Abstract:
A tool adapted for assembling a hose material within a connector opening. In one form the present application relates to a tool for introducing the frayed braided wires at the cut end of a braided hose into a connector/socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for mating an end of a braided hose to a connector/socket. More particularly, one form of the present invention relates to a tool for introducing the frayed braided wires at the cut end of a braided hose into a connector/socket. Although the present application was developed for application with braided wire hoses, certain applications may exist with other types of hoses. 
     Hoses are utilized in a wide variety of applications to convey a fluid to a mechanical device in order to cause the device to perform a desired function. In order to connect the hose with the device or to other hoses a connector/socket is typically attached to each end of the hoses. The connector/socket is than mated with a corresponding connector/socket to provide a fluid tight junction. 
     The demand for a diverse number of hose lengths makes it often more efficient to make up the hose assembly as needed in the required length and connector configuration. Bulk hose material is available in large rolls having differing diameters. The hose material is often contained within a sheath or outer cover which is typically formed of braided or intermeshing wire. Upon the hose material being cut to length the sheath at each end of the material is typically disturbed or is frayed due to the cutting and separation from the roll of material. Disturbed or frayed sheath often makes the assembly of the hose material with the connector/socket an undesirable activity. As an individual is working at placing the hose material within the connector/socket they are exposed to the disturbed and/or frayed sheath that can result in cuts to the fingers, discomfort and/or annoyance. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a tool to be utilized for mating of an end of a braided hose with a connector/socket while minimizing the exposure of the individual to contact with the frayed ends of the sheath. The present invention satisfies this need in a novel and non-obvious way. 
     SUMMARY 
     One form of the present invention contemplates a tool for assembling a hose material within a connector opening in a connector. The tool comprising: a body having a first portion to locate the connector with the connector opening in a first position, and a converging passage having an inlet adapted for receiving an end of the hose material with a disturbed sheath and an outlet in registry with the connector opening when in the first position, the converging passage defined by a surface that constrains the size of the disturbed sheath as it passes from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the outlet is no larger than the connector opening. 
     Another form of the present invention contemplates a tool for placing a hose within an opening in a socket. The tool comprising: a body including a socket holder to fixture the socket with the opening in a first position; and means for reducing the diameter of the hose with a disturbed sheath to the size of the opening in the socket, wherein the means including a confining path adapted for the passage of the hose to the opening within the socket. 
     Another form of the present invention contemplates a tool for placing a hose with a braided sheath within an opening in a connector. The tool comprising: a multi-part body including an internal cavity for receiving the connector in a fixed position; and a converging passage having an inlet adapted for receiving an end of the hose with a disturbed sheath and an outlet aligned with the connector opening when the connector is in the fixed position, the converging passage defined by a frustum conical surface that reduces the diameter of the disturbed sheath as it passes from the inlet to the outlet, wherein at the outlet the diameter of the hose and sheath has been reduced by the frustum conical surface to no larger than the connector opening. 
     In yet another form of the present invention there is contemplated a method for aligning a hose with an opening within a hose connector. The method comprising: positioning the hose connector with the opening in a first position; introducing an end of the hose with a disturbed sheath into a converging confined passage; reducing the diameter of the hose with disturbed sheath as it passes through the confined passage to the diameter of the opening; and inserting the end of the hose into the opening after the reducing. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a unique tool for introducing the end of a braided hose into a connector/socket. 
     Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded view of a tool comprising one form of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a further exploded view of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is perspective view of a tool body member comprising a portion of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the tool body member of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative sectional view of another tool comprising another form of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of another tool comprising another form of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7   a  is a schematic representation of a hose connector disposed within one form of the tool of the present invention prior to the hose being introduced into the tool. 
         FIG. 7   b  is a schematic representation of the hose being fed into the tool. 
         FIG. 7   c  is a schematic representation of the hose passing further into the tool to facilitate introduction of the hose into the connector. 
         FIG. 7   d  is a schematic representation of the hose passing further into the tool before introduction of the end of the hose into the connector. 
