Patent Description:
A connector assembly can be used to establish connection and fluid communication between two fluid pipelines in various applications.

The connector assembly generally includes a female connector and a male connector each of which is connected to a fluid pipeline. The male connector can be inserted into the female connector to establish fluid communication between the fluid pipelines. It is desirable that the connector assembly has a bidirectional cutoff function to prevent the fluid in the fluid pipelines from flowing out through the female connector and the male connector when the female connector and the male connector are disconnected. Further, it is also desirable that the female connector and the male connector can adapt to assembly tolerances in various directions when the female connector and the male connector are connected, so that the female connector and the male connector can be easily assembled and connected to each other, which is particularly advantageous for application scenarios where the female connector and the male connector are required to be connected or disconnected frequently. For example, as more and more renewable energy vehicle manufacturers choose the battery-pack swapping technique in which the male and female connectors of the connector assembly, used to establish fluid communication between a thermal management system in a battery pack and a coolant supply system in a vehicle, are required to be connected or disconnected again and again, it is desirable that the connector assembly can absorb assembly tolerances in various directions and achieve bidirectional cutoff.

However, developing a connector assembly that can achieve the above functions still faces many challenges. <CIT> provides a female connector, a male connector, and a connector assembly to minimize a voltage drop during a disconnect of the male connector from the female connector. <CIT> proposes a novel connection plug for a cooling circuit which is compact and allows a precise alignment between the coupling elements of the cooling circuit and the coupling elements of the cold plate for the fluid coupling as well as a transversal movement of the connecting plate. <CIT> provides a liquid-cooled plug-in assembly, a liquid-cooled plug-in device and a battery pack assembly which overcome the defects of insufficient floating amount of the existing liquid-cooled plug-in unit. <CIT> discloses a fluid-tight coupling for laterally misaligned conduits.

An object of the present application is to provide an improved female connector and a connector assembly to achieve one or more of the above functions.

According to a first aspect of the present application, a female connector is provided. The female connector includes: a housing defining a first axial direction and having an opening at a first end of the housing for insertion of a male connector, an outer periphery of the housing being provided with a first limiting member; a valve assembly arranged in the housing; a base defining a receiving passage extending along the first axial direction, the housing being partially received in the receiving passage; a bushing sleeved outside the housing and arranged in the receiving passage, the bushing being elastically deformable; and a mounting member fixed to an axial end of the base. The first limiting member is confined in the first axial direction between the axial end and the mounting member, and a movement space for the first limiting member to move therein is defined between the axial end and the mounting member.

The female connector according to the first aspect of the present application retains the housing in the base by using the elastically deformable bushing, and confines the first limiting member of the housing between the base and the mounting member in a movable manner. Such configuration can absorb assembly tolerances in various directions when the male connector is connected with the female connector, and allows the housing to rotate within the receiving passage of the base, so that the circumferential orientation of the housing can be adjusted as required, thereby allowing optimization of the layout of the fluid pipeline connected with the female connector.

According to the above technical concept, the first aspect of the present application may further include one or more of the following optional forms.

In some optional embodiments, a recess is provided at the axial end of the base to define the movement space together with the mounting member, and the recess is adjacent to and communicated with the receiving passage in the first axial direction.

In some optional embodiments, a second limiting member is provided on the outer periphery of the housing, and the first limiting member and the second limiting member are spaced apart in the first axial direction. The bushing is sleeved on a part of the housing located between the first limiting member and the second limiting member, and the bushing has a length smaller than a distance between the first limiting member and the second limiting member in the first axial direction.

In some optional embodiments, the first limiting member and the second limiting member are shaped and/or sized such that: the second limiting member can be inserted through the receiving passage, and the first limiting member is stopped outside the receiving passage.

In some optional embodiments, the bushing is made of thermoplastic elastomer or rubber material, and at least one cavity is defined in a peripheral wall of the bushing.

In some optional embodiments, the bushing has a slit extending in the first axial direction, and the housing is nested in the bushing via the slit.

In some optional embodiments, the mounting member is in the form of a plate and extends substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction.

In some optional embodiments, the opening of the housing has a guide surface for guiding the insertion of the male connector into the housing.

In some optional embodiments, the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion which are assembled together. The first housing portion defines the first axial direction and the opening, and the second housing portion includes an adapter section for being connected with the fluid pipeline. The split structure of the housing allows the adapter section of various configurations to be used for the housing, thereby broadens the application range of the female connector, and further simplifies the internal structure of the female connector for installing the valve assembly and facilitates the assembly of the female connector.

