Quick Connector for Hydraulic Hose Coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016273689-A1
Application number	US-201514659033-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2015
Priority date	Mar 16, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hydraulic fluid line coupling system is disclosed. The coupling may include a female fitting, a male fitting, first and second elastomeric seals between the female fitting and male fitting, and a clamp surrounding the female fitting, male fitting, and first and second elastomeric seals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hydraulic fluid line coupling system, comprising;
a female fitting; a male fitting received with the female fitting; and a clamp surrounding the female fitting, male fitting, first elastomeric seal and second elastomeric seal.

2 . The hydraulic fluid line coupling system of claim 1 , wherein the clamp includes first and second clam shell halves hinged together.

3 . The hydraulic fluid line coupling system of claim 2 , further including a fastener securing the first and second clam shell halves together.

4 . The hydraulic fluid line coupling system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second clam shell halves include first and second radially inwardly directed ribs, the first rib engaging a groove in the male fitting, the second rib engaging a groove in the female fitting.

5 . The hydraulic fluid line coupling system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second clam shell halves include first and second radially outwardly directed grooves, the first groove receiving a rib extending from the male fitting, the second groove receiving a rib extending from the female fitting.

6 . The hydraulic fluid line coupling system of claim 4 , wherein the distal end of the male fitting further includes a circumferential groove receiving a radial elastomeric seal, and an axial groove receiving a face elastomeric seal.

7 . The hydraulic fluid line coupling system of claim 6 , wherein the clamp forces the face seal into compression against radially inwardly directed internal shoulder of the female fitting.

8 . The hydraulic fluid line coupling system of claim 6 , wherein the male fitting includes a tapered distal end.

9 . A method of sealing a hydraulic fluid line coupling, comprising:
inserting a male fitting into a female fitting; sealing the male fitting to the female fitting using first and second elastomeric rings; and securing the male fitting to the female fitting using a clamp.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further including positioning the first elastomeric ring radially between the male fitting and female fitting.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further including positioning the second elastomeric ring axially between the male fitting and the female fitting.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further including positioning a first clam shell half of the clamp around the male and female fitting, and then positioning a second clam shell half around the male and female fitting.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further including connecting the first and second clam shell halves around the male and female fittings using a hinge and a fastener.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further including providing the fastener in the form of a threaded bolt.

15 . The method of claim 9 , further including radially inwardly extending ribs from the first and second clam shell halves, and inserting the ribs into grooves in the male fitting and female fittings.

16 . The method of claim 9 , further including drawing the male fitting into the female fitting by tapering a distal end of the male fitting.

17 . A machine, comprising;
a chassis; an engine mounted on the chassis; a hydraulic fluid pump powered by the engine; a hydraulic cylinder in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid pump; a plurality of hydraulic fluid tubes connecting the hydraulic fluid pump and the hydraulic cylinder; and a hydraulic fluid line coupling system connecting the plurality of hydraulic fluid tubes together, each hydraulic fluid line coupling system including a male fitting, a female fitting, first and second elastomeric seals between the male and female fittings, and a clamp securing the female fitting, male fitting, and first and second elastomeric seals together.

18 . The machine of claim 17 , wherein the first elastomeric seal is elastomeric seal.

19 . The member of claim 18 , wherein the second elastomeric seal is a face seal.

20 . The machine of claim 17 , wherein the clamp includes first and second clam shell halves hinged together and secured with a threaded bolt.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Considine Jr Patrick E
• Rempert Carl H

Classifications

• F16L21/035 Primary

  placed around the spigot end before connection ({F16L21/022,} F16L21/025 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60D1/64

  Couplings or joints therefor · CPC title

• F16L21/08 Primary

  with additional locking means (F16L21/06 takes precedence; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00) · CPC title

• F16L21/065

  tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins · CPC title