Quick connector latch verification utilizing a scannable code

This disclosure relates to a quick connector adapted to display a code that verifies that a latch member is engaged to retain an installed pipe to the quick connector. The quick connector comprises a connector body having a receiving portion surrounding an internal passage, the internal passage arranged to receive the pipe therein. A latch member retained on the receiving portion is arranged to be movable between a pipe insertion position and a latched position. In the pipe insertion position, the latch member allows the pipe to be inserted into the internal passage. A code readable by a scanning device becomes readable when the latch member is moved to the latched position verifying that the pipe is installed and latched in the connector body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is generally directed to quick connectors. More specifically, it relates to a quick connector that displays a scannable code for verifying that a proper latching connection has been made to a tube.

BACKGROUND

Quick connectors are connector assemblies that allow for convenient, quick, fluid-tight connections between two or more pipes, tubes, or similar components. Quick connectors are commonly used in the automotive industry to connect tubing used in engine cooling line connections, fuel and brake connections, vapor connections or, more recently, in cooling circuits used to cool batteries of electric or hybrid vehicles. Quick connectors typically include a female connector for receiving a male connector, or a male connector for receiving a female connector. In operation, when fully disposed within the female connector, the male connector is locked in position allowing for leak-free fluid communication between a first tube in fluid communication with the female connector and a second tube in fluid communication with the male connector. Unfortunately, many conventional quick connectors suffer from numerous drawbacks associated with locking together the components that are not fully connected or not locked in position, resulting in failed connections and leaks.

It would be desirable to provide a scannable image for verifying that the quick connector components are locked in position.

It would be further desirable to provide a machine-readable method for ascertaining that the quick connector has been properly assembled.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to a quick connector adapted to display a code that verifies that a latch member is fully engaged to retain an installed pipe to the quick connector. The quick connector comprises a connector body having a receiving portion surrounding an internal passage, the internal passage arranged to receive the pipe therein. A latch member retained on the receiving portion is arranged to be movable between a pipe insertion position and a latched position. In the pipe insertion position the latch member allows the pipe to be inserted into the internal passage. A code readable by a scanning device becomes readable when the latch member is moved to the latched position verifying that the pipe is installed and latched in the connector body.

In a first embodiment, the connector body includes at least one flange surrounding the internal passage. The latch member includes at least a first leg retained on the receiving portion adjacent the flange. At least a first partial code is applied to the first leg and at least one additional partial code applied to the flange. When the latch member is moved to the latched position the first partial code becomes aligned with the at least one additional partial code, forming a readable code that can be read by a scanning device.

In a second embodiment the connector body includes at least one flange surrounding the internal passage. The latch member includes at least a first leg retained on the receiving portion adjacent the flange. The first leg includes a cover member extending from the first leg over the flange. A code applied to the flange is hidden by the cover in the pipe insertion position. When the latch member is moved to the latched position the cover member uncovers the code allowing the code to be read by a scanning device.

In a third embodiment a method for verifying a latched connection of a connector is disclosed. The method comprising, providing a connector body having a receiving portion surrounding an internal passage and a latch member retained on the receiving portion, movable between a pipe insertion position and a latched position. The method further includes moving the latch member to the latched position wherein a code becomes readable verifying that the pipe is installed and latched in the connector body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance to the present embodiment, there is provided a quick connector of the type commonly used in the automotive industry to connect tubing used in engine cooling line connections, fuel and brake connections, vapor connections or the like. The quick connector includes a connector body and a slidable latch mechanism. The connector body includes an internal passage centrally located in the connector body adapted so that a pipe can be inserted into the passage. The latch mechanism is located on the connector body and is slidable from a pipe insertion position that facilitates the insertion of the pipe into the connector body internal passage, to a latch position that captures and retains the pipe within the connector body.

In a first embodiment, the slidable latch mechanism further includes guide and latching legs each having a partial portion of a scannable code printed on an external surface of a guide leg and latching leg. Another partial portion of the scannable code is printed on a surface of a flange molded on the connector body. The partial portions of the scannable codes can be barcodes. QR codes or any other code that can be scannable and read by a machine vision device, a handheld scanner or other code scanning device. When the slidable latch mechanism is in the pipe insertion position the partial portions of scannable codes are mis-aligned and are unreadable by the scanning device. Moving the latch mechanism into the latching position so as to capture the pipe, aligns the partial portions of scannable codes to build a complete scannable code that can be read and recorded by a user using the handheld scanner, thereby indicating a positive latch connection between the pipe and the connector body. Alternately, the complete scannable code can be scanned by a code reader during an assembly or manufacturing process.

