FEMALE CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A female connector and a connector assembly are provided in accordance with this application; the female connector includes: a housing defining a first axial direction and having an opening at a first end of the housing for insertion of a male connector; a first limiting member provided on an outer periphery of the housing; a valve assembly disposed in the housing; a base defining a receiving passage extending along the first axial direction; a bushing sleeved outside the housing and disposed in the receiving passage to retain the housing in the receiving passage, the bushing being elastically deformable; and a mounting member fixed to an axial end of the base; the first limiting member is confined between the axial end and the mounting member, and a space of movement for the first limiting member to move therein is defined between the axial end and the mounting member;The connector assembly includes the female connector; the female connector and the connector assembly in accordance with this application can absorb installation tolerances in various directions, and have a simple assembly process and a wide application range.

Description

FEMALE CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY RELATED FIELD This application generally refers to a female connector and connector assembly for establishing smooth communication between two fluid pipes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A connector assembly can be used to establish a connection and seamless communication between two fluid pipes in various applications. The connector assembly typically includes a female connector and a male connector, each of which is connected to a fluid line. The male connector can be inserted into the female connector to establish fluid communication between the fluid lines. It is desirable that the connector assembly have a bidirectional shut-off feature to prevent fluid in the fluid lines from flowing out through the female and male connectors when they are disconnected.Furthermore, it is desirable that the female and male connectors can accommodate mounting tolerances in various directions when connected, so that they can be easily assembled and connected. This is particularly advantageous for application scenarios where the female and male connectors are required to be connected or disconnected frequently.For example, as more and more renewable energy vehicle manufacturers choose the battery pack swapping technique, in which the male and female connectors of the connector assembly, used to establish seamless communication between a thermal management system in a battery pack and a coolant supply system in a vehicle, need to be connected or disconnected repeatedly, it is desirable that the connector assembly can absorb assembly tolerances in various directions and achieve bidirectional shearing. However, developing a connector assembly that can achieve the above functions still faces many challenges. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One objective of the present application is to provide an improved female connector and connector assembly to achieve one or more of the above functions. ct7 / Qnn / O7n7 / R / YiAi Pursuant to a first aspect of this application, a female connector is provided. The female connector includes: a housing defining a first axial direction and having an opening at a first end of the housing for insertion of a male connector; an outer periphery of the housing provided with a first limiting member; a valve assembly disposed in the housing; a base defining a receiving passage extending along the first axial direction, the housing partially received in the receiving passage; a bushing sleeved outside the housing and disposed in the receiving passage, the bushing being elastically deformable; and a mounting member fixed to an axial end of the base.The first limiting member is confined in the first axial direction between the axial end and the mounting member, and a space of movement for the first limiting member to move there is defined between the axial end and the mounting member. The female connector, as described in the first aspect of this application, retains the housing in the base by using the elastically deformable bushing and confines the first limiting member of the housing between the base and the mounting member in a movable manner. This configuration can accommodate assembly tolerances in various directions when the male connector is connected to the female connector and allows the housing to rotate within the receiving passage of the base, so that the circumferential orientation of the housing can be adjusted as required, thereby enabling optimization of the design of the fluid piping connected to the female connector. In accordance with the above technical concept, the first aspect of this application may also include one or more of the following optional forms. In some optional embodiments, a recess is provided at the axial end of the base to define the movement space together with the mounting member, and the recess is adjacent to and communicates with the receiving passage in the first axial direction. In some optional embodiments, a second limiting member is provided on the outer periphery of the housing, and the first and second limiting members are spaced in the first axial direction. The bushing is sleeved in a portion of the housing located between the first and second limiting members, and the bushing has a length shorter than the distance between the first and second limiting members in the first axial direction. In some optional modalities, the first limiting member and the second limiting member are formed and / or dimensioned such that: the second limiting member can be inserted through the receiving passage, and the first limiting member stops outside the receiving passage. In some optional embodiments, the bushing is made of thermoplastic elastomer or rubber material, and at least one cavity is defined in a peripheral wall of the bushing. In some optional embodiments, the hub has a groove extending in the first axial direction, and the housing is nested in the hub through the groove. In some optional embodiments, the mounting member is in the form of a plate and extends substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction. In some optional versions, the housing opening has a guide surface to guide the insertion of the male connector into the housing. In some optional configurations, the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion that are assembled together. The first housing portion defines the first axial direction and opening, and the second housing portion includes an adapter section for connection to the fluid piping. The housing's grooved structure allows the adapter section of various configurations to be used for housing, thereby expanding the application range of the female connector and simplifying the internal structure of the female connector for valve assembly installation and facilitating the assembly of the female connector. In some optional embodiments, the valve assembly includes: a valve stem positioned in the housing along the first axial direction, the valve stem comprising a valve stem head and a valve stem base at two ends of the valve stem respectively; a sliding sleeve disposed in the first housing portion and encased outside the valve stem, the sliding sleeve being movable between a first closed position and a