Method of dry-mating a first connector part and a second connector part and connector assembly
First Claim
1. A method of dry-mating a first connector part and a second connector part, the method comprising:
- bringing the first connector part and the second connector part into a first mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first connector part and the second connector part, wherein a sealed inner space is formed between the first connector part and the second connector part;
evacuating the sealed inner space through an evacuation port, wherein the evacuation port is arranged such that the evacuation port is located on an inner sealed side of the engaged seal in the first mated state so that the evacuation port is in flow communication with the sealed inner space, andbringing the first connector part and the second connector part into a second mated state, thereby engaging a seal between the first connector part and the second connector part such that the evacuation port is located on an outer side of the engaged seal so that the evacuation port is not in flow communication with the sealed inner space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of dry-mating a first connector part and a second connector part wherein the first and second connector parts are brought into a first mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first and second connector parts. A sealed inner space is formed between the first and second connector parts. The sealed inner space is evacuated through an evacuating port. The evacuation port is arranged such that it is located on an inner sealed side of the engaged seal in the first mated state. Further, the first connector part and the second connector part are brought into a second mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first connector part and the second connector part such that the evacuation port is located on an outer side of the engaged seal so that it is no longer in flow communication with the sealed inner space.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of dry-mating a first connector part and a second connector part, the method comprising:
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bringing the first connector part and the second connector part into a first mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first connector part and the second connector part, wherein a sealed inner space is formed between the first connector part and the second connector part; evacuating the sealed inner space through an evacuation port, wherein the evacuation port is arranged such that the evacuation port is located on an inner sealed side of the engaged seal in the first mated state so that the evacuation port is in flow communication with the sealed inner space, and bringing the first connector part and the second connector part into a second mated state, thereby engaging a seal between the first connector part and the second connector part such that the evacuation port is located on an outer side of the engaged seal so that the evacuation port is not in flow communication with the sealed inner space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A connector assembly for underwater use, comprising:
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a first connector part having a first connector interface, wherein the first connector interface is dry-mateable, a second connector part having a second connector interface that is complementary to the first connector interface and is dry-mateable with the first connector interface, sealing sections provided on the first and second connector parts, and an evacuation port provided in at least one of the first or second connector parts, wherein the first connector part and the second connector part have a first mated state in which a seal is engaged between the first connector part and the second connector part, wherein a sealed inner space is formed between the first connector part and the second connector part, wherein in the first mated state, the evacuation port is arranged such that the evacuation port (30) is located on an inner sealed side of the engaged seal in the first mated state so that the evacuation port is in flow communication with the sealed inner space, and wherein the first connector part and the second connector part have a second mated state in which a seal is engaged between the first connector part and the second connector part such that the evacuation port is located on an outer side of the engaged seal so that the evacuation port is not in flow communication with the sealed inner space. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification