Hose connector

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a hose connector formed at an end of a rigid pipe body for connecting the pipe body to a flexible polymeric hose. The hose connector includes a frustoconical front end portion extending outwardly from a terminal end to a radially enlarged first annular portion, the first annular portion terminating at a circumferential first step portion. A radially reduced second annular portion extends rearwardly from the first step portion to a circumferential rear edge at a constant diameter. A circumferential second step portion extends rearwardly from the rear edge of the second annular portion to an intermediate section of the pipe body in a manner that the diameter decreases gradually in a circumferential direction. A flexible hose is adapted to be fitted over the pipe body from the terminal end under the action of pressure until the flexible hose extends beyond the second step portion at least to the intermediate section of the pipe body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to a hose connector adapted to have a flexible polymer hose fitted onto its outer periphery. More specifically, the invention relates to a hose connector having a stepped, radially increasing, thickened cylindrical or spool-like portion. Background Technology

[0002] Hose connectors, formed at the ends of metal pipes, are typically used to connect conduits to flexible polymer hoses, such as fuel lines used between a vehicle's fuel tank and an engine carburetor or other metered fuel supply systems. The fuel line can be part of a long, rigid fluid line or part of a spool-like portion defined at the end of the connector body. A polymer hose is fitted onto the outer periphery of the hose connector to form a fluid connection between the fluid line or connector body and the polymer hose. For this type of hose connector, the fluid-tight seal is maintained solely by the tightness / sealing of the polymer hose. Therefore, when the hose creeps due to thermal degradation, the holding force decreases, making it impossible to maintain the fluid-tight seal. Other factors contributing to poor fluid-tight sealing include variations in the dimensions and tolerances of the hose connector and polymer hose, the inner surface finish of the hose, the outer surface finish of the metal pipe, the effects of chemicals, and the stiffness and expansion of the hose. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure relates to a hose connector formed at the end of a rigid pipe body or tube and used to connect the pipe body to a flexible polymer hose.

[0004] In a first embodiment, a flexible hose connector structure is provided, comprising a rigid pipe body having a truncated conical front end that extends radially outward from an end to a radially increasing first ring. The first ring terminates at a circumferentially decreasing first step, wherein the diameter of the first step gradually decreases from the rear edge of the first ring to the rear edge of the first step. A radially decreasing second ring extends rearward with a constant diameter from the rear edge of the first step to a circumferentially decreasing rear edge. The circumferentially decreasing second step extends rearward from the rear edge of the second ring to a middle section of the pipe body. A flexible hose is adapted to be fitted onto the pipe body from its end by pressure until the flexible hose extends beyond the second step to the middle section of the pipe body.

[0005] In a second embodiment, a flexible hose connector structure is provided, comprising a rigid pipe body having a truncated conical front end that extends outward from its end to a radially increasing first ring. A radially spaced second ring is arranged behind the first ring, thereby forming an annular groove between the first and second rings. The second ring terminates at a circumferentially stepped first step that extends rearward from the rear edge of the second ring in a manner that gradually decreases in diameter to a middle section of the pipe body. A flexible hose is adapted to be fitted onto the pipe body from its end by pressure until the flexible hose extends beyond the second ring and the first stepped portion to reach the middle section of the pipe body.

[0006] Other technical features will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following figures, description and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0007] This disclosure will now be understood more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following description, wherein:

[0008] Figure 1 This is a side view of a hose connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] Figure 2 This is a side view of a hose connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A side view of the cross-section of the upper half of the hose connector;

[0011] Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 A side view of the cross-section of the upper half of the hose connector; and

[0012] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 A partial cross-section of the upper half of the device is shown, and a side view of the installation of the O-ring to the hose connector of the second embodiment of this disclosure is also shown. Detailed Implementation

[0013] In this patent document, the accompanying drawings and various embodiments used to describe the principles of the invention are merely exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the invention can be implemented in any suitably arranged device or system.

