Coupling device and refrigerant circulation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12566015-B2
Application number	US-202418757753-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2024
Priority date	Jun 30, 2023
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

A coupling device includes a first connection portion, a second connection portion, a tube portion, and a sealing portion. The first connection portion is connectable to an external socket or plug, and includes a first flow path through which a fluid flows. The second connection portion includes a first inner surface defining a second flow path continuous with the first flow path, and a first outer surface positioned farther outward than the first inner surface. The tube portion includes an end portion to be inserted into the second connection portion, and a second inner surface positioned outside the first outer surface and defining a third flow path. The sealing portion is interposed between the first outer surface and the second inner surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A coupling device comprising:
a first connection portion connectable to an external socket or plug, the first connection portion including a first flow path through which a fluid flows; a second connection portion including a first inner surface defining a second flow path continuous with the first flow path, and a first outer surface positioned farther outward than the first inner surface; a tube portion including an end portion into which the the second connection portion is inserted and a second inner surface positioned outside the first outer surface and defining a third flow path; and a sealing portion interposed between the first outer surface and the second inner surface; wherein a thermal expansion coefficient of the sealing portion is smaller than a thermal expansion coefficient of the first outer surface and larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of the second inner surface.

2 . The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing portion is spaced away from both ends of the first outer surface.

3 . The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first outer surface includes a recess portion; and the sealing portion is in the recess portion.

4 . The coupling device according to claim 3 , wherein the recess portion is provided over an entire circumference of the first outer surface.

5 . The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the end portion of the tube portion has elasticity.

6 . The coupling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a fastener that fastens the tube portion to the second connection portion.

7 . The coupling device according to claim 6 , wherein the fastener is positioned more outward than the sealing portion.

8 . The coupling device according to claim 6 , wherein
the first outer surface includes a recess portion; and the fastener is positioned farther outward than the recess portion.

9 . The coupling device according to claim 6 , wherein a thermal expansion coefficient of the second inner surface is equal to or greater than a thermal expansion coefficient of the first outer surface.

10 . A refrigerant circulation device comprising:
a housing including a socket or a plug; and a coupling device; wherein the coupling device includes: a first connection portion connected to the socket or the plug and including a first flow path through which a fluid flows; a second connection portion including a first inner surface defining a second flow path continuous with the first flow path, and a first outer surface positioned more outward than the first inner surface; a tube portion including an end portion into which the second connection portion is inserted and a second inner surface positioned outside the first outer surface and defining a third flow path; and a sealing portion interposed between the first outer surface and the second inner surface.

11 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 10 , wherein
a thermal expansion coefficient of the sealing portion is smaller than a thermal expansion coefficient of the first outer surface and larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of the second inner surface.

12 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 10 , wherein the sealing portion is spaced away from both ends of the first outer surface.

13 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 10 , wherein
the first outer surface includes a recess portion; and the sealing portion is in the recess portion.

14 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 13 , wherein the recess portion is provided over an entire circumference of the first outer surface.

15 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 10 , wherein the end portion of the tube portion has elasticity.

16 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 10 , further comprising a fastener that fastens the tube portion to the second connection portion.

17 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 16 , wherein the fastener is positioned more outward than the sealing portion.

18 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 16 , wherein
the first outer surface includes a recess portion; and the fastener is positioned farther outward than the recess portion.

19 . The refrigerant circulation device according to claim 16 , wherein a thermal expansion coefficient of the second inner surface is equal to or greater than a thermal expansion coefficient of the first outer surface.

Assignees

• Nidec Corp

Inventors

• Murakami Taku
• Watanabe Hirotaka
• Nonomura Naoya

Classifications

• F16L33/18

  characterised by the use of additional sealing means · CPC title

• F16L33/02

  Hose-clips · CPC title

• H05K7/20272

  Accessories for moving fluid, for expanding fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid, for removing gas or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds · CPC title

• F16L33/025

  tightened by deforming radially extending loops or folds · CPC title

• F25B41/00

  Fluid-circulation arrangements · CPC title