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US 12,247,685 B2Granted
Self-centering blind mate fluid coupling
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsTimothy Marquis, Andrew Holst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing and a valve body that is self-centering and alignable relative to the housing. The valve body may include at least two radial shoulder portions or abutments that are configured to engage at least two corresponding radial abutments of the housing to improve self-centering when in a decoupled state. A biasing member may urge the valve body abutments against the corresponding housing abutments to compensate for misalignment and/or provide self-centering in both a decoupled and mated state.
Claims20
A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling, comprising:
- a valve body having an axially extending internal fluid passage, a radially outwardly protruding forward abutment, and a radially outwardly protruding rearward abutment that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the forward abutment;
- a valve member at least partially disposed in the internal fluid passage, the valve member being movable relative to the valve body to open and close the internal fluid passage;
- and
- a housing surrounding at least a portion of the valve body, the housing including a radially inwardly extending forward engagement surface and a radially inwardly extending rearward engagement surface that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the first engagement surface;
- wherein the rearward abutment of the valve body includes a radially outwardly and axially rearwardly extending convex contact surface;
- wherein, the coupling member is configured such that the forward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the forward engagement surface of the housing, and the convex engagement surface of the rearward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the rearward engagement surface of the housing to facilitate alignment and/or centering of the valve body relative to the housing;
- and
- wherein a floating support is interposed between a forwardly facing contact surface of the forward abutment of the valve body and the rearward engagement surface of the housing, the floating support being radially moveable relative to the housing and the valve body, and cooperates with both the forwardly facing contact surface of the forward abutment and the forward engagement surface of the housing to provide interaction that facilitates alignment and/or centering of the valve body relative to the housing.
5 more elements
A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling, comprising:
- a valve body having an axially extending internal fluid passage, a radially outwardly protruding forward abutment, and a radially outwardly protruding rearward abutment that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the forward abutment;
- a valve member at least partially disposed in the internal fluid passage, the valve member being movable relative to the valve body to open and close the internal fluid passage;
- and
- a housing surrounding at least a portion of the valve body, the housing including a radially inwardly extending forward engagement surface and a radially inwardly extending rearward engagement surface that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the first engagement surface;
- wherein the rearward abutment of the valve body includes a radially outwardly and axially rearwardly extending convex contact surface;
- and
- wherein, the coupling member is configured such that the forward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the forward engagement surface of the housing, and the convex engagement surface of the rearward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the rearward engagement surface of the housing to facilitate alignment and/or centering of the valve body relative to the housing;
- further comprising an alignment mechanism including a movable engagement part that is radially movable in a radial direction relative to the housing and the longitudinal axis, wherein the alignment mechanism is configured to cooperate with the valve body to facilitate at least radial alignment and/or centering of the valve body;
- wherein the engagement part cooperates with the valve body via a concave interface to facilitate angular alignment and/or centering;
- and
- wherein the engagement part is adapted to engage a rearwardly facing surface of the valve body via the concave interface at least when the coupling member is in a connecting state with a corresponding other coupling member of the blind mate coupling.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.