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US 12,624,785 B2Granted
Secure brake fluid coupler
AssigneeDanfoss A/S
InventorsSébastien Lafond, Bernard Mouchet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The braking systems of motorized and motor-assisted vehicles can be quickly assembled within a factory with secure connections. Controls of the braking systems are connected to brakes of the braking system using a snap-fit connection without introducing air into the brake fluid line. Once assembled, the controls and the brakes are securely connected until deliberately released, thereby providing a safe and reliable connection during operation of the motorized or motor-assisted vehicles.
Claims15
A coupling assembly, comprising:
- a plug connector including:
- a plug body extending along a first longitudinal axis between respective first and second ends, the plug body defining a first passage extending therethrough along the first longitudinal axis, the first end of the plug body being configured to receive a respective fluid line, the second end of the plug body defining an interface aperture leading to the first passage;
- a valve stopper disposed within the first passage to move towards and away from the interface aperture, the valve stopper being biased by a first spring towards the interface aperture to close the first passage at the interface aperture, the valve stopper having a first interface arrangement;
- and
- a release sleeve disposed at an exterior of the plug body at an intermediate position along the first longitudinal axis such that the valve stopper is not radially aligned with the release sleeve when closing the first passage;
- and
- a socket connector including:
- a socket body extending along a second longitudinal axis between respective first and second ends, the first end of the socket body being configured to receive a respective fluid line, the socket body defining a cavity at the second end and a second passage extending along the second longitudinal axis from the first end of the socket body and into the cavity, the second end of the socket body defining a port opening leading to the cavity, the cavity being sized to receive the second end of the plug body;
- and
- a valve arrangement disposed within the second passage, wherein the valve arrangement includes a valve stem and a valve sleeve, the valve sleeve extending along the second longitudinal axis from a first end of the valve sleeve towards a second end of the valve sleeve, the second end of the valve sleeve abutting the valve stem when the second passage is closed, the valve arrangement being biased by a second spring to close the second passage, the valve arrangement including a second interface arrangement complementary to the first interface arrangement of the valve stopper so that the valve stopper engages the valve arrangement without trapping air therebetween when the plug connector is received at the socket connector,
- wherein the plug connector and the socket connector are configured such that, when the plug connector is inserted through the second end of the socket connector to couple the plug connector and the socket connector together, the first spring and the second spring begin to compress at different times;
- wherein the second end of the valve sleeve within the socket body is covered entirely by the valve stem when the valve arrangement is closed;
- wherein the second spring abuts against a surface of the first end of the valve sleeve, the surface facing the first end of the socket body;
- wherein the valve sleeve includes a flange extending radially away from the second longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein a length of the valve sleeve from the flange to the second end of the valve sleeve is shorter than a length of the valve sleeve from the flange to the first end of the valve sleeve.
13 more elements
A coupling assembly, comprising:
- a plug connector, including:
- a plug body extending along a longitudinal axis between respective first and second ends, the plug body defining a first passage extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis, the first end of the plug body being configured to receive a respective fluid line, the second end of the plug body defining an interface aperture leading to the first passage;
- a valve stopper disposed within the first passage to move towards and away from the interface aperture, the valve stopper being biased by a spring towards the interface aperture to close the first passage at the interface aperture, the spring being positioned within the first passage and surrounding an outer surface of the valve stopper, a first portion of the spring being positioned within a notch on the outer surface of the valve stopper;
- and
- a stop feature disposed at an exterior of the plug body, the stop feature being spaced along the longitudinal axis from the valve stopper when the valve stopper closes the first passage, the stop feature including a camming surface tapering radially outwardly from the plug body as the camming surface extends along the longitudinal axis towards the first end of the plug body, the stop feature also defining an abutment surface tapering radially inwardly as the abutment surface extends along the longitudinal axis toward the first end of the plug body, the abutment surface having a steeper slope than the camming surface;
- and
- a socket body extending along a second longitudinal axis and including a valve sleeve, the valve sleeve having a first end and a second end,
- wherein the first end of the plug body is configured to be received within the socket body;
- wherein a second spring abuts against a surface of the first end of the valve sleeve, the surface facing a first end of the socket body;
- wherein the valve sleeve includes a flange extending radially away from the second longitudinal axis of the socket body;
- and
- wherein a length of the valve sleeve from the flange to the second end of the valve sleeve is shorter than a length of the valve sleeve from the flange to the first end of the valve sleeve.
9 more elements
A socket connector comprising:
- a socket body extending along a longitudinal axis between respective first and second ends, the first end of the socket body being configured to receive a respective fluid line, the socket body defining a cavity at the second end and a second passage extending along the longitudinal axis from the first end of the socket body and into the cavity, the second end of the socket body defining a port opening leading to the cavity, the cavity being sized to receive a second end of a plug body;
- and
- a valve arrangement disposed with the cavity and configured to selectively close and open the second passage, the valve arrangement including a valve stem that is fixed relative to the socket body and a valve sleeve that moves relative to the valve stem and slides within the socket body, the valve sleeve extending along the longitudinal axis from a first end of the valve sleeve towards a second end of the valve sleeve, the second end of the valve sleeve abutting the valve stem when the second passage is closed, the valve sleeve including a flange extending radially away from the longitudinal axis, the flange being offset along the longitudinal axis from the second end of the valve sleeve and configured to contact the second end of the plug body to slide the valve sleeve within the second passage to open the second passage,
- wherein the second end of the valve sleeve is covered entirely by the valve stem when the valve arrangement is closed;
- wherein a spring abuts against a surface of the first end of the valve sleeve, the surface facing the first end of the socket body;
- and
- wherein a length of the valve sleeve from the flange to the second end of the valve sleeve is shorter than a length of the valve sleeve from the flange to the first end of the valve sleeve.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.