QUICK-CONNECT ARRANGEMENT FOR

HIGH DENSITY HYDRAULIC LINES FOR ANTI-LOCK

BRAKE AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This invention claims the benefit of United States provisional patent application 60/009, 130 filed December 22, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a quick-connect arrangement and method for attaching multiple hydraulic brake lines to an anti-lock/traction control brake system.

Automotive companies and suppliers face the same realizations. Each seeks to provide products which are more compact and efficient, as well as provide an easier and thus less costly installation and maintenance. One such product that attracts great attention is the anti-lock brake system (ABS) which may also include an integrated traction control system (TCS). For further reference to ABS or anti-lock brake systems, it will be understood to mean any anti-lock, traction control or vehicle stability management system, whether or not integrated with one another, which include the typical hydrauhc control unit described below. ABS is considered to be the most significant improvement in the vehicle safety area ofthe last decade.

The typical ABS includes a singular hydrauhc control unit body, usually in the form of an aluminum block, within which exists all the componentry necessary to provide the anti-lock braking function to the brake system. Therefore, the control unit body can be of considerable size and complexity and requires a great deal of clearance space when mstalling and attaching the hydrauhc brake lines to the anti-lock control unit body. An

example of such a unit is seen in U.S. Patent No. 5, 167,442, which is incoφorated herein by reference for a further understanding ofthe prior art.

As those skilled in the art will recognize, designers of ABS must balance several factors in designing a connection arrangement relating to how hydrauhc lines should be connected to the system. Such considerations include space reduction, ease of installation and maintenance, and improved thread-stripping resistance. These design configurations are addressed in U.S. Patent No. 5,364,067 assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention and incoφorated herein by reference.

Anti-lock brake systems typically include an anti-lock control unit body and hydraulic lines which are connected to the control unit body. Presently, hydraulic lines must currently be connected to an anti-lock control unit body one at a time by pushing the flared end ofthe hydrauhc line into its respective operiing in the anti-lock control unit body and hand threading its respective hydrauhc tube nut at least 3-4 turns.

In addition, hydrauhc connections to the anti-lock control unit body ofthe anti-lock brake system can be placed no closer than 28 mm apart because ofthe size of tiie hydrauhc tube nuts used for making the attachment. Final tightening is with either an open-ended wrench that must be repositioned several times or with an automatic wrench that is usually bulky and is not always practical to use. Therefore, a considerable amount of wrench or tool clearance is required to tighten the tube nuts. This process must be repeated for each ofthe typically five or six hydrauhc connections. Consequently, this procedure requires a minimum of 6.1 square inches of space on the anti-lock control unit body.

Further, if proper care is not taken, the threads ofthe anti-lock control unit body can be stripped. Stripping can occur either by mismatch ofthe tube nuts, which can sometimes be difficult to get started, or by excessive torque on the tube nuts which do not have much thread shear support area.

It is understood by those skilled in the art that the aforementioned procedures for working with ABS units are further impeded by limited clearance space which is

encountered adjacent these components. The assembly and maintenance issues inherent in the prior art anti-lock brake system connections have resulted in considerable labor and maintenance costs which, in turn, have caused purchasers and manufacturers alike to demand feasible design alternatives. Consequently, a need has developed for an improved connection arrangement for attaching hydrauhc lines to an anti-lock brake system which will be able to provide a more compact assembly. In addition, tiie improved connection for ABS should provide an easier and thus less costly installation and maintenance for attaching hydrauhc lines to an anti-lock control unit body ofthe anti-lock brake system. Further, the improved connection between the hydrauhc line and the anti-lock control unit body of ABS should provide improved product quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a quick-connect arrangement and method of attaching hydraulic lines to an anti-lock control unit body for a hydraulically operated brake in ABS which allows for space reduction and weight reduction ofthe complete assembly. This quick-connect arrangement and method for attaching hydrauhc lines to an anti-lock control unit body of an ABS allows for ease of installation and repair, thereby providing a costs savings in terms of time and labor. The quick-connect arrangement ofthe present invention for at^ching hydrauhc lines to the anti-lock control unit body of an anti-lock brake system includes a plurality of hydraulic lines, each hydrauhc line having a chamfered end and an expanded bead remote from the chamfered end. The arrangement further includes an anti-lock control unit body having counterbored openings for retaining the hydraulic lines, each counterbored opening having a seal unit therein.