[0014] The hose connector disclosed herein is formed at an end of a rigid pipe body or tube typically used to connect the pipe body to a flexible polymer hose, such as a tube used between a vehicle's fuel tank and an engine carburetor or other fuel metering system. The pipe body may be part of a long, rigid fluid line or a spool-like portion defined at the end of the connector body. The polymer hose is fitted onto the outer periphery of the hose connector to form a fluid connection between the fluid line or connector body and the polymer hose.

[0015] Figure 1 A first embodiment is shown, wherein a rigid pipe body 10 extends horizontally from a rear end 16 to an opening 11 located at a truncated conical front end 20. The truncated conical front end 20 extends outward from an end 15 to a radially increasing first ring 14. The first ring 14 includes an annular surface 17 that extends rearward from the truncated conical front end 20 toward the rear end 16 of the pipe body with a constant diameter and terminates at a circumferentially circumferentially stepped first step 30. The first stepped first step 30 includes a tapering wall 32 that extends rearward toward the rear end 16 of the pipe body 10 in a gradually decreasing diameter manner and terminates at a rear edge 35.

[0016] The second ring portion 40 has a wall portion 41 that extends from edge 35 to rear edge 42 with a constant diameter. The annular outer diameter of the second ring portion 40 is smaller than the annular outer diameter of the first ring portion 14. The wall portion 41 of the second ring portion 40 extends rearward by a distance at least twice the distance by which the surface 17 of the first ring portion 14 extends rearward. In other words, the surface width of the wall portion 41 is at least twice the width of the surface 17. The circumferentially stepped second portion 50 has a wall portion 51 that tapers rearward from the circumferential rear edge 42 of the cylindrical portion 40 in a gradually decreasing diameter manner by a distance equal to the distance by which the wall portion 32 of the first stepped portion 30 tapers rearward. The second stepped portion 50 terminates at the intermediate section 12 of the rigid pipe body 10.

[0017] A radially enlarging, thickened cylindrical portion / thickened barrel portion 60 is formed on the rear end portion 16 of the rigid pipe body 10, which is opposite to and spaced apart from the truncated conical front end portion 20. The outer surface of the thickened cylindrical portion 60 on the side closest to the intermediate section 12 of the pipe body 10 has a first tapering surface 62, the diameter of which decreases with decreasing distance from the intermediate section 12. The outer surface of the thickened cylindrical portion 60 on the side opposite to the first tapering surface 62 is a second tapering surface 63, which is inclined in the opposite direction to the first tapering surface 62. The inclination angles of the first tapering surface 62 and the second tapering surface 63 are substantially the same. The thickened cylindrical portion 60 extends parallel to the first ring portion 14 and has an annular outer diameter equal to the annular outer diameter of the first ring portion.

[0018] like Figure 3 As best shown, the inner diameter of the flexible tube 70, made of polyamide resin, fluoroplastic, olefin resin, etc., is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe body 10. Therefore, when the flexible tube 70 is press-fitted onto the pipe body 10, the flexible tube 70 and the pipe body 10 are in fluid-impermeable contact. In other words, with the flexible tube 70 installed, the inner surface 72 of the flexible tube forms a fluid-impermeable / tightly gas-tight seal with the first ring portion 14, the wall portion 41 of the second ring portion 40, the intermediate section 12 of the pipe body 10, and the tapered surfaces 62, 63 of the wide-waisted cylindrical portion 60. The flexible tube 70 can be installed at least to the intermediate section 12 of the pipe body 10; however, the flexible tube is fully / fully installed when the end portion 71 of the flexible tube reaches the rear end portion 16 of the pipe body 10.

[0019] Figure 2 A second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In the second embodiment, a rigid pipe body 10 extends horizontally from a rear end portion 16 to an opening 11 at a truncated conical front end portion 20. The truncated conical front end portion 20 extends outwardly from an end portion 15 to a first radial ring 14. A second radial ring 90 is formed on the base side of the truncated conical front end portion 20 (i.e., the portion opposite to the end portion 15). The second ring portion 90 has a wall portion 91 that extends parallel to the first ring portion 14, thereby forming a spool-like portion defining an annular groove 100 between the first ring portion and the second ring portion. The second ring portion 90 has an annular outer diameter slightly smaller than the annular diameter / annular outer diameter of the first ring portion 14. The second ring portion 90 terminates at a circumferentially first stepped portion 110. The first stepped portion 110 includes a tapering wall portion 111 that extends rearward toward the rear end portion 16 of the pipe body in a gradually decreasing diameter manner and terminates at a rear edge 112 at a middle section 12 of the rigid pipe body 10.

