Fluid connector system

A connector system (1) for coupling one fluid conduit to another fluid conduit comprises a first connector element (2) having a mating surface extending around an insertion axis of the connector element. The mating surface incorporates first and second resilient peripheral seals (7, 9) extending around the mating surface, the first and second peripheral seals (7, 9) having different diameters and being separated along the insertion axis. The first connector element (2) bearing the peripheral seals (7, 9) can be the female connector (2), such as shown, or can be the male connector (3).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to connector systems for coupling one fluid conduit to another conduit in a fluid-tight manner.

BACKGROUND

There are many systems where it is necessary to couple one fluid conduit to another fluid conduit. One typical example is where a flexible fluid pipe from a fluid source such as a fuel storage vessel needs to be connected to a fluid-consuming unit to transfer fluid fuel to the consuming unit.

There is increasing interest in the use of electrochemical fuel cells as an alternative source of electrical power. Many such fuel cells require hydrogen as a fluid fuel source in order to generate electrical power. Hydrogen fuel sources are often separate from a fuel cell assembly in which the fuel cell is installed, and a hydrogen fuel source must be connected to the assembly in order to supply the hydrogen to the fuel cell assembly.

Many connector systems comprise a female part and a male part which are brought into mating connection and an O-ring seal on one of the parts seals against a corresponding surface of the other part to provide a fluid-tight connection.

A particular problem arises with use of such connector systems for hydrogen transport. Hydrogen gas comprises extremely small molecules which very readily leak past any small defect in an O-ring seal where it meets the mating surface. Maintaining an O-ring sealing surface in good condition is most important for keeping such hydrogen connector systems leak-tight. In connector systems where the connector parts are repeatedly connected and disconnected, there is a repeated risk of damage occurring to the O-ring seal each time the male connector part is slid into the female connector part. The very action of insertion and removal of the male connector part may cause scratches or other damage to the O-ring along the axis of insertion and removal. This, in itself, can result in any scratch traversing the full width, or substantial part thereof, of the O-ring sealing surface with the result that hydrogen is able to leak past the O-ring seal.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved connector system less susceptible to damage caused by connection and/or disconnection.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a connector system for coupling one fluid conduit to another fluid conduit comprising: a first connector element having a mating surface extending around an insertion axis of the connector element, the mating surface incorporating first and second resilient peripheral seals extending around the mating surface, the first and second peripheral seals having different diameters and being separated along the insertion axis.

The first connector element may be a female connector component and the mating surface may comprise an internal bore of the female connector component. The mating surface may comprise a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter different from the first diameter. The first peripheral seal may lie on the first cylindrical portion and the second peripheral seal may lie on the second cylindrical portion. The first and second peripheral seals may each lie partially within a recess in the mating surface to maintain an axial position of the seal. The connector system may further include a second connector element comprising a male connector component having a mating surface comprising an external surface of the male connector component. The male connector component mating surface may comprise first and second cylindrical portions respectively configured to engage with the first and second peripheral seals of the female connector component. The mating surface of the male connector component may comprise a transition portion disposed between the second and first cylindrical portions. The transition portion may comprise a smooth rounded tapered surface of reducing diameter. The first cylindrical portion of the male connector component may be shorter along the insertion axis than the second cylindrical portion of the male connector component, such that the first cylindrical portion of the male connector component cannot be received into the first cylindrical portion of the female connector component until at least some of the second cylindrical portion of the male connector component has been received into the second cylindrical portion of the female connector component. The first and second resilient peripheral seals may each comprise an O-ring seal. The connector system may further include a latching mechanism for providing releasable locking engagement between first and second connector elements.

The first connector element may be a male connector component and the mating surface may comprise an external surface of the male connector component.

The mating surface may comprise a tapered mating surface. The first cylindrical portion may have a diameter which is less than 75% of the diameter of the second cylindrical portion. The first cylindrical portion may have a diameter which is about half the diameter of the second cylindrical portion or less. The male connector component may comprise adistal end having a smooth rounded tapered surface of reducing diameter. The first connector element may be a male connector component and the mating surface may comprise an external bore of the male connector component.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a connector system for coupling one fluid conduit to another fluid conduit comprising: a male connector element having a mating surface extending around an insertion axis of the male connector element, the mating surface comprising a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter different from the first diameter, and the first cylindrical portion having a resilient peripheral seal extending around the mating surface, a female connector element having a mating surface extending around an insertion axis of the female connector element, the mating surface comprising a first cylindrical portion having said first diameter and a second cylindrical portion having said second diameter, and the second cylindrical portion having a resilient peripheral seal extending around the mating surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.1shows a connector system1for coupling one fluid conduit to another fluid conduit, comprising a female connector component2and a male connector component3. The female connector component2includes a fluid conduit2aand the male connector component includes a fluid conduit4. Each of these fluid conduits may be coupled to a fluid conduit of another assembly such as a flexible fluid pipe or fluid piping internal to some assembly in which the male and/or female connector component may reside. The male and female connector components2,3both define an insertion axis5which is aligned with the direction of insertion and withdrawal of the male component3into/from the female component2.

