Battery Watering System Tubing Connector

Abstract

A battery watering system for delivering fluid to a battery has a connection to a fluid source, which is to be delivered to a plurality of battery filling valve assemblies mounted to a plurality of battery filling openings on a battery. Tubing sections are used to interconnect the fluid source to the battery filling valve assemblies. Each battery filling valve assembly has a connector for receiving at least one tube end in at least one tubing receiving aperture having an inner diameter sized to receive the tubing end therein, at least one inner diameter reducing projection disposed within the aperture for applying a restraining force on the tube end disposed therein to limit withdrawal therefrom. Using the inventive connectors, rapid assembly with sure connection of the tubing sections is assured and inadvertent disconnection substantially avoided.

1 . A connector for flexible tubing comprising at least one tubing receiving aperture having an inner diameter sized to receive a tubing end therein, at least one inner diameter reducing projection disposed within the aperture for applying a restraining force on the tube end disposed therein.  
   
   
       2 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a second inner diameter reducing projection disposed in a facing relationship relative to the at least one inner diameter reducing projection.  
   
   
       3 . The connector of  claim 1  where in the connector has two or more tubing receiving apertures.  
   
   
       4 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the connector has from two to four tubing receiving apertures.  
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising an outlet passage.  
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the at least one inner diameter reducing projection is composed of a material that is hard, having a hardness of at least about Shore D 55 or Rockwell R 50.  
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the at least one inner diameter reducing projection is composed of a material that is hard, having a hardness of about Shore D 72 or Rockwell R 90.  
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the at least one inner diameter reducing projection is composed of a material that is hard, having a hardness of about Rockwell R110.  
   
   
       9 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a tube receiving guide having a sloped surface, sloped inwardly from an entrance end of the aperture, and having an end for engaging a tubing end disposed within the aperture, the sloped surface easing entry by the tubing end into the aperture, the end engaged to the tubing end to limit withdrawal therefrom.  
   
   
       10 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the connector has two substantially coaxial apertures, a central outlet passage oriented perpendicular to the apertures, each apertures sloped downwardly in a direction leading away from the central outlet passage.  
   
   
       11 . A battery watering system for delivering fluid to a battery comprising; 
 a fluid source;    a plurality of battery filling valve assemblies for mounting to a plurality of battery filling openings on the battery;    tubing sections for interconnecting the fluid source to the battery filling valve assemblies;    each battery filling valve assembly having a connector for receiving at least one tube end in at least one tubing receiving aperture having an inner diameter sized to receive the tubing end therein, at least one inner diameter reducing projection disposed within the aperture for applying a restraining force on the tube end disposed therein to limit withdrawal therefrom.    
   
   
       12 . The battery watering system of  claim 11  further comprising a second inner diameter reducing projection disposed in a facing relationship relative to the at least one inner diameter reducing projection.  
   
   
       13 . The battery watering system of  claim 11  wherein the connector has two or more tubing receiving apertures.  
   
   
       14 . The battery watering system of  claim 11  wherein the connector has from two to four tubing receiving apertures.  
   
   
       15 . The battery watering system of  claim 11  wherein the connector has an outlet passage leading to the battery filling valve assemblies.  
   
   
       16 . The battery watering system of  claim 11  wherein the connector has a tube receiving guide having a sloped surface, sloped inwardly from an entrance end of the aperture, and having an end for engaging a tubing end disposed within the aperture, the sloped surface easing entry by the tubing end into the aperture, the end engaged to the tubing end to limit withdrawal therefrom.  
   
   
       17 . The battery watering system of  claim 11  wherein the connector has two substantially coaxial apertures, a central outlet passage oriented perpendicular to the apertures, each aperture sloped downwardly in a direction leading away from the central outlet passage.  
   
   
       18 . A manifold for adding fluid to a battery having multiple fill ports comprising: 
 a plurality of battery filling valve assemblies, interconnected by a plurality of flexible tubing portions, each battery filling valve assembly having a connector for receiving at least one tube end in at least one tubing receiving aperture, the tubing receiving aperture having an inner diameter sized to receive the tubing end therein, at least one inner diameter reducing projection disposed within the aperture for applying a restraining force on the tube end disposed therein.    
   
   
       19 . The manifold of  claim 18  further comprising a second inner diameter reducing projection disposed in a facing relationship relative to the at least one inner diameter reducing projection.  
   
   
       20 . The manifold of  claim 18  wherein the connector has  2  or more tubing receiving apertures.  
   
   
       21 . The manifold of  claim 18  wherein the connector has an outlet passage leading to the battery filling valve assembly.  
   
   
       22 . The manifold of  claim 18  wherein the at least one inner diameter reducing projection is composed of a material that is hard, having a hardness of at least about Shore D 55 or Rockwell R 50.  
   
   
       23 . The manifold of  claim 18  wherein the at least one inner diameter reducing projection is composed of a material that is hard, having a hardness of about Shore D 72 or Rockwell R 90.  
   
   
       24 . The manifold of  claim 18  wherein the at least one inner diameter reducing projection is composed of a material that is hard, having a hardness of about Rockwell R110.  
   
   
       25 . The manifold of  claim 18  wherein the connector has a tube receiving guide having a sloped surface, sloped inwardly from an entrance end of the aperture, and having an end for engaging a tubing end disposed within the aperture, the sloped surface easing entry by the tubing end into the aperture, the end engaged to the tubing end to limit withdrawal therefrom.  
   
   
       26 . The manifold of  claim 18  wherein the connector has two substantially coaxial apertures, a central outlet passage oriented perpendicular to the apertures, each aperture sloped downwardly in a direction leading away from the central outlet passage.