Fluid coupling

Abstract

A fluid connector includes a body having a fluid channel, a valve member rotatably disposed within the fluid channel, a handle connected to the valve member to control the rotation of the valve member to achieve opening and closing, and a locking pin assembly. The body has a mating surface for engaging with a mating connector. The mating surface has a recessed receiving hole for receiving the locking pin assembly. The locking pin assembly includes a rotating portion, an insertion portion capable of rotating and moving within the receiving hole about the rotating portion as an axis, an operating portion for engaging with the handle, and a resilient member. In addition to vertical movement, the insertion portion can also rotate about the rotating portion as the handle operates the valve member to complete the engagement with the mating connector, preventing the fluid connector from becoming conductive due to misoperation.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a fluid connector, and more particularly to a fluid connector that prevents erroneous conduction. [Previous Technology]

[0002] US Patent Publication No. 4438779 discloses a fluid connector including a body having a fluid passage, a ball valve rotatably disposed in the fluid passage, and an opening provided on the body, within which a locking pin is housed for controlling the opening and closing of the ball valve. However, before the fluid connector is mated with the docking connector, there is a risk that the ball valve may be opened due to misoperation.

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

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fluid connector that prevents erroneous conduction.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention can be implemented using the following technical solution: A fluid connector, comprising a body having a fluid channel, a valve member having a through hole rotatably disposed within the fluid channel, a handle connected to the valve member to control the rotation of the valve member between an open position and a closed position, and a locking pin assembly. The body has a mating surface for engaging with a mating connector, the mating surface having a recessed receiving hole for receiving the locking pin assembly. The locking pin assembly includes a locking pin member and an elastic member supporting the locking pin member. The locking pin member has a rotating portion, an insertion portion capable of rotating and moving within the receiving hole about the rotating portion as an axis, and an operating portion protruding from the insertion portion toward the handle for engaging with the handle. The locking pin member, supported by the elastic member, enables the insertion portion to be in an extended position extending out of the mating surface and retracted relative to the extended position. The insertion part moves between retracted positions. The mating surface of the docking connector includes a mating hole for the insertion part to enter. The insertion part has a first position and a second position after circumferential rotation. In the first position, the insertion part is not aligned with the mating hole. In the second position, the insertion part is aligned with the mating hole. Before the fluid connector mates with the docking connector, the insertion part is in the first position in the circumferential direction. After the fluid connector mates with the docking connector, the handle controls the valve member to rotate to a non-fully open position between the open and closed positions. At the same time, the handle drives the insertion part to rotate about the rotating part as an axis and move along the mating surface of the fluid connector from the first position to the second position. At this time, the handle can be operated to control the valve member to rotate to the open position. The insertion part is pushed from the retracted position to the extended position by the elastic member, thereby entering the mating hole.

[0006] Furthermore, the receiving hole is formed along the mating surface with a clearance space for the insertion part to rotate from the first position to the second position.

[0007] Furthermore, both the rotating part and the inserting part are cylindrical bodies extending in the vertical direction. The rotating part and the inserting part are integrally connected by a bridging part. The elastic member abuts against the bridging part so that the inserting part can switch between an extended position and a retracted position.

[0008] Furthermore, the body also includes a central hole for receiving the rotating part, the rotating part being supported by the elastic member to move in the vertical direction within the central hole, and the dimension of the rotating part in the vertical direction being smaller than the dimension of the insertion part in the vertical direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the locking pin member also includes a fixing portion extending downward from the rotating portion, and the elastic member is disposed on the fixing portion to support the locking pin member.

[0010] Furthermore, the surface of the handle near the valve member is recessed to form a groove for controlling the movement of the operating part.

[0011] Furthermore, the operating part is a spherical structure to ensure smooth movement of the operating part within the groove.

[0012] Further, the slide has a limiting section for restricting the rotation of the valve member operated by the handle, a control section for controlling the insertion part rotated to the second position to switch between a retracted position and an extended position, and a connecting section connecting the limiting section and the control section. When the fluid connector is not docked with the docking connector, the handle controls the valve member to rotate to the closed position, the insertion part is in the first position and is supported by the elastic member to be held in the extended position, the limiting section is set as a straight section extending in the vertical direction, at which time the operating part is received in the limiting section to restrict the rotation of the handle. When the fluid connector is docked with the docking connector, and the valve member is not rotated by operating the handle, the insertion part is biased to the retracted position by the docking connector, and the operating part moves downward in the slide from above the limiting section to the engagement point with the connecting section.

