Fluid couplings
Some fluid coupling devices that are used in fluid handling systems are designed to snap together and then secured to each other using a collar and collet mechanism. Some such fluid coupling devices are well suited for use in fluid handling systems that provide fluid cooling for heat generating devices such as computer hardware that benefit from compact fluid couplings that provide a secure but releasable connection.
1 . A fluid coupling comprising:
a male coupling defining a longitudinal axis and a seal groove, the male coupling comprising a seal disposed in the seal groove;
a female coupling defining an internal space configured to receive a portion of the male coupling, the female coupling including: (i) two radial projections and (ii) an end portion comprising a collet structure with two or more jaw portions; and
a collar defining a central open space and two open lateral slots through opposite sidewalls of the collar, the collar engaged with the female coupling and slidable thereon between: (i) an unlocked end of travel position in which the collet structure is longitudinally extending outside of the central open space of the collar and (ii) a locked end of travel position in which the collet structure is within the central open space of the collar,
wherein each open lateral slot of the two open lateral slots has: (i) enlarged end portions and (ii) an open middle portion extending between the enlarged end portions,
wherein the open middle portion of each open lateral slot of the two open lateral slots is narrower than the enlarged end portions, and
wherein each radial projection of the two radial projections slides within and along the open middle portion of a respective lateral slot of the two open lateral slots as the collar slides along the female coupling between the unlocked end of travel position and the locked end of travel position.
2 . The fluid coupling of claim 1 , wherein each jaw portion of the two or more jaw portions includes an inward-extending radial projection.
3 . The fluid coupling of claim 2 , wherein the male coupling further defines a circumferential recess, and wherein the inward-extending radial projection of each jaw portion of the two or more jaw portions is in the circumferential recess while the male coupling is coupled with the female coupling.
4 . The fluid coupling of claim 1 , wherein each radial projection of the two radial projections is at a first enlarged end portion of the respective lateral slot of the two lateral slots when the collar is in the unlocked end of travel position, and wherein each radial projection of the two radial projections is at a second enlarged end portion of the respective lateral slot of the two lateral slots when the collar is in the locked end of travel position.
5 . The fluid coupling of claim 1 , wherein the male coupling has a mid-body portion with an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the seal.
6 . The fluid coupling of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the mid-body portion is frustoconical shaped.
7 . A fluid coupling comprising:
a female coupling comprising:
a collet end portion comprising a collet structure with two or more jaw portions defining an internal space configured to receive a portion of a male coupling along an axis; and
a termination end portion comprising a fluid connection at an end of the female coupling that is axially opposite of the collet end portion and that extends transversely to the axis; and
a collar defining a central open space extending between a first end portion and a second end portion that is axially opposite from the first end portion, the collar engaged with the female coupling and slidable thereon between: (i) an unlocked end of travel position in which the collet structure is longitudinally extending outside of the central open space of the collar and (ii) a locked end of travel position in which the collet structure is within the central open space of the collar and the first end portion of the collar circumferentially surrounds and radially reinforces the collet structure,
wherein the second end portion of the collar defines an open-ended slot through which the termination end portion of the female coupling movably extends.
8 . The fluid coupling of claim 7 , wherein the female coupling includes a radial projection and the collar defines a lateral slot in which the radial projection is slidably disposed.
9 . The fluid coupling of claim 8 , wherein the radial projection is at a first end of the lateral slot when the collar is in the unlocked end of travel position, and wherein the radial projection is at a second end of the lateral slot when the collar is in the locked end of travel position.
10 . The fluid coupling of claim 8 , wherein the lateral slot is dog bone shaped or barbell shaped.
11 . The fluid coupling of claim 7 , wherein the collar further comprises stop members that contact the female coupling while the collar is in the unlocked end of travel position.
12 . The fluid coupling of claim 7 , wherein each jaw portion of the two or more jaw portions includes an inward-extending radial projection.
13 . The fluid coupling of claim 7 , wherein two or more jaw portions include exactly four jaw portions, and wherein the four jaw portions are circumferentially spaced apart from each other.
14 . The fluid coupling of claim 7 , wherein the female coupling includes two radial projections and the collar defines two lateral slots in which the two radial projections are slidably disposed, and wherein each slot of the two lateral slots includes enlarged ends by which each slot is dog bone shaped or barbell shaped.
15 . The fluid coupling of claim 14 , wherein the collar is releasably detained or latched relative to the female coupling while the two radial projections are located within the enlarged ends of the lateral slots.
16 . The fluid coupling of claim 14 , wherein middle portions of the two lateral slots are narrower than outer diameters of the two radial projections.
17 . The fluid coupling of claim 7 , wherein the female coupling is configured in a 90° elbow arrangement.
18 . A fluid coupling comprising:
a first end portion;
a mid-body portion comprising a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical portion comprising a maximum diameter end and a minimum diameter end, wherein the cylindrical portion is closer to the first end portion than the frustoconical portion;
a second end portion;
a circumferential seal groove disposed adjacent the cylindrical portion and between the first end portion and the cylindrical portion;
a circumferential recess extending directly from the maximum diameter end of the frustoconical portion and between the second end portion and the frustoconical portion; and
a seal disposed in the seal groove,
wherein the maximum diameter end of the frustoconical portion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the seal and larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion,
wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the seal.
19 . The fluid coupling of claim 18 , wherein the second end portion has a largest outer diameter of the fluid coupling.