Quick connect diagnostic system

• US 4,598,581 A
• Filed: 06/25/1984
• Issued: 07/08/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Brekke, Carroll E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US06/623,879
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/115, 73/168, 73/116, 73/119 R, 73/714, 73/756, 73/708, 73/753, 73/863.41, 73/119 A, 73/118, 137/557, 137/552, 251/149.6, 251/149.1, 374/144, 374/145
• US Class Current: 73/114.68
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/146 arrangements for moving thermometers to or from a measuring position
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0007 Fluidic connecting means

Abstract

A quick connect diagnostic system is disclosed for detecting the pressure and temperature of fluid streams flowing in fluid flow passages in engines or the like. A plurality of female portions of the quick connect mechanisms, which include foot valves, are permanently connected to different fluid flow passages in the engine. During normal operation of the engine dust caps are locked in the female portions and include at least one O-ring seal to cooperate with the foot valve to assist in preventing leakage. When testing for temperature or pressure of the fluids, temperature probes or pressure probes with transducers thereon, are inserted into the associated female portions causing O-ring seals to seal the quick connect coupling prior to contacting and opening the foot valves which subject the pressure probes to the fluid pressure in the associated passages, and which project the ends of the temperature probes into the flow streams being tested. The transducers are connected to a test meter which provides accurate readouts for the pressures and temperature in the several passages being tested. Several embodiments of quick connect coupling are disclosed for use alone as a sub-combination, or for use in the system.

Claims

1. A quick connect diagnostic system comprising:

means defining a fluid flow passage with a fluid stream flowing therethrough;

means defining a first portion of a quick connect mechanism having a normally closed valve therein secured to said flow passage means in communication with the fluid stream and movable between said closed position and an open position permitting fluid to flow therepast;

means defining a second portion of the quick connect mechanism which includes a probe for opening said foot valve when coupled with said first portion, said first and second portions including at least one seal member therein which seals the first and second portions together prior to opening said foot valve;

means defining a quick connect latch for releasably latching said first and second portions together when coupled together;

a transducer connected to said probe detecting a signal indicative of a characteristic of said fluid in said flow passage; and

meter means coupled to said transducer for providing a reading indicative of the fluid characteristics being tested, said probe being a temperature probe which enters the stream of fluid in said fluid flow passage for determining the temperature of the fluid.

2. A quick connect diagnostic system for determining temperature and pressure of fluids flowing in flow passages in an engine and in accessories of the engine, comprising:

means defining female portions of a plurality of quick connect mechanisms secured to selected ones of said flow passages in communication with the fluid therein;

means defining a normally closed foot valve in each female portion for preventing flow of fluid therefrom, said foot valve means being movable between said closed position and an open position permitting fluid to flow therepast;

means defining a sealing surface in each female portion;

means defining at least one sensing probe for opening an associated foot valve when fully inserted into an associated female portion, means defining at least one fluid seal between the female portion and the sensing probe before said probe opens an associated foot valve, and quick connect latch means for releasably locking said probe into the associated female portion;

a transducer connected to said probe for detecting a signal indicative of characteristics of the fluid in the associated flow passage; and

meter means coupled to said transducer for providing readings indicative of the fluid being tested by said probe and transducer;

said at least one sensing probe being a temperature probe which opens said foot valve a sufficient amount to project the end of the probe into the fluid flowing in the associated passage to provide an accurate temperature reading.

3. A quick connect diagnostic system for determining the temperature and pressure of fluids flowing in flow passages in an engine and in accessories of the engine, comprising;

means defining female portions of a plurality of quick connect mechanisms secured to selected ones of said flow passages in communication with the fluid therein;

means defining a normally closed foot valve in each female portion for preventing flow of fluid therefrom, said foot valve means being movable between said closed position and an open position permitting fluid to flow therepast;

means defining a sealing surface in each female portion;

means defining at least one sensing probe for opening an associated foot valve when fully inserted into an associated female portion, means defining at least one fluid seal between the female portion and the sensing probe before said probe opens an associated foot valve, and quick connect latch means for releasably locking said probe into the associated female portion;

a transducer connected to said probe for detecting a signal indicative of characteristics of the fluid in the associated flow passage;

meter means coupled to said transducer for providing readings indicative of the fluid being tested by said probe and transducer; and

a plurality of dust caps each having a cylindrical portion, each cylindrical portion being inserted within an associated female portion and being latched in place by said latch means when the associated probe is absent from said female member and at least one O-ring seal on said cylindrical portion of said dust cap for providing a secondary seal with said female portion which cooperates with said foot valve when the dust cap is locked in the associated female portion for preventing fluid leakage therepast.