[0013] Furthermore, after the fluid connector is connected to the docking connector, the handle controls the valve component to rotate between the closed position and the non-fully open position. Correspondingly, the operating part moves in the connecting section. At this time, the connecting section pushes against the operating part, causing the insertion part to rotate between the first position and the second position with the rotating part as the axis.

[0014] Further, after the fluid connector is docked with the docking connector, the handle controls the valve component to rotate from the non-fully open position to the open position, the operating part moves in the control section, at which time the insertion part is held in the second position aligned with the docking hole of the docking connector, and the control section releases the insertion part from the retracted position to the extended position by the elastic member.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, when the fluid connector of the present invention mates with the docking connector, the handle operates the valve component from the closed position to the open position, and the insertion part rotates around the rotating part as the axis to align with the docking hole of the docking connector, and further extends into the docking hole to complete the mating. This effectively prevents the insertion part from extending into the docking hole before rotating to the correct position, which could lead to incorrect conduction of the fluid connector.

Implementation Method

[0017] The fluid connector 100 of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 18.

[0018] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the fluid connector 100 engages with a mating connector 100'. In this embodiment, the mating connector 100' has the same structure as the fluid connector 100. The fluid connector 100 includes a body 1 having a fluid channel 10, a valve member 2 rotatably disposed within the fluid channel 10 and having a through hole 20, a handle 3 connected to the valve member 2 and controlling the rotation of the valve member 2 between an open position and a closed position, and a locking pin assembly 4. The handle 3 includes a base 31 with one end having an arc surface and a grip 32 integrally extended from the other end of the base 31 for pressing operation. The base 31 is fixedly connected to the valve member 2 by a screw 33. The body 1 has a mating surface 11 for engaging with the mating connector 100', and the mating surface 11 has a recessed receiving hole 111 for receiving the locking pin assembly 4. The body 1, the fluid channel 10, and the valve member 2 of the fluid connector 100 are concentric about the axis L. Similarly, the body 1', the fluid passage, and the valve component 2' of the docking connector 100' are concentric about axis L'.

[0019] The mating surfaces 11 / 11' of the fluid connector 100 and the mating connector 100' further include mating protrusions 112 / 112' extending outward along the axial direction and mating grooves 113 / 113' for engaging with the mating protrusions 112 / 112' on the opposite side. When the fluid connector 100 and the mating connector 100' are mated, the bodies 1 / 1' are aligned so that the axis L and the axis L' extend together. At this time, the fluid connector 100 and the mating connector 100' approach each other axially, causing the mating surfaces 11 / 11' to engage with each other. Then, the bodies 1 / 1' rotate relative to each other to engage the mating protrusions 112 and the slots 1131' on the mating grooves 113', thereby completing the axial mating of the fluid connector 100 and the mating connector 100'.

[0020] Further referring to Figure 7, the locking pin assembly 4 includes a locking pin member 40 and an elastic member 41 supporting the locking pin member 40. The locking pin member 40 includes a rotating part 401, an insertion part 402 rotatable within the receiving hole 111 about the rotating part 401, an operating part 403 protruding outward from the insertion part 402, and a bridging part 404 integrally connecting the rotating part 401 and the insertion part 402. The rotating part 401 and the insertion part 402 are both cylindrical bodies extending in the vertical direction, and the rotating part 401, the insertion part 402, and the bridging part 404 are generally U-shaped. The locking pin member 40 also includes a fixing part 405 extending downward from the rotating part 401 and located below the bridging part 404. The elastic member 41 is sleeved on the fixing part 405 and abuts against the lower surface of the bridging part 404 to support the locking pin member 40. When the insertion part 402 rotates around the rotating part 401, the elastic member 41 can remain below the rotating part 401 without circumferential displacement. The body 1 also includes a central hole 12 for receiving the rotating part 401. The locking pin member 40 is supported by the elastic member 41 and can move in the vertical direction. The rotating part 401 can move vertically within the central hole 12 under the support of the elastic member 41. The vertical dimension of the rotating part 401 is smaller than that of the insertion part 402. By reducing the size of the rotating part 401, the insertion part 402 needs to overcome less friction when rotating. The insertion part 402, supported by the elastic member 41, can move between an extended position extending from the mating surface 11 and a retracted position retracted relative to the extended position. The mating surfaces 11 / 11' of both the fluid connector 100 and the mating connector 100' are provided with mating holes 114 / 114'. After the fluid connector 100 is docked with the docking connector 100', the handle 3 operates the valve component 2 to rotate to the open position, and the insertion part 402 enters the docking hole 114' to complete the locking.

