Connector and ball joint assembly
AssigneeAeroquip Corporation
InventorAlan R. Allread
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector and ball joint assembly including a connector, a receiving means, such as a conduit of a component of an air conditioning system, and a ball. The connector includes a flange and a cylindrical inner surface. A portion of the inner surface includes threads. The component conduit has an exterior surface and an interior surface. A portion of the exterior surface includes threads for receiving the threads on the inner surface of the connector. The interior surface of the component conduit defines an open end. The ball includes a wall having a spherically-shaped outer surface defining an open end. The wall is positioned adjacent the flange of the connector and the interior surface of the component conduit. Annular gaskets can be positioned between the wall, the connector and the component conduit to seal the joint.
Claims16
A connector and ball joint assembly for an automotive conduit system comprising, in combination:
- a connector, said connector having a flange means, said flange means being radial inwardly extending terminating at an end, said end including a surface contoured with a spherical shape, said connector having a cylindrical inner surface, a portion of said inner surface includes attachment means;
- a receiving means, said receiving means having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a portion of said exterior surface includes attachment means for receiving said attachment means on said inner surface of said connector, said interior surface of said receiving means defining an open end;
- a ball means, said ball means having a wall, said wall having a spherically-shaped outer surface defining an open end, said wall engaging said flange means of said connector and said interior surface of said receiving means, said spherically-shaped outer surface further defining an integral, U-shaped channel receiving one annular gasket means, said annular gasket means sealingly engaged to said interior surface of said receiving means and said outer surface of said ball means;
- and
- bearing means positioned on said end of said flange adjacent said outer surface of said ball means, said bearing means acting as a bearing for movement of said ball means.
A connector and ball joint assembly for an automotive air conditioning system comprising, in combination:
- a connector comprised of a cylindrical body having an integral radial inwardly extending flange terminating at an end, a portion of said end having a spherically-shaped surface, said cylindrical body having a cylindrical inner surface, said inner surface including threads;
- a radial outwardly extending conduit of a component of an air conditioning system having exterior and interior surfaces, said exterior surface including threads for receiving said threads on said inner surface of said connector, said interior surface defining an open end;
- a length of tubing having a wall including a spherically-shaped outer surface defining an open end, said outer surface positioned within said connector and said conduit engaging said spherically-shaped surfaces of said flange and said conduit in spaced relationship to said inner surface of said connector, said spherically-shaped outer surface further defining an integral, U-shaped channel receiving one annular gasket means, said annular gasket means sealingly engaged to said interior surface of said conduit and said spherically-shaped outer shaped of said tubing;
- and
- a bearing insert positioned on said end of said flange adjacent said spherically-shaped outer surface, said bearing insert acting as a bearing for movement of said outer surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.