Quick connector with conductive path
View Patent ↗A quick connector coupling assembly comprising a conductive connector body, a tubular male member with an upset, and a primary retainer. The primary retainer releasably secures the male member within the connector body. The primary retainer body includes a pair of spaced legs connected by a cross member. The retainer body includes a conductive insert with contact surfaces exposed at the retainer legs to contact the male member and at the cross member to contact the connector body.
1. A quick connector coupling for forming a severable connection in a fluid line comprising:
a conductive connector body defining a through bore extending axially forward from a male reception end of said connector body and having a forward facing retainer contact surface;
a conductive tubular male member extending through said male reception end of said connector body and into said bore, said male member having a generally cylindrical sealing surface and an annular upset, said upset having a diameter greater than the diameter of said cylindrical surface and defining a rearward facing radial abutment surface;
a tube retainer within said connector body including a non-conductive body having spaced apart legs, each having non-conductive forward facing and rearward facing surfaces;
a cross member connecting said legs and having a non-conductive rearward facing surface,
said retainer including a separate conductive insert in said retainer non-conductive body comprising at least one leg having a conductive tube upset contact surface on said non-conductive forward facing surface of at least one of said legs contacting said rearward facing radial abutment surface of said upset of said conductive tubular male member, and a cross member having a conductive connector body contact surface on said non-conductive rearward facing surface of said cross member of said non-conductive tube retainer contacting said forward facing retainer contact surface of said conductive connector body.
2. A quick connector coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said conductive insert is a metal insert.
3. A quick connector coupling as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said conductive insert includes two legs, each defining a conductive tube upset contact surface at said non-conductive forward facing surface of each one of said legs.
4. A quick connector coupling as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said conductive insert includes conductive transition portions connecting said legs of said insert and said cross member of said insert.
5. A quick connector coupling as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said conductive insert is a unitary metal component.
6. A quick connector coupling as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said retainer body is made from polyphthalamide.
7. A quick connector coupling as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said conductive insert is made from steel.
8. A quick connector coupling as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said retainer is made by insert molding said conductive insert into the retainer body.