In some optional embodiments, the valve assembly includes: a valve stem positioned in the housing along the first axial direction, the valve stem including a valve stem head and a valve stem base at two ends of the valve stem respectively; a sliding sleeve arranged in the first housing portion and sleeved outside the valve stem, the sliding sleeve being slidable between a first closed position and a first open position along the first axial direction; and an elastic element. Two ends of the elastic element respectively abut against the sliding sleeve and the valve stem base to bias the sliding sleeve toward the first closed position. The sliding sleeve blocks an annular gap between the first housing portion and the valve stem head to cut off a flow path of the female connector when the sliding sleeve is in the first closed position, and the flow path of the female connector is opened when the sliding sleeve is in the first open position.

In some optional embodiments, the second housing portion is coupled to the first housing portion and includes an inner stepped portion. The stem base is at least partially sandwiched between an end, away from the opening, of the first housing portion and the inner stepped portion of the second housing portion. With this design, the valve stem can be positioned in the housing in a simple way.

In some optional embodiments, the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve is provided with a limiting protrusion, and the inner periphery of the first housing portion is provided with a limiting surface. The limiting protrusion and the limiting surface are adapted to abut against each other to limit the sliding sleeve in the first closed position.

In some optional embodiments, the sliding sleeve includes a sealing member embedded in an outer periphery of the sliding sleeve for sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion. The sealing member is in the form of an irregular sealing ring, and an inner periphery of the sealing member has two annular flanges arranged along the first axial direction. Each annular flange tapers inwardly in the radial direction. The irregular structure of the sealing ring can prevent the sealing ring from being separated from the sliding sleeve when the sliding sleeve reciprocates.

According to a second aspect of the present application, a connector assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes a female connector according to the first aspect of the present application and a male connector for being connected with the female connector. The male connector includes: a casing defining a second axial direction and having a plug end in the second axial direction, the plug end defining a port; and a valve unit arranged in the casing and includes a valve core and an elastic member, the valve core being movable in the second axial direction between a second closed position and a second open position, the valve core being biased toward the second closed position by the elastic member. The valve core blocks the port to cut off a flow path of the male connector when the valve core is in the second closed position, and the flow path of the male connector is opened when the valve core is in the second open position. The female connector and the male connector interact with each other when connected with each other, such that the flow path of the female connector and the flow path of the male connector are both opened and in fluid communication with each other.

According to the above technical concept, the second aspect of the present application may further include one or more of the following optional forms.

In some optional embodiments, the plug end defines a first inner peripheral inclined surface and a second inner peripheral inclined surface. An inner peripheral surface of the port, the first inner peripheral inclined surface, and the second inner peripheral inclined surface are sequentially connected in the second axial direction, and the first inner peripheral inclined surface and the second inner peripheral inclined surface are configured to guide a sealing member embedded in an outer periphery of the valve core to move in the second axial direction into sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port. The first inner peripheral inclined surface and the second inner peripheral inclined surface respectively form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the second axial direction, and the first angle is smaller than the second angle. The sealing member is guided into the port along the two successively arranged inner peripheral inclined surfaces having decreasing inclination angles, so that elastic force to be provided by the elastic member can be reduced. Therefore, the service life of the elastic member can be prolonged, thereby improving the service life of the male connector; and this arrangement allows the use of an elastic member with a lower elastic modulus, making assembly of the male connector easier.

In some optional embodiments, the first angle ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

In some optional embodiments, the plug end includes a sealing member embedded in an outer periphery of the plug end for sealing contact with an inner peripheral surface of a housing of the female connector. The sealing member is in the form of an irregular sealing ring, and an inner periphery of the sealing member has two annular flanges arranged along the second axial direction. Each annular flange tapers inwardly in the radial direction. The irregular structure of the sealing ring can prevent the sealing ring from being separated from the plug end when the plug end is required to be plugged or unplugged again and again.

The female connector and the connector assembly according to the present application can realize bidirectional cutoff and absorb installation tolerances in various directions, and have simple assembly process and wide application range.

Other features and advantages of the present application will be readily understood through the following preferred embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components.

The implementation and usage of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it is conceivable that the specific embodiments discussed are merely intended to illustrate specific ways of implementing and using the present application, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. When describing structures and positions of components, the direction-related expressions herein, such as "upper", "lower", "top", and "bottom", are not absolute, but relative. When the components are arranged as shown in the drawings, these direction-related expressions are appropriate, but when the positions of these components in the drawings are altered, these direction-related expressions should be altered accordingly.

