TUBE CONNECTOR WITH INDICATOR AND RELEASE

Abstract: A push-to-connect tube connector for interconnecting conduits wherein a male part (12) is received within a female part (10) passage by relative axial displacement. Resilient fingers (30,32) mounted upon one part cooperate with a shoulder (22) defined on the other part to maintain the parts fully connected, seals (24) interposed between the parts prevent leakage, and indicia means in the form of a sleeve (40) axially displaceable upon the male part (12) supports an indicator displaced thereon by the female part (10) during connection to provide a visual indication of the degree of interconnection. A reference mark defined on the sleeve (40) is masked by the indicator (48) upon the parts being fully connected. Upon the removal of the indicator (48), which is in the form of a split ring, the sleeve (40) may be used to "open" the fingers (30,32) to disconnect the parts, and in an embodiment non-­ circular transverse cross sections defined on the respective parts telescopingly cooperate during full connection to prevent relative rotation between the parts.

Description: Push-to-connect tube connectors are employed in the automotive field to interconnect flexible tubes for fuel lines, air conditioners, and the like. Such connectors consist of a female part having an open-ended passage defined therein telescopingly receiving a male part. Seals interposed between the parts prevent leakage, and retainers formed of resilient fingers mounted upon a part engage with a shoulder defined upon the other part upon the parts being fully connected to maintain the connection. Such connectors permit the parts to be very quickly connected by a relative axial displacement without requiring tools. Such tube connectors may also include means for releasing the resilient finger retainer. Tube connectors of the aforedescribed type are relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and desirable features include forming the connector of the smallest possible diameter for a given capacity, the primary components should be formed or stamped, the connection must be very stable and fluid-tight, and preferably, a visual indicator of connection is present and disconnect means are available which are easy to operate, and yet discourage tampering and unauthorized disconnection. Additionally, anti-rotation between the connector parts is often desirable. Push-to-connect connectors presently available do not achieve all of the aforementioned features in a single construction as is provided by the later illustrated preferred embodiment. An object of the invention is to provide a push-to-connect connector having male and female parts wherein a visual indicator is provided for permitting the operator to readily observe the relationship between the connector parts during connection and wherein, preferably, the indicia means are masked to indicate full connection to provide a positive indication that full connection has been achieved. US-A-4 691 943 shows a push-to-connect tube connector of the type as specified in the prior art portion of claim 1. This prior construction gives no clear visual indication of engagement and proper engagement and locking of the connector can only be checked by the user feeling the resistance to movement to detect proper engagement. The present invention, as characterised in claim 1, provides for a visual indication to be given such that the user can know how engagement is progressing and obtain a clear visual indication of locking engagement of the connector. The later illustrated connector is a low cost push-to-connect tube connector of the smallest possible diameter for a given capacity wherein the primary components are formed of drawn or stamped material and wherein interconnection of the connector parts produces a stable relationship. Conveniently, the connector can use a retainer formed of resilient fingers engaging a shoulder wherein the fingers may be released to permit disconnection of the connector parts and the finger release apparatus is permanently mounted upon one of the connector members. Preferably, finger release means mounted upon the male part cannot be operated to release the fingers without safety means being rendered inoperative. Means are later illustrated in a push-to-connect tube connector having male and female parts connectable by relative axial displacement such that relative rotation between the parts is prevented during full connection. In the later illustrated preferred construction, a female stamped part includes a passage having an open end and a resilient finger retainer is mounted within the passage adjacent the end, circular sealing means are located within the passage and held in place by the retainer, and a reduced diameter portion inwardly of the seal receives the nose of the male part during full connection. The male part includes a tubular nose received within the passage and a pair of axially spaced shoulders are defined on the male part having an axially displaceable sleeve located therebetween. The sleeve includes an annular exterior groove adjacent a cylindrical surface, and a split ring frictionally encompasses the sleeve cylindrical surface having sufficient radial dimension to abuttingly engage the open end of the female part during connection. As the male part is inserted into the passage the split ring engages the outermost end of the female part displacing the sleeve away from the male part nose until a shoulder stop is encountered. Further insertion of the male part into the passage axially displaces the split ring upon the sleeve and upon sufficient insertion of the male part into the passage the split ring will be received within the sleeve groove giving a visual indication that the parts are fully connected. At such condition the free ends of the resilient fingers will have engaged with the male part shoulder closest to the nose preventing separation of the parts. When fully connected a cylindrical surface defined upon the male part nose is sealingly engaged by the seals within the female part passage, and the nose is closely telescopingly received within the passage reduced diameter portion. In an embodiment of the invention the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the male part nose and the female part reduced diameter portion may be noncircular so that the reception of the male part nose into the female part portion prevents relative rotation of the