Passive transmitter for a quick connector

• US 7,128,347 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Inventors: Kerin, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David
• Application Number:
  US10/991,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 285/82, 285/93, 285/305
• US Class Current: 285/305
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/10 Indicators for correct coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0885 with access to the split elastic ring from a radial or tangential opening in the coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/144 the securing element being U-shaped

Abstract

A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid line system. The quick connector coupling comprises a female connector body, a male member and a latch coupled to the connector body. The female connector body has slots formed therethrough and a bore extending from an end of the connector body. The male member extends through the end of the connector body and into the bore. The male member has a tubular surface and an annular upset. The upset has a diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular surface. The latch is in abutting relationship with the male member upset. The latch includes a passive transmitter.

Claims

1. A quick connector coupling for forming a joint in a fluid line system comprising:

a female connector body having slots formed therethrough and a bore extending from an end of said connector body;

a male member extending through said end of said connector body and into said bore, said male member having a tubular surface and an annular upset, said upset having a diameter greater than the diameter of said tubular surface;

a latch coupled to said connector body and disposed in abutting relationship with said male member upset, and said latch includes a passive transmitter.

2. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a retainer coupled to said connector body.

3. The coupling as claimed in claim 2 wherein said retainer includes two retention beams in abutting relationship with said male member upset.

4. The coupling as claimed in claim 3 wherein said latch includes two catch beams, each catch beam has a portion positioned laterally outward of one of said retention beams.

5. The coupling as claimed in claim 4 wherein said catch beams are approximately perpendicular to the axis of said bore when viewed from the side.

6. The coupling as claimed in claim 4 wherein said catch beams are able to be positioned laterally outward of one of said retention beams only if the retention beams are in the locked position.

7. The coupling as claimed in claim 4 wherein said retention beams are movable from a locked position to a released position in which said retention beams are spaced apart a distance greater than said upset diameter if the catch beams of said secondary latch are not positioned laterally outward of said retention beams.

8. A coupling as claimed in claim 7 wherein said primary retainer further includes a release cooperable with said connector body to move said retention beams from said locked position to said release position.

9. The coupling as claimed in claim 4 wherein said catch beams prevent said retention beams from moving from said locked position to a released position in which said retention beams are spaced apart a distance greater than said upset.

10. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch further includes a retainer beam disposed in axial abutting relationship with said male member upset.

11. The coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein a radially inner surface of said retainer beam is in radial abutting relationship with said tubular surface of said male member.

12. The coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein edges of of the radially inner surface of said beam abut the radially outer surface of said male member upset if the male member has not been sufficiently inserted into the connector body.

13. The coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein said beam is movable to the axial abutting relationship with said male member upset only if the male member has been sufficiently inserted into the connector body.

14. The coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein said latch includes a probe extending from said passive transmitter to or near the radially inner surface of the retainer beam.

15. The coupling as claimed in claim 14 wherein said retainer beam has a radially inner curved surface between opposite edges that has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said upset and said probe is located intermediate said edges.

16. The coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein said passive transmitter is located at or near the radially inner surface of the retainer beam.

17. The coupling as claimed in claim 16 wherein said retainer beam has a radially inner curved surface between opposite edges that has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said upset and said passive transmitter is located intermediate said edges.

18. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch further includes a rim, said rim axially positions said secondary latch relative to said connector body.

19. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch is pivotably mounted to the connector body.

20. The coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch includes a plastic portion molded around said transmitter.

21. The coupling as claimed in claim 20 wherein the plastic is nylon.