A coupling device includes a main body defining a fluid flow passage, and a valve member moveable between an unconnected state and a connected state. The coupling device also includes a magnet coupled to the valve member, and a sensor coupled to the main body, the sensor being configured to sense a change in a magnetic flux of the magnet as the valve member moves between the unconnected state and the connected state to determine a connection state of the coupling device.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a fluid dispensing system;
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example coupling device;
FIG. 3 illustrates another-cross sectional view of the coupling device of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 illustrates an example schematic of a circuit for a sensor assembly.
Claims
1. A coupling device, comprising:
a main body defining a fluid flow passage;a valve member moveable between an unconnected state and a connected state;a magnet coupled to one of the valve member or the main body; anda sensor coupled to an other of the valve member or the main body, the sensor being configured to sense a change in a magnetic flux of the magnet as the valve member moves between the unconnected state and the connected state to estimate a connection state of the coupling device.
2. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an angle of the magnetic flux to estimate the connection state.
3. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to estimate a plurality of connection states.
4. The coupling device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of connection states includes the unconnected state, the connected state, and a partially connected state.
5. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to estimate a position of the valve member relative to the main body.
6. The coupling device of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit a signal indicating the connection state of the coupling device.
7. A fluid coupling system, the system comprising:
a first coupling device connected to a source of a fluid;a second coupling device connected to a destination of the fluid, the second coupling device including:
a main body defining a fluid flow passage;a spring;a valve member moveable by the spring between an unconnected state and a connected state;a magnet coupled to the valve member; anda sensor coupled to the main body, the sensor being configured to sense a change in a magnetic flux of the magnet as the valve member moves between the unconnected state and the connected state to estimate a connection state of the second coupling device;wherein the first coupling device is connected to the second coupling device so that the valve member is pushed into the main body from the unconnected state to the connected state; andwherein the sensor senses the change in the magnetic flux as the valve member moves between the unconnected state and the connected state.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an angle of the magnetic flux to estimate the connection state.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to estimate a plurality of connection states.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of connection states includes the unconnected state, the connected state, and a partially connected state.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to estimate a position of the valve member relative to the main body.
12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit a signal indicating the connection state of the second coupling device.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a host controller, wherein the host controller is configured to receive the signal indicating the connection state of the second coupling device, and wherein the host controller controls the fluid flowing from the source based on the connection state of the second coupling device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the transceiver transmits the connection state to the host controller using a wired or wireless connection.
15. A method of estimating a connection state of a coupling device, the method comprising:
positioning a magnet on a first component of the coupling device;positioning a sensor on a second component of the coupling device;allowing the first component to move relative to the second component as the coupling device is connected; andestimating the connection state of the coupling device by measuring a change in an angle of a magnetic flux of the magnet.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
coupling the magnet to a valve of the coupling device; andcoupling the sensor to a housing of the coupling device.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of estimating further comprises estimating a position of the valve relative to the housing.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of estimating further comprising estimating a plurality of connection states.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the connection state.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of transmitting further comprises transmitting the connection state to a host controller.
Patent Application
20070209716
