Quick connector with modular flow control insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11796102-B2
Application number	US-202117537938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Priority date	Jan 26, 2021
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

An assembly, connector and process for a quick connector includes a receptacle having first and second interior passages including a chamber in fluid communication between the first and second passages. A flow control insert is installed in the chamber to regulate fluid flow between the first and the second passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A quick connector assembly comprising:
a receptacle having a first and a second interior passage that provides a path for fluid to flow between the first and the second interior passage;
a chamber in fluid communication between the first and the second interior passage; and
a flow control insert installed in the chamber, the flow control insert including:
a cage having a floor and a head end the floor including an opening;
a ball housed within the cage resting in the floor opening allowing a gaseous fluid to flow from the second interior passage to the first interior passage; and
an opening in the cage head end,
wherein the ball is movable to the head end opening to block a liquid fluid from flowing out of the flow control insert to the second interior passage.

2. The quick connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a first end having an opening the first end containing the first interior passage.

3. The quick connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle includes a stem extending from a second end of the receptacle, the stem containing the second interior passage and arranged to accept a second tube on the stem.

4. The quick connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the chamber is a cylindrical cavity open to the first and the second interior passages.

5. The quick connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the flow control insert is arranged to be installed in the cavity through the opening of the connector first end and through the first interior passage.

6. The quick connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first interior passage is arranged to receive a first fluid tube within the first passage through the opening.

7. The quick connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the flow control insert regulates fluid flow between the first tube and the second tube.

8. A quick connector comprising:
a receptacle having a first and a second interior passage and a chamber in fluid communication between the first and the second interior passage; and
a flow control insert installed in the chamber, the flow control insert including a ball housed within a cage having a floor opening and a head opening and in a first position the ball rests in the floor opening that allows gaseous fluid to flow from the second interior passage to the first interior passage through the flow control insert and the ball movable within the cage to a second position at the head end opening to block liquid fluid from flowing out of the flow control insert to the second interior passage,
wherein the receptacle includes a first end having an opening to the first interior passage and the flow control insert is installed in the chamber through the receptacle first end opening and the first interior passage.

9. The quick connector of claim 8 , wherein the receptacle includes a stem extending from a second end of the receptacle, the stem containing the second interior passage and arranged to accept a second tube on the stem.

10. The quick connector of claim 9 , wherein the chamber is a cylindrical cavity open to the first and the second interior passages.

11. The quick connector of claim 8 , wherein a first fluid tube is installed in the first interior passage through the receptacle first end opening.

12. The quick connector of claim 11 , wherein the flow control insert regulates fluid flow between the first tube and the second tube.

13. A process for controlling the flow of a fluid in a quick connector comprising:
providing a receptacle having a first and a second interior passage;
providing a chamber in fluid communication between the first and second interior passage; and
installing a flow control insert into the chamber, the flow control insert having a ball housed in a cage, the cage having a floor opening and a head end opening and in a first position the ball rests in the floor opening that allows a gaseous fluid to flow through the flow control insert from the second interior passage to the first interior passage and the ball movable in the cage to a second position at the head end opening that blocks liquid fluid from flowing out of the flow control insert to the second interior passage.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle includes a first end having an opening the first end containing the first interior passage and the chamber is a cylindrical cavity open to the first and the second interior passages, the process further including:
installing the flow control insert in the cavity through the opening of the connector first end through the first interior passage.

15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the receptacle includes a stem extending from a second end of the receptacle, the stem containing the second interior passage, the process further including:
installing a second tube on the stem.

16. The process of claim 15 , further including installing a first tube in the interior passage through the opening.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the flow control insert regulates fluid flow between the first tube and the second tube.

Assignees

• Cooper Standard Automotive Inc

Inventors

• Cardwell Brian James
• Constine Scott
• Dennany Robert

Classifications

• F16L37/1225 Primary

  using a retaining member the extremities of which, e.g. in the form of a U, engage behind a shoulder of both parts · CPC title

• F16L37/38

  with fluid cut-off means in only one of two pipe-end fittings · CPC title

• F16L43/008

  made from plastic material · CPC title

• F16L37/28 Primary

  with fluid cut-off means · CPC title

• F16L37/0841 Primary

  by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube · CPC title