Patent Description:
Fuel vapor emission or purge control systems are implemented in internal combustion engine systems to comply with environmental and safety regulations. These systems prevent fuel vapor from escaping to the atmosphere, for example, by venting fuel vapors to a purge canister which contains activated carbon. Under preselected engine conditions, a purge valve opens and vacuum from the intake manifold draws the vapor to the engine's combustion chamber to be burned as part of the aggregate fuel-air mixture.

Another requirement of such systems is a leak-detection system. Various leak detections systems have been implemented, for example, the systems in <CIT>. However, the presence of multiple quick connectors provides multiple opportunities for leaks.

In the prior art system <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, between the fuel filler inlet <NUM> and the fuel tank <NUM> there are two quick connectors <NUM> and a vapor "T" fitting with a restriction orifice <NUM>. The vapor "T" connects the fuel filler inlet <NUM>, the fuel tank <NUM>, and the fuel line <NUM>. This configuration provides at least five potential leak paths. The fuel line <NUM> leads to a fuel vapor canister <NUM> and then to the engine. The conduit between the fuel vapor canister <NUM> and the engine may be referred to as a purge line <NUM>.

Examples of known couplings are disclosed in <CIT> or <CIT>.

There is a need to protect fuel systems from potential leak paths, in particular by reducing the number of potential leak paths while providing a compact device that is tunable, especially during the testing phase of development without a system or component part rebuild.

The aforementioned aims are reached by female quick coupling, a female quick coupling kit and a fuel vapor purge system as claimed in the appended set of claims.

The following detailed description will illustrate the general principles of the invention, examples of which are additionally illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

As used herein, "fluid" means any liquid, suspension, colloid, gas, plasma, or combinations thereof.

<FIG> illustrates one embodiment of an engine system 10a, which may be a vehicle engine system, which includes a quick connector <NUM> having a female quick coupling <NUM>, 102a, or 102b having a replaceable restriction orifice according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein. The engine system <NUM> is configured for combusting fuel vapor <NUM> from a fuel tank <NUM> which accumulates in at least one component thereof and includes a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine <NUM>. The fuel tank <NUM> holds fuel <NUM> to be supplied to the internal combustion engine <NUM> and is operatively connected to an evaporative emissions control system having a purge canister <NUM> adapted to collect fuel vapor emitted by the fuel tank <NUM> and to subsequently release the fuel vapor to the engine <NUM> through the purge line <NUM>. In contrast to the prior art system of <FIG>, between the fuel filler inlet <NUM> and the fuel tank <NUM> there is one standard quick connector <NUM> and one quick connector having a replaceable restriction orifice <NUM>, thereby reducing the potential number of leak paths from five to two. The quick connector <NUM> connects the fuel filler inlet <NUM> to the conduit leading to the fuel tank and to the fuel fill conduit <NUM>.

The engine system may be an onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system, a pressure integrity check system, or a make-up air system. The quick connect however is not limited thereto and can be useful in any system requiring a restriction to flow of fluid therethrough.

Referring now to <FIG>, the female quick coupling <NUM> has an elongate tubular housing <NUM> having an input end <NUM> shaped to receive a male coupling (not shown) having an exterior annular bead, wherein the male and female couplings form a quick connector, and a stem <NUM> defining the opposing end. The stem <NUM> may include a retaining feature <NUM>, such as a plurality of annular protruding ribs shown in <FIG> for receiving a hose or conduit securely thereover. The housing <NUM> defines an axial bore <NUM> having a dual stepped bore defining a first shoulder <NUM> (<FIG>) and a second shoulder <NUM> therein and, proximate the input end <NUM>, has a connector collar <NUM> defining a first slot <NUM> oriented transverse to the axial bore <NUM>.

The first slot <NUM> has a plurality of arm sockets <NUM>. Arm sockets 114a extends through the housing <NUM> and are both open at both ends, and arm sockets 114b extend into and terminate within the housing <NUM>.

