Abstract:
An electrically conductive hose cutting clip has at least one cutting blade that is shaped to provide a cutting edge for penetration of the inner layer(s) of a multiple layer fluid conveyance hose when it is clipped onto a fluid connector and the hose is installed on the fluid connector by forcing it onto the connector. The cutting action by the cutting blade provides for a relatively low resistance electrical connection between an electrically conductive layer of the hose and the fluid connector. This can be used to provide a signal path from a sensing element on the hose to a system electronic component.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application relates to application Atty Ref. No. 66777-0076 U.S. Ser. No. ______ entitled Fluid Connector with a Hose Cutting Clip and to application Atty. Ref. No. 65857-0193, U.S. Ser. No. ______, entitled Fluid Connector With Hose Cutting Ring, both of which were filed on the same day as this application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Traditionally, a hose that is to be connected to a system device such as a hydraulic pump is first connected to some type of hose fitting such as a fluid connector having a barbed nipple. The fluid connector is then typically connected to some type of device such as a pump or valve block using a coupling nut. As the hose is forced over the barbs on the nipple, the barbs apply a retaining force by displacing the inner layer of the hose outward without cutting that inner layer. If there is a need for an electrical connection between an electrically conductive intermediate layer of the hose and an electronic system, then a jumper wire is required to be routed from the electrically conductive intermediate layer to the fluid connector or directly to the electronic system or to some type of fluid device to which the fluid connector is attached. These prior art electrical jumpers are unreliable and are expensive to assemble and are susceptible to damage either during assembly or during operation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present disclosure describes a fluid connector that includes a hose cutting clip that has at least one sharp cutting blade that extends from a clip body. In one embodiment, the hose cutting clip has at least one sharp cutting blade that extends from the clip body although it is contemplated that at least two cutting blades will be used in the exemplary fluid connector. The hose cutting blades provide a cutting function when a fluid conveyance hose, having a pliable layer which covers an electrically conductive layer, is installed onto the fluid connector. The inner layer of the hose is cut by the cutting blades so that there is an electrical path from the intermediate electrically conductive layer of the hose to the fluid connector and finally to the device to which the fluid connector is attached or, in the alternative, directly from the fluid connector to an electrical circuit. The hose cutting clip of this disclosure is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a hose that incorporates some type of sensing element in the hose and the signal generated by the sensor must be carried by the electrically conductive layer of the hose through a fluid fitting or connector to a device where it is made available for use by other control or diagnostic systems. The hose cutting clip has at least one sharp cut tab or blade that extends from the body of the clip. This hose cutting clip provides a cutting function when the hose is fully installed onto the fluid connector such that the inner layer of a hose is cut by at least one of the cutting blades so that there is an electrical path from the intermediate electrically conductive layer of the hose to a fluid connector and finally to the device to which the fluid connector is connected or from the fluid connector directly to an electronic circuit such as an electronic diagnostic or control system. The hose cutting clip of this disclosure is can be used with a hose that incorporates some type of sensing element in the hose such as a life sensing hose which generates a signal that must be carried by the conductive layer of the hose to a device where it is made available for use to monitor hose life or system pressures by other control or diagnostic systems. The conductive layer of the hose is usually a steel braid, spiral wound or knitted layer. 
         [0004]    Also disclosed is another embodiment where a connector socket that has cutting tabs extending inwardly is used with hoses having a second electrically conductive layer and an intermediate non-conductive layer that separates the first conductive layer from the second conductive layer. The cutting tabs which extend inwardly from an inside surface of a hose socket and cut into the outer layer of the hose and penetrate down to touch and slightly deform the second conductive layer. This completes the electrically conductive path from the second conductive layer to the socket. The socket is electrically insulated from the connector body by an insulator collar. In the case where higher fluid pressures need to be handled by the fluid connector and attached hose, this type of a crimped socket can be used to apply additional clamping force on the outside of the hose over the hose nipple. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the exemplary hose cutting clip; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an end plan view of the hose cutting clip of  FIG. 1  with the cutting blades bent upward; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an end plan view of the hose cutting clip of  FIG. 2  with the cutting clip bent to final form; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a fluid connector assembly having the exemplary hose cutting clip of  FIG. 3  installed; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the fluid connector assembly of  FIG. 4  with a fluid conveyance hose installed; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of an exemplary fluid connector with a multi-layer hose installed; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the hose socket of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring now to the discussion that follows and also to the drawings, illustrative approaches to the disclosed systems and methods are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent some possible approaches, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated, removed, or partially sectioned to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. Further, the descriptions set forth herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the claims to the precise forms and configurations shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description. 
