Abstract: A fluid coupling for high pressure applications comprising a female connector body, a plastic retainer and a tubular male member with a radially enlarged upset. The female connector body defines a bore extending axially inwardly into the connector body from an entrance. The plastic retainer received within the female connector body includes a cylindrical ring at a first axial end and at least four approximately equally spaced locking members extending axially from the ring separated by slots and detached from each other at a second axial end. Each locking member includes two columns, a beam connecting the two columns at the second axial end and an arm extending axially from the beam between the columns. The arm includes a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface.

Abstract: A coupling assembly comprising a female connector body, a male member, a retainer and a dust barrier with integral secondary latch. The female connector body defines a bore extending axially inwardly into the body from an entrance. A radial face is defined in the bore axially inwardly of the entrance. The male member is received within the bore and having a radially enlarged annular upset. The retainer has at least two locking beams extending between the upset and the radial face to retain the male member in the bore. The locking beams define a slot between said locking beams. The dust barrier with integral secondary latch is slidably mounted on the male member axially outward of the retainer. The dust barrier has a skirt surrounding the entrance. The dust barrier further has at least one leg extending axially inward into the bore engaging the radial face to secure the dust barrier to the female connector body.

Abstract: A mid-line coupling comprising a first tube and a second tube. The first tube includes a male member formed of the first tube and an upset formed a given distance from the end of the first tube. The second tube includes a female body formed of the second tube. The male member is insertable into the female body until the terminal end of the female body abuts the upset of the first tube.

Abstract: A connector for receiving a tube end having at least one radially enlarged upset. The connector comprises a hollow female connector body and a retainer disposed in the connector body. The retainer has an annular inner base ring defining a cylindrical surface to receive the tube end. The retainer further defines compressive members. The base ring has a limit surface facing the compressive members and a chamfer intersecting the limit surface and the cylindrical surface. The compressive members define an inner diameter and a space between the limit surface and the compressive members for securing the radially enlarged upset in the connector body. The inner diameter of the compressive members is at least as large as the diameter of the intersection of the chamfer with the limit surface.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a hose to a fluid handling device having a first bore defining a fluid path and a second bore. The connector comprises a connector housing and a retaining mechanism. The connector housing has a first bore, a second bore and a third bore. The first bore has an entrance and a terminal end. The second bore has an entrance and a terminal end. The third bore has an entrance. The terminal end of the first bore intersects the terminal end of the second bore. The entrance of the first bore communicates with the hose. The entrance of the second bore communicates with the fluid path within the first bore of the fluid handling system. The third bore of the connector housing is parallel to the second bore and the entrance of the third bore of the connector housing is located longitudinally between the entrance of the first bore and the entrance of the second bore. The retaining mechanism retains the connector housing to the fluid handling device.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling comprises a hollow connector body and a male tube received and secured in the connector body. The male tube has a radially enlarged upset. A retainer is disposed in the connector body and has an inner base ring through which the male tube extends. The retainer also has compressive members which abut a shoulder formed in the connector body to secure the retainer in the connector body. The compressive members extend towards the base ring and terminate before reaching the base ring to define a space between the compressive members and the base ring. The upset is captured in this space thereby securing the male tube in the connector body. A chamfer is formed in the base ring to provide tolerance for a wider band of male tube dimensions.

Abstract: A coupling assembly comprising a female connector body, a male member, a retainer and a dust barrier. The female connector body defines a bore extending axially inward into the connector body from an entrance. A radial face is defined in the bore axially inward of the entrance. The male member is received within said bore. The male member is formed at the end of a tube and includes a projection extending radially from the tube. The retainer has at least two locking beams extending between the radially extending projection and the radial face to retain the male member in the bore. The locking beams defines a slot between the locking beams. The dust barrier is slidably mounted on the tube. The dust barrier has at least one extension insertable within the slot so as to prevent inadvertent radially inward movement of the locking beams. Wherein upon sliding the dust barrier toward the female connector body, the dust barrier encloses the bore so as to prevent foreign material from entering the coupling assembly.

Abstract: A quick connector for forming a joint in a fluid line consists of a female connector body having a bore which receives a male member. A sleeve surrounds and is secured on the male member in close fitting relation with the male member and with the female connector body. A retainer extends between the sleeve and a radial face formed in the connector body to secure the male member in the connector body. A secondary retainer provides enhanced retention capability. An optional plug may be positioned in the bore entrance to prevent introduction of external contaminants.

Abstract: A quick connector for forming a joint in a fluid line consists of a female connector body having a bore which receives a male member. A sleeve surrounds and is secured on the male member in close fitting relation with the male member and with the female connector body. A retainer extends between the sleeve and a radial face formed in the connector body to secure the male member in the connector body. A secondary retainer provides enhanced retention capability. An optional plug may be positioned in the bore entrance to prevent introduction of external contaminants.

Abstract: A quick connector for forming a joint in a fluid line consists of a female connector body having a bore which receives a male member. A sleeve surrounds and is secured on the male member in close fitting relation with the male member and with the female connector body. A retainer extends between the sleeve and a radial face formed in the connector body to secure the male member in the connector body. A secondary retainer provides enhanced retention capability. An optional plug may be positioned in the bore entrance to prevent introduction of external contaminants.

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 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: 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: 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: 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 it 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. An O-ring retaining portion is then formed on the tube, and the O-ring is positioned onto the tube.

Abstract: A connector assembly has a metallic female housing socket. The female housing socket has a pair of flanges substantially perpendicular to the axis of the socket to retain sealing rings and a conduit retainer within the socket. The socket also has one or more barb corners on its stem to enhance retention of a conduit onto the stem.

Abstract: A release sleeve used with quick connect tube connectors includes a plurality of planar surfaces at an outer peripheral surface which bias retainer legs radially outwardly to allow removal of a tube. The use of planar surfaces provides a greater contact area than prior art release sleeves, thus reducing the amount of force necessary to allow tube removal. In a further feature of the present invention, the release sleeve has grooves at an outer peripheral surface which allow passage of indicator legs such that the release sleeve may be used in combination with an indicator used to give an indication that a tube is fully connected.

Abstract: A connector assembly has a metallic female housing socket. The female housing socket has a pair of flanges substantially perpendicular to the axis of the socket to retain sealing rings and a conduit retainer within the socket. The socket also has one or more barb corners on its stem to enhance retention of a conduit onto the stem.