[0021] Referring to Figures 2 and 13, the receiving hole 111 is a narrow, elongated groove curved circumferentially, and a clearance space 110 is formed along the mating surface 11 for the insertion part 402 to rotate. The insertion part 402 has a first position not aligned with the mating hole 114' and a second position aligned with the mating hole 114' after circumferential rotation. The insertion part 402 can rotate between the first and second positions within the receiving hole 111 via the clearance space 110. When the insertion part 402 is in the first and second positions, it can switch between an extended position extending out of the mating surface 11 and a retracted position retracted relative to the extended position, respectively. When the insertion part 402 is located between the first and second positions circumferentially, the insertion part 402 remains in the retracted position in the vertical direction.

[0022] Specifically, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the surface of the base 31 near the valve member 2 is recessed inward to form a groove 311 that mates with the operating part 403. The groove 311 has an inner wall 3111 near the screw 33 and an outer wall 3112 relative to the inner wall 3111. The operating part 403 is a spherical structure that can move smoothly within the groove 311. The groove 311 has a limiting section 3113 for limiting the rotation of the valve member 2 operated by the handle 3, a control section 3114 for controlling the insertion part 402 rotated to the second position to switch between a retracted position and an extended position, and a connecting section 3115 connecting the limiting section 3113 and the control section 3114. When the fluid connector 100 is not mated with the docking connector 100', the insertion part 402 is in a first position in the circumferential direction that is not aligned with the docking hole 114', and in an extended position in the vertical direction that extends out of the docking surface 11. At this time, the valve component 2 is in the closed position, and the limiting section 3113 of the slide groove 311 is set as a straight section extending in the vertical direction. The elastic member 41 supports the insertion part 402 upward to keep it in the extended position. Corresponding to the insertion part 402 in the extended position, the operating part 403 is located above the limiting section 3113. At this time, the limiting section 3113 extending in the vertical direction cannot provide enough space for the base 31 to rotate around the screw 33. Therefore, the fluid connector 100 cannot operate the handle 3 to rotate the valve component 2 when not docked. Referring to Figure 9, when the fluid connector 100 and the docking connector 100' are docked, the docking surfaces 11' of the fluid connector 100 and the docking connector 100' are engaged axially. The insertion part 402 is pushed by the docking surface 11' and compressed from the extended position to the retracted position. The operating part 403 moves downward within the slide 311 to the junction of the limiting section 3113 and the connecting section 3115.

[0023] Referring to Figures 10 to 12, after the fluid connector 100 is docked with the docking connector 100', the handle 3 operates the valve member 2 to rotate from the closed position to a non-fully open position between the closed and open positions. At this time, the valve member 2 is in a state of not being fully open. The operating part 403 moves within the connecting section 3115 and is pushed against the inner wall 3111 of the connecting section 3115 to the junction of the connecting section 3115 and the control section 3114, so that the insertion part 402 rotates circumferentially about the rotating part 401 as the axis, rotating from a first position not aligned with the docking hole 114' to a second position aligned with the docking hole 114'. During the process of the insertion part 402 rotating from the first position to the second position, the insertion part 402 is always held in the retracted position in the vertical direction, abutting against the docking surface 11' of the docking connector 100'.

[0024] Referring to Figures 13 to 18, when the insertion part 402 rotates to the second position aligned with the mating hole 114', the mating surface 11' stops abutting against the insertion part 402, and instead, the outer wall 3112 of the control section 3114 abuts against the operating part 403 to control its upward movement. During the operation of the control section 3114, the insertion part 402 remains in the second position aligned with the mating hole 114' of the mating connector 100'. The elastic member 41 remains in an elastically compressed state to provide the insertion part 402 with an axially outward pushing force. The handle 3 operates the valve member 2 to rotate from the non-fully open position to the open position, and at the same time, the control section 3114 also releases the insertion part 402 from the retracted position to the extended position pushed by the elastic member 41. At this time, the insertion part 402 enters the mating hole 114' of the mating connector 100', restricting the fluid connector 100 and the mating connector 100' from rotating relative to each other around the axis L / L'.

[0025] It is worth noting that the fluid connector 100 of the present invention can also be mated with a docking connector 100' with a different structure, as long as the docking hole 114' of the mating connector 100' can be inserted into the insertion part 402 of the fluid connector 100 and in the extended position to fully unlock the valve member 2.