A locking member <NUM> cooperates with the housing <NUM> to fasten a male quick coupling within the connector collar <NUM>, in particular the locking member is slidingly receivable in the first slot <NUM> until it locks therein using a set of elongate arms <NUM>. The locking member <NUM> has a cover portion <NUM> from which the set of elongate arms <NUM> protrude and from which a set of shorter holding arms <NUM> protrude. In <FIG>, the locking member <NUM> is in an unassembled position. In <FIG>, the locking member <NUM> is in its assembled retracted, starting position, in which it is inserted into the slot <NUM> until the notches <NUM> on the radial exterior sides of the elongate arms <NUM> latch into the housing <NUM>. <FIG> shows the locking member <NUM> in the locking position in which it is fully inserted into the slot <NUM> and the cover portion <NUM> forms a portion of the exterior surface of the collar portion <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> has seated within the axial bore a removable insert <NUM> defining a restriction orifice <NUM>, which is seated against the first shoulder <NUM>. And, seated upon the removable insert <NUM>, moving in order in the upstream direction is a first sealing member <NUM>, a spacer <NUM>, a second sealing member <NUM>, and a lock washer <NUM>. The sealing members may be O-rings, X-rings, and V-rings, but are not limited thereto. The lock washer <NUM> has a structure that defines a void <NUM> that matches the slot's configuration at the interior diameter of the axial bore <NUM> within the collar connector <NUM>. The lock washer <NUM> may have a snap-fit within the axial bore or may be press fit within the axial bore with an interference fit or other known secure fits. The lock washer <NUM> is a removable member during the manufacturers testing, but is permanent once a restriction orifice <NUM> size has been determined for the female quick coupling <NUM>. The downstream end of the lock washer defines a neck <NUM> and a shoulder <NUM>. The shoulder <NUM> seats against the second shoulder <NUM> of the axial bore <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Turning now to <FIG>, the removable insert <NUM> defining the restriction orifice <NUM> may have any size orifice opening required for a preselected application. The female quick coupling <NUM> can be part of a kit that has a plurality of removable inserts <NUM> that each define an orifice opening <NUM> of a different size and/or differently angled frustums terminating at the orifice opening <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the removable insert <NUM> defines a restriction orifice <NUM> having an upstream conical frustum <NUM> and a downstream conical frustum <NUM> mated at their respective smallest diameters at the orifice opening <NUM>. The upstream conical frustum <NUM> has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the first sealing member <NUM> and the downstream conical frustum <NUM> has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the axial bore <NUM> extending downstream of the first shoulder <NUM>. In one embodiment, the largest dimeter of the upstream conical frustum <NUM> is larger than the largest diameter of the downstream conical frustum <NUM>. In another embodiment, the upstream conical frustum <NUM> and the downstream conical frustum <NUM> are shaped according to a hyperbolic function.

Turning now to <FIG>, an alternate embodiment for the removable insert <NUM>' is shown. The embodiment of <FIG> is not covered by the claims. Here, the removable insert <NUM>' defines a frustoconically-shaped bore <NUM> defining the restriction orifice <NUM>', wherein the removable insert <NUM>' is seatable against the first shoulder <NUM> of the axial bore <NUM> with either of a first end face 139a defining the opening of the frustoconically-shaped bore is seated against the first shoulder or a second end face 139b defining the restriction orifice. The restriction orifice <NUM> is commonly circular, though can be created in any shape that creates appropriate restriction at a given specification. Upstream and downstream bore shapes <NUM> or <NUM> are not limited to frustoconical, and, in embodiments not covered by the claims, they can be cylindrical or any other shape to meet the desired restriction orifice <NUM> size. Upstream and downstream bore shapes <NUM> and <NUM> do not have to originate at a diameter substantially similar to the internal diameter of the axial bore <NUM> as long as the desired restriction is met.

