FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a quick connector coupling assembly for making a releasable connection in a fluid line assembly.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

[0003] Quick connectors are well-known devices in the automotive and other fields. The quick connector couplings generally include a pipe or tube received and sealingly retained in a connector body of the quick connector. The quick connector couplings are used to provide a fluid connection between two components or conduits, thus establishing a fluid line between the two components. Use of quick connector for securing a male member and a female connector body is advantageous in that a sealed and secured fluid line may be established with a minimum amount of time and expense. Such quick connector couplings are very useful, for example, in the fluid line systems of internal combustion engine in a vehicle. Furthermore, the reliable and secure quick connector couplings can be used in a brake line system, a cooling line system, and other conduit systems.

[0004] To effectively assemble the sealed and secured fluid line, a number of methods and mechanisms for the quick connector are continuously developed and used in various fluid line systems. Recently, more complex fluid line systems such as a battery cooling system are developed along with the development of an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). Such a battery cooling line system generally includes numerous lines and connections, which need to be correctly coupled for securing the fluid lines in the systems and avoiding wrong assemblies such as a partial assembly or incorrect rotational orientation of the quick connector. In addition, the quick connector endforms allow the rotation of the tube relative to the connector body when assembled. However, this relative rotational motion may be undesirable in certain applications because the quick connector can be damaged by the rotational motion from unexpected external force.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a quick connector for securing a male member into a female connector. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the quick connector coupling for making a severable connection in a fluid line includes a retainer body having a through bore from an opening along a longitudinal axis, a connector body having a tube connection body and a retainer body, a male member sized to be inserted into the through bore of the connector body and having at least one notch, preferably two locking beads, and a retainer releasably securing the male member within the connector body. The tube connection body is coupled to the retainer body in one of multiple rotational positions for extending the through bore along the longitudinal axis and has at least one locking bead, preferably two locking beads. Furthermore, at least one of the male member and the tube connection body have a locator indicating a location of one of the at least one notch and the at least one locking bead, respectively.

[0006] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the quick connector is operable between a connected configuration where a fluidic connection of the fluid line is complete and a disconnected configuration where the fluidic connection of the fluid line is incomplete. At least one notch of the male member is engaged with at least one locking bead of the tube connection body in the connected configuration such that the rotational position of the tube connection body relative to the retainer body determines a rotational position of the male member relative to the retainer body.

[0007] The engaged locking beads and notches are configured to prevent the disconnected configuration of the quick connector such as an incorrect rotational position of an inserted tube having the male member relative to the connector body or an incorrect tube, which is not engaged with the connector body.

[0008] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, at least one locking bead protrudes from a cylindrical internal surface of the tube connection body. In addition, at least two locking beads formed on a cylindrical internal surface of the tube connection body are spaced along a circumferential direction of the tube connection body.

[0009] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, at least one notch is formed at an end tip of the male member. In addition, at least two notches formed at an end tip of the male member are spaced along a circumferential direction of a tube.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a first locator formed on an outer surface of the tube connection body indicates a location of one of the locking beads formed on a cylindrical internal surface of the tube connection body so that one of the notches formed on the male member is engaged with the locking bead by aligning the one of the notches to the first locator of the tube connection body.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a second locator formed on a cylindrical smooth surface of the male member indicates a location of one of the notches by aligning the second locator to the one of the notches along the longitudinal axis. The second locator formed in the male member is aligned to a forward facing surface of the connector body in the connected configuration when viewed in a side perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, at least two locking beads in the tube connection body include a first locking bead and a second locking bead formed with different dimensions, respectively, and at least two notches in the male member include a first notch and a second notch formed with different dimensions, respectively. The first and second locking beads are each equally spaced along a circumferential direction of the tube connection body and the first and second notches are each equally spaced along a circumferential direction of the male member.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the first and second locking beads are each arranged with space which is less than 180 degrees along a circumferential direction of the tube connection body, and the first and second notches are each arranged with space which is less than 180 digress along a circumferential direction of the male member. The first and second notches are each fit into the first and second locking beads in the connected configuration.

