Power steering coupling assembly

Abstract: A coupling assembly (10) includes a first member (12) and a second member (22). The first member (12) has an exterior surface (14) with a first projection (16) extending radially outwardly. The second member (22) has a cavity (26) with an interior surface (28) to receive the first projection (16) on the first member (12) and a second projection (33) extending radially inwardly from the interior surface (28). The coupling assembly (10) further includes a retaining ring (44) disposed about the first member (12) between the first projection (16) and the second projection (33) to retain the first member (12) and second member (22) together.

Description: The present invention relates generally to coupling assemblies and, more particularly, to a coupling assembly for a power steering unit on a motor vehicle. It is known to provide a coupling assembly for connecting two members together. An example of such a coupling assembly is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,226,682 to Marrison et al. This patented coupling assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first member has an exterior surface with a groove for receiving an annular locking ring. The second member has an inner surface with a cavity for receiving the locking ring. The first and second members are secured together when the locking ring is engaged in the groove and the cavity. Similar coupling assemblies according to the preamble of claim 1 are known from FR-A-2 554 543 and EP-A 0615 089. In these known coupling devices, a retaining ring may be subject to uncontrolled torsion stress when connecting or disconnecting the coupling members, whereby reliability of the coupling assembly may be impaired. It is also known to provide motor vehicles with a power steering unit for pumping fluid through lines to assist the steering of the motor vehicle by an operator. The above patented coupling assembly may be used on the power steering unit of some motor vehicles. There is a need in the art to provide a coupling assembly for quick connecting or releasing a line or conduit to a power steering unit on a motor vehicle in case the power steering unit needs to be removed. It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a coupling assembly which can repeatedly and reliably be connected and disconnected. It is another object of the invention to provide a coupling assembly for a power steering unit on a motor vehicle. It is also another object of the present invention to provide a coupling assembly having a low profile for a power steering unit on a motor vehicle. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a coupling assembly for quick connecting or releasing a conduit to a power steering unit on a motor vehicle. The present invention is defined by the features of claim 1. One advantage of the present invention is that a coupling assembly is provided for a power steering unit on a motor vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the coupling assembly may be provided with a low profile and compact design, allowing short bends in the line. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the coupling assembly requires less assembly time for connecting or releasing a conduit to a power steering unit of a motor vehicle. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the coupling assembly allows for quick connecting or releasing a line or conduit to a power steering unit in case the power steering unit needs to be removed on some motor vehicles. A further advantage of the present invention is that the coupling assembly allows a swivel joint. A still further advantage of the present invention is that the coupling assembly is very economical to produce. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a coupling assembly, according to the present invention, for use on a power steering unit of a motor vehicle. FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the coupling assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating a connect position. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a release position. Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a coupling assembly 10, according to the present invention, is shown. The coupling assembly 10 is preferably used for swivelably connecting a line or conduit to a power steering unit (not shown) of a motor vehicle (not shown). It should be appreciated that the coupling assembly 10 may be used for other suitable quick connect or release applications. The coupling assembly 10 includes a conduit or first member 12 having a tubular configuration. The first member 12 has an exterior surface 14 with an annular projection 16 extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced from one end thereof. The projection 16 has a sloping or inclined portion 18 extending from the apex of the projection 16 toward the end of the first member 12. The sloping portion 18 has a slope or incline of approximately thirty degrees (30°) relative to a longitudinal axis of the first member 12. The projection 16 also has a shoulder portion 20 opposite the sloping portion 18. The shoulder portion 20 has a slope or incline of approximately forty-five degrees (45°) relative to longitudinal axis of the first member 12. The projection 16 has a radial height of approximately 20,57 mm (0.81 inches) to present a "high" profile. The first member 12 is made of a metal material such as aluminum and has a predetermined diameter and wall thickness such as 9,525mm (0.375 inches) and 0,889mm (0.035 inches), respectively. It should be appreciated that the first member 12 may be made of any suitable material, diameter and wall thickness. The coupling assembly 10 also includes an adapter or second member 22 which is connected to the power steering unit and receives the first member 12. The second member 22 has a threaded portion 24 at one end which is threaded into a corresponding threaded port (not shown) of the power steering unit. Preferably the second member 22 is made of metal material such as steel. The second member 22 includes a cavity 26 at one end having an inner surface 28 and receiving the first member 12. The second member 22 also has an aperture 30 at the other end thereof which communicates with the cavity 26. The second member 22 has a groove 32 near one axial end which is annular and extends radially from the inner surface 28. The second member 22 has a groove 33 near the other axial end which is annular and extends radially from the inner surface 28. The second member 20 also has an annular projection 34 extending radially outwardly therefrom at the end opposite the aperture 30. The projection 34 has a first sloping or inclined portion 36 and a second sloping or inclined portion 38 opposite the first sloping portion 36. Preferably, the second sloping portion 38 has a slope of approximately sixty degrees (60°) from a radial plane for a function to be described. The coupling assembly 10 also includes a seal 40 and a back-up ring 42 disposed in the groove 32 for engaging the first member 12. Preferably, the seal 40 is made of an elastomeric material and the back-up ring 42 is made of a plastic