floating foundation

Abstract

The application provides a floating base, which comprises a shell with a receiving cavity, an elastic member received in the receiving cavity, and a connector housing. The front end and the rear end of the connector housing are exposed outside the shell and have a connector fluid passage penetrating through the front end and the rear end. The front end of the connector housing is a plug-in part matched with a fluid connector. The shell has a front stop part limiting the forward movement of the connector housing and a rear stop part limiting the rearward movement of the connector housing. A radial floating gap is arranged between the connector housing and the shell. One of the front stop part and the rear stop part is concavely formed with a limiting structure. The connector housing is provided with a protruding part matched with the limiting structure. Before the fluid connector is matched with a mating connector, one end of the elastic member abuts against the shell, and the other end pushes the connector housing against the limiting structure. The protruding part and the limiting structure are matched to keep the connector housing in an axially concentric position with the receiving cavity.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a floating base, and more particularly to a floating base capable of automatic self-alignment. [Background Technology]

[0002] Chinese invention patent CN104565629B discloses a fluid connector assembly, including a housing with a through hole, a radially floating shell that can move radially within the through hole, and a fluid connector that mates with the radially floating shell. When there is a radial misalignment between the fluid connector and the mating connector, the fluid connector can move with the radially floating shell to compensate for the misalignment. However, the fluid connector assembly lacks an automatic return mechanism, and the centers of the fluid connector and the mating connector cannot be aligned before mating, resulting in a large misalignment.

[0003] Therefore, it is indeed necessary to provide a new bus system to overcome the above-mentioned defects. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a floating base that can automatically return to its original position.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution: a floating base, comprising a housing with a receiving cavity, an elastic element housed within the receiving cavity, and a connector housing. The front and rear ends of the connector housing protrude from the housing and have connector fluid channels penetrating the front and rear ends. The front end of the connector housing is a plug-in portion for inserting and engaging with a fluid connector. The housing has a front stop portion that restricts the forward movement of the connector housing and a rear stop portion that restricts the backward movement of the connector housing. A radial floating gap is provided between the connector housing and the housing. One of the front stop portion and the rear stop portion is recessed to form a limiting structure. The connector housing is provided with a protrusion that engages with the limiting structure. Before the fluid connector engages with a mating connector, one end of the elastic element abuts against the housing, while the other end pushes the connector housing against the limiting structure. The protrusion and the limiting structure engage to hold the connector housing in a position concentric with the axial direction of the receiving cavity.

[0006] Furthermore, the limiting structure is disposed on the front stop, and the elastic element is sleeved outside the connector housing and abuts against the inner wall of the receiving cavity in the radial direction.

[0007] Furthermore, the limiting structure has a rearward opening, and the limiting structure at least partially includes an inner inclined surface, a limiting bottom surface located radially outside the inner inclined surface, and an outer inclined surface extending further outward and rearward from the limiting bottom surface. Before the fluid connector and the docking connector are docked, the protrusion is held on the limiting bottom surface.

[0008] Furthermore, the front end of the protrusion is spherical to smoothly fit with the inner inclined surface and the outer inclined surface.

[0009] Furthermore, the elastic element is a helical spring disposed within the receiving cavity, and the rear end of the receiving cavity extends radially inward to form the rear stop portion for the elastic element to abut against.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer casing includes a front housing and a rear housing located behind the front housing. The front housing and the rear housing together form the receiving cavity for accommodating the connector housing. The elastic member, the connector housing, and the front housing are sequentially installed on the rear housing.

[0011] Furthermore, the front housing and the rear housing are connected by threads. The front housing has a connecting portion that connects to the rear housing and a front cover portion that extends radially inward from the front end of the connecting portion. The front cover portion constitutes the front stop portion, and the limiting structure is recessed from the rear end face of the front cover portion.

[0012] Furthermore, the connector housing includes a floating mounting portion extending rearward from the plug-in portion and an outer connecting portion extending rearward from the floating mounting portion out of the rear housing. The plug-in portion extends radially outward to form a circular base plate. The protrusion extends from the base plate toward the limiting structure. The plug-in portion is provided with an internal thread for engaging with the fluid connector. The elastic element is sleeved outside the floating mounting portion to enable the connector housing to float axially. Radial floating gaps are provided between the plug-in portion and the rear housing, and between the protrusion and the connecting portion of the front housing.

[0013] Furthermore, a limiting member is provided on the external part, and the limiting member abuts against the rear end face of the rear housing to restrict the forward movement of the connector housing.

[0014] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the plug-in portion is larger than the outer diameter of the floating mounting portion. The radial outer surface of the plug-in portion transitions to the radial outer surface of the floating mounting portion through a stepped surface. An inner washer is provided on the stepped surface. One end of the elastic member abuts against the rear stop portion in the axial direction, while the other end abuts directly against the inner washer, thereby pushing the connector housing forward. The inner washer has a through hole for the connector housing to pass through. The radial dimension of the through hole is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the floating mounting portion.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: the joint housing in the floating base is held on the outer shell by the forward bias of the elastic element, and the joint housing is held in a position concentric with the axial direction of the receiving cavity by the cooperation between the protrusion and the limiting structure. [Attached Image Description]

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the floating base, fluid connector, and mating connector of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the floating base and fluid connector of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional image viewed from another direction.

