Clean air connector
First Claim
1. A method for coupling the end of a first conduit to the end of a second conduit comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing the end of the first conduit with a first coupler;
(b) providing the end of the second conduit with a second coupler, said first and second couplers being engageable with one another to produce a fluid path between the two conduits, said fluid path defining an outer envelope;
(c) engaging the first and second couplers to form the fluid path; and
(d) isolating from the fluid path all surfaces of the couplers which (i) are exposed to the environment when the couplers are out of engagement with each other, and (ii) are within the outer envelope of the fluid path when the couplers are engaged.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector (10) for use in a contaminated environment is provided. The connector includes first and second couplers (13, 14) which are coupled together to produce a fluid path (148) through the connector. The outer boundaries of the fluid path define a fluid path envelope. The surfaces (126, 128) which could be contaminated and which lie within the fluid path envelope are mated against one another and then captured between a pair of O-rings (46, 122). Parts of these surfaces, as well as other surfaces (130, 132) lying outside the fluid path envelope, are flushed with fluid (142, 144) as the connector is coupled to further reduce contamination. O-rings are also used to clean contamination from parts of some of the surfaces. As a result of these contamination control procedures, the connector can be assembled in a contaminated environment without introducing contamination into the fluid stream passing through the connector.
146 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for coupling the end of a first conduit to the end of a second conduit comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the end of the first conduit with a first coupler; (b) providing the end of the second conduit with a second coupler, said first and second couplers being engageable with one another to produce a fluid path between the two conduits, said fluid path defining an outer envelope; (c) engaging the first and second couplers to form the fluid path; and (d) isolating from the fluid path all surfaces of the couplers which (i) are exposed to the environment when the couplers are out of engagement with each other, and (ii) are within the outer envelope of the fluid path when the couplers are engaged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7)
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- 6. A connector for carrying a fluid comprising a first subassembly and a second subassembly, said connector having an uncoupled state in which the subassemblies are disconnected from one another and a coupled state in which the subassemblies are connected to one another so as to form (a) an internal volume which is sealed from the surrounding environment and (b) a fluid path through the connector, said fluid path having an outer envelope, said first and second subassemblies each including at least one contaminable surface which (a) is exposed to the surrounding environment when the connector is in its uncoupled state and (b) lies within both the internal volume of the connector and the outer envelope of the fluid path when the connector is in its coupled state, said connector including means for isolating all of said contaminable surfaces from the fluid path when the connector is in its coupled state.
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21. A connector for carrying a flowing fluid comprising a first coupler and a second coupler, said connector having an uncoupled state in which the couplers are disconnected from one another and a coupled state in which the couplers are connected to one another;
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said first coupler including a housing and a shuttle valve, the shuttle valve being moveable within the housing, the housing having a contaminable first annular surface which is exposed to the environment when the connector is uncoupled, the shuttle valve carrying a first O-ring and having a contaminable first disk-shaped surface which is exposed to the environment when the connector is uncoupled; said second coupler including a housing and a shuttle valve, the shuttle valve being moveable about the housing, the shuttle valve having a contaminable second annular surface which is exposed to the environment when the connector is uncoupled, the housing carrying a second O-ring and having a contaminable second disk-shaped surface which is exposed to the environment when the connector is uncoupled; the first and second annular surfaces being in engagement, the first and second disc-shaped surfaces being in engagement, the disc-shaped surfaces being located between the first and second O-rings, and the first and second O-rings being in engagement with the housing of the first coupler when the connector is in its coupled state.
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Specification