In the present application, an axial direction of a cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction along the central axis of the component, a peripheral direction of the cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction along the circumference of the component, and a radial direction of the cylindrical or annular component refers to a direction passing through the central axis of the component and being perpendicular to the axial direction of the component.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a connector assembly <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The connector assembly <NUM> includes a female connector <NUM> and a male connector <NUM> for being connected with the female connector <NUM>. The female connector <NUM> and the male connector <NUM> may each be connected with a fluid pipeline (not shown).

<FIG> illustrate the female connector <NUM> according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application and its components.

Referring to <FIG>, the female connector <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, a valve assembly <NUM>, a base <NUM>, a bushing <NUM>, and a mounting member <NUM>. The housing <NUM> defines a first axial direction A1. The housing <NUM> has an opening <NUM>, for insertion of the male connector <NUM>, at a first end <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. And a first limiting member <NUM> is provided on an outer periphery of the housing <NUM>. The valve assembly <NUM> is arranged in the housing <NUM>. The base <NUM> defines a receiving passage <NUM> extending along the first axial direction A1, and the housing <NUM> is partially received in the receiving passage <NUM>. The bushing <NUM> is sleeved outside the housing <NUM> and arranged in the receiving passage <NUM> to retain the housing <NUM> in the receiving passage <NUM>, and the bushing <NUM> is elastically deformable. The mounting member <NUM> is fixed to an axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM> (that is, the end of the base <NUM> in the first axial direction A1). The first limiting member <NUM> is confined in the first axial direction A1 between the axial end <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM>, and a movement space S (shown in <FIG>) for the first limiting member <NUM> to move therein is defined between the axial end <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> includes a first housing portion <NUM> and a second housing portion <NUM>. The first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> may, for example, be separately formed and assembled with each other. This allows the second housing portion <NUM> to have various configurations to adapt to different pipelines or counterparts, expanding the application range of the female connector <NUM>. The first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> may be formed by, for example, injection molding.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the first housing portion <NUM> may have a generally straight cylindrical shape and define the first axial direction A1. The first housing portion <NUM> is received in the receiving passage <NUM> of the base <NUM>. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified in this specification, the first axial direction A1 refers to the direction of the central axis of the first housing portion <NUM> when the first housing portion <NUM> is coaxial with the receiving passage <NUM>.

The first housing portion <NUM> may include a first housing body <NUM> and a retaining ring <NUM>. The first housing body <NUM> has a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. The first end <NUM> of the first housing body <NUM> has an opening <NUM> for the insertion of the male connector <NUM>. The opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM> has a guide surface <NUM> for guiding the insertion of the male connector <NUM> into the housing <NUM>. The retaining ring <NUM> is provided at the second end <NUM> of the first housing body <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the second housing portion <NUM> may have a generally bent cylindrical shape. The second housing portion <NUM> may include a coupling section <NUM> that is coupled with the first housing section <NUM> and an adapter section <NUM> for being connected with a fluid pipeline. The coupling section <NUM> of the second housing portion <NUM> may be at least partially arranged between the second end <NUM> of the first housing body <NUM> and the retaining ring <NUM>, and be retained at the second end <NUM> of the first housing body <NUM> by barbs <NUM> of the retaining ring <NUM>. A sealing member <NUM> is provided between the second end <NUM> of the first housing body <NUM> and the coupling section <NUM> to achieve a sealed assembly of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the valve assembly <NUM> may include a valve stem <NUM>, a sliding sleeve <NUM> and an elastic element <NUM>. Optionally, the valve stem <NUM> and the sliding sleeve <NUM> may both be formed by injection molding.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, the valve stem <NUM> may be positioned in the housing <NUM> in the first axial direction A1. The valve stem <NUM> may include a valve stem head <NUM> and a valve stem base <NUM> which are respectively located at two ends of the valve stem <NUM>, and include a valve stem middle portion <NUM> connecting the valve stem head <NUM> with the valve stem base <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve stem <NUM> is integrally formed. The valve stem base <NUM> is substantially disc-shaped and two opposite side surfaces of the valve stem base <NUM> are substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction A1. The valve stem base <NUM> may be fixed by the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. Specifically, the coupling section <NUM> of the second housing portion <NUM> may include an inner stepped portion <NUM>. The valve stem base <NUM> may be at least partially sandwiched between the second end <NUM>, away from the opening <NUM>, of the first housing portion <NUM> and the inner stepped portion <NUM> of the second housing portion <NUM>. The valve stem base <NUM> may be provided with through holes <NUM> extending through the two side surfaces for fluid to flow therethrough. The valve stem middle portion <NUM> substantially extends along the first axial direction A1. The valve stem middle portion <NUM> is further provided with multiple reinforcing ribs <NUM> to increase the strength of the valve stem <NUM>. The valve stem head <NUM> may gradually widen toward the opening <NUM> in the first axial direction A1 such that the valve stem head <NUM> has a substantially funnel-shaped cross-section.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the sliding sleeve <NUM> is arranged in the first housing portion <NUM> and is sleeved outside the valve stem <NUM>, and the sliding sleeve <NUM> is slidable between the first closed position (shown in <FIG>) and the first open position (shown in <FIG>) along the first axial direction A1. A sealing member <NUM> is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the sliding sleeve <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the first housing body <NUM>. A sealing member <NUM> is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the sliding sleeve <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface of the valve stem head <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing member <NUM> is in the form of an irregular sealing ring. The sealing member <NUM> is embedded in the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve <NUM>, i.e., received in an annular groove <NUM> in the outer periphery of the sliding sleeve <NUM>, for sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the outer periphery of the sealing member <NUM> has two annular flanges <NUM> arranged along the first axial direction A1, and each annular flange <NUM> tapers outward in the radial direction.

