Patent Description:
As widely known by professionals who work for automotive industry, the vehicle tubing system has several functions, for instance, the transportation of fluids for the air conditioning hoses, hydraulic steering hoses, and equivalent ones. Such tubing system presents a complex structure for the transport of fluids, comprising diverse types of tubes and hoses configurated in a way to work with the other elements inside an automotive vehicle; therefore, the automotive tubing system requires connectors and couplers for coupling tubes, hoses and similar elements. A well-known example of such connectors is composed of two flanges in aluminum, bearing male and female fittings, joined together with bolts and nuts.

However, such kind of connectors present several problems related to the manufacturing and use thereof that have not been overcome yet. Since such quick couplers are usually made in metallic material, as the abovementioned connectors with flanges made in aluminum, there is the necessity of using complex and aggressive metallurgical processes, such as brazing, in order to manufacture them.

Regarding their installation, several connectors found in the art require specific tools and parts to be assembled, such as torque wrench, bolts or locking pins. Thereby, the assembly is complex and takes longer time, as well as they require hard maintenance due to the difficulties to disassemble such connectors, since they are joined with bolts and nuts. Besides, to do so, one needs to use tools to fasten them and to also join the tubes and hoses of the automotive tubing system in a firm and safety manner.

In order to bypass such problems, the prior art presents some solutions, in particular that found in document <CIT>, which describes a quick coupler of air conditioning tubes for vehicles, made in thermoplastic material, comprising resilient tang provided with locating bump and sleeve, whose internal wall is provided with locating bump.

Other solution is presented in document <CIT>, which relates to a quick coupler also made in thermoplastic material, comprising a male fitting tube, at least an adapter, at least a plastic clamp, at least a locking fitting, a female fitting tube, and a plurality of O-rings. The technology disclosed in that document found in the prior art presents components manufactured by injection molding process, cold stamping, and mechanical deformation and interference - which may reduce the risk of fails, especially those originated as a consequence of the brazing process. In addition, the mentioned technology can be assembled and dissembled manually, without using specific tools, bolts, or locking pins. It is noteworthy that such solution is owned by the same applicant of the present patent of invention; therefore, the invention presented herein has also the objective of improving the solution disclosed in such prior art document.

However, the solutions disclosing quick-action connectors made in thermoplastic material found in the prior art lack an essential element present in connectors with aluminum flange: an anti-rotation safety system for tubing. Without such anti-rotation system, the tubes that constitute the automotive tubing system may spin in different directions on the same axis, and this can compromise the said automotive tubing system, causing leaks of the liquid transported and, consequently, problems with apparatuses which depend on that fluids - such as air conditioning and hydraulic steering. In addition, without such anti-rotation system the tubes may twist, changing their original, carefully planned configuration and allowing other car elements to damage the said tubes. Other quick couplers are disclosed by documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The aforementioned problems caused by the lack of an anti-rotation safety system lead to, at least, remarkable problems to the vehicle user and serious accidents if such vehicle is in use - particularly if the hydraulic steering is damaged due to the impairment of the automotive tubing system.

Considering what was exposed, the prior art would clearly benefit from a quick coupler for automotive tubing with two locking members made in thermoplastic material and an anti-rotation safety system, in order to provide a quick and efficient way to couple the tubes of the automotive tubing system, as well as provide a safety way to avoid damages to their structure and configuration.

The present invention main objective is to disclose an innovative, ease-to-use, highly efficient quick coupler to be used with metallic tubes, particularly with automotive tubing for the transport of fluids, such as air conditioning hoses, hydraulic steering hoses and equivalent ones; having as main function to join the elements of the tubing ends in a quick and hand-operated manner, without using auxiliary equipment as power screwdrivers.

In order to achieve such objective, the said quick coupler comprises two locking members coupled together and can be fitted on automotive tubing. And the said locking members provides the quick coupler with an anti-rotation safety system. According to the invention a quick coupler for automotive fluid transport tubing is provided as set out in claim <NUM>. The dependent claims relate to preferred aspects of the invention.

