Tamper evident connector for an engine radiator

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing assurance and evidence that the correct part has been installed. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to two housings that are attached to each other on opposite sides of a heat exchanger. When connected together, the apparatus completes the continuity in an electrical circuit path. In another embodiment, the present invention includes a method for attaching a sensor to a heat exchanger, such that the sensor cannot be removed from the heat exchanger without permanent deformation of a portion of the sensor. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to two housings, one having a projection and the other having a receptacle, which are mated together from opposite sides of a exchanger cooling fin.

1 . An apparatus for mounting a sensor on a heat exchanger having cooling fins, comprising: 
 an attachment member having at least one of a projection adapted and configured for insertion between cooling fins or a receptacle adapted and configured for receiving therein said projection;    a sensor case having the other of the projection adapted and configured for insertion between cooling fins or the receptacle adapted and configured for receiving therein said projection; and    a sensor placed within said first sensor case;    wherein said attachment member is placed on one side of the heat exchanger, said sensor case is placed opposite of said first sensor case on the other side of the heat exchanger, and said projection is received within said receptacle to mount said sensor to the heat exchanger.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said projection has a length that is greater than the width of the heat exchanger.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said attachment member includes at least two, spaced-apart projections.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said attachment member includes at least four, spaced-apart projections and said sensor case includes at least four receptacles.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said receptacle and said projection are adapted and configured to permit sliding insertion of said projection in said receptacle and discourage removal of said projection from said receptacle.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said projection and said receptacle are adapted and configured to lock together in interference when said projection is inserted into said receptacle.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein there are no means provided for externally unlocking said projection from said receptacle.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said projection includes a spring which couples with said receptacle to prevent removal of said projection from said receptacle without damaging at least one of said projection or said receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said receptacle includes a spring which couples with said projection to prevent removal of said projection from said receptacle without damaging at least one of said projection or said receptacle.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said projection includes a free end and a first interfering ledge proximate the free end and extending away from said projection, said sensor case includes a second interfering ledge, and said first interfering ledge and said second interfering ledge are in contact with each other to prevent removal of said projection from said receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said projection is electrically conductive.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sensor provides a signal corresponding to continuity in an electrical path which includes said attachment member.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sensor is a circuit board mounted within said sensor case, said circuit board includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and said circuit board provides a signal corresponding to electrical continuity in a circuit path from the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact and including said attachment member.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further includes means for providing evidence of tampering if said sensor is removed from the heat exchanger.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said means for providing evidence is a permanent deformation of one of said attachment member or said sensor case.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said means for providing evidence is a change in electrical continuity sensed by said sensor.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further comprises means for urging said attachment member away from said sensor case when said sensor is mounted to the heat exchanger.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said urging means is a resilient pad attached to one of said attachment case or said sensor case.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said urging means is a compressible surface attached to one of said attachment case or said sensor case.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sensor case includes a first resilient surface, said first resilient surface being in contact with a first side of said cooling fins when said projection is received within said receptacle.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  which further comprises a resilient pad attached to said sensor case, said first resilient surface being a surface of said first resilient pad.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  which further comprises a second resilient pad attached to said attachment member and second resilient pad having a said second resilient surface being in contact with a second opposite side of said cooling fins when said projection is received within said receptacle.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein there is a predetermined distance between the first resilient surface and the second resilient surface and the distance is less than the width of the cooling fins.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said attachment member and said sensor case project a first frontal area blocking the flow of air through the heat exchanger, and which further comprises an air dam attached to one of said sensor case or said attachment member, said air dam projected a second frontal area blocking the flow of air through the heat exchanger, the second frontal area being greater than the first frontal area.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of said attachment member or said sensor case is exposed to cooling flow of the heat exchanger, and which further comprises a thermally insulative member mounted to the one of said attachment member or said sensor case to impede the cooling flow thereto.  
   
   
       26 . A method for sensing a heat exchanger, comprising: 
 providing a heat exchanger with cooling fins, a sensor case having an electrical connector, and an attachment member;    inserting a portion of one of the sensor case or the attachment member through the cooling fins on a first side of the radiator;    placing the other of the sensor case or the attachment member on a second side of the radiator opposite of the first side;    coupling the portion of the sensor case to the attachment member; and.    creating a path of electrical continuity from a first contact in the sensor case through the attachment member to a second contact in the sensor case by said coupling.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said coupling results in a tamper evident coupling.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said coupling results in a permanent locking of the sensor case to the attachment member.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  which further comprises providing mechanical evidence of tampering if the sensor case is detached from the attachment member.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  which further comprises providing electrical evidence of tampering if the sensor case is detached from the attachment member.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26  which further comprises urging apart the sensor case from the attachment member after said coupling.  
   
   
       32 . A method for sensing a heat exchanger, comprising: 
 providing a sensor case, an attachment clip, and a sensor mounted in the sensor case;    providing a heat exchanger with a passageway, a sensor case having an electrical connector, and an attachment member;    inserting a portion of the sensor case or the attachment clip through the passageway from a first side of the heat exchanger;    placing the other of the sensor case or the attachment clip on a second opposing side of the heat exchanger;    coupling the portion of the sensor case to the attachment clip; and    preventing the uncoupling of the sensor case to the attachment clip without damaging the sensor case or the attachment clip.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  which further comprises urging apart the sensor case from the attachment member after said coupling and placing in tension the portion of the sensor case or the attachment clip.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said coupling places a surface of the sensor case in contact with the object.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said coupling results in a tamper evident coupling.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32  which further comprises creating a path of electrical continuity from a first contact in the sensor case through the attachment clip to a second contact in the sensor case by said coupling.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 32  which further comprises providing an electrical signal from the sensor corresponding to said coupling  
   
   
       38 . A method for mounting a sensor to heat exchanger, comprising: 
 providing a heat exchanger with cooling fins cooled by a cooling fluid, a sensor case, and an attachment member;    inserting a portion of one of the sensor case or the attachment member through the cooling fins on a first side of the radiator;    placing the other of the sensor case or the attachment member on a second side of the radiator opposite of the first side;    coupling the sensor case to the attachment member; and.    blocking the flow of cooling fluid over at least one of the sensor case or the attachment member.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said coupling results in a tamper evident coupling.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  which further comprises urging apart the sensor case from the attachment member after said coupling.  
   
   
       41 . A method for mounting a sensor to heat exchanger, comprising: 
 providing a heat exchanger with cooling fins cooled by a cooling fluid, a sensor case, and an attachment member;    inserting a portion of one of the sensor case or the attachment member through the cooling fins on a first side of the radiator;    placing the other of the sensor case or the attachment member on a second side of the radiator opposite of the first side;    coupling the sensor case to the attachment member; and.    thermally insulating at least one of the sensor case or the attachment member from the cooling fluid.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein said coupling results in a tamper evident coupling.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41  which further comprises urging apart the sensor case from the attachment member after said coupling.