Turning to <FIG> and <FIG>, the set of elongate arms <NUM> are engaged in the sockets 114a in the locked position by a locking feature <NUM> (only shown in <FIG>) that is receivable in the gap <NUM> defined between the feet <NUM> of each elongate arm <NUM> and the radially inward protruding locking tabs <NUM> of each elongate arm. The slot <NUM> includes a set of spacers <NUM> facing one another from opposite faces of the slot, which separate socket 114a from 114b in each pair of sockets. As such, when the locking member <NUM> is inserted into the slot <NUM>, the spacer <NUM> separates each elongate arm <NUM> from its respective holding arm <NUM>. The locking feature <NUM> of each socket 114a is formed protruding in a surface <NUM> of the socket <NUM> that is most proximate the input end <NUM>. When the foot <NUM> of each elongate arm <NUM> is inserted fully in the slot 114a, the gap <NUM> receives the locking feature <NUM> and each foot prevents the locking member from being removable from the slot <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG>, each socket 114a is axially larger (see the axial distance (DA)) than a thickness of the corresponding elongate arm <NUM>, in particular in the axial direction toward the stem <NUM>. Each elongate arm <NUM> is elastically flexible in the axial direction toward the stem <NUM>. As such, from the locked position, the elongate arms <NUM> may be biased toward the stem <NUM> a clearance distance away from the locking feature <NUM> enabling the locking member <NUM> to be returned to the retracted, starting position shown in <FIG>. The biasing force may be applied in the downstream direction at the foot <NUM> of each elongate arm <NUM>, which protrude from the collar connector <NUM> in the locked position, or in the upstream direction against the underside <NUM> of the cover portion <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a second embodiment for a female quick coupling 102a has a removable insert <NUM>' defining a restriction orifice that is a latchable plug <NUM> defining a restriction orifice <NUM>. The slot <NUM>, locking member <NUM>, first sealing member <NUM>, spacer <NUM>, second sealing member <NUM>, and lock washer <NUM> are the same as those for the first embodiment of <FIG>. Here, the latchable plug <NUM> is slidingly receivable in a second slot <NUM> defined by the housing <NUM>, which is oriented transverse to the axial bore <NUM> and is positioned proximate the first shoulder <NUM>, such that the removable insert <NUM>, when in a latched position, aligns the restriction orifice with the axial bore and seats the downstream face of the body <NUM> against the first shoulder <NUM>.

Similar to the locking member <NUM>, the latchable plug <NUM> has a cover portion <NUM> from which a set of elongate arms <NUM> protrude and from which a set of shorter holding arms <NUM> protrude. In addition, a body <NUM> protrudes from the cover portion <NUM> at a position between the set of elongate arms <NUM>. The body <NUM> defines the restriction orifice <NUM>. The body <NUM> may have any of the frustoconical shaped bores or mating frustum shaped bores described above. The set of elongate arms <NUM> each define a gap <NUM> between a foot <NUM> thereof and a radially inward protruding tab <NUM> thereof for locking to a locking feature of the slot <NUM> in the same manner described above for the locking member <NUM> and the first slot <NUM>. The body <NUM> does not extend beyond the protruding tabs <NUM>, so as not to interfere with the mating thereof with the locking feature of the second slot <NUM>. The second slot <NUM> is generally the same at the first slot, but of smaller dimensions.

In <FIG>, the latchable plug <NUM> is in an unassembled position, but it has an assembled retracted, starting position, in which it is inserted into the slot <NUM> until the notches <NUM> on the radial exterior sides of the elongate arms <NUM> latch into the housing <NUM> and a locking position in which it is fully inserted into the slot <NUM> in the same manner as the locking member <NUM>.

The female quick coupling 102a can be part of a kit that has a plurality of removable inserts <NUM>' that each define an orifice opening <NUM> of a different size and/or differently angled frustums terminating at the orifice opening <NUM>. The removable inserts <NUM>'are able to be removed and replaced with one having a different size restriction orifice during testing in the event the female quick coupling does not meet a customer's pre-selected system requirements.

Advantages and/or benefits of the quick connector with a replaceable or tunable restriction orifice include the integration of the restriction orifice into the quick connector for smaller packaging and a reduction of components. But even more importantly, the quick connector disclosed herein provides an easy means to change the orifice dimensions during manufacturing and, more specifically, during testing. The replaceable orifice is easily changed during testing without vehicle tear up or waiting for a new part to be manufactured, which is considered a late stage engineering change that can cause significant delay.

It should be noted that the embodiments are not limited in their application or use to the details of construction and arrangement of parts and steps illustrated in the drawings and description. Features of the illustrative embodiments, constructions, and variants may be implemented or incorporated in other embodiments, constructions, variants, and modifications, and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions employed herein have been chosen for the purpose of describing the illustrative embodiments of the present invention for the convenience of the reader.

Claim 1:
A female quick coupling (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) defining an axial bore (<NUM>) having a first shoulder (<NUM>) and a first slot (<NUM>) transverse to the axial bore;
a locking member (<NUM>) slidingly received in the first slot (<NUM>) for locking a male fluid line in the axial bore (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>), a removable insert (<NUM>, <NUM>') seated against the first shoulder (<NUM>) within the axial bore (<NUM>), characterized in that the removable insert (<NUM>, <NUM>') has mating frustum-shaped bores that define a restriction orifice (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), whereir the mating frustum-shaped bores comprise an upstream conical frustum (<NUM>) and a downstream conical frustum (<NUM>) mated at their respective smaller diameter.