[0019] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing and fluid connector of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional exploded view from another direction.

[0021] Figure 6 This is an exploded perspective view of the floating base removing the connector housing of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A three-dimensional exploded view from another direction.

[0023] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 A sectional view along line AA.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the floating base of the present invention after being biased.

[0025] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate the present invention.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0026] Please refer to Figures 1 to 9 As shown, this invention discloses a floating base 100 for mounting various types of fluid connectors 200. The floating base 100 allows the fluid connector 200 to move radially and axially, enabling docking even when there is radial misalignment before docking with a mating connector 300. The floating base 100 includes a housing 1 and a connector housing 2 that floats and engages with the housing 1. The connector housing 2 is partially housed within the housing 1.

[0027] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the connector housing 2 includes a plug-in portion 21 that mates with a fluid connector 200, a floating mounting portion 22 extending rearward from the plug-in portion 21, and an outer portion 23 extending rearward from the floating mounting portion 22 out of the outer shell 1. The outer diameter of the plug-in portion 21 is larger than the outer diameter of the floating mounting portion 22, and the plug-in portion 21 transitions to the floating mounting portion 22 via a stepped surface 210. The floating mounting portion 22 is fitted with an elastic element 3 to allow it to float axially relative to the outer shell 1. The connector housing 2 has a connector fluid channel 20 extending in the front-rear direction for communicating with the fluid connector 200. The plug-in portion 21 is provided with an internal thread for mounting the fluid connector 200. The inner diameter of the plug-in portion 21 is not smaller than the inner diameter of the floating mounting portion 22, and the inner diameter of the fluid connector 200 is approximately the same as the radial dimension of the connector fluid channel 20 at the floating mounting portion 22 to ensure stable fluid transmission.

[0028] Please refer to Figures 6 to 9 As shown, the outer casing 1 is equipped with a front stop for limiting the forward movement of the connector housing 2 in a front-rear direction and a rear stop for limiting the backward movement of the connector housing 2. The outer casing 1 has a receiving cavity 13 for accommodating the connector housing 2, and the elastic member 3 is a helical spring disposed within the receiving cavity 13. The elastic member 3 abuts against the inner wall of the receiving cavity 13 in the radial direction. Of course, the elastic member 3 can also be a ball spring or a tower spring, having an outer working end abutting against the inner wall of the receiving cavity 13 and an inner working end abutting against the floating mounting part 22. The rear end of the receiving cavity 13 extends inward to form a rear wall 14 for the elastic member 3 to abut against. One end of the elastic member 3 abuts against the front end face of the rear wall 14 in the axial direction, and the other end abuts against an internal washer 4 to push the connector housing 2 forward. The internal washer 4 abuts against the stepped surface 210 in the axial direction. The internal washer 4 abuts against the inner wall of the receiving cavity 13 in the radial direction. The internal washer 4 has a through hole through which the connector housing 2 passes, and the radial dimension of the through hole is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the floating mounting portion 22. The front end face of the rear wall 14 forms the rear stop to restrict the rearward movement of the connector housing 2. The external connection portion 23 is provided with an external washer 5 abutting against the rear end face of the outer shell 1. The external washer 5 acts as a limiting member to restrict the forward movement of the connector housing 2. The external washer 5 is fixed to the external connection portion 23 by a retaining spring 6. In other embodiments, the limiting member can also be other structures capable of stopping the forward movement of the connector housing.

[0029] The outer casing 1 includes a front casing 11 and a rear casing 12 located behind the front casing 11. The front casing 11 and the rear casing 12 are connected by a threaded connection. The elastic element 3, the internal washer 4, and the connector housing 2 are sequentially installed inside the rear casing 12. The front casing 11 abuts against the connector housing 2 and biases the elastic element 3 onto the rear wall 14 of the rear casing 12.