The arrangement includes a retaming member component having a fastener receiving portion and a plurality of radially extending slot portions for receiving a respective one ofthe hydrauhc lines on one side ofthe expanded bead remote from the

seal. Further, a fastener is receivably connected to the anti-lock control unit body through the fastener receiving portion ofthe retaining member for securing or retaining the retaining member and the plurality of hydrauhc lines to the anti-lock control unit body. In a preferred embodiment, the seal unit is preinstalled in the counterbored openings of the anti-lock control unit body and includes a plurality of seals in a stacked relationship with each other. The seals are preferably an o-ring or cut ring seal and a backup retainer ring. The seal unit is preferably located between each chamfered end and the other side of its respective expanded bead. The chamfered end and the expanded bead of each hydrauhc line are also preferably preformed in the hydrauhc line. Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment ofthe present invention taken along lines 1-1 of Figure 2;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view ofthe first embodiment ofthe present invention as installed in the HCU;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view ofthe retaining member ofthe first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side sectional view of a second embodiment ofthe present invention as installed in the HCU;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view ofthe retaining member ofthe second embodiment ofthe present invention shown before the slot portions are crimped;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional detail ofthe slot portions ofthe second embodiment ofthe present invention shown both before and after crimping;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view ofthe second embodiment ofthe present invention showing the hydrauhc lines crimped into the slot portions;

FIGURE 8 is a side sectional view of a third embodiment ofthe present invention as installed in the HCU;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view ofthe retaining member ofthe third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a bottom plan view ofthe retauiing member ofthe third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view ofthe retaining member ofthe third embodiment ofthe present invention taken along line 11-11 of Figure 9;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view ofthe bottom retainer ofthe third embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 13 is a side sectional view ofthe arrangement of a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention as installed in the HCU;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view ofthe retaining member ofthe fourth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view ofthe chp of a fifth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 16 is a side sectional view ofthe fifth embodiment of tiie present invention as installed in the HCU;

FIGURE 17 is a plan view ofthe arrangement ofthe fifth embodiment of the present invention as assembled and installed in the HCU;

FIGURE 18 is a side sectional view ofthe arrangement of a sixth embodiment ofthe present invention as installed in the HCU;

FIGURE 19 is a top plan view ofthe retaining member ofthe sixth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 20 is a partial plan view illustrating the relation between the hydrauhc line and its slot portion in the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 21 is a flow diagram ofthe installation method prescribed by the embodiments ofthe present invention as shown in Figures 1-7 and 15-17; and

FIGURE 22 is a flow diagram ofthe installation method ofthe fourth embodiment ofthe present invention as shown in Figures 8-12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment ofthe brake fluid line quick-connect arrangement ofthe present invention is shown in Figures 1-3 ofthe drawings. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the quick-connect arrangement 10 includes a plurahty of hydrauhc hnes 12. Each hydrauhc

line 12 transmits brake fluid in the hydrauhc brake circuitry in the manner taught in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,364,067, for example.

The following discussion is described in terms of one ofthe plurahty of hydrauhc lines 12 and which, by way of example, may be any ofthe four illustrated hydrauhc lines. In addition, although four hydrauhc lines are shown, the present invention is applicable to an arrangement utilizing a plurahty of anywhere from two to six or more hydrauhc lines.

Each hydrauhc line 12 will be retained to or within a corresponding counterbored fluid passage 14 in an ABS hydrauhc control unit (HCU) 16. The HCU 16 is preferably formed of an aluminum alloy such as uminum 6061-T6. A single fluid passage 14 is provided within the HCU 16 for each respective hydrauhc line 12. Within each counterbored opening 40 of each fluid passage 14 is a seal unit 18 which is preferably preinstalled therein.