Similarly, the inner periphery of the sealing member <NUM> has two annular flanges <NUM> arranged along the first axial direction A1, and each annular flange <NUM> tapers inward in the radial direction.

Compared with a conventional sealing ring with a circular cross-section, the external force, required to draw the irregular sealing member <NUM> having two annular flanges on the inner periphery out of the annular groove <NUM> of the sliding sleeve <NUM>, is significantly increased, so that the sealing member <NUM> can be held more securely in the annular groove <NUM>, thereby preventing the sealing member <NUM> from being separated from the sliding sleeve <NUM> as the sliding sleeve <NUM> reciprocates between the first closed position and the first open position.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, two ends of the elastic element <NUM> abut against an inner stepped portion <NUM> of the sliding sleeve <NUM> and the valve stem base <NUM> respectively. Optionally, the elastic element <NUM> may be in the form of a coil spring. The sliding sleeve <NUM> is biased towards the first closed position by the elastic force of the elastic element <NUM>. The outer periphery of the sliding sleeve <NUM> is provided with a limiting protrusion <NUM>. The inner periphery of the first housing portion <NUM> is provided with a limiting surface <NUM>. The limiting protrusion <NUM> and the limiting surface <NUM> may abut against each other to limit the sliding sleeve <NUM> in the first closed position.

When the sliding sleeve <NUM> is biased in the first closed position by the elastic member <NUM>, the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the sliding sleeve <NUM> respectively contact the inner peripheral surface of the first housing portion <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface of the valve stem head <NUM>, so as to block the annular gap between the first housing portion <NUM> and the valve stem head <NUM> to further cut off the flow path of the female connector <NUM>. When the sliding sleeve <NUM> is pushed by an external force along the first axial direction A1, the sliding sleeve <NUM> can resist the elastic force of the elastic element <NUM> and move away from the valve stem head <NUM> to the first open position, so that the flow path of the female connector <NUM> is opened. With reference to <FIG>, when the sliding sleeve <NUM> is in the first open position, the fluid may flow through the gap between the sliding sleeve <NUM> and the valve stem <NUM>, and then flow into the second housing portion <NUM> through the through holes <NUM> in the valve stem base <NUM>, and then flow into the fluid pipeline (not shown) connected with the female connector <NUM>. Similarly, the fluid may flow into the housing <NUM> from the fluid pipeline connected with the female connector <NUM> along a reverse direction and then flow out of the housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the female connector <NUM> may be fixed to the application environment, in which the female connector <NUM> is to be applied, via a connecting structure (not shown) on the base <NUM>. The first housing portion <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> may be partially received and retained in the receiving passage <NUM> of the base <NUM> via the bushing <NUM>. The first housing portion <NUM> may have a first limiting member <NUM> and a second limiting member <NUM>. The first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM> extend around the first housing body <NUM> and are spaced apart along the first axial direction A1. The bushing <NUM> is sleeved outside the first housing body <NUM> and is confined between the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the bushing <NUM> may be made of thermoplastic elastomer or rubber material, and at least one cavity <NUM> is defined in a peripheral wall of the bushing <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the bushing <NUM> has multiple cavities <NUM> arranged in the peripheral direction of the bushing and extending in the first axial direction A1 to facilitate elastic deformation of the bushing <NUM>. It is conceivable that the bushing <NUM> may have any other suitable multi-cavity configuration. For example, the peripheral wall of the bushing may be honeycomb-shaped. The bushing <NUM> has a slit <NUM> extending in the first axial direction A1. The first housing body <NUM> may be nested in the bushing <NUM> via the slit <NUM>. The inner diameter of the bushing <NUM> may be substantially equal to the outer diameter of a portion of the first housing body <NUM> located between the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM>. The outer diameter of the bushing <NUM> may be substantially equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the receiving passage <NUM>. The first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM> are shaped and/or sized such that: the second limiting member <NUM> can be inserted through the receiving passage <NUM>, and the first limiting member <NUM> is stopped outside the receiving passage <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the outer diameter of an arc portion of the first limiting member <NUM> is larger than the inner diameter of the receiving passage <NUM>, and the outer diameter of the second limiting member <NUM> is smaller than the inner diameter of the receiving passage <NUM>, so that the second limiting member <NUM> of the first housing portion <NUM> can be inserted through the receiving passage <NUM>, while the first limiting member <NUM> cannot enter the receiving passage <NUM>.