In line with the objectives presented in the brief descriptions herein, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a QUICK COUPLER FOR AUTOMOTIVE FLUID TRANSPORT TUBING, comprising a quick coupler (<NUM>) used on metallic tubing, particularly on tubing for automotive fluid transport, such as, for instance, air conditioning hoses, hydraulic steering hoses and equivalent ones, wherein the said quick coupler (<NUM>) comprises two locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) coupled together, so that such quick coupler (<NUM>) can fit on the automotive tubing, and such automotive tubing providing the quick coupler (<NUM>) with an anti-rotation safety system.

In an embodiment of the present invention, said automotive tubing comprises a male fitting tube (<NUM>) and a female fitting tube (<NUM>) joined together, wherein the said quick coupler (<NUM>) can be fitted on such tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) through the coupling of the locking member (<NUM>) on the male fitting tube (<NUM>) and through the coupling of the locking member (<NUM>) on the female fitting tube (<NUM>), so that the said fitting of the quick coupler (<NUM>) provides a simultaneous and irreversible joining of tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the locking member (<NUM>) comprises: a ring-shaped base (<NUM>) having an outer surface (211a) and an inner surface (211b); at least four outer teeth (<NUM>) spaced each other by gaps defined by the inner surface (211b); and at least four inner teeth (<NUM>) spaced each other by gaps, which are defined by at least four self-locking sockets (<NUM>) comprised in the inner surface (211b); so that both referred teeth (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) are not superimposed, being positioned concentrically to each other and extending perpendicularly from the inner surface (211b) of the ring-shaped base (<NUM>). The locking member (<NUM>), on the other hand, comprises: a ring-shaped base (<NUM>) having an outer surface (221a) and an inner surface (221b); and at least four inner teeth (<NUM>) spaced each other by gaps, which are defined by at least four self-locking sockets (<NUM>) comprised in the inner surface (221b); so that the said inner teeth (<NUM>) extend perpendicularly from the inner surface (221b) of the ring-shaped base (<NUM>); so that the said inner teeth (<NUM>) of the locking member (<NUM>) are superimposed in relation to the outer teeth (<NUM>) of the locking member (<NUM>); and the referred inner teeth (<NUM>) of the locking member (<NUM>) are accordingly aligned to the inner teeth (<NUM>) of the locking member (<NUM>).

In an embodiment of the present invention, each one of the locking member (<NUM>) outer teeth (<NUM>) presents side profiles (<NUM>) having a rectangle-shaped portion (2121a) and a triangle-shaped portion (2121b), wherein the said triangle-shaped portion (2121b) has a recess for the coupling of locking member (<NUM>) with locking member (<NUM>). More specifically, the said recess of the triangle-shaped portion (2121b) provides the referred coupling by the direct contact thereof with the locking member (<NUM>) outer surface (221a). In addition, each one of the locking member (<NUM>) inner teeth (<NUM>) presents side profiles (<NUM>), having a rectangle-shaped portion (2131a) and a triangle-shaped portion (2131b), and the said triangle-shaped portion (2131b) has a recess that allows the coupling of the locking member (<NUM>) with the male fitting tube (<NUM>). Likewise, each one of the locking member (<NUM>) inner teeth (<NUM>) has side profiles (<NUM>) with both a rectangle-shaped portion (2231a) and a triangle-shaped portion (2231b), such triangle-shaped portion (2231b) presents a recess that allows the coupling of the locking member (<NUM>) with female fitting tube (<NUM>).

In an embodiment of the present invention, each one of the locking member (<NUM>) self-locking sockets (<NUM>) admits the fitting of triangle-shaped portion (2231b) of each one of the locking member (<NUM>) inner teeth (<NUM>). Similarly, each one of the locking member (<NUM>) self-locking sockets (<NUM>) admits the fitting of the triangle-shaped portion (2131b) of each one of the locking member (<NUM>) inner teeth (<NUM>).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the said locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) are made in thermoplastic material, such as PA11, PA66 or PA6. In such a sense, the thermoplastic material composing the locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) provides flexibility to the joining among teeth (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) with the ring-shaped base (<NUM>) and to the joining among teeth (<NUM>) with the ring-shaped base (<NUM>). The locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) are preferably manufactured by injection molding process.

