Heated hose electrical connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11942726-B2
Application number	US-202217835496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2022
Priority date	Jun 8, 2021
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

An electrical connector system for use with independently heated hoses includes a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, a third electrical connector, and a fourth electrical connector. The first electrical connector includes a first key that mates with a second key of the second electrical connector. The third electrical connector includes a third key that mates with a fourth key of the fourth electrical connector. The first and second keys differ from the third and fourth keys, ensuring the electrical connectors are correctly connected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical connector system comprising:
a first electrical connector comprising a first key;
a second electrical connector comprising a second key shaped to mate with the first key;
a third electrical connector comprising a third key; and
a fourth electrical connector comprising a fourth key shaped to mate with the third key;
wherein a geometry of the first key differs from a geometry of the third key, and wherein a geometry of the second key differs from a geometry of the fourth key.

2. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electrical connector is a male connector and the second electrical connector is a female connector;
the first electrical connector is configured to mate and connect with the second electrical connector;
the third electrical connector is a male connector and the fourth electrical connector is a female connector; and
the third electrical connector is configured to mate and connect with the fourth electrical connector.

3. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first key comprises a first cutout and a second cutout extending from a first end face of the first electrical connector to a first flange of the first electrical connector; and
the second key comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion extending into a second aperture of a second body of the second electrical connector.

4. The electrical connector system of claim 3 , wherein:
the first cutout is positioned 180 degrees from the second cutout about a first axis extending through a first aperture of the first electrical connector; and
the first protrusion is positioned 180 degrees from the second protrusion about a second axis extending through the second aperture of the second electrical connector.

5. The electrical connector system of claim 3 , wherein:
the first cutout includes a geometry identical to the second cutout;
the first protrusion includes a geometry identical to the second protrusion;
the first cutout is shaped to accept the first protrusion and the second cutout is shaped to accept the second protrusion; and
the first cutout is shaped to accept the second protrusion and the second cutout is shaped to accept the first protrusion.

6. The electrical connector system of claim 3 , wherein:
the third key comprises a third cutout and a fourth cutout extending from a third end face of the third electrical connector to a third flange of the third electrical connector; and
the fourth key comprises a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion extending into a fourth aperture of a fourth body of the fourth electrical connector.

7. The electrical connector system of claim 6 , wherein:
the third cutout is positioned 180 degrees from the fourth cutout about a third axis extending through a third aperture of the third electrical connector; and
the third protrusion is positioned 180 degrees from the fourth protrusion about a fourth axis extending through the fourth aperture of the fourth electrical connector.

8. The electrical connector system of claim 6 , wherein:
the third cutout includes a geometry identical to the fourth cutout;
the third protrusion includes a geometry identical to the fourth protrusion;
the third cutout is shaped to accept the third protrusion and the fourth cutout is shaped to accept the fourth protrusion; and
the third cutout is shaped to accept the fourth protrusion and the fourth cutout is shaped to accept the third protrusion.

9. The electrical connector system of claim 8 , wherein:
the geometry of the first cutout differs from the third cutout and the fourth cutout;
the geometry of the second cutout differs from the third cutout and the fourth cutout;
the geometry of the first protrusion differs from the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion; and
the geometry of the second protrusion differs from the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion.

10. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electrical connector further comprises a first body and a first flange extending radially outward from the first body; and
the second electrical connector further comprises a second body and a second flange extending radially outward from the second body.

11. The electrical connector system of claim 10 , wherein:
a first threaded insert and a second threaded insert are positioned within the first flange of the first electrical connector; and
a first fastener and a second fastener are positioned within and extend through the second flange of the second electrical connector.

12. The electrical connector system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first threaded insert is coupled to the first fastener when the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are connected; and
the second threaded insert is coupled to the second fastener when the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are connected.

13. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein:
the third electrical connector further comprises a third body and a third flange extending radially outward from the third body; and
the fourth electrical connector further comprises a fourth body and a fourth flange extending radially outward from the fourth body.

14. The electrical connector system of claim 13 , wherein:
a third threaded insert and a fourth threaded insert are positioned within the third flange of the third electrical connector; and
a third fastener and a fourth fastener are positioned within and extend through the fourth flange of the fourth electrical connector.

15. The electrical connector system of claim 14 , wherein:
the third threaded insert is coupled to the third fastener when the third electrical connector and the fourth electrical connector are connected; and
the fourth threaded insert is coupled to the fourth fastener when the third electrical connector and the fourth electrical connector are connected.

16. A heated hose assembly comprising:
a first heated hose configured to transfer a first fluid component;
a second heated hose configured to transfer a second fluid component;
a first electrical connector electrically coupled to heating elements of the first heated hose, the first electrical connector comprising a first key;
a second electrical connector electrically coupled to heating elements of the first heated hose, the second electrical connector comprising a second key shaped to mate with the first key;
a third electrical connector electrically coupled to heating elements of the second heated hose, the third electrical connector comprising a third key;
a fourth electrical connector electrically coupled to heating elements of the second heated hose, the fourth electrical connector comprising a fourth key shaped to mate with the third key.

17. The heated hose assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
the first key of the first electrical connector comprises a first cutout and a second cutout having identical geometry;
the second key of the second electrical connector comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion having identical geometry;
the third key of the third electrical connector comprises a third cutout and a fourth cutout having identical geometry;
the fourth key of the fourth electrical connector comprises a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion having identical geometry;
the first cutout is shaped to accept the first protrusion and the second cutout is shaped to accept the second protrusion;
the third cutout is shaped to accept the third protrusion and the fourth cutout is shape

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Tix Joseph E
• Beckmann Erich W
• Schneider Stephen P
• Peterson Nicholas P
• Brudevold Mark J

Classifications

• H01R13/6456 Primary

  comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector · CPC title

• F16L53/38

  using elongate electric heating elements, e.g. wires or ribbons · CPC title

• H01R13/5221

  having cable sealing means · CPC title

• H01R27/00 Primary

  Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts ({for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35}; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90) · CPC title

• H01R13/005 Primary

  Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling · CPC title