Seal unit 18 includes a backup retainer ring 20 located adjacent and in a stacked relationship with an O-ring or cut ring seal 22. The backup retainer ring 20 is preferably formed of metal, such as stainless steel type 304.

Each hydrauhc line 12 further has a chamfered end 24, each chamfered end

24 being sufficiently small to guide or pilot line 12 past its respective seal unit 18 as it is installed within counterbored 40 of passage 14. The chamfered end 24 is preferably formed at a 30°. In addition, each hydrauhc line 12 has an expanded bead 26 or other similar protrusion along its length that is remote from the chamfered end 24. In a preferred embodiment, there is only one expanded bead 26 and it is positioned along the length of the hydrauhc line 12 remote from the chamfered end 24.

The quick-connect arrangement 10 fiirther includes a retaining member 28 which receives the hydrauhc line 12. It also includes a fastener 30 which is connected to the HCU 16 and secures the retaining member 28 and each hydrauhc line 12 to the HCU

16. The retauiing member 28 is made of a metal or alloy having sufficient properties to

withstand the temperature and stress ofthe system, such as steel 1018-1020 or aluminum alloy 6061-T6.

As shown in Figure 3, the retaining member 28 has a fastener receiving portion 32 and a plurality of radially extending slot portions, each designated as slot portion 34 corresponding to a respective hydrauhc line 12 to which it is attached. In addition, although the fastener receiving portion 32 in this embodiment is centrally located within the retaining member 28, it may be located at any desirable location to achieve the desired goals ofthe invention.

Each hydrauhc line 12 is received in fastener receiving portion 32 ofthe retaining member 28. Each hydraulic line 12 is then shd or positioned into its respective slot portion 34 in the retaining member 28. As shown in Figure 1, the retaining member 28 is positioned on one side ofthe expanded bead 26 ofthe hydrauhc line 12 remote from the seal unit 18.

Once in location, the hydrauhc line 12 will be held in position firmly since the hydrauhc line 12 and the slot portion 34 form an interference fit with each other. That is, the radius ofthe hydrauhc line 12 at a point just above the expanded bead 26 is larger than the radius ofthe slot portion 34, thereby forming the interference fit. A subassembly is formed once each hydraulic line 12 of the plurahty of hydrauhc lines is received by its respective slot portion 34 in retaining member 28. This subassembly is then plugged or inserted into the HCU 16, with each hydrauhc line 12 being received in its respective counterbored fluid passage 14 as earlier described.

The expanded bead 26 holds each hydrauhc line 12 in position and preferably rests in the counterbored opening 40 of passage 14 against adjacent seal units 22 and 20. At this point, retaining member 28 is directly adjacent to the HCU 16 as shown in Figure 1, with the fastener receiving portion 32 in the retaining member 28 in alignment with the corresponding threaded hole 42 ofthe HCU 16.

The fastener receiving portion 32 ofthe retaining member 28 receives fastener 30, which is then further received by its aligned threaded hole 42 in the HCU 16.

The fastener 30 of this embodiment is preferably a single button-head alien-drive screw, which is screwed in and torqued down to simultaneously retain each hydrauhc line 12 fitting. Either a simple manual alien ratchet wrench or a compact power screwdriver (not shown) can be used for completing the arrangement 10. Moreover, fastener 30 may be any positive mechanical fastener which secures retaining member 28 to the HCU 16, such as a bolt. Since the expanded bead 26 of each line 12 is located between a respective seal unit 18 and the retaining member 28, the lines 12 are thereby held in position by the fastened retaining member 28 and preferably in compression against the bias of each backup retainer ring 20. A second embodiment ofthe present invention is referenced in Figures 4-7 ofthe drawings. Common components between this embodiment and the previous embodiment are designated by like reference numerals. Like the previous embodiment, the following discussion is described in terms of one ofthe plurahty of hydraulic lines 12 and which, by way of example, may be any ofthe three illustrated hydrauhc lines in Figure 7. Again, although three hydrauhc lines are shown, the present invention is applicable to an arrangement utilizing a plurahty of anywhere from two to six hydrauhc hnes and perhaps more if required.