first open position along the first axial direction; and a spring element. Two ends of the spring element are spliced ​​against the sliding sleeve and the valve stem base respectively to deflect the sliding sleeve towards the first closed position.The sliding sleeve blocks an annular space between the first housing portion and the valve stem head to cut off a flow path from the female connector when the sliding sleeve is in the first closed position, and the flow path from the female connector is opened when the sliding sleeve is in the first open position. In some optional embodiments, the second housing portion is coupled to the first housing portion and includes an internal stepped portion. The stem base is positioned at least partially between one end, away from the opening, of the first housing portion and the internal stepped portion of the second housing portion. With this design, the valve stem can be inserted into the housing in a straightforward manner. In some optional versions, the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve is provided with a limiting protrusion, and the inner periphery of the first housing portion is provided with a limiting surface. The limiting protrusion and the limiting surface are adapted to interlock with each other to confine the sliding sleeve in the first closed position. In some optional embodiments, the sliding sleeve includes a sealing member incorporated into an outer periphery of the sliding sleeve for sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion. The sealing member is in the form of an irregular sealing ring, and an inner periphery of the sealing member has two annular flanges arranged along the first axial direction. Each annular flange tapers inward in the radial direction. The irregular structure of the sealing ring prevents it from separating from the sliding sleeve when the sliding sleeve rotates. Pursuant to a second aspect of this application, a connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes a female connector as per the first aspect of this application and a male connector for connection to the female connector. The male connector includes: a sleeve defining a second axial direction and having a plug end in the second axial direction, the plug end defining a port; and a valve unit disposed in the sleeve and including a valve core and an elastomeric member, the valve core being movable in the second axial direction between a second closed position and a second open position, the valve core being deflected toward the second closed position by the elastomeric member.The valve core blocks the port to cut off one flow path of the male connector when the valve core is in the second closed position, and the male connector's flow path is open when the valve core is in the second open position. The female and male connectors interact with each other when connected, so that both the female and male connector flow paths are open and in fluid communication. In accordance with the above technical concept, the second aspect of this application may also include one or more of the following optional forms. In some optional embodiments, the plug end defines a first inner peripheral inclined surface and a second inner peripheral inclined surface. An inner peripheral surface of the port, the first inner peripheral inclined surface, and the second inner peripheral inclined surface are sequentially connected in the second axial direction. The first inner peripheral inclined surface and the second inner peripheral inclined surface are configured to guide a sealing member incorporated in an outer periphery of the valve core to move in the second axial direction in sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port. The first inner peripheral inclined surface and the second inner peripheral inclined surface respectively form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the second axial direction, the first angle being smaller than the second angle.The sealing member is guided in the port along two successively arranged inner peripheral inclined surfaces with decreasing angles of inclination, thus reducing the elastic force required from the elastomeric member. This extends the service life of the elastomeric member, thereby improving the service life of the male connector. Furthermore, this arrangement allows the use of an elastomeric member with a lower elastic modulus, simplifying the assembly of the male connector. In some optional modes, the first angle varies from 5° to 15°. In some optional embodiments, the plug end includes a sealing member incorporated into an outer periphery of the plug end for sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of a female connector housing. The sealing member is in the form of an irregular sealing ring, and an inner periphery of the sealing member has two annular flanges arranged along the second axial direction. Each annular flange tapers inward in the radial direction. The irregular structure of the sealing ring can prevent the sealing ring from separating from the plug end when the plug end is required to be connected or disconnected repeatedly. The female connector and connector assembly in accordance with this application can perform bidirectional cutting and absorb installation tolerances in various directions, and have a simple assembly process and a wide application range. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other features and advantages of this application will be easily understood through the following preferred modalities described in detail with reference to the attached figures, where the same reference numbers indicate the same or similar components. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a female connector and a male connector of a connector assembly in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present application when separated from each other; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the female connector and the male connector of the connector assembly in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application when connected to each other; Figure 3A and Figure 3B respectively are a schematic perspective view and a schematic plan view of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application; Figure 4 is a schematic exploded view of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application; Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application; Figure 6A and Figure 6B are respectively a schematic perspective view and a schematic plan view of a bushing and a first housing portion of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application when assembled together; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a female connector base in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application; Figure 8A and Figure 8B respectively are a schematic perspective view and a schematic plan view of the female connector bushing in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application; Figure 9A and Figure 9B respectively are schematic perspective views of the first housing portion of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application, viewed from different perspectives; Figure 9C is a schematic flat view of the first housing portion of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application; Figure 10A and Figure 10B respectively are a schematic perspective view and a schematic plan view of a valve stem