A blind-mate fluid connector having a dual seal structure

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of fluid connectors, and discloses a blind insertion fluid connector with a double sealing structure, which comprises a connecting pipe I and a connecting pipe II, the outer wall of the connecting pipe I is fixedly connected with a conical head, the outer wall of the connecting pipe II is fixedly connected with a conical barrel, the outer wall of the connecting pipe I is fixedly connected with a fixed plate, the outer wall of the fixed plate is slidably connected with a shell, the annular inner wall of the shell is slidably connected to the outer wall of the connecting pipe I, and the fixed plate and the connecting pipe II are provided with a connecting mechanism. Through the cooperation of the shell and the tension spring, the shell can automatically reset and cover the conical head in the non-docking, storage and transportation state, so that the docking surface can be prevented from being physically damaged, such as being bumped and scratched; the shell can be easily slid to avoid operation during docking, and the shell can automatically reset and protect again after docking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fluid connector technology, specifically to a blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure. Background Technology

[0002] In high-precision fluid transport systems such as industrial automation, aerospace, and medical equipment, blind-mating fluid connectors have become indispensable components in critical infrastructure due to their blind alignment and rapid mating characteristics. These connectors enable safe and efficient fluid path connections even when the mating status cannot be directly observed, and are widely used in high-end scenarios such as fuel transport, hydraulic control, clean fluid transfer, and life support systems. Their reliability directly affects the operational safety and stability of the entire system, especially in harsh environments such as spacecraft on-orbit docking, medical emergency equipment pipeline connections, and chemical process control, where any connection failure can lead to serious operational malfunctions or even safety accidents. Therefore, the structural durability and sealing performance of connectors during long-term use have become core indicators for evaluating their performance.

[0003] However, the core sealing function of blind-mating connectors highly depends on the integrity and cleanliness of their mating surfaces. During repeated mating and unmating, these surfaces directly endure mechanical contact and friction, making them highly susceptible to minor scratches or deformation from impacts and scrapes. Damage to the surface flatness compromises the integrity of the seal, leading to leakage or jetting of fluid under high pressure or vacuum conditions. A common solution in existing technology is to add a fixed protective cover or cap to the connector. While this structure does provide physical isolation to the surface in the non-mating state, preventing accidental damage and contamination, in practical use, especially in applications requiring frequent mating and unmating, this design reveals significant drawbacks: before each mating, the operator must manually remove the protective cover, and after mating, it must be reinstalled. This not only increases operational steps and reduces connection efficiency but can also cause delays in emergency or rapid-response applications. Furthermore, detachable protective covers are susceptible to loss, mismatch, or forgetting to install, making it difficult to maintain their protective function consistently. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure, which solves the problems of reduced connection efficiency due to the addition of fixed protective covers or caps to the connector, and the risk of loss, mismatch, or forgetting to install detachable protective covers.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealed structure includes a first connector and a second connector. A tapered head is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first connector, and a tapered cylinder is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second connector. A fixing plate is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first connector, and a housing is slidably connected to the outer wall of the fixing plate. The annular inner wall of the housing is slidably connected to the outer wall of the first connector. A connection mechanism is provided between the fixing plate and the second connector.

[0006] Preferably, the connecting mechanism includes a threaded head and a threaded cylinder. The threaded head is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fixed plate, and the threaded cylinder is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second connecting pipe. The inner wall of the threaded cylinder is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the threaded head.

[0007] Preferably, a sealing gasket is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the conical head near the second connecting pipe, and a guide ring is fixedly connected to the edge of the sealing gasket, the guide ring being able to slide against the inner wall of the conical cylinder.

[0008] Preferably, a second sealing gasket is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second connecting pipe. The second sealing gasket is located inside the conical cylinder and fits against the outer wall of the first sealing gasket and the guide ring.

[0009] Preferably, a sealing gasket three is nested on the outer wall of the first connecting pipe, the sealing gasket three is located inside the threaded head, and the outer wall of the sealing gasket three is in contact with the outer wall of the conical cylinder.

[0010] Preferably, the inner part of the second connecting pipe is provided with a flow guide hole, and a piston head is slidably connected inside the flow guide hole. The outer wall of the piston head is attached to the outer wall of the second sealing gasket away from the guide ring.

[0011] Preferably, one end of a tension spring is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fixing plate, and the other end of the tension spring is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the outer shell.

