Method of producing a one-piece stamped socket for hydraulic hose fittings

Abstract

A method of producing a metal socket for attachment to a flexible pressure hose that comprises a cylindrical metal sleeve defining an axis, with a plurality of non-annular V-shaped grooves formed in an outer surface thereof and corresponding non-annular V-shaped projections formed opposite said grooves on an inner surface thereof. The socket is both economical to produce and exhibits improved strength in gripping the end of a hydraulic hose.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a cylindrical metal socket for subsequent attachment to a flexible pressure hose, comprising: 
 (a) providing a cylindrical metal sleeve defining an axis, an outer surface and an inner surface; and    (b) simultaneously forming a plurality of non-annular grooves in the outer surface of said sleeve and corresponding non-annular projections opposite the grooves on the inner surface of said sleeve.    
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said grooves and projections are formed in a single stamping operation.  
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of V-shaped grooves are formed in the outer surface of said sleeve simultaneously with the forming of corresponding V-shaped projections opposite the grooves on the inner surface of said sleeve.  
     
     
         4 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said non-annular grooves and projections comprise a first plurality of grooves and projections and a generally opposing second plurality of grooves and projections, each of said grooves and projections extending only partially about the circumference of said sleeve in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve, with the first plurality of grooves and projections being formed in planes which are axially offset from the planes in which the adjacent second plurality of grooves and projections are formed.  
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a hose coupling comprising: 
 (a) providing a cylindrical metal sleeve defining an axis, an outer surface and an inner surface;    (b) simultaneously forming a plurality of non-annular grooves in the outer surface and a plurality of corresponding non-annular projections opposite the grooves on the inner surface of the sleeve;    (c) providing a nipple having a cylindrical portion;    (d) securing the formed sleeve to the nipple such that the cylindrical portion of the nipple extends within the sleeve defining an annular space therebetween; and    (e) inserting a hollow cylindrical hose into the annular space.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein step (b) forms each of said non-annular projections to define a generally non-annular flat surface portion.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the non-annular grooves and projections are formed by: 
 (b1) providing a forming apparatus including a collapsible segmented outer die assembly having a plurality of inwardly projecting non-annular projections and a coaxially positioned, expandable segmented inner die assembly having a plurality of cooperating non-annular grooves;  
 (b2) placing the cylindrical sleeve in coaxial relationship between the inner and outer die assemblies; and  
 (b3) collapsing the outer die assembly and expanding the inner die assembly to stamp the pluralities of non-annular projections and non-annular grooves.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein each of said projections and said grooves is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced interruptions.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising crimping a portion of the sleeve about the hose and the cylindrical portion of the nipple.