GB2152611A

GB2152611A - Connector devices

Info

Publication number: GB2152611A
Application number: GB08400742A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Derek Guest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-12
Filing date: 1984-01-12
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: GB2152611B; GB8400742D0

Abstract

A connector body 10 has an encircling flange 11 spaced from one end 12 with an external screw thread 13 between the flange and said end for securing in a screw threaded bore. A tubular adaptor 15 is formed integrally with the socket body at the flange end thereof and is formed with two spaced encircling ribs 17 each having an inclined ramp face 18 facing towards the free end of the adaptor 19 to receive and engage in a flexible tubular hose. The ramps assist in forcing the hose up and over the ribs when the hose is pressed on the adaptor and stretched over the ribs to grip surface 15a. The free end 19 may be locked in a further socket by means of a compression fitting (Fig. 7) or a tube coupling device having a collet (Fig. 8) for gripping the adaptor end. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to connector devices This invention relates to connector devices and in particular to connector devices for making pipe, tube or socket connections.

The invention provides a connector device comprising a body formed with a port and a tubular element projecting from the port, the tubular element having means adjacent to the body to grip a flexible hose or sleeve into which the tubular element extends and a plain cylindrical portion projecting beyond the grip means to be received in a tube locking device.

The means to grip a flexible hose or sleeve on the tubular element may comprise one or more encircling ribs formed integrally with the tubular element to engage in the tubular body or hose.

The or each rib may have an inclined force on the side of the rib remote from the body to assist in leading a tubular hose or pipe over the rope as the tubular element is led into the hose or pipe.

The rib or ribs may be barb-shaped in crosssection to grip the tubular hose or pipe.

Means may be provided for encircling the tubular hose or pipe around that part of the hose or pipe encircling the gripping means and for clamping the pipe or hose to the grip means.

The gripping means may comprise a recess or recesses encircling the tubular element and means may be provided for encircling the pipe or hose and clamping the pipe or hose into the recess.

In any of the above arrangements a compression fitting may be provided for locking said plain cylindrical end of the tubular element to a further component.

In a further construction a tube coupling may be provided to receive said plain end of the tubular element, the coupling having a collet with resilient arms arranged to co-operate with a cam surface on a member surrounding the collet, which member has an internal surface tapering in one axial direction and engaging the arms of the collet so that the arms are forced inwardly by axial movement of the collet in one direction whereby said plain end of the tubular element may be inserted into the coupling through the collet from the end thereof remote from the arms and be held by the collet so that a pull on the tube in said one direction causes the arms, by engagement with the cam surface to grip and hold the tube in the coupling.

The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view through a socket body having a dual purpose tubular adaptor for connection in a further socket or for receiving a flexible pipe or hose; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of as similar tubular adaptor to that shown in Figure 1 formed integrally with a housing; Figure 3 shows one arrangement for attaching a tubular flexible hose to the adaptor of the socket body'shown in Figure 1 or to the integral housing shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a similar view to that of Figure 3 showing a further form of tubular adaptor and hose attachment arrangement; Figure 5 shows a still further form of tubular adaptor; Figure 6 shows a still further form of socket body/tubular adaptor; and Figures 7 and 8 show two forms of further socket to which the tubular adaptor is attachable.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a socket body having an integral tubular adaptor for effecting a connection between a flexible tubular pipe or hose and a housing or other structure to which the socket body may be attached.

The socket body 10 has an encircling flange 11 spaced from one end 12 thereof and has an external screw thread 13 between the flange and said end for securing in a screw threaded bore. The body 10 is hollow having a throughway 14.

A tubular adaptor 15 is formed integrally with the socket body at the flanged end thereof and has a plain cylindrical bore 16 which merges into the throughway 14 in the socket body.The tubular adaptor is formed with two spaced integral encircling ribs 17 each of which has an inclined ramp face 18 on the side directed towards the free end 19 of the adaptor to receive and engage in a flexible tube or hose. The ramps assist in forcing the hose up and over the ribs 17 when the hose is pressed on to the tubular adaptor and stretched over the ribd to grip on the adaptor.

The tubular adaptor has a plain cylindrical surface 1 5a extending from the ribs 17 to the end 19 for locking in a further socket as described below instead of in a hose.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows a similar arrangement in which the socket body is formed integrally with a pump housing 20 or similar piece of equipment with a port 21 in the housing in direct communication with the bore of the adaptor 15.

Figure 3 shows an alternative construction to that shown in Figure 1 in which the two ribs 17 are replaced by three barb shaped ribs 22 encircling the tubular adaptor. An end part of a flexible tube or hose 23 is shown engaged on the tubular adaptor and a screw adjusted clip 24 encircles the part of the hose around the ribs 20 to clamp the hose against the ribs.