In another aspect of the invention, the male fitting tube (<NUM>) comprises a tubular body extending up to an end (<NUM>) with larger diameter, having at least a groove (31a) around it where the O-rings (<NUM>) are placed on. Between the tubular body of the male fitting tube (<NUM>) and the end (<NUM>), there is a disc (<NUM>) with larger diameter and perpendicular to both the axis of the male fitting tube (<NUM>) and the end (<NUM>) thereof, provided with at least three rounded depressions (32a), perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the male fitting tube (<NUM>), and distributed radially on the said disc (<NUM>) surface.

In another aspect of the invention, the female fitting tube (<NUM>) comprises a tubular body having a smaller diameter extending up to a sector (<NUM>) with larger diameter. In such a sector (<NUM>) there is a recess surrounded at the end by a rim (<NUM>) perpendicularly to the axis of the female fitting tube (<NUM>). On such rim (<NUM>), there are at least three triangle-shaped depressions (42a), perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the female fitting tube (<NUM>), corresponding to the depressions (32a).

So, the male fitting tube (<NUM>) joins to the female fitting tube (<NUM>) through the end (<NUM>), and such end (<NUM>) joins to the recess of sector (<NUM>) until it fully covers such end (<NUM>). Similarly, the said joining also occurs in a way that the rim (<NUM>) fully covers disc (<NUM>). Both male fitting tube (<NUM>) and female fitting tube (<NUM>) are preferentially made of non-flexible materials, such as metal. Alternatively, both tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) may be made of flexible materials, such as rubbers and plastics. In addition, both tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) are formed by expanding process, which is followed by a second expansion, and subsequently submitted to a shape rolling process in order to form the groove (31a).

In order to join the said male fitting tube (<NUM>) with the female fitting tube (<NUM>) in a simultaneous and irreversible manner (fixing the joining), the quick coupler (<NUM>) is to be used. In such a context, the inner teeth (<NUM>) of the locking member (<NUM>) couples to the disc (<NUM>) of the male fitting tube (<NUM>) and the inner teeth (<NUM>) of the locking member (<NUM>) couples to the rim (<NUM>) of the female fitting tube (<NUM>). So, both tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) keep firmly connected in an irreversible manner while quick coupler (<NUM>) is fitted, since both locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) of the said quick coupler (<NUM>) are coupled to both male fitting tube (<NUM>) and female fitting tube (<NUM>), respectively, and the locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) are coupled to each other by the outer teeth (<NUM>). Due to the flexibility of inner teeth (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), especially as to the rectangle-shaped portions (2131a) and (2231a) of the respective side profiles (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), the quick coupler (<NUM>) promptly fits on tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) through the coupling of the locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) on tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), respectively. For this, one only needs to force the said locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) on tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), respectively, for moving the inner teeth (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), which return to their initial position. Then the quick coupler (<NUM>) of the present invention will keep firm the automotive fluid transport tubing in a simple and efficient manner.

For the fitting of the quick coupler (<NUM>) in a preferred embodiment, the locking member (<NUM>) is initially coupled to the rim (<NUM>), perpendicularly to the axis of tube (<NUM>), so the end (<NUM>) is fitted into the sector recess (<NUM>) for the locking member (<NUM>) couples to the disc (<NUM>).

