US 5,492,371 A · Garter spring stuffer pack quick connector

Abstract

A quick connector assembly for coupling a flexible hose or tube to a bore formed in a housing thereby to establish fluid communication between the interiors of the hose and bore, respectively, comprises an elongate tubular male insert having one end adapted to receive and retain the tube about its periphery. The other end of the male insert includes a contoured external surface defining an external locking flange, and a pair of axially-spaced external circumferential grooves for receiving a pair of O-rings which ultimately sealingly engage complementary cylindrical sections of the housing bore upon insertion of the connector assembly thereinto. Prior to its insertion into the housing bore, the connector assembly includes a garter spring which is radially collapsed about the male insert's contoured external surface by an encompassing annular spring guide. Upon inserting the connector assembly into the housing bore, the spring guide first seats itself against the housing and the garter spring is thereafter displaced by the locking flange from its radially-collapsed pre-insertion position within the spring guide down into the housing bore and, ultimately, into a locking groove formed internally of the housing bore. The garter spring thereafter further expands to allow the locking flange to pass therethrough and then radially contracts upon full insertion of the male insert into the housing bore to lock the connector assembly therein.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A connector assembly for coupling a tube to a bore formed in a housing thereby to establish fluid communication between the interior of said tube and the interior of said bore, said bore having an internal circumferential groove formed therein, said connector comprising:

an elongate tubular male insert having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first end of said male insert being adapted to receive said tube, the second end of said male insert being adapted to be received in said bore and having a contoured external surface defining an external circumferential locking flange;
a resilient locking element encircling the contoured external surface on said male insert, said locking element being expandable over the locking flange on the contoured surface of said male insert;
and
an annular guide encompassing said locking element and the locking flange on the second end of said male insert prior to insertion of said male insert into said bore, said guide acting to radially collapse said locking element about the contoured external surface of said male insert until said locking element is displaced from within said guide into the internal groove in said bore by the locking flange on said male insert.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Garter spring stuffer pack quick connector

Life of this patent

Garter spring stuffer pack quick connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6