GB2347983A - Connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector assembly comprises a plurality of connector fittings 11, 12, having complimentary interconnecting male and female portions, (13, 14, fig 1A), 15, 16. One of the connector fittings has a latch member (19, fig 1A) which carries a collar (26, fig 1A) for engagement with another connector fitting, and which in use inhibits disconnection of the other connector fitting. The latch member engages a slot or gate (29, fig 1A) provided in the same connector fitting, and a keeper member (21, fig 1A) is also provided on the same connector fitting so as to restrain the latch member when the connector is in use. The latch and keeper members may be attached to one of the connector fittings by hinges (23, 25, fig 1A). The connector may be a quick release connector for use in connecting tubes or pipes, or for connecting electrical cables.

Description

Connector This invention relates to connectors and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with quick-assembly, or quick-release, connectors.

The term connector is used herein to embrace any form of coupling or joint, involving (complementary) inter-fit between otherwise disparate and independent, mutually severable, elements.

The terms quick-release and quick-assembly refer to the interaction of a connector with a docking station, such as another connector, whether free upon a conduit or lead, or, say, panel-mounted.

In practice, some form of connector (inter-) locking, or mutual entrainment, is desirable in order to secure and preserve connector coupling.

Similarly, some (fastening) means of enabling, or facilitating the inter-connection or inter-coupling-eg by helping draw connector elements or pieces together, at least over an ultimate range of relative inter-fitting travel-is advantageous.

For security, a locking mechanism is conveniently integrated with the connector fastening, so that the two functions are implemented simultaneously.

That is, in a fail-safe assembly, connectors cannot be or stay connected without deployment of a locking fastening.

Preferably, the converse applies for connector un-fastening.

Connectors may be employed for inter-connecting conduits, such as pipes, tubes or ducts, in which case they may embody intemal through-flow passages for fluids (ie liquids or gases).

Alternatively, connectors can feature between cabling or trunking runs, say as part of an electrical wiring harness, for electrical supply continuity.

With conduits for vital supply of precious fluids, such as petroleum fuel, hydraulic oil, lubricant, or pneumatic air, a secure inter-connection between successive conduits, and attendant flow passages, is imperative.

Connector leakage is typically inhibited by provision of internal connector sealing.

Thus, a common conduit coupling comprises a male (eg nose or protuberance) portion, for insertion into a female (socket) portion.

An intervening (say,'O'-ring) seal, is on occasion fitted internally to one or other (or both) portions, for sealing inter-engagement between the surface contact peripheries of male and female elements.

The internal (fluid) through-flow passages in the respective connector elements are usually of similar or complementary shape and size, and aligned when inter-fitted, to minimise flow disruption and turbulence, with attendant flow energy dissipation losses.

In some fluid supply situations, such as fuel feed lines, there is a need for a quickassembly or quick-release conduit inter-connection-either, say, in original assembly or for maintenance.

This poses problems of conduit fitting alignment and internal sealing, whilst preserving connection security and integrity.

Since fuel sillage, possibly under high pressure in pumped fuel feed and distribution systems, such as employed in fuel injected internal combustion engines, represents a considerable fire hazard if unchecked and allowed to contact hot machine parts, a secure inter-connection and thus'robust'connector configuration is imperative.

Statement of Invention According to one aspect of the invention, a connector assembly comprises a plurality of discrete connector fittings, with complementary inter-fitting male and female portions, a latch, carried by one connector fitting, and deployable to engage a gate or slot, upon that connector fitting, the latch carrying a collar, for engagement with another connector fitting, a keeper, carried by the one connector fitting, and deployable to restrain the latch, with the collar operative to inhibit disconnection of the other connector fitting.

This arrangement provides a double-action connector docking, or locking facilitytowards fail-safe conduit integrity.

In one variant, the latch embraces or at least partially surrounds the other connector element, in order to apply even latching loads around the connector periphery.

The invention also provides an individual connector element or piece, for the connector assembly.