Particularly, the referred fitting of the quick coupler (<NUM>) specially occurs because the inner teeth (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) present triangle-shaped portions (2131b) and (2231b) for the profiles (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), respectively, with elongated bodies which are connected to both ring-shaped base (<NUM>) and ring-shaped base (<NUM>), respectively. In addition, the referred fitting of the quick coupler (<NUM>) is also carried out due the presence of rectangle-shaped portions (2131a) and (2231a), wherein the said rectangle-shaped portions (2131a) and (2231a) are the most flexible portions of the locking members (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), respectively. So, said rectangle-shaped portions (2131a) and (2231a) in combination with the respective triangle-shaped portions (2131b) and (2231b) of their respective teeth (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) compose a fitting which allows the sliding and fitting of rim (<NUM>) and disc (<NUM>), and also halts that tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) disengage (irreversible joining in the presence of the quick coupler (<NUM>) which was fitted).

The presence of both self-locking sockets (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) cooperates with the said simultaneous and irreversible joining, since when a force (F1) and a force (F2) in opposite directions (in any way, either horizontally or inclined) are applied to tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), respectively, in order to disengage them, said self-locking sockets (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) preclude the said disengage, leading to the irreversible joining. In order to better exemplify the role of self-locking sockets (<NUM>) and (<NUM>) in such irreversible joining, precluding the said disengage, please find below, in more details, the referred application of forces (F1) and (F2) on tubes (<NUM>) and (<NUM>):.

In an embodiment of the present invention, both force (F1) and force (F2) coexist in opposite directions horizontally.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a force (F1) is applied in the absence of force (F2), i.e., force (F2) = <NUM>. In such configuration, the behavior of quick coupler (<NUM>) is similar to the configuration wherein both forces (F1) and (F2) coexist, such as described herein.

In an embodiment of the present invention, force (F2) is applied in the absence of force (F1), i.e., force (F1) = <NUM>. In such configuration, the behavior of quick coupler (<NUM>) is similar to the configuration wherein both forces (F1) and (F2) coexist, such as described herein.

In an embodiment of the present invention, force (F1) presents values between <NUM> and <NUM> N, either in the presence or absence of force (F2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, force (F2) presents values between <NUM> and <NUM> N, either in the presence or absence of force (F1).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance (d) ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>, so that (d) = <NUM> shows that rim (<NUM>) abuts disc (<NUM>), i.e., the configuration before forces (F1) and/or (F2) are applied. On the other hand, the values for (d) > <NUM> show a configuration in which cavity (C) is formed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, O-rings (<NUM>) of the male fitting tube (<NUM>) carry out the sealing of quick coupler (<NUM>), halting undesired impurities to get in.

Claim 1:
A QUICK COUPLER (<NUM>) FOR AUTOMOTIVE FLUID TRANSPORT TUBING, comprising two locking members (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupled together, characterized in that:
- one locking member (<NUM>) of the two locking members (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises:
• a ring-shaped base (<NUM>) having an axially outer surface (211a) and an axially inner surface (211b);
• at least four radially outer teeth (<NUM>) spaced each other by gaps defined by the axially inner surface (211b); and
• at least four radially inner teeth (<NUM>) spaced each other by gaps, which are defined by at least four self-locking sockets (<NUM>) comprised in the axially inner surface (211b) - so that both referred teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>) are not superimposed, being positioned concentrically to each other and extending perpendicularly from the axially inner surface (211b) of the ring-shaped base (<NUM>); and
- the other locking member (<NUM>) of the two locking members (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprises:
• a ring-shaped base (<NUM>) having an axially outer surface (221a) and an axially inner surface (221b);
• at least four radially inner teeth (<NUM>) spaced each other by gaps, which are defined by at least four self-locking sockets (<NUM>) comprised in the axially inner surface (221b);
• so that the said radially inner teeth (<NUM>) extend perpendicularly from the axially inner surface (221b) of the ring-shaped base (<NUM>);
• so that the said radially inner teeth (<NUM>) of the other locking member (<NUM>) are superimposed in relation to the radially outer teeth (<NUM>) of the one locking member (<NUM>), and the referred radially inner teeth (<NUM>) of the other locking member (<NUM>) are accordingly aligned to the radially inner teeth (<NUM>) of the one locking member (<NUM>).