IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0347310
(2012-01-10)
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등록번호 |
US-8844979
(2014-09-30)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
▼
Quick connect fluid connectors are described that can be used to connect a first fluid system to a second fluid system for transferring fluids between the first and second fluid systems. The connectors include an eccentric mounted roller mechanism disposed within a slot in a main body and that is in
Quick connect fluid connectors are described that can be used to connect a first fluid system to a second fluid system for transferring fluids between the first and second fluid systems. The connectors include an eccentric mounted roller mechanism disposed within a slot in a main body and that is in continuous engagement with front and back walls of the slot. The eccentric mounted roller mechanism is used to actuate connection collets when the eccentric mounted roller mechanism is rotated. Since the eccentric mounted roller mechanism is in substantially continuous contact with the front and back walls, this ensures a smooth actuation of the main body and the connection collets without any lost motion.
대표청구항
▼
1. A quick-connect connector for transferring a fluid, comprising: a cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;a main body disposed at least partially in the sleeve, the main body and the sleeve are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, the main body includes a f
1. A quick-connect connector for transferring a fluid, comprising: a cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;a main body disposed at least partially in the sleeve, the main body and the sleeve are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, the main body includes a first main body end region, a second main body end region, and a fluid port connected thereto that projects beyond an exterior of the cylindrical sleeve, the main body defines a fluid passageway that is in fluid communication with the fluid port, and the main body includes an actuation slot defined therein;a piston disposed at least partially within the main body, the piston and the main body are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the piston includes a first piston end region that projects axially beyond the first main body end region of the main body, a second piston end region disposed within the main body, and a fluid passageway that extends from the first piston end region and is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the main body;a connection mechanism mounted to the first main body end region for connection to a fluid processing port, the connection mechanism includes a plurality of collets that surround the first piston end region, the collets being actuatable between a connect position for connection with the fluid processing port and a disconnect position; andan actuation mechanism for actuating the collets from the disconnect position to the connect position, the actuation mechanism includes a pair of cylinders rotatably supported by the sleeve for rotation about a first axis, and an eccentric mounted roller mechanism interconnecting the cylinders, the eccentric mounted roller mechanism being disposed within the actuation slot of the main body and extends along a second axis that is offset from the first axis. 2. The quick-connect connector of claim 1, wherein the eccentric mounted roller mechanism comprises a shaft that interconnects the cylinders, and a sleeve rotatably disposed about the shaft. 3. The quick-connect connector of claim 1, wherein the actuation slot includes first and second facing side walls, and the eccentric mounted roller mechanism is in substantially continuous engagement with the first and second facing side walls. 4. The quick-connect connector of claim 1, further comprising an inner sleeve disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and surrounding the main body, and the inner sleeve is moveable independently of the cylindrical sleeve. 5. The quick-connect connector of claim 1, wherein the piston is slideable relative to the main body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first sealing position, a second non-sealing position and a home position; the first piston end region includes a seal disposed thereon configured for sealing engagement with the fluid processing port at the first sealing position;a groove formed in an outer circumference of the piston between the first piston end region and the second piston end region, the piston including a shoulder defining one end of the groove;a groove formed on an interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve;an opening formed through the main body;a locking ball disposed in the opening in the main body, the locking ball is disposable in the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve and the shoulder of the piston is disposed opposite the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve when the piston is at the home position; when the piston is at the first sealing position, the ball is disposable in the groove in the outer circumference of the piston and the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve is offset in an axial direction from the groove in the outer circumference of the piston to prevent the ball from being disposable in the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve; andthe groove in the outer circumference of the piston has an axial width that is greater than a diameter of the locking ball, and the axial width is sufficient to permit the piston to move axially from the first sealing position to the second non-sealing position while the collets remain in the connect position. 6. A quick-connect connector that is connectable to a processing port of a gas cylinder, comprising: a cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;a main body disposed at least partially in the sleeve, the main body and the sleeve are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, the main body includes a fluid port connected thereto that projects beyond an exterior of the cylindrical sleeve, the main body defines a fluid passageway that is in fluid communication with the fluid port, and the main body includes an actuation slot defined therein, the actuation slot includes first and second facing side walls;a piston disposed at least partially within the main body, the piston and the main body are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the piston includes a fluid passageway that is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the main body, the fluid passageway of the piston includes an end configured for fluid communication with the processing port of the gas cylinder;a connection mechanism mounted to the main body that is connectable to the processing port of the gas cylinder, the connection mechanism includes a plurality of collets that are actuatable between a connect position for connection with the processing port and a disconnect position; andan actuation mechanism connected to the collets to actuate the collets between the disconnect position and the connect position, the actuation mechanism includes an eccentric mounted roller mechanism and a handle connected to the eccentric mounted roller mechanism for rotating the eccentric mounted roller mechanism about a rotation axis that is offset from a rotation axis of the handle, and the eccentric mounted roller mechanism is disposed within the actuation slot of the main body and is in continuous engagement with the first and second facing side walls. 7. The quick-connect connector of claim 6, wherein the eccentric mounted roller mechanism comprises a shaft connected to the handle, and a sleeve rotatably disposed about the shaft. 8. The quick-connect connector of claim 6, further comprising an inner sleeve disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and surrounding the main body, and the inner sleeve is moveable independently of the cylindrical sleeve. 9. The quick-connect connector of claim 1, wherein the piston includes a seal disposed thereon that is configured for sealing engagement with the processing port of the gas cylinder, and the piston is slideable relative to the main body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first position in sealing engagement with the processing port of the gas cylinder and a non-sealing position; at the non-sealing position of the piston, the collets are in their connect position connected with the processing port of the gas cylinder; andmeans for limiting travel of the piston from the first position to the non-sealing position when gas is flowing through the processing port so that the piston cannot travel beyond the non-sealing position so that the collets remain in their connect position. 