of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application; Figure HA and Figure 11B respectively are a schematic perspective view and a schematic plan view of a sliding sleeve of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application; Figure 12A and Figure 12B respectively are a schematic perspective view and a schematic partial plan view of a sealing member of the female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application; Figure 13A and Figure 13B respectively are a schematic perspective view and a schematic plan view of the male connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application; Figure 14 is a schematic exploded view of the male connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application; Figure 15A and Figure 15B respectively are schematic cross-sectional views of the male connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application, taken along different cross-sections; Figure 15C is a partially enlarged view of Figure 15B; and Figure 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the female connector and the male connector ch / Qnn / eznz / R / YiAi of the connector assembly in accordance with the illustrative modality of the present application when they are being connected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The implementation and use of the modalities are discussed in detail below. However, it is conceivable that the specific modalities discussed are merely intended to illustrate specific ways of implementing and using this application and are not intended to limit its scope. When describing component structures and positions, the directional expressions used here, such as top, bottom, above, and below, are not absolute but relative. When the components are arranged as shown in the figures, these directional expressions are appropriate, but when the positions of these components in the figures are altered, these directional expressions must be altered accordingly. In this application, an axial direction of a cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction along the central axis of the component, a peripheral direction of the cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction along the circumference of the component, and a radial direction of the cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction that passes through the central axis of the component and is perpendicular to the axial direction of the component. Figure 1 and Figure 2 show a connector assembly 10 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of this application. The connector assembly 10 includes a female connector 100 and a male connector 200 for connection to the female connector 100. The female connector 100 and the male connector 200 can each be connected to a fluid pipe (not shown). Figures 3A to 12B illustrate the 100 female connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application and its components. Referring to Figures 3A to 5, the female connector 100 may include a housing 102, a valve assembly 104, a base 106, a bushing 108, and a mounting member 110. The housing 102 defines a first axial direction A1. The housing 102 has an opening 112, for insertion of the male connector 200, at a first end 103 of the housing 102. A first limiting member 114 is provided on an outer periphery of the housing 102. The valve assembly 104 is disposed in the housing 102. The base 106 defines a receiving passage 116 that extends along the first axial direction A1, and the housing 102 is partially received in the receiving passage 116. The bushing 108 is sleeved outside the housing 102 and disposed in the receiving passage 116 to retain the housing 102 in the receiving passage. 116, and the hub 108 is elastically deformable.The mounting member 110 is fixed to an axial end 118 of the base 106 (i.e., the end of the base 106 in the first axial direction 118). The first limiting member 114 is confined in the first axial direction 118 between the axial end 118 and the mounting member 110, and a space of movement S (shown in Figure 3A) for the first limiting member 114 to move is defined there between the axial end 118 and the mounting member 110. Referring to Figure 4, housing 102 includes a first housing portion 120 and a second housing portion 122. The first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 122, for example, can be formed and assembled separately from each other. This allows the second housing portion 122 to have various configurations to accommodate different pipes or counterparts, expanding the application range of the female connector 100. The first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 122 can be formed, for example, by injection molding. Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 9A to 9C, the first housing portion 120 may have a generally straight cylindrical shape and defines the first axial direction 110. The first housing portion 120 is received in the receiving passage 116 of the base 106. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified in this description, the first axial direction 110 refers to the direction of the centerline of the first housing portion 120 when the first housing portion 120 is coaxial with the receiving passage 116. The first housing portion 120 may include a first housing body 124 and a retaining ring 128. The first housing body 124 has a first end 103 and a second end 105. The first end 103 of the first housing body 124 has an opening 112 for insertion of the male connector 200. The opening 112 of the housing 102 has a guide surface 126 for guiding the insertion of the male connector 200 into the housing 102. The retaining ring 128 is provided on the second end 105 of the first housing body 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the second housing portion 122 may have a generally bent cylindrical shape. The second housing portion 122 may include a coupling section 130 that is coupled to the first housing section 120 and an adapter section 132 for connection to a fluid pipe.The coupling section 130 of the second housing portion 122 may be disposed at least partially between the second end 105 of the first housing body 124 and the retaining ring 128, and retained at the second end 105 of the first housing body 124 by prongs 129 of the retaining ring 128. A sealing member 134 is provided between the second end 105 of the first housing body 124 and the coupling section 130 to achieve a sealed assembly of the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 122. Referring to Figure 4, the valve assembly 104 may include a valve stem 136, a sliding sleeve 138, and a spring element 140. Optionally, the valve stem 136 and the sliding sleeve 138 may both be formed by injection molding. Referring to Figures 5, 10A, and 10B, the valve stem 136 can be placed in the housing 102 in the first axial direction 11. The valve stem 136 may include a valve stem head 142 and a valve stem base 144 located at two ends of the valve stem 136, respectively, and includes a valve stem mid-portion 146 connecting the valve stem head 142 to the valve stem base 144. