WO2012068020A1

WO2012068020A1 - Sleeve assembly to reduce hose displacement

Info

Publication number: WO2012068020A1
Application number: PCT/US2011/060612
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bhaskar Parameswaran; Gregory G. Hafner
Original assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Co LLC
Current assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Co LLC
Priority date: 2010-11-16
Filing date: 2011-11-14
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-16

Abstract

A sleeve assembly for a hose attached to a fitting of an engine having a collar includes a proximal side that is configured to be positioned generally proximate the fitting, a distal side generally opposite the proximal side, and a generally elongate body defined between the proximal side and the distal side. The body has an interior sleeve surface defining a hose-passage that extends through the body for receiving the hose. The interior sleeve surface is configured to engage the collar along a portion of its length. A guiding structure is located on an interior sleeve surface of the hose-passage and is configured to limit the motion of the hose in the body.

Description

SLEEVE ASSEMBLY TO REDUCE HOSE DISPLACEMENT

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] The present application claims priority to Provisional Application No.

61/414,119 titled "Sleeve Design to Reduce Hose Displacement" filed on November 16, 2010, which is herein specifically incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sleeve for a hose, and more particularly, to a sleeve that is positionable around a hose connected to an engine.

[0003] Hoses attached to vehicle engines are susceptible to vibration from the operation of the engine. The vibration of the engine may lead to hose displacement, particularly when the engine is operating at higher rpm. During engine operation, a hose displacement of about 1.5mm from peak to peak has been observed. The hose displacement may cause stresses in the hose, and may cause the hose to leak or fail.

SUMMARY

[0004] A sleeve assembly for use with a hose attached to a fitting of an engine, where a collar is concentrically located about the length of an insert of the fitting, where the insert has a distal end for receiving the hose, and where the fitting defines an axis, includes a proximal side and a distal side. The proximal side is configured to be positioned generally proximate the fitting, and the distal side is generally opposite the proximal side. A generally elongate body is defined between the proximal side and the distal side. The body has an interior sleeve surface and the body is generally co-axial with the axis. A hose-passage is defined by the interior sleeve surface and extends through the body from the proximal side to the distal side for receiving the hose therethrough. The interior sleeve surface is sized and shaped to engage the collar along at least a portion of the axial length of the collar. A guiding structure is located on an interior sleeve surface of the hose-passage and is configured to limit the motion of the hose in the body.

[0005] Another sleeve assembly is adapted for use with a hose attached to a fitting of an engine, where the fitting defines an axis and has a base, includes a proximal side and a distal side. The proximal side is configured to be positioned generally proximate the fitting, and the distal side is generally opposite the proximal side. A generally elongate body is defined between the proximal side and the distal side, where the body is generally co-axial with the axis. The body is integrally formed with a collar that extends outwardly from the proximal side and concentrically about the axis. An interior sleeve surface of the body has a larger interior diameter and a smaller interior diameter located at the collar, where the integral collar applies a radial compressive loading on the hose at the smaller interior diameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of a sleeve assembly mounted on a connection of a hose to a fitting on an engine.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the sleeve assembly.

[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded side perspective view of the sleeve assembly.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a top view of a second clamp of the sleeve assembly.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the second clamp of the sleeve assembly taken along the line A - A in FIG. 3.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a top view of a first clamp of the sleeve assembly.

[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the first clamp of the sleeve assembly taken along the line B - B in FIG. 5. [0013] FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of the first clamp of the sleeve assembly taken along the line C - C in FIG. 5.

[0014] FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of a second embodiment of sleeve assembly mounted on the connection of the hose to the fitting on the engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a sleeve assembly is indicated generally at 10 and is configured for use on a hose 12 attached to a nut 14 of an engine (shown schematically at 15). While the following description will be made with reference to the connection of a hose 12 to an engine 15, it should be appreciated that the sleeve assembly 10 can be incorporated on other types of connections, particularly connections where the hose is susceptible to vibration.