         [0013]    Moreover, a number of constants may be introduced in the discussion that follows. In some cases illustrative values of the constants are provided. In other cases, no specific values are given. The values of the constants will depend on characteristics of the associated hardware and the interrelationship of such characteristics with one another as well as environmental conditions and the operational conditions associated with the disclosed system. 
         [0014]    Now referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a top plan view of the exemplary hose cutting clip  10  is shown. The cutting blades  13  extend from the base  11  of the hose cutting clip  10  and lay flat prior to a bending operation. Thus, the hose cutting clip  10  can be stamped from a flat piece of metal such as steel. 
         [0015]    The cutting blades  13  have a front edge  13 A and a back edge  13 B. At the base of the front edge  13 A is a small aperture  17  and at the base of the back edge  13 B is a large aperture  15 . The absolute and relative diameters of the large aperture  15  and the small aperture  17  can be varied depending on a variety of factors such as materials, geometry and size of the elements. 
         [0016]    The cutting blades  13  are shown generally as triangular in shape but other shapes such as rounded could be used depending on a variety of factors. The tip of the cutting blades  13  can be pointed or rounded or square or any other suitable shape. 
         [0017]    The clip base  11  can be of the same material thickness as the cutting blades  13  or the cutting blades  13  can be thinner than the thickness of the material used for the base  11 . Another variation involves making the front and/or back edge  13 A,  13 B sharp by shaping the metal of the cutting tab  13  to form one or two sharp edges. As few as one cutting blade  13  can be used to cut the inner layer  42  (see  FIG. 5 ) of a layered hose  40  and make electrical contact with the hose conductive layer  44 . Bend lines  14  are used in a subsequent forming operation. 
         [0018]    Now referring to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, a plan end view of the exemplary hose cutting clip  10  is shown with the cutting blades  13  bent at an approximate 90 degree angle to the clip base  11 . The cutting blades  13  are initially bent to a 90 degree angle to the clip base  11  along bend lines  14 . Then the cutting blades  13  are twisted so that they are aligned as close as possible to the centerline  24  of the fluid connector  18 . The objective is to bend the cutting blades  13  so that the cut tab  13  will slice through the inner layer  42  of the hose  40 . The front edge  13 A of the cutting blades  13  is fully shown in the front plan view of  FIG. 2  and the base edge of the rear edge  13 B is shown. 
         [0019]    Now referring to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the end view of the exemplary hose cutting clip  10  of  FIG. 2  is shown with the cutting clip  10  bent into a circular ring shape for installation on the fluid connector  18 . A first end  11 A of the clip base  11  is bent to almost meet the second end  11 B of the clip base  11 . A gap  17  is shown between the first and second ends  11 A,  11 B. Upon installation of the cutting clip  10  on the fluid connector  18 , the gap  21  is increased in width until the first and second ends  11 A and  11 B are far enough apart to allow the cutting clip  10  to be slipped onto the fluid connector  18  at the clip holding section  21 . The cutting clip  10  is then released onto the clip holding section  21  of the fluid connector  18 . 
         [0020]    Now referring to  FIGS. 4&amp;5  of the drawings, cross-sectional views of the fluid connector  18  are shown. Upon installation of the cutting clip  10  on the fluid connector  18 , the gap  21  is increased in width until the first and second ends  11 A and  11 B are far enough apart to allow the cutting clip  10  to be slipped onto the fluid connector  18  at the clip holding section  21 . The cutting clip  10  is then released on to the clip holding section  21  of the fluid connector  18 . 
