IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0894382
(2007-08-21)
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등록번호 |
US-7806443
(2010-10-26)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Young Basile Hanlon & MacFarlane, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
22 |
초록
▼
A method and apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines. The apparatus comprises a coupler body, a coolant line, a flexible annular seal, a nut, and a deformable annular retainer. The coupler body has a passageway extending therethrough and a coolant line has an end portion disposed at
A method and apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines. The apparatus comprises a coupler body, a coolant line, a flexible annular seal, a nut, and a deformable annular retainer. The coupler body has a passageway extending therethrough and a coolant line has an end portion disposed at least partially within the passageway. A flexible annular seal is disposed within the passageway in the coupler body for sealingly engaging the deformable annular retainer. The nut receives the coolant line therein and threadedly engages the coupler body. The deformable annular retainer engages with the nut and the coupler body, and the end portion of the coolant line is disposed within the deformable annular retainer, wherein the threaded engagement of the nut with the coupler body urges the deformable annular retainer into a sealing engagement with the coupler body and the coolant line. The method includes swaging a deformable annular retainer to a coolant line, wherein the deformable annular retainer completely covers the end portion of the air conditioning coolant line; providing a nut on the coolant line; providing a coupler body having a passageway and a flexible annular seal disposed within the passageway; engaging the deformable annular retainer with the flexible annular seal to create a first seal; engaging the coupler body with the deformable annular retainer to create a second seal; and tightening a threaded engagement of the nut and the coupler body.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines, comprising: a coupler body having a passageway extending therethrough, and said coupler body having an annular groove formed therein adjacent to said passageway; a coolant line having an end portion disposed within s
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines, comprising: a coupler body having a passageway extending therethrough, and said coupler body having an annular groove formed therein adjacent to said passageway; a coolant line having an end portion disposed within said passageway; a nut for receiving said coolant line and threadedly engaging said coupler body; a ferrule tube having said end portion of said coolant line disposed therein, said ferrule tube having an inwardly extending shoulder at a first end thereof for limiting insertion of the coolant line, an elongate tubular portion of substantially constant diameter prior to assembly, said elongate tubular portion extending along a majority of the length of said ferrule tube, from said inwardly extending shoulder to a ferrule portion of said ferrule tube, said ferrule portion having an outwardly extending exterior taper that, prior to assembly, increases in diameter from said elongate tubular portion of said ferrule tube toward said second end of said ferrule tube, and said ferrule portion having an interior taper that is formed on an interior periphery of said ferrule tube at said second end of said ferrule tube, said interior taper decreasing in diameter from said second end of said ferrule tube toward said first end of said ferrule tube; a back ferrule, wherein said threaded engagement of said nut with said coupler body urges said ferrule tube and said back ferrule into a sealing engagement with said coupler body and said coolant line by engagement of said ferrule tube with said coupler body and said coolant line, engagement of said back ferrule with said nut, and engagement of said back ferrule with said interior taper of said ferrule tube; and a flexible annular seal disposed within said passageway of said coupler body for sealingly engaging said ferrule tube, and said flexible annular seal at least partially disposed within said annular groove. 2. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising: said nut having a first inner periphery portion and a second inner periphery portion, wherein said first inner periphery portion slidably engages said coolant line and said second inner periphery portion is radially spaced from said coolant line to define an annular recess; and said back ferrule and said ferrule portion of said ferrule tube disposed within said annular recess. 3. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising: a chamfered engagement surface formed on said coupler body adjacent to said passageway for complementarily engaging said exterior taper of said ferrule portion of said ferrule tube. 4. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising: said nut having a stepped inner periphery forming a radial shoulder therein for engagement with said back ferrule. 5. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising: said ferrule tube and said back ferrule fabricated from metal. 6. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising: said end portion of said coolant line disposed within said tubular portion of said ferrule tube and in engagement with said inwardly extending shoulder of said ferrule tube. 7. The apparatus stated in claim 6, wherein an outer periphery of said tubular portion of said ferrule tube is polished. 8. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive sealant material disposed between said ferrule tube and said coolant line. 9. An apparatus for connecting air conditioning coolant lines, comprising: a coupler body having an outer periphery, an inner periphery, and a passageway defined by said inner periphery; said inner periphery of said coupler body having an annular groove formed therein; a coolant line having an end portion disposed within said passageway; a nut having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, and said inner periphery having a first inner periphery portion and a second inner periphery portion, wherein said first inner periphery portion slidably receives said coolant line, said second inner periphery portion is radially spaced from said coolant line to define an annular recess, and said second inner periphery portion threadedly engaging said outer periphery of said coupler body; a ferrule tube having said end portion of said coolant line disposed therein, said ferrule tube having an inwardly extending shoulder at a first end thereof for limiting insertion of the coolant line, an elongate tubular portion of substantially constant diameter prior to assembly, said elongate tubular portion extending along a majority of the length of said ferrule tube from said inwardly extending shoulder to a ferrule portion of said ferrule tube, said ferrule portion having an outwardly extending exterior taper that, prior to assembly, increases in diameter from said elongate tubular portion of said ferrule tube toward said second end of said ferrule tube, and said ferrule portion having an interior taper that is formed on an interior periphery of said ferrule tube at said second end of said ferrule tube, said interior taper decreasing in diameter from said second end of said ferrule tube toward said first end of said ferrule tube; a back ferrule disposed within said annular recess for engagement with said nut, said coolant line, said interior taper of said ferrule tube and said coupler body, wherein engagement of said nut with said coupler body urges said back ferrule and said ferrule tube into a sealing engagement with said coupler body and said coolant line; and an o-ring at least partially disposed within said annular groove in said inner periphery of said coupler body for sealed engagement with said tubular portion of said ferrule tube. 10. The apparatus stated in claim 9, further comprising: said inner periphery of said coupler body having a chamfered engagement surface formed therein, wherein said chamfered engagement surface of said coupler body complementarily engages said exterior taper of said ferrule portion of said ferrule tube. 11. The apparatus stated in claim 9, further comprising: said ferrule tube and said back ferrule fabricated from metal. 12. The apparatus stated in claim 9, wherein an outer periphery of said tubular portion of said ferrule tube is polished. 13. The apparatus stated in claim 9, further comprising: an adhesive sealant material disposed between said ferrule tube and said coolant line. 14. A method for connecting air conditioning coolant lines in restricted spaces, comprising: applying an adhesive to an outer periphery of an air conditioning cooling line; inserting the air conditioning coolant line into a deformable annular retainer, wherein the deformable annular retainer completely covers the end portion of the air conditioning coolant line; providing a nut on the air conditioning coolant line subsequent to the step of inserting the air conditioning coolant line into the deformable annular retainer; providing a coupler body having a passageway extending therethrough and a flexible annular seal disposed within the passageway; engaging the deformable annular retainer with the flexible annular seal to create a first seal between the coupler body and the deformable annular retainer; engaging the coupler body with the deformable annular retainer to create a second seal between the coupler body and the coolant line; and tightening a threaded engagement of the nut and the coupler body to maintain engagement of the coupler body and the deformable annular retainer. 15. The method stated in claim 14, further comprising: polishing the deformable annular retainer.
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