IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,624,783
Granted Patent B2
US 12,624,783 · App. 18/386,991 · Granted May 12, 2026

Connector and connecting system

Inventor: Jingyao Peng (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: Southco Manufacturing and Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
F16L27/026F16L3/205F16L37/505
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,624,783
App. No.
18/386,991
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connector is mounted to a first object and connected between an outlet device and an inlet device to direct a fluid. The connector comprises: a housing mounted to the first object; a pipeline penetrating the housing in a flow direction of the fluid and comprising an outlet end connected to the outlet device and an inlet end connected to the inlet device; a floating device disposed on the housing and floatingly connected to the pipeline, allowing the pipeline to float in the radial direction transverse to a flow direction of the fluid with respect to the housing.

Claims (43)

1 . A connector ( 100 ) mounted to a first object and connected between an outlet device ( 500 ) and an inlet device ( 600 ) to direct a fluid, wherein the connector ( 100 ) comprises:

a housing ( 110 ) mounted to the first object;

a pipeline ( 120 ) penetrating the housing ( 110 ) in a flow direction of the fluid and comprising an outlet end ( 121 ) connected to the outlet device ( 500 ) and an inlet end ( 122 ) connected to the inlet device ( 600 ); and

a floating device disposed on the housing ( 110 ) and floatingly connected to the pipeline ( 120 ), allowing the pipeline ( 120 ) to float in the radial direction transverse to a flow direction of the fluid with respect to the housing ( 110 ), the floating device comprising at least one bolt ( 130 ) and at least one spring ( 160 ), the bolt ( 130 ) penetrates a sidewall ( 111 ) of the housing ( 110 ) in the radial direction, and the spring ( 160 ) is abutted between the bolt ( 130 ) and the sidewall ( 111 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ), allowing the pipeline ( 120 ) to float in the radial direction.

2 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

four sets of the floating devices are surroundingly disposed on the housing ( 110 ) at uniform intervals in a circumferential direction, and each set of the floating devices comprises two floating devices arranged in the flow direction.

3 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein the connector ( 100 ) further comprises:

at least one gasket ( 140 ) having an annular shape and sleeved on the pipeline ( 120 ) and abutting against at least one end wall ( 112 ) of the housing ( 110 ) in the flow direction to prevent inclination of the pipeline ( 120 ) with respect to the housing ( 110 ).

4 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 3 , wherein:

a first limiting portion ( 115 ) protruding outwards in the flow direction is provided on the at least one end wall ( 112 ) of the housing ( 110 ), and the first limiting portion ( 115 ) at least partially surrounds a periphery of the at least one gasket ( 140 ) so as to prevent the at least one gasket ( 140 ) from sliding with respect to the housing ( 110 ).

5 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 3 , wherein:

a notch ( 142 ) which is inwardly recessed in the radial direction is provided in a periphery of the at least one gasket ( 140 ); and

a second limiting portion ( 116 ) extending outwards in the flow direction is provided on the end wall ( 112 ) of the housing ( 110 ), and the second limiting portion ( 116 ) corresponds to the position of the notch ( 142 ) so as to prevent the at least one gasket ( 140 ) from sliding with respect to the housing ( 110 ).

6 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 3 , wherein:

the inlet end ( 122 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ) is also sleeved with a snap ring ( 150 ), and the snap ring ( 150 ) is generally E-shaped and abuts against an outer side of the at least one gasket ( 140 ) at the inlet end ( 122 ).

7 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the pipeline ( 120 ) comprises an intermediate segment ( 123 ) connected between the outlet end ( 121 ) and the inlet end ( 122 ), and the outlet end ( 121 ) and the inlet end ( 122 ) are both located outside of the housing ( 110 ), and the intermediate segment ( 123 ) is located inside of the housing ( 110 ).

8 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein:

the inlet end ( 121 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ) is provided with a mounting nut for connecting to the outlet device ( 500 );

the inlet end ( 122 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ) is provided with: an inlet connector mounting hole ( 125 ) located at a center of the inlet end ( 122 ); and at least one guide mounting hole ( 124 ) surrounding the inlet connector mounting hole ( 125 ); and

the at least one guide mounting hole ( 124 ) is located radially outside of the intermediate segment ( 123 ) when viewed in the flow direction.

9 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the radial position of the floating device with respect to the housing ( 110 ) is adjustable to change the floating position of the pipeline ( 120 ).

10 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the housing ( 110 ) comprises:

a first housing ( 118 ) and a second housing ( 119 ) assembled to each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the flow direction to form the housing ( 119 ).

11 . A connecting system ( 1 ), wherein the connecting system ( 1 ) comprises:

the connector ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first object is a mounting base ( 200 );

the inlet device ( 600 ) comprises an inlet connector ( 300 ) and at least one guide ( 400 ), wherein the inlet connector ( 300 ) is connected to an inlet connector mounting hole ( 125 ) at a center of an inlet end ( 122 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ); and

the at least one guide ( 400 ) surrounds the inlet connector ( 300 ) and is connected to a guide mounting hole ( 124 ) at a periphery of the inlet end ( 122 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ).

12 . A connector ( 100 ) mounted to a first object and connected between an outlet device ( 500 ) and an inlet device ( 600 ) to direct a fluid, wherein the connector ( 100 ) comprises:

a housing ( 110 ) mounted to the first object;

a pipeline ( 120 ) penetrating the housing ( 110 ) in a flow direction of the fluid and comprising an outlet end ( 121 ) connected to the outlet device ( 500 ) and an inlet end ( 122 ) connected to the inlet device ( 600 );

a floating device disposed on the housing ( 110 ) and floatingly connected to the pipeline ( 120 ), allowing the pipeline ( 120 ) to float in the radial direction transverse to a flow direction of the fluid with respect to the housing ( 110 ); and

wherein the housing ( 110 ) has two pairs of sidewalls ( 111 ) opposite to each other, and a mounting groove ( 117 ) is provided in one pair of the sidewalls ( 111 ) along a surface of each sidewall ( 111 ), and the mounting groove ( 117 ) extends over a partial height of the sidewall ( 111 ) so that the housing ( 110 ) is mounted to the first object by a bolt penetrating the remaining height of the sidewall ( 111 ).

13 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein:

the pipeline ( 120 ) comprises an intermediate segment ( 123 ) connected between the outlet end ( 121 ) and the inlet end ( 122 ), and the outlet end ( 121 ) and the inlet end ( 122 ) are both located outside of the housing ( 110 ), and the intermediate segment ( 123 ) is located inside of the housing ( 110 ).

14 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 13 , wherein:

the inlet end ( 121 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ) is provided with a mounting nut for connecting to the outlet device ( 500 );

the inlet end ( 122 ) of the pipeline ( 120 ) is provided with: an inlet connector mounting hole ( 125 ) located at a center of the inlet end ( 122 ); and at least one guide mounting hole ( 124 ) surrounding the inlet connector mounting hole ( 125 ); and

the at least one guide mounting hole ( 124 ) is located radially outside of the intermediate segment ( 123 ) when viewed in the flow direction.

15 . The connector ( 100 ) of claim 12 , wherein:

the radial position of the floating device with respect to the housing ( 110 ) is adjustable to change the floating position of the pipeline ( 120 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2024
From: PENG, JINGYAO
To: SOUTHCO MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 067644/0156 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240175528A1 · May 30, 2024
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