material. The seal 40 and back-up ring 42 are annular. The seal 40 has a generally circular cross-section and the back-up ring 42 has a generally rectangular cross-section. It should be appreciated that the seal 40 and back-up ring 42 resist leakage of fluid between the first member 12 and second member 22. The coupling assembly 10 includes a retaining ring 44 cooperating between the first member 12 and second member 16 to retain or connect the first member 12 and second member 22 together. The retaining ring 44 is generally annular and made of a plastic material such as Nylon 46 or AMOOCL (AMOCO) ET-1000 commercially available from DSM Polymers of Southfield, MI. The retaining ring 44 has a generally planar engagement portion 46 on one axial side for a function to be described. The retaining ring 44 has a first sloping or inclined portion 48 extending from an inner radial periphery to the other axial side opposite the engagement portion 46 to contact or engage the shoulder portion 20 of the projection 16 on the first member 12. The retaining ring 44 has a second sloping or inclined portion 50 extending from an outer radial periphery to the axial side opposite the engagement portion 46 to contact or engage the first sloping portion 36 of the projection 34 of the second member 22. The retaining ring 44 also has a third sloping or inclined portion 51 extending from an outer radial periphery to the engagement portion 46 to contact or engage the second sloping portion 38 of the projection 34 of the second member 22. The retaining ring 44 has a portion of its circumference removed to be discontinuous (e.g., 0.7 to 1.5 mm (0.028 to 0.062 inches)) and form two spaced apart ends to allow radial compression and expansion of the retaining ring 44. Preferably, the first sloping portion 4B has a slope of approximately forty-five degrees (45°) from an axial plane for a function to be described. Preferably, the second sloping portion 50 and third sloping portion 51 have a slope of approximately thirty degrees (30°) from an axial plane for a function to be described. The coupling assembly 10 further includes a sleeve 52 for cooperating with the retaining ring 44. Preferably, the sleeve 52 is made of a plastic material. The sleeve 52 is generally tubular and cylindrical in shape. The sleeve 52 has a flange 54 extending radially outwardly at one end which may be grasped by an operator to move the sleeve 52 axially to the second member 22. The sleeve 52 also has a sloping or inclined portion 56 at the other end extending from an inner periphery to the axial end thereof. Preferably, the sloping portion 56 has a slope of approximately forty-five degrees (45°) from an axial plane for a function to be described. It should be appreciated that the angles for the above sloping portions are 30° and 45° from a longitudinal centerline but can vary. Referring to FIG. 2, the coupling assembly 10 is shown assembled in a connect position. The seal 40 and back-up ring 42 are disposed in the groove 32. The first member 12 engages the seal 40 and back-up ring 42 and is stopped by engagement of the sloping portion 18 with the interior surface 28 of the cavity 26. The sleeve 52 is disposed in the cavity 26 of second member 22 and about the first member 12. The retaining ring 44 is disposed about the first member 12 such that the engagement surface 46 engages the axial end of the sleeve 52 and the first sloping portion 48 engages the shoulder portion 20 of the projection 16 of the first member 12 and the third sloping portion 51 engages the second sloping portion 38 of the projection 34 of the second member 22. To release the first member 12 from the second member 22, the sleeve 52 is moved axially by an operator toward the second member 22. The axial end of the sleeve 52 engages the engagement portion 46 of the retaining ring 44. The retaining ring 44 is expanded by engagement of the sloping portion 51 with the sloping portion 38 and by engagement of the sloping portion 48 with the shoulder portion 20. The sleeve 52 moves the retaining ring 44 axially and radially into the groove 33 in a release position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The first member 12 is then moved axially by an operator away from the second member 22 to remove the first member 12 from the cavity 26 of the second member 22. It should be appreciated that once the first member 12 is removed, the retaining ring 44 returns to its original position such that the third sloping portion 51 engages the second sloping portion 38. The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims: A coupling assembly comprising: a first member (12); a second member (22); said first member (12) having an exterior surface (14) with a first projection (16) extending radially outwardly, said second member (22) having a cavity (26) with an interior surface (28) to receive said first projection (16) on said first member (12) and a second projection (34) extending radially inwardly from said interior surface (28); a retaining ring (44) disposed about said first member (12) between said first projection (16) and said second projection (34) to retain said first member (12) and said second member (22) together; said second member (22) having a first groove (32) extending radially from said interior surface (28) and a second groove (33) spaced axially from said first groove (32) and extending radially from said interior surface; a sleeve disposed about said first member (12) and moveable axially therealong to engage said retaining ring (44) to displace said retaining ring (44) into said second groove (33) to release said first member (12) and said second member (22); said first projection (16) having a shoulder portion (20) on one axial side; characterized in that said second projection (34) has a first sloping portion (36) on one axial side and a second sloping portion (38) on another axial side; and said retaining ring (44) has a third sloping portion (48) extending from an inner periphery of one axial side and a fourth sloping portion (51) extending from an outer periphery to the other axial side, said third sloping portion (48) engaging said shoulder portion (20) and said fourth sloping portion (51) engaging said second sloping portion (38). A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a seal ring (40) disposed in said first groove (32) to engage and disengage said first member (12). A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a back-up ring (42) disposed in said first groove to engage and disengage said first member (12). A coupling assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining ring (44) has a fifth sloping portion (50) extending from the outer periphery to the one axial side to engage said first sloping portion (36). A coupling assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said second member (22) is for connection to a power steering unit of a motor vehicle.

Inventors: ALLREAD ALAN R, KLOPFENSTEIN II JAMES W, MARTIN MICHAEL R, ALLREAD, ALAN R., KLOPFENSTEIN II, JAMES W., MARTIN, MICHAEL R.
Applicants: AEROQUIP CORP, AEROQUIP CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: F16L37
IPC codes: F16L37, B62D5