[0012] Preferably, an air pipe is fixedly connected through the interior of the fixed plate, and a nozzle is fixedly connected to one end of the air pipe, with the nozzle facing the axis of the outer shell.

[0013] Preferably, the threaded head has an air hole, and the opening position of the air hole is facing the nozzle.

[0014] Preferably, a one-way valve is fixedly installed inside the outer shell, the one-way valve connecting the outer shell and the air chamber of the fixed plate, and a two-way valve is fixedly installed inside the air pipe.

[0015] This invention provides a blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure. It offers the following advantages: 1. The design of the outer shell and the tension spring in this invention allows the outer shell to automatically reset and cover the conical head when the connector is not docked, stored or transported, which can prevent physical damage such as bumps and scratches to the docking surface; during docking, the outer shell can be easily slid to avoid the operation, and automatically reset to protect after docking, without the need for additional manual switching, thus improving the convenience of use and the integrity of structural protection.

[0016] 2. In this invention, the sealing gasket one, the guide ring and the sealing gasket two form the first inner seal, and the sealing gasket three forms the second outer seal after the threads are locked. The two barriers greatly improve the anti-leakage capability and are suitable for harsh scenarios such as high pressure and corrosive fluids. In addition, the piston head in the guide hole is squeezed by the fluid pressure to compress the sealing gasket two, causing it to deform elastically and strengthen the fit, so as to achieve dynamic self-reinforcement of the sealing effect and further eliminate the risk of fluid leakage.

[0017] 3. The invention features a sliding shell and a linkage design with the air chamber, one-way valve, and nozzle. During the shell reset process, the gas in the air chamber is squeezed and precisely sprayed through the nozzle and air holes onto the conical head mating surface, automatically removing any impurities that may remain during the mating process and preventing impurities from affecting the sealing surface fit. The one-way conduction of one-way valve one and one-way valve two ensures stable operation of the air circuit. The cleaning process requires no additional power, achieving integrated linkage of cleaning and protection. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of the conical cylinder of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the outer shell of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the trachea of ​​the present invention; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the threaded cylinder of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the internal structure of the second nozzle of the present invention.

[0019] The components are as follows: 1. Connector 1; 2. Connector 2; 3. Conical cylinder; 4. Conical head; 5. Fixing plate; 6. Outer shell; 7. Connecting mechanism; 701. Threaded head; 702. Threaded cylinder; 8. Sealing gasket 1; 9. Guide ring; 10. Sealing gasket 2; 11. Flow guide hole; 12. Piston head; 13. Tension spring; 14. Air hole; 15. Air pipe; 16. Nozzle; 17. One-way valve 1; 18. Sealing gasket 3. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] Please see the appendix Figure 1 -Appendix Figure 3 This invention provides a blind-fit fluid connector with a double-sealed structure, including a first connector 1 and a second connector 2. A conical head 4 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first connector 1, a conical cylinder 3 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second connector 2, a fixing plate 5 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first connector 1, a housing 6 is slidably connected to the outer wall of the fixing plate 5, and the annular inner wall of the housing 6 is slidably connected to the outer wall of the first connector 1. A connecting mechanism 7 is provided on the fixing plate 5 and the second connector 2.

[0022] The specific connector is mainly used in various fluid transport systems to achieve rapid blind mating between pipelines, while possessing excellent sealing performance and structural stability. Its overall structure includes pipe connector 1 and pipe connector 2. A conical head 4 is fixedly mounted on the outer wall of pipe connector 1, and a conical cylinder 3 is correspondingly fixedly mounted on the outer wall of pipe connector 2, forming a compatible guiding and mating structure. A fixing plate 5 is also fixedly connected to the outer wall of pipe connector 1. A housing 6 is slidably fitted onto the outer wall of the fixing plate 5, and the annular inner wall of the housing 6 maintains a sliding fit with the outer wall of pipe connector 1. The sliding of the housing 6 achieves the switching of protective functions. A connecting mechanism 7 is provided between the fixing plate 5 and pipe connector 2, which ensures a stable locking after pipe connector 1 and pipe connector 2 are mated, guaranteeing structural reliability during fluid transport. The conical cylinder 3 and the conical head 4 adopt a matching conical structure design. The taper of both is precisely calculated, providing excellent guidance during blind mating. Even if there is a certain installation angle deviation, automatic correction can be achieved through the mutual contact of the conical surfaces, ensuring smooth mating of pipe connector 1 and pipe connector 2. The outer shell 6 adopts a hollow cylindrical structure, and its inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the conical head 4 and the subsequent connection mechanism 7. When the connector is stored, transported and not in a docking state, the outer shell 6 is in an extended position, completely covering the conical head 4. This not only effectively prevents the docking surface of the conical head 4 from being damaged by bumps, scratches and other physical damage, but also ensures the sealing and smoothness of subsequent docking.