Retaining member 50 has a fastener receiving bore portion 52 extending therethrough. The fastener receiving bore portion 52 is located along the central axis of the retaining member 50. Retaining member 50 also has a plurahty of radially extending slot portions 56 located remote from fastener receiving portion 52 as shown in Figure 5. Each slot portion 56 extends longitudinally through retaining member 50, and is open radially outwardly of centrally located receiving portion 52, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. Each slot portion 56 receives a respective hydrauhc line 12. Referring to Figure 5, the fastener receiving portion 52 is preferably centrally positioned and each slot portion 56 is located around the perimeter 58 of retaining member 50.

Each slot portion 56 receives a respective hydrauhc line 12. Each slot portion 56 traverses the depth ofthe retahiing member 50. As illustrated in Figure 4,

retaining member 50 is positioned on one side ofthe expanded bead 26 remote from the seal unit 18, being the side adjacent the HCU 16. Each slot portion 56 is deformable in a manner to permanently secure its respective hydrauhc line 12 to the retairiing member 50. Preferably the deformable aspect or feature ofthe slot portion 56 comes by way of crimping each slot portion 56 or the plurality of fingers 62 which define each slot portion around the length ofthe hydrauhc line 12 enclosed within. This is illustrated in post-crimp Figure 6. The crimping operation is performed by a suitable crimping tool with the procedure being repeated for each hydrauhc line 12. Thereafter, the chamfered end 24 of each hydraulic line 12 is received into its respective counterbored passage 14 in the HCU 16 as previously described.

A fastener 64 is received by fastener receiving portion 52 of retailing member 50 and into the correspondingly aligned threaded hole 42 ofthe HCU 16 in order to hold the components together. The fastener 64 in this embodiment is preferably a flat- headed hexagonal socket bolt which provides the low-profile flushness that is desired between fastener 64 head and the first surface 66 of retaining member 50 as shown in Figure 4.

Fastener 64 has an unthreaded or lead-in pilot portion 66 which assists in locating the fastener in threaded hole 42. It also includes a radially expanded threaded portion 68 of limited length succeeding the pilot portion 66. The remaining portion of the fastener shank is unthreaded and is shghtly greater in length than the corresponding threaded portion of retaining member 50. Thus, retaining member 50 is self retained on, and freely rotatable about fastener 64 prior to being inserted onto the HCU 16.

A third embodiment is shown in Figures 8-12 ofthe drawings. Common components among this embodiment and the previous embodiments will again be designated by like reference numerals. Unlike the previous embodiments before it, this embodiment utilizes both a retaining member 80 and a bottom retainer 82 as shown in Figure 8. The retairiing member 80 has a fastener receiving portion 84, located at its central axis. Retaining r mber 80 also includes a plurahty of radially extending slot

portions 86. As illustrated in Figure 9, each slot portion 86 is open toward fastener receiving portion 84 and receives a corresponding one ofthe plurahty of hydrauhc lines 12 to be utilized. While three slot portions are shown in Figures 9-10 this embodiment may be utilized for an arrangement accommodating anywhere from two to six or more lines 12, as in previous embodiments.

Bottom retainer 82 is disposed between the retaining member 80 and the HCU 16 so that a respective expanded bead 26 is situated on one side ofthe bottom retainer 82 and a respective seal unit 18 is situated on the other side ofthe bottom retainer 82. The bottom retainer 82 has a centrally located and threaded hole 88 aligned with and corresponding to both the fastener receiving portion 84 ofthe retairiing member 80 and the threaded hole 42 ofthe HCU 16, with all three operiings 84, 88 and 42 adapted to receive fastener 64 to thereby secure together the relaining member 80, the bottom retainer 82 and the HCU 16. Since bottom retainer 82 is threaded, the assembly 10 is self-retained on fastener 64 in the same manner as described above in connection with the second embodiment of Figures 4-7.

