Releasable port connection assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a releasable port connection assembly comprising a female port member (2) having a tubular passage (4) extending in axial direction, a male connector (40) having a tube connection end (42) configured for connection to a tube and a port connection end (44) configured to be received and retained in the tubular passage (4) by a retaining click arrangement comprising a resiliently displaceable protrusion extending radially inward in the tubular passage, the protrusion being configured to engage an outwardly protruding locking shoulder (46) on the port connection end (44) of the male connector (40) once the male connector has been inserted into the tubular passage and its locking shoulder (46) has passed the protrusion, characterized in that the protrusion is formed as a circumferentially extending inner edge (24) of a resiliently deformable split ring (20), the split ring being slidably received between side walls (10) of a circumferential groove (8) formed in an inner wall of the tubular passage (4), wherein the side walls (10) of the groove are inclined with respect to the axial direction such that an acute inclination angle is formed between the movement direction of the male connector (40) when it is inserted into the tubular passage and the direction of expansion movement of the split ring (20) when it is radially expanded by the male connector being pushed into the tubular passage and moved deeper into the circumferential groove (8), such that the radial expansion of the split ring (20) when the male connector (40) is advanced deeper into the tubular passage also moves in the axial movement direction of the male connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a releasable port connection assembly comprising: a female port member having a tubular passage extending in an axial direction; a male connector having a tube connection end and a port connection end, the tube connection end being configured to connect a tube to the tube connection end; and the port connection end being configured to receive and retain in the tubular passage by a retaining pawl arrangement including a radially inwardly extending, elastically displaceable protrusion in the tubular passage, the protrusion being configured to engage an outwardly projecting locking shoulder on the port connection end of the male connector once the male connector has been inserted into the tubular passage and its shoulder has passed the protrusion, wherein the protrusion is formed as a circumferentially extending inner edge of an elastically deformable slit ring slidably received between the sidewalls of a circumferential groove formed in the inner wall of the tubular passage. Background Technology

[0002] US 2019 / 0360624A1 discloses a releasable port connection assembly. Port connection assemblies are typically used as quick-connect assemblies that allow a male connector to be connected to a female port member via an insertion connection. The male connector portion is a conduit having a tubular connection end and a port connection end, wherein the tubular connection end is configured to connect as a tube, and the port connection end is configured to be received and held in the tubular passage of the female port member by a retaining pawl arrangement. The retaining pawl arrangement includes a resiliently displaceable protrusion extending radially inward into the tubular passage and configured to engage an outwardly projecting shoulder on the connection end of the male connector once the male connector has been inserted into the tubular passage and its shoulder has displaced the protrusion to allow the shoulder to pass through; thereafter, the resiliently displaced protrusion returns to engage a shoulder on the back side of the male connector, thereby locking the male connector in the tubular passage of the female port member via an insertion connection.

[0003] The tube connection end of the male connector may have a so-called cedar-shaped structure on its surface, which is adapted to hold the tube by means of a cedar-shaped structure on the outer wall of the conduit of the male connector. Alternatively, the tube connection end may be configured as a push-in tube connector port, which allows the tube to be pushed into the conduit male connector, which acts as a female port at its tube connection end, wherein the introduced tube is clamped and held within the conduit of the tube connection end. Such a push-in tube connector configuration of the tube connection end is described, for example, in WO 2016 / 041603A1.

[0004] The type of port connection assembly described in this invention is widely used in the automotive industry, in which a hose or tube must be connected to a female port component via an insert connection in a pressurized fluid system, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic system in a car.

[0005] US 4,240,654 discloses a releasable port connection component.

[0006] Many existing port connection assemblies suffer from the drawback that the male connector cannot be released from the female port without damaging it, thus preventing the reuse of the male connector. In many other cases, the nut that forms part of the female port housing must be unscrewed and removed to disconnect the male connector from the female port. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention relates to a port connection assembly that allows a male connector to be released from its mounting position on a female port member, and allows the male connector to be reused after removal by reinserting it into the female port member. A drawback of known releasable port connection assemblies is that when the male connector is inserted into the channel of the female port member, considerable force is required to overcome the elastic bias of a protrusion to displace it, allowing a shoulder formed on the outer wall of the port connection end of the male connector to pass over the displaced protrusion. On the one hand, a high elastic bias force is required for the protrusion to achieve reliable and secure locking through it after it has elastically returned to the back of the shoulder; on the other hand, this makes the process of connecting the male connector to the female port member laborious for the operator and may cause damage if excessive force is applied.

