Fluid spray shield and secondary retention clip for a quick connector joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016208752-A1
Application number	US-201514597277-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 15, 2015
Priority date	Jan 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shield and clip assembly is provided for use with a joint that connects the ends of pipes conveying a fluid under pressure. The joint includes a primary retention feature for retaining the connected pipe ends. The shield and clip assembly includes a cover configured to encapsulate the joint and the ends of the pipes sufficiently to ensure that the connected ends will not fully disengage from the joint and to ensure that leakage or spray, if any, of the fluid being conveyed from a leaking joint will be attenuated or shielded. The joint may be an in-line quick connector joint.

First claim

1 . A shield and clip assembly for use with a joint connecting the ends of pipes conveying a fluid under pressure and including a primary retention feature for the connected pipe ends, the shield and clip assembly comprising:
a cover configured to encapsulate the joint and the ends of the pipes sufficiently to ensure that the connected ends will not fully disengage from the joint and that leakage or spray, if any, of the fluid from a leaking joint will be attenuated or shielded.

2 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the joint is a quick connector joint.

3 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the joint is an in-line quick connector joint.

4 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is a plastic or a rubber.

5 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cover forms a plurality of openings in a mesh configuration.

6 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is a metal; and wherein the cover forms a plurality of openings in a mesh configuration.

7 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover is configured as a claim shell to ease the encapsulation of the joint and the ends of the pipes during assembly.

8 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 7 , wherein the cover includes a hinge and a fastener to further ease the encapsulation of the joint and the ends of the pipes during assembly.

9 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 8 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge; and wherein the fastener is a snap-fit fastener.

10 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pipes have a diameter; and wherein the cover is configured to encapsulate the joint and the ends of the pipes over a range of pipe diameters.

11 . The shield and clip assembly of claim 10 , wherein the range of pipe diameters is about ⅜ inch to ½ inch.

12 . A vehicle comprising:
a quick connector joint connecting the ends of pipes conveying a fluid under pressure and including a primary retention feature for retaining the connected pipe ends; and a cover configured to encapsulate the quick connector joint and the ends of the pipes sufficiently to ensure that the connected ends will not fully disengage from the quick connector joint and that leakage or spray, if any, of the fluid from a leaking joint will be attenuated or shielded.

13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the quick connector joint is an in-line quick connector joint.

14 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the cover is a plastic or a rubber; and wherein the cover forms a plurality of openings in a mesh configuration.

15 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the cover is a metal; and wherein the cover forms a plurality of openings in a mesh configuration.

16 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the cover is configured as a claim shell to ease the encapsulation of the quick connector joint and the ends of the pipes during assembly.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the cover includes a hinge and a fastener to further ease the encapsulation of the quick connector joint and the ends of the pipes during assembly.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge; and the fastener is a snap-fit fastener.

19 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the pipes have a diameter; and wherein the cover is configured to encapsulate the quick connector joint and the ends of the pipes over a range of pipe diameters.

20 . The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the range of pipe diameters is about ⅜ inch to ½ inch.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Sasinowski Raymond H
• Balmaceda Adrian O
• Karlsson Rolf B

Classifications

• F02M55/004 Primary

  Joints; Sealings · CPC title

• F16L37/1215

  using hooks provided with a screw-thread adapted to engage and mesh with an appropriate corresponding part · CPC title

• F16L25/065

  the locking means being actuated by radial screws · CPC title

• F16L55/178

  by clamping an outer gasket against a joint with sleeve or socket · CPC title

• F16L37/124

  using bolts, fixed to a flange, which are able to tilt in slots of another flange, and being maintained there by the tightening of nuts · CPC title