Self-centering blind mate fluid coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12247685-B2
Application number	US-202318167299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2023
Priority date	Aug 6, 2020
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing and a valve body that is self-centering and alignable relative to the housing. The valve body may include at least two radial shoulder portions or abutments that are configured to engage at least two corresponding radial abutments of the housing to improve self-centering when in a decoupled state. A biasing member may urge the valve body abutments against the corresponding housing abutments to compensate for misalignment and/or provide self-centering in both a decoupled and mated state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling, comprising:
a valve body having an axially extending internal fluid passage, a radially outwardly protruding forward abutment, and a radially outwardly protruding rearward abutment that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the forward abutment;
a valve member at least partially disposed in the internal fluid passage, the valve member being movable relative to the valve body to open and close the internal fluid passage; and
a housing surrounding at least a portion of the valve body, the housing including a radially inwardly extending forward engagement surface and a radially inwardly extending rearward engagement surface that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the first engagement surface;
wherein the rearward abutment of the valve body includes a radially outwardly and axially rearwardly extending convex contact surface;
wherein, the coupling member is configured such that the forward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the forward engagement surface of the housing, and the convex engagement surface of the rearward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the rearward engagement surface of the housing to facilitate alignment and/or centering of the valve body relative to the housing; and
wherein a floating support is interposed between a forwardly facing contact surface of the forward abutment of the valve body and the rearward engagement surface of the housing, the floating support being radially moveable relative to the housing and the valve body, and cooperates with both the forwardly facing contact surface of the forward abutment and the forward engagement surface of the housing to provide interaction that facilitates alignment and/or centering of the valve body relative to the housing.

2. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein at least in the decoupled state, the convex contact surface of the rearward abutment of the valve body direct engages against the rearward engagement surface of the housing.

3. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the convex surface of the rearward abutment of the valve body is formed as an outer conical surface of a frustoconical body portion of the valve body.

4. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the rearward engagement surface of the housing has a corresponding radially outwardly extending and axially rearwardly extending orientation that forms a concave surface.

5. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the rearward engagement surface of the housing is formed at an opening in a rear of the housing.

6. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the floating support is a flat ring, the forwardly facing contact surface of the forward abutment of the valve body is a flat surface that extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the valve body, and the forward engagement surface of the housing is a flat surface that extends perpendicular to the a longitudinal axis of the housing.

7. The coupling member according to claim 1 , further comprising an alignment mechanism including a movable engagement part that is radially movable in a radial direction relative to the housing and the longitudinal axis, wherein the alignment mechanism is configured to cooperate with the valve body to facilitate at least radial alignment and/or centering of the valve body.

8. The coupling member according to claim 7 , wherein the engagement part cooperates with the valve body via a concave interface to facilitate angular alignment and/or centering.

9. The coupling member according to claim 8 , wherein the engagement part is adapted to engage a rearwardly facing surface of the valve body via the concave interface at least when the coupling member is in a connecting state with a corresponding other coupling member of the blind mate coupling.

10. The coupling member according to claim 7 , wherein the engagement part has a concave bearing surface that is configured to engage a complementary convex mating surface of a portion of the valve body.

11. The coupling member according to claim 10 , wherein the bearing surface of the engagement part and the mating surface of the valve body are each configured as spherical surfaces.

12. The coupling member according to claim 7 ,
wherein the engagement part is a ring having an opening through which the valve body extends, the ring having a cupped surface that is adapted to engage a corresponding cupped shoulder surface of the valve body,
the alignment mechanism further including a second radially floating ring, wherein the engagement part and floating ring are each radially movable and configured to cooperate with respective parts the housing.

13. The coupling member according to claim 7 , wherein the alignment mechanism includes a compensator having a biasing member that urges the valve body forwardly and the engagement part rearwardly to compensate for misalignment of the valve body.

14. The coupling member according to claim 13 , wherein the biasing member has a biasing force that is configured such that the engagement part disengages from a shoulder of the valve body when the coupling member is disconnected from a corresponding other coupling member of the blind mate coupling.

15. The coupling member according to claim 13 , wherein one end of the biasing member is supported by the engagement member, and an opposite end of the biasing member is engaged against a shoulder portion of the valve body.

16. The coupling member according to claim 13 , wherein an outer diameter of an intermediate portion of the valve body contained within the biasing member is tapered to reduce in diameter axially rearwardly.

17. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein a forward opening of the housing has an inclined surface.

18. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein a rearward end portion of the valve body has a connector that is adapted to connect to a fluid conduit.

19. The coupling member according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is a male coupling member.

20. A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling, comprising:
a valve body having an axially extending internal fluid passage, a radially outwardly protruding forward abutment, and a radially outwardly protruding rearward abutment that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the forward abutment;
a valve member at least partially disposed in the internal fluid passage, the valve member being movable relative to the valve body to open and close the internal fluid passage; and
a housing surrounding at least a portion of the valve body, the housing including a radially inwardly extending forward engagement surface and a radially inwardly extending rearward engagement surface that is axially spaced apart rearwardly from the first engagement surface;
wherein the rearward abutment of the valve body includes a radially outwardly and axially rearwardly extending convex contact surface; and
wherein, the coupling member is configured such that the forward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the forward engagement surface of the housing, and the convex engagement surface of the rearward abutment of the valve body operatively interacts with the rearward engagement surface of the housing to facilitate alignment and/or centering of the valve body relative to the housing;
further comprising an alignment mechanism including a movable engagement part that is radially movable in a radial direction relative to the housing and the l

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• Marquis Timothy
• Holst Andrew

Classifications

• F16L37/30

  with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings · CPC title

• F16L37/505

  allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement · CPC title

• F16L37/22

  in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts · CPC title

• F16L37/52 Primary

  Universal joints, i.e. with a mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction · CPC title

• F16L37/35

  at least one of the valves having an axial bore communicating with lateral apertures · CPC title