Connector assembly for fluid flow with rotary motion for connection and disconnection

A method of effecting and controlling fluid flow communication between a pair of flow paths, and of isolating the flow paths from ambient when not in communication with one another, said method comprising steps of:

• providing a female connector part having an axially extending fluid flow path, and an integral plug member in a closed first position spanning and closing this flow path, and providing for said plug member to move axially to an opened second position while remaining integral with said female connector part;
• providing a male connector part having an axially extending fluid flow path, and engaging said male connector part onto said female connector part with said fluid flow paths in axial alignment;
• providing said male connector part with a guide member engageable in response to lateral relative movement onto said female connector part with said axially extending fluid flow paths axially aligned;
• providing a male probe portion defining said fluid flow path of said male connector part and reciprocable relative to said guide member;
• forming a port opening laterally from said flow path on said male probe portion, and disposing a respective axially movable tubular valve member in a first position spanning and closing said port to close communication with ambient, and in a second position axially displaced from said first position utilizing said tubular valve member to uncover said port and open communication between the fluid flow paths of the engaged connector structures;
• providing an actuator rotationally carried upon said guide member, defining in cooperation between said actuator and said male probe portion a cooperating structure for reciprocating said male probe portion between its said first position and its said second position in response to rotation of said actuator relative to said guide member;
• and
• engaging said male and said female connector parts, and relatively rotating said actuator to effect reciprocation of said male probe portion so that communication of said fluid flow paths is opened and closed.

A two-part fluid connector structure having a female connector part for fluid-flow communication with a vessel, and a male connector part for fluid-flow communication with a conduit, said connector parts being mutually engageable to effect fluid-flow communication between said vessel and said conduit, and being disengageable to both discontinue said fluid-flow communication and also to mutually close fluid-flow communication between ambient and each of said vessel and conduit;

• said two-part connector structure comprising:
• said female connector part having:
• a female cap member defining an axially extending through passage communicating between ambient and said vessel, said cap member defining an axially disposed end edge surface about said through passage;
• a plug member integrally formed with said cap member and in a closed first position spanning and closing said through passage of said cap member, said plug member being movable axially to a opened second position opening said through passage to said vessel while remaining integral with said cap member, said plug member defining an axially extending recess disposed outwardly of said through passage;
• said male connector part having:
• an elongate probe member defining a blind axial passage for fluid-flow communication with said conduit, a lateral aperture adjacent to a forward end of said probe member and opening outwardly from said axial passage on said probe member, and a head portion adjacent to a forward end of said probe member for engaging into said recess of said plug member,
• a sleeve valve member carried slidably on said probe member between a first position across and closing said lateral aperture and a second position at least partially rearwardly of said opening of said lateral aperture, said sleeve valve reciprocating in unison with said probe member and having a radially outwardly extending flange portion at a rear end thereof, and said flange portion being engageable with said end edge surface of said cap member to stop forward reciprocation of said sleeve valve member so that said sleeve valve member is relatively moved to said second position thereof as said probe member continues in reciprocation into said cap member;
• a guide structure reciprocably carrying said probe member and said sleeve member, said guide structure including a forward flange portion having a central opening therein, and means for engaging supportingly upon said cap member with said central opening in alignment with said through passage of said cap member, means for defining a guide way for said probe member and sleeve valve member to allow reciprocation thereof via said central opening into and from said through passage of said female connector part;
• and
• an actuator rotationally carried upon said guide member and defining with said male probe member cooperating structure for reciprocating said male probe portion relative to said guide member between its said first position and its said second position in response to rotation of said actuator relative to said guide member.