[0016] For fluid communication with the engine 15, the hose 12 is received on a fitting 16 having an insert 18. As is known in the art, the fitting 16 is attached to and extends from the engine 15 in a generally sealed connection. The insert 18 may be integrally formed with the fitting 16 and forms the distal end of the fitting, and further may include a threaded outer surface 20 for receiving an interior surface 22 of the hose 12. An outer surface 24 of the hose 12 may be received in a collar 26 that may be generally cylindrical and extend generally coaxially with the insert 18 from a base 28 of the fitting 16. The insert 18 may have a length such that it is longer than the length of the collar 26. The outer surface 24 of the hose 12 may engage an inner surface 30 of the collar 26. The connection of the hose 12 to the engine fitting 16 forms a fluid pathway 32 from the engine 15 to the hose 12.

[0017] The sleeve assembly 10 is mounted to the connection of the hose 12 with the engine fitting 16 to reduce the vibrational displacement of the hose, and to reduce the bending stress on the hose. In this way, the sleeve assembly 10 reinforces the connection of the hose 12 with the engine fitting 16. The sleeve assembly 10 may be formed of relatively rigid materials, such as plastics and metals, among other materials. It is also contemplated that the sleeve assembly 10 may be formed of an elastically deformable material that still provides some rigidity.

[0018] The sleeve assembly 10, the collar 26, the fitting 16, and the hose 12 (at the location of the fitting) may all be coaxial with axis A. Further, the sleeve assembly 10 may coaxially overlap the collar 26, the hose 12, and the insert 18 at the location of connection of the hose to the insert (where the length of hose is engaged on the insert). The sleeve assembly 10 may coaxially overlap the entire length of the connection of the hose 12 to the insert 18, or it is possible that the sleeve assembly may coaxially overlap only a portion of the length of the connection of the hose to the insert. The sleeve assembly 10 may coaxially overlap greater than or equal to the length of the connection of the hose 12 to the insert 18.

[0019] The sleeve assembly 10 is positioned generally concentrically about the hose

12 and generally concentrically about the insert 18. In an embodiment with the collar 26, the sleeve assembly 10 is positioned generally concentrically about the collar and may engage an outer surface 34 of the collar with a generally cylindrical interior sleeve surface 36.

[0020] In one embodiment, the sleeve assembly 10 has an interior radius of about

10mm. Depending on the sizes of the fitting 16, the hose 12 and the collar 26, the interior radius of the sleeve assembly 10 is sized to be slightly larger than the collar and to engage the outer surface 34 of the collar. The inner surface 30 of the collar 26 applies a radial compressive loading on the hose 12 along the length of the hose that the collar coaxially overlaps. The collar 26 may be sized and shaped to have a smaller interior radius than the radius of the interior sleeve surface 36 of the sleeve assembly 10. The interior sleeve surface 36 limits the motion of the hose 12 within the sleeve assembly 10, but may or may not contact the hose.

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, the sleeve assembly 10 has a proximal side 38 that is configured to be positioned generally proximate the fitting 16, and a distal side 40 generally opposite the proximal side. The hose 12 extends through a hose-passage 42 that extends from the proximal side 38 to the distal side 40. The distal side 40 may be flared to allow the hose 12 located in the hose-passage 42 to have a degree of motion upon exiting the sleeve assembly 10 and to reduce the likelihood stress concentration on the hose. At the distal side 40, the side may be radiused and the hose-passage 42 may have increasing diameter.

[0022] Between and including the proximal side 38 and the distal side 40 defines a generally elongate body 44 having a generally rectangular prismatic shape. The body 44 may also have a cylindrical shape or any other shape that defines the hose-passage 42 therethrough. It also is contemplated that the body 44 need not define a fully enclosed hose-passage 42 that encloses the hose 12 around its entire outer surface 24. In the embodiment with the rectangular prismatic body 44, there are four body-sides, with first and second sides 46, 48 being generally parallel to each other, and third and fourth sides 50, 52 being generally parallel to each other. All four body-sides 46, 48, 50, 52 may be generally parallel to the axis A.

[0023] The body 44 of the sleeve assembly 10 may be formed in one or more parts. In one embodiment, the body 44 has a first clamp 54 and a second clamp 56 that are clamped together around the hose 12 in the hose-passage 42 with one or more fasteners 58 extending from the first clamp to the second clamp. The first clamp 54 may have a first contact surface 60 for contacting the second clamp 56, and the second clamp may have second contact surface 62 for contacting the first clamp at the first contact surface.

