# US 10,480,698 B2 · Tube connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,698 B2 - Document ID: US10480698B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/509,950 - Filed: 2014-09-19 - Published: 2017-11-23 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-19 - Assignees: Kongsberg Automotive AB - Applicants: Kongsberg Automotive AS - Inventors: Tommy Rafteseth; Geir Liaklev; Henning Rud - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480698B2 ## CPC - F16L 37/0915: {with a separate member for releasing the coupling} - F16L 33/18: characterised by the use of additional sealing means - F16L 37/0925: {with rings which bite into the wall of the pipe} - F16L 37/0926: {with an inner support sleeve arranged within the pipe} - F16L 37/0927: {the wedge element being axially displaceable for releasing the coupling} - F16L 2201/80: Dust covers - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A tube connector for attachment to an end of a tube of a pressurized fluid system has a housing, a main sealing element, a gripping element and a cone element. The main sealing element is arranged for sealing an inner surface of the housing to an outer surface of a tube. The gripping element comprises a gripping edge for engaging with an outer surface of a tube. The cone element limits a movement of the grip-ping element. The tube connector further has an integrated release element. The release element has a tubular part, a top part and an environmental sealing. A release edge of the tubular part engages with the gripping element and the environmental sealing is adapted for sealing a receptacle formed in the housing of the environment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tube connector (1) for attachment to a tube (7) of a pressurized fluid system, wherein the tube connector (1) comprises: a housing (3), a main sealing element (9), a gripping element (11) and a cone element (13), the housing (3) comprising a receptacle (5) for receiving the tube (7), the receptacle (5) being delimited by an insertion end (21) for which the tube (7) can be inserted into the receptacle (5), and an abutment end (23) for delimiting a maximum insertion of the tube (7) into the housing (3), the main sealing element (9) being provided for preventing a fluid from flowing out of a pressurized fluid system at a connection of the tube (7) and the tube connector (1), the gripping element (11) comprising a passage (12) for receiving the tube (7), the gripping element (11) being arranged in the receptacle (5) and comprising a gripping edge (25) for engaging with an outer surface (24) of the tube (7) received in the passage (12) of the gripping element (11), wherein the gripping element contacts the main sealing element, the cone element (13) being arranged in the receptacle (5) for delimiting a movement of the gripping element (11) towards the insertion end (21), the tube connector (1) further comprising an integrated release element (15) arranged at least partially in the receptacle (5) and movable along a direction pointing from the insertion end (21) to the abutment end (23), the release element (15) comprising a passage (36) for the tube (7), a tubular part (31) and an environmental sealing element (35), a release edge (37) of the tubular part (31) being adapted for engaging with the gripping element (11) and moving the gripping element (11), such that the gripping element (11) releases the tube (7) inserted into the passage (12) of the gripping element (11), the environmental sealing element (35) providing a sealing of the receptacle (5) from an environment, and the environmental sealing element (35) being adapted for sealing the release element (15) towards an inner surface (19) of the housing (3) and towards the outer surface (24) of the tube (7) inserted into the passage (36) of the release element (15), wherein: the integrated release element (15) comprises a top part (33) providing an actuation surface for pushing the release element (15) towards the abutment end (23), the top part (33) of the release element (15) forms a collar (39) extending at least partly between the cone element (13) and the inner surface (19) of the housing (3), a first protrusion (41) is formed at the top part (33) and a second protrusion (43) is formed at the cone element (13), and the first protrusion (41) and the second protrusion (43) are adapted to engage for delimiting a maximum movement of the release edge (37) in a direction away from the abutment end (23) to a first predefined distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the environmental sealing element (35) is formed in one piece and from a first plastic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A tube connector (1) according to claim 2, wherein the tubular part (31) and the top part (33) are connected by at least four evenly distributed bridge parts (46), the bridge parts (46) being formed from the second plastic material and gaps (44) between the bridge elements (46) being filled with the first plastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A tube connector (1) according to claim 2, wherein the top part (33) and the tubular part (31) are formed in one piece and from a second plastic material, the first plastic material differing from the second plastic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A tube connector (1) according to claim 2, wherein the top part (33) of the release element (15) forms a collar (39) extending at least partly between the cone element (13) and the inner surface (19) of the housing (3), a first protrusion (41) is formed at the top part (33) and a second protrusion (43) is formed at the cone element (13), wherein the first protrusion (41) and the second protrusion (43) are adapted to engage for delimiting a maximum movement of the release edge (37) in a direction away from the abutment end (23) to a first predefined distance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the top part (33) and the tubular part (31) are formed in one piece and from a second plastic material, the first plastic material differing from the second plastic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A tube connector (1) according to claim 6, wherein the tubular part (31) and the top part (33) are connected by at least four evenly distributed bridge parts (46), the bridge parts (46) being formed from the second plastic material and gaps (44) between the bridge elements (46) being filled with the first plastic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cone element (13) comprises a third protrusion (45), wherein the first protrusion (41) and the third protrusion (45) are adapted to engage for delimiting a maximum movement of the release edge (37) in a direction away from the abutment end (23) to a second predefined distance, wherein the second predefined distance is less than the first distance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A tube connector (1) according to claim 8, wherein the first protrusion (41), the second protrusion (43) and/or the third protrusion (45) are adapted to provide a direct load path from the cone element (13) via the environmental sealing element (35) to the inner surface (19) of the housing (3). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion (41), the second protrusion (43) and/or a third protrusion (45) are adapted to provide a direct load path from the cone element (13) via the environmental sealing element (35) to the inner surface (19) of the housing (3). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cone element (13) and the release element (15) are formed such that a load due to a radial extension of the tube (7) inserted into the passage (36) of the release element (15) is transferred via the cone element (13) and the environmental sealing element (35) to the inner surface (19) of the housing (3). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the release edge (37) of the tubular part (31) is adapted for engaging with the gripping element (11) and moving the gripping element (11) towards the abutment end (23) and/or away from the tube (7) inserted into the passage (12) of the gripping element (11), and the gripping element (11) comprises an inclined surface (27) such that a width of the passage (12) for the tube (7) formed by the gripping element (11) increases in a direction pointing from the abutment end (23) to the insertion end (21). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according claim 1, wherein the tube connector (1) further comprises a support sleeve (17) for receiving an end of the tube (7) inserted into the receptacle (5). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing means (55) for biasing the release element (15) in a direction pointing away from the abutment end (23). ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A tube connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the environmental sealing element (35) is adapted for engaging with the tube (7) that is inserted into the passage (36) of the release element (15) such that the release element (15) moves in the same direction as the tube (7) inserted into the receptacle (5). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A tube connector according to claim 1, wherein the main sealing element (9) comprises a passage (10) for receiving the tube (7) and wherein the main sealing element (9) is arranged in the receptacle (5) for providing a sealing between an inner surface (19) of the housing (3) and an outer surface (24) of the tube (7) received in the passage (10) of the main sealing element (9).