Electrostatic discharge mitigation device
This disclosure provides electrostatic discharge (ESD) mitigation devices. In one or more embodiments, the electrostatic discharge (ESD) mitigation device is a tubing connector to connect two or more conductive tubing segments in a fluid circuit, the tubing connector including an electrically conductive connector body with two or more attachment portions, two or more attachment fittings, and a conductive bracket configured to attach and interface with the connector body to electrically connect the connector body to ground.
1. An assembly comprising:
a tubing connector to connect two or more conductive tubing segments in a fluid circuit, the tubing connector having an inlet and an outlet and including an electrically conductive connector body, two or more attachment portions, and two or more attachment fittings; and
a conductive bracket in contact with the electrically conductive connector body for electrically connecting the connector body to ground
wherein the conductive bracket comprises a grounding fixture and a grounding opening for connecting the bracket to ground.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductive bracket includes a clamp portion that circumscribes the electrically conductive connector body and selectively tightens to attach the bracket to the connector body.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the clamp portion is substantially circular in shape.
4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the clamp portion is substantially polygonal in shape.
5. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the clamp portion is substantially hexagonal in shape.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubing connector comprises a straight connector, a T-connector, or an elbow connector.
7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tubing connector is a straight connector having a fluid passageway to connect two tubing segments.
8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tubing connector is an elbow connector having a fluid passageway to connect two tubing segments.
9. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tubing connector is a T-connector having fluid passageways to connect three tubing segments.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two or more attachment portions of the tubing connector each comprise a threaded region and a nipple region to receive a tubing segment.
11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the two or more attachment fittings each comprise nuts configured to attach tubing segments to the neck and threaded regions of the tubing connector.
12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein electrically conductive connector body comprises a conductively-filled fluoropolymer.
13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the conductively-filled fluoropolymer is perfluoroalkoxy alkane polymer filled with a conductive material selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, nickel coated graphite, carbon fiber, carbon powder, carbon nanotubes, metal particles, and steel fiber.
14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the conductively-filled fluoropolymer is a carbon-filled perfluoroalkoxy alkane polymer.
15. A fluid circuit comprising at least one tubing segment connected to the assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive bracket transfers electrostatic charge generated by fluid passing through the tubing segment and tubing connector to a grounding wire connected to a grounding terminal.