Patent Publication Number: US-2021190400-A1

Title: Charging Port Coupler

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/949,478 filed Dec. 18, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A coupler, sometimes referred to as a “quick coupler”, is a device that is used to quickly and easily connect to a service port. The connection between a coupler and a service port enables the passage of a fluid. For example, the connection between a coupler and a service port can be used to allow the passage of a refrigerant to recharge a refrigeration system. 
     Conventional quick couplers use a locking ball mechanism to secure the coupler to the service port. The locking balls extend from an inner surface of the coupler toward the center of the coupler, and are capable of extending radially inward and outward. To connect the conventional quick coupler to the service port, the inner surface of the coupler is placed over the outer surface of the service port. As the coupler is placed over the service port, the locking balls extend and set into a recess of the service port. To extend the locking balls in an outward direction, toward the recess of the service port, conventional quick couplers often use a coupler spring. 
     Once the quick coupler and the service port are secured together, conventional quick couplers engage a moveable pin in the coupler to push the moveable pin toward a valve in the service port. When the valve is pushed by the moveable pin, a channel is opened between the coupler and the service port. The moveable pin, often used by conventional quick couplers, is sometimes engaged with a rotatable handle. The channel created between the coupler and the service port allows fluid to flow from the coupler to the service port. 
     As described above, conventional quick couplers can be very complex, and can include multiple moving components. Accordingly, there remains a need for a coupler, and method of connecting a coupler to a port, that has reduced complexity while still creating a channel to enable the passage of at least one fluid from the coupler to the port. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     According to one embodiment, a coupler for connecting to a port is provided. The coupler includes a body, a plunger needle, and a threaded portion. The body includes a radially outward facing surface, a radially inward facing surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. The plunger needle is fixed to the body. The plunger needle extends in parallel with the body toward the distal end of the body. The threaded portion extends circumferentially around at least a portion of the radially outward facing surface of the body toward the distal end of the body. The threaded portion configured to receive a threaded portion of the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the plunger needle is immovable relative to the body. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the plunger needle is positioned approximately central to the body. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the plunger needle is configured to compress a Schrader valve of the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, when the plunger needle compresses the Schrader valve of the port, a channel is created between the coupler and the port, the channel configured to permit the flow of at least one fluid between the coupler and the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the port includes a threaded portion extending circumferentially around an inner surface of the port toward a distal end of the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the coupler also includes a first O-ring on the radially inward facing surface, the first O-ring configured to create a seal with an outer surface of the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the coupler also include a second O-ring on the radially outward facing surface, the second O-ring configured to create a seal with a distal end of the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the at least one fluid is carbon dioxide (CO2). 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the port meets the specifications of SAE J639. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for connecting a coupler and a port to allow the passage of at least one fluid is provided. The coupler includes a body defining a radially outward facing surface, a plunger needle fixed to the body, and a threaded portion extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the radially outward facing surface. The port includes a threaded portion extending circumferentially around an inner surface and a Schrader valve. The method includes: securing the threaded portion of the coupler to the threaded portion of the port; compressing the Schrader valve of the port with the plunger needle of the coupler to create a channel between the coupler and the port, the channel configured to permit the flow of the at least one fluid between the coupler and the port; and passing the at least one fluid from the coupler to the port through the channel. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the plunger needle is immovable relative to the body. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the plunger needle extends in parallel with the body toward a distal end of the body. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the plunger needle is positioned approximately central to the inner surface of the body. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the coupler includes a first O-ring on a radially inward facing surface, the first O-ring configured to create a seal with an outer surface of the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the seal prevents the leakage of the at least one fluid. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the coupler includes a second O-ring on the radially outward facing surface, the second O-ring configured to create a seal with a distal end of the port. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the seal prevents the leakage of the at least one fluid. 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the at least one fluid is carbon dioxide (CO2). 
     In accordance with additional or alternative embodiments, the port meets the specifications of SAE J639. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The following descriptions of the drawings should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of a coupler in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a port in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of a coupler and a port separated from one another in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of a coupler and a port mated with one another in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A coupler with reduced complexity, when compared to a conventional quick coupler, is provided. The coupler is designed to mate with the port by securing the threaded portion of the coupler with a threaded portion of the port. In certain instances, the threaded portion of the coupler extends circumferentially around at least a portion of a radially outward facing surface. In certain instances, the threaded portion of the port extends circumferentially around an inner surface of the port. The plunger needle of the coupler is fixed to the body of the coupler. By designing the coupler in this manner, the coupler has reduced complexity compared to a conventional quick coupler. Instead of providing a moveable pin to engage the valve of the port, as is done by a conventional quick coupler, the coupler described herein uses a fixed plunger needle. 
     With reference now to the Figures, a cross-sectional side view of a coupler  100 , in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . This coupler  100 , in certain instances, may be referred to as a “quick coupler”. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the coupler  100  includes a body  110 , a plunger needle  120 , and a threaded portion  130 . The body  110  includes a radially outward facing surface  111 , a radially inward facing surface  112 , a proximal end  113 , and a distal end  114 . The plunger needle  120  is fixed to the body  110 . The plunger needle  120  extends in parallel with the body  110  toward the distal end  114  of the body  110 . The threaded portion  130  extends circumferentially around at least a portion of the radially outward facing surface  111  of the body  110  toward the distal end  114  of the body  110 . The threaded portion  130  is configured to receive a threaded portion  220  of the port  200 . 
