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.
Claims20
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 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 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 the 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, the valve arrangement being biased 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.
A method for assembling braking systems for motorized or motor-assisted vehicles, each braking systems including a brake assembly and a brake control assembly, each brake assembly including a first length of a respective brake line extending from a respective brake member and terminating in a respective first connector, each brake control assembly including a second length of the respective brake line extending from a respective brake actuator and terminating in a respective second connector, wherein one of the first and second connectors includes a plug connector and the other of the first and second connectors includes a socket connector, the method comprising:
- successively receiving at a brake system assembly station a respective one of the brake assemblies and a respective one of the brake control assemblies;
- mechanically coupling the plug and socket connectors by inserting a nose of the plug connector through a port of the socket connector while a release sleeve of the plug connector remains axially spaced from a locking feature of the socket connector;
- and
- performing subsequent assembly of the motorized or motor-assisted vehicles without bleeding the brake line.
A plug connector comprising:
- 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 towards the interface aperture to close the first passage at the interface aperture;
- 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.
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 the second end of the plug body;
- a valve arrangement disposed with the cavity and configured to selectively close and open the second passage;
- and
- a locking arrangement disposed within the cavity at a location spaced along the longitudinal axis from the valve arrangement towards the port opening, the locking arrangement being accessible only within an interior of the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.