Form Rite Corporation

Cooper-standard Automotive, Inc.

Cooper Technology Services, LLC

Christopher J Kargula

William E Stevens

Dennis G Kinder

Michael R Miller

Perry J Rea

Steven T Slunick

Mark A Bogucki

Lakshmana S Naraharisetti

A quick connect coupling generally comprises a housing having an axial bore extending inwardly from an entrance and increasing in diameter moving into the housing. A tube has a tube bead of increased diameter spaced from an inner end of the tube and is insertable into the bore. A generally annular radially expandable collet disposed within the bore expands upon insertion of the tube and contracts onto the tube outwardly of the tube bead. The collet functions as a wedge between the tube bead and the increasing diameter portion of the housing, thereby retaining the tube within the housing. In one embodiment, a spring disposed within the housing biases the collet toward the entrance of the housing, ensuring proper position of the collet in extreme conditions. The inventive collet allows smaller tube bead diameters to be used.

Quick connect fluid coupling with collet retainer

A quick connect coupling incorporates several improvements including the combination of several functions into a single component. A single stop member provides a structure for holding a check valve spring, and also provides a stop for the check valve. The single component further provides positioning for an o-ring. The coupling also includes a pilot which includes compressible ribs at its outer peripheral surface such that the pilot is self-centering preventing excessive off-centering of the tube. In addition, the position of an o-ring relative to a retainer is tightly controlled such that upon insertion of a tube into the connector, the tube will initially encounter a resistance force by compression of the seal. Once this resistance force is overcome, the tube will immediately begin to encounter a resistance force from the retainer. Thus, an installer does not see two separate resistance forces, but rather sees a continuous single resistance force. In this way, the installer is less likely to believe that a partially-connected tube is fully-connected.

Quick connect fluid coupling with components positioned to provide continuous insertion resistance

A quick connect coupling having a self-contained releasable collet generally comprises a housing having an axial bore extending inwardly from an entrance. The axial bore includes a large diameter portion adjacent the entrance. A tube having a bead of relatively large diameter is insertable into the bore. A generally annular radially expandable collet disposed within the bore of the housing expands upon insertion of the tube into the housing and contracts onto the tube between the bead and the housing, thereby retaining the tube within the housing. The tube is selectably releasable from the housing by an annular pilot disposed within the housing having an inclined surface complementary to an inclined surface on the collet. Release members are provided to facilitate axial inward movement of the collet into the housing. The collet then rides up the inclined surface of the pilot, thereby radially expanding the collet and releasing the tube from the housing.

Quick connect fluid coupling with a self-contained releasable collet

An improved fluid quick connect coupling includes a retainer and a lock ring. The lock ring locks the retainer legs against radially outward flexing. The lock ring is initially contacted by a tube being moved into the coupling, and moves with the tube, until it no longer prevents radially outward flexing of the retainer legs. The retainer legs then flex radially outwardly, allowing the tube to move to its fully inserted position. The lock ring is biased back outwardly once the tube is connected, and has tabs that extend axially outwardly beyond the retainer to provide a visual indication to the installer of when the tube is fully connected.

Quick connect coupling with lock ring and indicator

A quick connect coupling for tubing. The coupling includes a tubular male connector member adapted to be telescopically received within a tubular female connector member assembly. The female assembly includes a first member defining a seal bore and a cylindrical socket portion forwardly of the seal bore. A second female member includes a cylindrical portion which plugs into the socket of the first member and is held in position relative to the first member by sonic welding. A plurality of circumferentially spaced feet on the inner end of the second member are positioned proximate the seal to hold the seal in the seal bore and further engage the outer periphery of the pilot portion of the male member to minimize cocking of the male member relative to the female assembly. The second member also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient finger portions which snap into position in engagement with the rear annular face of the bead of the male member as the front annular face of the bead seats against the feet portions of the second member. The seal includes an annular main body portion, a plurality of axially spaced annular internal rib portions for sealing engagement with the pilot portion of the male member, and a plurality of axially spaced external rib portions providing an interference fit of the seal in the seal bore.

Quick connect coupling

A quick connect coupling including a tubular male connector member and a female connector assembly. The male connector member is tubular and defines a front pilot portion and an external bead positioned rearwardly of the pilot portion. The female assembly comprises a tubular housing, a cap which is snap fit over the front end of the housing, a seal which seats in a seal bore defined by the housing, and a seal retainer which is positioned against the front end of the housing and acts to maintain the seal in position within the seal bore. The cap is fit into position on the front end of the housing by the snapping coaction of a plurality of circumferentially spaced cap fingers with an external flange on the front end of the housing and the cap further defines a plurality of latching fingers which extend rearwardly and radially inwardly from the front end of the cap for latching coaction with the rear annular face of the bead as the front annular face of the bead seats against the front annular face of the seal retainer. The seal comprises a single piece member including a tubular main body portion, a series of internal annular axially spaced rib portions on the interior of the main body portion for sealing coaction with the pilot portion, and a series of external annular axially spaced rib portions defined on the exterior of the main body portion for coaction with the seal bore.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Christopher J Kargula