In addition, the length of the bushing <NUM> (that is, the length of the bushing <NUM> in the first axial direction A1) may be smaller than a distance between the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM> in the first axial direction A1.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, since the length of the bushing <NUM> is smaller than the distance between the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM>, there is a certain space between the limiting member, that is the first limiting member <NUM> and/or the second limiting member <NUM>, and the axial end of the bushing <NUM>. If the male connector <NUM> is not fully aligned with the opening <NUM> of the first housing portion <NUM> when inserted and the first housing portion <NUM> is thereby deflected within the bushing <NUM>, the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM> will first deflect accordingly and easily due to this space, and two axial ends of the bushing <NUM> will not immediately resist the deflection of the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM> as the first housing portion <NUM> starts to deflect, which can reduce the insertion force of the male connector <NUM> (especially in the case that the axial stiffness of the bushing <NUM> is relatively large), thereby reducing the risk of damage to the female connector <NUM>.

It is conceivable that if the length of the bushing <NUM> is equal to the distance between the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM>, once the first housing portion <NUM> is deflected, the two axial ends of the bushing <NUM> will respectively abut against the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM> and resist this deflection with a large force (especially in the case that the axial stiffness of the bushing <NUM> is relatively large), which will result in a large insertion force of the male connector <NUM> and in turn increase the risk of damage to the female connector.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first limiting member <NUM> located outside the receiving passage <NUM> may be limited by the mounting member <NUM>. The mounting member <NUM> may be in the form of a plate and extend substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction A1. The mounting member <NUM> may be fixed to the axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM>, for example, via fasteners <NUM>, so as to confine the first limiting member <NUM> between the axial end <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM> in the first axial direction A1. The movement space S for the first limiting member <NUM> to move therein is defined between the axial end <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM>. The axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM> may be provided with a recess <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is adjacent to and communicated with the receiving passage <NUM> in the first axial direction A1. The shape and/or size of the recess <NUM> are such designed that the recess <NUM> can accommodate the first limiting member <NUM>. The recess <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM> define the movement space S for the first limiting member <NUM> to move therein.

It is conceivable that, in the case that the mounting member <NUM> has a certain thickness, a recess may be provided on a side of the mounting member <NUM> facing the base <NUM>, so as to define together with the axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM> a movement space for the first limiting member <NUM> to move therein. The movement of the first limiting member <NUM> herein includes but is not limited to: rotation around the first axial direction A1, movement along the first axial direction A1, movement in a direction perpendicular to the first axial direction A1, and deflection of the first limiting member <NUM> (that is, movement of the first limiting member <NUM> with its normal direction inclining respect to the first axial direction A1).

The female connector retains the first housing portion <NUM> in the base <NUM> by using the elastically deformable bushing <NUM>, and confines the first limiting member <NUM> of the first housing portion <NUM> between the base <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM> in a movable manner. Such configuration of female connector can absorb the assembly tolerances in various directions when the female connector <NUM> is connected with the male connector <NUM>, which will be described in detail below, and also allows the housing <NUM> to rotate within the base <NUM>, so that the circumferential orientation of the second housing portion <NUM> can be adjusted as required, thereby allowing optimization of the layout of the fluid pipeline connected to the female connector <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the mounting member <NUM> may include openings <NUM> open on one side to avoid mechanical interference with the housing <NUM> when the mounting member <NUM> is mounted on the base <NUM> along the direction perpendicular to the first axial direction A1.