[0014] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a first locator formed on an outer surface of the tube connection body indicates a location of the first locking bead formed on a cylindri cally internal wall surface of the tube connection body so that the first notch formed on the male member is engaged with the first locking bead by aligning the first notch to the first locator in the connected configuration.

[0015] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the retainer body includes an insertion portion rearwardly extending from a housing section of the retainer body along the longitudinal axis and forming a cylindrically formed wall. The cylindrically formed wall of the retainer body includes at least two locking tabs for coupling with the tube connection body and at least two protrusions for guiding the coupling position of the tube connection body. A forward end of the tube connection body includes at least two slots sized to receive the at least two locking tabs of the retainer body and at least two grooves sized to receive the at least two protrusions of the retainer body. At least two locking tabs are spaced along a circumferential direction of the cylindrically formed wall and at least two slots are spaced along a circumferential direction of the tube connection body so that the multiple rotational positions of the tube connection body relative to the retainer body are indexed. [0016] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the engaged locking beads of the tube connection body and notches of the male member is operable to resist rotational movement of the male member relative to the connector body in the connected configuration.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the tube connection body is detachably coupled to the retainer body by force-fitting or formfitting.

[0018] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the tube connection body is coupled to the retainer body by material bonding such as laser welding or gluing. [0019] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the quick connector coupling is used in at least one of a fuel line system, a battery cooling system, or a brake line system.

[0020] Further details and benefits will become apparent from the following detailed description of the appended drawings. The drawings are provided herewith purely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a quick connector coupling in accordance with an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the quick connector coupling of FIG. 1 ;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a male member of FIG. 1 ;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a different view of the male member of FIG. 3; and

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the connector body including a retainer body and a tube connection body of FIG. 1. [0027] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure or its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0029] Referring to more detail in the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a quick connector coupling 10 for forming a severable connection in a fluid line. The quick connector coupling 10 is comprised of a connector body 12 including a retainer body 14, a tube connection body 16, and a male member 18. The quick connector coupling 10 is releasably secured together by a retainer 100 and a verifier 200. In FIG. 1 , for example, the connector body 12 is formed by two different parts such as the retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16. The retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16 are coupled in one of the multiple rotational positions along a circumferential direction. However, the retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16 may be formed as a single unit in accordance with other forms of the present disclosure.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the quick connector coupling 10 includes a generally cylindrical hollow two-piece connector body 12 comprising the retainer body 14, which is connected to the tube connection body 16. In one approach, the tube connection body 16 is detachably coupled to the retainer body 14 by force-fitting or formfitting. In another approach, the tube connection body 16 is coupled to the retainer body 14 by material bonding such as laser welding or gluing. The retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16 define a through bore 20 along a longitudinal axis X. The retainer body 14 includes a male member reception end 22 at an end for receiving the male member 18, a housing section 24 for locking the inserted male member 18 with the retainer 100 and verifying the inserted male member 18 with the verifier 200, and an insertion portion 26 extending to an opposite end from the male member reception end 22 for engaging with the tube connection body 16. It should be noted that the term rearward is used herein to mean in a direction from the male member reception end 22 toward the insertion portion 26 generally along the longitudinal direction X, and the term forward is a reversed direction from the direction of the rearward along the longitudinal direction X.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing section 24 is defined by a forward rim 28 having a planar forward facing surface 32 that defines an opening 34 to the through bore 20 at the male member reception end 22, and a rearward rim 30 spaced from the forward rim 28 separated by a gap or space 36 receiving the retainer 100 and the verifier 200. The insertion portion 26 rearwardly extends from the housing section 24 along the longitudinal axis X and includes a cylindri cally formed wall 38. In FIG. 2, for example, the cylindrically formed wall 38 of the insertion portion 26 includes four locking tabs 40 spaced in 90 degrees along a circumferential direction of the cylindrically formed wall 38. However, other spaced angles (e.g., 30 degrees or 60 degrees) of the locking tab 40 in the insertion portion 26 may be implemented in accordance with other forms of the present disclosure. In addition, the insertion portion 26 includes protrusions 42 on an outer surface of the cylindrically formed wall 38. The protrusions 42 are also formed on the rearward facing surface 44 of the rearward rim 30 and arranged between each of the locking tabs 40 for guiding the coupling position of the tube connection body 16 when the retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16 are assembled.

