Method for making swivel fitting
AssigneePatco, LLC
InventorHugh H. Dorman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to swivel fluid fittings and swivel hose ends. In prior art designs, it has been a problem to provide simple, compact, and economical swivel fluid fittings in which the ball thrust bearings are both lubricated and protected from the environment by being located on the fluid side of the rotary seal. The present invention solves the problem by partially assembling the swivel fluid fitting prior to projection welding of the two-piece outer member and by magnetically retaining the steel balls during assembly. Principal uses for the invention include providing swiveling joints in either rigid or flexible conduits for conducting of air, gasses, and liquids.
Claims10
A method for making a fluid conducting swivel fitting (20) of the type which comprises a two-piece outer member (22=38+40) having a bore (52) that includes first (54) and second (56) ends and that opens through said outer member (22), having a fluid port (70 or 72) that communicates with said bore (52), having a circumferential ball-receiving recess (58) in said bore (52), being joined at said recess (58), and having a shoulder (62) that extends radially outward from said bore (52) and that comprises an end of said ball-receiving recess (58) distal from said first end (54) of said bore (52), and an inner member (24) being inserted into and rotatable in said bore (52) and having a longitudinal passage (99) therethrough that communicates with said port (70 or 72), which method comprises the following steps in the order recited:
- (a) inserting a retaining ring (26) into said recess;
- (b) bonding said pieces (38 & 40) of said outer member (22) together;
- (c) inserting balls (30) into said recess (58);
- (d) holding said balls (30) in said recess (58);
- (e) inserting said inner member (24) into said bore (52);
- and
- (f) forcing said inner member (24) inside said retaining ring (26).
A method for making a fluid conducting swivel fitting (20) of the type which comprises a two-piece outer member (22=38+40) having a bore (52) that includes first (54) and second (56) ends and that opens through said outer member (22), having a fluid port (70 or 72) that communicates with said bore (52), having a circumferential ball-receiving recess (58) in said bore (52), being joined at said recess (58), and having a shoulder (62) that extends radially outward from said bore (52) and that comprises an end of said ball-receiving recess (58) distal from said first end (54) of said bore (52), and an inner member (24) being inserted into and rotatable in said bore (52) and having a longitudinal passage (99) therethrough that communicates with said port (70 or 72), which method comprises the following steps in the order recited:
- (a) inserting a retaining ring (26) into said recess (58);
- (b) bonding said pieces (38 & 40) of said outer member (22) together;
- (c) placing a ball guide (156) into said bore (52);
- (d) inserting steel balls (30) into said recess (58);
- (e) holding said steel balls (30) in said recess (58);
- (f) removing said ball guide (156);
- (g) inserting said inner member (24) into said bore (52);
- and
- (h) forcing said inner member (24) inside said retaining ring (26).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.