; FIGURE 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing a first embodiment of an insert of a coupling of the invention, FIGURE 3 is a further longitudinal half section of the coupling of Figure 2 being assembled with an end of a hose; FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but of a second embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 5 is an end view of the insert of Figure 4, showing how the spring clip is located thereon. Referring first to Figure l, an insert of a known type of coupling is illustrated, the insert having an end portion E which is pushed into the end of a hose, a central portion C provided with latching means with which a ferrule (not shown) is engageable, and an opposite end portion O provided with an external shoulder S with which an internal shoulder S′ on a swivel nut N is engaged after the nut N has been assembled on the insert in the direction of the arrow A and crimped in position. This type of insert and crimped-on swivel nut N can sometimes fail under high pressure because the crimped-on nut N can bend or deform. Furthermore, the insert has to be machined from relatively large diameter bar stock, the diameter of which is dictated by the outside diameter of the latchintg steps on the central portion C of the insert. Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the hose coupling of the present invention has an insert l with a serrated end portion 3 which can be identical to the prior art end portion E and which is adapted to form a push fit inside an end portion of a reinforced hose H (see Figure 3). As in the prior art construction, the insert is provided with ferrule latching means 5 comprising two axially spaced circumferential ribs 7 and 9. The diameter of these ribs 7 and 9 can be considerably less than that of the two latching ribs shown in the prior art construction of Figure l for the same diameter end portion. At its end remote from the end portion 3, the insert of the present invention is provided with a circumferential shoulder ll which defines the maximum outside diameter of the insert. This maximum diameter can correspond with the diameter of the shoulder S on the prior art insert, that is, it is considerably less than that of the latching ribs shown at C and the effect of this is that the insert can be machined from bar stock whose outside diameter is less than that of the prior art insert shown in Figure l. As can be seen from Figure 3, the insert l is used with a slip-on nut l3 which is assembled on the insert over the end portion 3 in the direction of the arrow l5, the nut being provided with an internal shoulder l7, the internal diameter of which is somewhat less than the external diameter of the shoulder ll on the insert so as to prevent the nut l3 from moving off the end of the insert remote from its end portion 3. A circumferential groove l9 is formed in the circumference of the insert l between its shoulder ll and the rib 7 so that once the nut l3 has been slipped onto the insert it can be held in its operative position by means of a spring clip 2l. This spring clip may be a proprietary design of clip formed of metal or synthetic resinous material and in its simplest form may be in the form of a washer having a radial slot therein enabling the washer to be radially expanded and then sprung back into position within the groove l9. Once the washer 2l is located in the groove l9 the nut l3 is held captive between the shoulder ll and clip 2l but is able to swivel around the longitudinal axis of the coupling. A nut with a female thread is illustrated but equally a nut with a male thread could be used. To complete the coupling, a ferrule 23 of generally known construction is provided, the ferrule 23 having a serrated interior 25 which co-operates with serrations 27 on the end portion 3 of the insert to grip the hose H. The ferrule 23 also has an internal collar 29 at its leading end which engages in a groove 3l defined by the ribs 7 and 9 when the ferrule 23 is crimped into position to sandwich the hose between its internal serrations 25 and its external serrations 27 on the insert. (Instead of crimping the ferrule 23 radially inwardly, it is envisaged that it might be possible to crimp or expand the end portion 3 of the insert l radially outwardly). Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, like parts bear the same reference numerals as in the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3. In this embodiment, instead of retaining the nut l3 on the insert with a standard type of spring clip 2l, a special T-shaped spring clip 2la is used. The stem of the T fits into the groove or recess l9 to hold the clip in position, and the clip has a symmetrical cross-bar, each arm of which has a length corresponding to the width of the rib 7, so as completely to mask the rib 7. This means that the edge face of the cross-bar, regardless of which way round the clip 2la is fitted, will line up radially with the face of the rib 7 facing the groove 3l, and as a result there is no step defined by the side of the clip 2la and the top of the rib 7 as in the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3. In the embodiment of Figures 2 nd 3, this step can sometimes be inadvertently engaged by the latch on the ferrule 23, thus preventing latching of the ferrule to the insert as a result of the crimping operation. This cannot happen in the Figure 4 embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from Figure 5, the leading edges of the cross-bar of the T at the free ends of the arcuate clip 2la are stopped short of the ends of the clip (which subtends an arc of about 3l5°). This leaves two projecting portions 22 of the same width as the stem of the T, which portions can easily be located in the groove or recess l9 to assist in fitting the clip 2la. It will thus be appreciated that the spring clip 2l or 2la, as well as maintaining the slip-on nut l3 in position on the insert, also performs the secondary function of ensuring that the insert l is pushed fully home within the hose, and that the ferrule is properly located with its collar 29 located in line with the groove between the ribs 7 and 9 prior to the crimping operation. Instead of using a spring clip 2l engaging in a groove l9, it is envisaged that a screw-on nut could be used. It will thus be appreciated that because the nut l3 does not have to be able to withstand crimping, it can be manufactured by a forging technique with resultant cost savings. Furthermore, by using the slip-on nut with a spring clip or other retaining means, the overall diameter of the insert l can be kept to a minimum since the overall diameter of the insert is dictated by the outside diameter of the shoulder ll rather than of one of the latching ribs 7 or 9. Thus, reduced diameter bar stock can be used for machining the insert l with a further reduction in cost. It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims: 1. A hose coupling comprising a ferrule (23), a nut (l3) and an insert (l), a portion (3) of the insert at one end thereof being adapted to be received in an end portion of a hose (H), a central portion (C) of said insert being provided with latch means (7,9) with which a latching collar (29) on an end of the ferrule (23) may be engaged following a crimping operation which results in the hose end portion being trapped between the ferrule (23) and insert (l), characterised in that an end of the insert opposite said one end portion is provided with a shoulder (ll) which engages a complementary internal shoulder (l7) on the nut (l3), whereby said nut (l3) can be slipped onto said insert (l) from said one end of the insert (l) only, and in that a locking device (2l or 2la) is provided to hold said nut (l3) on said opposite end of the insert (l). 2. A hose coupling according to claim l characterised in that the locking device (2l or 2la) comprises a spring clip. 3. A hose coupling according to claim 2 characterised in that the spring clip (2la) has a generally T-shaped cross-section (Figure 4). 4. A hose coupling according to claim 3 characterised in that the stem of the T fits into a recess (l9) in the circumference of the insert (l). 5. A hose coupling according to claim 3 or 4 characterised in that the cross-bar of the T is symmetrical, and each arm of the cross-bar has a length such that its outer face is in line with an internal face of a groove (e.g. 3l) on the insert (l) forming part of said latch means (7,9). 6. A hose coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the maximum outside diameter of said insert is at said shoulder (ll), said latch means (7,9) being of a smaller diameter.

Inventors: KEAST, GEOFFREY RICHARD, KNIGHT, COLIN HARLAND
Applicants: GATES HYDRAULICS LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: F16L33
IPC codes: F16L33