         FIG. 7   e  is a schematic representation of the end of the hose positioned within the connector. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of the tool of  FIG. 1  being held in a clamping device. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tool of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     The present application is generally directed to a tool for introduction of an end of a hose having an outer sheath into a connector/socket to comprise a hose assembly. As contemplated herein the hose comprises an outer sheath which may comprise, by way of example and without limitation, braided or intermeshing wire. The hose is available in a variety of diameters and in roll or bulk lengths. The connector is selectively attached to the end(s) of the hose and over the frayed outer sheath portion in order to form a hose assembly to be connected to other hoses, apparatuses and/or sources of fluid. Connectors have an opening for receipt of the hose therein and typically an outer engagement surface such as, but not limited to a hexagonal portion. A person skilled in the art will understand that the opening within the connector is sized for receipt of a specified hose diameter. The hexagonal portion is engaged by a wrench or pliers during the connection of the hose assembly to other hoses, apparatuses and/or sources of fluid. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an exploded view of one embodiment of the tool  10 . Tool  10  is illustrated with a hose assembly  11  therein which comprises a hose  12  with a connector  13 . In one form the tool  10  includes a body member for receiving and locating the connector  13  in a predetermined position. The body includes a locating feature  17  to place the opening  14  in the end of the connector  13  in a fixed location to enable mating with the hose  12 . In one embodiment the body member includes a plurality of body portions which hare separable to allow placement of the connector  13  within the tool  10 . In a preferred form the tool  10  includes a pair of main bodies  15  and  16  which are separable to allow placement of the connector  13  within the tool  10 . The connector  13  is held in position within the tool  10  and relative movement between the hose  12  and the tool  10  advances the end of the hose into the opening  14  within the connector  13 . During the passage of the end of the hose  12  into the opening  14  of the connector  13  the tool functions to shield the user from the frayed and/or disturbed portion of the sheath. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a further exploded view of the tool  10 . The main bodies  15  and  16  are positioned relative to one another in an abutting relationship. In one form of the present invention the main bodies  15  and  16  include a nesting structure to precisely locate the bodies relative to one another. In the embodiment illustrated the nesting structure includes a plurality of legs  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  that mate with leg-receiving channels  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  (not illustrated). The engagement between the legs  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  and the leg receiving channels  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  facilitate alignment and security between the main bodies  15  and  16 . The main bodies may then be held securely together by a variety of methods including, but not limited to clamping and/or the utilization of fasteners. 
     Connector  13  is located within a connector receiving portion  30  formed by the main bodies  15  and  16 . In one form the connector-receiving portion  30  is configured so that the connector  13  is located in a fixed location with a desired axial and radial orientation. The connector-receiving portion  30  limits substantial movement and/or misalignment of the connector  13  as the hose  12  is brought into the opening  14  within the connector  13 . In one form the connector-receiving portion  30  defines a shape corresponding to the shape of a portion of the connector  13 . In a preferred form the connector-receiving portion  30  includes a hexagonal shape that matches the hexagonal portion  31  of the connector  13 . The hexagonal shape is defined by a plurality of surfaces  32  formed on the main bodies  15  and  16 . The connector receiving portion including a semi-hexagonal portion in the main body  15  and a semi-hexagonal portion in the main body  16  (not illustrated). The corresponding surfaces  32  within the connector-receiving portion  30  define a hexagonal shape corresponding to the general shape of the connector. An axial locating feature  40  defines a stop to limit the axial movement of the connector  13  within the connector-receiving portion  30 . The surfaces  32  and axial locating feature  40  functions to support and locate the connector  13  within the tool  10 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , there is an illustrative view of the end  35  of hose  12 . The hose  12  includes an outer sheath  36  that has been disturbed by the cutting and/or separation of the length of hose material from the roll or bulk supply of hose material. The outer sheath may comprise, by way of example and without limitation, braided or intermeshing wire. The end  35  includes a region  37  where the outer sheath has become disturbed and the portions of the sheath extend beyond the nominal diameter of the hose. The disruption/disturbance of the outer sheath may take the form of twisted, unwound, and/or frayed. The result is that the size and orientation of the portions of the sheath at the disturbance do not facilitate insertion into the opening  14  of the connector  13 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is illustrated one embodiment of the main body  15 . The description will be made with reference to main body  15  but is equally applicable to the corresponding main body  16 . In one form, the main body  16  is formed of a material or a coated material having properties appropriate to withstanding the wear and abrasion associated with the passage of metal fibers thereagainst. However, other materials are contemplated herein for the formation of the main body, as will be contemplated by someone of ordinary skill in the art. As discussed above the connector-receiving portion  30  locates the connector within the tool  10 . The opening  14  of the connector is positioned at a fixed location  41  within the tool  10 . A hose confining passage  42  is formed in the main body  15  and is in operative communication with the opening  14  of the connector  13 . The main bodies  15  and  16  cooperate to define a closed passage around the portion of the hose  12  that is passed into the opening  14  of the connector  13 . The hose confining passage  42  has an inlet  43  for receiving the hose with the disturbed sheath region  37  and an outlet  44  aligned with the opening  14  of connector  13 . In one form the outlet  44  is sized to about the diameter of the opening  14 . In another form the outlet  44  is sized to be no larger than the opening  14  in the connector. 
