Housing for a connector assembly

Abstract: A connector assembly has a metallic female housing socket (20). The female housing socket has a pair of flanges (74,68) substantially perpendicular to the axis of the socket to retain sealing rings (36,38,32) and a conduit retainer within the socket. The socket also has one or more barb corners (92,114) on its stem to enhance retention of a conduit onto the stem.

Description: The present invention relates to quick connectors and, more particularly, to female connector housings formed from metallic materials. In manufacturing fields, such as automotive, trucks or the like, it is customary to employ quick connect devices to connect conduits or the like together. While conduits, such as piping can be connected in a variety of ways, which include threaded couplings for efficient assembly of the mechanisms, it is desirable to have available a fluid coupling which can be attached very expeditiously but which at the same time, once attached, is substantially fail safe. Various types of couplings have been provided to be utilized in connecting of conduits. Turning to Fig. 1, a female housing socket which applicant has currently been using is illustrated as relevant art. The socket is designated with the reference numeral 1 and includes a body portion 2 and a stem portion 3. The body portion 2 includes a retainer housing portion 4, a sealing means housing portion 5 and a conduit tip housing portion 6. The retainer housing portion 4 and sealing means housing portion 5 are separated by a double step portion 7. Generally, the retaining housing portion 4, sealing means housing portion 5, conduit tip housing portion 6 and dual step portion 7 all include right cylindrical walls connected by curved inward flanges. The retaining housing portion 4 at its free end includes an inward turned flange 8 defining an opening to enable insertion of a conduit. The stem 3, generally formed from a cylindrical wall, has a pair of bulges, 9 and 10, the bulge 10 ending with a frusto-conical tip 11. While the socket 1 functions satisfactorily for its intended purpose, designers continue to strive to improve the art. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a female socket housing assembly for a connector comprising: a female socket housing assembly for a connector comprising: a cylindrical body and a stem, a bore extending through said body and said stem and defining a central axis, said body including a retainer housing portion a sealing means housing portion positioned adjacent said retainer housing portion, and a conduit tip housing portion positioned between said sealing means housing portion and said stem said retainer housing portion having a radially inwardly extending flange defining an opening for enabling passage of a conduit into said housing assembly, a first cylindrical wall continuous with and directly joined to said flange and a first frusto-conical wall extending between a radially larger end and a radially smaller end, said radially larger end being continuous with and directly joined to said first cylindrical wall and said radially smaller end being continuous with and directly joined to said sealing means housing portion, a retainer disposed in said retainer housing portion, said retainer defining an annular ring and a plurality of arms; wherein said ring of said retainer is axially aligned with, and abuts, said radially smaller end of said frusto-conical wall, the abutment of said ring against said smaller end of said frusto-conical wall positioning said ring within said body, and said arms of said retainer extend away from said ring in axial alignment with said frusto-conical wall towards said opening, aligning said retainer within said body. Accordingly, the present invention provides the art with an improved female housing socket. The present invention provides the art with a socket which requires less material to provide cost saving benefits. The present invention has an over body length which is less than currently used sockets,as the double step portion 7 known from the prior art has been suppressed. The female socket may also advantageously provide an abutting shoulder to reduce the displacement of O-rings during insertion of the conduit. The present invention may also advantageously provide barb corners on the stem and an annular groove to seat an O-ring to enhance sealing of a conduit to the stem. By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a relevant prior art device. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of connector assembly in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the female housing socket of Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective sectional view of Fig. 3 within circle 4. Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective sectional view of Fig. 3 within circle 5. Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective sectional view of Fig. 3 within circle 6. Referring to the figures, particularly to Fig. 2, a connector assembly is illustrated in accordance with the present invention and designated with the reference numeral 20. The connector 20 includes a male conduit 22 with an annular bead 24 and a tip 26 and a female socket housing 30. The female socket housing 30 houses a retainer 32 which retains the annular bead 24 which, in turn, locks the conduit 22 within the housing 30. Also, a sealing means 34 is housed within the female socket 30. The sealing means 34 generally includes a pair of O-rings 36 and 38 and bushings 40 and 42. The retainer 32 includes a plurality of arms 44 and an annular ring 46 which define openings to enable passage of the conduit 22 therethrough as seen in Fig. 2. Moving to Fig. 3, the female socket housing 30 is illustrated. The female socket housing includes a body portion 50 and a stem portion 60. An axial bore 52 passes through the body 50 and stem 60 defining an axis 54. The axial bore is continuous through the socket 30 and has enlarged diameter step portions which will be explained herein. The body 50 includes a retainer housing portion 56, a sealing means housing portion 58 and a conduit tip housing portion 62. The retainer housing portion 56 includes a right cylindrical wall portion 64 continuous at one end with a frusto-conical shaped wall portion 66 defining an increased diameter portion