JP-7855596-B2 - Fluid line quick connector with data matrix

JP7855596B2JP 7855596 B2JP7855596 B2JP 7855596B2JP-7855596-B2

Inventors

ティーズリー，リー
モルビィ，ゼーシャン
ガイザー，ブランドン
ウェッブ，マーク・リチャード

Assignees

ノーマ・ユー・エス・ホールディング・リミテッド・ライアビリティ・カンパニー

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20220202
Priority Date: 20210202

Claims (18)

A fluid line quick connector, A housing having a main passage and a penetration, A retainer assembly having at least one latch, The at least one latch includes a primary latch and a secondary latch, The primary latch is insertable through the through-hole, The secondary latch can be positioned adjacent to the primary latch. The secondary latch has an open position and a closed position, and comprises a retainer assembly. Data matrix and , A slide wherein the data matrix is located on the slide, and the primary latch or the secondary latch at least partially obscures the data matrix when the secondary latch is in the open position, and at least partially obscures it when the secondary latch is in the closed position. Equipped with, A fluid line quick connector wherein, when the secondary latch is in the open position, the data matrix is at least partially concealed, and when the secondary latch is in the closed position, at least partial concealment does not exist.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 1 , wherein the movement of the secondary latch from the open position to the closed position is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the individual connecting components in the main passage of the housing.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 1, wherein the secondary latch has an arm, the arm at least partially obscures the data matrix when the secondary latch is in the open position, and at least partial obscuration by the arm is absent when the secondary latch is in the closed position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 3, wherein when the secondary latch is in the closed position, the arm moves together with the secondary latch, and when the secondary latch is in the closed position and the arm moves together with the secondary latch, the data matrix remains stationary relative to the housing.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 3, wherein the arm extends from the body of the secondary latch and is located outside the housing, the main passage, and the through-hole when the secondary latch is in the open position and when the secondary latch is in the closed position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 1, wherein the secondary latch has a first arm and a second arm, the data matrix includes a first data matrix and a second data matrix, the first arm at least partially shields the first data matrix when the secondary latch is in the open position, and the second arm at least partially shields the second data matrix when the secondary latch is in the open position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 1, further comprising an arm that at least partially shields the data matrix when the secondary latch is in the open position, wherein the at least partial shielding by the arm is absent when the secondary latch is in the closed position, and the arm has a lower surface having a projection, the projection of which helps to maintain the secondary latch in the closed position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion prevents the secondary latch from moving axially forward, axially backward, or both axially forward and axially backward when the secondary latch is in the closed position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 7 , wherein the housing has an opening, and the protrusion is received in the opening when the secondary latch is in the closed position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 1 , wherein when the secondary latch is in the closed position, the slide is prompted to move.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary latch has an inclined surface, the inclined surface contacts the slide when the secondary latch is in the closed position, and the contact facilitates the movement of the slide.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 1 , wherein the primary latch has a slot for receiving the slide, and the slide moves relative to the slot when the secondary latch is in the closed position.
A fluid line quick connector, A housing having a main passage and an exterior surface, A retainer assembly supported by the housing, wherein the retainer assembly includes at least one latch, the at least one latch having an open position and a closed position, and the retainer assembly has at least one arm having a barrier wall, A fluid line quick connector comprising: at least one data matrix present on the outer surface of the housing, which is at least partially concealed through the barrier wall when the at least one latch is in the open position, and the barrier wall moves to remove at least the partial concealment when the at least one latch is in the closed position.
The at least one latch includes a primary latch and a secondary latch, the secondary latch having an open position relative to the primary latch and a closed position relative to the primary latch, The at least one arm includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm extending from the body of the secondary latch on one side thereof, the second arm extending from the body of the secondary latch on the opposite side thereof, the first arm having a first barrier wall, and the second arm having a second barrier wall. The at least one data matrix comprises a first data matrix and a second data matrix, wherein the first data matrix is located on the outer surface of the housing on one side thereof, and the second data matrix is located on the outer surface of the housing on the opposite side thereof, the first data matrix is at least partially concealed through the first barrier wall when the secondary latch is in the open position, the second data matrix is at least partially concealed through the second barrier wall when the secondary latch is in the open position, and the first and second barrier walls move to remove at least partial concealment when the secondary latch is in the closed position. The fluid line quick connector according to claim 13 .
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 13, wherein the housing has an opening, the barrier wall has at least one projection, the at least one projection is received in the opening when the at least one latch is in the closed position, and the reception of the at least one projection in the opening resists radial upward movement of the at least one arm and prevents movement of the at least one arm in the axial forward direction, the axial backward direction, or both the axial forward direction and the axial backward direction.
A fluid line quick connector, A housing with a main passageway, A retainer assembly supported by the housing, comprising a primary latch and a secondary latch, wherein the secondary latch has an open position relative to the primary latch and a closed position relative to the primary latch, A slide having a first position and a second position, wherein when the secondary latch is in the closed position, the slide is prompted to move from the first position to the second position by contacting the retainer assembly, A fluid line quick connector comprising: a data matrix present on the slide, which is at least partially obscured when the slide is in the first position and readable when the slide is in the second position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 16, wherein the slide is received in the slot of the primary latch and moves within the slot from the first position to the second position by contacting the retainer assembly when the secondary latch is in the closed position.
The fluid line quick connector according to claim 16, wherein the secondary latch has an extension, and the slide is prompted to move from a first position to a second position by contacting the extension when the secondary latch is in the closed position .