[0026] The above description is only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Any equivalent changes made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention by reading the present invention specification are covered by the patent application scope of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fluid connector of the present invention before docking with the mating connector. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fluid connector of the present invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking pin assembly and the body of the present invention in cooperation. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fluid connector of the present invention. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 4 from another perspective. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 along line VI-VI. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2 along line VII-VII. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the locking pin assembly and the handle when the fluid connector of the present invention is not docked. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the locking pin assembly and the handle after the fluid connector of the present invention is docked with the mating connector, after being biased by the mating connector. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the handle operating valve component rotating to a non-fully open position between the open and closed positions after the fluid connector of the present invention is docked with the mating connector. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 10 along line XI-XI. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 10 along line XII-XII. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the handle operating valve component rotating to the open position after the fluid connector of the present invention is docked with the mating connector. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 13 along line XIV-XIV. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 13 along line XV-XV. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the fluid connector and mating connector of the present invention mating. Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 16. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 16 from another perspective. [Biomaterial Storage]

[0028] None

Claims

1. A fluid connector comprising a body having a fluid channel, a valve member rotatably disposed within the fluid channel and having a through hole, a handle connected to the valve member for controlling rotation of the valve member between an open position and a closed position, and a locking pin assembly, the body having a mating surface for engaging with a mating connector, the mating surface having a recessed receiving hole for receiving the locking pin assembly, the locking pin assembly including a locking pin member and an elastic member supporting the locking pin member, the locking pin member having a rotating portion, an insertion portion connected to the rotating portion via a bridging portion, and an operating portion protruding from the insertion portion toward the handle for engaging with the handle, the insertion portion being rotatable within the receiving hole about the rotating portion as an axis, the locking pin member being movable between an extended position extending out of the mating surface and a retracted position retracted relative to the extended position by the support of the elastic member, wherein... The mating surface of the connector includes a mating hole for the insertion part to enter. The insertion part has a first position and a second position after circumferential rotation. In the first position, the insertion part is not aligned with the mating hole. In the second position, the insertion part is aligned with the mating hole. Before the fluid connector mates with the connector, the insertion part is in the first position in the circumferential direction. After the fluid connector mates with the connector, the handle controls the valve member to rotate to a non-fully open position between the open and closed positions. At the same time, the handle drives the insertion part to rotate about the rotating part as an axis and move along the mating surface of the fluid connector from the first position to the second position. At this time, the handle can be operated to control the valve member to rotate to the open position. The insertion part is pushed from the retracted position to the extended position by the elastic member, thereby entering the mating hole.

2. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The receiving hole has a clearance space formed along the mating surface for the insertion part to rotate from the first position to the second position.

3. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, Both the rotating part and the inserting part are cylindrical bodies extending in the vertical direction. The rotating part and the inserting part are integrally connected by the bridging part. The elastic member abuts against the bridging part so that the inserting part can switch between an extended position and a retracted position.

4. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The body also includes a central hole for receiving the rotating part, the rotating part being supported by the elastic member to move in the vertical direction within the central hole, and the dimension of the rotating part in the vertical direction being smaller than the dimension of the insertion part in the vertical direction.

5. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein, The locking pin component also includes a fixing portion extending downward from the rotating portion, and the elastic member is disposed on the fixing portion to support the locking pin component.

6. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The surface of the handle near the valve component is recessed to form a groove for controlling the movement of the operating part.

7. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The operating part is a spherical structure to ensure smooth movement of the operating part within the groove.

8. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The slide has a limiting section for restricting the rotation of the valve component operated by the handle, a control section for controlling the insertion part, which rotates to a second position, to switch between a retracted position and an extended position, and a connecting section connecting the limiting section and the control section. When the fluid connector is not docked with the docking connector, the handle controls the valve component to rotate to the closed position, the insertion part is in the first position and is supported by the elastic member to remain in the extended position, and the limiting section is set as a straight segment extending in the vertical direction. At this time, the operating part is received in the limiting section to restrict the rotation of the handle. When the fluid connector is docked with the docking connector, and the valve component is not rotated by operating the handle, the insertion part is biased to the retracted position by the docking connector, and the operating part moves downward in the slide from above the limiting section to the engagement point with the connecting section.

9. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein, After the fluid connector is mated with the docking connector, the handle controls the valve component to rotate between the closed position and the non-fully open position. Correspondingly, the operating part moves in the connecting section. At this time, the connecting section pushes against the operating part, causing the insertion part to rotate between the first position and the second position with the rotating part as the axis.

10. The fluid connector as claimed in claim 9, wherein, After the fluid connector is mated with the docking connector, the handle controls the valve component to rotate from the non-fully open position to the open position, the operating part moves in the control section, at which time the insertion part is held in the second position aligned with the docking hole of the docking connector, the control section releases the insertion part from the retracted position and is pushed upward by the elastic member to the extended position.

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