Abstract: A stuffer pin assembly for carrying and loading internal components of a female connector body of a quick connector coupling. The assembly includes a cylindrical carrier body extending between a first end and a second end. A radial shoulder spaced from the first end is formed in the body. A cylindrical wall extends between the radial shoulder and the second end. A groove is formed in the cylindrical wall. At least one seal is secured on the carrier body within the groove. A spacer is secured on the carrier body between the groove and the radial shoulder. A retainer is secured on the carrier body and includes an annular ring surrounding the carrier body between the spacer and the radial shoulder. A plurality of legs extend away from the ring and toward the first end of the carrier body. A male member insertable into a loaded connector body includes an annular ferrule secured on a tube around one or more upsets.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid line includes a female connector body having a bore which receives a male member. A manually operable retention clip has legs which extend through slots formed in the connector body. The legs are positioned between an upset formed on the male member and the entrance to the bore to prevent removal of the male member from the connector body. Operating tabs formed on the retention clip are manually operable to spread the legs apart a distance sufficient to permit withdrawal of the male member from the connector body.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid line consists of a female connector body having a bore which receives a male member. A retainer disposed in the bore includes retention fingers which extend between first abutment surfaces formed in the connector body and an upset formed on the male member to secure the male member in the connector body. An insertion indicator disposed in the bore has an indicator ring which is seated against a radial rim formed adjacent an entrance to the connector body bore, legs extending away from the indicator ring and into the bore, and engagement means attached to the legs which abut second abutment surfaces formed in the connector body to position the insertion indicator in the connector body. The indicator ring is separable from the engagement means to signal a proper coupling of the male member and female connector body.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid line system consists of a female connector body having a bore which receives a male member formed at an end of a tube. A sleeve is secured on the male member and fits closely within the bore. A retainer arrangement is mounted on the male member axially outwardly of the sleeve. The retainer arrangement has a base that surrounds the male member axially outwardly of the bore entrance, and legs which extend away from the base and into the connector body. The legs have engagement means for engaging the connector body abutment surface to secure the retainer arrangment to the connector body, and for engaging the sleeve to retain the sleeve and male member in the bore.

Abstract: A card edge connector with a housing and electrical contacts. The electrical contacts are spaced from adjacent contacts at a center-to-center pitch of 0.025 inch. The contacts each have a middle section that is interference fit in a contact receiving channel of the housing. The middle sections each have a general ring shape with a center electromagnetic reduction aperture. The ring shape forms a structural truss to retain structural rigidity of the middle section to enable the interference fit to be made and, the center electromagnetic reduction aperture reduces capacitance between the closely spaced adjacent contacts.

Abstract: A connector for attaching an exhaust gas recirculation tube to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. A thermal isolator surrounds an end of the tube and includes a sleeve contacting the tube and merging with a cylindrical body portion which is spaced from the tube. An upset bead is formed in the body portion. The tube and thermal isolator are inserted into a flange surrounding an opening formed in the intake manifold. A retainer is inserted into the flange and rotated such that latching devices on the retainer engage hooks on the flange to prevent removal of the retainer from the flange. The retainer also has ribs for supporting the body portion of the thermal isolator. The retainer is sized to engage the bead of the thermal isolator to prevent removal of the thermal isolator and tube from the flange. The flange and thermal isolator are sealed against fluid leakage.

Abstract: An inventive tubing connector includes a tube (22) having an upset portion (24) receiving within a housing (26). a retainer (30) is positioned between an outer end of the housing and the upset portion to prevent tube removal. A seal (48) within the housing provides a fluid tight seal between the housing and the tube. The seal is preferably formed of toughened fluorosilicone, such that it provides a secure fluid tight seal over a temperature range down to about -50.degree. below zero.

Abstract: An adapter is insertable into an existing fluid line system at a quick connector coupling joint. The adapter has a male section, which is configured to connect to the female connector body of the quick connector coupling, and a female section, which is configured to receive the male member of the existing quick connector coupling. A middle section disposed between the male and female members houses functional elements desired to be added to the fluid line. One such element is a check valve which allows flow in only one direction through the fluid line.

Abstract: A unique fluid connector is disclosed that quickly connects a tube within a housing bore, while providing a strong, fluid tight seal. The tube has axially spaced radially greater diameter upset portions with a sleeve and a locking member trapped between the upset portions. The locking member includes resilient arms which secure the locking member within the housing bore. The sleeve has a notch at an inner axial end which abuts the inner upset portion to retain the tube within the bore. An O-ring is positioned axially inwardly of the upset portion. The sleeve and the inner upset portion both abut the O-ring to provide a fluid tight seal between the tube and the housing. In a unique method, a tube unit is assembled by forming the outer upset portion on the tube. The locking member and sleeve are then moved onto the tube. The inner upset portion is then formed on the tube to secure the locking member and the sleeve on the tube.

Abstract: A fluid connection includes a valve which blocks flow into or out of the housing until a tube is fully received within the housing. The valve preferably has structure which is biased against the valve seat in the housing until the tube is moved into the housing. The valve seat is preferably in a plane which is perpendicular to the central axis of the housing. Further, the valve preferably has surfaces which guide fluid between the radially outer surface of the valve and the interior of the tube. In one embodiment, the valve includes a forward ring which contacts a tube and which has two ribs connected to the main valve body. The valve surface is preferably a conical surface spaced axially inwardly from the forward ring. Preferably, additional conical surfaces are disposed between the ribs and guide the fluid between the valve surface and the interior of the tube. In another embodiment, the valve may have an X or Y-shaped cross-sectional ribs which contact the tube.