10. A quick-connect connector for transferring a fluid, comprising: a cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;a main body disposed at least partially in the sleeve, the main body and the sleeve are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, the main body includes a first main body end region, a second main body end region, and a fluid port connected thereto that projects beyond an exterior of the cylindrical sleeve, and the main body defines a fluid passageway that is in fluid communication with the fluid port;an inner sleeve disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and surrounding the main body, and the inner sleeve is moveable independently of the cylindrical sleeve;a piston disposed at least partially within the main body, the piston and the main body are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the piston includes a first piston end region that projects axially beyond the first main body end region of the main body, a second piston end region disposed within the main body, and a fluid passageway that extends from the first piston end region and is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the main body;a connection mechanism mounted to the first main body end region for connection to a fluid processing port, the connection mechanism includes a plurality of collets that surround the first piston end region, the collets being actuatable between a connect position for connection with the fluid processing port and a disconnect position; andan actuation mechanism for actuating the collets from the disconnect position to the connect position. 11. A quick-connect connector for transferring a fluid, comprising: a cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;a main body disposed at least partially in the sleeve, the main body and the sleeve are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, the main body includes a first main body end region, a second main body end region, and a fluid port connected thereto that projects beyond an exterior of the cylindrical sleeve, the main body defines a fluid passageway that is in fluid communication with the fluid port, and the main body includes an actuation slot defined therein;a piston disposed at least partially within the main body and slideable relative to the main body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first sealing position, a second non-sealing position and a home position; the piston includes a first piston end region that projects axially beyond the first main body end region of the main body, a second piston end region disposed within the main body, and a fluid passageway that extends from the first piston end region and is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the main body;the first piston end region includes a seal disposed thereon configured for sealing engagement with a fluid processing port at the first sealing position;a groove formed in an outer circumference of the piston between the first piston end region and the second piston end region, the piston including a shoulder defining one end of the groove;a groove formed on an interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve;an opening formed through the main body;a locking ball disposed in the opening in the main body, the locking ball is disposable in the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve and the shoulder of the piston is disposed opposite the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve when the piston is at the home position; when the piston is at the first sealing position, the ball is disposable in the groove in the outer circumference of the piston and the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve is offset in an axial direction from the groove in the outer circumference of the piston to prevent the ball from being disposable in the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve;a connection mechanism mounted to the first main body end region for connection to a fluid processing port, the connection mechanism includes a plurality of collets that surround the first piston end region, the collets being actuatable between a connect position for connection with the fluid processing port and a disconnect position;an actuation mechanism for actuating the collets from the disconnect position to the connect position; andthe groove in the outer circumference of the piston has an axial width that is greater than a diameter of the locking ball, and the axial width is sufficient to permit the piston to move axially from the first sealing position to the second non-sealing position while the collets remain in the connect position. 12. A quick-connect connector for transferring a fluid, comprising: a cylindrical sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;a main body disposed at least partially in the sleeve, the main body and the sleeve are slideable relative to one another parallel to the longitudinal axis, the main body includes a first main body end region, a second main body end region, and a fluid port connected thereto that projects beyond an exterior of the cylindrical sleeve, the main body defines a fluid passageway that is in fluid communication with the fluid port, and the main body includes an actuation slot defined therein;an inner sleeve disposed within the cylindrical sleeve and surrounding the main body, and the inner sleeve is moveable independently of the cylindrical sleeve;a piston disposed at least partially within the main body and slideable relative to the main body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first sealing position, a second non-sealing position and a home position; the piston includes a first piston end region that projects axially beyond the first main body end region of the main body, a second piston end region disposed within the main body, and a fluid passageway that extends from the first piston end region and is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of the main body;the first piston end region includes a seal disposed thereon configured for sealing engagement with a fluid processing port at the first sealing position;a groove formed in an outer circumference of the piston between the first piston end region and the second piston end region, the piston including a shoulder defining one end of the groove;a groove formed on an interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve;an opening formed through the main body;a locking ball disposed in the opening in the main body, the locking ball is disposable in the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve and the shoulder of the piston is disposed opposite the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve when the piston is at the home position; when the piston is at the first sealing position, the ball is disposable in the groove in the outer circumference of the piston and the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve is offset in an axial direction from the groove in the outer circumference of the piston to prevent the ball from being disposable in the groove on the interior surface of the cylindrical sleeve;a connection mechanism mounted to the first main body end region for connection to a fluid processing port, the connection mechanism includes a plurality of collets that surround the first piston end region, the collets being actuatable between a connect position for connection with the fluid processing port and a disconnect position;an actuation mechanism for actuating the collets from the disconnect position to the connect position, the actuation mechanism includes a pair of cylinders rotatably supported by the sleeve for rotation about a first axis, and an eccentric mounted roller mechanism interconnecting the cylinders, the eccentric mounted roller mechanism being disposed within the actuation slot of the main body and extends along a second axis that is offset from the first axis; andthe groove in the outer circumference of the piston has an axial width that is greater than a diameter of the locking ball, and the axial width is sufficient to permit the piston to move axially from the first sealing position to the second non-sealing position while the collets remain in the connect position.
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