The bottom retainer 82 further has a plurahty of retainer holes 90 that align with and correspond to both each ofthe plurahty of slot portions 86 in retaining member 80 and each counterbored opening 40 in HCU 16. Each retainer hole 90 receives a respective hydrauhc line 12. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, each slot portion 86 traverses the depth of the retaining member 80 until it expands into aperture 92, wherein each aperture 92 receives a respective expanded bead 26 of each hydrauhc line 12. Each hydrauhc line 12 is received, one-by-one, chamfered end 24 first, into the fastener receiving portion 84 of the retaining member 80. Each hydraulic line 12 is further positioned so that it is received by its respective slot portion 86 so that its expanded bead 26 is received by its respective aperture 92. Each slot portion terminates depthwise with an aperture 92 in the retaining member 80. Since the radius ofthe expanded bead 26 is larger than the radius ofthe slot

portion 86, the expanded bead 26 is not able to back out of retaining member 80. Each hydrauhc line 12 is prevented from backing out ofthe retaining member 80.

The hydrauhc line 12 and the slot portion 86 should preferably form a shght clearance fit with each other, with the radius ofthe hydrauhc line 12 at a position on one side ofthe expanded bead 26 remote from the seal unit 18 being smaller than the radius of the slot portion 86, thereby foπning the clearance. Thus, once in location, the hydrauhc hne 12 will be held firmly in position. This small clearance allows the hydrauhc lines 12 to float slightly during installation and thereby align in the receiving passages 14, thus allowing for positional tolerances. After being received by its respective slot portion, each chamfered end 24 of hydrauhc line 12 is then received into its respective retaining hole 90 in bottom retainer 82, so that the bottom retainer is adjacent to the retaining member 80 in a stacked ^" relationship. Each retainer hole is also large enough to provide a shght clearance with line 12 to facilitate alignment of line 12 with passages 14. Likewise, the threaded hole 42 of HCU 16 aligns with the threaded hole 88 of the retainer member 80.

Each hydrauhc line 12 is received, one-by-one, into its corresponding counterbored opening 40 of passage 14 in the HCU 16. The chamfered end 24 is sufficiently small to guide and assist the hydrauhc line 12 past seal unit 18. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment discussed above except that this embodiment can be disassembled and repaired in order to replace an individual hydrauhc line 12, rather than having to replace the entire assembly.

Captive screw 64 holds all the components 12, 80, 82 together both before the connector assembly is installed in the HCU 16 and after by being threadedly received within hole 88 ofthe bottom retainer 82. A fourth embodiment ofthe present invention is shown in Figures 13-14 of the drawings. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment described above. Therefore, common components among this embodiment and the previous embodiment will again be designated by like reference numerals.

As shown in Figure 13, the retailing member 120 of this embodiment has a fastener receiving portion 122, threaded and preferably centrally positioned, and a plurahty of radially extending slot portions 124 remote from the fastener receiving portion 122, each slot portion 124 adapted to receive a respective hydraulic line 12. Each slot portion 124 preferably sits along the perimeter ofthe retaining member 120 and opens away from fastener receiving portion 122.

Each slot portion 124 receives a respective hydrauhc line 12, positioned so that retaining member 120 is positioned on one side ofthe expanded bead 26 remote from the seal unit. As with the first embodiment previously discussed, the bottom side 126 of the retaining member 120 is the side adjacent to the HCU 16 in the final arrangement. Each hydrauhc line 12 will then be received by its respective counterbored opening 40 of passage 14 in the HCU 16, chamfered end 24 first.

As in the first embodiment, the expanded bead 26 ofthe hydrauhc line 12 will then be positioned in the counterbored opening 40 ofthe passage 14 so that expanded bead 26 is disposed between seal unit 18 and retaining member 120 in the final connection stage.