Abstract: A tube bending fixture having a plurality of tube bending tools, a pedestal for each tube bending tool, a grid plate for supporting each pedestal, and a grid plate support for supporting the grid plates in a predetermined arrangement. The fixture is built from a simulation program of tool selection, tool location and bending sequence. The simulation program is entered into a computer for viewing to insure that the tools are properly selected and properly located to permit operation in the desired sequence without interference. The computer will output a list of the tools needed and a list of coordinates to establish tool location. The bending tools have clamp rolls which are relatively movable between open and closed positions, and when closed define an arcuate groove. A bending roll is provided for bending a tube around the groove.

Abstract: Two unique quick connect fluid coupling embodiments have a tube inner end which does not contact a seal if the tube is not fully connected. Preferably, a retainer retains the tube within the bore. The retainer is of the avalanche type such that a high force is required to insert the tube, and once this high force is overcome the momentum of the tube carries it to its fully inserted position. No seal is formed between the tube and seals within the housing unless the tube has moved beyond the avalanche point where the high force begins. Once the tube has moved beyond that point, it will be fully connected. The invention ensures that there would be no seal between a tube and a housing unless the tube is fully connected.

Abstract: An improved fluid connector has a deformable axially outer ring with latches which retain a tube within a main body of the connection. The outer ring is oval in cross-section, with the latches extending along surfaces spaced across the minor diameter of the oval. Connection portions connect the outer ring to a main body of the connector. The connection portions extend from locations spaced across the major diameter of the oval shape. An upset portion of the tube deforms the latches radially outwardly upon insertion. A removal force may be directed radially inwardly of the outer ring at locations adjacent to the connection portions to cause the latches to bow radially outwardly and allow the tube to be removed from the connector. The inventive connector bears the removal force on the relatively thicker connecting portions, and requires flexing in the relatively thinner outer ring.

Abstract: Clips for retaining tubes in a spaced apart relationship. Each clip has a body with generally U-shaped recesses in which the tubes are received and a retainer cover slidably received on the body and movable from an open position to a closed position overlying the recesses and retaining the tubes therein. The cover is releasably secured in the closed position by a latch and preferably releasably retained on the body by a detent.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant and low torque connector with a brake tube having a flange adjacent a flared end on which an O-ring is received and urged into a sealing engagement with a frusto-conical cavity of a female fitting by a complementarily threaded male fitting received over the tube and bearing on the flange.

Abstract: A fluid connector comprises a pair of retainers, with a first retainer having a pair of resilient legs extending axially and radially inwardly from an axially outer portion of a housing bore. The first retainer abuts a first upset portion on the tube to secure the tube within the housing. A secondary retainer is positioned axially outwardly of the first retainer, and has legs which also abut a second upset portion on the tube also securing the tube within the housing. The secondary retainer legs preferably extend parallel to the axis of the tube, such that they provide a strong resistance force against pull-out of the tube.

Abstract: A unique retainer is disclosed having a plurality of resilient arms securing a tube within a housing bore. The arms include a radially inner section having a pair of circumferentially extending braces which increase the strength of the arms. The braces have axial ends which are bent radially outwardly and increase the strength of the arms, and also result in a more consistent, predictable buckling force for the retainer. Arm bends are formed between the arm radially inner section and a radially outer section. The axially outer bends of the braces are generally axially aligned with these arm bends, such that the bends provide a planer surface for positioning the retainer within the housing. Also, "bumps" are defined at a radially inner face of the radially inner sections of the arms to create a high force resisting tube insertion. The bumps are at an angle relative to a central axis that is greater than the angle of the remainder of the radially inner section of the arms.

Abstract: An engine exhaust gas recirculation system with a venturi with pressure taps on both sides for indicating and controlling the rate of flow of recirculated exhaust gas. Through an electronic control unit the pressure drop across the venturi is used to control the extent to which a recirculation valve is opened and hence control the flow rate of recirculated gas in response to engine operating conditions. Preferably, the venturi has a frusto-conical entrance and a cylindrical throat.

Abstract: An adjustable recirculation exhaust gas pressure differential venturi and coupler adapted to be coupled between an exhaust and an intake of an automotive-type engine and which receives exhaust gases from the exhaust for recirculation back through the intake. A valve having a chamfered orifice is located within the tubular coupler for controlling the flow of exhaust gases through the coupler thus controlling the pressure differential therein. The coupler is a two piece assembly with a telescopic connection which allows for axial and rotational adjustments.

Abstract: A flexible conduit having a flexible inner tube of a polymer material, a flexible coil of wire received over said inner tube, a flexible outer jacket shrunk onto the coil, and couplings inserted into the ends of both the outer jacket and inner tube. Preferably, the outer jacket is attached to both the coil and the couplings by an adhesive. Preferably, the conduit is made by extruding the inner tube, wrapping the coil of wire around the tube as it is being extruded, telescoping the outer jacket over the coil and tube, inserting the couplings, and heating the outer jacket to shrink it into firm engagement with the coil and to initiate curing of the adhesive on the interior of the outer jacket.