Magnetic fluid connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10734760-B2
Application number	US-201916533723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

Example implementations relate to a magnetic fluid connector. For example, a magnetic fluid connector can include a magnet, an internal fluid path defined by a first portion and a second portion when the first portion and the second portion are coupled together, and a movable member that is movable to seal the internal fluid path, where the magnet provides at least a portion of a force sufficient to seal the internal fluid path.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A liquid connector, comprising:
a first portion comprising a first housing, a plug within the first housing, and a magnet attached to the plug; and
a second portion comprising a second housing to be inserted into the first housing to establish a fluid path through the liquid connector, and a magnetic region attached to the second housing;
wherein as the second housing is inserted into the first housing, the plug is moved by the second housing from a closed position to an open position, and
when the second housing is inserted into the first housing, magnetic attraction between the magnet and the magnetic region generates a first force that presses the plug against the second housing, wherein the first portion comprise a stem inside the first housing, with the plug encircling the stem, and when the plug is in the closed position, the plug contacts the stem and the first housing to prevent liquid from flowing through the first housing.

2. The liquid connector of claim 1 ,
wherein when the second housing is inserted in first housing and the plug is in the open position, the pressing of the plug against the second housing seals the fluid path relative to an exterior environment.

3. The liquid connector of claim 1 ,
wherein as the second housing is removed from the first housing, the plug moves to the closed position.

4. The liquid connector of claim 3 ,
wherein as the second housing is removed from the first housing, the first force pulls the plug towards the closed position.

5. The liquid connector of claim 4 ,
wherein the first portion includes a spring inside the first housing, and
as the second housing is removed from the first housing, the spring generates a second force that pushes the plug towards the closed position.

6. The liquid connector of claim 3 ,
wherein the plug prevents liquid from flowing through the first housing when in the closed position and allows liquid to flow through the first housing when in the open position.

7. The liquid connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid connector is a blind mate liquid connector.

8. The liquid connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the first portion includes a spring inside the first housing, and
when the second housing is inserted into the first housing, the spring generates a second force pressing the plug against the second housing.

9. The liquid connector of claim 8 ,
wherein the first force and the second force together press the plug against the second housing sufficiently to seal the fluid path relative to an exterior environment.

10. The liquid connector of claim 1 ,
wherein the second portion includes a second plug inside the second housing, and
the stem is to, as the second housing is inserted into the first housing, force the second plug to move from a closed position to an open position.

11. A liquid connector, comprising:
a first portion comprising a first housing, a plug within the first housing, and a magnetic region attached to the plug; and
a second portion comprising a second housing to be inserted into the first housing to establish a fluid path through the liquid connector, and a magnet attached to the second housing;
wherein as the second housing is inserted into the first housing, the plug is moved by the second housing from a closed position to an open position, and
when the second housing is inserted into the first housing, magnetic attraction between the magnet and the magnetic region generates a first force that presses the plug against the second housing, wherein the first portion includes a spring inside the first housing, and when the second housing is inserted into the first housing, the spring generates a second force pressing the plug against the second housing.

12. The liquid connector of claim 11 ,
wherein when the second housing is inserted in first housing, the pressing of the plug against the second housing seals the fluid path relative to an exterior environment.

13. The liquid connector of claim 11 ,
wherein as the second housing is removed from the first housing, the plug moves to the closed position.

14. The liquid connector of claim 13 ,
wherein as the second housing is removed from the first housing, the first force pulls the plug towards the closed position.

15. The liquid connector of claim 14 ,
wherein the first portion includes a spring inside the first housing, and
as the second housing is removed from the first housing, the spring generates a second force that pushes the plug towards the closed position.

16. The liquid connector of claim 13 ,
wherein the plug prevents liquid from flowing through the first housing when in the closed position and allows liquid to flow through the first housing when in the open position.

17. The liquid connector of claim 11 ,
wherein the liquid connector is a blind mate liquid connector.

18. The liquid connector of claim 11 ,
wherein the first force and the second force together press the plug against the second housing sufficiently to seal the fluid path relative to an exterior environment.

19. The liquid connector of claim 11 ,
wherein the first portion comprise a stem inside the first housing, with the plug encircling the stem, and
when the plug is in the closed position, the plug contacts the stem and the first housing to prevent liquid from flowing through the first housing.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Franz John P
• Cader Tahir

Classifications

• H01R13/6205 Primary

  Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet · CPC title

• H01R13/5219

  Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal · CPC title

• H01R25/14

  Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length (supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35) · CPC title

• H05K7/20809

  within server blades for removing heat from heat source · CPC title

• F16L29/02

  with a cut-off device in one of the two pipe ends, the cut-off device being automatically opened when the coupling is applied · CPC title