In a second embodiment, the latch mechanism includes a cover member that when the latching member is in the tube insertion position covers a scannable code, such as a barcode. QR code or other machine-readable code that is printed or etched on an outer flange of the connector body. Sliding the latching mechanism to the latching position captures the pipe installed in the connector body and uncovers the scannable code. The scannable code can be recorded by a user to indicate a positive tube connection or scanned by a code reader during an assembly or manufacturing process.

Turning now toFIG.1, a quick connector assembly of the type used by the present disclosure is illustrated. The quick connector includes a connector body11, a pipe7and a latch mechanism30. The pipe7is arranged to be installed into connector body11and may be made of, for example, of metal or a plastic material, formed in a substantially round pipe shape. A flange portion8forms a bulge portion that projects annularly from the outer peripheral surface of pipe7spaced a predetermined distance from the frontal end portion9of the pipe7. The pipe7may be an endform formed on an end of a pipe or could be, for example, a fitting that may be attached to pipe7by any convenient means, such as by soldering, laser welding or the like.

As shown inFIG.1, the connector body11is made of, for example, a resin plastic and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. One end of the connector body11includes pipe receiving part12arranged to accept pipe7into an opening15. The other end of the connector body11, includes a coupling end20used to couple the connector body11to another device. The coupling end20may include a male stem22for mating with a receptacle of another device. The male stem22may also include one or more barbed flanges24, shown atFIGS.2and3that can have a tube (not shown) made of, for example, a synthetic resin friction fitted onto the male stem22over flanges24, thereby making a fluid coupling to connector body11. Fluid from pipe7can pass from the pipe into an internal passage, partially shown by passage16in the connector body11and through the male stein22of the coupling end20and into tube or vice-versa.

An internal passage16is formed in the interior of connector body11that includes annular interior walls shaped to accept the frontal end portion9and pipe bulge8of the pipe7. One or more O-rings (not shown) may be installed in the internal passage16to provide a liquid tight seal between the pipe7and connector body11.

As shown inFIG.1, first and third flanges members41and43are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe receiving part12in parallel to each other on either end of receiving part12. Each of the first and third flange member41and43is formed in a substantially square shape having upper, lower, left and right side edges. A second flange member42is formed so as to expose the upper part of the pipe receiving part12. A flat lower surface44extends between the second flange42and the third flange43horizontally along the tangential direction of the lower end surface. The flat lower surface44is slightly recessed from the lower edges of the first and second flange members42and43.

A plate portion45extends horizontally in the left-right direction along the tangential direction of the lower end surface of the pipe receiving part12between first flange member41and second flange member42. The left and right end portions of the lower plate portion45are flush with both side edges of both flange members41and42.

A pair of left and right insertion holes46are located in a front half portion of pipe receiving part12between the third flange member43and the second flange member42. As shown inFIG.1, a pair of receiving holes48(only one shown inFIG.1) correspond to the two insertion holes46and are formed symmetrically in the lower half of the pipe receiving part12. Recesses49are formed in the upper half portions of both receiving holes48, respectively.

As shown inFIG.1, a latch member30made of metal or a resin plastic material has a top portion31, left and right guide legs32, left and right latching legs34, and left and right tube retaining pieces37. The top portion31is formed in a substantially flat plate shape and sized to fit between the first flange member41and the third flange member43so as to be fitted into the pipe receiving part12from above. The left and right guide legs32are formed in a long and narrow plate shape having a flat front surface33extending symmetrically and downward from both left and right ends of the rear half of the top portion31. The two guide legs32are slidably engaged from above between the first flange member41and the second flange member42in the pipe receiving part12. The left and right latching legs34are formed in left and right symmetrical shapes from the left and right ends of the front half of top portion31, respectively, and are formed in elongated thin plate shapes having a flat front surface35extending downward from top portion31. The two latching legs34are slidably engaged from the upper side to the lower side between the second flange member42and the third flange member43of the pipe receiving part12. The second flange member42, further includes a flat front face40positioned in the gap between the latching leg34and the guide leg32.

Latching legs34are formed so as to be elastically deformable, that is, flexibly deformed in the direction in which the lower ends are expanded. As shown inFIG.1, substantially square plate-shaped latch projections38are protruded from the lower ends of both latching legs34so as to face each other. The two latch projections38are engaged with the upper ends of the respective receiving holes48of the pipe receiving part12by utilizing the elastic deformation of the respective latching legs34so as to enter the recesses48. In this state, the distal ends of the two latch projections38protrude into the pipe connection part12retaining latching member30to the pipe receiving part12in a “pipe insertion position”.

When the retainer30is attached to the connector body11in the tube insertion position, the two latch projections38slide along the outer peripheral surface of the pipe connection part11while the two latching legs34are elastically deformed outward of the complementary outer peripheral surfaces of the pipe receiving part12. The elastically deformed latching legs34are elastically restored by extending under concave portions49and into receiving holes48, engaging the two latching projections38into both receiving holes48. At this time, the up and down movement of the retainer30is restricted by the two latch projections38facing the upper and lower surfaces of the concave portion49of receiving holes48.

