Flexible and stress compensating fuel line connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9745932-B2
Application number	US-201514855736-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Sep 16, 2015
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

Systems and designs are provided for a flexible connector to be used in fuel and hydraulic lines that can withstand a high level of internal and external stress. In one example, the connector consists of three separate components, an upper, a lower and a middle portion. Spherical bearings and compression springs are used o couple the three portions together. Spherical bearings provide the ability of the connector to rotate about an axis, while the compression springs hold together the system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connector, comprising:
an upper and a lower portion physically coupleable to a middle portion, a top surface of the lower portion comprising a plurality of compression springs vertically mounted on a plurality of corresponding pins, the middle portion comprising a plurality of spherical bearings to enable rotation between the upper and lower portions.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion has a nozzle fitting to connect to a fuel line, the nozzle fitting having a plurality of angled cylindrical rings with ramps facing away from an extreme end of a nozzle.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a twist-lock connector comprising a plurality of engagement supporters and a plurality of geometrical slots and openings to connect to a fuel system component.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower portions are only rotatable with respect to one about a single axis of rotation.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the middle portion comprises a ring-shaped housing with a bottom surface engaging each of the compression springs, the housing further enclosing the spherical bearings, the bearings spaced around an inner surface of the housing, the inner surface angled with respect to a central axis of the housing and positioned between a top and the bottom surface of the housing.

6. The connector of claim 5 , wherein the spherical bearings are rotatably housed on a surface of an upper port of the lower portion; wherein a lower end port of the upper portion is inserted in an inner ring of the middle portion; and wherein the spherical bearings provide rotatability of the upper portion.

7. The connector of claim 5 , wherein an upper port of the lower portion is inserted in the housing ring of the middle portion and wherein the compression springs are engaged to connect the lower portion to the middle portion.

8. The connector of claim 7 , wherein the compression springs are housed in tubular apertures on the bottom surface of the middle portion; and wherein the compression springs hold together the upper and lower portions at the middle portion.

9. The connector of claim 7 , wherein the upper, middle, and lower portions are coupled directly together and wherein the compression springs are compressed inside tubular apertures on the bottom surface of the middle portion.

10. The connector of claim 5 , wherein the spherical bearings are arranged at an angle with respect to the central axis, due to an angle of the inner surface of the middle portion where the spherical bearings are dispersed, the compression springs and spherical bearings co-existing side by side.

11. The connector of claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the upper portion is angled relative to a central axis of the lower portion at an angle between 10 and 80 degrees.

12. The connector of claim 9 , wherein a bottom region of the upper portion comprises a fitting end port with a plurality of flanges and circular discs arranged co-axially for coupling the upper portion to the middle portion; wherein the upper and middle portions are engaged to the lower portion via the compression springs.

13. The connector of claim 12 , wherein a rubber gasket is provided in the fitting end port of the upper portion.

14. A connector, comprising:
an upper portion comprising angled protrusions located along an outer body for attaching the connector to an external system;
a lower portion; and
a hollow middle portion located between the upper and lower portions, the middle portion comprising spherical bearings evenly dispersed along an inner circumference of the middle portion; wherein the lower portion comprises a plurality of vertically oriented compression springs mounted on corresponding pins in direct contact with corresponding tubular apertures located at a bottom surface of the middle portion and a plurality of apertures rotatably housing the spherical bearings of the middle portion.

15. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the spherical bearings are housed in the middle portion between top and bottom surfaces of a ring-shaped housing.

16. The connector of claim 14 , wherein components of the upper portion are molded together to form one continuous piece; wherein components of the lower portion are molded together to form one continuous piece; and wherein the upper and lower portions are coupled together only at the middle portion.

17. The connector of claim 14 , where the upper portion is able to rotate with respect to the middle and lower portions about an axis due to movements of the spherical bearings in the middle housing along a surface of an upper port of the lower portion.

18. A connector, comprising:
upper, middle, and lower portions having a hollow interior leak-tight passage, wherein the upper portion comprises a fitting nozzle including a plurality of angled cylindrical rings with ramps facing away from an extreme end of the nozzle for coupling with a first external component; wherein the lower portion comprises a twist-lock connector for coupling with a second external component and a plurality of vertically oriented compression springs mounted on pins attached to a top surface of the lower portion; and wherein the middle portion comprises a plurality of tubular apertures for housing the compression springs upon coupling of the upper, middle, and lower portions.

19. The connector of claim 18 , wherein the twist-lock connector comprises defined openings, geometrical slots, and tabs.

20. The connector of claim 19 , further comprising springs and spherical bearings enabling rotation of the upper portion relative to the lower portion while maintaining the leak-tight passage.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Carremm Swadad A
• Ghannam Mahmoud Yousef
• Dudar Aed M

Classifications

• F02M55/00 Primary

  Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by their fuel conduits or their venting means; {Arrangements of conduits between fuel tank and pump F02M37/00 (venting in general B01D19/00)} · CPC title

• F16L37/23

  by means of balls · CPC title

• F16L27/0841

  forming an angle of less than 90 degrees · CPC title

• F16L27/0828 Primary

  having radial bearings · CPC title

• F02M2200/8023

  the assembly involving use of quick-acting mechanisms, e.g. clips · CPC title