         [0021]    The cutting blades  13  extend radially from the clip holding section  21  a sufficient distance to cut the inner layer  42  of the hose  40  and then make electrical contact with the conductive layer  44 . The exemplary hose cutting clip  10  has a clip body  11  and relatively sharp cutting blades  13  that extend outwardly from the clip body  11 . The cutting clip  10  as shown in  FIG. 3  is installed on the body  12  of the fluid connector  18 . The clip body  11  is spring loaded and securely engages the fluid connector  18  by being expanded and then is allowed to retract over the body  12  of the fluid connector  18 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , the hose cutting clip  10  provides a cutting function when the inner layer  42  of the hose  40  is cut by the cutting blades  13  so that the cutting blades  13  make contact with the intermediate electrically conductive layer  44  of the hose  40  and there is an electrical path established from this intermediate conductive layer  44  of the hose  40  to the fluid connector  18  as shown in  FIG. 4  and finally to the device to which the fluid connector  18  is attached such as to a hydraulic pump, motor, valve body, etc. or directly to an electronic circuit. The hose cutting clip  10  of this disclosure is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a hose that incorporates some type of sensing element in the hose to generate a signal which must be carried by the conductive layer  44  of the hose  40  through the fluid connector  18  to an electrical circuit where it is made available for use by a control or diagnostic system. 
         [0022]    The cutting clip  10  can be removable or permanently attached to the body  12  of the fluid connector  18  or alternately, the cutting blades  13  can be formed as an integral part of the body  12  of the fluid connector  18 . In that configuration, one or more of the cutting blades  13  would extend from the body  12  to cut the inner layer  42  of the hose  40  and electrically engage the conductive intermediate layer  44 . 
         [0023]    The fluid connector  18  has a hex nut  20  which is fashioned to be engaged by a tool such as a wrench to hold the fluid connector  18  from rotating as the coupler nut  31  is tightened to a mating threaded fitting on a fluid device such as a pump or valve body. It is understood that other attachment methods may be used to connect the fluid connector  18  to a pump or valve body or other fluid device. A central passageway  22  formed along a central axis  24  of the fluid connector  18  provides a path to allow a pressurized fluid to flow there through. A circumferential intermediate flange  26  extends outwardly from the body of the fluid connector  18  and positions the insulating collar  36 . Also shown is the hose socket  29  which is mounted on the flange  26  with the insulating collar  36  positioned between the hose socket  29  and the flange  26  if electrical insulation is needed between the socket  29  and the fluid connector  18 . This is typically the case when the outside layer  46  of the hose  40  is skived and a hose conductive layer is allowed to make electrical contact with the socket  29  with a subsequent electrical connection to an electronic circuit. Generally, the hose socket  29  is an optional part that is used for use with the handling of higher pressure fluids. It should be noted, if a socket  29  is used and no electrical insulation is required, then the insulating collar  36  can be eliminated. The coupling nut  31  is used to attach the fluid connector  18  to another fluid handling device such as a pump or valve body. The intermediate flange  26  locates the cutting clip  10  at one side of the clip body  11  while a first barb  28  serves to locate the other side of the cutting clip  10  on the clip holding section  21  of the fluid connector  18 . 
         [0024]    A chamfered section  25  is formed to engage a mating element formed in a hydraulic device such as a pump body to provide a sealed path for the fluid. The coupling nut  31  is threaded on the internal face of the coupling nut  31 . The threads  29  engage mating threads formed in the pump body or other hydraulic device where the coupling nut  31  can be rotated and tightened to the hydraulic device by hex section  33  to draw the chamfered section  24  into the mating element of the hydraulic device. 