Description

Cross-reference of related applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/144,721, filed on 2 February 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical field This disclosure relates to quick connectors, which are generally used to join fluid lines together, and to methods for verifying that a quick connector has been properly connected. Background Quick connectors are commonly used in automotive applications to join fluid lines to each other or to join fluid lines to component lines. Quick connectors establish a liquid-tight connection. One example is fuel fluid lines in automobiles, and another is cooling fluid lines in electric or hybrid vehicles. Further examples exist in automotive applications as well as in non-automotive applications such as industrial manufacturing, aerospace, marine, and agricultural applications. Visual means may be employed with quick connectors to ensure that proper connections have been made for initial assembly and inspection and subsequent checks. These means typically require physical interaction and visual confirmation by the assembler, inspector, and/or service provider to confirm that the intended connection has been established. This is a side view of one embodiment of a fluid line quick connector, with the secondary latch shown in the open position.This is a side view of a quick connector, with the secondary latch shown in the closed position.This is a perspective view of a quick connector with the secondary latch in the open position.This is a perspective view of a quick connector with the secondary latch in the closed position.This is a perspective view of one embodiment of a quick connector retainer assembly.Another perspective view of the retainer assembly.This is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fluid line quick connector, with the secondary latch shown in the closed position.Figure 7 is an exploded view of the quick connector.This is a cross-sectional view of the quick connector shown in Figure 7, with the secondary latch in the closed position.Figure 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the retainer assembly of a quick connector, with the secondary latch in the open position.This is a cross-sectional view of the retainer assembly in Figure 10, with the secondary latch in the closed position.This is a perspective view of another embodiment of the retainer assembly.This is an enlarged view of one embodiment of the barrier wall of a retainer assembly.This is a partial diagram of one embodiment of the housing.Figures 13 and 14 are enlarged views showing the interaction between the barrier wall and the housing. Detailed Description Embodiments of a fluid line quick connector with a data matrix (hereinafter referred to as the quick connector) are described in detail in this description and shown in the figures. The quick connector and its data matrix enable the determination of a proper connection or absence thereof via a device located away from the direct fixing point of the quick connector, and the device does not necessarily need to be in physical contact with the fixing point for determination. Thus, connection detection and verification can be performed remotely, and in some cases in addition to other means of physical and visual verification. Its remote verification capability makes the quick connector suitable for initial assembly, subsequent quality inspection, and subsequent service techniques by at least partially automated robots. Furthermore, the detection and verification capabilities facilitated by the data matrix are repeatable and can be performed during initial assembly and subsequent disassembly and reassembly. While this description presents the quick connector in the context of automotive fluid lines such as fuel fluid lines or coolant fluid lines, the quick connector has a broader range of applications and is suitable for use in industrial manufacturing fluid lines, aircraft fluid lines, marine fluid lines, and agricultural fluid lines, among others. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the terms radial, axial, and circumferential, as well as their grammatical variations, refer to directions relating to the roughly circular and cylindrical shapes of the quick connector and its components as shown in the figure. Quick connectors can have various designs, structures, and components in different embodiments, depending in some cases, among other possible factors, on the application in which the quick connector is installed, the accompanying spigot, hose, and/or tube, and the desired attributes of the established connection and fitting. Figures 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of a fluid line quick connector 10. The quick connector 10 has a quick-connect function for easy connection and disconnection with a spigot and can connect to, for example, a rubber hose or plastic tube. The spigot is a separate, distinct connecting component inserte