Nozzle and retaining arrangement

Abstract

A retention arrangement is provided for two members that are arranged to be assembled one within the other. The retention arrangement includes cooperating structure of the two members that is operative after the two members are assembled to a predetermined point; for example, by the threading of one member within the other to a predetermined point of engagement. The cooperating structure includes the provision of an annular ridge formed on the inside of a first of the members, the first member being threadingly engaged or otherwise assembled into the second member, and the provision of an annular ridge on the outside of the second member. The two ridges move past each other after a first predetermined point of engagement between the two members. Further engagement of the two members causes the two ridges to cooperate so as to interfere with each other upon any tendency toward disassembly of the two members. In one specific embodiment, the first member is a tubular nozzle with external threads that is threaded into a second tubular, receiving member having mating internal threads. The annular ridge on the nozzle is provided on the portion of the nozzle that first enters the receiving member. The annular ridge on the receiving member is provided a predetermined distance within the receiving member to define a predetermined amount of engagement of the nozzle within the receiving member before the two ridges interact. Preferably, at least one ridge is provided with a tapered surface on the portion that leads the ridge in engagement. The annular ridge on the first member defines an increasing outer diameter along the direction of engagement and the second member defines a decreasing inner diameter along the direction of engagement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.