The fastener 128 is preferably a hexagon socket button-head cap screw. The fastener receiving portion 122 ofthe retaining member 120 is aligned with the threaded hole 42 of HCU 16. Fastener 128 is received by fastener receiving portion 122 and then received by threaded hole 42 ofthe HCU 16, wherein fastener 128 is threaded or secured. The broad button-head 130 ofthe fastener 128 secures the retaining member 120 to the HCU 16 as well as prevents the expanded bead 26 from backing out ofthe counterbored opening 40 of passage 14 through each slot portion 124 ofthe retairiing member 120. The shank of fastener 128 is piloted and threaded in the same manner as fastener 64 of previously described embodiments whereby the retaining member 120 is self-retained on the fastener.

A fifth embodiment ofthe present invention is shown in Figures 15-17 ofthe drawings. The common components among this embodiment and the previous

embodiments will again be designated by like reference numerals. This embodiment is similar to the fourth embodiment described above but fijrther incoφorates a chp 140 as shown by itself in Figure 15. Chp 140 is preferably formed of a plastic material such as Amodel ET-1001-X-HS Polyphthalamide PPA high temperature nylon. Chp 140 has a chp hole 142 which is aligned wit the fastener receiving portion

122 ofthe retairiing member 120 as discussed in the fourth embodiment and in Figures 13- 14. Chp 140 further has a plurahty of radially extending slot portions 144, preferably remote from chp hole 142, corresponding to the number of slot portions 124 in the retaining member 120 ofthe fourth embodiment. At its radially outward reaches each slot 144 is defined by curved fingers 145 spaced from one another at their respective free ends a distance slightly less than the diameter of line 12 so that line 12 will be snapped in place and held to the chp 140, as the fingers are resiliently spread to allow insertion of line 12. Further, chp 140 has a lower portion 146 and an upper wall 147. The chp 140 is in a stacked relationship with the retaining member 120 and is removably affixed thereto for ease of maintenance. The lower portion 146 of chp 140 is positioned on one side of and adjacent to retaining member 120. The other side of retaining member 120, as in the fourth embodiment and shown in Figure 13, is adjacent to the HCU 16.

Each slot portion 144 of chp 140 receives a respective hydrauhc line 12, one-by- one with chamfered end 24 first, in an interference fit with the hydrauhc line 12 as described in previous embodiments. Each chamfered end 24 is then received into its respective slot portion 124 of reta ing member 120.

The fastener 128 is received through the retaining member fastener receiving portion 122 ofthe retaining member and is further engaged by the threaded hole 42 ofthe HCU 16 for retaming the components together, namely chp 140, the retairiing member 120 and the HCU 16. Therefore, the components can be assembled together as an integral assembly that can be plugged into the anti-lock control unit body as in the previous embodiments, allowing a single hydrauhc line 12 to be removed and replaced in the field.

Chp hole 142 allows for mserting the required tool for driving fastener 128 home within HCU 16.

Figures 18-20 show a sixth embodiment ofthe present invention. The common components among this embodiment and the previous embodiments will again be designated by like reference numerals. This alternate embodiment, like the previous embodiments, includes an HCU 16, seal unit 18, and a fastener 156 as shown in Figure 17 and a retaining member 150 having a fastener receiving threaded portion 152 and a plurahty of slot portions 154 as shown in Figure 18.

However, this embodiment differs in that each hydrauhc line 12, in addition to chamfered end 24, preferably includes two expanded beads, namely, lower expanded bead 26 and upper expanded bead 158. Lower expanded bead 26 is similar to that found in the previous embodiments. As shown in Figure 17, upper expanded bead 158 is located on each hydrauhc line 12 remote from lower expanded bead 26, the upper expanded bead being on one side of lower expanded bead 26 and the chamfered end 24 being on the other side.

Hydraulic line 12 is snap fittedly received vvithin and retained by its respective slot portion 154, and, once in place instead of encountering an interference fit like some ofthe previous embodiments, is loosely held in place by slot portion 154 in a loose fit as shown in Figure 20. This allows self-alignment of each hydrauhc line 12 into its respected counterbored opening 14 of HCU 16. As shown in Figure 17, while the lower expanded bead 26 is situated in its respective counterbored opening 40 of passage 14 on one side of retaining member 150 as in the previous embodiments, the upper expanded bead 158 is disposed at the other side of retaining member 150.

