Patent Description:
Known fuel connectors include multiple parts such as O-rings, clamps, and/or snaps contributing toward costs and less than optimal packaging issues.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a more robust fuel connector with less parts, reduced costs, and improvements in packaging.

In one, exemplary and non-limiting, embodiment of the present disclosure, a fuel connector of a fuel system is adapted to flow fuel. The fuel system includes male and female components as described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and in <CIT>. The male component includes a plurality of barbs each projecting radially outward, spaced axially from one-another and being circumferentially continuous.

The female component includes a tubular segment and a plurality of reinforcement rings arranged on or embedded in said tubular segment such that, when said male component and said female component are fully connected by axial insertion of said male component into a cavity of said female component, each one of the plurality of reinforcement rings is in a predefined axial relationship with a respective adjacent one of the plurality of barbs in an insertion direction of said male component, the insertion direction being the direction of axial insertion of said male component into said female component, where each one of the plurality of reinforcement rings is be axially located, with respect to the insertion direction of the male component, behind said adjacent respective one of the plurality of barbs facing said insertion direction such that each said adjacent respective one of the plurality of barbs is located farther into said cavity than an axial position of said reinforcement rings.

Also in the fuel connector, the adjacent barbs of the plurality of barbs may be axially spaced by a first distance, adjacent reinforcement rings of the plurality of reinforcement rings may be axially spaced by a second distance, and the first distance may be equal to the second distance.

Each ring of the plurality of rings may project radially outward.

The male component may be a unitary, single, and homogenous piece made of plastic.

The female component may be a unitary, single, and homogenous piece made of plastic.

In the fuel connector, at least one of the male and female components may be made of acetal conductive copolymer.

The plurality of barbs may form a fir tree.

The male component of the fuel connector may include a tubular portion having an inner surface defining a channel for the flow of fuel and an opposite outer surface, and the plurality of barbs may project radially outward from the outer surface.

The female component of the fuel connector may include the tubular segment having an inner face defining a cavity for receipt of the male component, and an opposite outer face, and the plurality of rings may project radially outward from the outer face.

The female component of the fuel connector may include the tubular segment having an inner face defining the cavity for receipt of the male component, an opposite outer face, and the plurality of rings may be embedded in the tubular segment radially between the inner and outer faces.

In an example, a fuel connector is adapted to flow fuel, and includes a male component, and a female component. The male component includes a tubular portion and a circumferentially continuous barb. The male component defines a channel for the flow of fuel along a centerline. The barb projects radially outward from the tubular portion. The female component including a tubular segment and a reinforcement ring. The tubular segment defines a cavity extending along the centerline, and is adapted to receive the male component. The reinforcement ring is circumferentially continuous and projects radially outward from the tubular segment. The reinforcement ring is a unitary part of the tubular segment, and is axially located behind the barb when the fuel connector is coupled.

The male and female components may be made of injection molded plastic.

In another example, a fuel system includes a fuel connector, a fuel filter, and a fuel fitting. The connector includes male and female components. The male component includes a tubular portion defining a channel for the flow of fuel along a centerline, and a circumferentially continuous barb projecting radially outward from the tubular portion. The female component includes a tubular segment and a reinforcement ring. The tubular segment defines a cavity extending along the centerline and adapted to receive the male component. The reinforcement ring is circumferentially continuous and projects radially outward from the tubular segment. The reinforcement ring is a unitary part of the tubular segment and is axially located behind the barb with respect to an insertion direction of the male component and when the first fuel connector is coupled. The fuel connector is carried between the fuel filter and the fuel fitting, thereby providing fluid communication between the fitting and the fuel filter.

In the fuel system, the fuel filter may include a housing and one of the male and female components may be an integral and unitary part of the housing.

In the fuel system, the other of the male and female components may be an integral and unitary part of the fitting.

The fuel system may further comprise: a fuel pump in fluid communication with the fuel filter via the fitting, the fuel pump including a pump housing; and a second fuel connector including male and female components, the male component including a tubular portion defining a channel for the flow of fuel along a centerline and a circumferentially continuous barb projecting radially outward from the tubular portion, and the female component including a tubular segment defining a cavity extending along the centerline and adapted to receive the male component and a reinforcement ring being circumferentially continuous and projecting radially outward from the tubular segment, the reinforcement ring being a unitary part of the tubular segment and being in a predefined axial relationship with the barb when the second fuel connector is coupled, and one of the male and female components of the second fuel connector is an integral and unitary part of the pump housing.

