Hex Swaged Fluid Coupling and Method of Making Same

Abstract

A fluid coupling including a cylindrical stem having a fluid conduit therethrough and a hollow shell provided over a first end of the stem. A tool engaging hexagonal shape on an outer surface of the shell is disposed radially outward from a swage joined portion of the shell to the stem. The tool engaging hexagonal shape includes six non-contiguous flats having rounded portions therebetween. The swage joined portion and the tool engaging hexagonal shape are located at the same axial location along a centerline of the hollow shell, and the swage joined portion has an axial length along the centerline corresponding to an axial length along the centerline corresponding to an axial length along the centerline of the tool engaging hexagonal shape.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fluid coupling, comprising:
 a hollow shell mechanically connected to a cylindrical stem;   a joined portion that has an axial length from where an inner surface of the hollow shell and an outer surface of the cylindrical stem first contact each other to where the inner surface of the hollow shell and outer surface of the cylindrical stem no longer contact each other; and   an outer surface of the hollow shell having a wrenching surface that includes a plurality of flats, and the hollow shell is axially secured to the cylindrical stem by a friction fit at the joined portion between the inner diameter of the hollow shell and the outer diameter of the cylindrical stem and the surfaces of the inner diameter of the hollow shell and the outer diameter of the cylindrical stem are smooth along the entire axial length of the joined portion.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the wrenching surface has six flats. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the smooth surfaces are in the shape of a cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid coupling of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a step area on one end of the hollow shell configured to reduce a likelihood of interference from a nut located on the cylindrical stem;   a hose having one end secured to a first fluid coupling; and   a second fluid coupling located on a second end of the hose.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid coupling of  claim 1 , wherein the joined portion is swaged. 
     
     
         6 . A fluid coupling, comprising:
 a cylindrical stem having a fluid conduit therethrough;   a hollow shell located over a first end of the stem, wherein the shell is connected to the stem at a joined portion extending along an entire length of the stem that will be contacted by a deformed inner surface of the shell;   a tool engaging hexagonal shape on an outer surface of the shell at a same axial location along a centerline of the hollow shell, but radially outward from, the joined portion, wherein the tool engaging hexagonal shape includes six non-contiguous flats having rounded portions therebetween; and   a step area on one end of the hollow shell configured to prevent interference by a nut located on the cylindrical stem, wherein the hollow shell is axially secured to the cylindrical stem by reducing an inner diameter of the hollow shell along the entire axial length from an inner diameter smooth along the entire axial length,   wherein the joined portion has an axial length along the centerline corresponding to an axial length along a centerline of the tool engaging hexagonal shape.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid coupling of  claim 6 , further including a nut on a second end of the stem for engaging an equipment connection. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid coupling of  claim 6 , further including:
 a fluid hose having a first end for receiving a first end of the stem, wherein the hollow shell is configured to receive the first end of the hose.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid coupling of  claim 6 , wherein a first end of the shell has an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of a second end of the shell. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid coupling of  claim 9 , further comprising a tool engaging hexagonal shape on the hollow shell, the hexagonal shape having six contiguous flats having rounded portions in between. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid coupling, comprising:
 a cylindrical stem having a fluid conduit therethrough;   a hollow shell provided over a first end of the stem; and   a swaged connection mechanically connecting the shell to the stem at a swage joined portion, the swaged connection having an axial length extending from where an inner surface of the hollow shell and an outer surface of the cylindrical stem first contact each other to where the inner surface of the outer shell and the outer surface of the cylindrical stem no longer contact each other, and   wherein the swage connection portion is smooth along the entire axial length.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid coupling of  claim 11 , further including a nut provided on a second end of the stem. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid coupling of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow shell includes a step area at one end that is sized and shaped to maintain an axial separation between the tool engaging hexagonal shape and the nut. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid coupling of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of an internal surface of the shell and an external surface of a first end of the stem includes at least one annular projection. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid coupling of  claim 11 , further including a fluid hose attached to the fluid coupling, wherein a first end of the fluid hose is configured to receive a first end of the stem and the shell is configured to receive the first end of the fluid hose. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid coupling of  claim 15 , wherein a second end of the fluid hose is attached to a second fluid coupling. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid coupling of  claim 11 , further comprising a tool engaging hexagonal shape on an outer surface of the shell disposed radially outward from the swage joined portion of the shell to the stem, wherein the tool engaging hexagonal shape includes six non-contiguous flats having rounded portions therebetween, wherein the swage joined portion and the tool engaging hexagonal shape are located at the same axial location along a centerline of the hollow shell. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid coupling of  claim 17 , wherein the tool engaging hexagonal shape has a ratio of a peak to peak measurement to a flat to flat measurement of less than about 1.1. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid coupling of  claim 11 , wherein the shell has a cross section that defines a post-swaged inner diameter that is less than a pre-swaged inner diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid coupling of  claim 11 , wherein the swaged connection portion has an axial length along a centerline corresponding to an axial length along the centerline of the tool engaging hexagonal shape.