BANJO FITTING INCLUDING SEAL RUPTURING STRUCTURE AND HYDRAULIC HOSE COUPLING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING SAME
20170225669 ยท 2017-08-10
Inventors
- Etsuyoshi Watarai (Sakai-shi, JP)
- Osamu Kariyama (Sakai-shi, JP)
- Nobuyoshi Fujii (Sakai-shi, JP)
- Masahiro Nakakura (Sakai-shi, JP)
Cpc classification
B62L1/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B62L3/023
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B60T17/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B62L1/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A banjo fitting is provided that may include an annular portion with an internal bore that extends along a first axis, and a hose attachment portion that extends radially from the annular portion, and has an internal fluid passageway extending along a second axis formed at an angle to the first axis. A seal rupturing structure may be positioned within the internal fluid passageway of the hose attachment portion.
Claims
1. A banjo fitting for a hydraulic hose coupling assembly, comprising: an annular portion with an internal bore that extends along a first axis; a hose attachment portion, extending radially from the annular portion, and having an internal fluid passageway extending along a second axis formed at an angle to the first axis; and a seal rupturing structure positioned within the internal fluid passageway of the hose attachment portion.
2. The banjo fitting of claim 1, wherein the seal rupturing structure is formed separately from the hose attachment portion, and coupled to the hose attachment portion.
3. The banjo fitting of claim 2, wherein the seal rupturing structure has a cylindrical shape to allow fluid flow through the seal rupturing structure.
4. The banjo fitting of claim 3, wherein the seal rupturing structure includes a needle portion.
5. The banjo fitting of claim 4, wherein the needle portion has a proximal end, and a beveled distal end opposite to the proximal end, and the seal rupturing structure includes a flange portion provided on the proximal end of the needle portion.
6. The banjo fitting of claim 5, wherein the internal fluid passageway has a first diameter portion, a second diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the first diameter portion, and a step portion provided between the first and second diameter portions, the seal rupturing structure includes an insertion portion formed to be inserted in the second diameter portion of the internal fluid passageway, and the insertion portion extends from the proximal end of the needle portion.
7. The banjo fitting of claim 2, wherein the seal rupturing structure is formed of a different material than the hose attachment portion.
8. The banjo fitting of claim 1, wherein the seal rupturing structure is formed integrally with the hose attachment portion.
9. A hydraulic hose coupling assembly, comprising: a banjo fitting including: an annular portion with an internal bore that extends along a first axis; a hose attachment portion, extending radially from the annular portion, and having an internal fluid passageway extending along a second axis formed at an angle to the first axis; a seal rupturing structure positioned within the internal fluid passageway of the hose attachment portion; a hydraulic hose having a first end portion with a first opening and a seal that seals the first opening, the hydraulic hose being configured such that the seal of the hydraulic hose is physically ruptured by the seal rupturing structure as the hydraulic hose is coupled to the hose attachment portion; and a banjo bolt, installed within the internal bore of the annular portion, and configured with a hydraulic passageway.
10. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 9, wherein: the banjo bolt is coupled to a hydraulic brake caliper assembly.
11. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 9, wherein: the internal fluid passageway of the hose attachment portion has a bushing receiving portion and a hose receiving portion, and an interior diameter of the bushing receiving portion is larger than an interior diameter of the hose receiving portion, the hydraulic hose coupling assembly further comprising: a threaded fitting including: a longitudinal bore with the first end portion of the hydraulic hose disposed therein, and a threaded portion configured to threadingly engage one of an internal threaded portion or an external threaded portion of the hose attachment portion, and a deformable tubular bushing disposed around the first end portion of the hydraulic hose, the deformable tubular bushing being positioned between the bushing receiving portion of the internal fluid passageway and the threaded fitting such that the deformable tubular bushing decreases in axial length along the second axis and decreases in radial width, in response to engagement of the threaded fitting with one of the internal threaded portion or the external threaded portion of the hose attachment portion.
12. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 9, wherein the hydraulic hose includes a tubular insert provided on the first end portion and within the first opening.
13. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 12, wherein the tubular insert has a tubular portion, an annular flange portion provided on an end of the tubular portion, and a longitudinal passageway within the tubular portion, and the seal is attached to the annular flange portion.
14. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 9, wherein the seal rupturing structure is formed separately from the hose attachment portion, and coupled to the hose attachment portion.
15. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 14, wherein the seal rupturing structure has a cylindrical shape to allow fluid flow through the seal reputing structure.
16. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 15, wherein the seal rupturing structure includes a needle portion.
17. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 16, wherein the needle portion has a proximal end, and a beveled distal end opposite to the proximal end, and the seal rupturing structure includes a flange portion provided on the proximal end of the needle portion.
18. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 17, wherein the internal fluid passageway has a first diameter portion, a second diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the first diameter portion, and a step portion provided between the first and second diameter portions, the seal rupturing structure includes an insertion portion formed to be inserted in the second diameter portion of the internal fluid passageway, and the insertion portion extends from the proximal end of the needle portion.
19. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 14, wherein the seal rupturing structure is formed of a different material than the hose attachment portion.
20. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly of claim 9, wherein the seal rupturing structure is formed integrally with the hose attachment portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which the like reference numerals indicate like elements and in which:
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Selected embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0030] Referring initially to
[0031] The banjo fitting 12 of the hose coupling assembly 10 is typically provided on the hydraulic brake caliper assembly 8, but may alternatively or in addition be provided on the hydraulic brake actuation device 4. The hydraulic hose coupling assembly 10 and banjo fitting 12 of the present disclosure are useful in particular during installation of the hydraulic hose 20, since they can be used to install a sealed hose with hydraulic fluid therein in a manner that inhibits air from becoming entrained therein.
[0032] Although only the front portion of the bicycle 1 is depicted in
[0033] In
[0034] The banjo bolt 22 is an elongated member that is configured to be coupled to the hydraulic brake caliper assembly 8, and attach the hydraulic hose coupling assembly 10 to the hydraulic brake caliper assembly 8, while also fluidly coupling the hydraulic hose coupling assembly to the hydraulic brake caliper assembly 8. The banjo bolt 22 includes a body having a shaft portion 22a and a cap portion 22b. The shaft portion 22a is typically threaded, as shown in
[0035] As shown in
[0036] The annular portion 14 of the banjo fitting 12 may have a cylindrical, polygonal, or curvilinear shape with an internal bore 30 that extends along a first axis 32a of the banjo fitting 12. The internal bore 30 of the annular portion 14 is may be longer in the first axis 32a than it is in diameter along a second axis 32b. The relatively longer length in the first axis 32a helps provide sufficient room for both the annular passageway 27b of the banjo bolt 22 and the surrounding regions of the shaft 22a of the banjo bolt 22 with a larger outer diameter that contact the inner wall of the internal bore 30, while the reduced diameter along the second axis 32b helps the overall size of the top and bottom surface of the hose coupling assembly 10 remain compact. The banjo bolt 22 is configured to be installed within the internal bore 30 of the annular portion 14, where an inner surface of the annular portion 14 extends rotatably around the banjo bolt 22 enabling the rest of the hose coupling assembly 10 to be pivoted relative to the banjo bolt 22 when the banjo bolt 22 is secured. Furthermore, when the banjo bolt 22 is installed in the annular portion 14 of the banjo fitting 12, the hydraulic passageway 27 of the banjo bolt is open on one end of the banjo bolt 22 (i.e., at distal ends of the longitudinal subpassageways 27a) to the hydraulic brake caliper assembly 8, and open at the other end (i.e., adjacent a portion of annular passageway 27b) to an opening 14a in an inner surface of the annular portion 14 of the banjo fitting 12, which is fluidly coupled to the internal fluid passageway 36 of the hose attachment portion 16. When assembled, the banjo bolt 22 is also configured to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic hose coupling assembly 10 and the hydraulic brake caliper assembly 8. The internal bore 30 of the annular portion 14 may include recesses or concave annular shaped grooves that retain a pair of sealing rings 34. Further, annular axial end faces of the annular portion 14 of the banjo fitting 12 may be coated with a friction resistant material so as to improve retention.