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve stem 136 is integrally formed. The valve stem base 144 is substantially disc-shaped, and two opposite lateral surfaces of the valve stem base 144 are substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction 11. The valve stem base 144 can be secured by the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 122.Specifically, the coupling section 130 of the second housing portion 122 may include an internal stepped portion 131. The valve stem base 144 may be positioned at least partially between the second end 105, away from the opening 112, of the first housing portion 120 and the internal stepped portion 131 of the second housing portion 122. The valve stem base 144 may be provided with through-holes 145 extending through the two side surfaces to allow fluid to flow through them. The valve stem mid-portion 146 extends substantially along the first axial direction 111. The valve stem mid-portion 146 is further provided with multiple reinforcing ribs 148 to increase the strength of the valve stem 136.The valve stem head 142 can be gradually widened towards the opening 112 in the first axial direction A1 so that the valve stem head 142 has a substantially funnel-shaped cross-section. Referring to Figures 4, 5, HA, and 11B, the sliding sleeve 138 is disposed in the first housing portion 120 and is sleeved outside the valve stem 136, and the sliding sleeve 138 is slidable between the first closed position (shown in Figure 5) and the first open position (shown in Figure 2) along the first axial direction 11a. A sealing member 150 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the sliding sleeve 138 and the inner peripheral surface of the first housing body 124. A sealing member 151 is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the sliding sleeve 138 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve stem head 142. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing member 150 is in the form of an irregular sealing ring.The sealing member 150 is incorporated into the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve 138, i.e., received in an annular groove 152 on the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve 138, for sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion 120. With reference to Figure 12A and Figure 12B, the outer periphery of the unsealed member 150 has two annular flanges 153 arranged along the first axial direction A1, and each annular flange 153 tapers outwards in the radial direction. Similarly, the inner periphery of sealing member 150 has two annular flanges ct7 / Qnn / Q7n7 / R / YiAi 155 arranged along the first axial direction Al, and each annular flange 155 tapers inwards in the radial direction. Compared to a conventional sealing ring with a circular cross-section, the external force required to pull the irregular sealing member 150, which has two annular flanges on the inner periphery, out of the annular groove 152 of the sliding sleeve 138, is significantly increased, so that the sealing member 150 can be more securely retained in the annular groove 152, thereby preventing the sealing member 150 from separating from the sliding sleeve 138 as the sliding sleeve 138 alternates between the first closed position and the first open position. Referring to Figures 4, 5, 11A, and 11B, two ends of the elastic element 140 are spliced ​​against an inner stepped portion 139 of the sliding sleeve 138 and the valve stem base 144, respectively. Optionally, the elastic element 140 may be in the form of a helical spring. The sliding sleeve 138 is deflected to the first closed position by the elastic force of the elastic element 140. The outer periphery of the sliding sleeve 138 is provided with a limiting protrusion 154. The inner periphery of the first housing portion 120 is provided with a limiting surface 156. The limiting protrusion 154 and the limiting surface 156 may be spliced ​​together to constrain the sliding sleeve 138 in the first closed position. When the sliding sleeve 138 is deflected in the first closed position by the elastomeric member 140, the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the sliding sleeve 138 respectively come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion 120 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve stem head 142, blocking the annular space between the first housing portion 120 and the valve stem head 142 and further cutting off the flow path of the female connector 100. When the sliding sleeve 138 is pushed by an external force along the first axial direction A1, the sliding sleeve 138 can resist the elastic force of the elastic element 140 and move away from the valve stem head 142 to the first open position, so that the flow path of the female connector 100 is opened.With reference to Figure 2, when the sliding sleeve 138 is in the first open position, fluid can flow through the space between the sliding sleeve 138 and the valve stem 136, and then flow into the second housing portion 122 through the through-holes 145 in the valve stem base 144, and then flow into the fluid pipe (not shown) connected to the female connector 100. Similarly, fluid can flow into the housing 102 from the fluid pipe connected to the female connector 100 along a reverse direction and then flow out of the housing 102. Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 9A to 9C, the female connector 100 can be fixed to the application environment in which it is to be used, via a connecting structure (not shown) in the base 106. The first housing portion 120 of the female connector 100 can be received and partially retained in the receiving passage 116 of the base 106 via the bushing 108. The first housing portion 120 can have a first limiting member 114 and a second limiting member 158. The first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158 extend around the first housing body 124 and are spaced along the first axial direction 11A. The bushing 108 is sleeved outside the first housing body 124 and is confined between the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158. Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 8A to 9C, the bushing 108 may be made of thermoplastic elastomer or rubber material, and at least one cavity 160 is defined in a peripheral wall of the bushing 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the bushing 108 has multiple cavities 160 arranged in the peripheral direction of the bushing and extending in the first axial direction 1A to facilitate elastic deformation of the bushing 108. It is conceivable that the bushing 108 may have any other suitable multi-cavity configuration. For example, the peripheral wall of the bushing may be honeycomb-shaped. The bushing 108 has a groove 162 extending in the first axial direction 1A. The first housing body 124 may be nested in the bushing 108 through the groove 162.The inside diameter of the bushing 108 may be substantially equal to the outside diameter of a portion of the first housing body 124 located between the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158. The outside diameter of the bushing 108 may be substantially equal to or slightly larger than the inside diameter of the receiving passage 116. The first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158 are formed and / or dimensioned such that: the second limiting member 158 can be inserted through the receiving passage 116, and the first limiting member 114 stops outside the receiving passage 116.In the embodiment shown in Figure 9A to Figure 9C, the outside diameter of an arc portion of the first limiting member 114 is larger than the inside diameter of the receiving passage 116, and the outside diameter of the second limiting member 158 is smaller than the inside diameter of the receiving passage 116, so that the second limiting member 158 