Optical assurance cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337992-B2
Application number	US-201816180401-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2018
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A fluid connector assembly, including a fluid connector including a first through-bore, an optical assurance cap arranged on said fluid connector, said optical assurance cap including a second through-bore, a tubular connector arranged in said first through-bore and secured to said fluid connector, and a tester tool, including a channel, a light source, and a light sensor, said light source and said light sensor axially displaced from one another, wherein said optical assurance cap is arranged in said channel of said tester tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid connector assembly, comprising:
a fluid connector including a first through-bore;
an optical assurance cap arranged on said fluid connector, said optical assurance cap including a second through-bore;
a tubular connector arranged in said first through-bore and secured to said fluid connector; and,
a tester tool, including:
a channel;
a light source; and,
a light sensor, said light source and said light sensor axially displaced from one another,

wherein said optical assurance cap is arranged in said channel of said tester tool.

2. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said optical assurance cap is arranged between said light source and said light sensor.

3. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said optical assurance cap further comprises:
a body, including:
a first section having a first light absorption coefficient;
a second section having a second light absorption coefficient; and,
a third section having a third light absorption coefficient and operatively arranged between said first section and said second section,

wherein the second through-bore is arranged on the body.

4. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first and second light absorption coefficients form a first combined light absorption coefficient, and said first, second, and third light absorption coefficients form a second combined light absorption coefficient, said first combined light absorption coefficient being less than said second combined light absorption coefficient.

5. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first light absorption coefficient is greater than said second light absorption coefficient.

6. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first light absorption coefficient is less than said second light absorption coefficient.

7. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first light absorption coefficient is equal to said second light absorption coefficient.

8. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first light absorption coefficient is less than said third light absorption coefficient.

9. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said second light absorption coefficient is less than said third light absorption coefficient.

10. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first light absorption coefficient and said second light absorption coefficient is less than said third light absorption coefficient.

11. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said light source emits fiber-optic light.

12. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said light sensor is a phototransistor.

13. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said light sensor detects a level of light traveling through a connection between the optical assurance cap and the fluid connector.

14. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein when said optical assurance cap is not properly arranged on said fluid connector, said level of light is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

15. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein when said tubular connector is not properly secured to said fluid connector, said level of light is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

16. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein when said optical assurance cap is not properly arranged on said fluid connector or said tubular connector is not properly secured to said fluid connector, said level of light is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

17. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein when said optical assurance cap is properly arranged on said fluid connector, said level of light is less than a predetermined value.

18. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein when said optical assurance cap is properly arranged on said fluid connector and said tubular connector is properly secured to said fluid connector, said level of light is less than a predetermined value.

19. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein said light source directs light through a first optical line toward said connection.

20. The fluid connector assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein said light source directs light through a first optical line toward said connection, and said light sensor detects said light through a second optical line leading from said connection.

Assignees

• Oetiker Ny Inc

Inventors

• Fremont Bradley C

Classifications

• G01M3/38

  by using light (G01M3/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/59 Primary

  Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N2201/08

  Optical fibres; light guides · CPC title

• G02B5/003

  Light absorbing elements · CPC title

• G01M3/022 Primary

  Test plugs for closing off the end of a pipe · CPC title