Fluid port assembly and plug

Abstract

A fluid port assembly includes a tube configured to be positioned with a fluid container to provide access to a fluid contained in the fluid container. The tube includes at least one annular tube recess. The at least one annular tube recess forms a plurality of inner tube surfaces extending circumferentially within the tube. The assembly includes a plug configured to be positioned within the tube to releasably seal the fluid container and contain the fluid within the fluid container. The plug includes at least one annular plug protrusion, and the at least one annular plug protrusion forms a plurality of outer plug surfaces extending circumferentially around the plug. The plurality of inner tube surfaces of the tube engage the plurality of outer plug surfaces of the plug to seal the fluid container.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Fluid containers, such as reservoirs or tanks for oil or other fluids, can include one or more ports or openings to provide access to the fluid contained within the container. Fluid containers can also include a plug configured to be inserted into or mate with the port to close the port opening. To secure the plug within or otherwise connect with the port, fluid containers can further include a helical threaded connection between an outer surface of the plug and an inner surface of the port. SUMMARY

[0002] Various aspects of examples of the present disclosure are set forth in the claims.

[0003] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a fluid port assembly includes a tube configured to be positioned with a fluid container to provide access to a fluid contained within the fluid container, wherein the tube includes at least one annular tube recess, and wherein the at least one annular tube recess forms a plurality of inner tube surfaces extending circumferentially within the tube; and a plug configured to be positioned within the tube to releasably seal the fluid container and contain the fluid within the fluid container, wherein the plug includes at least one annular plug protrusion, and wherein the at least one annular plug protrusion forms a plurality of outer plug surfaces extending circumferentially around the plug, wherein the plurality of inner tube surfaces of the tube engage the plurality of outer plug surfaces of the plug to seal the fluid container.

[0004] The at least one annular plug protrusion can be deformable to position the plug inside the tube by deforming. The at least one annular plug protrusion can include two annular plug protrusions. The at least one annular tube recess can include two annular tube recesses. The tube can include a tube axis, and wherein the plurality of inner tube surfaces can include a first inner tube surface facing a first axial end of the tube and a second inner tube surface facing a second axial end of the tube opposite the first axial end of the tube. The first inner tube surface can be angled less than 90 degrees relative to the tube axis. The second inner tube surface can be angled more than 90 degrees relative to the tube axis. The plurality of inner tube surfaces can further include a third inner tube surface extending parallel to the tube axis and positioned between the first inner tube surface and the second inner tube surface. The plug can include a plug axis, and wherein the plurality of outer plug surfaces can include a first outer plug surface facing a first axial end of the plug and a second outer plug surface facing a second axial end of the plug opposite the first axial end of the tube. The first outer plug surface can be angled less than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis. The second outer plug surface can be angled more than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis. The plurality of outer plug surfaces can further include a third outer plug surface extending parallel to the plug axis and positioned between the first outer plug surface and the second outer plug surface. The plug can include a dipstick configured to extend into fluid contained within the fluid container. The fluid container can be pressurized to exert pressure on the plug. The plug can include an inner core formed of a core material that is less deformable than a protrusion material of the at least one annular plug protrusion.

[0005] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a plug for positioning inside a tube of a fluid port assembly to releasably seal a fluid container and contain fluid within the fluid container includes a first annular plug protrusion extending circumferentially around the plug, a second annular plug protrusion axially spaced from the first annular plug protrusion and extending circumferentially around the plug, an annular plug recess defined between the first and second annular plug protrusions, wherein each of the first and second annular plug protrusions forms a plurality of outer plug surfaces extending circumferentially around the plug, and the plurality of outer plug surfaces are configured to engage a plurality of inner tube surfaces extending circumferentially within the tube.

[0006] The plug can also include a plug axis, wherein each of the plurality of outer plug surfaces can include a first outer plug surface facing a first axial end of the plug and a second outer plug surface facing a second axial end of the plug opposite the first axial end of the plug. The first outer plug surface can be angled less than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis. The second outer plug surface can be angled more than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis. Each of the plurality of outer plug surfaces can also include a third outer plug surface extending parallel to the plug axis and positioned between the first outer plug surface and the second outer plug surface.