         [0025]    Attached to the coupling body  11  at the insulating collar  36  is a hose socket  29 . The hose socket  29  is supported on the insulating collar  36  and surrounds and is crimped to the hose  40 . The hose socket  29  is crimped onto the hose to provide a clamping force on the hose  40  to force it against the nipple  32 . The insulating collar  36  can locate and hold a prior art type of socket  29  having a smooth inner surface if it used with a hose only having a single conductive layer, or the socket  59  can have cutting tabs  41  as shown in  FIG. 6  if it is to be used with a hose  40  having at least two conductive layers. The version of the connector socket  29  is shown in  FIG. 4  as a smooth bore version of connector socket  29 . With this version, if it is desired to have electrical conduction between the hose conductive layer  44  and the socket, then the outer layer  46  of hose  40  can be skived off so that the inner surface of the socket  29  makes contact with the conductive layer  44  of the hose  40 . 
         [0026]    The mating fluid conveyance hose  40  is retained on the fluid connector  18  by at least one barb such as first barb  28  or by a multiplicity of hose barbs denoted in  FIGS. 4&amp;5  as barbed nipple  32 . The barbed nipple  32  of the fluid connector  18  makes up what is known in the art as the hose nipple of the fluid connector  18  and it is known to use the nipple to retain a fluid conveyance hose. 
         [0027]    Now referring to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, a cross-sectional view of the hose  40  fully installed on the fluid connector  18  is shown. Clearly shown is how at least one cutting blade  13  of the cutting clip  10  has cut through the hose inner layer  42  to extend and make mechanical and electrical contact with the electrically conductive layer  44  thereby establishing a secure electrical path from the electrically conductive layer  44  to the cutting clip  10  and to the fluid connector  18 . This type of hose connection device is used to provide conduction of an electrical signal representing a hose performance state or internal fluid pressure to some type of electronic circuitry. 
         [0028]    The exemplary cutting clip  10  has a clip body  11  and two relatively sharp cutting blades  13  that extend outwardly from the clip body  11 . The cutting clip  10  is installed on the body of the fluid connector  18 . The clip body  11  is spring loaded and securely engages the fluid connector  18  by being expanded and then contracts over the clip body  11  of the fluid connector  18 . The hose cutting clip  10  provides a cutting function when the inner layer  42  of the hose  40  is cut by the cutting blades  13  to touch the inner electrically conductive layer  42  of the hose  40  and there is an electrical path established from this inner conductive layer  42  of the hose  40  to the fluid connector  18  and finally to the device to which the fluid connector  18  is attached such as to a hydraulic pump, motor, valve body, etc. or directly to the electronic circuit of a diagnostic or control system. The hose cutting clip  10  of this disclosure is particularly suitable for use in a hose  40  that incorporates some type of sensing element in the hose  40  such as a life sensing hose which generates an electrical signal which must be carried by the hose through a fluid connector  18  to a device where it is made available for use by a control or diagnostic system. 
         [0029]    The fluid connector  18  has a hex nut  20  which is fashioned to be engaged by a tightening tool such as a wrench to hold the fluid connector  18  from rotating as the fluid connector  18  is attached to some type of hydraulic device such as a pump. The coupling nut  31  is rotated to tighten the chamfer coupling  24  to a mating surface on the hydraulic device. The internal threads  29  engage mating threads formed on the hydraulic (or pneumatic) device when the coupling nut  31  is rotated by the nut hex  33 . A central passageway  22  formed along a central axis  24  of the fluid connector  18  provides a flow path to allow a pressurized fluid to flow there through. A circumferential intermediate flange  26  extends outwardly from the body  12  of the fluid connector  18  and helps to position the insulating collar  36 . The intermediate flange  26  locates the cutting clip  10  at one side of the clip body  11  while a first barb  28  serves to locate the other side of the cutting clip  10  on the clip body  11 . 
         [0030]    The mating hose is retained on the fluid connector  18  by at least one barb such as first barb  28  or by a multiplicity of hose barbs donated in  FIGS. 4&amp;5  as barbed section  32 . The barbed section  32  of the fluid connector  18  makes up what is known as the nipple of the fluid connector  18 . 
         [0031]    The hose  40  is shown as being made of an inner layer  42 , an electrically conductive intermediate layer  44  and a wear resistant outer layer  46 . It should be noted that any number of layers beyond an inner layer  42  and an intermediate conductive layer  44  can be used for the hose. The inner layer  42  can be made of a PTFE or rubber or other chemically impervious material and can consist of more than one layer while the intermediate layer  44  is usually a braided or spiral or knitted steel wire although other electrically conductive material or configuration could be used such as a foil or carbon fiber. Then other hose layers can be added as required for a specific application. 
         [0032]    If the hose  40  has at least a first conductive layer  44  and it is desired to make an electrical connection between the conductive layer  44  and the hose socket  29 , then the outer layer  46  of the hose  40  can be skived to the conductive layer  44  so that the socket  29  having a smooth inner surface can contact the conductive layer  44  when it is crimped to the hose  40 . This configuration would create an electrical path from the conductive layer  44  in the hose  40  to the hose socket  29 . This electrical signal could then be used by a variety of electrical circuits. 
         [0033]    If the hose  40  has both a first conductive layer  54  and a second conductive layer  58  as shown in conjunction with hose  50  in  FIG. 6 , then the first conductive layer  54  can be electrically connected to the cutting blades  13  of the cutting clip  10  and the second conductive layer  58  can be electrically connected to the socket  29  using the socket tabs  62 A,  62 B or by skiving the hose outer layer  60  to expose it to the socket  29  when it is crimped. 
         [0034]    Now referring to  FIG. 6 , a cross-section of a multilayer hose  50  having two conductive layers  54 ,  58  fully installed on the exemplary fluid connector  18  is shown as fluid connector assembly  50 . The hose  50  has an inner layer  52 , a first conductive layer  54 , an intermediate layer  56 , a second conductive layer  58  and an outer protective layer  60 . It should be noted that any number of hose layers could be utilized to get the desired hose characteristics. 
         [0035]    A hose socket  59  is retained on the insulating collar and extends to partially cover the hose  50  after it is assembled to the hose coupling  18 . The hose socket  59  is then crimped to a precise crush load on the hose  50 . In  FIG. 6 , the socket  59  has not been subjected to final crimping. If it is desired to make electrical contact with the second conductive layer  58 , then cutting tabs  62 A,  62 B are formed on the inside wall of the hose socket  59  where it covers the hose  50 . When the socket  59  has gone through final crimping to the hose  50 , the tabs  62 A,  62 B cut the protective outer layer  58  of the hose  50  and extend to make contact with the second conductive layer  58 . Prior to final crimping of the socket  59 , the cutting tabs  62 A,  62 B extend to partially cut into the outer layer  60  of the hose  50 . After the socket  59  is fully crimped, the cutting tabs  62 A and  62 B cut through the outer layer  60  of the hose  50  to touch and press against the outer conductive layer  58 . The socket  59  is electrically insulated from the connector body  12  by the insulating collar  30 . 
         [0036]    To electrically connect the inner conductive layer  54  to the connector body  12  the cutting clip  10  of  FIGS. 1-3  can be used as previously discussed. That combination could be used to provide two separate electrical signals to a diagnostic or control system. Any combination of the cutting blades  13  and the alternate socket  59  having the cutting tabs  62 A,  62 B or the prior art socket  29  with a skived hose could be used to provide electrical signals from a hose such as a life sensing hose to a diagnostic device or other electronic circuitry. Any combination of the hoses  40 ,  50  and the hose sockets  29 ,  59  could be used to conduct the electric signals carried by one or more conductive layers  44 ,  54 ,  58  of the hose  40 ,  50 . 
         [0037]    Now referring to  FIG. 7 , an end view of the socket  59  is shown. The cutting tabs  62 A and  62 B are clearly shown extending form the inner surface of the socket  59 . After a full crimp is applied on the socket  59 , the cutting tabs  62 A and  62 B will cut through the outer layer  60  of the hose  50  and establish electrical contact with the outer conductive layer  58 . 
         [0038]    The present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing illustrations, which are merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the disclosure. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the illustrations of the disclosure described herein may be employed in practicing the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the disclosure and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the disclosure should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing illustrations are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.