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a releasable port connection assembly that, on the one hand, securely locks the male connector in the port component, and on the other hand, allows connection of the male connector to the female port component under the application of moderate force.

[0009] In a releasable port connection assembly, the elastically displaceable protrusion in the tubular passage of the female port member is formed as the circumferentially extending inner edge of an elastically deformable slit ring, i.e., an unclosed ring with a circumferential gap, such that the slit ring can expand radially when the larger outer diameter portion of the male connector is pressed into the tubular passage to pass through it. This slit ring is slidably received between the sidewalls of a circumferential groove formed in the inner wall of the tubular passage, such that as the slit ring expands radially, it can slide deeper into the groove along the sidewalls. According to the invention, the sidewalls of the groove are not oriented perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular passage, but are inclined relative to the axial direction, such that an acute angle is formed between the direction of movement of the male connector when it is inserted into the tubular passage and the direction of movement of the slit ring when it expands radially from the male connector pushed into the tubular passage and moves deeper into the circumferential groove. In other words, the circumferential groove does not extend radially into the inner wall of the tubular passage, but is inclined, such that it has a common directional component with the direction of movement of the male connector as it advances in the tubular passage. The orientation of the circumferential groove relative to the direction of movement of the male connector when it is inserted into the tubular passage has the effect that, as the slit ring expands radially from the male connector pushed into the tubular passage, the slit ring moves deeper into the inclined circumferential groove. This is because, due to the acute angle between the direction of movement of the slit ring into the circumferential groove and the direction of movement of the male connector, the slit ring moves further into the tubular passage in the axial direction, in addition to its radial extension. In other words, as the slit ring expands from the advancing male connector, it also has a component of movement in the axial direction, that is, a component of movement in the same direction as the direction of movement of the male connector when it is inserted into the tubular passage.

[0010] This axial movement of the slit ring, together with the advancing male connector, induces a lever effect in the following way. Because the slit ring expands radially while the male connector moves to a certain extent in its axial direction of advancement, the path length that the male connector must advance to complete the radial expansion of the slit ring is increased compared to the case where the slit ring must expand into a purely radially extending circumferential groove. Therefore, the force required to advance the male connector, and the force required to further radially expand the slit ring into the inclined circumferential groove, is lower for each unit length of male connector advanced, because the complete radial expansion of the slit ring occurs over the longer axial path length of the male connector's movement into the tubular passage.

[0011] Therefore, the operator can use moderate force to push the male connector into the tubular passage of the female connector to its insertion position. The lower the force, the smaller the acute angle between the direction of movement of the slit ring in the circumferential groove and the direction of movement of the male connector into the tubular passage in the axial direction. On the other hand, the smaller the acute angle, the longer the distance the male connector must travel to complete the radial expansion of the slit ring.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the slit ring has an inner circumferential surface that tapers in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the male connector when it is inserted into the tubular passage. Preferably, the inner edge of the slit ring is formed by the axial end portion of the tapered inner circumferential surface of the slit ring.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the two axial end faces of the slit ring that slide in contact with the sidewall of the circumferential groove are tilted relative to the axial direction of the slit ring at the same tilt angle as the sidewall of the circumferential groove is tilted relative to the direction of movement of the male connector when it is inserted into the tubular passage of the female connector.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the acute angle of inclination of the circumferential groove relative to the direction of movement of the male connector when it is inserted is greater than 10°.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the acute angle of inclination of the circumferential groove sidewall relative to the direction of movement of the male connector when it is inserted is less than 80°.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the male connector's port connection end is provided with a pre-sealing shoulder, which is positioned axially closer to the front end of the male connector's port connection end than a locking shoulder. This pre-sealing shoulder engages with the inner edge of a slit ring in the tubular passage to hold the male connector and female port assembly in a connected state. In this connected state, the male connector's port connection end is not fully inserted into the tubular passage of the female port assembly, nor is a seal achieved within the tubular passage. This allows the male connector to be brought to the connected state with the female port assembly before it is finally brought to a fully inserted and sealed insertion position, where the connected state—not yet fully sealed—can be sensed by a hissing sound when pressure is applied to the port connection assembly.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the front end face of the inner edge of the slit ring is provided with a circumferentially radially outwardly extending recess, which is configured to receive and engage the edge portion of the pre-sealed shoulder or locking shoulder.