[0007] The above described and other features will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The detailed description of the drawings is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 1 A fluid port assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0010] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid port assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0011] Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a fluid port assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] In the drawings, like reference numerals will be used to refer to like elements throughout several views. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] At least one embodiment of the subject matter of this disclosure can be understood by referring to the drawings in a Figures 1 to 3 detailed description that follows, and by referring to the drawings.

[0014] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a fluid port assembly 10 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The assembly 10 includes a tube 12 configured to be positioned in, on, outside, inside, through, or otherwise to a fluid container 14. In one or more embodiments, the fluid container 14 includes a fuel tank, an oil tank, or a reservoir or container of hydraulic fluid, coolant, or other liquid. The tube 12 and / or the assembly 10 is configured to provide access to a fluid 20 contained in the fluid container 14.

[0015] With continued reference to Figure 1 , as Figure 2 shown, the assembly 10 also includes a plug 22 configured to be positioned within the tube 12. The plug 22 in embodiments releasably seals the fluid container 14 and / or maintains, prevents, or reduces the likelihood of a leak, or otherwise causes the fluid 20 to be contained within the fluid container 14. In Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper is or includes a dipstick 52, which is configured to extend into the fluid 20 contained in the fluid container 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid container 14 is pressurized or the fluid 20 within the fluid container 14 is pressurized to apply pressure to the stopper 22, such as the pressure of a gas or other fluid within the fluid container 14. In a non-limiting example, the fluid container 14 is formed as an oil reservoir for an internal combustion engine.

[0016] The plug 22 includes one or more annular plug protrusions 24. In embodiments with multiple annular plug protrusions 24, the annular plug protrusions 24 are axially spaced apart from each other. The plug 22 also includes one or more annular plug recesses 56 defined between two annular plug protrusions 24. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the one or more annular plug protrusions 24 in the embodiment include two annular plug protrusions 24.

[0017] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the tube 12 includes one or more annular recesses 16. The annular recesses 16 form an inner tube surface 18 extending circumferentially within the tube 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube 12 and / or assembly 10 includes two annular recesses 16. In an additional embodiment not shown, the annular recesses 16 and / or annular plug protrusions 24 include one annular recess 16 or three or more annular recesses 16 and / or one annular plug protrusion 24 or three or more annular plug protrusions 24.

[0018] One or more annular plug protrusions 24 form an outer plug surface 26 extending circumferentially around the plug 22. The inner tube surface 18 of the tube 12 is aligned with, adjacent to, faces, or otherwise engages with the outer plug surface 26 of the plug 22 to seal the fluid container 14 and secure the plug 22 in or to the tube 12.

[0019] In embodiments, the one or more annular plug protrusions 24 are deformable, resilient, and / or compliantly deformable or compliant to position the plug 22 inside the tube 12. The annular plug protrusion(s) 24 of the illustrated embodiment are formed of a protrusion material that is composed of a resilient or other deformable material (in non-limiting examples, such as rubber). In another embodiment, the protrusion material can be one or more additional materials. The plug 22 in embodiments includes an inner core 54. The inner core 54 in embodiments is formed of a core material that is stiffer, less resilient, less compliant, and / or less deformable than the protrusion material that forms the annular plug protrusion(s) 24. In one or more embodiments, the core material includes a polymer, a resilient material, a composite material, and / or a metal, although in additional embodiments the core material can be formed of one or more other materials. In embodiments, the tube 12 is composed of a tube material that includes a metal, although the tube material can include any one or more materials that are stiffer, less resilient, less compliant, and / or less deformable than the protrusion material that forms the annular plug protrusion(s) 24. In additional embodiments not shown, the tube material includes one or more materials that are as deformable or more deformable than the protrusion material. In another embodiment not shown, the protrusion material and / or any other material of the plug 22 is the same as or as deformable as the tube material.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2 , the tube 12 includes a tube axis 28. In embodiments, the inner tube surface 18 includes a first inner tube surface 30 facing a first axial end 32 of the tube 12 and a second inner tube surface 34 facing a second axial end 36 of the tube 12 opposite the first axial end 32 of the tube 12.