When the female connector <NUM> is assembled, the valve assembly <NUM> is placed within the first housing portion <NUM>, and the second housing portion <NUM> is coupled with the second end <NUM> of the first housing portion <NUM>, so that the valve assembly <NUM> is retained within the housing <NUM>. Then, the bushing <NUM> is sleeved outside the portion of the first housing portion <NUM> between the first limiting member <NUM> and the second limiting member <NUM>. In this way, an assembly structure of the housing <NUM>, the valve assembly <NUM> and the bushing <NUM> can be obtained. Then, the assembly structure is inserted into the receiving passage <NUM> of the base <NUM>, so that the second limiting member <NUM> of the first housing portion <NUM> is inserted through the receiving passage <NUM>, while the first limiting member <NUM> is located in the recess <NUM> at the axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM>. Then, the mounting member <NUM> is passed through the portion of the first housing portion <NUM> between the first limiting member <NUM> and the retaining ring <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the first axial direction A1, and is then placed on the base <NUM> such that fastening points on the mounting member <NUM> and the base <NUM> are aligned. And then the mounting member <NUM> is secured to the base <NUM> via the fasteners <NUM>. In this way, the first limiting member <NUM> of the first housing portion <NUM> is confined between the axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM>, such that the first limiting member <NUM> is movable between the axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM> while the housing <NUM> is prevented from being separated from the base <NUM>. It is conceivable that the above assembly steps are merely examples, and the assembly can be done in other sequences.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> may be provided with two receiving passages <NUM>, and the female connector <NUM> may correspondingly have two housings <NUM>, two bushings <NUM> and two valve assemblies <NUM>, where the two housings <NUM> may be fixed to the base <NUM> via one mounting member <NUM> having two openings <NUM>. It is conceivable that the two housings <NUM> may also be fixed by two mounting members each having one opening. It is conceivable that the base <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> may accordingly be provided with one or more than two receiving passages, and the female connector <NUM> may include a corresponding number of housings, bushings and valve assembly/assemblies.

<FIG> illustrate the male connector <NUM> according to the exemplary embodiment of the present application and its components.

Referring to <FIG>, and <FIG>, the male connector <NUM> includes a casing <NUM> and a valve unit <NUM>. The casing <NUM> defines a second axial direction A2 and has a plug end <NUM> in the second axial direction A2, and the plug end <NUM> defines a port <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The valve unit <NUM> is arranged within the casing <NUM> and includes a valve core <NUM> and an elastic member <NUM>. The valve core <NUM> is movable in the second axial direction A2 between a second closed position (shown in <FIG>) and a second open position (shown in <FIG>). The valve core <NUM> is biased toward the second closed position by the elastic member <NUM>. The valve core <NUM> blocks the port <NUM> to cut off a flow path of the male connector <NUM> when the valve core <NUM> is in the second closed position, and the flow path of the male connector <NUM> is opened when the valve core <NUM> is in the second open position.

The casing <NUM> includes a casing body <NUM> and a base plate <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the casing body <NUM> may be substantially cylindrical, and can be formed integrally with the base plate <NUM>. Optionally, the casing body <NUM> may be formed by injection molding. The male connector <NUM> may be fixed to the application environment in which the male connector <NUM> is to be applied via the base plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, and <FIG>, the casing body <NUM> defines the second axial direction A2. The casing body <NUM> has the plug end <NUM> for insertion into the housing <NUM> of the female connector <NUM>. The plug end <NUM> has a peripheral edge <NUM> that protrudes inwardly in the radial direction. The peripheral edge <NUM> defines the port <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). The plug end <NUM> includes a sealing member <NUM> embedded in its outer periphery. The sealing member <NUM> of the plug end <NUM> may have the same configuration as the sealing member <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> described above, so as to prevent the sealing member <NUM> from being separated from the plug end <NUM> as the male connector <NUM> is connected with or disconnected from the female connector <NUM> again and again.

The valve unit <NUM> may be arranged within the casing body <NUM>. The valve unit <NUM> may further include a mounting ring <NUM>. The valve core <NUM> and the elastic member <NUM> of the valve unit <NUM> may be mounted in the casing body <NUM> via the mounting ring <NUM>. The mounting ring <NUM> may be detachably connected to an end, opposite to the plug end <NUM>, of the casing body <NUM>. When the male connector <NUM> is assembled, the valve unit <NUM> may be placed in the casing body <NUM>, and then the mounting ring <NUM> may be mounted at the end, away from the port <NUM>, of the casing body <NUM>. The assembly method is simple and efficient.

