# US 2008/0185837 A1 · Quick connect connector with tolerance accommodation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185837 A1 - Document ID: US20080185837A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/671,747 - Filed: 2007-02-06 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-06 - Assignees: FasTest, Inc. - Inventors: Robert B. Danielson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185837A1 ## CPC - F16L 37/42: the valve having an axial bore communicating with lateral apertures - F16L 37/0848: {rocking freely} - F16L 37/121: {using freely rocking hooks (F16L37/1215 takes precedence)} - F16L 37/138: using an axially movable sleeve - F17C 2205/037: Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) ## Abstract A latching connector that connects a first fluid system to a second fluid system for performing processing operations on the second fluid system. The connector is designed to connect to a fitting on the second fluid system and accommodate dimensional tolerances in the fitting to achieve a reliable seal between the connector and the fitting and prevent fluid leakage during processing operations. The connector includes a front body, a rear body, a sleeve disposed around the front body and the rear body, a sealing piston disposed within the front body and the rear body, a shaft disposed within the sealing piston and fixed to the rear body, and a spring engaged between the sealing piston and the shaft and generating a biasing force that biases the sealing piston and the shaft in opposite directions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector for connecting a first fluid system to a second fluid system, comprising: a front body that includes a connection mechanism configured to connect the connector with the second fluid system, and a circumferential actuating ramp that is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the connector; a rear body having a portion disposed around the front body, and the portion including a plurality of holes with an actuating ball disposed in each hole, the actuating balls being engageable with the actuating ramp; a sleeve disposed around the front body and the rear body, the sleeve being engageable with the actuating balls; a sealing piston disposed within the front body and the rear body and including a forward end engageable with the second fluid system; a shaft disposed within the sealing piston, the shaft is fixed to the rear body; and a spring engaged between the sealing piston and the shaft and generating a biasing force that biases the sealing piston and the shaft in opposite directions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism comprises collets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism comprises a semi-cylindrical nest. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a connected stage where the connection mechanism is connected to an end portion of the second fluid system, the forward end of the sealing piston is disposed within an interior diameter of the end portion of the second fluid system and contacts a seal on the end portion, and the sleeve is disposed around the connection mechanism and around an exterior diameter of the end portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the sealing piston includes an interior surface, and a seal is disposed on the interior surface; the shaft includes an outer wall, a flow passage defined by the wall, a sealing shoulder configured to engage with the seal, and a plurality of openings through the outer wall leading to the flow passage; and the length of the seal measured parallel to the longitudinal axis is greater than the length of the openings measured parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, further comprising a push rod connected to the shaft. ### Claim 7 A connector for connecting a first fluid system to a second fluid system, comprising: a front body that includes a connection mechanism configured to connect the connector with the second fluid system; a rear body having a portion disposed around the front body, the rear body and the front body being movable relative to each other in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector; an actuating sleeve disposed around the front body and the rear body; a mechanical advantage mechanism engaged between the actuating sleeve, the front body and the rear body; a sealing piston disposed within the front body and the rear body and including a forward end engageable with the second fluid system; an anti-side load piston disposed between an outer surface of the sealing piston and an interior surface of the front body a shaft disposed within the sealing piston, the shaft is fixed to the rear body; and a spring engaged between the sealing piston and the shaft and generating a biasing force that biases the sealing piston and the shaft in opposite directions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connector of claim 7, wherein the anti-side load piston includes a wedge-shaped forward end that is configured to wedge into a bore of the second fluid system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The connector of claim 7, further comprising a push rod connected to the shaft. ### Claim 10 A connector for connecting a first fluid system to a second fluid system, comprising: a front body that includes a connection mechanism configured to connect the connector with the second fluid system; a rear body having a portion disposed around the front body, the rear body and the front body being movable relative to each other in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector; a sleeve disposed around the front body and the rear body and being movable relative to the front body and the rear body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; a sealing piston disposed within the front body and the rear body and being actuatable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the sealing piston including a forward end; a shaft disposed within the sealing piston, the shaft is fixed to the rear body; and a spring engaged between the sealing piston and the shaft and generating a biasing force that biases the sealing piston and the shaft in opposite directions; wherein the connector includes a connected stage where the connection mechanism is connected to an end portion of the second fluid system, the forward end of the sealing piston is disposed within an interior diameter of the end portion and contacts a seal on the end portion, and the sleeve is disposed around the connection mechanism and around an exterior diameter of the end portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein the connection mechanism comprises collets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein the connection mechanism comprises a semi-cylindrical nest. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein the sealing piston includes an interior surface, and a seal is disposed on the interior surface; the shaft includes an outer wall, a flow passage defined by the wall, a sealing shoulder configured to engage with the seal, and a plurality of openings through the outer wall leading to the flow passage; and the length of the seal measured parallel to the longitudinal axis is greater than the length of the openings measured parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, further comprising a mechanical advantage mechanism engaged between the sleeve, the front body and the rear body to provide a mechanical advantage to overcome the biasing force of the spring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, further comprising an anti-side load piston disposed between an outer surface of the sealing piston and an interior surface of the front body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, further comprising a push rod connected to the shaft. ### Claim 17 A connector for connecting a first fluid system to a second fluid system, comprising: a front body that includes a connection mechanism configured to connect the connector with the second fluid system; a rear body having a portion disposed around the front body; a sleeve disposed around the front body and the rear body and being movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector; a sealing piston disposed within the front body and the rear body, the sealing piston including an interior surface; a seal disposed on the interior surface of the sealing piston; a shaft disposed within the sealing piston, the shaft is fixed to the rear body, and the shaft includes an outer wall, a flow passage defined by the wall, a sealing shoulder configured to engage with the seal, and a plurality of openings through the outer wall leading to the flow passage, and the length of the seal measured parallel to the longitudinal axis is greater than the length of the openings measured parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a spring engaged between the sealing piston and the shaft and generating a biasing force that biases the sealing piston and the valve piston in opposite directions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The connector of claim 17, wherein the connection mechanism comprises collets. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The connector of claim 17, wherein the connection mechanism comprises a semi-cylindrical nest. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The connector of claim 17, wherein the connector includes a connected stage where the connection mechanism is connected to an end portion of the second fluid system, the sealing piston is disposed within an interior diameter of the end portion and contacts a seal at the end portion, and the sleeve is disposed around the connection mechanism and around an exterior diameter of the end portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The connector of claim 17, further comprising a mechanical advantage mechanism engaged between the sleeve, the front body and the rear body to provide a mechanical advantage to overcome the biasing force of the spring. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The connector of claim 17, further comprising an anti-side load piston disposed between an outer surface of the sealing piston and an interior surface of the front body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The connector of claim 17, further comprising a push rod connected to the shaft.