Abstract: A quick connector-male conduit assembly (10) for use in a conduit coupling incorporates a hand-releasable, self-centering snap ring-like retainer (20) having a seating indicator (16) included therewith. The seating indicator (16) includes a pop-off ring (48) that goes around the male conduit (12), which is a part of the tubing leading to the connection to assist in the installation of the quick connector-male conduit assembly (10) into a female receptacle (11) and to positively indicate to the installer that the male conduit (12) has been properly locked to the female receptacle (11). The retainer (20) includes a pair of tabs (68) for easy manipulation by hand or tools for removal. The quick connector assembly (10) is on either a plastic or a metal male conduit (12), and can be as short as a threaded connection. The quick connector assembly (10) has no threads, and permits 360 degree rotation of the conduit (12).

Abstract: A quick connector (10) has a pair of waist segments (76 and 81), a shoulder segment (163), a body segment (72) with an aperture (156) therein, and a leg segment (78). The leg segment (78) is defined by a pair of projecting elements (163) which are at least partially compressible toward one another thereby causing the pair of waist segments (76 and 81) to move toward one another. Thus, a swivellable connection is made which has the equivalent length and diameter of a convention non-swivellable threaded coupling. The quick connector (10) may be released by hand or a snap ring tool inserted into holes (410).

Abstract: A connector assembly 10 for use with tubular conduits 30 is disclosed which is a male portion that is put into a female portion. The male portion makes use of the end of the conduit itself, and the female portion only requires a stepped bore. The seal 50, stabilizing bushings areas 34 and retainer 138 are carried on the male portion. The seal 50 may be retained on the male, and the connection may be either a quick connect or require a tool to assemble. The connection may seal the highest pressures and withstand very high forces on the male and female portions. Also disclosed is the use of this connection in a multiple port device. The connection may be completed in the depth and diameter that is allotted to a "thread-in" or "flare" connection.

Abstract: A quick connector-male conduit assembly embodying both primary and secondary latching functions for use in a conduit coupling. The assembly incorporates a hand-releasable, self-centering snap ring-like retainer and a combination secondary latch and seating indicator bracket to form a male conduit assembly matable with a female receptacle. The female receptacle includes an engaging surface defined by either a radial ridge or at least a pair of outwardly extending studs. In its preferred embodiment, the bracket includes a body and a flange portion generally defined by two flanges extending outwardly from the bracket body. Each of the flanges includes an aperture for selectively engaging said engaging surface of the female receptacle. The retainer includes a pair of tabs for easy manipulation by hand or tools for removal. The quick connector assembly is on either a plastic or a metal male conduit, and can be as short as a threaded connection.

Abstract: A method for bending metal tubing which minimizes the collapse of a tube wall through lowering material stress achieved by reducing the rate of bending. The method includes the steps of selecting a bend radius less than a standard bend radius, determining a rate of bending of a length of tubing so as to minimize material stress, and bending the tubing at the selected determined rate.

Abstract: In its preferred embodiment, a quick connector (10) for connecting a male conduit (12) to a female receptacle (14) has a pair of waist segments (60 and 62), a body segment (56), and a pair of leg segments (68). Each of the leg segments (68) are defined by a pair of projecting elements (76) which are at least partially compressible toward one another thereby causing the pair of waist segments (60 and 62) to move toward one another. A confirmer ring (114) is provided on the pair of projecting elements (76). Confirmation that the quick connector (10) is properly locked in place is made when the confirmer ring (114) is fully seated within a portion of the opening (18) of female receptacle (14). An alternate embodiment provides for use of the confirmer ring (114) as an installing tool when connecting the male conduit (12) with the female receptacle (14).

Abstract: A swivelable quick connect assembly for use with tubular conduits is disclosed as comprising a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit, an elastomeric ring-like seal disposed in the bore for providing a fluid-tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, an annular bushing disposed in the bore for positioning the seal and for guiding the one end of the conduit into nesting relationship with the bore, and a retainer detachably secured to the housing and cooperable with an annular projection on the conduit for securing the conduit in its operative position within the bore, the retainer having resilient deformable portions which are adapted to snap over the locking wall upon insertion of the conduit into the housing bore.

Abstract: A swivelable quick connect assembly for use with tubular conduits is disclosed as comprising a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit, an elastomeric ring-like seat disposed in the bore for providing a fluid-tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, an annular bushing disposed in the bore for positioning the seal and for guiding the one end of the conduit into nesting relationship with the bore, and a retainer detachably secured to the housing and cooperable with an annular projection on the conduit for securing the conduit in its operative position within the bore, the retainer having resilient deformable portions which are adapted to snap over the locking wall upon insertion of the conduit into the housing bore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to connector assemblies (10, 110, 210) including a secondary latching mechanism (48, 148, 220) which engages a second annular projections (26, 126, 226) provided on a tubular conduit (12, 112, 212). The latching mechanisms (48, 148, 220) extend outside of the female housing (14, 114, 214) which receives the conduit thus allowing for an inspection of the assembly to insure that a complete connection has been accomplished.

Abstract: A connector assembly 10 for use with tubular conduits 30 is disclosed which is a male portion that is put into a female portion. The male portion makes use of the end of the conduit itself, and the female portion only requires a stepped bore. The seal 50, stabilizing bushings areas 34 and retainer 138 are carried on the male portion. The seal 50 may be retained on the male, and the connection may be either a quick connect or require a tool to assemble. The connection may seal the highest pressures and withstand very high forces on the male and female portions. Also disclosed is the use of this connection in a multiple port device. The connection may be completed in the depth and diameter that is allotted to a "thread-in" or "flare" connection.

