Connection Tube for Hydraulic Cylinder

Abstract

A hydraulic connection tube interconnects two port fittings of a hydraulic cylinder. The tube includes a bend or bent portion that reduces forces and stresses at the fittings.

Claims

1. For use in connection with a hydraulic cylinder housing having at least two fluid flow connection ports, an improved hydraulic connection tube for communicating a hydraulic fluid between said at least two fluid flow connection ports, comprising: first means for connecting an end of said connection tube to one of said two fluid flow connection ports for enabling a fluid to flow through said one fluid flow connection port and into or out of said connection tube; second means for connecting another end of said connection tube to another one of said two fluid flow connection ports for enabling a fluid to flow through said another one of said fluid flow connection ports and into or out of said connection tube; and with said connection tube having a body portion with at least one bend for reducing force loads at points of connection defined by said first and second means.

2. The hydraulic connection tube of claim 1, wherein said first means comprises an elbow fitting threaded to a hydraulic cylinder port.

3. The hydraulic connection tube of claim 1, wherein said second means comprises an elbow fitting threaded to a hydraulic cylinder port.

4. The hydraulic connection tube of claim 1, including a plurality of bends in said body portion of said connection tube.

5. The hydraulic connection tube of claim 1, wherein said bend in said body portion of said connection tube comprises a discrete body section interconnecting a tube section on each side of said discrete body section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The following is a brief description of the drawings that accompany this disclosure:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of hydraulic connection tubes, designed in accordance with the present disclosure, with the hydraulic tubes being connected to the outside of a cylinder housing;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view similar to FIG. 1, but with the connection tubes exploded from the cylinder housing;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 3, but with the connection tubes exploded from the cylinder housing;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of a hydraulic connection tube, designed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the hydraulic connection tube embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but with the elbow connections removed;

[0019] FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but with all fittings removed from the connection tube;

[0020] FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but with the elbow connections removed; and

[0021] FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of yet another embodiment of the hydraulic connection tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, shown generally at 10 is a hydraulic connection tube constructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0023] The tube 10 has elbow fittings 12, 14, one at each end of the tube. These fittings 12, 14 are threaded or otherwise connected to the outside of a hydraulic cylinder housing 16 and provide fluid flow ports for hydraulic fluid to enter or leave chambers (not illustrated) inside the housing. Directing attention to FIG. 2, which shows the connection tube 10 exploded from the housing 16, the housing 16 has threaded nipple ports 18, 20 for making the elbow connections just described.

[0024] As shown in the various Figures, the connection tube 10 has one or more bends 22, 24, 26. These bends reduce force loads at the points of connection defined by nipples 18, 20 because they allow bending forces to be absorbed by the tube. In other words, in the straight tube configuration of prior art designs, the stiffness of the straight tube configuration apparently caused a degree of force concentration at the nipple location. Placing bends in the tube, as shown at 22, 24, 26, allows more flex along the length of the tube, and may reduce force concentration at the nipple location. Initial testing indicates that the bent tube design may require less maintenance and/or provide longer product life than the prior, straight tube design.

[0025] At this stage, it is not known if one type of bent tube configuration will work better than others. Reference numeral 28 points to a different tube configuration that has the same number of bends 30, 32, 34, but with a different bend pattern. Likewise, FIGS. 9 and 10 show different kinds of bend patterns at 36, 38, respectively.

[0026] It is conceivable that the bent tube design disclosed here can be made from discrete sections of tube, joined together, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and FIGS. 6-10. Alternatively, it may be possible to put bends in a single section of tube as shown at 40, 42 in FIGS. 3-5.

[0027] The foregoing discloses a design that is under development. The scope of patent protection is not intended to be limited by the foregoing description. Instead, patent protection is to be limited by the patent claim or claims that follow, the interpretation of which is to be made in accordance with the doctrines of patent claim interpretation.