Magnetic coupling mechanism for fluid conduits
A magnetic coupling mechanism ( 1 ) for a fluid conduit comprising: a female part ( 3 ) having an internal cavity ( 7 ) with an inlet opening ( 9 ) and an opposing outlet opening ( 19 ); a male part ( 5 ) having a coupling section ( 11 ) insertable through the inlet opening of the female part for coupling with the internal cavity thereof, and an engagement section ( 13 ) for engaging with a fluid conduit, a coupling arrangement provided between the internal cavity of the female part and the coupling section of the male part, the coupling arrangement including at least one engagement lug ( 23 ) extending from the coupling section, and at least one cooperating channel ( 25 ) provided within an inner wall of the internal cavity, the or each said cooperating channel accommodating an associated said engagement lug when the coupling section is rotated relative to the internal cavity once accommodated therein to a coupling position to thereby prevent extraction of the coupling section from the internal cavity; wherein the coupling section is urged for rotation to the coupling position during use by a magnetic assembly including at least one first magnet ( 29 ) mounted on the coupling section, and at least one second magnet ( 31 ) mounted within the internal cavity.
1 . A magnetic coupling mechanism for a fluid conduit comprising:
a female part having an internal cavity with an inlet opening and an opposing outlet opening;
a male part having a coupling section insertable through the inlet opening of the female part for coupling with the internal cavity thereof, and an engagement section for engaging with a fluid conduit,
a coupling arrangement provided between the internal cavity of the female part and the coupling section of the male part, the coupling arrangement including at least one engagement lug extending from the coupling section, and at least one cooperating channel provided within an inner wall of the internal cavity, the or each said cooperating channel accommodating an associated said engagement lug when the coupling section is rotated relative to the internal cavity once accommodated therein to a coupling position to thereby prevent extraction of the coupling section from the internal cavity;
wherein the coupling section is urged for rotation to the coupling position during use by a magnetic assembly including at least one first magnet mounted on the coupling section, and at least one second magnet mounted within the internal cavity; and
wherein the male part comprises at least one visual alignment tab extending generally laterally from the male part, and aligning with a corresponding peripheral portion of the inlet opening of the female part when the male part is at a decoupled position corresponding to a predetermined rotational orientation relative to the female part.
2 . A magnetic coupling mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the or each cooperating channel is generally ‘L’ shaped to thereby provide an entrance portion through with the associated engagement lug can be inserted, and an undercut portion connected to the entrance potion for accommodating the engagement lug once the coupling portion is rotated within the internal cavity of the female part.
3 . A magnetic coupling mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein a pair of said engagement lugs are provided on opposing sides of the coupling section, for cooperating with a pair of said cooperating channels.
4 . A magnetic coupling mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic assembly comprises the at least one first magnet mounted on a mount block extending generally laterally from the coupling section and supporting the first magnet at an angle away from the coupling section, and the at least one second magnet mounted within an inner wall of the interior cavity.
5 . A magnetic coupling mechanism according to claim 4 , wherein the mount block supporting the at least one first magnet is generally aligned with the alignment tab on the coupling section.
6 . A magnetic coupling mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnets are positioned in a closely adjacent or abutting position when the male part is in the coupling position relative to the female part.
7 . A magnetic coupling mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising a gasket provided with the internal cavity surrounding the outlet opening to thereby provide a seal between the male part and the female part once coupled.
8 . A magnetic coupling mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement section comprises an external thread for engaging with a said fluid conduit.