of the axial bore 52. The other end of the right cylindrical wall portion 64 is continuous with a radially inward extending flange 68. The flange 68 defines an opening 70 which enables passage of the conduit into the socket 30. The flange 68 in cross section is in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the right cylindrical wall 64 and axis 54 as seen in Fig. 3. The flange 68 provides an abutting surface for the retainer 32 as can be seen in Fig. 2 to provide force against withdrawal of the retainer 32 to maintain the sealing means 34 and conduit 22 within the housing. The frusto-conical shaped wall portion 66 has its larger end continuous with the cylindrical wall portion 64. The smaller end is continuous with the sealing means housing portion 58. The frusto-conical shaped wall portion 66 is at an acute angle with respect to the axis 54 from about 15 to about 20 degrees. The frusto-conical shaped portion provides for aligning the retainer 32 within retainer housing portion 56. Also, the frusto-conical shaped wall portion 66 enables the tooling and forming process to be simplified. Likewise, with the removal of the dual step portion, the connection of the smaller end of the frusto-conical shaped wall portion 66 with the sealing means housing wall portion 58 reduces the forming stress during manufacture of the socket. Also, the junction of the smaller end provides a uniform lip 67, which is in a plane perpendicular to the axis 54, to position the ring 46 of the retainer 32 within the housing as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The sealing means housing portion 58 includes a right cylindrical wall 72 has its axis coincident with axis 54 and defines another enlarged diameter portion of the axial bore. One end of the wall 72 is continuous with the frusto-conical wall 66. The other end of the right cylindrical wall 72 includes a radially extending inwardly flange 74. The flange 74 is in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis 54. The flange 74 forms a shoulder within the axial bore providing an abutment surface for the O-ring 36 as seen in Fig. 5. The substantially perpendicular flat planar abutment surface 76 reduces the incidence of displacing the O-ring as the conduit 22 is passed into the socket as seen in Fig. 2. The conduit tip housing portion 62 includes a right cylindrical wall 78 continuous with the flange 74 and substantially perpendicular thereto. The wall 78 has an axis coincident with the axis 54 and defines another enlarged diameter portion of the axial bore. The wall 78 at its other end is continuous with the stem 60. The stem 60 includes first, second and third wall portions 80, 82 and 84 with the first cylindrical wall portion 80 continuous with the conduit tip housing portion 62. The third portion 84 is a frusto-conical shaped wall 86 which forms a tip at the free extending end of the stem 60 to enhance entrance of the socket 30 into a conduit. The first cylindrical portion 80 includes a right cylindrical wall 88 continuous at one end with the wall 78. The right cylindrical wall 88 is coincident with the axis 54. The other end of the right cylindrical wall 88 has a radially outward extending flange 90 continuous with the second stem portion 82. The flange 90 is frusto-conically shaped forming an exterior shoulder or barb corner 92 at the junction of the first and second stem portions 80 and 82 as seen in Fig. 6. The barb 92 provides enhanced securement of the conduit secured onto the stem 60. The flange 90 has an exterior face 94 at an acute angle with respect to the axis 54. The second stem portion 82 includes a right cylindrical wall portion 96 and a frusto-conical shaped wall portion 98. The frusto-conical shaped portion 98 has its larger end continuous with the flange 90 forming the barb 92 on the exterior of the socket. The smaller end of the frusto-conical shaped wall 98 is continuous with the right cylindrical wall 96. The right cylindrical wall portion 96 includes an annular groove 100 formed at its other end. The annular groove 100 is formed on the exterior surface of the socket 30 and has an overall U-shape in cross section as seen in Fig. 3 and 6. The U is defined by sidewalls 102, 104 and web 106. The sidewalls 102 and 104 are substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis 54. Sidewalls 102 and 104 are the exterior surfaces of radially inward flanges 108 and 110, which extend inwardly into the axial bore. The flange 110 with exterior wall 104 is continuous with the frusto-conical wall 86 of the third portion 84. The junction of the wall 104 and exterior of the wall 86 form a barb corner 114 for enhancing retention of a conduit on the socket 30. The annular groove 100 and flange 90 are formed by a roll formed method as will be explained herein. The socket 30 is generally formed by the following process. A thin gauge disk of metallic material is placed into an up set forming press. The press has a series of male punches and female tools. The disk is contacted by the first punch and tool and formed into a cup shape. The cup is moved sequentially through an automated process from punch to punch to form the socket 30. As the cup is sequentially passed through the automated process from punch to punch in the up set eyelet tooling, at one step the retaining portion 56 is formed, at another step, the sealing means housing portion 58 is formed, another step, the conduit tip housing portion 62 is formed, as additional steps are carried out, the stem is formed. As the steps continue, the flange 74 is formed. Towards the end of the process, as the stem is formed, bulges are formed in the socket at the area where the flange 90 and annular groove 100 are to be formed. During the sequential process, while the socket is withdrawn from a tool after forming of the bulges, the socket is roll formed by rollers to produce the barbed corner 92, annular groove 100 and barbed corner 114. This rolling process is performed during the sequential process to provide the socket with defined barbed corners which enhance the sealing of a conduit to the stem. The socket continues through its sequence of additional punch and eyelet tool steps to provide proper inside and outside diameter sizes. After the eyelet punching sequence is finished, the socket 30 in Figs. 2-6 is formed from the process.