of the first housing portion 120 can be inserted through the receiving passage 116, although the first limiting member 114 cannot enter the receiving passage 116. Furthermore, the length of the hub 108 (i.e., the length of the hub 108 in the first axial direction Al) may be smaller than a distance between the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158 in the first axial direction Al. Referring to Figure 5 and Figure 16, since the length of the bushing 108 is smaller than the distance between the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158, there is some space between the limiting member, which is the first limiting member 114 and / or the second limiting member 158, and the axial end of the bushing 108.If the male connector 200 is not fully aligned with the opening 112 of the first housing portion 120 when inserted, and the first housing portion 120 is thereby deflected within the bushing 108, the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158 will subsequently and easily deflect due to this gap, and two axial ends of the bushing 108 will not immediately resist the deflection of the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158 as the first housing portion 120 begins to deflect, which may reduce the insertion force of the male connector 200 (especially in the case where the axial rigidity of the bushing 108 is relatively large), thereby reducing the risk of damage to the female connector 100. It is conceivable that if the length of the bushing 108 is equal to the distance between the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158, once the first housing portion 120 is deflected, the two axial ends of the bushing 108 will respectively press against the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158 and resist this deflection with a large force (especially in the case that the axial stiffness of the bushing 108 is relatively large), resulting in a large insertion force of the male connector 200 and in turn increasing the risk of damage to the female connector. Referring to Figure 3A and Figure 7, the first limiting member 114 located outside the receiving passage 116 can be limited by the mounting member 110. The mounting member 110 can be in the form of a plate and extend substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction 110. The mounting member 110 can be fixed to the axial end 118 of the base 106, for example, by means of fasteners 164, to confine the first limiting member 114 between the axial end 118 and the mounting member 110 in the first axial direction 110. The space of movement S for the first limiting member 114 to move there is defined between the axial end 118 and the mounting member 110. The axial end 118 of the base 106 can be provided with a recess 166. The recess 166 is adjacent to and communicates with the receiving passage 116 in the first axial direction 110.The shape and / or size of the recess 166 are designed so that the recess 166 can incorporate the first limiting member 114. The recess 166 and the mounting member 110 define the movement space S for the first limiting member 114 to move there. It is conceivable that, if the mounting member 110 has a certain thickness, a recess may be provided on one side of the mounting member 110 that faces the base 106, to define, together with the axial end 118 of the base 106, a space of movement for the first limiting member 114 to move therein. The movement of the first limiting member 114 therein includes, but is not limited to: rotation about the first axial direction Al, movement along the first axial direction Al, movement in a direction perpendicular to the first axial direction Al, and deviation of the first limiting member 114 (i.e., movement of the first limiting member 114 with its normal direction inclined with respect to the first axial direction Al). The female connector retains the first housing portion 120 in the base 106 using the elastically deformable bushing 108, and confines the first limiting member 114 of the first housing portion 120 between the base 106 and the mounting member 110 in a movable manner. Such a female connector configuration can absorb assembly tolerances in various directions when the female connector 100 is connected to the male connector 200, which will be described in detail below, and also allows the housing 102 to rotate within the base 106, so that the circumferential orientation of the second housing portion 122 can be adjusted as required, thereby allowing optimization of the design of the fluid piping connected to the female connector 100. Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 7, the mounting member 110 may include openings 168 cut in a lake to avoid mechanical interference with the housing 102 when the mounting member 110 is mounted on the base 106 along the direction perpendicular to the first axial direction A1. When the female connector 100 is assembled, the valve assembly 104 is placed inside the first housing portion 120, and the second housing portion 122 is engaged with the second end 105 of the first housing portion 120, so that the valve assembly 104 is retained within the housing 102. The bushing 108 is then sleeved outside the portion of the first housing portion 120 between the first limiting member 114 and the second limiting member 158. In this way, a mounting structure of the housing 102, the valve assembly 104, and the bushing 108 can be obtained. The mounting structure is then inserted into the receiving passage 116 of the base 106, so that the second limiting member 158 of the first housing portion 120 is inserted through the receiving passage 116, while the first limiting member 114 is located in the recess. 166 at the axial end 118 of the base 106.The mounting member 110 is then passed through the portion of the first housing portion 120 between the first limiting member 114 and the retaining ring 128 in the direction perpendicular to the first axial direction 110, and is then placed in the base 106 so that clamping points on the mounting member 110 and the base 106 are aligned. The mounting member 110 is then secured to the base 106 by means of fasteners 164. In this way, the first limiting member 114 of the first housing portion 120 is confined between the axial end 118 of the base 106 and the mounting member 110, so that the first limiting member 114 can move between the axial end 118 of the base 106 and the mounting member 110 while preventing the housing 102 from separating from the base 106. It is conceivable that the preceding assembly steps These are simply examples, and the editing can be done in other sequences. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 106 of the female connector 100 may be provided with two receiving passages 116, and the female connector 100 may correspondingly have two housings 102, two bushings 108, and two valve assemblies 104, wherein the two housings 102 may be fixed to the base 106 by means of a mounting member 110 having two openings 168. It is conceivable that the two housings 102 may also be fixed to two mounting members, each having one opening. It is conceivable that the base 106 of the female connector 100 may therefore be provided with one or more of two receiving passages, and the female connector 100 may include a corresponding number of housings, bushings, and valve assembly(es). Figures 13A to 15C illustrate the 200 male connector in accordance with the illustrative modality of this application and its components. Referring to Figures 2 and 13A to 15A, the male connector 200 includes a sleeve 202 and a valve unit 204. The sleeve 202 defines a second axial direction A2 and has a plug end 206 in the second axial direction A2, and the plug end 206 defines a port 208 (shown in Figure 2). The valve unit 204 is disposed within the sleeve 202 and includes a valve core 210 and an elastomeric member 212. The valve core 210 is movable in the second axial direction A2 between a second closed position (shown in Figure 15A) and a second open position (shown in Figure 2). The valve core 210 is deflected into the second closed position by the elastomeric member 212.Valve core 210 blocks port 208 to cut off a flow path from male connector 200 when valve core 210 is in the second closed position, and the flow path from male connector 200 is opened when valve core 210 is in the second open position. The housing 202 includes a housing body 214 and a base plate 216. In the polished version, the housing body 214 can be substantially cylindrical and integrally formed with the base plate 216. Optionally, the housing body 214 can be formed by injection molding. The male connector 200 can be fixed to the application environment in which the male connector 200 is to be applied through the base plate 216. Referring to Figures 14 and 15A through 15C, the liner body 214 defines the second axial direction A2. The liner body 214 has a plug end 206 for insertion into the housing 102 of the female connector 100. The plug end 206 has a peripheral rim 218 that projects inward in the radial direction. The peripheral rim 218 defines the port 208 (shown in Figure 2). The plug end 206 includes a sealing member 220 incorporated into its outer periphery. The sealing member 220 of the plug end 206 may have the same configuration as the sealing member 150 of the female connector 100 described above, to prevent the sealing member 220 from separating from the plug end 206 as the male connector 200 is repeatedly connected to or disconnected from the female connector 100. ch / Qnn / eznz / R / YiAi The valve unit 204 can be arranged within the liner body 214. The valve unit 204 may also include a mounting ring 222. The valve core 210 and the elastomeric member 212 of the valve unit 204 can be mounted to the liner body 214 via the mounting ring 222. The mounting ring 222 can be detachably connected to one end, opposite the plug end 206, of the liner body 214. When the male connector 200 is assembled, the valve unit 204 can be placed in the liner body 214, and then the mounting ring 222 can be mounted to the end, away from the port 208, of the liner body 214. The assembly method is simple and efficient. The valve core 210 may include a valve core head 224 and a bracket 226. The valve core head 224 may gradually widen towards the port 208 in the second axial direction A2 such that the valve core head 224 has a substantially funnel-shaped cross-section. A sealing member 228 may be provided between the outer peripheral surface of the valve core head 224 and the inner peripheral surface of the liner body 214. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing member 228 is incorporated into the outer periphery of the valve core head 224, i.e., received in an annular groove 230 of the valve core head 224, for sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port 208. One end of the elastomeric member 212 can be spliced ​​against the bracket 226 of the valve core 210, and another end of the elastomeric member 212 can be spliced ​​against the mounting ring 222, to deflect the valve core 210 to the second closed position to block the port 208. When the valve core 210 is deflected in the second closed position by the elastomeric member 212, the valve core head 224 is in sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port 208, so that the flow path of the male connector 200 is cut off. When the valve core 210 is pushed by an external force along the second axial direction A2, the valve core 210 can resist the elastic force of the elastomeric member 212 and move away from the port 208 to the second open position, so that the flow path of the male connector 200 is opened.Referring to Figure 2, when the valve core 210 is in the second open position, fluid can enter the casing body 214 from port 208 of the casing body 214 and flow through a gap between the casing body 214 and the valve core head 224, then flow through the mounting ring 222, and thus flow into the fluid line (not shown) connected with the male connector 200. Similarly, fluid can flow into the casing body 214 from the fluid line connected with the male connector 200 along a reverse direction and finally flow out from port 208 of the casing body 214. Referring to Figures 2, 15B, and 15C, the peripheral edge 218 of the plug end 206 can define a first inner peripheral inclined surface 232 and a second inner peripheral inclined surface 234. The inner peripheral surface of the port 208, the first inner peripheral inclined surface 232, and the second inner peripheral inclined surface 234 are sequentially connected in the second axial direction A2, and the first inner peripheral inclined surface 232 and the second inner peripheral inclined surface 234 are configured to guide the sealing member 228 incorporated in the outer periphery of the valve core 210 to move in the second axial direction A2 in sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port 208.The first inner peripheral inclined surface 232 and the second inner peripheral inclined surface 234 respectively form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the second axial direction A2, the first angle being smaller than the second angle. The first angle can vary from, for example, 5° to 15°. By guiding the sealing member 228 of the valve core 210 in the port 208 along the two successively arranged inner peripheral inclined surfaces whose angles of inclination with respect to the second axial direction A2 decrease in turn, the elastic force, provided by the elastomeric member 212 and required for the valve core 210 to move from the second open position to the second closed position to block the port 208, can be reduced.Since the elastomeric member 212 only needs to provide a small elastic force, its service life can be extended, thereby improving the service life of the male connector 200. Furthermore, this arrangement allows the use of an elastomeric member 212 with a lower elastic modulus, making it easier to install the mounting ring 222 when assembling the male connector 200. Additionally, the second inner peripheral sloped surface 234 can also be spliced ​​against the bracket 226 of the valve core 210 to constrain the valve core 210 in the second closed position. Referring to Figure 14, in the illustrated embodiment, the liner 202 of the male connector 200 may include two liner bodies 214, and the male connector 200 may therefore include two valve units 204. It is conceivable that the liner 202 of the male connector 200 may therefore include one or more of two liner bodies 214, and the male connector 200 may include a corresponding number of valve units 204. Referring to Figure 2, when the male connector 200 is connected to the female connector 100, the plug end 206 of the male connector 200 is inserted into the female connector 100 through the opening 112 of the female connector 100 and pushes the sliding sleeve 138 of the female connector 100 away from the first closed position to the first open position, and