4. A quick connect diagnostic system for testing the temperature and pressure of flowing fluids in flow passages in an engine during a small proportion of the time the engine is operating, and for removing much of the diagnostic system during normal operation of the engine which occurs during a large proportion of the time the engine is operating:

when operating the engine under normal conditions said system comprising;

means defining female portions of a plurality of quick connect mechanisms secured to selected ones of said flow passages in communication with the fluid therein;

means defining a normally closed foot valve in each female portion for normally preventing flow of fluid therefrom, said foot valve being movable between said closed position and an open position permitting fluid to flow therepast;

means defining a dust cap for each female portion of said quick connect mechanism, each dust cap including a cylindrical portion having at least one fluid seal thereon for insertion in said female portion to cooperate with said foot valve to provide a secondary seal for preventing fluid leakage out of said quick connect mechanism during normal operation of the engine;

when operating the engine under test conditions said dust cap being removed from said female portion and said system additionally comprising;

means comprising at least one sensing probe for opening an associated foot valve when fully inserted into an associated female portion, means defining at least one fluid seal between the female portion and the sensing probe before said probe opens said associatee foot valve;

and quick connect latch means for selectively and releasably locking each said dust cap or said at least one probe into the associated female portion;

a transducer connected to said at least one probe for detecting a signal indicative of the temperature or pressure of the fluid in the associated flow passage; and

meter means coupled to said transducer for providing a reading indicative of the fluid being tested by said at least one probe and transducer.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein said fluid seals are a plurality of O-rings fitted within grooves in the cylindrical portion of the dust cap and O-rings fitted within grooves in the probe.

6. A system according to claim 4 wherein the fluid seals between said female portion of the quick connect mechanism and said probe and dust cap are O-rings fitted within the grooves in said female portion.

7. A quick connect diagnostic method for testing the temperature and pressure of flowing fluids in flow passages in an internal combustion engine having female portions of quick connect mechanisms with foot valves therein connected to and communicating with different ones of said flow passages, and having male portions of dust caps, and temperature or pressure probes selectively connected to said female portions, the temperature and pressure indicia being determined by transducers on the probes which are connected to a test meter:

when the engine is in normal operation, said method comprising the steps of;

inserting the male portions of said dust caps into the female portions of the associated quick connect mechanisms,

latching the dust caps to said female portions,

providing at least one fluid seal between said dust caps and female portions to cooperate with said foot valves to preclude leakage through said quick connect mechanism;

when a selected one of said fluid stream is to be tested for temperature, said method additionally comprising the steps of;

removing a dust cap from the female portion that is communicating with said selected fluid stream;

inserting a temperature probe into said female portion that communicates with the selected one of said flow passages with a portion of the probe entering the flowing fluid;

latching said temperature probe to said female portion; and

connecting the transducer of the selected temperature probe to the meter for providing a reading of the temperature of the fluid in said selected fluid stream being checked for temperature.

