US 8,944,082 B2 · Dual reservoir coupler

Abstract

A coupler mechanism comprising plug and receptacle units sealably mates and de-mates first and second reservoirs. In the mating sequence, the plug and receptacle units are brought together so that their end-seals are pressed tightly against each other axially, thus forming a sealed barrier between the units and the outside environment. Once the face-to-face seal between the units has been established, further engagement displaces slidable seal elements laterally, thereby creating an opening between the reservoirs, the opening remaining sealed from the outside environment before, during and after mating. The sequence for demating the units is just the reverse of the mating sequence. One embodiment of the invention applies the aforementioned construction to harsh-environment electrical, fiber-optical, and hybrid electro-optical connectors.

Claims73

Dependent claims

A coupler for sealably joining two reservoirs comprising:

a receptacle having a forward end in communication with a respective reservoir, and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the receptacle is configured to couple its respective reservoir to a plug;
a plug having a forward end in communication with a respective reservoir, and having a longitudinal axis, wherein the plug is configured to couple its respective reservoir to a receptacle, and wherein the receptacle and plug are movable between an unmated condition and a mated condition in which the forward end of the plug is in mating engagement with the forward end of the receptacle;
and
at least one movable seal member on the forward end of the receptacle, and at least one movable seal member on the forward end of the plug, wherein the respective at least one movable seal members move laterally between closed positions when the receptacle and plug are in the unmated condition and open positions when the receptacle and plug are in the mated condition.

1 more element

A coupler for sealable joining two reservoirs comprising:

a plug unit in communication with a respective reservoir and having a longitudinal axis, an actuator stem, a forward projecting external shell, a forward end comprising an end cap, a fixed seal element and at least one movable seal element, said at least one movable seal element including an axially extending actuator projection, wherein the at least one movable seal element is movable from a closed position when the plug unit and a receptacle unit are in an unmated condition and an open position when the plug unit and a receptacle unit are in a mated condition, said plug forward end being axially movable within the plug external shell between an outward position in the unmated condition and an inward position in the mated condition;
and a receptacle unit in communication with a respective reservoir and having a longitudinal axis, a forward end comprising a fixed seal element and at least one movable seal element, and an external shell with at least one front opening to accommodate the receptacle fixed seal element and the at least one movable seal element, said at least one movable seal element including an actuator receiving portion for receiving the plug actuator projection, wherein, upon mating, the receptacle unit enters the forward projecting external plug shell, causing the receptacle fixed and at least one movable end seals to come into axial engagement with the respective plug fixed and at least one movable end seals, and further causing the plug axially extending actuator projection to engage the receptacle actuator receiving portion.

A coupler for sealably joining two closed reservoirs comprising:

a plug unit in communication with a respective closed reservoir, and having a longitudinal axis, an actuator stem, a forward projecting external shell, a forward end comprising an end cap, a fixed seal element, at least one movable seal element including an axially extending actuator projection, wherein the at least one movable seal element is movable from a closed position when the plug unit and a receptacle unit are in an unmated position and an open position when the plug unit and a receptacle unit are in a mated condition, said plug forward end being axially movable within the plug external shell between an outward position in the unmated condition and an inward position in the mated condition;
and a receptacle unit in communication with a respective closed reservoir, and having a longitudinal axis, a forward end comprising a fixed seal element and at least one movable seal element, and an external shell with at least one front opening to accommodate the receptacle fixed seal element and at least one movable seal element including an actuator receiving portion for receiving a plug actuator projection, and having in one of either the plug or receptacle closed reservoirs at least one first optical contact configured to receive a second optical contact in mating alignment, and in the other of either the plug or receptacle reservoirs a respective at least one second optical contact in mating alignment with said first optical contact, wherein when mated said respective at least one first and second optical contacts form an at least one optical circuit.

A coupler for sealably joining two closed reservoirs comprising:

a plug unit in communication with a respective closed reservoir, and having a longitudinal axis, an actuator stem, a forward projecting external shell, a forward end comprising an end cap, a fixed seal element, at least one movable seal element including an axially extending actuator projection, wherein the at least one movable seal element is movable from a closed position when the plug unit and a receptacle unit are in an unmated position and an open position when the plug unit and a receptacle unit are in a mated condition, said plug forward end being axially movable within the plug external shell between an outward position in the unmated condition and an inward position in the mated condition, and a receptacle unit in communication with a respective closed reservoir, and having a longitudinal axis, a forward end comprising a fixed seal element and at least one movable seal element, an external shell with at least one front opening to accommodate the receptacle fixed seal element and at least one movable seal element including an actuator receiving portion for receiving a plug actuator projection, wherein the closed plug and receptacle reservoirs each contain a mobile substance, and at least one of the closed plug and receptacle reservoirs incorporates a means to maintain the pressure within the closed reservoir substantially balanced to the in-situ exterior environment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual reservoir coupler

Life of this patent

Dual reservoir coupler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims73