CN-115335627-B - Emitter for quick connector

CN115335627BCN 115335627 BCN115335627 BCN 115335627BCN-115335627-B

Abstract

A quick connector coupling for forming a separable connection with a male member and a female tube in a fluid line includes a connector body having a through bore for receiving the male member, the male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through bore of the connector body and having a thickened portion, a retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and a verifier including an antenna having a contact point and movable within the connector body between a latched position and an unlatched position. The connector body includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip having a signal that can be read by the antenna when a contact point of the antenna contacts the RFID chip of the connector body in a latched position of the validator.

Inventors

C. Ludin
R. Skin
D Mugabe
A. Rogers

Assignees

TI集团自动推进系统有限责任公司
TI集团自动推进系统有限责任公司

Dates

Publication Date: 20260421
Application Date: 20210310
Priority Date: 20200312

Claims (15)

1. A quick connector coupling for forming a separable connection with a male member and a female tube in a fluid line, the quick connector coupling comprising: a connector body having a through hole for receiving the male member, the male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through hole of the connector body and having a thickened portion; A retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and A validator coupled with the connector body and movable within the connector body between a latched position and an unlatched position; wherein the connector body includes an RFID chip attached to a housing portion of the connector body, and the verifier includes an antenna having a contact point; Wherein a signal of the RFID chip can be read by the antenna when the contact point of the antenna is in contact with the RFID chip at the latch position of the verifier.
2. The quick connector coupling of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip is attached to a recess formed on a rearward edge of the connector body.
3. The quick connector coupling of claim 1, wherein the antenna is attached to a surface around the validator to enable the signal from the RFID chip to be read in the latched position of the validator.
4. The quick connector coupling of claim 1, wherein the contact point of the antenna is positioned at a location facing the RFID chip when the validator is moved to the latched position.
5. The quick connector coupling of claim 1, wherein the antenna having the contact point is attached to a radially inward surface of the validator.
6. The quick connector coupling of claim 1, wherein an RFID tag comprises the RFID chip and the antenna.
7. The quick connector coupling of claim 6, wherein the RFID tag is an active RFID tag or a passive RFID tag.
8. A quick connector coupling for forming a separable connection with a male member and a female tube in a fluid line, the quick connector coupling comprising: a connector body having a through hole for receiving the male member, the male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through hole of the connector body and having a thickened portion; A retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and A validator coupled with the connector body and movable within the connector body between a latched position and an unlatched position; wherein the connector body includes an antenna having a contact point, and wherein the verifier includes an RFID chip, and Wherein a signal of the RFID chip can be read by the antenna when the contact point of the antenna is in contact with the RFID chip at the latch position of the verifier.
9. The quick connector coupling of claim 8, wherein the antenna is formed around the connector body and the contact point of the antenna is located at a recess formed on a rearward edge of the connector body.
10. The quick connector coupling of claim 8, wherein the quick connector coupling comprises a blocking material between the RFID chip and the contact point of the antenna, and when the male member is inserted into the connector body, the blocking material is removed and the validator moves to the latched position.
11. A quick connector coupling for forming a separable connection with a male member and a female tube in a fluid line, the quick connector coupling comprising: a connector body having a through hole for receiving the male member, the male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through hole of the connector body and having a thickened portion; A retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and A validator coupled with the connector body and movable within the connector body between a latched position and an unlatched position; Wherein the connector body includes an RFID chip and an antenna coupled to the RFID chip, and the RFID chip is attached to an outer surface of the connector body; wherein the validator comprises a conductor attached to a surface of the validator; Wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the RFID chip through the conductor attached to the validator when the validator is moved to the latched position such that a signal of the RFID chip can be read through the antenna, and Wherein the antenna includes a first wire and a second wire attached to the connector body, and is electrically connected to the RFID chip when the first wire and the second wire are in contact with a conductor attached to a rear surface of a retainer beam in the validator.
12. The quick connector coupling of claim 11, wherein the antenna is attached around the outer surface of the connector body.
13. A quick connector coupling for forming a separable connection with a male member and a female tube in a fluid line, the quick connector coupling comprising: a connector body having a through hole for receiving the male member, the male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through hole of the connector body and having a thickened portion; A retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and A validator coupled with the connector body and movable within the connector body between a latched position and an unlatched position, Wherein the verifier comprises an antenna with a contact point and an RFID chip, Wherein a signal of the RFID chip can be read by the antenna when the contact point of the antenna is in contact with the RFID chip at the latch position of the validator, wherein the antenna is electrically connected to the RFID chip through the contact point of the antenna when the validator is moved to the latch position such that the signal of the RFID chip can be read by the antenna, and Wherein a channel is formed inside the retainer beam of the validator and the channel is sized to receive a post member that moves inside the channel.
14. The quick connector coupling of claim 13, wherein the post member includes a first end that is angled laterally along a longitudinal axis and a second end that has a bottom surface that is curved along the outer shape of the male member.
15. The quick connector coupling of claim 14, wherein when the validator is in the non-latched position, a resilient device coupled with the first end of the post member is configured to urge the post member apart such that the RFID chip is spaced apart from the antenna.

