Kinematic coupling fluid couplings and method

A method of flexural kinematic fluid coupling of a pair of inner-surface components to be kinematically coupled, that comprises, providing an inner mating surface of one component with three substantially equally spaced spherical surfaces;

• providing the inner mating surface of the other component with three correspondingly spaced substantially V-shaped grooves which, when receiving the respective spherical surfaces therein, establish six contact points that enable kinematic coupling;
• providing holes through the spherical surfaces and corresponding holes in the walls of the V-shaped grooves for respective alignment therewith;
• and seating the components together under pressure to align the holes and create by such pressure deformation contact zones with high stress around the aligned holes to effect repeatable self-sealing of the coupling.

A method of self-sealing kinematic fluid coupling of a pair of mating components to be kinematically coupled, that comprises, providing mating spherical surface means on one component and corresponding groove means in the other component for establishing contact points for kinematic coupling;

• providing alignable holes through the spherical surface means and the corresponding groove means at the contact point;
• and flowing fluid through the aligned holes after pressure-seating the mating components to create by such pressure deformation contact zones with high stress around the aligned holes, effecting repeatable self-sealing of the coupling.

A method of flexural kinematic electrical coupling of a pair of mating components to be kinematically coupled, that comprises, providing an inner mating surface of one component with three substantially equally spaced spherical surfaces;

• providing the inner mating surface of the other component with three correspondingly spaced substantially V-shaped grooves which, when receiving the respective spherical surfaces therein, establish six contact points that enable kinematic coupling;
• providing electrical contact pads through the spherical surfaces and corresponding electrical contact pads in the walls of the V-shaped grooves for respective alignment therewith;
• and seating the components together under pressure to align the pads and create by such pressure deformation contact zones with high stress around the aligned pads to effect repeatable self-electrical contacting of the coupling.

Flexural kinematic coupling having, in combination, a pair of mating components to be kinematically coupled;

• three substantially spherical surfaces disposed on one component to mate with three corresponding grooves in the other component, establishing six contact points therebetween enabling such kinematic coupling with repeatable accuracy of positioning with respect to one another;
• alignable means provided in the surfaces and grooves for passing one of fluid flow and electric current flow into, between and out of the components of the coupling;
• and means for sealing the components together under pressure to align the alignable means and create therearound, by such pressure, deformation contact zones with high stress to effect repeatable self-sealing of the coupling.