8. A method according to claim 7 and when a selected one of said fluid streams is to be tested for pressure, the method additionally comprising the steps of:

removing a dust cap from the female portion connected to the selected fluid stream to be tested for pressure;

inserting a pressure probe into said female portion; and

connecting the transducer of the selected pressure probe to the meter for providing a reading of the pressure of the fluid in said selected fluid stream being checked for pressure.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein when all of said fluid streams required to be tested for temperature are to be tested, said method additionally comprising the steps of:

sequentially removing the dust caps from all of said female portions communicating with fluid streams to be tested for temperature;

sequentially inserting a single temperature probe into each of said female portions selected for testing temperature for first opening the associated foot valve and thereafter projecting a portion of the temperature probe into the fluid;

connecting the transducer of said single temperature probe to said meter for sequentially providing temperature readings of the fluid in each of said fluid streams being checked for temperature;

sequentially removing said single temperature probe from each of said female portions selected for testing temperature; and

sequentially reinserting said dust caps on said female portions after said temperature probe has been removed for maintaining said female portion clean and for providing a secondary seal.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein when all of said fluid streams required to be tested for pressure are to be tested, said method additionally comprising the steps of:

sequentially removing the dust caps from all of said female portions communicating with fluid streams to be tested for pressure;

sequentially inserting a single pressure probe into each of said female portions selected for testing pressure for first opening the associated foot valves and thereafter subjecting the pressure probe to the pressure of said fluid;

connecting the transducers of said single pressure probe to said meter for sequentially providing pressure readings of the fluid in each of said fluid streams being checked for pressure;

sequentially removing said single pressure probe from each of said female portions selected for testing pressure; and

sequentially reinserting said dust caps on said female portions after said pressure probe has been removed for maintaining said female portions clean and for providing a secondary fluid seal.

11. A quick connect mechanism comprising;

a tubular female member adapted to be connected to a fluid flow passage having fluid under pressure therein;

a foot valve in said member;

resilient means for normally urging said foot valve into a closed position;

a probe having a cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into and removed from said tubular female member, said cylindrical portion when fully inserted in said female tubular member contacting and opening the foot valve for permitting fluid to flow therepast;

means defining a fluid seal between said female tubular member and said cylindrical portion prior to opening said foot valve in response to insertion of said cylindrical member into said tubular female member;

quick connect latch means operatively connected to said female member and said cylindrical portion for releasably locking said cylindrical portion in position to open said foot valve; and

a transducer operatively connected to said probe for detecting characteristics of the fluid acting on said probe when said female member is connected to said fluid flow passage and said cylindrical portion is locked within said female member and opens said foot valve;

said foot valve comprising a tubular portion having radial ports therein, a head on said tubular portion of said foot valve of larger diameter than said tubular foot valve portion, a seal ring disposed between said head and a stationary sealing surface of said female member, and helical spring means for normally urging said ring into sealing engagement between said head and said sealing surface, said probe being a temperature probe and said cylindrical portion of said temperature probe entering said tubular portion of said foot valve to open said foot valve with a portion of said probe being in direct communication with the fluid in said flow passage through said radial ports.

12. A quick connect mechanism comprising;

a tubular female member adapted to be connected to a fluid flow passage having fluid under pressure therein;

a foot valve in said female member;

resilient means for normally urging said foot valve into a closed position;

a probe having a cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into and removed from said tubular female member, said cylindrical portion when fully inserted in said tubular female member contacting and opening said foot valve for permitting fluid to flow therepast;

means defining a fluid seal between said tubular female member and said cylindrical portion prior to opening said foot valve in response to insertion of said cylindrical member into said tubular female member;

quick connect latch means operatively connected to said female member and said cylindrical portion for releasably locking said cylindrical portion in position to open said foot valve; and

a transducer operatively connected to said probe for detecting characteristics of the fluid acting on said probe when said female member is connected to said fluid flow passage and said cylindrical portion is locked in said female member and opens said foot valve;

said tubular female member including a ported end wall and a plurality of radial passages in said tubular female member adjacent said end wall, and wherein said fluid seal means comprises a plurality of O-ring seals supported in said tubular member, said foot valve comprising a ball having the hole means extending partially therethrough, and spring means disposed between said end wall and said ball for urging said ball into sealing engagement with one of said O-rings, said spring including a linear end portion received within said hole means for maintaining the same sealing surface against said one O-ring at all times when said foot valve is closed.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said probe is a temperature probe and wherein full insertion of the cylindrical portion of the temperature probe moves said ball away from said one O-ring seal, said one O-ring seal and two additional O-ring seals being effective to seal said probe to said female member.