The female connector component2comprises a mating surface6which is an internal bore of the component2. The mating surface6includes a first cylindrical portion8and a second cylindrical portion10having different diameters. The first cylindrical portion8incorporates a first resilient seal7which extends around the periphery of the mating surface6, and the second cylindrical portion10incorporates a second resilient seal9which extends around the periphery of the mating surface6. The first and second peripheral seals7,9have different diameters (i.e. different circumferences) so as to accommodate the difference in diameters of the first and second cylindrical portions8,10. The resilient seals may be O-ring seals. The first and/or second peripheral seals7,9may lie partly within recesses within the mating surface6as shown so as to prevent movement of the seals in the direction of the insertion axis5. The seals7,9may have any suitable cross-section for being retained on the mating surface6. A suitable cross-section could be circular or of a ‘D’-profile or square profile for example. A portion of the or each resilient seal7,9preferably lies slightly proud of the mating surface6to provide a compression portion which can be compressed against the male connector component3.

The mating surface6of the female connector component2includes a tapered and/or stepped profile11providing a transition portion between the first and second cylindrical portions8,10. Preferably, this transition portion includes no sharp edges by the use of smooth rounded tapering surfaces where the diameter reduces.

The male connector component3comprises a mating surface26which is an external surface of the male connector component3. The mating surface26includes a first cylindrical portion28and a second cylindrical portion30having different diameters. The first cylindrical portion28is configured to fit within the first cylindrical portion8of the female connector component2and to engage I compress the first resilient seal7therein. The second cylindrical portion30is configured to fit within the second cylindrical portion10of the female connector component2and to engage I compress the second resilient seal9therein.

The mating surface26of the male connector component3includes a tapered and/or stepped profile31providing a transition portion between the first and second cylindrical portions28,30. Preferably, this transition portion includes no sharp edges by the use of smooth rounded tapering surfaces where the diameter reduces.

The male connector component3includes a bore25extending through the component to provide a fluid conduit through to the fluid conduit2aof the female connector component2.

A latching mechanism (not shown) may be provided for releasable locking engagement between the female and male connector components2,3. A large number of suitable types of latching mechanisms can be envisaged, such as threaded collars, bayonet-type mechanisms, spring-loaded push-fit latches which may have spring release collars, or a simple friction-fit mechanism.

In use, the male connector component3is inserted into the female connector component2along the insertion axis5. As the leading or distal end32of the male connector component3passes into the second cylindrical portion10of the female connector component2, the substantial difference in diameter of the two parts means that there is a low risk of the leading end32of the male connector component3scraping against the second peripheral seal9. Upon further insertion of the male connector component, the stepped profile will ensure proper alignment of the axes of the two components2,3such that by the time the leading end32of the male connector component3reaches the first peripheral seal7, good alignment of the axes is assured and the first cylindrical portion28of the mating surface26is unlikely or unable to strike the first peripheral seal7other than in smooth sliding engagement. Risk of damage to the first peripheral seal is therefore unlikely or impossible.

A benefit of the dual diameter, dual seal arrangement is that any scraping action in an axial direction by an item inserted into the internal bore of the female connector component is unlikely or unable to cause a line of damage on both seals that extends along the insertion axis and thereby causing a pathway for leakage of fluid such as hydrogen along the axial direction and across both seals7and9. Thus, even where damage to one seal occurs, there should be no systematic corresponding damage to the other seal caused by the same damage event. In other words, the dual seal arrangement is more secure against common-mode failure.

A risk to existing connector systems can arise from damage caused to an external sealing surface of the male connector element, e.g. where the mating surface becomes scratched or dented, e.g. by incautious handling when it is not engaged with the female connector element. Then, burrs or roughened portions of the damaged mating surface may cause scratches or striations in O-ring seals when the male connector element is inserted into the female connector element by passing over the O-ring seal. The arrangements as described above, e.g. as shown inFIGS.1and2, reduce this risk in at least two ways. Firstly, as discussed in the preceding paragraph, because the seals7and9have different diameters, it is not generally possible for a burr or damaged portion of the mating surface26to pass both seals7and9in sliding contact, since the seals have different diameters. Secondly, there is less likelihood that the mating surface26of a male connector component with a transition portion31between first and second cylindrical portions28,30being damaged on both portions by the same damage event.

Risk of damage to the first seal7can also be minimized by ensuring that the difference in diameter of the first cylindrical portion28and the second cylindrical portion30is large. In one preferred arrangement, the first cylindrical portion28has a diameter which is less than 75% of the diameter of the second cylindrical portion30, and in a further preferred embodiment as illustrated inFIG.1, the first cylindrical portion has a diameter which is about half the diameter of the second cylindrical portion, or less than half. Thereby, even with quite oblique initial entry of the male connector component3into the female connector component2, likelihood of damaging contact between the leading end32and the second seal9is low.

