US 5,209,523 AGranted

Connecting device particularly for the assembly of a hose with a heat exchanger of an automotive vehicle

AssigneeHutchinson

InventorDenis Godeau

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Abstract

A connecting device, particularly for the assembly of a hose with a heat exchanger of an automotive vehicle. It comprises a mobile ring (25) housed inside one of the two elements of the connecting device, and which comprises on its periphery at least one tab elastically deformable in radial direction (28, 29) and a U-shaped clip integral with the element (2) provided with notches and slits (18, 19), the arms of the clip being separated by the ring (25) as long as the device is not assembled, but resuming their operating position of immobilization of the connecting device when the ring is displaced in the tubular component (2), upon said component being brought close to socket (1) associated with the waterbox of the heat exchanger.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A connecting device for the assembly of a hose to a waterbox of a heat exchanger of an automotive vehicle, said connecting device comprising, in combination:

a first connector element in the form of a socket carried by the waterbox;
a second connector element in the form of a tubular component having a passage opening therethrough and being capable of being fit onto said socket;
a removable elastic link in the form of a U-shaped clip having arms which are adapted to be housed in the passage opening of said tubular component for holding said tubular component onto said socket;
a gasket positioned between said tubular component and said socket for sealing engagement therewith;
two transverse notches, mutually parallel and diametrically opposed, provided in the wall of one of said first or second connector elements for receiving the arms of the U-shaped clip when the connecting device is assembled;
and abutment means on the other of said first or second connector elements for engagement with said arms for retaining said connector elements assembled;
a movable ring having on its periphery at least one tab which is elastically deformable in the radial direction, said ring being housed inside of said one connector element in the transverse plane of said notches and being so positioned that a portion thereof masks said notches, and so that said tab(s) are under compression against a surface of said one element to hold the movable ring in place;
and
slits, in a number equal to that of the tabs, provided on said one element, said slits being positioned in such a way that when the connecting device is assembled, said tabs are positioned opposite said slits and emerge from them to act as a latch indicator;
said movable ring serving to hold the arms of said U-shaped clip separated by engagement therewith when the connecting device is unassembled, but wherein upon assembling the connecting device, said ring is displaced in the tubular component as the socket is inserted into the tubular component, thereby allowing the arms of said U-shaped clip to move into an operating position engaging said abutment means for holding the connector elements in the assembled relationship.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A connecting device for the assembly of a hose to a waterbox of a heat exchanger of an automotive vehicle, said connecting device comprising, in combination:

a first connector element in the form of a socket carried by the waterbox;
a second connector element in the form of a tubular component having a passage opening therethrough and being capable of being fit onto said socket;
a removable elastic link in the form of a U-shaped clip having arms which are adapted to be housed in the passage opening of said tubular component for holding said tubular component onto said socket;
a gasket positioned between said tubular component and said socket for sealing engagement therewith;
two transverse notches, mutually parallel and diametrically opposed, provided in the wall of one of said first or second connector elements for receiving the arms of the U-shaped clip when the connecting device is assembled;
and abutment means on the other of said first or second connector elements for engagement with said arms for retaining said connector elements assembled;
a movable ring having on its periphery at least one tab which is elastically deformable in the radial direction, said ring being housed inside of said one connector element in the transverse plane of said notches and being so positioned that a portion thereof masks said notches, and so that said tab(s) are under compression against a surface of said one element to hold the movable ring in place;
and
slits, in a number equal to that of the tabs, provided on said one element, said slits being positioned in such a way that when the connecting device is assembled, said tabs are positioned opposite said slits and emerge from them to act as a latch indicator;
said movable ring serving to hold the arms of said U-shaped clip separated by engagement therewith when the connecting device is unassembled, but wherein upon assembling the connecting device, said ring is displaced in the tubular component as the socket is inserted into the tubular component, thereby allowing the arms of said U-shaped clip to move into an operating position engaging said abutment means for holding the connector elements in the assembled relationship.

7 more elements