Metal to plastic fluid connection with overmolded anti-rotation retainer
View Patent ↗A fluid connection assembly ( 10 ) includes a metal tube ( 22 ) having a flared end and a plastic manifold ( 12 ) having a port ( 14 ). The port ( 14 ) includes an annular collar ( 16 ) and an annular recess ( 18 ) that receives a seal ( 20 ). The metal tube ( 22 ) is arranged over the port ( 14 ) and engages the seal ( 20 ). The flared end of the metal tube ( 22 ) abuts the annular collar ( 16 ) of the port ( 14 ) when the metal tube ( 22 ) is installed. A plastic retainer ( 28 ) is molded over the annular collar ( 16 ) of the port ( 14 ) and the flared end of the metal tube ( 22 ) to retain the metal tube ( 22 ) axially on the port ( 14 ) of the manifold ( 12 ).
1. A method of assembling a fluid connection comprising the steps of:
attaching a fluid port of a plastic housing to a metal tube, wherein the fluid port and the tube are coaxial along a longitudinal axis defined by the fluid port;
locating a seal between the metal tube and the fluid port;
forming a first notch in the fluid port and a second notch in the metal tube;
retaining the fluid port to the metal tube; and
preventing rotation between the fluid port of the plastic housing and the metal tube about the longitudinal axis by flowing a material into the first notch and the second notch during the step of retaining the fluid port to the metal tube.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 further including the step of inserting the fluid port into the metal tube.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 further including the step of preventing over insertion of the metal tube during the step of inserting the fluid port into the metal tube.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of retaining includes molding a plastic retainer over a joint of the metal tube and the fluid housing.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the metal is aluminum.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the material flowed into the first notch and the second notch is plastic.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of inserting the fluid port into the metal tube is performed such that an annular collar of the fluid port abuts a flared end of the metal tube.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of retaining the fluid port to the metal tube includes molding a retainer over the annular collar of the fluid port and the flared end of the tube.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of locating a seal between the metal tube and the fluid port includes the step of receiving the seal into at least one annular recess of the fluid port.
10. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first notch extends along a portion of a circumference of the fluid port, the fluid port circumference portion being less than the entire circumference of the fluid port, and wherein the second notch extends along a portion of a circumference of the metal tube, the metal tube circumference portion being less than the entire circumference of the metal tube.