[0023] Please see the appendix Figure 1 and attached Figure 5 The connecting mechanism 7 includes a threaded head 701 and a threaded cylinder 702. The threaded head 701 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fixed plate 5, and the threaded cylinder 702 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the connecting pipe 2. The inner wall of the threaded cylinder 702 is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the threaded head 701.

[0024] Specifically, the connecting mechanism 7, as the core locking component between pipe 1 and pipe 2, includes a threaded head 701 and a threaded cylinder 702. The threaded head 701 is fixed to the outer wall of the fixing plate 5 facing pipe 2, and its outer wall is machined with an external thread structure. The threaded cylinder 702 is correspondingly fixed to the outer wall of pipe 2 facing the fixing plate 5, and its inner wall is machined with an internal thread structure that matches the external thread of the threaded head 701. After the conical head 4 is inserted into the conical cylinder 3 to complete the initial docking, rotating pipe 1 or pipe 2 causes the threaded head 701 and the threaded cylinder 702 to achieve threaded engagement, thereby firmly locking pipe 1 and pipe 2 together.

[0025] Please see the appendix Figure 3 A sealing gasket 8 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the conical head 4 near the second connecting pipe 2. A guide ring 9 is fixedly connected to the edge of the sealing gasket 8. The guide ring 9 can slide against the inner wall of the conical cylinder 3.

[0026] Specifically, a sealing gasket 8 is fixedly mounted on the outer wall of the end of the conical head 4 near the second connecting pipe 2. The sealing gasket 8 is made of elastic sealing material and has good deformation capacity and sealing performance. A guide ring 9 is integrally formed on the outer edge of the sealing gasket 8. The guide ring 9 is made of a wear-resistant material with a hardness slightly higher than that of the sealing gasket 8. Its outer circumferential surface fits and conforms to the inner wall of the conical cylinder 3, allowing it to slide smoothly along the inner wall of the conical cylinder 3. In traditional blind-mating connectors, the sealing element needs to contact the mating surface as a whole and overcome friction to slide during the mating process, which easily causes wear on the sealing element. Especially when there is a deviation in the blind mating angle, the wear will be further aggravated, seriously affecting the sealing life. This application sets a guide ring 9 on the outer edge of the sealing gasket 8. During blind mating, the guide ring 9 first contacts the inner wall of the conical cylinder 3 and plays a guiding and correcting role. Moreover, the guide ring 9 is only set at the contact edge, which greatly reduces the contact area and friction during the mating process, thereby effectively reducing the wear of the sealing gasket 8 and extending its service life.

[0027] Please see the appendix Figure 6 A sealing gasket 210 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second pipe 2. The sealing gasket 210 is located inside the conical cylinder 3 and fits against the outer wall of the first sealing gasket 8 and the guide ring 9.

[0028] Specifically, a sealing gasket 20 is fixedly fitted to the outer wall of connector 2. Sealing gasket 20 is also made of elastic sealing material and is installed inside the conical cylinder 3, tightly fitting against the inner wall of the conical cylinder 3. When connector 1 and connector 2 are connected, sealing gasket 20 can simultaneously achieve a tight fit with the end face of sealing gasket 8 and the outer circumferential surface of guide ring 9. Through the mutual cooperation of sealing gasket 8, guide ring 9, and sealing gasket 20, the first line of sealing defense is formed. Guide ring 9 not only serves as a guide and anti-wear element but also fills the gap between sealing gasket 8 and sealing gasket 20, preventing discontinuity in the sealing surface due to the placement of guide ring 9, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the first seal, and effectively preventing fluid leakage from the inner side of the mating surface.

[0029] Please see the appendix Figure 4 The outer wall of the connector 1 is nested with a sealing gasket 3 18, which is located inside the threaded head 701. The outer wall of the sealing gasket 3 18 is in contact with the outer wall of the conical cylinder 3.

[0030] Specifically, the outer wall of connector 1 has a corresponding annular mounting groove. Sealing gasket 18 is nested within this groove, with its installation position located inside the threaded head 701. Its inner wall is tightly fitted against the outer wall of connector 1, while its outer wall forms a sealing fit with the end outer wall of the tapered cylinder 3. When the threaded head 701 and threaded cylinder 702 are fully locked, the end outer wall of the tapered cylinder 3 will tightly fit against the sealing gasket 18, thus forming a second sealing barrier from the outside of the mating structure. This double-sealing design requires fluid to pass through two sealing barriers sequentially before leakage, significantly improving overall sealing performance. It is suitable for scenarios with high sealing requirements, such as high-pressure and corrosive fluids.

[0031] Please see the appendix Figure 6 The inner part of the second connector 2 is provided with a flow guide hole 11, and the inner part of the flow guide hole 11 is slidably connected to a piston head 12. The outer wall of the piston head 12 is attached to the outer wall of the sealing gasket 2 10 on the side away from the guide ring 9.

[0032] Specifically, the inner part of the connecting pipe 2 has a guide hole 11. A piston head 12 is slidably fitted inside the guide hole 11. The piston head 12 adopts a T-shaped structure design, with its head close to the outlet diameter of the sealing gasket 10 side, and its tail slidingly engaged with the inner wall of the guide hole 11. The outer wall of the piston head 12 is tightly fitted to the end face of the sealing gasket 10 away from the guide ring 9. After the connection is completed, fluid enters the inner part of the connecting pipe 2 and flows into the guide hole 11. Under the action of fluid pressure, the piston head 12 slides towards the sealing gasket 10 and exerts a squeezing force on it, causing the sealing gasket 10 to undergo further elastic deformation. This enhances the tightness of the fit between the sealing gasket 10, the sealing gasket 8, and the guide ring 9, further improving the sealing effect of the first seal. At the same time, the T-shaped structure effectively prevents the piston head 12 from coming out of the guide hole 11 during sliding, ensuring structural stability.

[0033] Please see the appendix Figure 3 One end of a tension spring 13 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fixing plate 5, and the other end of the tension spring 13 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the outer shell 6.

[0034] Specifically, the outer wall of the fixing plate 5 is provided with a hook structure. One end of the tension spring 13 is fixed to the fixing plate 5 by the hook, and the other end is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the outer shell 6. To avoid the outer shell 6 interfering with the docking action of the conical head 4 during blind mating, this application designs the outer shell 6 as a structure that can slide along the axial direction of the connecting pipe 1. At the same time, the tension spring 13 realizes the automatic reset function of the outer shell 6. In the storage and transportation state, the tension spring 13 is in a naturally contracted state, driving the outer shell 6 to slide along the connecting pipe 1 towards the conical head 4 until the outer shell 6 is completely fitted on the outside of the conical head 4 and the threaded head 701, realizing the protective function. When blind mating is performed, the operator can apply external force to overcome the elastic tension of the tension spring 13, causing the outer shell 6 to slide away from the conical head 4, exposing the conical head 4 to facilitate the docking operation. After the docking is completed, the external force is removed, and the tension spring 13 can drive the outer shell 6 to automatically reset, realizing the protection again.

[0035] Please see the appendix Figure 4 An air pipe 15 is fixedly connected through the inside of the fixed plate 5. One end of the air pipe 15 is fixedly connected to a nozzle 16, which faces the axis of the outer shell 6. The threaded head 701 has an air hole 14, which is positioned opposite the nozzle 16.