[0024] The first clamp 54 may have fastener receiving holes 64 that are generally aligned with fastener receiving holes in the second clamp 56. The fastener receiving holes 64 may be generally transverse to the axis A, however other orientations are possible. It is contemplated that one or more fastener receiving holes 64 may be countersunk to accommodate the fasteners 58. When received in the first clamp 54 and the second clamp 56, the fasteners 58 are located at the junction of the first clamp and the second clamp at the first and second contact surfaces 60, 62, and offset from the hose-passage 42. In one embodiment, there are three fasteners 58 located on each side of the hose-passage 42, and the fasteners extend from the first body-side 46 to the second body-side 48. [0025] A guiding structure 66, such as a seat, chamfer or other structure, is located on the interior sleeve surface 36 and adjacent the distal side 40 of the body 44, and is configured to locate the hose 12 in the sleeve assembly 10, and may also position the sleeve assembly 10 at the connection of the hose 12 to the insert 18 of the fitting 16. The guiding structure 66 may extend generally transversely to axis A from a portion of the interior sleeve surface 36 that is generally parallel to axis A. The guiding structure 66 may be configured to abut against a distal side 68 of the collar 26, or alternately not contact the collar. The guiding structure 66 may be generally annular and extend radially inward, and the body 44 may have a decreasing interior diameter "D" at the guiding structure to engage the outer surface 24 of the hose 12 adjacent the distal side 40 of the body, however it is also possible that there is no contact between the hose and the sleeve assembly at the guiding structure 66. Other sizes, shapes and orientations of the guiding structure 66 are contemplated that position the sleeve assembly 10 and guide the hose 12 therethrough. For example, the guiding structure 66 may be located on only one of the first clamp 54 and the second clamp 56. With an equal or decreased diameter "d" of the collar 26 with respect to the sleeve assembly 10 diameter "D", the inner surface 30 of the collar contacts the hose 12. With the decreased diameter "d", the collar 26 applies a radial compressive loading on the hose 12 along the length of the collar where the collar coaxially overlaps the hose. A distal end 19 of the insert 18 may extend between the distal end 68 of the collar 26 and the distal end 40 of the sleeve assembly 10.

[0026] To reinforce the connection, the sleeve assembly 10 may be installed over the hose 12 and the collar 26 by placing the first clamp 54 on one side of the hose 12, and placing the second clamp 56 on the opposite side of the hose. The hose 12 is placed or received in the interior sleeve surface 36 of the first clamp 54, and is placed or received in the interior sleeve surface 36 of the second clamp 56. The first clamp 54 and the second clamp 56 are fastened together with the fasteners 58, and the sleeve assembly 10 is located over the connection of the hose 12 with the fitting 16 such that the distal side 68 of the collar 26 abuts the guiding structure 66 on the interior sleeve surface 36 of the body 44. It should be understood that the sleeve assembly 10 can be located to abut the collar 26 before the fasteners 58 are inserted. Further, it is contemplated that the sleeve assembly 10 can be located over the connection of the hose 12 to the insert 18 without abutting the guiding structure 66 against the collar 26. [0027] The length of the body 44 from the proximal side 38 to the distal side 40 may be longer than the length of the insert 18, for example about 5mm longer, however other lengths are possible. The length of the body 44 may be such that the body, the collar 26, the fitting 16, and the hose 12 may all be coaxially overlapping along axis A over a portion of the length of the insert 18. The interior sleeve surface 36 is sized and shaped to engage the collar 26 along at least a portion of the axial length of the collar. It is also possible that the interior sleeve surface 36 may engage the hose 12.

[0028] It is also possible that the sleeve assembly 10 can be used without a collar 26 and a guiding structure 66, for example by having the body 44 extend to and along the base 28 of the fitting 16, and having the interior sleeve surface 36 of the body engage the hose 12 along the length of the captive hose. It is also possible that the hose 12 can be received in the hose-passage 42 from the proximal side 38 or distal side 40, or from an axial opening in the body 44.

