Method and apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines

An apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines, comprising:

• a coupler body having an outer periphery, an inner periphery, and a passageway defined by said inner periphery;
• said inner periphery of said coupler body having an annular groove formed therein;
• a coolant line having an end portion disposed within said passageway;
• a nut having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and said inner periphery having a first inner periphery portion and a second inner periphery portion, wherein said first inner periphery portion slidably receives said coolant line, said second inner periphery portion is radially spaced from said coolant line to define an annular recess, and said second inner periphery portion threadedly engaging said outer periphery of said coupler body;
• a ferrule tube having said end portion of said coolant line disposed therein, said ferrule tube having an inwardly extending shoulder at a first end thereof for limiting insertion of the coolant line, an elongate tubular portion of substantially constant diameter prior to assembly, said elongate tubular portion extending along a majority of the length of said ferrule tube from said inwardly extending shoulder to a ferrule portion of said ferrule tube, said ferrule portion having an outwardly extending exterior taper that, prior to assembly, increases in diameter from said elongate tubular portion of said ferrule tube toward said second end of said ferrule tube, and said ferrule portion having an interior taper that is formed on an interior periphery of said ferrule tube at said second end of said ferrule tube, said interior taper decreasing in diameter from said second end of said ferrule tube toward said first end of said ferrule tube;
• a back ferrule disposed within said annular recess for engagement with said nut, said coolant line, said interior taper of said ferrule tube and said coupler body, wherein engagement of said nut with said coupler body urges said back ferrule and said ferrule tube into a sealing engagement with said coupler body and said coolant line;
• and
• an o-ring at least partially disposed within said annular groove in said inner periphery of said coupler body for sealed engagement with said tubular portion of said ferrule tube.

A method for connecting air conditioning coolant lines in restricted spaces, comprising:

• applying an adhesive to an outer periphery of an air conditioning cooling line;
• inserting the air conditioning coolant line into a deformable annular retainer, wherein the deformable annular retainer completely covers the end portion of the air conditioning coolant line;
• providing a nut on the air conditioning coolant line subsequent to the step of inserting the air conditioning coolant line into the deformable annular retainer;
• providing a coupler body having a passageway extending therethrough and a flexible annular seal disposed within the passageway;
• engaging the deformable annular retainer with the flexible annular seal to create a first seal between the coupler body and the deformable annular retainer;
• engaging the coupler body with the deformable annular retainer to create a second seal between the coupler body and the coolant line;
• and
• tightening a threaded engagement of the nut and the coupler body to maintain engagement of the coupler body and the deformable annular retainer.