As with certain previous embodiments fastener 156, like fastener 64, includes a pilot portion 66 and an intermediate threaded portion 68 of limited lengths so that retaining member 150 can be freely rotatably self contained on the fastener 156 prior to securement to the HCU 16.

The improved quick-connect arrangement, as regards all its embodiments, allows placement of each hydrauhc line 12 as close as 11 mm apart. The present invention also allows up to six hydraulic lines 12 connections to an HCU 16 be placed in an area of only 1.2 square inches. In addition, all ofthe hydrauhc connections can be made simultaneously as well as quickly and easily by torquing down a single fastener.

Further, the single retaining screw is relatively easy to start because ofthe absence of tilting preloads and because small pilot section 66 on the end ofthe threads can be used as a guide. Additionally, the retaining screw has a much greater thread shear area and can resist much higher torques than the tube nuts used in prior art connections.

Referring now to Figures 21 and 22 ofthe drawings, there are provided flow diagrams ofthe method steps of embodiments ofthe present invention. With regard to Figure 21, step 170 consists of providing a retaining member with a fastener receiving portion and a plurahty of radially extending slot portions. Each slot portion will receive a respective one ofthe plurahty of hydrauhc lines. Referring to step 172, each hydrauhc line is provided, each line having a chamfered end sufficiently small to guide a respective hydrauhc line past a respective seal.

In step 174, each hydrauhc line is mated with the retaining member, with a respective expanded bead of each hydrauhc line on one side ofthe retaining member. Referring to step 176, the plurahty of hydrauhc lines is installed into a respective counterbored operiing of the anti-lock control unit body with each respective expanded bead against its respective seal on one side ofthe retaining member. Step 178 includes inserting a fastener into the anti-lock control unit body through the fastener receiving portion ofthe retairiing member for securing the retaining member and the plurahty of hydrauhc lines to the anti-lock control unit body. In different embodiments, other optional steps may be added to the above method.

For example, a method incoφorating the second embodiment would optionally include a step for defoπriing the slot portions securely around a respective hydraulic line to secure the hydrauhc line to the retaining member, as shown in step 180. A method incoφorating

the fifth embodiment above would optionally provide a chp having a chp hole and a plurahty of radially extending slot portions remote from the chp hole for receiving a respective one ofthe plurahty of hydraulic lines prior to the lines being received by the retaining member, the chp being in a stacked relationship with the retaining member and being removably attached thereto for ease of maintenance, as shown in step 182. As shown in step 184, the fastener driving tool is inserted into the chp hole ofthe chp.

Figure 22 Illustrates a method for incoφorating the third embodiment described above. This method should preferably provide a plurality of chamfered ends and a plurahty of expanded beads, each ofthe hydrauhc lines provided with a respective one of the chamfered ends and a respective one ofthe expanded beads remote from the respective chamfered end, each ofthe chamfered ends sufficiently small to guide its respective hydrauhc line past its respective seal, as shown in step 190.

As in step 192, a retainer member should be provided that has a fastener receiving portion and a plurahty of radially extending slot portions for receiving a respective one of the plurahty of hydrauhc lines, and a plurahty of apertures.

A provided in step 194, a bottom retainer is disposed between the retaining member and the anti-lock control unit body so that the plurahty of expanded beads are situated on a one side ofthe bottom retainer in a respective one ofthe apertures ofthe retaining member and the respective seal is situated on an other side ofthe bottom retainer, the bottom retainer having a fasteriing hole and a plurahty of retainer holes for receiving the chamfered ends ofthe hydrauhc lines.

Step 196 includes installing each ofthe plurahty of hydrauhc hnes into a respective counterbored opening ofthe anti-lock control unit body. Thereafter, per step 198, the fastener is inserted into the anti-lock control unit body through the fastener receiving portion of the retaining member for securing the retaining member and the plurahty of hydrauhc lines to the anti-lock control unit body.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred

embodiments. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.