[0021] In embodiments, the inner tube surface 18 includes a third inner tube surface 38 extending parallel to the tube axis 28 and positioned between the first inner tube surface 30 and the second inner tube surface 34. In embodiments, the inner tube surface(s) 18 form a trapezoidal shape configured to engage or surround, complement, or otherwise be used with the annular plug protrusion(s) 24.

[0022] Referring again to Figure 2 , the plug 22 includes a plug axis 40. In Figure 2 the illustrated embodiment, the tube axis 28 and the plug axis 40 are generally collinear or aligned when the plug 22 is mated with, inserted into, coupled or bonded with the tube 12. To form the assembly 10, the plug 22 can be moved generally along the plug axis 40 or the tube axis 28 until the one or more annular plug protrusions 24 are in place, positioned in or otherwise engaged with the one or more annular tube recesses 16. As Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the plug cap 70 limits further movement of the plug 22 into the tube 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the plug cap 70 abuts the second axial end 36 of the tube 12 when the plug 22 is fully positioned in the tube 12.

[0023] The outer plug surface 26 includes a first outer plug surface 42 facing the first axial end 44 of the plug 22 and a second outer plug surface 46 facing the second axial end 48 of the plug 22 opposite the first axial end 44 of the plug 22.

[0024] In embodiments, the plug 22, the tube 12, and / or the assembly 10 are configured to reduce the effort required to mate, join, or couple the plug 22 to or into the tube 12. Accordingly, in embodiments, the first inner tube surface 30 is at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the tube axis 28. The second inner tube surface 34 is at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the tube axis 28. In embodiments, the first outer plug surface 42 is at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis 40. In embodiments, the second outer plug surface 46 is at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis 40. In embodiments, the first outer plug surface 42 and / or the second outer plug surface is at an angle between 10 degrees and 80 degrees relative to the plug axis 40. In such embodiments, such angles are used to allow the plug 22 to be more easily mated, joined, or coupled to or into the tube 12. Further, in additional embodiments, the edges of the one or more inner tube surfaces 18 and / or the edges of the outer plug surface 26 can be rounded to further reduce the effort required to mate, join, or couple the plug 22 to or into the tube 12.

[0025] In embodiments, the outer plug surface 16 includes a third outer plug surface 50 extending parallel to the plug axis 40 and positioned between the first outer plug surface 42 and the second outer plug surface 46. In embodiments, the outer plug surface(s) 16 form a trapezoidal shape configured to interface with, or be interfaced into, be complementary to, or otherwise used with the annular tube recess(es) 16.

[0026] As Figure 3 As shown, in embodiments where a fluid pressure 60 occurs in the fluid container 14 and the tube 12, the pressure 60 is applied to a pressure facing surface 62 of the plug 22. The application of the pressure 60 on the plug 22 causes one or more sealing forces 64 from the plug 22 to the annular plug protrusion(s) 24 to enhance the seal at the annular tube recess(es) 16 between the annular plug protrusion(s) 24 and the tube 12. It can be appreciated that multiple annular plug protrusions 24 exerting multiple sealing forces 64 on the annular tube recesses 16 will increase the sealing performance of the plug 22 and / or the assembly 10.

[0027] In embodiments, the engagement between only one annular plug protrusion 24 and one annular tube recess 16 can be sufficient to secure the plug 22 in the tube 12 and provide a seal. In Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the engagement between two annular plug protrusions 24 and two annular tube recesses 16 provides additional sealing advantages without significantly increasing the force required to secure the plug 22 within the tube 12. Further, having two or more annular plug protrusions 24 and annular tube recesses 16 allows for coupling and / or sealing if only one or less than the full number of annular plug protrusions 24 are positioned in the annular tube recess(es) 16.