As shown inFIG.1, the left and right retaining pieces37are formed in a long thin symmetrical left and right plates shapes that extend downward from the front end of the top portion31. A locking groove39is formed between the two retaining pieces37so as to form an inverted U shape and to receive the pipe7in the radial direction. Both retaining pieces37are inserted into the two insertion holes26of the pipe connection part12from above. When the retainer30is at the pipe insertion position, both retaining pieces37are only partially installed in insertion holes26. An interruption slot36is formed between the upper ends of both retaining pieces37. The interruption slot36is formed so as to be able to relatively receive a partition47located between the two insertion holes26.

The quick connector of the present disclosure, as described above, is used as follows. With the latching member30in the pipe insertion position, the pipe7is inserted into the pipe receiving part12through opening15. The tube7is inserted into the internal passage16until the flange8comes in contact with a front end face formed in the internal passage. The front end portion9extends into internal passage16within coupling end20(not shown). Rubber O-rings mounted within internal passage16contact an outer surface of the front end portion9of the pipe7and by utilizing elastic deformation, provides a liquid tight seal between pipe7and the connector body11.

When the top portion31of the retainer30is pushed downward, the retainer30is disengaged from the tube insertion position. The latching projections35of the two latching legs34disengage from receiving holes48and slide down along the inclined surfaces19to descend and finally pass through the flat lower surface44. Once beyond lower surface44latching legs34regain their relaxed positions. Any upward movement of the retainer30is prevented by the engagement of the two latching projections35against the bottom of flat lower surface44. At the same time, the interrupt slot36of the retainer30engages with the partition47of the pipe receiving part12. With slot36engaged against partition47, downward movement of the retainer30stopped positioning the latch mechanism30is in its “latched position”.

Turning toFIGS.2and3, a first embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. InFIG.2latch mechanism30is shown in the pipe insertion position. As is shown, guide legs32and latching legs34has a first partial portion of a scannable code51printed or etched on a planar external surface33of guide leg32. A third partial portion of a scannable code53is printed or etched on planar external surface35of latching leg34. A second partial portion of a scannable code52is printed on a planar external surface40of second flange member42. The partial codes51,52and53can be for example, barcodes, QR codes or any other code that can be scannable and read by a machine vision device, a handheld scanner or other code scanning device. With latch mechanism30in the pipe insertion position, the partial codes51,52and53are mis-aligned and are unreadable by the scanner device as a complete code.

Moving the latch mechanism30into the latching position, as was explained above, captures pipe7and moves code portion51and53into an alignment with code portion52. When the latching member30is fully installed into the latching position, code portions51,52and53become aligned to build a complete scannable code55that can represent a latched connector. As is shown inFIG.3, the completed scannable code55represents a positive latch connection between the pipe7and the connector body11. The completed scannable code55can be read and recorded by a user using the handheld scanner, either during the installation of the quick connector in the field or during a manufacturing process. Even though the present embodiment has been explained using three partial codes51,52and53to build a final readable scannable code55, the same outcome can be made using any other combination of movable and fixed code portions. For example, only one leg of the latching mechanism30may contain a code portion that when moved into a latched position aligns with a fixed code portion to build the scannable code representing a latched connector.

Turning now toFIGS.4and5a second embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. InFIG.4latch mechanism30is shown in the pipe insertion position. The latch mechanism30guide leg32includes a cover member50extending perpendicularly from guide leg32. The cover member50is formed as a planar plate fixed to and extending from surface33of guide leg32. Cover50is attached near the bottom portion of guide leg32and is arranged to extend over an edge surface59of the first flange member41. The cover50is arranged to move with guide leg32when latch mechanism30is moved from the pipe insertion position to the latched position. A scannable code60is printed or etched on edge surface59at a first portion of the first flange member41as is best seen atFIG.5. The scannable code60may be, for example, a barcode, a QR code or other machine readable code that is printed or etched on edge surface59of flange member41and that can be scanned and read by a machine vision device, a handheld scanner or other code scanning device.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the latch mechanism30in the pipe insertion position, is ready to accept a pipe7in accordance to the previous disclosure explained forFIG.1above. In this second embodiment, when the latch mechanism is in the pipe insertion position, the cover50is positioned over scannable code60covering the scannable code60and rendering the code unreadable.

Moving the latch mechanism30into the latch position slides the guide leg32and cover50downward. When the latch mechanism enters into the latched position, cover50is moved to a second portion of edge surface59of flange member41shown inFIG.5, the scannable code60is uncovered and can now be read and recorded by a user using the handheld scanner, either during the installation of the quick connector in the field or during a manufacturing process.