[0029] The sleeve assembly 10 may be integrally formed to be a single-piece with no fasteners. The one-piece integrally formed sleeve assembly 10 may be installed over the hose 12 by locating the body 44 around the hose (feeding the hose through the body), placing the collar 26 around the hose (feeding the hose through the collar), and inserting the fitting 16 into the hose (inserting the hose around the fitting). The collar 26 can be positioned to concentrically overlap the connection of the hose to the insert. A compressive load is applied by the collar 26 onto the hose 12, which compresses the hose against the insert 18. The load is applied by the collar 26 having a smaller interior diameter "d". The sleeve assembly 10 can be placed over the collar, such as with an interference fit.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 9, a second embodiment of the sleeve assembly is denoted

110 and is generally similar to the sleeve assembly 10 but has a body 144 having a unitary construction with a collar 126. Aside from the body 144 having an integrally formed collar 126, all other features of the sleeve assembly 110 have like reference numbers to the features of the sleeve assembly 10. The collar 144 extends outwardly from the proximal side 38 of the remainder of the body 144 and concentrically about the axis A. [0031] The one-piece integrally formed sleeve assembly 110 may be installed over the hose 12 by locating the body 144 around the hose (feeding the hose through the body) and inserting the fitting 16 into the hose (inserting the hose around the fitting). The body 144 can be positioned to overlap the connection of the hose 12 to the insert 18. A compressive load is applied by the collar 126 onto the hose 12, which compresses the hose against the insert 18. The load is applied by the collar 126 having a smaller interior diameter "d". The collar 126 may extend to the base 28 of the fitting 16 to position the smaller interior diameter "d" of the body to be concentrically overlapping less than the entire length of the insert 18. In other words, the distal end 19 of the insert 18 is not concentrically overlapped by the collar 126 having the smaller interior diameter "d".

[0032] By mounting a sleeve assembly 10, 110 at the location of attachment of the hose 12 to the fitting 16 of the engine 15, vibrational displacement of the hose during engine operation can be reduced. Further, the sleeve assembly 10 may reduce the bending stress on the hose 12 during engine operation.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A sleeve assembly adapted for use with a hose attached to a fitting of an engine, wherein a collar is concentrically located about at least a portion of the length of an insert of the fitting, the insert having a distal end for receiving the hose, wherein the fitting defines an axis, the sleeve assembly comprising:

a generally elongate body defined between the proximal side that is configured to be positioned generally proximate the fitting, and a distal side generally opposite the proximal side, the body having an interior sleeve surface, the body being generally co-axial with the axis;

a hose-passage defined by the interior sleeve surface and extending through the body from the proximal side to the distal side for receiving the hose therethrough, the interior sleeve surface sized and shaped to engage the collar along at least a portion of the axial length of the collar; and

a guiding structure located on an interior sleeve surface of the hose-passage, the guiding structure sized and shaped to limit the motion of the hose in the body.

2. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the distal side is radiused, and the interior sleeve surface has an increasing diameter at the distal side.

3. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the body coaxially overlaps the entire length of connection of the hose to the insert.

4. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the body has a generally rectangular prismatic shape.

5. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein body is formed in one or more parts that are fastened together with a fastener.

6. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the body is formed of a first clamp and a second clamp configured to be clamped together with at least one fastener to define the hose-passage.

7. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the guiding structure positions the body to engage the distal end of the collar and to position the body to be coaxially overlapping the connection of the hose to the insert of the fitting.

8. A sleeve assembly adapted for use with a hose attached to a fitting of an engine, wherein the fitting has a base and an insert and defines an axis, the sleeve assembly comprising: a proximal side that is configured to be positioned generally proximate the fitting;

a distal side generally opposite the proximal side;

a generally elongate body defined between and including the proximal side and the distal side, the body being integrally formed with a collar that extends outwardly from the proximal side and concentrically about the axis;

an interior sleeve surface of the body having a larger interior diameter and a smaller interior diameter located at the collar, wherein the integral collar applies a radial compressive loading on the hose at the smaller interior diameter.

9. The sleeve assembly of claim 8 wherein the body has a generally rectangular prismatic shape.

10. The sleeve assembly of claim 8 wherein the first clamp has a first contact surface for contacting the second clamp, and the second clamp has a second contact surface for contacting the first clamp at the first contact surface.

11. The sleeve assembly of claim 8 wherein the first clamp has fastener receiving holes that are generally aligned with fastener receiving holes in the second clamp, and wherein the fastener receiving holes are generally transverse to the axis.

12. The sleeve assembly of claim 8 wherein the integral collar concentrically overlaps less than the entire length of the insert.

13. The sleeve assembly of claim 8 wherein the guiding structure is generally annular and extends radially inward, and the body has a reduced interior diameter at the collar to engage the hose.