     A cross-sectional side view of a port  200  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The port  200 , in certain instances, may be referred to as a “service port”. The port  200 , in certain instances, includes a Schrader valve  210 , a threaded portion  220  extending circumferentially around an inner surface  230  of the port  200  toward the distal end  250  of the port  200 . The proximal end  260  of the port  200  on the opposite end of the port  200  relative to the distal end  250  of the port  200 . In certain instances, at least a portion of the outer surface  240  of the port  200  is enveloped by the radially inward facing surface  112  of the coupler  100  when the port  200  and the coupler  100  are connected. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the coupler  100  is configured to connect with the port  200 . The coupler  100 , in certain instances, includes a first O-ring  140 . The first O-ring  140  may, in certain instances, be located on the radially inward facing surface  112  of the coupler  100 . The first O-ring  140 , when used by the coupler  100 , may be configured to create a seal with the outer surface  240  of the port  200 . The coupler  100 , in certain instances, includes a second O-ring  150 . The second O-ring  150  may, in certain instances, be located on the radially outward facing surface  111  of the coupler  100 . The second O-ring  150 , when used by the coupler  100 , may be configured to create a seal with the distal end  250  of the port  200 . In certain instances, the coupler  100  may include the second O-ring  150  without using the first O-ring  140 . In certain instances, the coupler  100  may include the first O-ring  140  without using the second O-ring  140 . In certain instances, the coupler  100  uses neither the first O-ring  140  nor the second O-ring  150 . In certain instances, the coupler  100  uses both the first O-ring  140  and the second O-ring  150 . 
     The plunger needle  120  of the coupler  100 , in certain instances, is configured to compress the Schrader valve  210  of the port  200 . The plunger needle  120 , in certain instances, is immovable relative to the body  110 . To meet the Schrader valve  210  of the port  200 , the plunger needle  120  of the coupler  100 , in certain instances, is positioned approximately central to the body  110 . Approximately central to the body  110 , in certain instances, means that equal parts of the body  110  are located above and below the plunger needle  120 . The configuration of the plunger needle  120 , in certain instances, allows it to meet and compress the Schrader valve  210  of the port  200 . When the plunger needle  120  compresses the Schrader valve  220  of the port  200 , a channel  300  is created between the coupler  100  and the port  200 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the channel  300  is configured to permit the flow of at least one fluid (not shown) between the coupler  100  and the port  200 . To prevent the fluid from leaking, in certain instances, the coupler  100  includes one or more O-ring  140 ,  150 . This fluid, in certain instances, is carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). 
     Although it is envisioned that the coupler  100  could be used in any application in which fluid is transferred through a connection, for purposes of simplicity and brevity, the coupler  100  is described in terms of be used in the recharging of a refrigeration system. When being used with a refrigeration system the fluid, in certain instances, may include at least one refrigerant. This refrigerant may, in certain instances, be carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The refrigeration system, in certain instances, may use a port  200  that meets the specifications of SAE J639. The coupler  100 , in certain instances, is provided to connect with a port  200  that meets the specifications of SAE J639. This specification is set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The design and configuration of the components of the coupler  100 , enable a simplistic method of connecting the coupler  100  to a port  200  to allow the passage of at least one fluid. In certain instances, the design and configuration of the components of the coupler  100  allow for the connecting to a port  200  that meets the specifications of SAE J639. By designing the port  100  to be able to connect to a standardized port  200 , the port  200 , in certain instances, does not need to be customized, making the coupler  100  usable across different industries (ex. any industry utilizing a port  200  meeting the specifications of SAE J639). 
     The method of connecting a coupler and a port enables the passage of at least one fluid. The method may be done, for example, using exemplary coupler  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and exemplary port  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The method provides for the securing of the threaded portion  130  of the coupler  100  to the threaded portion  220  of the port  200 . As the threaded portion  130  of the coupler  110  and the threaded portion  220  of the port  200  are secured, the plunger needle  120  of the coupler  100  and the Schrader valve  210  of the port  200  become closer to one another. When the plunger needle  120  and the Schrader valve  220  meet, the Schrader valve  210  of the port  200  is compressed with the plunger needle  120  of the coupler  100  to create a channel  300  between the coupler  100  and the port  200 . The channel  300  is configured to permit the flow of at least one fluid between the coupler  100  and the port  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Once the channel  300  is created, at least one fluid (not shown) can be passed from the coupler  100  to the port  200  through the channel  300 . To prevent the channel  300  from leaking fluid, in certain instances, the coupler  100  may include one or more O-ring  140 ,  150 . When including an O-ring  140 ,  150  in the coupler  200 , a seal is created between the O-ring(s)  140 ,  150  of the coupler  100  and the port  200 . 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.