What are the components of a plastic quick connector?
A quick connector is comprised of three elements: the connecting body, the collet, and the O-ring. The beauty of quick-connect fittings is in the simplicity of their design. The connecting body holds the fitting together and gives water a chamber to pass through. (Or air, as these fittings can also be used in pneumatic applications.) The collet provides the teeth for the fitting to bite down on the tubing and keep in securely in place. The O-ring provides the fittings with a watertight seal. Quick-connect fittings all work on this principle.
The design of the quick connector allows it to grab ahold of a piece of tubing with a simple push. Inside the body, the sides of the fitting taper together near the top of the fitting. When pressure is applied to the fitting (for example, when a piece of tubing is inserted) the collet is pressed up against this taper. As the collet pushes against the walls of the body, the teeth bite into the tube and secure it in place. The tubing then is pushed to the end of the fitting where it meets the O-ring. When the O-ring is compressed by the tubing, it compresses and creates a tight seal that prevents any water from escaping out the sides of the tubing as it passes through the fitting.