Description of Embodiments There now follows a description of some particular embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which: Figures 1A through 1C show an elbow conduit connector piece, for the through-flow of fluid ; and in particular : Figure 1 A shows a side elevation, with some internal detail depicted in broken lines ; Figure 1 B shows a plan view, taken along the line AA', of the elbow connector piece of Figure 1A ; Figure 1 C shows an end elevation, taken along the line BB', of the elbow connector piece of Figure 1A ; Figures 2A through 2C show progressive interconnection and inter-locking stages for the elbow connector piece of Figures 1A through 1C, in conjunction with a complementary inter-fitting in-line connector piece; and in particular: Figure 2A shows an unlocked stage for inter-fitted elbow and in-line connector pieces, with an entrained hinged latch member and associated keeper on the elbow, ready for deployment; Figure 2B shows an intermediate locking stage for the inter-fitted elbow and in-line connector pieces of Figure 2A with the entrained latch on the elbow deployed to engage a gate on the in-line fitting; Figure 2C shows a final inter-locked stage for the inter-fitted elbow and in-line connector pieces of Figures 2A and 2B, with the entrained keeper on the elbow deployed over the latch ; Figures 3A and 3B show side elevations of the assembled elbow and in-line connector pieces of Figures 2A and 2B; in particular: Figure 3A shows an external side elevation, with the in-line connector piece in black fill ; Figure 3B shows a longitudinal section, of both the elbow and in-line fittings; Figure 4 shows a stand-alone view of an elbow connector, with latch and keeper ready for co-operative deployment, in the manner shown in Figures 2A through 2C; Figure 5 shows a stand-alone view of an in-line variant of the elbow connector of Figure 4, with integrated entrained latch and keeper for co-operative deployment, in the manner of Figures 2A through 2C, but with another connector piece of either inline or elbow configuration; In both Figures 4 and 5 some internal conduit or bore detail is depicted in broken lines.

Figures 6A and 6B correspond, but for a dual in-line connector fitting variant, to Figures 3A and 3B; in particular: Figure 6A shows an external side elevation, with an in-line connector fitting carrying a latch member and keeper in outline, and another'passive'in-line connector fitting in solid black fill ; and Figure 6B shows a longitudinal sectional view of both inter-fitted in-line connectors.

Referring to the drawings, a conduit assembly 10 comprises complementary interfitting connector fittings 11,12.

Connector 11 is configured as a right angled elbow conduit, with opposite male and female conduit ends 13 and 14 respectively.

Similarly, connector 12 is configured as an in-line or straight conduit, with opposite male (only) conduit ends 15 and 16 respectively.

The connector fittings 11,12 are each individually moulded of synthetic plastics material, such as... (Nylon, polypropylene, abs., etc).

The male end 13 of the connector elbow 11 comprises a ribbed or serrated stem, for the secure, sealing fitment of flexible-walled tubing or hose (not shown).

The female end 14 of the connector elbow 11 comprises a smooth (cylindrical) bore socket, to receive a complementary profile stem of a male end 16 of the in-line connector 12.

An annular abutment shoulder or collar 17, around the stem of the male end 16 of the in-line connector 12, limits its longitudinal insertion depth in the female end 14 of the elbow connector 11.

The other male end 15 of the in-line connector 12 also comprises a ribbed or serrated stem, for the secure, sealing fitment of flexible-walled tubing or hose (not shown).

The elbow connector 11 also carries a quick-assembly-and conversely quick-release -lock, comprising a diametrically opposed, laterally hinged latch member 19 and keeper 21.

The latch 19 has a partially-closed U-section collar 26, to fit around the shank of the male end 16 of the in-line connector 12.

Bounding the open mouth of the collar 26 are a pair of claws 27, which locate upon corresponding slots 29 in an upstanding shoulder 28 at the entry to the female socket 14.

The shoulder 28 sits upon a face plate 24, which carries opposed hinges 23,25, respectively for the latch 19 and keeper 21.

The keeper 21 carries a catch 22, for engagement with a slot 31 in one side of the latch 19, as shown in Figure 2C.

Within the female end 14 of the elbow connector 11 is a stepped bore, comprising an initial bore 33, transitioning to a narrower bore 35, through a ledge or step 36, which serves as an abutment for locating, if not limiting, insertion travel of a male nose of another connector fitting, such as the in-line connector 12.

The outer rim of the bore 33 carries an annular groove, to receive an'0'-ring seal, not shown, for action between the bore 33 and the stem 16 of the in-line connector 12.

The opposed hinges 23,25, at the periphery of the face plate 24, are integral with the body of the plate and the latch 19 and keeper 21 and constituted by marginal waisted portions, so that they have an inherent bias into the open condition depicted in Figure 1A.