[0028] By allowing the plug 22 to be releasably coupled to the tube 12 with reduced effort and / or force, the assembly 10 and plug 22 of the embodiments described herein improve the use of the fluid container 14. Further, the use of the annular plug protrusion(s) 24 eliminates the need for a combination of a fixed or locking helical thread and one or more O-rings or other seals to seal the fluid container 14. The axial insertion of the plug 22 allows for quick installation and sealing as compared to a helical thread connection. The ease of assembly, locking, and sealing of the assembly 10 and plug 22 is further enhanced by the angled outer plug surface 26 of the annular plug protrusion(s) 24 and / or the angled inner tube surface 18 of the annular tube recess(es) 16 securing the plug 22 in the tube 12. Such annular plug protrusions 24 and annular tube recesses 16 provide enhanced sealing, especially in embodiments where the fluid container 14 is pressurized to create one or more sealing forces 64 between the plug 22 and the tube 12.

[0029] As used herein, "for example" is used to non-exhaustively list examples, and has the same meaning as the alternative phrase "such as." As used herein, elements of a list are separated by a comma, and the phrase "one or more of," "at least one," "at least," or similar phrases preceding the list, indicates that a configuration or arrangement can include a single element of the list or any combination of any number of elements of the list. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" and "one or more of A, B, and C" each indicate a possibility of A only, B only, C only, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B, and C). As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, "comprises," "comprising," and like phrases do not preclude the existence of additional features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0030] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is not limiting. It is understood that the illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, but that all modifications and changes come within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Alternative embodiments of the disclosure can not include all of the features described, but still benefit from at least some of the advantages of the features. One of ordinary skill in the art can design their own implementation, which utilizes one or more of the features of the disclosure, and fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fluid port assembly, comprising: a tube configured to be positioned with a fluid container to provide access to a fluid contained in the fluid container, wherein the tube includes at least one annular tube recess, and wherein the at least one annular tube recess forms a plurality of inner tube surfaces extending circumferentially within the tube; and a plug configured to be positioned inside the tube to releasably seal the fluid container and contain the fluid within the fluid container, wherein the plug includes at least one annular plug protrusion, and wherein the at least one annular plug protrusion forms a plurality of outer plug surfaces extending circumferentially around the plug; wherein the plurality of inner tube surfaces of the tube interface with the plurality of outer plug surfaces of the plug to seal the fluid container, wherein the at least one annular plug protrusion is deformable to position the plug inside the tube by deforming.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the at least one annular plug protrusion includes two annular plug protrusions.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the at least one annular tube recess includes two annular tube recesses.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the tube includes a tube axis, and wherein the plurality of inner tube surfaces includes a first inner tube surface facing a first axial end of the tube and a second inner tube surface facing a second axial end of the tube opposite the first axial end of the tube.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein, the first inner tube surface is angled at less than 90 degrees relative to the tube axis.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein, the second inner tube surface is angled at more than 90 degrees relative to the tube axis.

7. The assembly of claim 4, wherein, the plurality of inner tube surfaces further includes a third inner tube surface extending parallel to the tube axis and positioned between the first inner tube surface and the second inner tube surface.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the plug includes a plug axis, and wherein the plurality of outer plug surfaces includes a first outer plug surface facing a first axial end of the plug and a second outer plug surface facing a second axial end of the plug opposite the first axial end of the tube.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein, the first outer plug surface is angled at less than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein, the second outer plug surface is angled at more than 90 degrees relative to the plug axis.

11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein, the plurality of outer plug surfaces further includes a third outer plug surface extending parallel to the plug axis and positioned between the first outer plug surface and the second outer plug surface.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the plug includes a dipstick configured to extend into the fluid contained in the fluid container.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the fluid container is pressurized to exert pressure on the plug.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, the plug includes an inner core formed of a core material that is less deformable than a protrusion material forming the at least one annular plug protrusion.

Images