[0032] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube connection body 16 is cylindrically formed and the rearward end of the tube connection body 16 as a hose connection end 46 is configured to define a hose connection aligned along the longitudinal axis X. In accordance with other forms of the present disclosure, the hose connection end 46 of the connector body 12 may be disposed at other angles relative to the connector body 12 (e.g., 45 degree or 90 degree).

[0033] The forward end 82 of the tube connection body 16 near the insertion portion 26 of the retainer body 14 includes slots 48 sized to receive the locking tabs 40 of the retainer body 14 such that the retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16 are coupled and formed as the connector body 12. In the assembled condition of the connector body 12, the locking tabs 40 of the retainer body 14 take hold in the corresponding the slots 48 of the tube connection body 16. As a result of the locking tabs 40 taking hold in the corresponding slots 48, the tube connection body 16 is fixated to the retainer body 14. In addition, the tube connection body 16 includes grooves 50 along the edge of the forward end of the tube connection body 16. The grooves 50 sized to receive the corresponding protrusions 42 on the retainer body 14 are configured to guide the rotational position of the tube connection body 16 when the tube connection body 16 is coupled to the retainer body 14. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer body 14 is interlocked with the tube connection body 16 with the insertion portion 26 of the retainer body 14 disposed within and locked into the tube connection body 16.

[0034] In FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the insertion portion 26 of the retainer body 14 includes four equally spaced locking tabs 40 and four equally spaced protrusions 42 and the tube connection body 16 includes four corresponding slots 48 to the locking tabs 40 and four corresponding grooves 50 to the protrusions 42. Thus, the rotational orientation (position) of the tube connection body 16 relative to the retainer body 14 is indexed in 90- degree intervals. For example, when a stem end (the hose connection end 46) is formed at an angle (e.g., 90 degrees) to the longitudinal axis X, the direction of the fluid line may be controlled and adjusted the flow direction of fluid according to the relative rotational orientation of the tube connection body 16. [0035] The retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16 are generally made of a molded plastic. However, other materials are also commonly used. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector body 12 formed by the retainer body 14 and the tube connection body 16 defines the through bore 20 with the opening 34 and cylindrical internal wall surfaces 52 having different diameters that extend rearwardly from the opening 34. Accordingly, the connector body 12 includes the housing section 24, a seal chamber 54, a tube end receptacle 56, and the hose connection end 46 in the through bore 20 along the longitudinal axis X.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing section 24 receives the retainer 100, which is demountably coupled with the connector body 12 before the male member 18 is inserted into the through bore 20. The housing section 24 also receives the verifier 200, which is demountably coupled to the connector body 12 and moved in a latched position from an unlatched position after the male member 18 is fully and securely inserted into the connector body 12. Accordingly, the connector body 12 is detachably coupled with the retainer 100 and the verifier 200 in the unlatched position before the male member 18 is inserted into the connector body 12, and the quick connector coupling 10 is completed by positioning the verifier 200 into the latched position from the unlatched position after the male member 18 is inserted into the connector body 12.