A further feature for reducing the risk of damage to the first seal7is by making the first cylindrical portion28of the male connector component3shorter along the insertion axis5than the second cylindrical portion30. This ensures that the second cylindrical portion30forces good alignment of the male connector component3with the female connector component in advance of the first cylindrical portion28of the male connector component3entering the first cylindrical portion8of the female connector component2.

Various alternatives to the arrangements described above can be envisaged. A stepped profile of mating surface having a transition portion11,31between first and second cylindrical portions could be replaced with a conical or more uniformly tapering mating surface along its entire axial length such that the two seals7,9have the required difference in diameter.

More than two seals7,9may be used at different axial positions along the mating surface6thereby further reducing the risk of leakage by accidental damage to seals.

The cylindrical portions may comprise profiles which are not strictly circular in cross-section, e.g. they could be many sided or circular with a non-circular portion if a ‘keyed’ profile is required to force a particular orientation (around the insertion axis5) of mating of the components. However, cylindrical portions of circular cross-section through the insertion axis may be optimal for general purpose.

The circumferential seals7,9could instead or in addition be placed on the mating surface26of the male connector component3, though this may expose the seals to more likely damage at times when the connector components are disconnected from one another. Therefore, internal seals on the female connector component2are preferred.

The seals7,9are preferably, as shown, concentric about the insertion axis. The seals7,9are preferably orthogonal to the insertion axis.

The connector components may be of any required size appropriate to the fluid flow application. The connector system may be particularly useful where it is used in a ‘blind’ mating application, e.g. in a place relatively difficult for access so that a user cannot see well to align the male connector component.

In an alternative arrangement, a first seal could be placed on the male connector component and a second seal could be placed on the female component. In this respect, the dual concentric seal arrangement with the seals having different diameters can be maintained. The connector system thereby has a male connector element with a mating surface extending around the insertion axis where the mating surface has a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter different from the first diameter, and the first cylindrical portion has a resilient peripheral seal extending around the mating surface. The connector system also has a female connector element with a mating surface extending around an insertion axis of the female connector element, where the mating surface has a first cylindrical portion having a diameter corresponding to said first diameter and a second cylindrical portion corresponding to the second diameter, and the second cylindrical portion has a resilient peripheral seal extending around the mating surface. The first and second diameter portions can be either way round, e.g. the larger diameter seal can be on the male or female connector element.

The connector system is particularly suited for use with electrochemical fuel cell systems, e.g. for delivery of hydrogen fuel to a fuel cell system for the generation of electrical power. For example, with reference toFIG.3, the female connector component2may comprise a connector element built into the housing of a fuel cell system50and the male connector component3may terminate a flexible pipe51coupled to and extending from a hydrogen storage vessel52for delivery of hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen storage vessel to the fuel cell system. Alternatively, as seen inFIG.3b, the female connector component2may comprise a connector element built into the housing of a hydrogen storage vessel52and the male connector component3may terminate a flexible pipe51coupled to and extending from a fuel cell system50for delivery of hydrogen fuel from the hydrogen storage vessel to the fuel cell system.

It will be understood that these two arrangements could be reversed, i.e. where the male connector component3comprises a connector element built into the housing of a hydrogen storage vessel52and the female connector component2may terminate a flexible pipe51coupled to and extending from the fuel cell system50(FIG.3c); or the male connector component3may comprise a connector element built into the housing of the fuel cell system50and the female connector component2may terminate a flexible pipe51coupled to and extending from the hydrogen storage vessel52(FIG.3d).

The connector system may be implemented with both male and female connector components2,3respectively built into the housings of the hydrogen storage vessel and fuel cell system (or vice versa) such that they may plug into one another when the housings of the fuel cell system and the hydrogen storage vessel and are directly connected together, e.g. omitting the flexible pipe51.

The connector system may be implemented with both male or female connector components2,3built into the housings of the hydrogen storage vessel and the fuel cell system, and a free flexible connector pipe terminated at both ends by a respective, complementary male or female connector component.

The above arrangements may therefore be deployed to construct a fuel cell system having a first connector element having a mating surface extending around an insertion axis of the connector element, the mating surface incorporating first and second resilient peripheral seals extending around the mating surface, the first and second peripheral seals having different diameters and being separated along the insertion axis. The above arrangements may also be deployed to construct a hydrogen storage vessel for delivery of hydrogen to an electrochemical fuel cell having a first connector element having a mating surface extending around an insertion axis of the connector element, the mating surface incorporating first and second resilient peripheral seals extending around the mating surface, the first and second peripheral seals having different diameters and being separated along the insertion axis.

Other embodiments are intentionally within the scope of the accompanying claims.