Valved connector
AssigneeFaraday & Future Inc.
InventorKhiem Dinh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are described relating a connector assembly having a mating end and a non-mating end, the mating end configured to engage a mating end of another connector assembly. The connector assembly may include a housing, a central member disposed within the housing, and a sleeve disposed between the central member and the housing. The sleeve may be slidably coupled to the housing and may be slidable along an axial direction relative to the central member. The sleeve, when slidably moved to an open position, may form a flow channel defined by at least (1) a sloped surface on the sleeve and (2) a sloped surface on the central member. The sleeve, when slidably moved to a closed position, may close the flow channel.
Claims20
A connector assembly having a mating end and a non-mating end, the mating end configured to engage a mating end of another connector assembly, the connector assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a central member disposed within the housing;
- and
- a sleeve disposed between the central member and the housing;
- wherein the sleeve is slidably coupled to the housing, the sleeve slidable along an axial direction relative to the central member;
- wherein the sleeve, when slidably moved to an open position, forms a flow channel defined by at least (1) a sloped surface on the sleeve and (2) a sloped surface on the central member;
- wherein the sleeve, when slidably moved to a closed position, closes the flow channel;
- and
- wherein at the mating end of the connector assembly, the sleeve extends past the housing along the axial direction.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A connector system comprising:
- a first connector assembly having a first mating end and a first non-mating end comprising:
- a first housing;
- a first central member disposed within the first housing;
- and
- a first sleeve disposed between the first central member and the first housing;
- wherein the first sleeve is slidably coupled to the first housing, the first sleeve slidable along an axial direction relative to the first central member;
- and
- a second connector assembly having a second mating end and a second non-mating end, the second mating end configured to engage the first mating end, the connector assembly comprising:
- a second housing;
- a second central member disposed within the second housing;
- and
- a second sleeve disposed between the second central member and the second housing;
- wherein the second sleeve is slidably coupled to the second housing, the second sleeve slidable along the axial direction;
- wherein the connector system, when in a connected state, comprises the first connector assembly coupled to the second connector assembly, which forms a flow channel defined by at least (1) a first sloped surface on the first sleeve, (2) a first sloped surface on the first central member, (3) a second sloped surface on the second sleeve, and (4) a second sloped surface on the second central member;
- and
- wherein the connector system, when in a disconnected state, comprises the first connector assembly separated from the second connector assembly, the first and second sleeves close the first and second flow channels, respectively.
A method of connecting a first connector assembly with a second connector assembly comprising:
- orienting a first mating end of the first connector assembly toward a second mating end of the second connector assembly;
- applying a first pressure against the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly toward one another;
- contacting a first sleeve of the first connector assembly with a second sleeve of the second connector assembly, wherein the first pressure is greater than a second pressure applied by a first spring against the first sleeve and a second spring against the second sleeve;
- and
- coupling a first housing of the first connector assembly with a second housing of the second connector assembly to form a flow channel that extends across the entire connector system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.