[0037] Referring FIGS. 3 and 4, the male member 18 is formed at the end of a rigid tube (e.g., a rigid metal tube). The male member 18 includes a radially enlarged upset 58 that defines annular locking surface 60, formed a given distance from an open tube end 62, and a cylindrical sealing surface 64 defined by the exterior surface of the tube extends between the upset 58 and the tube end 62. The tube continues in a direction away from the tube end 62 beyond the upset 58 and defines a generally cylindrical smooth surface 66. The cylindrical smooth surface 66 has generally same diameter as the cylindrical sealing surface 64. [0038] In FIGS. 3 and 4, furthermore, a couple of notches 68 are formed at the tube end 62 arranged and spaced along the circumferential direction of the tube end 62. As shown in FIG. 3, the male member 18 includes two notches 68a and 68b spaced in 180 degrees along the circumferential direction. The notches 68 may have different sizes from each other. In FIG. 3, for example, a first notch 68a is wider than a second notch 68b along the circumferential direction. In accordance with other forms of the present disclosure, the first notch 68a may be longer than the second notch 68b along the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, each of the first and second notches 68a and 68b may be formed with the different dimensions. However, the notches 68 may have an identical size in accordance with other forms of the present disclosure. In addition, more than two notches 68a and 68b may be formed in accordance with other forms of the present disclosure. For example, four notches (not shown) spaced in 90 degrees along the circumferential direction may be formed.

[0039] The male member 18 further includes a marking 70 (e.g., a second locator) such as an embossing formed on the cylindrical smooth surface 66. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the marking 70 is formed at a location aligned with one of the notches 68a and 68b along the longitudinal axis X. For example, the marking 70 is aligned to the first notch 68a so that the inserted rotation position of the first notch 68a is indicated when the male member 18 is inserted into the connector body 12. In FIG. 1, when the male member 18 is fully inserted into the connector body 12, the marking 70 is also aligned with the forward facing surface 32 of the housing section 24 along the longitudinal axis X. Accordingly, the marking 70 formed on the male member 18 indicates a position of either the first notch 68a or the second notch 68b, and also indicates whether the male member 18 is completely inserted into the connector body 12.

[0040] Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tube connection body 16 coupled with the retainer body 14 extends the through bore 20 to a tip of the hose connection end 46 along the longitudinal axis X. The through bore 20 defines the cylindrical internal wall surface 52 and receives the male member 18 when the male member 18 is inserted into the opening 34 of the connector body 12. As described above, the tube connection body 16 includes the tube end receptacle 56 for receiving the open tube end 62 of the male member 18.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the tube end receptacle 56 formed on the cylindrical internal wall surface 52 includes a couple of locking beads 72. The couple of locking beads 72 protrude from an inner wall surface 74 of the tube end receptacle 56 and are spaced along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface 74 for coupling with the couple of notches 68 formed on the male member 18 when the male member 18 is inserted into the connector body 12. The shape of the protruded locking beads 72 are dependent on the corresponding shape of the notches 68 of the male member 18. For example, in FIG. 5, the locking beads 72 are generally formed as a protruded rectangular shape with a slope face 76 and coupled with the corresponding notches 68 when the male member 18 is fully inserted into the connector body 12.

[0042] In FIG. 5, for example, the locking beads 72 may have a first locking bead 72a and a second locking bead 72b. The first and second locking beads 72a and 72b have different dimensions for fitting each of the corresponding first and second notches 68a and 68b having the different dimensions formed in the male member 18. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first locking bead 72a fits the first notch 68a and the second locking bead 72b fits the second notch 68b. The first and second locking beads 72a and 72b are spaced in 180 degrees along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface 74. In accordance with other forms of the present disclosure, however, the size of the locking beads and/or the number of the locking beads in the tube connection body 16 may be changed. [0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 , 2, and 5, when the male member 18 is inserted into the connector body 12, the inserted rotation position of the male member 18 relative to the connector body 12 is determined according to the matched notches 68 and locking beads 72. In FIG. 1 , the tube connection body 16 further includes a locator 80 (e.g., a first locator) on an outer surface 78 of the tube connection body 16 for indicating the location of one of the locking beads 72a and 72b. In FIGS. 1 , 2, and 5, for example, the locator 80 of the tube connection body 16 may indicate the location of the first locking beads 72a. When the male member 18 is inserted into the connector body 12, the marking 70 (the second locator) of the male member 18 is aligned to the locator 80 (the first locator) of the tube connection body 16 so that the first notch 68a having a bigger size than the second notches 68b is matched to the first locking bead 72a, which is bigger size than the second locking bead 72b. Accordingly, the male member 18 is inserted into the connector body 12 with the correct rotation position of the male member 18 due to the aligned marking 70 (the second locator) and locator 80 (the first locator).

