Quick connect sleeve

A sleeve to connect together a first duct and a second duct, the sleeve comprising:

• a body with an elongated cylindrical shape that extends along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising:
• a first flared end and a second flared end;
• a first sleeve section that extends inward from the first flared end;
• a second sleeve section that extends inward from the second flared end;
• a first groove spaced inward along the longitudinal axis from the first sleeve section, the first groove comprising a larger inner diameter than the first sleeve section;
• a second groove spaced inward along the longitudinal axis from the second sleeve section, the second groove comprising a larger inner diameter than the second sleeve section;
• a central section that extends between the first groove and the second groove, the central section comprising an inner diameter that is constant between the first groove and the second groove;
• wherein the first sleeve section and the second sleeve section are flat;
• wherein the first groove has a shorter length than the first sleeve section, and the second groove has a shorter length than the second sleeve section;
• and
• wherein the inner diameter of the central section is smaller than inner diameters of the first groove and the second groove, and wherein the inner diameter of the central section is the same as the inner diameters of the first sleeve section and the second sleeve section.

A method of connecting a first duct to a second duct with a sleeve, the method comprising:

• inserting an end of the first duct into a flared first end of the sleeve;
• inserting an end of the second duct into a flared second end of the sleeve;
• sliding the first duct axially along the sleeve and through a first sleeve section that comprises a smaller inner diameter than the flared first end and with the inner diameter of the first sleeve section being flat;
• sliding the end of the first duct through the first sleeve section and sliding a radial duct bead on the first duct along a ramp of a first groove that gradually increases towards a midline of the sleeve and aligning the radial duct bead within the first groove of the sleeve with the first groove having a larger inner diameter than the first sleeve section and sliding the end of the first duct a shorter distance along the first groove than along the first sleeve section;
• sliding the second duct axially along the sleeve and through a second sleeve section that comprises a smaller inner diameter than the flared second end and with the inner diameter of the second sleeve section being flat;
• and
• sliding the end of the second duct through the second sleeve section and sliding a radial duct bead on the second duct along a ramp of a second groove that gradually increases towards the midline of the sleeve and aligning the radial duct bead within the second groove of the sleeve with the second groove having a larger inner diameter than the second sleeve section and sliding the end of the second duct a shorter distance along the second groove than along the second sleeve section.