The valve core <NUM> may include a valve core head <NUM> and a bracket <NUM>. The valve core head <NUM> may gradually widen toward the port <NUM> in the second axial direction A2 such that the valve core head <NUM> has a substantially funnel-shaped cross-section. A sealing member <NUM> may be provided between the outer peripheral surface of the valve core head <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the casing body <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing member <NUM> is embedded in the outer periphery of the valve core head <NUM>, that is, received in an annular groove <NUM> of the valve core head <NUM>, for sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port <NUM>.

One end of the elastic member <NUM> may abut against the bracket <NUM> of the valve core <NUM>, and another end of the elastic member <NUM> may abut against the mounting ring <NUM>, so as to bias the valve core <NUM> toward the second closed position for blocking the port <NUM>. When the valve core <NUM> is biased in the second closed position by the elastic member <NUM>, the valve core head <NUM> is in sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port <NUM>, so that the flow path of the male connector <NUM> is cut off. When the valve core <NUM> is pushed by an external force along the second axial direction A2, the valve core <NUM> can resist the elastic force of the elastic member <NUM> and move away from the port <NUM> to the second open position, so that the flow path of the male connector <NUM> is opened. Referring to <FIG>, when the valve core <NUM> is in the second open position, the fluid can enter the casing body <NUM> from the port <NUM> of the casing body <NUM> and flow through a gap between the casing body <NUM> and the valve core head <NUM>, then flow through the mounting ring <NUM>, and thus flow into the fluid pipeline (not shown) connected with the male connector <NUM>. Similarly, the fluid may flow into the casing body <NUM> from the fluid pipeline connected with the male connector <NUM> along a reverse direction and finally flow out from the port <NUM> of the casing body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, the peripheral edge <NUM> of the plug end <NUM> may define a first inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM> and a second inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM>. The inner peripheral surface of the port <NUM>, the first inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM>, and the second inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM> are sequentially connected in the second axial direction A2, and the first inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM> and the second inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM> are configured to guide the sealing member <NUM> embedded in the outer periphery of the valve core <NUM> to move in the second axial direction A2 into sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the port <NUM>. The first inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM> and the second inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM> respectively form a first angle and a second angle with respect to the second axial direction A2, and the first angle is smaller than the second angle. The first angle may range from, for example, <NUM>° to <NUM>°. By guiding the sealing member <NUM> of the valve core <NUM> into the port <NUM> along the two successively arranged inner peripheral inclined surfaces inclination angles of which with respect to the second axial direction A2 decrease in turn, the elastic force, provided by the elastic member <NUM> and required for the valve core <NUM> to move from the second open position to the second closed position for blocking the port <NUM>, may be reduced. Since the elastic member <NUM> only needs to provide a small elastic force, the service life of the elastic member <NUM> can be prolonged, thereby improving the service life of the male connector <NUM>. Besides, this arrangement allows the use of an elastic member <NUM> with a lower elastic modulus, making installation of the mounting ring <NUM> easier when the male connector <NUM> is assembled. In addition, the second inner peripheral inclined surface <NUM> may also abut against the bracket <NUM> of the valve core <NUM> to limit the valve core <NUM> in the second closed position.

Referring to <FIG>, in the illustrated embodiment, the casing <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> may include two casing bodies <NUM>, and the male connector <NUM> may accordingly include two valve units <NUM>. It is conceivable that the casing <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> may accordingly include one or more than two casing bodies <NUM>, and the male connector <NUM> may include a corresponding number of valve units <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the male connector <NUM> is connected with the female connector <NUM>, the plug end <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> is inserted into the female connector <NUM> via the opening <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> and pushes the sliding sleeve <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> away from the first closed position to the first open position, and at the same time, the valve stem head <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> pushes the valve core <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> away from the second closed position to the second open position, so that the flow paths of the female connector <NUM> and the male connector <NUM> are both opened and in fluid communication with each other, thereby establishing fluid communication between the fluid pipelines respectively connected to the female connector <NUM> and the male connector <NUM>.

When the male connector <NUM> is disconnected from the female connector <NUM> by pulling the plug end <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> out of the female connector <NUM>, the sliding sleeve <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> and the valve core <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> respectively return to the first closed position and the second closed position, and at this time, the flow paths of the female connector <NUM> and the male connector <NUM> are both closed, and the fluid in the fluid pipelines respectively connected to the female connector <NUM> and the male connector <NUM> will not leak.

The tolerance absorption function of the female connector <NUM> will be described below with reference to <FIG>, taking the application of the connector assembly <NUM> to establish fluid communication between a thermal management system in a battery pack and a coolant supply system in a vehicle as an example.