[0020] A radially enlarging, thickened cylindrical portion 60 is formed on the rear end portion 16 of the rigid pipe body 10, which is opposite to and spaced apart from the truncated conical front end portion 20. The outer surface of the thickened cylindrical portion 60, located on the side closest to the intermediate section 12 of the pipe body 10, has a first tapering surface 62, the diameter of which decreases with decreasing distance from the intermediate section 12. The outer surface of the thickened cylindrical portion 60, on the side opposite to the first tapering surface 62, is a second tapering surface 63, which is inclined in the opposite direction to the first tapering surface 62. The inclination angles of the first tapering surface 62 and the second tapering surface 63 are substantially the same. The thickened cylindrical portion 60 extends parallel to the first ring portion 14 and has an annular outer diameter equal to the annular outer diameter of the first ring portion.

[0021] like Figure 4Ideally, the inner diameter of the flexible tube 70, made of polyamide resin, fluoroplastic, olefin resin, etc., is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe body 10. Therefore, when the flexible tube 70 is press-fitted onto the pipe body 10, the flexible tube 70 contacts the pipe body 10 in a fluid-impermeable manner. In other words, with the flexible tube 70 installed, the inner surface 72 of the flexible tube forms a fluid-impermeable / tightly gas-tight seal with the first ring portion 14, the second ring portion 90, the intermediate section 12 of the pipe body 10, and the tapered surfaces 62, 63 of the wide-waisted cylindrical portion 60. The flexible tube 70 can be installed at least to the intermediate section 12 of the pipe body 10; however, it is fully / fully installed when the end portion 71 of the flexible tube reaches the rear end portion 16 of the pipe body 10.

[0022] like Figure 5 As shown, the annular groove 100 may also have an O-ring 120 installed therein. The O-ring 120 may be made of a fluoropolymer or other fluoropolymer. When the O-ring 120 is installed in the groove 100, the inner surface 72 of the flexible tube 70 itself is formed above the O-ring 120 to form a convex sealing portion 78. Therefore, when the flexible tube 70 is installed on the pipe body 10, the sealing portion 78 and the O-ring 120 provide a fluid-impermeable / airtight seal.

[0023] The truncated conical front end 20, the first ring portion 14, the first stepped portion 30, the second ring portion 40, and the second stepped portion 50 can be formed on the pipe body 10 using any technique for forming a stepped, thickened cylindrical structure on a rigid pipe body. Alternatively, the thickened cylindrical portion 60 can also be formed on the pipe body 10 using a tapered / conical cylinder technique. Figure 2 The second ring portion 90 of the second embodiment can be formed using any bobbin forming technique. The structure formed on the pipe body 10 can be formed as a single integral structure from a suitable metallic material or a rigid polymer material.

[0024] While this disclosure describes certain embodiments and generally related methods, variations and substitutions of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description of exemplary embodiments does not limit or restrict this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flexible hose connector structure, comprising: A rigid pipe body having a truncated conical front end that extends outward from its end to a radially increasing first ring portion; The first ring portion has an annular surface extending rearward from the front end of the truncated cone with a constant diameter and terminating at a first step portion in the circumferential direction, the diameter of which gradually decreases in an inclined manner from the rear edge of the first ring portion to the rear edge of the first step portion. A radially decreasing second ring portion extends from the rear edge of the first stepped portion to the circumferential rear edge with a constant diameter; A radially enlarging, thickened cylindrical section is arranged at the rear of the pipe body, spaced apart from the second annular section; A second step in the circumferential direction, which extends backward at an angle from the rear edge of the second ring in a manner with a gradually decreasing circumferential diameter to the middle section of the pipe body; and A flexible hose, which is adapted to be fitted onto the pipe body from the end under pressure until the flexible hose passes the second step and reaches the middle section of the pipe body.