Claims: A female socket housing assembly (30) for a connector (20) comprising: a cylindrical body (50) and a stem (60), a bore (52) extending through said body (50) and said stem (60) and defining a central axis (54), said body (50) including a retainer housing portion (56) a sealing means housing portion (58) positioned adjacent said retainer housing portion (56), and a conduit tip housing portion (62) positioned between said sealing means housing portion (56) and said stem (60) said retainer housing portion (56) having a radially inwardiy extending flange (68) defining an opening (70) for enabling passage of a conduit (22) into said housing assembly (30), a first cylindrical wall (64) continuous with and directly joined to said flange (68) and a first frusto-conical wall (66) extending between a radially larger end and a radially smaller end, said radially larger end being continuous with and directly joined to said first cylindrical wall (64) and said radially smaller end being continuous with and directly joined to said sealing means housing portion (58), a retainer (32) disposed in said retainer housing portion (56), said retainer defining an annular ring (46) and a plurality of arms (44); wherein said ring (46) of said retainer (32) is axially aligned with, and abuts, said radially smaller end of said frusto-conical wall (66), the abutment of said ring (46) against said smaller end of said frusto-conical wall (66) positioning said ring (46) within said body (50), and said arms (44) of said retainer (32) extend away from said ring (46) in axial alignment with said frusto-conical wall (66) towards said opening (70), aligning said retainer (32) within said body (50). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the junction of said smaller end of said frusto-conical wall (66) and said sealing means housing (58) defines a lip (67), said lip (67) being in axial alignment with said annular ring (46) of said retainer and assisting in the positioning of said ring (46) within retainer housing portion (56). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said radially inward extending flange (68) in cross section is substantially perpendicular to said first cylindrical wall (64) and to said central axis (54). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first cylindrical wall (64) in cross section is substantially parallel to said central axis (54). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said frusto-conical wall (66) extends at an acute angle with respect to said central axis (54) of approximately fifteen degrees to twenty degrees. A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said lip (67) in cross section is in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central axis (54). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said sealing means housing portion (58) has a second cylindrical wall (72) continuous at one end with said first frusto-conical wall (66), and continuous at another end with a second radially inwardly extending flange (74), said second flange (74) defining a shoulder which provides an abutment surface (76). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second cylindrical wall (72) in cross section is substantially parallel to said central axis (54). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said abutment surface (76) in cross section is substantially perpendicular to said second cylindrical wall (72) and said central axis (54). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, further including sealing means (34) disposed within said sealing means housing portion (58), said sealing means (34) comprising a pair of O-rings (36,38) and a pair of bushings (40,42). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 10, wherein one (36) of said O-rings abuts said abutment surface (76). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said conduit tip housing portion (62) has a third cylindrical wall (78) continuous with said sealing means housing portion (58), said third cylindrical wall (78) in cross section being substantially parallel to said central axis (54). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein an annular groove (100) is formed in an exterior surface of said stem (60). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said annular groove (100) is defined by radially inwardly extending flanges (108,110), exterior sidewalls (102, 104) being defined by the flanges (108,110). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sidewalls (102,104) are, in cross section, substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to central axis (54). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein one of said sidewalls (104) extends radially further from central axis (54) than the other of said sidewalls (102). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, wherein said stem (60) has a second frusto-conical wall (86) extending between a radially smaller end and a radially greater end, said radially smaller end defining an open tip for connection to a condtui, and said radially greater end being continuous with said sidewall (104) of said groove (100), the junction of said radially greater end of said second frusto-conical wall (86) with said side wall (104) defining a first barb corner (114) for enhancing retention of-a conduit on said stem (60). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 17, wherein said stem (60) has a fourth cylindrical wall (96) continuous with said sidewall (102) of said groove (100), a fifth cylindrical wall (88) continuous with said conduit tip housing portion (62), and a second barb corner (92) interposed between said fourth and fifth cylindrical walls (96,88). A housing assembly (30) as claimed in claim 18, wherein said barb corner (92) is defined by the junction of a third frusto-conical wall (98) continuous with and extending radially outwardly from the fourth cylindrical wall (96) and a fourth frusto-conical wall (94) continuous with and extending radially outwardly from the fifth cylindrical wall (88).

Inventors: KETCHAM MARK G, MCNAUGHTON JAMES, KETCHAM, MARK G., MCNAUGHTON, JAMES
Applicants: BUNDY CORP, BUNDY CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F16L37
IPC codes: F16L33, F16L37