The female connector <NUM> of the connector assembly <NUM> may be fixed to the vehicle body and be in fluid communication with fluid pipelines in the coolant supply system of the vehicle. The male connector <NUM> may be fixed to the battery pack and be in fluid communication with fluid pipelines in the thermal management system of the battery pack.

For the female connector <NUM> and the male connector <NUM> in the illustrated embodiment, two fluid passages will be formed after the male connector <NUM> is connected with the female connector <NUM>, where the coolant in the thermal management system of the battery pack, that has exchanged heat with the battery, can enter the coolant supply system of the vehicle through one fluid passage, and the low-temperature coolant in the coolant supply system can be replenished to the thermal management system of the battery pack through the other fluid passage.

When the battery pack is replaced, the male connector <NUM> on the battery pack is preliminarily aligned with the female connector <NUM> on the vehicle body, and then the plug end <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> is inserted into housing <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> through the opening <NUM> of the female connector <NUM>.

During the connection of the male connector <NUM> on the battery pack with the female connector <NUM> on the vehicle body, if the male connector <NUM> is inserted into the female connector <NUM> in a correct insertion direction (that is, the first axial direction A1 of the female connector <NUM> is parallel to the second axial direction A2 of the male connector <NUM>) but the plug end <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> is not completely aligned with the opening <NUM> of the female connector <NUM>, the plug end <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> can still be inserted into the housing <NUM> via the opening <NUM> having the guide surface <NUM>. And since the bushing <NUM> for holding the housing <NUM> can be elastically deformed and a movement space S that allows the first limiting member <NUM> to move therein is defined between the axial end <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the mounting member <NUM>, the housing <NUM> within the bushing <NUM> can be shifted in synchronization with the casing body <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> to complete the connection of the male connector <NUM> with the female connector <NUM>. After the battery pack is mounted and fixed in place on the vehicle, the male connector <NUM> will return to its preset correct position. Accordingly, the housing <NUM> will synchronously return to its preset correct position. In this way, the male connector <NUM> and the housing <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> are both returned to their preset correct positions.

Further, during the connection of the male connector <NUM> on the battery pack with the female connector <NUM> on the vehicle body, if the male connector <NUM> is not inserted in the correct direction but is obliquely inserted toward the female connector <NUM> (that is, the first axial direction A1 of the female connector <NUM> is angled with respect to the second axial direction A2 of the male connector <NUM>), the plug end <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> can still be inserted into the housing <NUM> via the opening <NUM> having the guide surface <NUM>. And due to the elastically deformable bushing <NUM> and existence of the movement space S that allows the first limiting member <NUM> to move therein, the housing <NUM> within the bushing <NUM> can be deflected following the casing body <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> (the first limiting member <NUM> can be deflected in the movement space S), to complete the connection of the male connector <NUM> with the female connector <NUM>. After the battery pack is mounted and fixed in place on the vehicle, the male connector <NUM> will return to its preset right position. Accordingly, the housing <NUM> will synchronously return to its preset right position. In this way, the male connector <NUM> and the housing <NUM> of the female connector <NUM> are both returned to their preset right positions.

Therefore, the female connector <NUM> and the connector assembly <NUM> according to the present application can absorb the installation tolerances in various directions when the female connector <NUM> is connected with the male connector <NUM>. It is conceivable that the female connector <NUM> and the connector assembly <NUM> according to the present application can be applied to various scenarios where a fluid communication needs to be established.

It should be understood that the embodiments shown in <FIG> only illustrate the shape, size and arrangement of each optional component of the female connector and the connector assembly according to the present application. However, these embodiments are merely intended to illustrate, rather than limit. Other shapes, sizes and arrangements may be adopted without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claim 1:
A female connector comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) defining a first axial direction (A1) and having an opening (<NUM>) at a first end (<NUM>) of the housing for insertion of a male connector (<NUM>), an outer periphery of the housing being provided with a first limiting member (<NUM>);
a valve assembly (<NUM>) arranged in the housing;
a base (<NUM>) defining a receiving passage (<NUM>) extending along the first axial direction, the housing being partially received in the receiving passage;
a bushing (<NUM>) sleeved outside the housing and arranged in the receiving passage, the bushing being elastically deformable; and
a mounting member (<NUM>) fixed to an axial end (<NUM>) of the base,
characterized in that the first limiting member is confined in the first axial direction between the axial end and the mounting member, and a movement space (S) for the first limiting member to move therein is defined between the axial end and the mounting member.