Figure 4 shows yet a further embodiment in which the ribs are replaced by stepped encircling grooves 25, 26 to which the wall of the tubular hose or pipe is compressed by an encircling sleeve clip 27.

Figure 5 shows a further version in which the three barb shaped ribs 22 of the Figure 3 embodiment are replaced by a single rib.

Figure 6 of the drawings shows an elbow form of socket body/tubular adaptor in which the socket body 28 is adapted to be locked in the open end of a port in a housing and the tubular adaptor has the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 described above to receive a flexible tubular hose or pipe or be connected to a further socket as described below.

Figure 7 of the drawings shows a further modification to the embodiment of Figure 1 in which the end 19 of the tubular adaptor is located in a bore 29 in a further socket 30 by a compression fitting indicated generally at 31. The bore 29 has a first shallow counter bore 31 to receive the end of the tubular adaptor 15, a second larger counter bore 32 to receive a resilient clamping ring 33 encircling the tubular adaptor and a further enlarged counter bore 34 formed with a screw thread to receive a screw threaded sleeve 35 having an end flange 36 at one end for turning the sleeve and a reduced diameter spigot 37 at the other end for bearing on the clamping ring 33.By screwing the sleeve into the screw threaded counter bore, the spigot 37 bears on the resilient ring 33 compressing the ring into gripping engagement with the outer surface of the tubular adaptor to hold the adaptor in the socket 29.

Figure 8 shows a further arrangement in which the tubular adaptor 19 is engaged in a counter bore 38 formed in a socket 39. The socket has an enlarged diameter bore 40 containing an O-ring 41 or similar seal which engages the outer surface of the tubular adaptor and towards the end from which the tubular adaptor is inserted, has a tapered portion 42 terminating in a plain cylindrical end 43. The enlarged diameter portion 40 contains a collet 44 formed with a plurality of collet arms 45, typically four such arms, each of which is resilient and extends axially along the the tubular member. Resilient arms of the collet terminate in heads 46 each of which has a toothed element 47 at its inner periphery to grip the tubular element 19. The other end of the collet is formed outside the body with an out-turned flange 46 to permit the collet to be adjusted axially in the throughway. After the tubular adaptor 15 has been inserted through the collet into the stepped bore 40 in the socket, the resilient arms 45 engage the tubular adaptor and, any movement in a direction to withdraw the tubular adaptor from the body causes the resilient arms instantly to grip positively the outer surface of the tubular adaptor by reason of the engagement of the resilient arms with the tapered portion 40 of the bore to resist withdrawal of the tubular element.

It will be understood that the above embodiments are given by way of exemplification of the invention and many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A connector device comprising a body formed with a port and a tubular element projecting from the port, the tubular element having means adjacent to the body to grip a flexible hose or sleeve into which the tubular element extends and a plane cylindrical portion projecting beyond the grip means to be received in a tube locking device.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means to grip a flexible hose or sleeve on the tubular element comprise one or more encircling ribs formed integrally with the tubu lar element to engage in the tubular body or hose.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the or each rib has an inclined face on the side of the rib remote from the body to assist in leading a tubular hose or pipe over the rope as the tubular element is led into the hose or pipe.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein a rib or ribs are barb-shaped in cross section to grip the tubular hose or pipe.

5. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein means are provided for encircling the tubular hose or pipe around that part of the hose or pipe encircling the grip means and for clamping the pipe or hose to the grip means.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grip means comprise a recess or recesses encircling the tubular element and means are provided for encircling the pipe or hose and clamping the pipe or hose into the recess.

7. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a compression fitting is provided for locking said plain cylindrical end of the tubular element to a further component.

8. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a tube coupling is provided to receive said plain end of the tubular element, the coupling having a collet with resilient arms arranged to co-operate with a cam surf ace on a member surrounding the collet, which member has an internal surface tapering in one axial direction and engaging the arms of the collet so that the arms are forced inwardly by axial movement of the collet in one direction whereby said plain end of the tubular element inserted into the coupling through the collet from the end thereof remote from the arms and is held by the collet and a pull on the tube in said one direction causes the arms, by engagement with the cam surface, to grip and hold the tube in the coupling.

9. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the body comprises a hollow screw-threaded spigot to engage in a further structure or housing.

10. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in the form of a housing with which the tubular element is integral and having a port in communication with the tubular element.

11. A connector device comprising a body having a port and a projecting tubular element substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 1 in conjunction with any of Figures 3 to 5, 7 or 8.

12. An elbow form connection device comprising a body having a port and a projecting tubular element substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A housing having a connector device comprising a body having a port and tubular element substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2 or Figure 2 in conjunction with any of Figures 3 to 5, 7 or 8 of the accompanying drawings.