Upon closure, initially, as depicted in Figure 2B, the latch 19 must be folded to overlie the mouth of plate 24 and enshroud the stem 16 and embrace the shoulder rim 17 of the in-line connector 12, with the catch 27 located in-and so restrained by-the slot 29 of the shoulder 28; otherwise the latch 19 will spring open.

The closure action of the latch 19 is thus to urge the stem 16 of the in-line connector 12 securely into the female end 14 of the elbow connector 11.

A degree of inherent resilient deformability of the material allows the nose catch 27 of the latch 19 to deflect initially then spring back to detent in the slot 29 of the shoulder 28.

As depicted in Figure 2C, the keeper 21 is deployed by folding, about the hinge 25, to overlie the nose catch 27 of the latch 19, with the keeper nose catch 22 located into the slot 31 on the latch 19, otherwise the keeper 21 would spring open, under the resilient deformation bias of its associated hinge 25.

Again resilient deformability of elements, allows the catches 22 and 27 to function.

Uncoupling or disconnection of the elbow connector 12 and in-line connector 11 is essentially a reverse of the connection procedure.

Thus, the keeper 21 is released, by un-clipping its nose catch 22 from the slot 31 in the latch 19; whereupon the latch 19 is itself released by un-clipping its own nose catch 27 from the slot 29.

The latch 19 and keeper 21 provide a secure quick-assembly, without the need for rotary, threaded coupling collars or the like.

Figures 3A and 3B show the latch 19 and keeper 21 actions more clearly.

Figures 6A and 6B, show variants in which individual in-line connectors 41,42 are interconnected by a similar latch 49 and keeper 51.

It will be appreciated that other connector configurations may be employed, such as twin elbows, or other than right-angled elbows.

Moreover, although in this example the connector is used to connect conduits, such as tubes or pipes, similar connector configurations could be used for electrical cables.

The connector fittings could be contrived for unique or one-way orientation and/or inter-fit with intended connectors-to deter inadvertent mis-connection.

The latch and associated keeper could be instrumental in this-inhibiting inter-locking of connector fittings, except for an intended or matched pair.

Component List 10 connector assembly 11 elbow connector fitting 12 in-line connector fitting 13 male end/serrated stem-connector 11 14 female end-connector 11 15 male end/serrated stem-connector 12 16 female end-connector 12 17 collar-connector 12 19 latch member 21 keeper 22 nose catch-keeper 21 23 integral hinge-face plate 24/latch 19 24 face plate 25 integral hinge-face plate 24/hinge 19 26 collar (U-section) 27 nose catch-latch 19 (claws on collar 26) 28 shoulder 29 slot-shoulder 28 31 slot-latch 19 33 initial bore-connector 11 35 narrower bore-connector 11 36 step/ledge 41 in-line connector fitting 42 in-line connector fitting 4 9 latch 51 keeper

Claims (8)

1. Claims 1.

   A connector assembly (10) comprising a plurality of discrete connector fittings (11,12), with complementary inter-fitting male and female portions (13,14,15,16), a latch (19), carried by one connector fitting (11), and deployable to engage a gate or slot (29), upon that connector fitting, the latch carrying a collar (26), for engagement with another connector fitting (12), a keeper (21), carried by the one connector fitting (11), and deployable to restrain the latch (19), with the collar operative to inhibit disconnection of the other connector fitting.
2. 2.

   A connector assembly, as claimed in Claim 1, including respective internal conduit passages, in the male and female connector fittings, and mutually aligned when the connector fittings are inter-coupled.
3. 3.

   A connector assembly, as claimed in Claim 2, fitted with an internal seal between the respective conduit passages of the male and female connector fittings, when inter-fitted.
4. 4.

   A connector assembly, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which each connector fitting is integrally moulded from synthetic plastics materials, with the latch entrained to the body of one connector fitting, by a waisted hinge element.
5. 5.

   A connector assembly, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which one or other connector fitting comprises an angled elbow with opposite male or female connector ends.
6. 6.

   A connector assembly, as claimed in Claim 6, in which one or other connector fitting comprises an in-line configuration, with opposite male or female connector ends.
7. 7.

   A connector assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as show in, the accompanying drawings.
8. 8.

   A connector fitting, for the connector assembly, as claimed in any of the preceding claims.