[0018] In another aspect, the present invention provides a combination of the releasable port connection assembly as described above and a release tool for releasing the male connector from the female port component. The release tool is an annular member with a circumferential gap larger than the outer diameter of the male connector, allowing it to advance toward the male connector to partially surround it. The annular member has a cross-sectional profile defined by an annular inner wall portion and a radially outwardly displaced surrounding outer wall portion connected to the inner wall portion via an upper wall portion. The inner and outer wall portions are sized such that the release tool can be positioned above the female port member around the male connector and can be lowered toward the female port member. The outer diameter of the outer wall portion of the release tool allows it to be fitted around the upper end of the female port member. The inner diameter of the inner wall portion is larger than the outer diameter of the male connector, and the outer diameter of the inner wall portion is smaller than the opening of the tubular passage. When the release tool descends to the female port member, the inner wall portion presses against the slit ring and causes the slit ring to expand radially by pushing it further into the circumferential groove. This causes the inner edge of the slit ring to separate from the locking shoulder of the male connector. Afterward, the male connector can be repositioned by rising upward and moving away from the female port member. Attached Figure Description

[0019] In the following description, embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 An exploded view of the port connection assembly of the present invention, together with the release tool, is shown; Figure 2 A perspective view of the port connection assembly accompanying the release tool is shown; Figure 3 A 3D view of the port connection components is shown; Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the port connection assembly that comes with the release tool is shown; Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the slit ring of the port connection assembly is shown; Figures 6a to 6e This diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the female port member and male connector in a series of steps as the male connector of the port connection assembly is introduced into the female port member of the port connection assembly to lock the male connector via an insertion connection within the female port member; and Figures 7a to 7d This diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the port connector assembly and the release tool during a series of steps as the insertion connection of the male connector within the female port assembly is released using a release tool, and the male connector is removed from the female port assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Now refer to Figures 1 to 3 This document provides a first overview of the design of the port connection component in this embodiment. Figure 1An exploded view of the port connection assembly together with the release tool 39 is shown. Figure 3 A 3D view of the port connection component in a connected state is shown. Figure 2 A corresponding perspective view is shown, in which the release tool 30 is placed above the port connection assembly, where it can be lowered onto the port connection assembly to release the insertion connection of the male connector 40 in the female port component 2 of the port connection assembly.

[0021] The port connection assembly includes a female port member 2 and a male connector 40. The female port member has a central tubular passage 4 passing through it, and the male connector 40 is connected to the female port member 2. The male connector 40 has a tube connection end 42 and a port connection end 44 at the opposite end. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube connection end 42 is oriented perpendicular to the conduit of the port connection end 44. However, this is only an exemplary embodiment, and the tube connection end 42 may also be oriented at any other angle, or aligned and coaxial with the port connection end 44. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tube connection end 42 has a so-called "fir-shaped" design, which has a circumferential ridge that acts as a barb to retain the tube that has been pushed onto the tube connection end 42. However, the fir-shaped design of the tube connection end 42 is merely an example, and the tube connection end 42 may be designed in other ways to allow the tube to be connected to the tube connection end 42, for example, it may be designed as a plug-in connector into which the tube can be introduced to be held therein by a clamping ring, as described, for example, in WO2016 / 041603 A1.

[0022] like Figure 4 As shown, the tubular passage 4 has a cylindrical portion adjacent to it, which is a diameter-enlarged portion for receiving the port connection end 44 of the male connector 40, as will be described further below. Near the insertion opening of the tubular passage 4, a circumferential groove 8 is formed in the inner wall of the tubular passage, which will be described in further detail below.

