Quick Connector

Abstract

A quick connector with an accessory housing. The accessory housing receives a system sensing device such as an absolute pressure sensor or a differential pressure sensor in fluid tight relation to the housing. A receptacle portion is arranged to connector the sensor to measuring instrumentation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a quick connector body illustrating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the quick connector body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the quick connector body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 of a quick connector having the connector body of FIGS. 1-3 with a sensing device installed in the accessory chamber;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 of a quick connector having a connector body of FIG. 1-3 with a sensing device installed in the accessory chamber;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a slightly different form of quick connector body illustrating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the quick connector body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the quick connector body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the quick connector body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the quick connector body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a further perspective view on a different scale of the quick connector body of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of a strain gauge sensor device usable in connection with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another quick connector body embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the quick connector body of FIG. 14 taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional plan view of the quick connector body of FIG. 14 taken along the lines 15-15 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a schematic of a variable capacitance sensing device useful with the present invention.

Claims

1. A molded quick connector coupling body having a wall defining a through bore with a male member reception end and defining a fluid passageway, said body further comprising an integrally molded accessory housing having an accessory receiving chamber defining portion.

2. A quick connector coupling body as claimed in claim 1 wherein said accessory receiving chamber defining portion includes a bottom wall defining a bore in communication with said through bore.

3. A quick connector coupling body as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cavity defining portion includes side walls defining said accessory chamber.

4. A quick connector coupling body as claimed in claim 3 wherein said side walls include a rim defining an opening to said accessory chamber, said accessory housing further including a cover releasably connected to said rim in fluid tight relation.

5. A quick connector coupling back as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cover includes a port communication to the exterior of said accessory chamber.

6. A quick connector body as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cover includes a protective cap overlying said port.

7. A quick connector body as claimed in claim 2 wherein said accessory housing further defines a receptacle portion.

8. A quick connector body as claimed in claim 7 wherein said receptacle portion includes a wall extending from one of said sidewalls of said accessory cavity defining portion defining a hollow plug receiving chamber.

9. A quick connector body as claimed in claim 8 wherein said accessory housing includes at least two electrically conductive prongs in said sidewall between said accessory chamber and said plug receiving chamber with ends of said prongs exposed in said accessory chamber and said hollow plug receiving chamber.

10. A quick connector body as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein a sensor is disposed in said accessory chamber.

11. A quick connector body as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9 wherein a sensor is disposed in said accessory chamber, said sensor is secured in fluid tight relation to said sidewalls.

12. A quick connector body as claimed in claim 11 wherein fluid tight sealant is disposed between said sensor and said sidewalls.

13. A quick connector body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said body is generally cylindrical and elongate and said accessory housing is disposed generally transverse to said generally cylindrical elongate body.

14. A quick connector body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said body includes a stem portion opposite to said male member reception end and said stem portion is disposed at 90° to the remainder of said body.

15. A quick connector body as claimed in claim 14 wherein said accessory housing is disposed generally parallel to said stem portion.

16. A quick connector assembly including a quick connector coupling body having a wall defining a through bore with a male member reception end and defining a fluid passageway said body further comprising an integrally molded accessory housing having an accessory receiving chamber defining portion said accessory receiving chamber defining portion including a bottom wall, defining a bore in communication with said through bore,and a pressure sensing device disposed in said accessory receiving chamber.

17. A quick connector assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said accessory receiving chamber defining portion includes at least one side wall defining said accessory chamber, said pressure sensing device is disposed in said accessory chamber in fluid tight relation to said at least one side wall.

18. A quick connector assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein said at least one sidewall is cylindrical and defines a rim, and said sidewall includes an internal threaded portion.

19. A quick connector assembly as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said pressure sensing device is an absolute pressure sensing device.

20. A quick connector assembly as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said pressure sensing device is a differential pressure sensing device.

21. A quick connector assembly as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said pressure sensing device is a strain gauge pressure sensing device.

22. A quick connector assembly as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said pressure sensing device is a variable capacitance pressure sensing device.