Dual reservoir coupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8944082-B2
Application number	US-201113296406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2011
Priority date	Nov 22, 2010
Publication date	Feb 3, 2015
Grant date	Feb 3, 2015

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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 re…

Assignees

• Cairns James
• Teledyne Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Cairns James

Classifications

• F16L29/005 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• A61M39/18

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• F16L2201/44

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• Y10T137/87941

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F16L37/367

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic