Patent ID: 8517749

Claim:
A first termination portion of a coupling device for enabling a connection and/or disconnection of a vacuum-jacketed cryogenic conduit, the first termination portion configure to mate with a second termination portion of the coupling device, the first termination portion of the coupling device comprising: a first end having a receiving portion configured to receive the vacuum-jacketed cryogenic conduit, a second end having a mating portion, an outer shell, an inner shell disposed within and spaced apart from the outer shell such that a volume is formed between the inner shell and the outer shell, the volume being evacuated, a sleeve disposed within and spaced apart from the inner shell, an interior of the sleeve forming a through-channel extending from the first end to the second end, and a fluid flow controller disposed within the sleeve, the fluid flow controller configured to control fluid flow between the corresponding vacuum-jacketed cryogenic conduit and mating portion, a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in the through-channel, each electrical contact electrically isolated from the other of the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the mating portion of the first termination portion of the coupling device is configured to be removably secured to a corresponding mating portion provided on the second termination portion of the coupling device so that when the first termination portion of the coupling device is secured to the second termination portion of the coupling device, the through-channel of the first termination portion of the coupling device is in fluid communication with a corresponding fluid channel of the second termination portion of the coupling device, and the electrical contacts of the first termination portion of the coupling device are in electrical contact with corresponding electrical contacts of the second termination portion of the coupling device.