Compact, blind-mate fluid fitting
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsDavid E. Swernofsky, Robert Larson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid system and a blind-mate fluid fitting can be operable to allow for mating fluid system components even in the presence of angular, radial, and/or axial port misalignment. The blind-mate fluid fitting includes a shoulder and fitting portion extending from one side of the shoulder. The fitting portion defines a central fitting axis and is operable to inserted into a fluid port of a component. The fluid port defines a central port axis. The fitting portion includes a sealing portion that is operable to seal against the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at a zero angle and at least one of a plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis.
Claims21
A blind-mate fluid fitting comprising:
- a shoulder comprising a stop surface operable to interface with a surface of a first component having a fluid port defining a central port axis of the fluid port, wherein the stop surface comprises a tapered configuration, and
- a fitting portion extending from one side of the shoulder and operable to be inserted into the fluid port, the fitting portion defining a central fitting axis, the fitting portion comprising:
- a sealing portion comprising an annular channel and a compliant seal disposed in the annular channel, the compliant seal operable to seal against the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned in at least one of a plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis;
- an end portion extending from the sealing portion and defining a distal end, the end portion comprising a decreasing non-uniform cross-section along the central fitting axis from the sealing portion to the distal end, the end portion being operable to provide clearance between the fitting portion and the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at one of the plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis;
- and
- an intermediate portion extending from the sealing portion, the intermediate portion comprising a decreasing non-uniform cross-section along the central fitting axis from the sealing portion towards the shoulder, the intermediate portion being operable to provide clearance between the fitting portion and the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at one of the plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis.
A fluid system comprising:
- a first component comprising a fluid port defining a central port axis of the fluid port and an outer surface;
- and
- a blind-mate fluid fitting comprising:
- a shoulder comprising a stop surface operable to interface with the outer surface of the first component, wherein the stop surface comprises a tapered configuration, and
- a fitting portion extending from one side of the shoulder and operable to be inserted into the fluid port of the first component, the fitting portion defining a central fitting axis, the fitting portion comprising:
- a sealing portion comprising an annular channel and a compliant seal disposed in the annular channel, the compliant seal operable to seal against the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at least one of a plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis;
- an end portion extending from the sealing portion and defining a distal end, the end portion comprising a decreasing non-uniform cross-section along the central fitting axis from the sealing portion to the distal end, the end portion being operable to provide clearance between the fitting portion and the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at one of the plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis;
- and
- an intermediate portion extending from the sealing portion, the intermediate portion comprising a decreasing non-uniform cross-section along the central fitting axis from the sealing portion towards the shoulder, the intermediate portion being operable to provide clearance between the fitting portion and the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at one of the plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.