Compact fluid couplings
Some fluid coupling devices described herein are configured as non-spill fluid couplings. In addition, some embodiments described in this document relate to fluid coupling devices and fluid coupling systems that are constructed in a compact configuration.
1 . A fluid coupling system for liquid cooling of computer electronics, comprising:
a female coupling device defining an internal space and comprising:
a first housing portion that defines a first opening into the internal space of the female coupling device;
a second housing portion that defines a second opening into the internal space of the female coupling device and that includes a rear thread for connecting a fluid line with the second opening, the second opening being positioned closer to a rearmost end of the female coupling device than to the first opening;
a valve assembly positioned within the internal space of the female coupling device and comprising: a valve stem, a valve sleeve that is movable relative to valve stem, and a valve spring extending rearwardly from the valve sleeve toward a rear end of the valve stem, wherein the valve assembly is adjustable between: (i) a first arrangement in which a fluid flow path between the first and second openings is open, and (ii) a second arrangement in which the valve assembly blocks the fluid flow path,
wherein the rear end of valve stem defines a maximum outer diameter of the valve stem and is positioned such that the rearmost end of female coupling device is closer to the rear end of the valve stem than to the rear thread.
2 . The fluid coupling system of claim 1 , wherein valve spring biases the valve sleeve to a forward position so that the valve assembly is in the second arrangement, and wherein the valve sleeve is movable relative to the valve stem to a rearward position so that the valve assembly is in the first arrangement.
3 . The fluid coupling system of claim 2 , wherein when the valve assembly is adjusted to the first arrangement, the valve sleeve is in the rearward position such that a sleeve front face of the valve sleeve is closer to the rearmost end of female coupling device than to a frontmost end of female coupling device.
4 . The fluid coupling system of claim 2 , wherein the valve sleeve is movable from the forward position in which the valve sleeve is entirely forward of the rear thread to the rearward position in which at least a position of the valve sleeve is laterally offset from the rear thread.
5 . The fluid coupling system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second housing portions of the female coupling device are integrally formed as a unitary metallic structure.
6 . The fluid coupling system of claim 1 , wherein the internal space of the female coupling device is at least partially defined by a first interior bore proximate to the first opening and having a first bore diameter, the first interior bore extending rearwardly for a first bore axial length to an interior shoulder that transitions to a second interior bore having a second bore axial length greater than the first bore axial length and having a second bore diameter larger than the first bore diameter, and forward and rearward seal grooves formed along the first interior bore.
7 . The fluid coupling system of claim 6 , wherein the rear end of valve stem has multiple apertures therethrough and defines the maximum outer diameter of the valve stem that is larger than the first and second bore diameters of the internal space of the female coupling device.
8 . The fluid coupling system of claim 6 , wherein the female coupling device further comprises: a forward bore seal seated in the forward seal groove along the first interior bore, and a rear bore seal positioned rearwardly of the forward bore seal in the rear seal groove along the first interior bore.
9 . The fluid coupling system of claim 8 , wherein the female coupling device has an overall length of the female coupling device extending in an axial direction from the rearmost end of the female coupling device to the first opening at a frontmost end of the female coupling device, and the second interior bore the internal space of the female coupling device extends for a majority of the overall length of the female coupling device.
10 . The fluid coupling system of claim 9 , wherein the valve spring biases the valve sleeve to a forward position so that the valve assembly is in the second arrangement in which a front face of the valve stem is substantially aligned with rear end of the forward seal groove.
11 . The fluid coupling system of claim 1 , wherein the female coupling device further comprises a color element that provides a visible indicator of a temperature.
12 . The fluid coupling system of claim 1 , further comprising a male coupling device that is releasably matable to the female coupling device, the male coupling device comprising:
a male housing defining an internal passageway for a fluid flow path;
a valve member within the internal passageway that is spring-biased to a closed position that blocks the fluid flow path through the internal passageway of the male housing.
13 . The fluid coupling system of claim 12 , wherein the male housing of the male coupling device defines: a front face with a front opening of the male housing leading to the internal passageway; an exterior circumferential surface extending rearward from the front face toward an outwardly ramped surface of an exterior circumferential shoulder; an exterior circumferential groove positioned rearwardly of the outwardly ramped surface of the exterior circumferential shoulder such that the exterior circumferential groove is at least partially defined by a circumferential groove surface positioned rearward of exterior circumferential shoulder; and wherein the internal passageway which has a first bore diameter extending rearward to an interior shoulder transitioning to a larger second bore diameter that extends rearward for a majority of an overall axial length of the male housing.
14 . The fluid coupling system of claim 13 , wherein the valve member of the male coupling device is longitudinally slidable within the internal passageway of the male main body and configured to abut the interior shoulder of the male housing so that a front end of the valve member substantially aligns with the front face of the male housing.
15 . The fluid coupling system of claim 13 , wherein the female coupling device further comprises a lock member movable in a sidewall opening of the first housing portion at a position rearward of the first opening of the female coupling device, wherein the lock member is configured to releasably engage with the exterior circumferential groove of the male housing to retain the female coupling device and the male coupling device together a fully coupled configuration.
16 . The fluid coupling system of claim 15 , wherein the lock member of the female coupling device is manually adjustable to a withdrawn position to disengaged from the male housing so as to uncouple the male fluid coupling device from the female coupling device.
17 . The fluid coupling system of claim 16 , wherein the lock member of the female coupling device comprises a spring-biased wire rod structure configured to fit in the exterior circumferential groove of the male housing.
18 . The fluid coupling system of claim 12 , wherein the male coupling device further comprises a rear exterior connection end portion that includes at least one of a threaded or hose barb terminal.
19 . The fluid coupling system of claim 18 , wherein the internal passageway for the fluid flow path of the male coupling device extends along a first axis and along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are substantially perpendicular to each other.
20 . The fluid coupling system of claim 1 , wherein the rear end of valve stem has multiple apertures therethrough and is positioned such that the rearmost end of female coupling device is closer to said multiple apertures of the valve stem than to the rear thread.