GB2336636A

GB2336636A - Brake pipe assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2336636A
Application number: GB9808527A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Ronald Nangreave
Original assignee: Automotive Products PLC
Current assignee: Automotive Products PLC
Priority date: 1998-04-22
Filing date: 1998-04-22
Publication date: 1999-10-27
Also published as: GB9808527D0

Abstract

The assembly in which a length of rigid brake piping (10) is permanently joined at one end to a length of flexible brake piping (11,12) by a fitting (13,14) having an outer sleeve which encircles an end portion of the rigid piping and has a internal shoulder (13a,14a) facing towards the flexible piping for contact with an annular shoulder (15,16) formed on the rigid piping. This sleeve also having a section (13c,14c) which encircles the end of the flexible piping (11,12) and which is crimped to permanently secure the end of the flexible piping within the sleeve with the end of the rigid pipe in sealing contact with the interior of the flexible piping. The assembly may have a length of flexible brake piping (11,12) joined to each end of the length of rigid piping (10). A method of forming such a brake pipe assembly is also disclosed and claimed.

Description

2336636 BRAKE PIPE ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to brake pipe

assemblies and in particular such assemblies which comprise a combination of rigid and flexible piping.

There is a requirement to provide such assemblies which are simple in construction and hence cost efFective to produce.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a brake pipe assembly which possesses the above desirable features.

Thus according to the present invention there is provided a brake pipe assembly comprising a length of rigid brake piping permanently joined at one end to a length of flexible brake piping by a fitting comprising an outer sleeve which encircles an end portion of the rigid piping and has an internal shoulder facing towards the flexible piping for contact with an annular shoulder formed on the rigid piping, this sleeve also having a section which encircles the end of the flexible piping and which is crimped to permanently secure the end of the flexible piping within the sleeve with the end of the rigid pipe in sealing contact with the interior of the flexible piping.

Such a brake pipe assembly is of a simple but efficient construction which is cost effective to manufacture.

The invention also provides a brake pipe assembly comprising a length of rigid brake piping permanently joined at each end to a respective length of flexible brake piping by a respective fitting, each fitting comprising an outer sleeve which encircles an associated end portion of the rigid piping and has an internal shoulder facing towards the associated length of flexible piping for contact with an annular shoulder formed on the rigid piping, each sleeve also having a section which encircles the end of the associated length of flexible piping and which is crimped to permanently secure the end of the associated length of flexible piping within the 2 sleeve with the associated end of the rigid pipe in sealing contact with the interior of the associated length of flexible piping.

Preferably the or each sleeve is provided with a formation to receive a clip or other fastener to secure the pipe assembly to an associated vehicle. This formation may conveniently comprise a circumferentially extending groove formed in the sleeve.

The brake pipe assembly may additional comprise further alternate lengths of rigid and flexible piping interconnected using the same sleeve arrangement described above.

The ultimate ends of the brake pipe assembly may be connected to the remainder of the braking system using banjo fittings, tube nuts or other suitable forms of connector.

Preferably the end of the rigid pipe which enters the flexible piping has a smaller external diameter than the remainder of the rigid piping, said smaller external diameter being formed during the forming of the shoulder on the rigid piping. Preferably this metal forming is performed by an upsetting process.

The invention also provides a method of forming a brake pipe assembly comprising the steps of - forming a shoulder on a length of rigid brake piping adjacent an end thereof with said shoulder facing away from said free end, threading a sleeve onto the length of rigid piping, the sleeve having an internal shoulder which faces towards said free end, until the sleeve shoulder contacts the shoulder on the rigid piping, inserting said free end of the rigid piping into an end portion of a length of flexible piping, and crimping a section of said sleeve which surrounds the end portion of the flexible brake piping 3 in order to secure the flexible piping onto the end portion of the rigid piping within the sleeve and hold the two shoulders in contact with each other.

The method of the present invention also extends to the formation of a brake pipe assembly in which both ends of the rigid piping are connected with a respective length of flexible piping by a sleeve which is crimped in position as described above.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view through a brake pipe assembly in accordance with the present invention prior to crimping of the sleeves onto the lengths of flexible piping., Figure 2 shows the pipe assembly of figure 1 in a completed condition., Figures 3 and 4 show sections through one of the sleeves of Figure 1 or 2 on an enlarged scale in the uncrimped and crimped conditions respectively. , Figures 5 and 6 show sectional and side views of a first form of clip used to secure a pipe assembly in accordance with the present invention in position on the vehicle.

p Figures 7 and 8 show sectional and side views through another form of clip used to secure a pipe assembly in position on a vehicle, and Figure 9 shows diagrammatically a brake pipe assembly in accordance with the present invention mounted on a vehicle suspension component using clips and connected with an associated disc brake.

Referring to the figures 1 to 4 a brake pipe assembly comprises a length of rigid brake piping 10 on each end of which is secured a length of flexible brake piping 11, 12 using sleeves 13 and 14 respectively. As best seen from figures 3 and 4, adjacent each end of the rigid piping 4 a shoulder 15, 16 is provided which faces away from the free end of the rigid brake pipe. This shoulder is formed using cold metal upsetting techniques and also results in the end portion 17,18 of the rigid pipe being of a lesser diameter than the remainder of the rigid piping. This lesser diameter end portion 17,18 is inserted into the respective flexible piping 11,12. Each sleeve 13,14 has an internal shoulder 13a, 14a which abuts the shoulder 15, 16 on the rigid piping and a second shoulder 13b, 14b which abuts the end 11 a, 12a of the flexible piping, The sleeves 13 and 14 are secured in position by forming crimps 19, 20 in the portions 13c, 14c which encircle the flexible piping. These crimps securely hold the flexible piping within each sleeve and ensure a fluid tight contact with the end of the rigid piping 10.

The other ends of the length of flexible piping not secured to the rigid piping 10 can themselves be secured to other lengths of rigid piping or provided with any suitable form of connector for attachment to a further part of the associated braking system. For example, banjo fittings, tube nuts or other known connectors may be employed.

If desired, the brake pipe assembly may comprise single length of rigid piping 10 connected with a length of flexible piping 11 via a coupling 13 as shown in figures 1 to 4 (i.e. no second flexible pipe 12 when associated sleeve 14 may be employed).

Figures 5 and 6 show a clip arrangement used for securing the pipe to an appropriate part of the associated vehicle. Each sleeve 13, 14 has a circumferentially extending groove 21 onto which a clip 22 is snapped. The clip can be formed from metal or plastics material and is particularly useful to secure the piping to car components such as suspension arms as shown in figure 9 where two such clips 22 are employed to secure a brake pipe assembly onto an upper suspension wishbone 23, the pipe assembly being connected by its flexible pipe 12 to an associated disc brake caliper 24 and via its flexible piping 11 (which accommodates movement of the suspension) to a further length 25 of the pipe assembly via a connector 26 which may be similar to sleeve 13 or a conventional tube nut. The end 22a of clip 22 may itself be a snap fit in an appropriate hole in the vehicle.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative form of clip 27 which again engages groove 21 and fully encircles the sleeve 13 to be secured to the vehicle by a fastening such as a self-tapping screw or rivet etc. which extends through aligned holes 28.

The present invention thus provides a brake pipe assembly which is easy to assemble, is of a reliable construction and is also cost efFective to produce.

6

Claims

A2591 A brake pipe assembly comprising a length of rigid brake piping permanently joined at one end to a length of flexible brake piping by a fitting comprising an outer sleeve which encircles an end portion of the rigid piping and has an internal shoulder facing towards the flexible piping for contact with an annular shoulder formed on the rigid piping, this sleeve also having a section which encircles the end of the flexible piping and which is crimped to permanently secure the end of the flexible piping within the sleeve with the end of the rigid pipe in sealing contact with the interior of the flexible piping.

2. A brake pipe assembly comprising a length of rigid brake piping permanently joined at each end to a respective length of flexible brake piping by a respective fitting, each fitting comprising an outer sleeve which encircles an associated end portion of the rigid piping and has an internal shoulder facing towards the associated length of flexible piping for contact with an annular shoulder formed on the rigid piping, each sleeve also having a section which encircles the end of the associated length of flexible piping and which is crimped to permanently secure the end of the associated length of flexible piping within the sleeve with the associated end of the rigid pipe in sealing contact with the interior of the associated length of flexible piping.

A brake pipe assembly according to claim 1 or 2 in which the or each sleeve is provided with a formation to receive a clip or other fastener to secure the pipe assembly to an associated vehicle 4. A brake pipe assembly according to claim 3 in which the formation comprises a circumferentially extending groove formed in the sleeve.

A brake pipe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the end of the rigid pipe which enters the flexible piping has a smaller external diameter than the 7 remainder of the rigid piping, said smaller external diameter being formed during the forming of the shoulder on the rigid piping.

6.

A brake pipe assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the or each shoulder is formed by an upsetting process.

7.

A brake pipe assembly comprising additional lengths of rigid or flexible piping interconnected using the sleeve arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method of forming a brake pipe assembly comprising the steps offorming a shoulder on a length of rigid brake piping adjacent an end thereof with said shoulder facing away from said free end, threading a sleeve onto the length of rigid piping, the sleeve having an internal shoulder which faces towards said free end, until the sleeve shoulder contacts the shoulder on the rigid piping, inserting said free end of the rigid piping into an end portion of a length of flexible piping, and crimping a section of said sleeve which surrounds the end portion of the flexible brake piping in order to secure the flexible piping onto the end portion of the rigid piping within the sleeve and hold the two shoulders in contact with each other.

9, A method for a brake pipe assembly in which both ends of the rigid piping are connected with a respective length of flexible piping by a sleeve which is crimped in position by a method according to claim 8.

10. A brake pipe assembly constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to an as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.