Description

Emitter for quick connector RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent document claims priority from U.S. application No. 16/817,085 entitled "emitter for quick connector" filed 3/12/2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a quick connector coupling for releasable connection in a fluid line assembly. Background The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Quick connectors are well known devices in the automotive and other fields. Quick connector couplings typically include a tube or pipe that is received and sealingly retained in a connector body of the quick connector. Quick connector couplings are used to provide a fluid connection between two components or conduits, thereby establishing a fluid line between the two components. The use of a quick connector to secure the male member and female connector body is advantageous because a sealed and secure fluid line can be established with minimal time and expense. Such quick connector couplings are very useful, for example, in fluid line systems for vehicular internal combustion engines. In addition, the reliable and robust quick connector coupling may also be used in brake line systems, fuel line systems, and other conduit systems. In order to effectively assemble sealed and secure fluid lines, various methods and mechanisms for quick connectors are continually developed and used in various fluid line systems. Disclosure of Invention The present disclosure relates to a quick connector for securing a male member in a female connector. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a quick connector coupling for forming a separable connection with a male member and a female tube in a fluid line includes a connector body having a through bore for receiving the male member, the male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through bore of the connector body and having a thickened portion, a retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and a verifier including an antenna having a contact point. The validator is coupled to the connector body and moves within the connector body between a latched position and an unlatched position. The connector body also includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip. When the contact point of the antenna is in contact with the RFID chip of the connector body at the latch position of the validator, the signal of the RFID chip can be read by the antenna. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an RFID chip is attached to a housing portion of a connector body. In particular, the RFID chip is attached to a recess formed on the rearward edge of the connector body. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an antenna is attached to a surface around the validator to enable signals from the RFID chip to be read at the latch position of the validator. When the validator is moved to the latched position, the contact point of the antenna is positioned at a location facing the RFID chip. An antenna with contact points is attached to the interior surface of the validator. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is formed from an integration of an RFID chip and an antenna. The RFID tag is an active RFID tag or a passive RFID tag. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a quick connector coupling includes a connector body having a through bore for receiving a male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through bore of the connector body and having a thickened portion, a retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and a verifier including a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip. The connector body also includes an antenna having a contact point. The validator is coupled to the connector body and moves within the connector body between a latched position and an unlatched position. In addition, when the contact point of the antenna is in contact with the RFID chip of the verifier at the latch position of the verifier, the signal of the RFID chip can be read by the antenna. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the antenna is formed around the connector body, and the contact point of the antenna is located at a recess formed on the rearward edge of the connector body. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a quick connector coupling for forming a separable connection with a male member and a female tube in a fluid line includes a connector body having a through bore for receiving the male member, the male member having a tubular shape sized to extend into the through bore of the connector body and having a thickened portion, a retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body, and a verifier including a conductor. The connector body in