[0044] For example, the quick connector coupling 10 is operable between a connected configuration where a fluidic connection of the fluid line is complete (i.e. , the male member 18 of the tube is fully inserted into the connector body 12) and a disconnected configuration where a fluidic connection of the fluid line is incomplete (i.e., the male member 18 of the tube is not fully inserted into the connector body 12). In the connected configuration, the notches 68 of the male member 18 is engaged with the locking beads 72 of the tube connection body 16 such that the rotational position of the tube connection body 16 relative to the retainer body 14 determines the rotation position of the male member 18 relative to the retainer body 14.

[0045] Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 1 , 3, and 5, the inserted rotation position of the male member 18 relative to the connector body 12 is verified by the engaged notches 68 and locking beads 72 in the connected configuration. It is only with such orientation between the open tube end 62 and the tube end receptacle 56 that the male member 18 can be completely inserted into the through bore 20 of the connector body 12. Moreover, after complete insertion of the male member 18, the notches 68 of the male member 18 coact with the locking beads 72 of the tube end receptacle 56 to prevent the rotational movement of the male member 18 relative to the connector body 12.

[0046] The present disclosure is not limited to the shape of the notches 68 and the locking bead 72 as described above to prevent rotational movement of the male member 18 relative to the connector body 12. Rather any shape of the engagement defined on the open-tube end 62 of the male member 18 which coacts with the locking beads defined on the tube connection body 16 to prevent rotational movement of the male member 18 relative to the connector body 12 is implemented in accordance with other forms of the present disclosure.

[0047] As described above, the quick connector coupling 10 is applied to various and/or complex tube line connection systems such as a battery cooling system. Such a complex tube line system has numerous tube lines and connections so that the arrangement of the notches 68 of the male member 18 and the locking beads 72 of the tube connection body 16 allows the tube having the male member 18 to couple with the correct connector body 12 as the mate of the connector body due to the engaged notches 68 and locking beads 72. Also, the arrangement of the marking 70 with the notches 68 and the locator 80 with the locking beads 72 in the quick connector coupling 10 prevents wrong assembly of the tube line connection system.

[0048] In addition, as described above, the coupled rotational position of the tube connection body 16 relative to the retainer body 14 allows the quick connector coupling to adjust the flow direction of the fluid line system. The inserted rotation position of the tube having the male member 18 relative to the retainer body 14 allows the quick connector coupling 10 to also control flow directions of the fluid line system. As shown in FIG. 1, the inserted rotation position of the tube having the male member 18 relative to the retainer body 14 is aligned to the coupled rotational position of the tube connection body 16. Accordingly, the rotational orientation arrangements of the retainer body 14, the tube connection body 16, and the male member 18 allow the quick connector coupling 10 to have different flow direction of the fluid line with different rotational angles in the connected configuration.

[0049] The quick connector coupling 10 of the present disclosure is illustrated in connection with a fluid line assembly. It is shown as a releasable connection between a rigid tube and other fluid carrying components, particularly a flexible hose. However, the quick connector couplings have numerous other applications where a fluid tight, but releasable connection is desired, such as connection of rigid elements of a fluid path, whether pressurized or unpressurized in motor vehicle. Accordingly, the quick connector coupling 10 of the present disclosure applies to fluid lines, particularly fuel lines in a fuel line system, the cooling lines in a battery system, or pneumatic line, liquid line, particularly water or oil lines for low, medium, or high temperatures and for low, medium, or high pressures.

[0050] The foregoing description of various forms of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The forms discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various forms and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.