Magnetically attracted fluid transfer system

• US 9,803,787 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. GOVERNMENT IN THE NAME OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Scott, Gregory P., Henshaw, Carl Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stclair, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/028,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20140232101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 285 91
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/34 using pipe-lines anchoring arrangements for special vessels with mooring turrets B63B21/507; buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids B63B22/021
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/004 using magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1015 Couplings closed automatically when disengaging force exceeds preselected value F16L55/1007 takes precedence

Abstract

A magnetic connection system with at least three components for connecting host and target systems. A first magnetic connector is attached to the host system, a second magnetic connector is attached to the target system; a third magnetic connector or puck is positioned between the first connector and the second connector. The first, second, and third connectors fit together with their magnets aligned, and the magnetic attraction is stronger between the puck and the target system connector than the puck and the host system connector. The system can transfer fuel, data, or electricity. In one example, the system transfers fuel from a fuel supply vessel to a target vessel with minimal human effort to attach the fuel connector components. The puck can have a conduit for fuel, data, or electricity that is centrally aligned with a receiving conduit in the target system connector.

Claims

1. A magnetic connection system having at least three components for connecting a host system and a target system, comprising:

a first connector configured to be attached to the host system and having a first ring magnet;

a second connector configured to be attached to the target system and having a second ring magnet, wherein the second connector has a first conduit passing from a face of the second connector to an opposite face of the second connector aligned with a second conduit in a third connector along a common centerline of the first, second, and third connectors, and wherein the second connector has an opening that is aligned with the second conduit in the third connector; and

the third connector configured to be positioned between the first connector and the second connector and having a third ring magnet, wherein the second conduit passes from an outer circumferential edge of the third connector to a central location on a face of the third connector, and wherein when the first connector and the host system are separated from the third connector, the third connector and second connector remain connected such that a flow through the first and second conduits is maintained,

wherein in operation, the magnetic fields of the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector align around a central axis of the ring magnets when pulling the connectors together.

2. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein the third ring magnet is positioned in the interior of the third connector, closer to the face of the third connector than to an opposite face of the third connector,

wherein the ring magnets are approximately equal in diameter such that the first connector, second connector, and third connector fit together with the ring magnets aligned.

3. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein the third ring magnet is positioned in the interior of the third connector, closer to the face of the third connector than to an opposite face of the third connector, such that the third connector has a stronger attraction to the second connector.

4. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first ring magnet is located at a face of the first connector that faces toward the third connector in operation, and the second ring magnet is located at the face of the second connector that faces toward the third connector in operation.

5. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second conduits are fluid flow conduits.

6. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein the ring magnets are permanent magnets.

7. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the ring magnets is an electromagnet.

8. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is attached to a robotic arm.

9. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is attached to a robotic arm on a fuel supply vessel, wherein the second connector is attached to a vessel to be refueled, and wherein the first and second conduits are configured to transfer fuel.

10. The magnetic connection system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a flexible fuel line extending between the fuel supply vessel and the third connector.

11. The magnetic connection system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a tether attached to the third connector having a shorter length than the flexible fuel line.

12. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, where non-magnetic components of the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector comprise aluminum.

24. The magnetic connection system according to claim 1, where non-magnetic components of the first connector, the second connector, and the third connector comprise aluminum.

13. A magnetic connection system having at least three components for connecting a host system and a target system, comprising:

a first connector configured to be attached to the host system and having a magnet;

a second connector configured to be attached to the target system and having a magnet, wherein the second connector has a first conduit passing from a face of the second connector to an opposite face of the second connector aligned with a second conduit in a third connector along a common centerline of the first, second, and third connectors, and wherein the second connector has an opening that is aligned with the second conduit in the third connector; and

the third connector configured to be positioned between the first connector and the second connector and having a magnet, at least two of the magnets having different strengths such that the magnetic attraction between the second connector and the third connector is stronger than the magnetic attraction between the third connector and the first connector, wherein the second conduit passes from an outer circumferential edge of the third connector to a central location on a face of the third connector, and wherein when the first connector and the host system are separated from the third connector, the third connector and second connector remain connected such that a flow through the first and second conduits is maintained.

14. The magnetic connection system according to claim 13, wherein the magnet in the third connector is positioned in the interior of the connector, closer to the face of the third connector than to an opposite face of the third connector, such that third connector has a stronger attraction to the second connector than to the first connector.

15. The magnetic connection system according to claim 14, wherein the first connector'"'"'s magnet is located at a face of the first connector that faces toward the third connector, and the second ring magnet is located at the face of the second connector that faces toward the third connector.

16. The magnetic connection system according to claim 13, wherein the second conduit is for transferring fluid, to the second connector.

17. The magnetic connection system according to claim 16, wherein the second connector has an opening that is aligned with the second conduit in the third connector.

18. The magnetic connection system according to claim 13, wherein the magnets are permanent magnets.

19. The magnetic connection system according to claim 13, wherein the magnets are electromagnets.

20. The magnetic connection system according to claim 13, wherein the first connector is attached to a robotic arm.

21. The magnetic connection system according to claim 13, wherein the first connector is attached to a robotic arm on a fuel supply vessel, and the second connector is attached to a vessel to be refueled.

22. The magnetic connection system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a flexible fuel line extending between the fuel supply vessel and the third connector.

23. The magnetic connection system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a tether attached to the third connector having a shorter length than the flexible fuel line.