Tamper-resistant hydraulic connections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024255085-A1
Application number	US-202318102186-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 27, 2023
Priority date	Jan 27, 2023
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tamper-resistant hydraulic connection may include a fitting that has a flange, a head, and a central body disposed between the flange and the head. The head may have lobes that protrude radially relative to the central body. The fitting may be inserted into a port where a fluid-tight connection is formed. A central opening of the port includes pockets where the lobes of the head are retained, with the pockets preventing rotation and longitudinal retreat of the lobes. An elastic member disposed on the fitting may be compressed longitudinally between the flange of the fitting and the port. The fitting and the port may be sized and shaped such that assembly of the tamper-resistant hydraulic connection requires pushing the head into the central opening longitudinally past a first radially-extending plane where the pockets are located, rotating the head, and moving the head longitudinally back into the first radially-extending plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tamper-resistant hydraulic connection comprising:
a fitting that includes:
a central body,
a head that includes lobes that protrude radially relative to the central body, and
a passage that extends longitudinally through the central body and the head for transmitting hydraulic fluid,
a port having a first side where a central opening is disposed, the central opening extending longitudinally and being configured to transmit hydraulic fluid, wherein the lobes of the head are retained in pockets within the central opening that prevent the head from rotating and that prevent the head from retreating from the central opening, wherein a fluid-tight connection exists between the fitting and the port.

2 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional profile of the central opening at the first side of the port matches a cross-sectional profile of the head of the fitting.

3 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 1 wherein a shoulder within the central opening prevents the head of the fitting from moving deeper into the central opening, wherein the lobes of the head are spaced longitudinally apart from the shoulder when the tamper-resistant hydraulic connection is fully assembled.

4 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 3 wherein the fitting and the port are configured such that for assembly and disassembly each lobe must rotate and pass longitudinally-between the shoulder and a radially-extending planar surface of the central opening, wherein each radially-extending planar surface is longitudinally spaced apart from an overhang of each pocket that prevents the head from retreating from the central opening of the port.

5 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 4 wherein each radially-extending planar surface abuts a stop that forms a side of each pocket and prevents the respective lobe from rotating in one direction.

6 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 1 wherein an overhang of each pocket prevents the head from retreating from the central opening of the port, wherein the fitting and the port are configured such that disassembly of the tamper-resistant hydraulic connection requires longitudinally separating the lobes of the head from the overhangs.

7 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 1 wherein the fitting and the port are free of wrench flats.

8 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 1 wherein a shoulder within the central opening prevents the head of the fitting from moving deeper into the central opening, wherein an overhang of each pocket prevents the head from retreating from the central opening of the port, wherein each overhang extends radially inward relative to each pocket, wherein each overhang is disposed longitudinally-adjacent to the first side of the port or longitudinally between the shoulder and the first side of the port.

9 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 1 wherein a stop and a sidewall of each pocket follow a contour of each lobe, with the stop and the sidewall preventing the lobe from rotating.

10 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 1 comprising an elastic member that is compressed and is disposed longitudinally between a flange of the fitting and the port, wherein the elastic member and hydraulic pressure retain the lobes longitudinally in the pockets.

11 . A tamper-resistant hydraulic connection comprising:
a fitting that includes:
a passage that extends longitudinally for transmitting hydraulic fluid,
a flange,
a head that is longitudinally spaced apart from the flange, and
a central body disposed longitudinally between the head and the flange, wherein the head includes a lobe that protrudes radially relative to the central body;
a port that includes a central opening that extends longitudinally and is configured to transmit hydraulic fluid, wherein the lobe of the head is configured to be retained in a pocket within the central opening, wherein the pocket is configured to prevent the head from rotating and is configured to prevent the head from retreating from the central opening, wherein the fitting and the port are configured to create a fluid-tight connection; and an elastic member that is configured to be compressed longitudinally between the flange of the fitting and the port when the tamper-resistant hydraulic connection is fully assembled.

12 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 11 wherein the fitting and the port are configured such that the elastic member is compressed to a first extent during assembly and to a second extent when the tamper-resistant hydraulic connection is fully assembled, wherein the first extent of compression is greater than the second extent of compression.

13 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 11 wherein the flange, the central body, and the head are disposed longitudinally between a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion of the fitting, wherein the head is configured to be inserted into a first portion of the central opening, wherein the second tubular portion of the fitting is configured to be inserted farther into the central opening into a second portion of the central opening, wherein the first tubular portion is configured to be attached to a hose that transmits hydraulic fluid.

14 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 11 wherein the lobe is one of three lobes on the head, each lobe being rounded, wherein the pocket is one of three pockets within the central opening that are configured to prevent the head from rotating and are configured to prevent the head from retreating from the central opening, with a first of the lobes having a different profile than a second and a third of the lobes such that the fitting can only be inserted into the central opening of the port at one angular position relative to the port.

15 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 11 wherein the head of the fitting is configured to be inserted into a first portion of the central opening of the port where the head is ultimately retained, with a cross-sectional profile of the head matching a cross-sectional profile of the central opening across only part of a longitudinal extent of the first portion of the central opening.

16 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 15 wherein the fitting and the port are configured such that the head rotates in a first radially-extending plane within the central opening, wherein the fitting and the port are configured such that the lobe is retained within the pocket in the central opening at a second radially-extending plane that is longitudinally spaced apart from the first radially-extending plane.

17 . The tamper-resistant hydraulic connection of claim 16 wherein the central opening of the port is configured to permit rotation of the head of the fitting only at the first radially-extending plane while the head is inserted within the central opening.

18 . A tamper-resistant hydraulic connection comprising:
a fitting that includes a passage that extends longitudinally for transmitting hydraulic fluid and a head that includes a lobe that protrudes radially relative to other portions of the fitting; a port that is configured to create a fluid-tight connection with the fitting, the port including a central opening that extends longitudinally and is configured to transmit hydraulic fluid, wherein a pocket disposed at a first radially-extending plane within the central opening is conf

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Bilstein Of America Inc
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Sorosiak Eric
• Delaney William

Classifications

• F16L37/008

  for branching pipes; for joining pipes to walls · CPC title

• F16L37/05

  tightened by the pressure of a mechanical organ · CPC title

• F16L2201/20

  Safety or protective couplings · CPC title

• F16L37/06

  tightened by fluid pressure · CPC title

• F16L37/252 Primary

  the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part · CPC title