Multi-Fluid Quick Connect Adaptor for Compact Vehicle Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quick connect couplings for fluid media are bulky, heavy, and limited to handling a single type of fluid, making them impractical for newer automotive designs with multiple cameras and sensors, such as self-driving vehicles, where space and weight constraints are significant.
Innovation Solution
A compact quick connect adaptor with a female connector featuring a recess and orifice for axial insertion of a male connector, a sliding locking member for secure connection, and multiple inlets and outlets for handling different fluid media, allowing for dual or multiple fluid sources and efficient fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional quick connect couplings are used to handle single fluid media, then the connection is simple and reliable, but the adaptor becomes bulky and heavy, and multiple couplings are required for multiple fluid sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple quick connect couplings into a single integrated adaptor body. The adaptor receives multiple male connectors (for different fluid sources like water and air) and consolidates them into one unit, eliminating the need for separate couplings for each fluid media type. This merging reduces overall weight while maintaining the ability to handle multiple fluids simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple types of fluid media through a single device. By incorporating multiple female coupling receptacles that can accept different male connector types, the adaptor achieves multi-functionality, allowing it to serve as a centralized hub for various fluid sources without requiring separate specialized couplings for each fluid type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional adaptors are used for single fluid media, then the design is simple, but the adaptor becomes bulky and occupies excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple coupling functions into a single compact adaptor body, consolidating what would traditionally require multiple separate components. By integrating multiple female receptacles and fluid pathways into one unit, the design reduces the total space occupied while maintaining the capability to handle multiple fluid media simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor employs a nested structure where multiple male connectors are received within the single adaptor body. The female coupling receptacles are positioned to accept male connectors in a space-efficient arrangement, allowing one component to contain or accommodate multiple other components, thereby minimizing the overall footprint while providing multi-fluid capability.
3Reliability
If multiple separate quick connect couplings are used for multiple fluid sources, then each connection is secure, but the overall system becomes complex and requires more components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate quick connect couplings into a single integrated adaptor assembly. Instead of using multiple independent couplings for different fluid sources, the design consolidates these functions into one adaptor body with multiple female receptacles, reducing the total number of components while maintaining secure connections for each fluid source through the integrated locking mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides an adaptor (10) with a quick connect coupling for joining a flow control valve (38), or other device, with a source of fluid media. The adaptor (10) includes a female connector (12) configured to receive a male connector (14) and a locking member (16) slidable in a transverse direction to lock the connectors (12, 14) together. The adaptor (10) can handle multiple fluid media, and accordingly includes a plurality of inlets (18, 20) and a plurality of outlets (22, 24) for the passage of fluid media through the adaptor (10). Vehicles (110) and systems (112) incorporating the adaptor (10) are also disclosed.