at the same time, the valve stem head 142 of the female connector 100 pushes the valve core 210 of the male connector 200 away from the second closed position to the second open position, so that the flow paths of the female connector 100 and the male connector 200 both open and are in fluid communication with each other, thereby establishing fluid communication between the fluid pipes respectively connected to the female connector 100 and the male connector 200. When the male connector 200 is disconnected from the female connector 100 by pulling the plug end 206 of the male connector 200 out of the female connector 100, the sliding sleeve 138 of the female connector 100 and the valve core 210 of the male connector 200 respectively return to the first closed position and the second closed position, and at this time, the flow paths of the female connector 100 and the male connector 200 are both closed, and the fluid in the fluid pipes respectively connected to the female connector 100 and the male connector 200 is not leaked. The tolerance absorption function of the female connector 100 will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 16, taking the application of the connector assembly 10 to establish smooth communication between a thermal management system in a battery pack and a coolant supply system in a vehicle as an example. The female connector 100 of the connector assembly 10 can be attached to the vehicle body and be in fluid communication with fluid lines in the vehicle's coolant supply system. The male connector 200 can be attached to the battery pack and be in fluid communication with fluid lines in the battery pack's thermal management system. For the female connector 100 and the male connector 200 in the illustrated configuration, two fluid passages will be formed after the male connector 200 is connected to the female connector 100, wherein the coolant in the battery pack thermal management system, which has exchanged heat with the battery, can enter the vehicle's coolant supply system through one fluid passage, and the low-temperature coolant in the coolant supply system can be replenished to the battery pack thermal management system through the other fluid passage. When the battery pack is replaced, the male connector 200 on the battery pack is preliminarily aligned with the female connector 100 on the vehicle body, and then the plug end 206 of the male connector 200 is inserted into housing 102 of the female connector 100 through the opening 112 of the female connector 100. During the connection of the male connector 200 on the battery pack with the female connector 100 on the vehicle body, if the male connector 200 is inserted into the female connector 100 in a correct insertion direction (i.e., the first axial direction A1 of the female connector 100 is parallel to the second axial direction A2 of the male connector 200) but the plug end 206 of the male connector 200 is not fully aligned with the opening 112 of the female connector 100, the plug end 206 of the male connector 200 can still be inserted into the housing 102 through the opening 112 which has the guide surface 126.Since the bushing 108 for retaining the housing 102 can deform elastically, and a movement space S allowing the first limiting member 114 to move is defined between the axial end 118 of the base 106 and the mounting member 110, the housing 102 within the bushing 108 can be changed in synchronization with the liner body 214 of the male connector 200 to complete the connection of the male connector 200 to the female connector 100. After the battery pack is mounted and secured in place in the vehicle, the male connector 200 will return to its correct preset position. Consequently, the housing 102 will return synchronously to its correct preset position. In this way, the male connector 200 and the housing 102 of the female connector 100 both return to their correct preset positions. Furthermore, during the connection of the male connector 200 on the battery pack to the female connector 100 on the vehicle body, if the male connector 200 is not inserted in the correct direction but is inserted obliquely towards the female connector 100 (i.e., the first axial direction A1 of the female connector 100 is positioned at an angle to the second axial direction A2 of the male connector 200), the plug end 206 of the male connector 200 can still be inserted into the housing 102 through the opening 112 having the guide surface 126. And due to the elastically deformable bushing 108 and the existence of the movement space S that allows the first limiting member 114 to move there, the housing 102 within the bushing 108 can be deflected following the liner body 214 of the male connector 200 (the first limiting member 114 can be deflected in the movement space S), to complete the connection of the male connector 200. with the 100 female connector.After the battery pack is mounted and secured in the vehicle, the male connector 200 will return to its correct preset position. Consequently, the housing 102 will return synchronously to its correct preset position. Thus, both the male connector 200 and the housing 102 of the female connector 100 return to their correct preset positions. Therefore, the female connector 100 and connector assembly 10 according to this application can accommodate installation tolerances in various directions when the female connector 100 is connected to the male connector 200. It is conceivable that the female connector 100 and connector assembly 10 according to this application can be applied to various scenarios where seamless communication needs to be established. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in Figures 1 through 16 merely illustrate the shape, size, and arrangement of each optional component of the female connector and connector assembly in accordance with this application. However, these embodiments are intended only to illustrate, rather than to limit. Other shapes, sizes, and arrangements may be adopted without departing from the idea and scope of this application. The technical content and features of this application have been described above. However, it is understood that those skilled in the art may make various changes and improvements to the concept described above under the creative concept of this application, and all such changes and improvements still fall within the scope of protection of this application. The description of the above modifications is illustrative rather than restrictive, and the scope of protection of this application is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A female connector, characterized in that it comprises: a housing defining a first axial direction and having an opening at a first end of the housing for insertion of a male connector; an outer periphery of the housing provided with a first limiting member; a valve assembly disposed in the housing; a base defining a receiving passage extending along the first axial direction, the housing being partially received in the receiving passage; a bushing sleeved outside the housing and disposed in the receiving passage, the bushing being elastically deformable; and a mounting member fixed to an axial end of the base, wherein the first limiting member is confined in the first axial direction between the axial end and the mounting member, and a space of movement for the first limiting member to move therein is defined between the axial end and the mounting member.