Abstract: A coupling for use with conduits (10) comprise a bi-conical fitting (20) which is inserted into the conduit end, a frusto-conical locking sleeve (22) which is located about the rearward end of the fitting (20) and compressed about the outer wall of the conduit (10).

Abstract: A conduit coupling comprises a male conduit, a mating female member. The male conduit is constrained as part of the conduit leading to the coupling. The male conduit includes a member for limiting the movement of the male conduit within the female member, means for sealing, and a retainer to couple the male conduit to the female member. The female member is defined as an open port, and it is possible to be no more in diameter and depth than a screw-in connection. The connection may be a quick-connect type (in which case a tool is required for disconnection) or a non-quick-connect type (in which case a tool is required for connection and disconnection). The male conduit may either be composed of a substantially non-elastic material such as a metal or a plastic or a substantially elastic material such as a soft plastic or a hard rubber. If composed of an elastic material, the bulged area is formed by use of a rigid liner having a formed bulged area that is inserted into the elastic conduit.

Abstract: A conduit coupling (20) is comprised of a male conduit (22), a mating female member (24), means for sealing (26) and a fastener (28) to couple the male conduit (22) to the female member (24). The male conduit (22) has a first and second expanded diametral portions (46 and 50) separated by a nominal diametral portion (48). The sealing means (26) externally surrounds the nominal diametral portion (48) and prevents fluid from passing between an exterior surface (40) of the male conduit (22) and an adjacent inside surface (74) of the female member (24). Thus, the total longitudinal length of the conduit coupling (20) is less than most threaded couplings.

Abstract: A quick connector (10) has a pair of waist segments (76 and 81), a shoulder segment (163), a body segment (72) with an aperture (156) therein, and a leg segment (78). The leg segment (78) is defined by a pair of projecting elements (163) which are at least partially compressible toward one another thereby causing the pair of waist segments (76 and 81) to move toward one another. Thus, a swivellable connection is made which has the equivalent length and diameter of a convention non-swivellable threaded coupling. The quick connector (10) may be released by hand or a snap ring tool inserted into holes (410).

Abstract: The present invention relates to connector assemblies (10, 110, 210) including a secondary latching mechanism (48, 148, 220) which engages a second annular projections (26, 126, 226) provided on a tubular conduit (12, 112, 212). The latching mechanisms (48, 148, 220) extend outside of the female housing (14, 114, 214) which receives the conduit thus allowing for an inspection of the assembly to insure that a complete connection has been accomplished.

Abstract: A swivelable quick connect assembly for use with tubular conduits is disclosed comprising a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit, an elastomeric ring-like seal disposed in the bore for providing a fluid tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, an annular bushing is disposed in the bore for positioning the seal and for guiding the one end of the conduit into nesting relationship with the bore, and a retainer detachably secured to the housing and cooperable with an annular projection on the conduit for securing the conduit in its operative position within the bore. The retainer is a one piece metal retainer element which includes at least two circumferentially spaced leg members which extend from an integral collar member at one end thereof.

Abstract: The present invention hose assembly (10) having a distortion limiting wall for creating a dynamic seal comprises a seal (14), a male hose subassembly (12) and a female hose subassembly (16). The seal (14) is concentrically mounted within the female hose subassembly (16) against a radially flanged segment (92) and an extension segment (94) of a female ferrule (74) with a lip (46) of a male ferrule (22) compressing against the seal (14) when the female and male hose subassemblies (16 and 12) are connected together.

Abstract: The present invention tubular assembly comprises a tubular member (14), an annular bushing (17) therearound and a ferrule (21) therewithin. The bushing (17) is fit around a predetermined portion of the tubular member (15) and the ferrule (21) is then inserted within a distal end (35) thereof. The ferrule (21) acts to expand portions of the inside and outside surfaces (33 and 31) of the tubular member (15) which are longitudinally adjacent to the bushing (17). A ferrule (75) may further have an outwardly projecting flange (79) at its trailing end which serves to retain a seal (83) thereupon. Also, in another embodiment, a lip (103) located around the diameter of the ferrule's flange (101) and projecting normal thereto serves to center the distal end of the tubular member (91) within a connected female housing (23).

Abstract: Snap-on bead assemblies for providing blocking walls for the attachment of connectors, and more particularly quick connectors, are disclosed as comprising an open-ended ring member having an outer surface, an inner surface and two extending flanges. The ring members are formed of a resilient material, such as high gauge steel, which allows the ring members to be expanded and positioned over a tubular conduit. In a first embodiment, the flanges (16a) and (16b) project downwardly and embed within depressions (34) formed upon outer surface (32) of the conduit (30) to lock the ring member (10) onto the conduit. In the second embodiment, the flanges (116a) and (116b) project upwardly and the inner surface (112) of the ring member (110) is positioned within a depression (134) formed on the surface (132) of the conduit (130) which locks the ring member (110) onto the conduit (130).

Abstract: A fluid flow control apparatus 10 which uses a plurality of deformable metal springing arms 98, 108 to position a plurality of metal plates 40, 50, 70 within a chamber 34. The metal plates 40, 50, 70 define a plurality of flow paths to vary the amount of flow through the flow control apparatus 10. By changing the size and quantity of the various flow paths F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 and F.sub.4 the flow control apparatus can be tailored to each specific application. The fluid flow control apparatus thus has the durability advantages associated with metal flow controls by using metal spring arms instead of coil springs, and provides the smaller packaging advantages associated with molded rubber flow controls. The apparatus utilizes the deflection of the metal springs instead of the deformation of rubber which will change. The diameter of the apparatus can be as small as 3/8 inch larger than the inlet diameter, and have a length of as little as 3/8 inch.