Metal seal fitting for in-tank transmission oil cooler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344863-B2
Application number	US-201715690510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2017
Priority date	Aug 30, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A seal fitting assembly comprises a first block having a first aperture, a second aperture, and a first annular sealing surface surrounding the first aperture. A second block has a third aperture and a fourth aperture. An insert has a fifth aperture, a second annular sealing surface, and a second threaded portion. A first seal structure is disposed between the first annular sealing surface and the second annular sealing surface. An adapter has a sixth aperture, a surface of the adapter defining the sixth aperture including a third threaded portion configured to engage the second threaded portion of the insert. A second seal structure is disposed between the insert and the adapter. A fastener is received in the second aperture of the first block and the fourth aperture of the second block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seal fitting assembly for a housing wall having an opening formed therein, the seal fitting assembly comprising:
a first block having a first aperture, a second aperture, and a first annular sealing surface surrounding the first aperture;
a second block having a third aperture and a fourth aperture, a surface of the second block defining the fourth aperture including a first threaded portion;
an insert having a fifth aperture, a second annular sealing surface, and a second threaded portion;
a first seal structure disposed between the first annular sealing surface and the second annular sealing surface configured to be compressed therebetween;
an adapter having a sixth aperture, a surface of the adapter defining the sixth aperture including a third threaded portion configured to engage the second threaded portion of the insert;
a second seal structure disposed between the insert and the adapter configured to be compressed therebetween; and
a fastener received in the second aperture of the first block and the fourth aperture of the second block, the fastener including a fourth threaded portion configured to engage the first threaded portion of the second block.

2. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first annular sealing surface includes a first sealing bead and the second annular sealing surface includes a second sealing bead, the first sealing bead and the second sealing bead configured to impinge the first seal structure.

3. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes at least one axially extending slot extending from the second annular sealing surface, the at least one axially extending slot configured to engage a tool for rotating the insert relative to the adapter.

4. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes an annular collar extending beyond the second sealing surface thereof in an axial direction of the insert extending from the second threaded portion toward the second annular sealing surface, the annular collar configured to receive the first annular sealing surface of the first block therein.

5. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein one of the first block or the second block includes a leverage feature projecting therefrom in direction toward the other of the first block or the second block.

6. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first seal structure includes a first portion formed from a plastically deformable metal and a second portion formed from an elastomeric material.

7. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fourth aperture of the second block is configured to receive a locating feature formed on the housing wall for fixing a rotational position of the second block relative to the housing wall.

8. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adapter is mechanically coupled to an internal heat exchanger housing disposed to a side of the housing wall opposite the first block and the second block, the internal heat exchanger housing in fluid communication with the first aperture of the first block and the fifth aperture of the insert.

9. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first block forms a male component and the second block and the insert cooperate to form a female component configured to receive the male component.

10. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second seal structure is formed from a plastically deformable metal.

11. The seal fitting assembly of claim 10 , wherein the insert and the adapter cooperate to define a seal gland when a radially extending surface of the adapter abuts an end of the adapter, wherein a cross-sectional area of the seal gland is substantially equal to a cross-sectional area of the second seal structure prior to compression between the insert and the adapter.

12. The seal fitting assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second seal structure plastically deforms to substantially fill the seal gland during the compression of the second seal structure between the insert and the adapter.

13. The seal fitting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the seal gland restricts movement of the second seal structure in each of the axial and the radial directions of the insert to minimize additional deformation of the second seal structure during use of the seal fitting assembly.

14. The seal fitting assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of a surface of the insert defining a first portion of the seal gland and a surface of the adapter defining a second portion of the seal gland includes a sealing bead configured to impinge the second seal structure during compression between the insert and the adapter.

15. The seal fitting assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plastically deformable metal has a hardness of less than 40 HR 15T.

16. The seal fitting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a larger diameter portion including the second annular sealing surface and a smaller diameter portion including the second threaded portion.

17. The seal fitting assembly of claim 16 , wherein the larger diameter portion of the insert includes a first shoulder configured to engage a second shoulder formed on the surface of the second block defining the fourth aperture.

18. The seal fitting assembly of claim 16 , wherein the larger diameter portion of the insert includes a first radially extending surface having a first sealing bead and the adapter includes a second radially extending surface having a second sealing bead in facing relationship with the first sealing bead.

19. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
a heat exchanger tank configured to receive a first fluid and including an outer housing wall having an opening formed therein and a locating feature projecting therefrom;
an internal heat exchanger housing disposed within the heat exchanger tank and configured to receive a second fluid fluidly isolated from the first fluid; and
a seal fitting assembly comprising:
a first block having a first aperture, a second aperture, and a first annular sealing surface surrounding the first aperture;
a second block having a third aperture and a fourth aperture, a surface of the second block defining the fourth aperture including a first threaded portion, the fourth aperture configured to receive the locating feature of the housing wall therein;
an insert having a fifth aperture, a second annular sealing surface, and a second threaded portion;
a first seal structure disposed between the first annular sealing surface and the second annular sealing surface configured to be compressed therebetween;
an adapter mechanically coupled to the internal heat exchanger housing and having a sixth aperture, a surface of the adapter defining the sixth aperture including a third threaded portion configured to engage the second threaded portion of the insert;
a second seal structure disposed between the insert and the adapter configured to be compressed therebetween; and
a fastener received in the second aperture of the first block and the fourth aperture of the second block, the fastener including a fourth threaded portion configured to engage the first threaded portion of the second block.

20. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first seal structure and the second seal structure are formed from a plastically deformable metal.

Assignees

• Hanon Systems

Inventors

• Kesler Eric
• Flynn Patty

Classifications

• F28F9/0234

  having a second heat exchanger disposed there within, e.g. oil cooler · CPC title

• F28F9/0256

  Arrangements for coupling connectors with flow lines · CPC title

• F28F9/0251

  Massive connectors, e.g. blocks; Plate-like connectors · CPC title

• F28D2021/0089

  Oil coolers · CPC title

• F28F2230/00

  Sealing means · CPC title