# US 5,348,354 A · Pronged fitting

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- Number: US 5,348,354 A
- Document ID: US5348354A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/856,014
- Filed: 1992-03-23
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1991-03-22
- Assignees: Parker Hannifin RAK SA
- Inventors: Jean-Pierre Badoureaux
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348354A

## CPC

- B25B 33/00: Hand tools not covered by any other group in this subclass
- B25B 27/10: inserting fittings into hoses
- F16L 33/227: {the hose being introduced into or onto the connecting member and automatically locked (F16L37/084 takes precedence)}
- F16L 37/0915: {with a separate member for releasing the coupling}
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

This fitting is of the type whose body has a cross bore and at one end, means to connection to one of two elements to be connected using said tubes while at its other end it has an annular chamber coaxial to the bore meant to receive one end of a tube by simple engagement, the chamber holding various annular mechanisms to retain the tube, coaxial to the chamber and arranged between its wall and the tube, that is, a retainer ring partially closing the chamber and able to slide in it, a waterproof seal and a part with radial prongs. According to the invention, the fitting is made up of, on one hand, a body 4 having said cross bore 10 and said connection means 11 and 12 and, on the other hand, of a bushing 5 which can be assembled in the body 4, limiting said chamber 20 and made up of means 30 to 33 for retaining the various aforementioned mechanisms 21, 22 and 23 which it holds.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pronged fitting for connection with a tube, comprising:
a) a body with a cross bore therethrough having one end through which said cross bore extends and with cross bore connection means for connecting said cross bore for fluid flow, and another end having:
a tubular nozzle on which a tube can be received and through which said cross bore extends, and
a bushing connection surface;
b) a bushing sealingly connected to said bushing connection surface and forming, together with said tubular nozzle, an annular chamber coaxial to said cross bore;
c) a retainer ring fitting radially closely within and able to slide axially in said annular chamber;
d) an annular seal disposed in said annular chamber and extending between and engaging said bushing and a tube received on said tubular nozzle for providing a fluid seal therebetween;
e) a pronged washer connected within said bushing and disposed in said annular chamber and having prongs extending radially inwardly to engage and hold a tube received on said tubular nozzle; and means for limiting the sliding movement of said retainer ring away from said pronged washer;
f) said retainer ring having an extension with holes therethrough which faces said prongs of said washer so that sliding movement of said retainer ring within and axially along said annular chamber toward said prongs causes said extension to engage said prongs so as to release the hold of said prongs on a tube received on said tubular nozzle and held by said prongs and wherein said annular seal extends about said extension and through said holes with a portion of the extension extending beyond said annular seal toward said prongs of said washer for said engagement with said prongs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fitting of claim 1 wherein said means for limiting sliding movement of said retainer ring includes said retainer ring having a shoulder extending radially outwardly therefrom and said bushing having a shoulder extending radially inwardly therefrom which faces said retainer ring shoulder and thereby limits the sliding movement of said retainer ring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fitting of claim 1 wherein said washer and bushing have coacting means therebetween for fixing said washer to said bushing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fitting of claim 1 wherein said bushing has an end opposite said connection to said body, said bushing end enclosing said retainer ring except for at least one opening therethrough which opening provides a restricted access to said retainer ring to allow movement of said retainer ring so as to release the hold of said prongs on a tube received on said tubular nozzle and held by said prongs.