[0023] The port connection end 44 is configured to be inserted into the tubular passage 4 of the female port component 2, now referring to Figure 4 The following description is provided. At the forward end of the tube connection 42, when inserted into the tubular passage 4 of the female port member 2, two circumferential recesses are formed in the outer wall of the tube connection 42, which respectively receive the second sealing ring 52 and the first sealing ring 50. Along the port connection end 44, it follows a portion of the outer diameter that terminates in the pre-sealing shoulder 48. Further along the tube connection end 42, it follows another region of the outer diameter that terminates in the radially extending locking shoulder 46. The pre-sealing shoulder 48 and the locking shoulder 46 are configured to mate with the slit ring 20 to provide an insert connection of the male connector 40 in the female port member 2, which will be further described below.

[0024] like Figure 1As shown in the perspective view, the slit ring 20 has a circumferential gap, so that when a component with an outer diameter larger than the net opening of the slit ring 20 presses against the slit ring, the slit ring can elastically deform by widening the circumferential gap. The slit ring 20 can be made of a metal or plastic material that allows the slit ring to open or widen as desired.

[0025] refer to Figure 5 The cross-sectional view shows that the slit ring 20 has an inner circumferential surface 22 that tapers in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the male connector 40 when it is inserted into the tubular passage. At the inner end, the tapered inner circumferential surface 22 terminates in the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20. At the end face of the slit ring 20, the inner edge 24 has a radially extending recess 26 configured to mate with a pre-sealing shoulder 48 and a locking shoulder 46, which will be described below.

[0026] Refer again Figure 1 The exploded view shows that the port connection assembly also includes a port sealing ring 12 configured to seal the female port component within a component opening (not shown) where the female port component is mounted. The port connection assembly also includes a first sealing ring 50 and a second sealing ring 52, which are carried by the port connection end 44 of the male connector 40, as will be described further below.

[0027] To connect the male connector 40 to the female port component 2, the male connector 40 is lowered, with its port connection end 44 facing the insertion opening of the tubular passage 4 of the female port component 2, such as... Figure 6a As shown. Once the second sealing ring 52 and the first sealing ring 50 have passed the slit ring 20, the subsequent region with the gradually increasing outer diameter of the port connection end 44 begins to act on the tapering inner circumferential surface 22 and the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20, thereby causing the slit ring 20 to expand and cause the slit ring to move further and deeper into the circumferential groove 8.

[0028] The slit ring 20 is received within the circumferential groove 8 between the sidewalls 10 of the circumferential groove 8. When the gradually increasing outer diameter of the port connection end 44 acts on the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20, the force applied by the advancing pipe connection end 42 causes the slit ring 20 to expand radially, thereby pushing the slit ring to slide further and enter deeper into the circumferential groove 8, as... Figure 6b As shown, two arrows pass through the slit ring 20 and point outwards, intended to illustrate the direction of movement of the slit ring portion during radial expansion. Figure 6bAs shown, due to the inclination of the sidewall 10 of the circumferential groove 8, the direction of movement of the circumferential slit ring 20 in the circumferential groove is oriented at an acute angle relative to the direction of movement of the tube connection end 42 during insertion, i.e., an angle less than 90°. For this reason, when the slit ring 20 expands radially through the advancing tube connection end 42, pushing the slit ring 20 deeper into the inclined circumferential groove 8, the slit ring 20, in addition to the radial movement component, also has an axial movement component in the same direction as the movement direction of the advancing tube connection end 42. This axial movement component of the slit ring 20 provides a lever effect as explained above, which makes the force required for radial expansion of the slit ring lower than that required for pure radial expansion. Once the inner end of the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20 reaches the radially extending pre-sealing shoulder 48 (see also... Figure 4 The slit ring then elastically returns to the lower inner diameter permitted by the pre-sealed shoulder 48. This elastic return movement of the slit ring 20... Figure 6c The center is indicated by two slanted, inward-pointing arrows. Through this movement, the slit ring 20 receives the pre-sealed shoulder 48 into the radial recess 26 of the slit ring 20 (see...). Figure 5 The male connector 40 engages with the pre-sealed shoulder 48. After this engagement, the tube connection end 42 of the male connector 40 is connected to the female port component 2, but is not yet in the fully inserted and sealed locked position.