[0037] The hose attachment portion 16 extends radially from the annular portion 14 of the banjo fitting 12 and is integrally formed as a one piece element with the annular portion 14 in the illustrated embodiments, although a two-piece construction may be possible. The hose attachment portion 16 extends along the second axis 32b of the banjo fitting 12, formed at an angle to the first axis 32a of the banjo fitting 12.
[0038] An internal fluid passageway 36 extends along the second axis 32b of the banjo fitting 12 and passes through the entire length of the hose attachment portion 16, with the seal rupturing structure 18 positioned within the internal fluid passageway 36. It will be appreciated that the length of the internal fluid passageway 36 may be substantially longer than the hydraulic passageway 27 that extends along a longitudinal axis of the banjo bolt 22, which achieves the potential advantage of improving the strength of the hydraulic hose attachment. Referring to
[0039] The seal rupturing structure 18 may have a cylindrical shape to allow fluid flow through the seal rupturing structure 18, so that the portions of the internal fluid passageway 36 on each side of the seal rupturing structure 18 are in fluid communication. The seal rupturing structure 18 includes a needle portion 40 on the side of the internal fluid passageway 36 containing the first diameter portion 37. The needle portion 40 has a proximal end 40a, and a beveled distal end 40b opposite to the proximal end 40a. The seal rupturing structure 18 also includes a flange portion 42 provided on the proximal end 40a of the needle portion 40. The insertion portion 46 extends from the proximal end of the needle portion 40.
[0040] The hydraulic hose 20 illustrated in
[0041] When the hydraulic hose coupling assembly 10 is assembled, the hydraulic hose 20 is coupled to the hose attachment portion 16 of the banjo fitting 12. The seal 52 prevents fluid communication between the banjo fitting 12 and the interior 54 of the hydraulic hose 20 until the seal 52 is ruptured by the seal rupturing structure 18. As further seen in
[0042] Referring to
[0043] The seal rupturing structure 18 may comprise a resin material such as a plastic, although any suitable rigid material may be utilized for the seal rupturing structure 18 as needed and/or desired. In the preferred embodiment, the seal rupturing structure 18 is formed separately from the hose attachment portion 16 of a different material than the hose attachment portion 16, and coupled to the hose attachment portion 16. However, it should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the seal rupturing structure 18 could be formed integrally with the hose attachment portion 16, or formed separately from the hose attachment portion 16 of the same material as the hose attachment portion 16.
[0044] When the hydraulic hose coupling assembly 10 is assembled and the seal rupturing structure 18 is ruptured, the hydraulic passageway 27 of the banjo bolt 22, the internal fluid passageway 36 of the hose attachment portion 16 of the banjo fitting 12, and the interior 54 of the hydraulic hose 20 are fluidly coupled to form a first fluid path when the hydraulic hose is coupled to the hose attachment portion 16 of the banjo fitting 12. By preventing coupling of the interior 54 of the hydraulic hose 20 to the internal fluid passageway 36 of the hose attachment portion 16, this configuration achieves the potential advantages of reducing the risk of air from being trapped in the hydraulic brake system, as well as minimizing the leakage of hydraulic fluid, during assembly of the hydraulic hose 20 to the hydraulic hose coupling assembly 10, therefore improving performance of the hydraulic brake system.
