Connector part and fluid connection structure
View Patent ↗Connector part comprising a body part for connecting to a counterpart for creating a fluid tight seal when fitted together. The connector part also comprises a seal element made of resilient material and a space which is capable to receive the seal element made of resilient material when the fluid tight seal is made. The connector part can be used for forming a fluid tight connection structure.
1. A connector part, comprising:
a seal element made of a resilient material, the seal element comprising a body portion extending axially and a flange portion extending radially from the body portion at a first end of the body portion; and
a body part configured to connect to a counterpart to create a fluid tight seal when fitted together, the body part comprising a space defining a first portion configured to receive the body portion of the seal element and a dead space portion defining a volume adjacent the first portion, the body part comprising an outer tip portion having a flat outer surface, the body part defining an opening, the first end of the body portion adjacent to the outer tip portion, a portion of the body part near a second end of the seal element comprising a slanted surface directly connected to a parallel surface parallel with an outer wall of the body part;
wherein the flange portion of the seal element is positioned at the outer tip portion and has a substantially flat outer surface forming a substantially continuous surface with the outer tip portion, the flange portion configured to bend towards the body portion and into the dead space portion to substantially fill the volume of the dead space portion when the fluid tight seal is made;
wherein the seal element is positioned radially around the opening such that the opening is open; and
wherein the body part further comprises a sealing surface which provides a secondary seal surface, the sealing surface separate from the slanted surface and the parallel surface.
2. The connector part of claim 1 , wherein the body part is a female part.
3. The connector part of claim 2 , wherein the seal element is an annular element made of resilient material and placed on an inner wall of the female part, and the space is an annular space positioned adjacent the seal element.
4. The connector part of claim 3 , wherein the volume of the space is the same as or bigger than the volume of the seal element in a deformed state.
5. The connector part of claim 3 , wherein the volume of the space is smaller than the volume of the seal element in a deformed state.
6. The connector part of claim 2 , wherein the sealing surface is a flat surface or a conical surface.
7. The connector part of claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface is a conical surface or a flat surface.
8. The connector part of claim 1 , wherein the body part is a male part.
9. The connector part of claim 8 , wherein the seal element is an annular element placed on a wall of the male part, and the space is an annular space adjacent to the seal element.
10. The connector part of claim 8 , wherein the volume of the space is the same as, bigger than, or smaller than the volume of the seal element in a deformed state.
11. The connector part of claim 1 , wherein the body part is provided with elements that enable a tightening force to be applied to the body part.
12. The connector part of claim 11 , wherein the elements that enable the tightening force to be applied to the body part comprise a spiral part.
13. A female connector part, comprising:
a female body part configured to connect to a male counterpart to create a fluid tight seal when fitted together, the female body part having an inner wall, an outer tip portion having an outer front surface, and a dead space volume near the inner wall, the inner wall defining a cavity; and
a seal element made of a resilient material and located along the inner wall such that the cavity is open, the seal element comprising a body portion extending axially along the inner wall and a flange portion extending radially into the cavity from the body portion at a first end of the body portion, the first end of the body portion adjacent the outer tip portion, the flange portion having a substantially flat outer surface and is continuous with the outer front surface to form a substantially flat and continuous surface, and the flange portion configured to bend into the dead space volume to substantially fill the dead space volume when the fluid tight seal is made;
wherein a portion of the inner wall immediately adjacent a second end of the seal element comprises a slanted surface slanting inwards from the second end and towards the cavity and directly connected to a parallel surface parallel to an outer wall of the female body part, and the parallel surface is directly connected to a sealing surface separate from the slanted surface, and wherein the slanted surface, the parallel surface, and the sealing surface define the inner wall.
14. The female connector part of claim 13 , wherein the female body part includes a thread element defining the outer front surface and extending away from the seal element.
15. The female connector part of claim 13 , wherein the female body part is a rigid or semi-rigid structure.
16. The female connector part of claim 13 , wherein the sealing surface comprises a flat or conical surface which provides a secondary seal surface.
17. A male connector part, comprising:
a male body part configured to connect to a female counterpart to create a fluid tight seal when fitted together, the male body part having an outer wall, a male tip defining an outer front surface and a cavity, and a dead space volume near the outer wall; and
a seal element made of a resilient material and located along the outer wall adjacent the male tip such that the cavity is open, the seal element comprising a body portion extending axially along the outer wall and a flange portion extending radially from the body away from the male tip, the flange portion having a substantially flat outer surface and is continuous with the outer front surface to form a substantially flat, continuous surface, and the flange portion is configured to bend into the dead space volume to substantially fill the dead space volume when the fluid tight seal is made;
wherein a portion of the male body part near a second end of the seal element and adjacent the dead space volume comprises a slanted surface slanting outwards from the seal element and away from the first end of the seal element and connected to a parallel surface parallel to an outer wall of the male body part.
18. The male connector part of claim 17 , wherein the male body part includes a snap fixture element defining an opening that expands away from the outer wall such that the snap fixture element is configured to receive a lip extending away from the outer wall.
19. The male connector part of claim 17 , wherein the male body part is a rigid or semi-rigid structure.
20. The male connector part of claim 17 , wherein the male body part includes a sealing surface which provides a secondary seal surface.