FITTING WITH AUDIBLE MISASSEMBLY INDICATOR

• US 20110025045A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Preimesberger, Erich
• Application Number:
  US12/511,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025045A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/93
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/10 Indicators for correct coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/227 the hose being introduced into or onto the connecting member and automatically locked F16L37/084 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/30 comprising parts inside the hoses only F16L33/24 takes precedence

Abstract

A fitting (10) for communicating fluid from a source to a recipient includes a body (20) defining a thru-passage (28), the body having a first end portion (22) received by one of the source and the recipient (14, 18), and a second end portion (26) opposite the first end portion. An outlet (30) of the thru-passage (28) is defined by the second end portion (26). The fitting (10) also includes a misassembly indicator (40) is disposed between the first end portion (22) and the second end portion (26), wherein the misassembly indicator has an opening (42) in the body (20) in fluid communication with the thru-passage (28).

Claims

1. ) A method of testing the fluid connection of a hose with an engine, the method comprising:

providing an engine having a fitting fluidly connected, the fitting having a body defining a thru-passage, the body having a first end portion received by the engine, a second end portion opposite the first end portion and defining an outlet of the thru-passage, and a misassembly indicator disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the misassembly indicator comprises an opening in the body in fluid communication with the thru-passage which generates an audible sound when fluid passes through the opening in the body;

connecting a hose to the fitting;

running the engine; and

detecting whether an audible sound is generated from the fitting.

2. ) The method of claim 1 in which the fitting and hose are configured to prevent the generation of the audible sound when the hose is properly connected to the fitting.

3. ) The method of claim 1 further comprising locating the opening in the body such that the hose covers the opening to prevent the generation of the audible sound when the hose is connected to the fitting properly during the running of the engine, and such that the hose does not cover the opening when the hose is connected to the fitting improperly whereby the audible sound is produced during the running of the engine.

4. ) A fitting for communicating fluid from a source to a recipient, the fitting comprising:

a body defining a thru-passage, the body having a first end portion received by one of the source and the recipient, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

an outlet of the thru-passage defined by the second end portion; and

a misassembly indicator disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the misassembly indicator has an opening in the body in fluid communication with the thru-passage.

5. ) The fitting of claim 4 wherein the opening of the misassembly indicator is defined by an incident surface.

6. ) The fitting of claim 5 wherein the thru-passage generally defines an axis, and the incident surface is generally provided at an obtuse angle with respect to the axis as taken from the direction of fluid flow.

7. ) The fitting of claim 5 wherein the opening of the misassembly indicator is defined by an opposite surface located opposite from the incident surface.

8. ) The fitting of claim 4 wherein the body is formed of metal.

9. ) The fitting of claim 4 wherein the body is formed of plastic.

10. ) The fitting of claim 4 wherein the body is generally tubular shaped.

11. ) The fitting of claim 4 further comprising a stop disposed on the body.

12. ) The fitting of claim 11 wherein the stop is an annular lip.

13. ) The fitting of claim 11 further comprising a barb disposed on the body, wherein the barb and the stop define a clamping portion therebetween, the clamping portion configured to receive a clamp.

14. ) The fitting of claim 13 wherein the barb is an annular lip.

15. ) The fitting of claim 4 wherein the misassembly indicator is generally triangular-shaped.

16. ) A fitting for communicating fluid between an engine and a hose, the fitting comprising:

a body defining a thru-passage for fluid communication between the engine and the hose, the body having a first end portion received by one of the engine and the hose, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

an outlet of the thru-passage defined by the second end portion; and

a misassembly indicator disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the misassembly indicator comprises an opening in the body in fluid communication with the thru-passage configured to create an audible sound when fluid flow through the opening.

17. ) The fitting of claim 16 wherein the body further comprises a stop located at the first end portion, wherein the stop is a generally annular lip and the hose sufficiently blocks fluid flow through the opening in the body when the hose is connected to the body extending up to the stop to prevent the generation of the audible sound, but does not block fluid flow through the opening in the body when the hose is not connected to the body up to the stop such that the audible sound is generated during the running of the engine.