2. The hose connector structure according to claim 1, wherein, The thick waist cylindrical portion has an outer diameter that is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the first ring portion.

3. The hose connector structure according to claim 1, wherein, The flexible hose is fitted onto the main body of the pipe under pressure until the flexible hose extends beyond the thick waist cylindrical section.

4. The hose connector structure according to claim 1, wherein, The truncated conical front end, the first ring portion, the first stepped portion, the second ring portion, the second stepped portion, and the thick waist cylindrical portion are formed as a single structure on the pipe body using one or more body forming methods.

5. The hose connector structure according to claim 4, wherein, The main body of the pipe is made of metal.

6. The hose connector structure according to claim 4, wherein, The main body of the pipe is made of polymer material.

7. The hose connector structure according to claim 1, wherein, The flexible hose is made of polyamide resin, fluoroplastic or olefin resin material.

8. A flexible hose connector structure, comprising: A rigid pipe body having a truncated conical front end that extends outward from its end to a radially increasing first ring portion having an annular surface extending rearward from the truncated conical front end with a constant diameter; The second ring portion has a radially decreasing annular surface extending parallel to the annular surface of the first ring portion and is spaced apart from the first ring portion, thereby forming an annular groove between the annular surface of the first ring portion and the annular surface of the second ring portion. The annular surface of the second ring portion terminates at a circumferentially circumferentially stepped portion, which has a diameter that gradually decreases from the rear edge of the annular surface of the second ring portion to the middle section of the pipe body. A thick-waisted cylindrical portion is arranged at the rear of the pipe body at a distance from the second annular portion, and includes a first tapering surface and a second tapering surface, wherein the diameter of the first tapering surface decreases as the distance toward the rigid pipe body decreases. and A flexible hose adapted to be fitted onto the pipe body from the end under pressure until the flexible hose extends beyond the second ring portion, the first stepped portion, and the thickened cylindrical portion.

9. The hose connector structure according to claim 8, wherein, The thick waist cylindrical portion has an outer diameter that is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the first ring portion.

10. The hose connector structure according to claim 8, wherein, Under pressure, the flexible hose is fitted from the end onto the main body of the pipe until the flexible hose extends beyond the thick waist cylindrical portion.

11. The hose connector structure according to claim 8, wherein, The first ring portion, the second ring portion, the first stepped portion, and the thick waist cylindrical portion are formed as an integral structure on the pipe body using one or more body forming methods.

12. The hose connector structure according to claim 8, wherein, The main body of the pipe is made of metal.

13. The hose connector structure according to claim 8, wherein, The main body of the pipe is made of polymer material.

14. The hose connector structure according to claim 13, wherein, The flexible hose is made of polyamide resin, fluoroplastic or olefin resin material.

15. The hose connector structure according to claim 8, wherein, An annular member made of elastomeric material is assembled in the annular groove.

16. The hose connector structure according to claim 9, wherein, The circumferential diameter of the second ring is smaller than that of the first ring.

17. A flexible hose connector structure, comprising: A rigid pipe body having a truncated conical front end that extends outward from its end to a radially increasing first ring portion. The first ring portion has an annular surface extending rearward from the front end of the truncated conical shape with a constant diameter and terminates at a circumferentially circumferentially stepped portion, wherein the diameter of the first stepped portion gradually decreases in an inclined manner from the rear edge of the annular surface of the first ring portion to the rear edge of the first stepped portion. A second ring portion arranged at a distance from the first ring portion; A second step in the circumferential direction, which extends from the rear edge of the second ring in a gradually decreasing circumferential diameter and in an inclined manner to the middle section of the pipe body; A thick-waisted cylindrical portion, spaced apart from the second ring portion, is arranged at the rear of the pipe body. The outer diameter of the thick-waisted cylindrical portion is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the first ring portion, and it has a first tapering surface and a second tapering surface. The diameter of the first tapering surface decreases with decreasing distance toward the rigid pipe body. A flexible hose adapted to be fitted onto the pipe body from the end under pressure until the flexible hose extends beyond the thick waist section.

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