     The hose confining passage  42  includes a consolidating portion  45  which facilitates the consolidation of the disturbed sheath region  37  from the diameter at the inlet  43  to the diameter defined at the outlet  44 . The diameter at the outlet  44  allows the ready insertion of the hose with the disturbed sheath region  37  into the opening  14 . In a preferred form the hose confining passage includes a converging passage disposed between the inlet  43  and the outlet  44 . A wall surface formed on the main bodies  15  and  16  functions to confine and reduce the diameter of the hose with disturbed sheath region  37  as it is advanced to the opening  14 . In one form the converging passage is a of a frustum conical shape. In one form the half angle of the consolidation portion is within a range of about 10° to about 45 and in another form is about 15°. While the converging passage has been illustrated as opening to a fixed diameter passage  50 , it is contemplated herein that the converging passage could open directly adjacent the opening  14  of the connector  13 , thereby omitting the fixed diameter passage. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated another embodiment of the tool  60  of the present invention. The tool  60  includes a main body  61  formed of a plurality of members  62  and  63  that are separable. In one form of the invention the plurality of members defines a pair of members that are coupled together to define the main body  61 . An axial positioning member  64  is coupled to the main body  61 . In one form the axial positioning member includes ends  65  and  66  that are received within slots  67  and  68  respectively. In one form axial positioning member  64  includes an adjustable restraint  69 . The adjustable restraint  69  includes a connector engagement portion  70 , a threaded portion  71  and an actuation portion  72 . As described for the embodiment set forth in  FIG. 2 , the main body member includes a hose confining passage  42  that is in operative communication with the opening  14  of the connector  13 . The connector having one end  72  abutting a locating surface  73  formed on the main body  61 . The other end  74  of the connector  13  is disposed in an abutting relationship with the connector engagement portion  70 . The connector end  72  is located adjacent the locating surface  73  of the tool  60  and the connector engagement portion  70  bears upon the other end of the connector to maintain the relationship. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a top plan view of one form of tool  60 . The main body  61  has a plurality of connector receiving apertures  75 ,  76  and  77 . While the embodiment set forth in  FIG. 6  illustrates three connector receiving apertures it is contemplated herein that the tool may contain from one to a plurality of connector receiving apertures. More specifically, the tool is not limited to three connector-receiving apertures. Further details are not believed necessary as the embodiment of  FIG. 6  should be understood by those skilled in the art after review of the other embodiments set forth previously in this description. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7   a - 7   e , there is illustrated the passage of the hose  12  with the disturbed sheath region  37  into the opening  14  within the connector  13 . In  FIG. 7   a  the hose  12  is not engaged with the tool  10 . In one form of the present invention, a lubricant is applied to the end of the hose prior to and/or during insertion of the hose into the tool  10 . However, the present application also contemplates the insertion of the hose into the tool without lubrication. With reference to  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c , there is illustrated the end of the hose and disturbed sheath region  37  being advanced through the inlet  43  and into the converging passage. The wall surface defining the converging passage functions to reduce the diameter of the disturbed sheath region  37  as the hose is advanced into the tool. With reference to  FIG. 3   d , there is illustrated the hose with disturbed sheath region  37  at the outlet  44 . The passage of the hose with disturbed sheath region  37  through the converging passage has reduced the diameter of the disturbed sheath region  37  to the desired diameter for insertion into opening  14  in connector  13 . Referring to  FIG. 3   e , there is illustrated the end of the hose with disturbed sheath region  37  located within opening  14  of the connector. The tool  10  is now opened and the connector can be removed and finally connected to the hose by known methods such as, but not limited to, crimping. 
     The utilization of the tool  60  to connect the hose to the opening  14  within the connector  13  is very similar to the utilization of the tool  10 . However, the setting and placement of the connector  13  within the tool  60  is different. The members  62  and  63  are separated to allow the placement of the connector  13  therein in an abutting relationship with the locating surface  73 . The members  62  and  63  are than held together and the connector engagement portion  70  is brought into contact with the connector  13 . The actuation portion  72  is turned to securely engage the connector  13  between the locating surface  73  and the connector engagement portion  70 . The hose is than mated with the connector in a process substantially similar to that described with reference to  FIGS. 7   a - 7   e.    
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated the tool  10  having the main bodies clamped together by a fixture  50 . The fixture  50  may be hand held or bench mounted. The present application contemplates that the fixture  50  may include a hand held or moveable clamping device including but not limited to a socket, vice, fixture, band, fastener. In  FIG. 9 , there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of the tool  100 . Tool  100  is substantially similar to tool  10  and like feature numbers will be utilized to represent like features. A distinguishing attribute between the tool  10  and the tool  100  is the integration of grasping channels  101  in the main bodies  115  and  116 . Further, the main body  116  includes a identification receiving surface  117  recessed within the body. In another aspect of the present application there is contemplated that the tooling for facilitating the insertion of the hose  12  within the connector  13  can be utilized within an automated or robotic type of system. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of the word “preferable,” “preferably” or “preferred” in the description above indicates that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, that scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an”, “at least one,” “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. Further, when the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item may include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.