parts about their longitudinal axis. If it is desired to disconnect the parts the split ring is removed from the sleeve, and the sleeve may then be axially displaced upon the male part between its shoulders into the recess engaging the resilient fingers and lifting them out of engagement with the male part shoulder thereby permitting the male part to be withdrawn from the passage. Preferably, the base of the groove defined on the sleeve is of a highly visible color as to be readily observable by the operator, and upon the split ring being received within the groove, this highly visible surface is masked against observation permitting the operator to quickly discern that the parts are fully coupled. As the removal of the split ring from the sleeve requires premeditated action, the split ring serves as a safety feature to discourage tampering with the tube connector, and requires positive and intentional action by the operator to permit the tube connector parts to be disconnected. The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially sectioned, showing the tube connector parts in axial alignment and prior to connection, Fig. 2 is an elevational, partially sectioned view of a tube connector in accord with the invention with the parts partially interconnected, the sleeve ring engaging the passage shouldered end, end, Fig. 3 is an elevational, partially sectioned view of the connector of the invention illustrating the relationship of the components during the connection sequence upon the sleeve engaging the male part shoulder stop, Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partially sectioned, illustrating the tube connector components in the fully connected condition, the indicator ring being received within the sleeve groove, Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partially sectioned, of the tube connector shown in the fully connected condition with the sleeve illustrated in the finger releasing position, Fig. 6 is an elevational, sectional view taken along Section VI-VI of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the retainer element in its noncircular configuration, and Fig. 8 is an elevational, sectional view as taken along Section VIII-VIII of Fig. 5 with a nonrotative tube connector embodiment. The tube connector of the invention consists of a female part 10 and a male part 12. The female part 10 includes the portion 14 upon which a tube conduit, not shown, may be inserted, as is well known. The female part also includes the reduced diameter portion 16, the seal portion 18 and the retainer portion 20 which is outwardly defined by a shouldered end 22. A plurality of annular O-ring type seals 24 of the O-ring type are located within portion 18 and a plurality of annular seal spacers 26 are located between the elastomeric seals 24. The retainer is generally indicated at 28, Fig. 7, and is stamped from spring steel and includes a base 29 from which extend alternate long fingers 30 and short fingers 32. The retainer 28 is located within the retainer portion 20 of the female part passage and is formed into a circular configuration wherein the base 29 engages the inside of the shouldered end 22, and the free end of the long fingers 30 engage the outermost spacer 26 thereby retaining the seal and spacer assembly within seal portion 18. The short fingers 32 are deflected inwardly as will be appreciated from Figs. 1 and 2. The male part 12 includes an annular shoulder 34 defined thereon by axially displacing the metal of the male part forming a radial shoulder, and in a like manner an outer shoulder 36 is defined in axially spaced relationship to the shoulder 34. A nose 38 is defined on the male part between shoulder 34 and the outermost end of the male part, and in the embodiments of Figs. 1-4 the nose 38 is of a cylindrical configuration and of a diameter as to be closely received within the seals 24 and the female part portion 16. An annular sleeve 40 formed of a synthetic plastic material is located upon the cylindrical surface of the male part intermediate the shoulders 34 and 36 for axial displacement thereon between the shoulders. The sleeve 40 includes a cylindrical surface 42 disposed toward the nose 38 and an enlarged head 44 to facilitate manual manipulation and placement of the sleeve. The innermost end of the sleeve is slightly beveled as will be appreciated from the drawing. An annular groove 46 is defined on the sleeve within the surface 42 and the base of the groove 46 is, preferably, painted with a highly visible color. An indicator ring 48 encompasses the sleeve surface 42 and frictionally grasps the surface in that the normal diameter of the ring 48 is slightly less than that of the surface 42. The ring 48 is of a split configuration, Fig. 6, the ends thereof being shown at 50. In operation, the components will be as shown in Fig. 1, it being understood that conduits, such as hose or tubing, not shown, will be connected to or be a part of parts 10 and 12. The sleeve 40 is freely axially displaceable upon the male part 12, and in Fig. 1 it is shown adjacent the shoulder 34. Axial displacement of the parts 10 and 12 inserts the nose 38 into the open ended passage of the female part 10 wherein the nose 38 is sealingly received within the seals 24 as shown in Fig. 2. At such time the shoulder end 22 will engage the ring 48 mounted upon sleeve 40. Further insertion of the male part 12 into the female part 10 causes the shoulder 34 to raise the fingers 32, Fig. 3, and the male part 12 will be axially displaced "through" the sleeve 40 due to the engagement of the ring 48 with the female part shoulder 22. This operation and relationship will continue until the sleeve 40 engages the shoulder 36 as shown in Fig. 3. Further insertion of the male part 12 into the female part passage axially displaces the indicator ring 48 across the sleeve surface 42 toward the groove 46 and upon the insertion being of sufficient extent to permit the ends of the fingers 32 to clear the shoulder 34 so as to snap inwardly and prevent withdrawal of the male part 12 from the female part 10 the ring 48 will snap into groove 46 and mask the colored and visible groove base from observation by the operator. Thus, once the operator can no longer observe the color of the groove 46 he will be apprised that full connection has occurred and that a sealed and locked interrelationship between the female part 10 and the male part 12 has been achieved. The seals 24 