US 12,644,551 B1Granted

Fluid connector

AssigneesFoxconn (Kunshan) Computer Connector Co., Ltd., Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited

InventorsHsiu-Yuan Hsu, Yao-Chi Huang, Wen He, Ling Tao, Ling-Xiong Li

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Abstract

A fluid connector includes a shell having a fluid channel, a ball valve accommodated in the shell and having a through hole, a control element arranged outside the shell for controlling the ball valve to rotate, and a pin member. A front end of the shell for engaging a matching connector has an engagement hole. The control element controls the ball valve between a closed position and an open position. The through hole is in fluid communication with the fluid channel when the ball valve is at the open position. A front face of the shell has an accommodating hole for accommodating the pin member. A resilient member is arranged in the accommodating hole for supporting the pin member. The pin member has a guide structure and compresses the resilient member to separate from the engagement hole of the matching connector in a controlled and guided manner.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A fluid connector comprising:

a shell having a fluid channel and an accommodating hole;
a ball valve accommodated in the shell and having a through hole;
a pin member and a resilient member both arranged in the accommodating hole;
a control element arranged outside the shell and cooperating with the pin member for controlling the ball valve to rotate between a closed position for obstructing the fluid channel and an open position for opening the fluid channel;
and
a restricting member for restricting a rotation operation of the control element;
wherein
the shell has an engagement hole, and the pin member has a guide structure at a front end thereof;
the pin member is resiliently supported by the resilient member and extends out of the accommodating hole when the fluid connector is free of engagement to a matching connector for preventing the control element from rotating the ball valve;
when the fluid connector abuts the matching connector and is rotated such that the pin member corresponds to an engagement hole of the matching connector, the pin member is pushed by the resilient member and extends into the engagement hole of the matching connector, and the rotation operation of the control element is able to drive the ball valve to rotate between the closed position and the open position;
and
when the pin member engages the engagement hole of the matching connector and the ball valve is in the closed position, the fluid connector is rotatable to move the pin member guided by the guide structure to separate from the engagement hole.

9 more elements

A fluid connector comprising:

a shell having a fluid channel and an accommodating hole;
a ball valve accommodated in the shell and having a through hole;
a control element arranged outside the shell for controlling the ball valve to rotate between a closed position and an open position;
a pin member and a resilient member both arranged in the accommodating hole;
and
a restricting member positioned between the control element and the pin member;
wherein
the shell has an engagement hole;
the pin member is moveable between a first position extending out of the accommodating hole and a second position retracted in the accommodating hole;
when the fluid connector abuts a matching connector and is rotated such that the pin member corresponds to an engagement hole of the matching connector, the pin member is pushed by the resilient member and is positioned at a third position extending into the engagement hole;
when the pin member is positioned at the first position or at the second position, the restricting member prevents the control element from rotating the ball valve;
when the pin member is positioned at the third position, the control element is free of restriction by the restricting member and is able to control the ball valve to rotate;
when the pin member engages the engagement hole of the matching connector and the ball valve is in the closed position, the pin member is movable by rotating the fluid connector to be guided by the guide structure and compress the resilient member to separate from the engagement hole;
and
when the pin member engages the engagement hole of the matching connector and the ball valve is in the open position, the pin member is prevented from retracting into the receiving hole by the restricting member.

12 more elements

A fluid connector comprising:

a shell having a fluid channel and an accommodating hole;
a ball valve accommodated in the shell and having a through hole;
a control element arranged outside the shell for controlling the ball valve to rotate between a closed position and an open position;
a pin member and a resilient member both arranged in the accommodating hole;
and
a restricting member positioned between the control element and the pin member;
wherein
the shell has an engagement hole;
the pin member is moveable between a first position extending out of the accommodating hole and a second position retracted in the accommodating hole;
when the fluid connector abuts a matching connector and is rotated such that the pin member corresponds to an engagement hole of the matching connector, the pin member is pushed by the resilient member and is positioned at a third position extending into the engagement hole;
a periphery of the pin member has a first groove, the control element has a second groove, and the accommodating hole passes through a wall face of the shell to form an opening;
when the pin member is positioned at the first position or at the second position, the restricting member prevents the control element from rotating the ball valve;
when the pin member is positioned at the third position, the first groove, the opening, and the second groove are aligned, the restricting member is able to switch positions between the first groove and the second groove through the opening, and the control element is free of restriction by the restricting member and is able to control the ball valve to rotate;
and
when the pin member engages the engagement hole of the matching connector and the ball valve is in the closed position, the pin member is movable by rotating the fluid connector to be guided by the guide structure and compress the resilient member to separate from the engagement hole.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.