[0045] As seen in
[0046] The deformable tubular bushing 26 has an inner surface 26a and a pair of annular inclined surfaces 26b. While the hydraulic hose coupling assembly 10 is assembled, the deformable tubular bushing 26 is disposed around the first end portion 20a of the hydraulic hose 20, and one of the pair of inclined surfaces 26b is positioned within an bushing receiving portion 37b of the internal fluid passageway 36 of the hose attachment portion 16. Where the internal fluid passageway 36 has a bushing receiving portion 37b and a hose receiving portion (a first diameter portion) 37, and an interior diameter 37c of the bushing receiving portion 37b is larger than an interior diameter 37a of the hose receiving portion 37. The deformable tubular bushing 26 is positioned between the bushing receiving portion of the internal fluid passageway and the threaded fitting 24 such that one of the pair of annular inclined surfaces 26b comes into contact with a surface of the bushing receiving portion 37b of the internal fluid passageway 36 and the other one of the pair of annular inclined surfaces 26b comes into contact with the threaded fitting 24 upon threaded engagement of threaded portion 66 of the threaded fitting 24 with the external threaded portion 16a of the hose attachment portion 16.
[0047] The deformable tubular bushing 26 is configured to be deformed during threaded engagement of the threaded fitting 24 with the banjo fitting 12. In particular, the deformable tubular bushing 26 decreases in axial length along the second axis 32b and decreases in radial width as the deformable tubular bushing deforms in response to engagement of the threaded fitting 24 with the external threaded portion 16a of the hose attachment portion 16. As a result, the deformable tubular bushing 26 is deformed so as to squeeze the first end portion 20a of the hydraulic hose 20, and secure the hydraulic hose 20 within the internal fluid passageway 36 of the hose attachment portion 16 of the banjo fitting 12. The deformable tubular bushing 26 may comprise a rigid material such as metal. For example, the deformable tubular bushing 26 may comprise a copper or a copper alloy, although any suitable rigid material may be utilized for the deformable tubular bushing 26 as needed and/or desired.
[0048] Referring to
[0049] As shown in
[0050] The widest point of the internal fluid passageway 136 of the hose attachment portion 116 is elongated along the second axis 132b to accommodate the internal threaded portion 116b, but the hose receiving portion 137 (a first diameter portion) of the internal fluid passageway 136 is shortened in the second axis 132b.
[0051] Similar to the previous embodiment, the deformable tubular bushing 126 is positioned so that one of the pair of annular inclined surfaces 126b comes in to contact with a surface of the bushing receiving portion 137b of the internal fluid passageway 136 and the other one of the pair of annular inclined surfaces 126b comes into contact with the threaded fitting 124 upon threaded engagement of the threaded fitting 124 with the internal threaded portion 116b of the hose attachment portion 116. The deformable tubular bushing 126 disposed therebetween. The threaded fitting 124 of this embodiment is also configured to secure the hydraulic hose 120 within the hose attachment portion 116 by deforming the deformable tubular bushing 126 so as to squeeze the first end portion 120a of the hydraulic hose 120, and secure the hydraulic hose 120 within the internal fluid passageway 136 of the hose attachment portion 116 upon rotational engagement of the threads of the threaded portion 166 with the threads of the internal threaded portion 116b of the hose attachment portion 116. For all other aspects of this embodiment of the hydraulic hose coupling assembly, the configuration reflects the primary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0052] As seen in
[0053] When the tubular insert 228, installed to the first end portion 220a of the hydraulic hose 220, is coupled to the hose attachment portion 216 of the banjo fitting 212, the flange portion 242 of the seal rupturing structure 218 is pushed against the annular flange portion 268 of the tubular insert 228, with the seal 252 disposed therebetween, which securely retains the seal rupturing structure 218 relative to the longitudinal passageway 272 of the tubular insert 228. The needle portion 240 of the seal rupturing structure 218 is configured to rupture the seal 252, and to be retained in the longitudinal passageway 272 of the tubular insert 228. When the hydraulic hose coupling assembly 210 is assembled and the seal rupturing structure 218 is ruptured, the hydraulic passageway 227 of the banjo bolt 222, the internal fluid passageway 236 of the hose attachment portion 216, the longitudinal passageway 272, and the interior 254 of the hydraulic hose 220 are fluidly coupled to form a first fluid path.
[0054] Although
[0055] While specific embodiments of the hydraulic hose coupling assembly have been described in detail, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting. The features of the various embodiments described above, as well as modifications thereof, may be variously combined without departing from the scope of this disclosure.