prevent leakage, and the close reception of the nose 38 within portion 16 and the reception of the sleeve 40 within the shouldered end 42 provides a stable relationship between the parts 10 and 12 highly resistant to relative bending and, or course, engagement of the ends of fingers 32 with the shoulder 34 prevents withdrawal of the male part from the female part passage. If it is desired to disconnect the parts the ring 48 is opened and removed from the groove 46, and the ring is completely removed from the sleeve. Once the ring 48 is removed from groove 46 the sleeve 40 may be manually pushed further into the female part passage engaging the forward beveled end of the sleeve with the underside of the fingers 32 lifting the fingers from engagement and alignment with the shoulder 34 and thereby permitting the part 12 to be withdrawn from the part 10. In some applications it is desirable that rotation between the parts 10 and 12 be prevented, and in such instance the forwardmost portion of the male part nose 38′, Figs. 5 and 8, and the female part reduced diameter portion 16′, are formed of a noncircular configuration, such as hexagonal, Fig. 8, wherein the close telescoping relationship achieved by these part portions will prevent relative rotation. In such instance, the configuration of the nose surface in radial alignment with the seals 24 is cylindrical to insure the sealed relationship between the parts 10 and 12, and yet, this nonrotation feature does not adversely affect the assembly operation in that the orientation between the parts 10 and 12 may be easily and quickly achieved. As the removal of the ring 48 from the sleeve groove 46 requires positive and intentional action by the operator, inadvertent release of the retainer fingers will be prevented, and as the ring 48 requires knowledgeable and considerable manipulation to be removed from the groove tampering and unauthorized disconnection of the connector parts is discouraged.

Claims: 1. A push-to-connect connector comprising a female part (10) having a passage defined therein, a male part (12) axially receivable within said passage, and retainer means (28) mounted upon one (10) of the parts engageable with the other part (12) to maintain said parts in a fully connected condition upon the male part (12) being fully axially inserted into the female part (10), characterised by indicia means (46, 48) separate from the retainer means (28) and mounted on the male part, said indicia means being engageable with said female part (10) during reception of said male part (12) within said passage visibly to indicate the extent of insertion of said male part into said passage. 2. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicia means comprise a sleeve (40) mounted upon said male part (12) and an axially translatable indicator (48) frictionally mounted upon said sleeve, said indicator engaging an abutment (22) defined on said female part as said parts are connected and being axially displaced on said sleeve during connection of said parts. 3. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein a visible reference mark (46) is defined on said sleeve (40), said indicator (48) masking said reference mark (46) upon said parts (10, 12) being fully connected. 4. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reference mark comprises an annular groove (46) in said sleeve (40) and said indicator comprises a resilient ring (48) encompassing said sleeve (40) to be received within said groove (46) upon said parts being fully connected. 5. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the female part passage has an open end with a shoulder (22) being provided on said female part (10) adjacent said open end, an annular seal (24) is provided in said passage, the male part has a tubular nose (38) receivable within said passage in sealed relationship with said seal (24), and the annular sleeve (40) is mounted on said male part (12) to be axially displaceable thereon between a first floating position and a second stop position, stop means (36) on said male part (12) limiting movement of said sleeve (40) away from said nose (38) when said sleeve is at said second position, said sleeve (40) being receivable within said passage, and said indicator (48) being engageable with said female part shoulder (22) upon insertion of said male part (12) into said passage whereby insertion of said male part nose (38) into said female part passage translates said sleeve (40) to said second position and said indicator (48) masks said indicia means (46) upon said parts (10, 12) being fully connected. 6. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said indicator is a split ring (48) resiliently embracing said sleeve (40). 7. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said indicia means comprises an annular groove (46) in said sleeve having a base surface of a highly visible colour, said indicator (48) being receivable within said groove to mask said base surface when said sleeve is at said second position. 8. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein said retainer (28) comprises resilient fingers (32), finger displacing means defined upon said sleeve (40) being engageable with said fingers (32) upon said sleeve (40) being sufficiently received within said passage to displace said fingers (32) from said other part (34) to permit disconnection of said parts. 9. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sleeve (40) can only be inserted into said passage sufficiently to displace said fingers (32) following removal of the indicator (48) from the sleeve (40). 10. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said female part passage has a reduced diameter part (16′) of non-circular transverse cross-section, adapted to receive a complementary shaped end portion (38′) of the male part when the parts are in a fully connected condition to prevent relative rotation between said parts. 11. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein said non-circular cross-section is a hexagonal cross-section. 12. A push-to-connect connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an annular shoulder (34) defined upon one of said parts is engageable by the free ends of a plurality of resilient fingers (32) mounted upon the other part as said retainer means.

Inventors: FIELD, JOHN C., LAIPPLY, ROBERT A.
Applicants: AEROQUIP AG
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F16L37
IPC codes: F16L37