US 5,635,305 AGranted

Machinable cast-in-place tube enclosure fittings

AssigneeITT Automotive, Inc.

InventorsDavid J. Haga, James D. McDaniel, Roger B. Nagel

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Abstract

An end fitting closes at least one end of a passageway having an external periphery and an internal periphery to be cast-in-place within a part. A fitting body has at least one elongated, blind-ended aperture formed therein. The aperture is defined at least in part by a first surface having a complimentary shape with respect to the external periphery of the cast-in-place passageway for receiving an end of the passageway disposed extending at least partially therein to close the passageway during casting of the part. The fitting body is composed of material essentially identical to material being used during casting of the part. The fitting body is positionable within a casting mold for forming the part to be cast, such that machining the cast part after casting opens the blind-end of the fitting to allow fluid flow through the passageway cast-in-place within the part. The end fitting may include a shaped aperture, such as a hexagonal shape or oval shape, for receiving a complimentary shaped nut on the conduit or complimentary shaped passageway to provide orientation of the passageway with respect to the fitting when connected thereto.

A part having at least one passageway with an external periphery and an internal periphery to be cast-in-place within the part, the part cast by a process including the steps of providing an end fitting having a fitting body with at least one elongated, blind-ended, aperture formed therein, said aperture defined at least in part by a first surface having a complementary shape with respect to said external periphery of said cast-in-place passageway, said fitting body composed of material essentially identical to material to be used during casting of said part, receiving an end of said passageway disposed within said blind-ended aperture and extending at least partially within said fitting body, closing said passageway with said blind-end of said aperture in said fitting body, positioning said fitting body and attached passageway within a casting mold for forming said part to be cast with said blind-ended aperture disposed adjacent a wall of said casting mold, casting said part with said fitting body and attached passageway embedded therein, and machining said cast part to remove said blind-end of said aperture in said fitting body to open said passageway cast-in-place within said part, the cast part comprising:

at least one passageway with an external periphery and an internal periphery cast-in-place within the part;
and
at least one fitting body disposed adjacent a surface of said cast part, said fitting body having at least one elongated, blind-ended, aperture formed therein, said aperture defined at least in part by a first surface having a complementary shape with respect to said external periphery of said cast-in-place passageway for receiving an end of said passageway disposed extending at least partially therein to close said passageway during casting of said part, said fitting body composed of material essentially identical to material used during casting of said part, said fitting body positionable within a casting mold for forming said part to be cast, such that machining said cast part removes said blind-end of said aperture in said fitting body to open said passageway cast-in-place within said part.

Abstract

Claims36