[0029] To continue the connection process, force continues to be applied to the male connector 40 to push it deeper into the tubular passage 4 of the female port member 2. During this movement, the gradually increasing outer diameter portion of the outer surface of the port connection end 44 acts on the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20, causing the slit ring 20 to expand radially again by pushing it deeper into the inclined circumferential groove 8, wherein this movement occurs... Figure 6d The circumferential groove is indicated by two arrows pointing inwards. Similarly, as the male connector 40 is further pushed into the tubular passage of the female connector member, the direction of movement of the slit ring, indicated by the arrows, forms an acute angle with respect to the (vertical) direction of movement of the male connector 40. Once the inner end of the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20 reaches the axial position of the radially extending locking shoulder 46 (see... Figure 4 The slit ring 20 can then freely and elastically return to a smaller diameter by receiving the locking shoulder 46 in the radially extending recess 26 of the slit ring 20 (see...). Figure 5 (This is used to engage and lock the shoulder at 46.) Figure 6e In the middle, two opposing arrows indicate the return movement of the slit ring to the engagement position with the locking shoulder 46, with the slit ring returning to the smaller diameter. This same movement also occurs in the fully inserted and locked position of the male connector 40. Figure 4As shown, the male connector 40's port connection end 44 is locked within the tubular passage of the female connector 2 by engaging the locking shoulder 46 of the male connector 40's port connection end 44 with the slit ring 20. In this locked state, the male connector 40 is sealed by the first sealing ring 50 and the second sealing ring 52 in the tubular passage of the female connector 2.

[0030] The following text will describe the Dangyang connector 40, etc. Figure 4 When the male connector 40 is locked in the female connector component 2, how can it be released again to remove it from the female connector component? For this purpose, a release tool 30 is used, such as... Figure 1 As shown in the perspective view, the release tool has a circumferential gap that allows the release tool 30 to advance above the male connector 40, such that when the male connector 40 is locked in the female port member 2, the release tool 36 partially surrounds the upper region of the port connection end 44, as... Figure 2 As shown. Reference Figure 4 The release tool 30 has a cross-sectional profile including an inner wall portion 32 and an outer wall portion 34 at a larger radius, the inner wall portion 32 and the outer wall portion 34 being connected by an upper wall portion 36, wherein these wall portions may be parts of the integral release tool 30. Figure 4 As shown, the dimensions of the inner wall portion 32 and the outer wall portion 34 are as follows. The inner diameter of the outer wall portion 34 is larger than the outer diameter of the upper region of the female port member 2. The outer diameter of the inner wall portion 32 is smaller than the inner diameter of the net opening of the tubular passage 4 of the female port member. These dimensions of the release tool 30 allow the release tool 30 to be lowered onto the female port member, wherein the outer wall portion 34 can be pushed onto the upper region of the female port member 2, wherein, during this descent, the inner wall portion 32 enters the insertion opening of the tubular passage 4 of the female port member 2 to act on the slit ring 20, now referring to... Figures 7a to 7d The release procedure shown is described below.

[0031] exist Figure 7a In the middle, the male connector 40 is locked in the female port component 2, and the release tool 30 descends onto the female port component, as... Figure 7a As shown. In Figure 7b In the middle, the outer wall portion 34 surrounds the upper region of the female port member 2, while the inner wall portion 32 has entered the insertion opening of the tubular passage of the female port member 2 and contacts the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20, thereby radially expanding the slit ring 20 and pushing it further into the circumferential groove 8. Figure 7bIn this state, the slit ring 20 has expanded and been pushed into the circumferential groove 8 to a sufficient extent that the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20 no longer obstructs the locking shoulder 46, allowing the radially expanded slit ring 20 to pass through the locking shoulder and the pre-sealed shoulder. The slit ring 20 is still maintained in a radially expanded state by the inner wall portion 32 of the release tool 30. Figure 7c As shown. In Figure 7c In the middle, the male connector 40 has begun to retract from the female port member 2. When the male connector 40 has been lifted away from the female port member 2, the release tool 30 can also be lifted, after which the slit ring 20 elastically returns to a smaller diameter state, wherein the inner edge 24 of the slit ring 20 forms a protrusion that extends radially into the tubular passage of the female port member 2.

[0032] If needed, the male connector 40 can be connected as described above and Figures 6a to 6e The process shown is then reconnected to the female port component 2.

Claims

1. A releasable port connection component, including: A female connector (2) having a tubular passage (4) extending in an axial direction; a male connector (40) having a tube connection end (42) and a port connection end (44), the tube connection end (42) being configured to connect a tube, the port connection end (44) being configured to be received and held in the tubular passage (4) by a retaining pawl arrangement including a resiliently displaceable protrusion extending radially inward in the tubular passage, the protrusion being configured to engage the outwardly projecting locking shoulder (46) on the port connection end (44) of the male connector (40) once the male connector has been inserted into the tubular passage and its locking shoulder (46) has passed the protrusion, wherein the protrusion is formed to be resiliently The circumferentially extending inner edge (24) of the deformed slit ring (20), which is slidably received between the sidewall (10) of the circumferential groove (8) formed in the inner wall of the tubular passage (4), is characterized in that the sidewall (10) of the groove is inclined relative to the axial direction such that an acute angle is formed between the direction of movement of the male connector (40) when the male connector is inserted into the tubular passage and the direction of expansion of the slit ring (20) when the slit ring is radially expanded by the male connector pushed into the tubular passage and moves deeper into the circumferential groove (8), thereby causing the radial expansion of the slit ring (20) as the male connector (40) advances deeper into the tubular passage also to move in the axial direction of movement of the male connector.

2. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slit ring (20) has an inner circumferential surface (22) that tapers in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the male connector (40) when it is inserted into the tubular passage.

3. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner edge (24) is formed by the axial end portion of its tapered inner circumferential surface (22).

4. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, As the sidewall (10) tilts relative to the direction of movement of the male connector (40) when it is inserted into the tubular passage (4) of the female port member (2), the two axial end faces of the slit ring that slide in contact with the sidewall (10) of the circumferential groove (8) tilt at the same acute angle relative to the axial direction of the slit ring (20).

5. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acute angle of inclination of the sidewall of the circumferential groove relative to the direction of movement of the male connector (40) when it is inserted into the male connector (40) is greater than 10°.

6. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acute angle of inclination of the sidewall of the circumferential groove relative to the direction of movement of the male connector (40) when it is inserted into the male connector (40) is less than 80°.

7. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The port connection end (42) of the male connector (40) is provided with a pre-sealed shoulder (48), which is positioned closer in the axial direction to the front end of the port connection end (44) of the male connector (40) than the locking shoulder (46), so that the pre-sealed shoulder (48) can engage with the inner edge (24) of the slit ring (20) in the tubular passage to keep the male connector (40) and the female port member (2) in a connected state, wherein, in the connected state, the port connection end (44) of the male connector (40) is not fully inserted into the tubular passage of the female port member (2) and has not yet reached a completely sealed state in the tubular passage (4).

8. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The front end face of the inner edge (24) of the slit ring (20) is provided with a circumferentially radially outwardly extending recess (26), which is configured to receive and engage the edge portion of the pre-sealed shoulder (48).

9. The releasable port connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front end face of the inner edge (24) of the slit ring (20) is provided with a circumferentially radially outwardly extending recess (26), which is configured to receive and engage the edge portion of the locking shoulder (46).

10. The combination of the releasable port connection assembly according to claim 1 and the release tool (30) for releasing the male connector (40) from the female port member (2), characterized in that, The release tool (30) is an annular member having a circumferential gap larger than the outer diameter of the port connection end (44) of the male connector, and having a cross-sectional profile defined by an annular inner wall portion (32) and a surrounding annular outer wall portion (34), the annular outer wall portion being connected to the inner wall portion (32) via an upper wall portion (36), wherein the inner wall portion (32) and the outer wall portion (34) are sized such that the release tool (30) can be positioned above the female port member (2) around the insertable male connector (40) and can descend toward the female port member (2), wherein the release tool (30) The inner diameter of the outer wall portion (34) of the release tool (30) allows the release tool to engage around the upper portion of the female port member (2), wherein the outer diameter of the inner wall portion (32) is larger than the outer diameter of the male connector (40), but smaller than the net opening of the tubular passage (4), such that when the release tool (30) descends onto the female port member (2), the inner wall portion (32) presses against the slit ring (20) and expands the slit ring by pushing it deeper into the circumferential groove (8), thereby separating the inner edge of the slit ring (20) from the locking shoulder (46) of the male connector (40).

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