2. The female connector according to claim 1, further characterized in that a recess is provided at the axial end of the base to define the movement space together with the mounting member, and the recess is adjacent to and communicated with the receiving passage in the first axial direction.

3. The female connector according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the outer periphery of the housing is provided with a second limiting member, and the first limiting member and the second limiting member are spaced in the first axial direction, and wherein the bushing is encased in a portion of the housing located between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and the bushing has a length smaller than a distance between the first limiting member and the second limiting member in the first axial direction.

4. The female connector according to claim 3, further characterized in that the first limiting member and the second limiting member are formed and / or dimensioned such that: the second limiting member is insertable through the receiving passage, and the first limiting member stops outside the receiving passage.

5. The female connector according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the bushing is made of thermoplastic elastomer or rubber material, and a peripheral wall of the bushing defines at least one cavity therein.

6. The female connector according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the hub has a groove extending in the first axial direction and the housing is nested in the hub through the groove. ch / Qnn / eznz / R / YiAi 7. The female connector according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the mounting member is in the form of a plate and extends substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction.

8. The female connector according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the housing opening has a guide surface for guiding the insertion of the male connector into the housing.

9. The female connector according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion that are assembled together, and wherein the first housing portion defines the first axial direction and opening, and the second housing portion comprises an adapter section for connecting to a fluid pipe.

10. The female connector according to claim 9, further characterized in that the valve assembly comprises: a valve stem positioned in the housing along the first axial direction, the valve stem comprising a valve stem head and a valve stem base at two ends of the valve stem respectively; a sliding sleeve disposed in the first housing portion and encased outside the valve stem, the sliding sleeve being movable between a first closed position and a first open position along the first axial direction; and a spring element, wherein two ends of the spring element are respectively spliced ​​against the sliding sleeve and the valve stem base to deflect the sliding sleeve towards the first closed position;wherein the sliding sleeve blocks an annular space between the first housing portion and the valve stem head to cut off a flow path from the female connector when the sliding sleeve is in the first closed position, and the flow path from the female connector is opened when the sliding sleeve is in the first open position.

11. The female connector according to claim 10, further characterized in that the second housing portion is coupled to the first housing portion and comprises an inner stepped portion, wherein the valve stem base is positioned at least partially between an end of the first housing portion away from the opening and the inner stepped portion of the second housing portion.

12. The female connector according to claim 10, further characterized in that an outer periphery of the sliding sleeve is provided with a limiting protrusion, and an inner periphery of the first housing portion is provided with a limiting surface, wherein the limiting protrusion and the limiting surface are adapted to interlock with each other to limit the sliding sleeve in the first closed position.

13. The female connector according to claim 10, further characterized in that the sliding sleeve comprises a sealing member incorporated in an outer periphery of the sliding sleeve for sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion, wherein the sealing member is in the form of an irregular sealing ring, and an inner periphery of the sealing member has two annular flanges arranged along the first axial direction, and wherein each annular flange tapers inwards in a radial direction.

14. A connector assembly, characterized in that it comprises a female connector of any one of claims 1 to 13 and a male connector for connecting to the female connector, wherein the male connector comprises: a housing defining a second axial direction and having a plug end in the second axial direction, the plug end defining a port; and a valve unit disposed in the housing and comprising a valve core and an elastomeric member, the valve core being movable in the second axial direction between a second closed position and a second open position, the valve core being deflected towards the second closed position by the elastomeric member;wherein the valve core blocks the port to cut off a flow path of the male connector when the valve core is in the second closed position, and the flow path of the male connector is open when the valve core is in the second open position; wherein the female connector and the male connector interact with each other when connected together, such that the flow path of the female connector and the flow path of the male connector are both open and in fluid communication with each other.

15. The connector assembly according to claim 14, further characterized in that the plug end defines a first inner peripheral inclined surface and a second inner peripheral inclined surface, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the port, the first inner peripheral inclined surface, and the second inner peripheral inclined surface are sequentially connected in the second axial direction, and the first inner peripheral inclined surface and the second inner peripheral inclined surface are configured to guide a sealing member incorporated in an outer periphery of the valve core to move in the second axial direction in sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of the port,wherein the first inner peripheral inclined surface and the second inner peripheral inclined surface respectively form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the second axial direction, and the first angle is smaller than the second angle.

16. The connector assembly according to claim 15, further characterized in that the first angle varies from 5° to 15°.

17. The connector assembly according to claim 14, further characterized in that the plug end comprises a sealing member incorporated in an outer periphery of the plug end for sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of a female connector housing, wherein the sealing member is in the form of an irregular sealing ring, and an inner periphery of the sealing member has two annular flanges arranged along the second axial direction, and wherein each annular flange is inwardly tapered in a radial direction.

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