In the fuel system, the other of the male and female components of the second fuel connector may be an integral and unitary part of the fitting.

Also in the fuel system, the circumferentially continuous barb may be one of a plurality of circumferentially continuous barbs axially spaced from one-another, and the reinforcement ring may be one of a plurality of reinforcement rings axially spaced from one-another, and wherein each one of the plurality of circumferentially continuous barbs may be axially located behind a respective one of the plurality of reinforcement rings and with respect to an insertion direction of the male component.

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:.

Referring now to the Figures, where the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments, without limiting same, at least a portion of a fuel system <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. As one, non-limiting, example, such fuel systems may be utilized in the automotive industry to deliver fuel to a combustion engine (not shown). In this and other applications, the fuel system <NUM> may include a fuel pump <NUM> and a fuel filter <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, to facilitate fuel flow from the fuel pump <NUM> to the fuel filter <NUM> (or vice-versa), the fuel system <NUM> includes a fuel connector <NUM> that may be generally carried by, and between, the pump and the filter. The fuel connector <NUM> includes a male component <NUM> and a female component <NUM>. In one embodiment, the male component <NUM> may be an integral and unitary part of a filter housing <NUM> of the fuel filter <NUM>. The female component <NUM> may be an integral and unitary part of a multi-ported fuel fitting <NUM> adapted, for example, to press fit about a fuel pump outlet nozzle <NUM> that may be an integral and unitary part of a pump housing <NUM>. In one embodiment, the fuel pump outlet nozzle <NUM> and the portion of the fuel fitting (i.e., port) that press fits to the fuel pump outlet nozzle <NUM> may be considered as a second fuel connection. In yet another embodiment, the fuel fitting <NUM> may be an integral and unitary part of the pump housing <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the fuel fitting <NUM> may include one or more male components <NUM> and/or one or more female components <NUM> adapted to connect to any number of fuel system elements. For example, the fitting illustrated in <FIG> includes the female component <NUM>, as previously described, a second female component <NUM> adapted to connect to the fuel pump outlet nozzle <NUM> (i.e. male component) associated with the pump housing <NUM>, and a male component <NUM> adapted to connect to a female component of a jet pump (not illustrated).

In one embodiment, the filter housing <NUM> may be a unitary, single, and homogeneous part made, for example, of injection molded plastic. Similarly, the fuel fitting <NUM> may be a unitary, single, and homogeneous part made of injection molded plastic. In yet another example, one or both of the components <NUM>, <NUM> may be made of an acetal conductive copolymer.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the male component <NUM> of the fuel connector <NUM> includes a tubular portion <NUM> and at least one barb (i.e., two illustrated as <NUM>, <NUM>). The tubular portion <NUM> includes an inner surface <NUM> that defines a channel <NUM> for the flow of fuel along a centerline C, and an opposite outer surface <NUM> that faces radially outward with respect to the centerline C. Each barb <NUM>, <NUM> is engaged to, and projects radially outward from the outer surface <NUM>. The barbs <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer surface <NUM> circumferentially extend continuously about the centerline C. Barb <NUM> is axially spaced from barb <NUM> by an axial distance (see arrow <NUM> in <FIG>). In one embodiment, the at least one barb <NUM>, <NUM> is a plurality of barbs that is generally referred to as a fir tree arrangement.

The female component <NUM> of the fuel connector <NUM> includes a segment <NUM> that may be tubular and at least one reinforcement ring (i.e., two illustrated as <NUM>, <NUM>). The tubular segment <NUM> includes an inner face <NUM> that defines a cavity <NUM> for receipt of the male component <NUM> in an axial direction with respect to the centerline C, and an opposite outer face <NUM> that faces radially outward with respect to the centerline C. In one example, each reinforcement ring <NUM>, <NUM> is engaged to, and projects radially outward from the outer face <NUM>. The reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM> and the outer face <NUM> circumferentially extend continuously about the centerline C. Reinforcement ring <NUM> is axially spaced from the reinforcement ring <NUM> by the same axial distance <NUM> measured between the barbs <NUM>, <NUM>. The reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM> provide increased strength to female component <NUM> at the location of reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM>, and therefore increased resistance to deformation, comparted to the portions of female component <NUM> that are immediately ahead of and behind reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, each barb <NUM>, <NUM> is ramped for axial insertion (see arrow <NUM> representing an insertion direction in <FIG>) of the male component <NUM> into the cavity <NUM> of the female component <NUM>. When the fuel connector <NUM> is fully coupled (as best shown in <FIG>), apexes <NUM> of each barb <NUM>, <NUM> are press fitted against the inner face <NUM> of the tubular segment <NUM> of the female component <NUM> for a fuel resistant seal.

When the fuel connector <NUM> is fully coupled, each one of the reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM> are in a predefined axial relationship with a respective one of the barbs <NUM>, <NUM> when connected. In one example, the reinforcement ring <NUM> is axially located behind the barb <NUM>, and the reinforcement ring <NUM> is axially located behind the barb <NUM> (i.e., with respect to the insertion direction <NUM> of the male component <NUM>). In one embodiment, and when fully coupled, the reinforcement ring <NUM> is axially centered between the barbs <NUM>, <NUM>. In one example, and when the fuel connector <NUM> is fully coupled, the barbs <NUM>, <NUM> and the tubular segment <NUM> of the female component <NUM> will undergo limited plastic deformation. The reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM> are adapted to limit plastic deformation of the tubular segment <NUM>, while providing an optimal seal.

In one embodiment, and when the fuel connector <NUM> is fully coupled, the apexes <NUM> of each barb <NUM>, <NUM> may be, at least in part, resiliently deformed (i.e., flexed radially inward) because of the biased contact against the inner face <NUM> of the female component <NUM>. In addition, the inner face <NUM> may be resiliently flexed radially outward because of the same contact. In one example, flexing of the inner face <NUM> (i.e., that portion located axially between the reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM>), causes the entire wall of the tubular segment <NUM> of the female component <NUM> to flex, or distort radially outward. This flexing of the tubular segment <NUM> creates an external humped appearance of the tubular segment <NUM>. Such humped appearances are axially aligned to the location of each respective barb <NUM>, <NUM>. The reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM> act to limit, or restrict, the distortion of the tubular segment <NUM>. That is, distortion of the tubular segment <NUM> at the axial locations of the reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM> is minimal, or non-existent.

Referring to <FIG>, a second embodiment of a fuel connector is illustrated wherein like elements to the first embodiment have like identifying numerals except with the addition of a prime symbol suffix. A female component <NUM>' of a fuel connector <NUM>' includes a segment <NUM>' that may be tubular and at least one reinforcement ring (i.e., two illustrated as <NUM>', <NUM>'). The tubular segment <NUM>' includes an inner face <NUM>' that defines a cavity <NUM>' for receipt of a male component <NUM>', and an opposite outer face <NUM>'. The reinforcement rings <NUM>', <NUM>' are embedded in the tubular segment <NUM>' and between the faced <NUM>', <NUM>'.

The reinforcement rings <NUM>', <NUM>' are made of a material that is stronger than the material of the tubular segment <NUM>'. For example, the tubular segment <NUM>' may be made of injection molded plastic and the reinforcement rings <NUM>', <NUM>' may be made of metal (e.g., steel). The reinforcement rings <NUM>', <NUM>' provide increased strength to female component <NUM>' at the location of reinforcement rings <NUM>', <NUM>', and therefore increased resistance to deformation, comparted to the portions of female component <NUM>' that are immediately ahead of and behind reinforcement rings <NUM>, <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A fuel connector (<NUM>) adapted to flow fuel, the fuel connector (<NUM>) comprising:
a male component (<NUM>) including a plurality of barbs (<NUM>,<NUM>) each projecting radially outward, spaced axially from one-another and being circumferentially continuous; and
a female component (<NUM>) including a tubular segment (<NUM>) and a plurality of reinforcement rings (<NUM>,<NUM>) arranged on or embedded in said tubular segment (<NUM>) such that, when said male component (<NUM>) and said female component (<NUM>) are fully connected by axial insertion of said male component (<NUM>) into a cavity (<NUM>) of said female component (<NUM>), each one of the plurality of reinforcement rings (<NUM>,<NUM>) is in a predefined axial relationship with a respective adjacent one of the plurality of barbs (<NUM>,<NUM>) in an insertion direction (<NUM>) of said male component (<NUM>), the insertion direction (<NUM>) being the direction of axial insertion of said male component (<NUM>) into said female component (<NUM>),
characterized in that
each one of the plurality of reinforcement rings (<NUM>,<NUM>) is axially located, with respect to said insertion direction (<NUM>) of the male component (<NUM>), behind said adjacent respective one of the plurality of barbs (<NUM>,<NUM>) facing said insertion direction (<NUM>) such that each said adjacent respective one of the plurality of barbs (<NUM>,<NUM>) is located farther into said cavity (<NUM>) than an axial position of said reinforcement rings (<NUM>,<NUM>).