초록 ▼

A two-part connector structure (22, 32) includes a male connector part (32) and a female connector part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the connector parts (22, 32). For example, the connector parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between

A two-part connector structure (22, 32) includes a male connector part (32) and a female connector part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the connector parts (22, 32). For example, the connector parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between a container (12) and a conduit (14). The connector parts (22, 32) are disengageable from one another to discontinue fluid communication between them, and also to close communication between ambient and each of the container and the conduit. The male connector part (32) includes a mounting structure (32a) for supporting on the female connector part (22), and also includes a guide structure (44) effective to guide a male portion (36) of the male connector part (32) into engagement with the female connector part (22). A handnut (34) of the male connector part (32), and is effective upon manual rotation to cause axial relative movement of the male probe portion (36) into or out of engagement with the female connector part (32). This invention provides a connector structure (22, 32) with considerably lowered manual engagement and disengagement forces, along with increased convenience and ease of use.

대표청구항 ▼

A two-part connector structure (22, 32) includes a male connector part (32) and a female connector part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the connector parts (22, 32). For example, the connector parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between

A two-part connector structure (22, 32) includes a male connector part (32) and a female connector part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the connector parts (22, 32). For example, the connector parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between a container (12) and a conduit (14). The connector parts (22, 32) are disengageable from one another to discontinue fluid communication between them, and also to close communication between ambient and each of the container and the conduit. The male connector part (32) includes a mounting structure (32a) for supporting on the female connector part (22), and also includes a guide structure (44) effective to guide a male portion (36) of the male connector part (32) into engagement with the female connector part (22). A handnut (34) of the male connector part (32), and is effective upon manual rotation to cause axial relative movement of the male probe portion (36) into or out of engagement with the female connector part (32). This invention provides a connector structure (22, 32) with considerably lowered manual engagement and disengagement forces, along with increased convenience and ease of use. led Nov. 8, 2000, the entire contents of said provisional application being incorporated herein by reference. Related subject matter is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/280,581, filed Mar. 30, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,449, the entire contents of said application being expressly incorporated herein by reference. A non-contact position sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a circuit board having a plurality of layers, the drive and sense coils being disposed on at least one of the layers, the circuit board having vias formed with an electrically conductive lining extending between at least some of the layers and the loops of the sense coils have circuit portions on another layer interconnected through vias to provide opposite current directions. 7. A non-contact position sensor according to claim 6 further comprising at least one ground layer of electrically conductive material formed on a layer of the circuit board for shielding the detection circuit from stray electromagnetic fields. 8. A non-contact position sensor according to claim 6 further comprising magnetic field shaping material disposed in vias interconnecting loops of the sense coils. 9. A non-contact position sensor according to claim 1 in which the loops of each sense coil have a cross-over point at which the loops of each sense coil are interconnected and the loops have a width which is essentially equal at a location adjacent to the cross-over point. 10. A non-contact position sensor according to claim 6 in which the drive and sense coils are arranged on one layer of the circuit board.