[0036] Specifically, a mounting hole is radially through the interior of the fixing plate 5, and the air pipe 15 is fixedly installed in the mounting hole. One end of the air pipe 15 extends into the air chamber formed by the fixing plate 5 and the outer shell 6, and the other end is fixedly connected to the nozzle 16. The spray direction of the nozzle 16 is towards the axis of the outer shell 6. The outer shell 6, the connecting pipe 1, and the fixing plate 5 form a closed air chamber structure. When the outer shell 6 slides away from the conical head 4, the volume of the air chamber increases, and a negative pressure is formed inside. After the docking is completed, the tension spring 13 drives the outer shell 6 to return to its original position, the volume of the air chamber decreases, the internal gas is compressed and transported to the nozzle 16 through the air pipe 15. The side wall of the threaded head 701 is provided with corresponding air holes 14. The opening position of the air holes 14 is precisely aligned with the spray direction of the nozzle 16, so that the gas sprayed by the nozzle 16 can directly act on the docking surface of the conical head 4 through the air holes 14, realizing automatic cleaning of the docking surface, removing dust and impurities that may adhere during the docking process, and avoiding impurities from affecting the sealing effect. To ensure that the nozzle 16 and the air hole 14 remain aligned during the sliding of the housing 6, a groove and slider cooperation structure can be provided between the fixing plate 5 and the housing 6 to restrict the housing 6 to slide only along the axial direction and prevent circumferential rotation.

[0037] Please see the appendix Figure 3 and attached Figure 4 A one-way valve 17 is fixedly installed inside the outer casing 6. The one-way valve 17 connects the outer casing 6 and the air chamber of the fixed plate 5. A one-way valve 2 is fixedly installed inside the air pipe 15.

[0038] Specifically, a one-way valve 17 is fixedly installed inside the outer casing 6 at the corresponding position of the air chamber. The one-way valve 17 is open in a direction that allows only external air to enter the air chamber. When the outer casing 6 slides and the volume of the air chamber increases, creating a negative pressure, the one-way valve 17 opens, allowing external air to enter the air chamber to replenish it, thus preventing a vacuum from forming in the air chamber and affecting the sliding of the outer casing 6. A one-way valve 2 is fixedly installed inside the air pipe 15. The one-way valve 2 is open in a direction that allows only the gas in the air chamber to be ejected through the air pipe 15. When the outer casing 6 resets and the volume of the air chamber decreases, the one-way valve 2 opens, allowing the gas in the air chamber to be ejected through the air pipe 15, nozzle 16, and air hole 14 to achieve the cleaning function. At the same time, the one-way valve 17 closes to prevent gas from leaking from the one-way valve 17.

[0039] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure, comprising a first connector (1) and a second connector (2), characterized in that, A conical head (4) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first connector (1), a conical cylinder (3) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second connector (2), a fixing plate (5) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first connector (1), a shell (6) is slidably connected to the outer wall of the fixing plate (5), and the annular inner wall of the shell (6) is slidably connected to the outer wall of the first connector (1). A connecting mechanism (7) is provided between the fixing plate (5) and the second connector (2).

2. The blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting mechanism (7) includes a threaded head (701) and a threaded cylinder (702). The threaded head (701) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fixed plate (5), and the threaded cylinder (702) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second connecting pipe (2). The inner wall of the threaded cylinder (702) is threadedly connected to the outer wall of the threaded head (701).

3. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conical head (4) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the second connecting pipe (2) with a sealing gasket (8), and the edge of the sealing gasket (8) is fixedly connected to a guide ring (9), which can slide against the inner wall of the conical cylinder (3).

4. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the second connector (2) is fixedly connected to a second sealing gasket (10), which is located inside the conical cylinder (3). The second sealing gasket (10) fits against the outer wall of the first sealing gasket (8) and the guide ring (9).

5. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the first connector (1) is nested with a sealing gasket (18), which is located inside the threaded head (701). The outer wall of the sealing gasket (18) is in contact with the outer wall of the conical cylinder (3).

6. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner part of the second connector (2) is provided with a flow guide hole (11), and a piston head (12) is slidably connected inside the flow guide hole (11). The outer wall of the piston head (12) is attached to the outer wall of the second sealing gasket (10) away from the guide ring (9).

7. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of a tension spring (13) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fixing plate (5), and the other end of the tension spring (13) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the outer shell (6).

8. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, An air pipe (15) is fixedly connected through the inside of the fixed plate (5), and a nozzle (16) is fixedly connected to one end of the air pipe (15), with the nozzle (16) facing the axis of the outer shell (6).

9. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The threaded head (701) has an air hole (14), and the opening position of the air hole (14) is opposite to the nozzle (16).

10. A blind-mating fluid connector with a double-sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, One-way valve 1 (17) is fixedly installed inside the outer shell (6). One-way valve 1 (17) connects the outer shell (6) and the air chamber of the fixed plate (5). One-way valve 2 is fixedly installed inside the air pipe (15).

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