[0030] The front housing 11 includes a connecting portion 111 connected to the rear housing 12 and a front cover portion 112 extending radially inward from the front end of the connecting portion 111. The rear end face of the front cover portion 112 constitutes the front stop to restrict the forward movement of the connector housing 2. Specifically, the rear end face of the front cover portion 112 is recessed to form a rearwardly opening limiting structure 113. The limiting structure 113 at least partially includes an inner inclined surface 1131, a limiting bottom surface 1132 located radially outside the inner inclined surface 1131, and an outer inclined surface 1133 extending further outward and rearward from the limiting bottom surface 1132. The connector housing 2 also includes a circular base plate 211 extending radially outward from the insertion portion 21 and an annular protrusion 212 (e.g., ...) extending forward from the base plate 211. Figure 4 (As shown). The connector housing 2 is biased by the elastic element 3, which holds the protrusion 212 within the limiting structure 113. Before the fluid connector 200 mates with the docking connector 300, the protrusion 212, under the bias of the elastic element 3, is guided into the limiting bottom surface 1132 by the inner inclined surface 1131 and the outer inclined surface 1133 of the limiting structure 113, thereby realizing the automatic return function of the connector housing 2. At this time, the cooperation between the protrusion 212 and the limiting structure 113 can keep the connector housing 2 in an axially concentric position with the receiving cavity 13. In other embodiments, the limiting structure 113 can also be provided on the front or rear face of the rear wall 14, and the positions of the protrusion 212 and the elastic element 3 are adaptively adjusted according to the limiting structure 113 to achieve the return function.

[0031] Radial floating gaps S are provided between the insertion portion 21 and the inner wall of the receiving cavity 13, and between the protrusion 212 and the connecting portion 111 of the front housing 11. The receiving cavity 13 extends along the axis X. When the connector fluid channel 20 is radially offset from the axis X, the elastic member 3 will also bias the connector housing 2 toward the front housing 11, so that the limiting structure 113 guides the protrusion 212 back to its correct position. The radial floating range of the connector housing 2 is limited by the radial floating gap S.

[0032] The above description is only a partial embodiment of the present invention, not all embodiments. Any equivalent changes to the technical solutions of the present invention made by those skilled in the art through reading the present invention specification are covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A floating base, comprising a housing having a receiving cavity, an elastic member received in the receiving cavity, and a connector housing, wherein the front end and rear end of the connector housing protrude from the housing and have a connector fluid channel passing through the front end and rear end, and the front end of the connector housing is a plug-in portion for plugging into a fluid connector, characterized in that: The outer shell has a front stop that restricts the forward movement of the connector housing and a rear stop that restricts the backward movement of the connector housing. A radial floating gap is provided between the connector housing and the outer shell. One of the front stop and the rear stop is recessed to form a limiting structure. The connector housing is provided with a protrusion that cooperates with the limiting structure. Before the fluid connector is engaged with a mating connector, one end of the elastic member abuts against the outer shell, while the other end pushes the connector housing against the limiting structure. The protrusion and the limiting structure cooperate to keep the connector housing in a position concentric with the axial direction of the receiving cavity.

2. The floating base as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting structure is disposed on the front stop, and the elastic element is sleeved outside the joint housing and abuts against the inner wall of the receiving cavity in the radial direction.

3. The floating base as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting structure has a rearward opening, and the limiting structure includes at least a partially inner inclined surface, a limiting bottom surface located radially outside the inner inclined surface, and an outer inclined surface extending further outward and rearward from the limiting bottom surface. Before the fluid connector and the docking connector are docked, the protrusion is held on the limiting bottom surface.

4. The floating base as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The front end of the protrusion is spherical, so as to smoothly fit with the inner inclined surface and the outer inclined surface.

5. The floating base as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The elastic element is a helical spring disposed in the receiving cavity, and the rear end of the receiving cavity extends radially inward to form the rear stop portion for the elastic element to abut against.

6. The floating base as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer casing includes a front housing and a rear housing located behind the front housing. The front housing and the rear housing together form the receiving cavity for accommodating the connector housing. The elastic element, the connector housing, and the front housing are sequentially installed on the rear housing.

7. The floating base as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The front housing and the rear housing are connected by a thread. The front housing has a connecting portion that connects to the rear housing and a front cover portion that extends radially inward from the front end of the connecting portion. The front cover portion constitutes the front stop portion. The limiting structure is recessed from the rear end face of the front cover portion.

8. The floating base as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The connector housing includes a floating mounting portion extending rearward from the plug-in portion and an outer connecting portion extending rearward from the floating mounting portion into the rear housing. The plug-in portion extends radially outward to form a circular base plate. The protrusion extends from the base plate toward the limiting structure. The plug-in portion is provided with an internal thread for mating with the fluid connector. The elastic element is sleeved outside the floating mounting portion to enable the connector housing to float axially. Radial floating gaps are provided between the plug-in portion and the rear housing, and between the protrusion and the connecting portion of the front housing.

9. The floating base as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The external part is provided with a limiting member, which abuts against the rear end face of the rear housing to restrict the forward movement of the connector housing.

10. The floating base as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the plug-in part is larger than the outer diameter of the floating mounting part. The radial outer surface of the plug-in part transitions to the radial outer surface of the floating mounting part through a stepped surface. An inner washer is provided on the stepped surface. One end of the elastic member abuts against the rear stop in the axial direction, while the other end abuts directly against the inner washer, thereby pushing the connector housing forward. The inner washer has a through hole for the connector housing to pass through. The radial dimension of the through hole is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the floating mounting part.

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