EP3619456A1

EP3619456A1 - Mixed female connector or port

Info

Publication number: EP3619456A1
Application number: EP18718876.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Luc Mussot; Olivier LABROT
Original assignee: Ad Venta
Current assignee: Ad Venta
Priority date: 2017-03-27
Filing date: 2018-03-26
Publication date: 2020-03-11
Also published as: FR3064335A1; US20200224801A1; US20220065372A1; FR3064335B1; WO2018178525A1

Abstract

The female port (1), which is suitable for sealingly receiving, alternatively, two male connectors of two different given types having the same thread pitch and diameter, comprises a female thread (4) suitable for receiving one of the threads of the two male connectors and two first parts (6, 12) of two different sealing devices, one having a seal and the other being metal-on-metal, each compatible with one of said male connectors, each of a given type different to the other.

Description

CONNECTION OR MIXED FEMALE PORT

The present invention relates to a connector (or rather a port as explained below) female adapted to receive male connectors (or ports) of pipes, in which a fluid flows, to form a connector or establish a connection.

The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of such female connectors (ports) to which male connectors are connected essentially by screwing, and one of the main fields of application is that of circuits carrying a gas, such as hydrogen, in particular at high pressure.

Various types of connectors are known that consist of connectors adapted to various levels of fluid pressure, which circulates in the tubes connected to these connections, and whose sealing means (used during the assembly of the connections between them, that is to say when connecting the male connector with the female connector ^' connector) may be different depending precisely on the operating pressure, the desired sealing quality depending on the fluid (especially for hydrogen whose molecule very small size can seep into very small holes, which will generate a leak, while other heavier gases will not infiltrate and will not leak) and the manufacturers themselves.

There are two of the most used connection families in the industry, namely:

the most common couplings, according to SAE J1926 (or ISO 11926-1) and which will be called SAE, which are rather adapted and used to average pressures (ie between 150 and 500 bar in general) and one sealing, which can be described as external, is provided by an O-ring: the male connector (or port) is then equipped with such a seal, which is firmly enclosed (when connecting by screwing this male connector into the female connector connector) between an angular sealing surface or support of the external orifice of the female connector (or port), the groove located at the base of the the thread of the male connector (or port) (opposite the distal end of this thread) and where the seal is placed, and the shoulder (with or without a reinforcing or retaining washer) located on the other side side of the groove with respect to the thread of the male connector,

the so-called MP, tapered and threaded connections (of which, for example, those of the IPT series marketed by the company Swagelok: see pages 902 and 903 of its catalog 2016 reference MS-02-472) which are used essentially in the field of high pressures

(ie above 500 bar and up to 4000 bar) and when the temperature of the circulating fluid is high

(Such as greater than 100 ° C), and 1 sealing, which can be described as internal, is provided by contact and direct metal support cone on cone: the distal end of the male connector (which is in fact at Swagelok of the tube to be connected which passes through the male connector and is locked therein by various intermediate parts) beyond its thread is indeed conical and comes into direct contact with a corresponding cone formed in the bottom of the female connector within its thread (opposite the end of this thread located on the side of the inlet of this female connector) in which is screwed that of the male connector.

Thus, in all current screw connections such as those mentioned above, guaranteeing the seal for a given pressure range and depending on the gas circulating therein, it is necessary to dispose not only of the threading (which does not however pose problem, the manufacturers using the same diameters and no standard screws) but also the sealing device, a female connector of the same type as the male connection that we want to connect by screwing it, this which complicates the compatibility of a device or component comprising a given type of female connector, since it will then be possible to connect only one male connection, certainly of the same diameter, but also of the same type of sealing.

This is annoying when a supplier then wants to propose a device (such as a pressure reducer, a storage tank ...) or a component (such as a check valve, a valve ...) of a gas circuit to various customers who use connectors of different types, like the two main ones mentioned above: in this case it is then necessary that this supplier is also proposed its apparatus or component in two versions corresponding each one to a type of sealing and thus of fitting (which complicates the management of these products and increases both the costs and the risk of delivery errors), is carried out on the same device or component two female connector ports in parallel, each corresponding to a type of sealing and therefore male connection (which increases the cost as well as the size of each product), or provide a specific adapter for the orifice of the female connector type it will have chosen so that a customer using the other type of seal and therefore of connection can connect to it (which requires an additional component, also increases the cost, the space and the risk of leak!).

The problem is therefore to allow the compatibility of a second type of connector (or port) male to fix on the same female connector (to be considered as a single female port as explained below) otherwise compatible with a first type of connector (or port) male, the two types of connectors (or ports) male each having a sealing device different from the other, to satisfy different conditions of use, but to be thus compatible with this same fitting or female port.

In the remainder of this description, the term "port" will be used instead of "connection" at least as far as the female part is concerned, and this to avoid confusion with the fact that the same female connector (taken as meaning wide), which can have several ports of different types, could thus receive several different male connectors in its different ports (and therefore simultaneously), as can be found in the prior art as in the patent application US2014 / 0196524. On the other hand, as far as the part maie is concerned, it will be possible to use the term connection or port interchangeably as this does not affect the interpretation of the invention which essentially concerns the female part.

A solution to the problem is certainly an adapter as used to date, but according to the invention a better solution is a connection or so rather a "port" (considered indeed in the present description, and as explained above, as being a single port) female, able to receive and be sealed to a first connection (or port) male d a given type and to allow the flow of gas through the connection thus made, and as it comprises:

a first part of a first sealing device compatible with a second part of this first sealing device carried by said first male connector, which first part of this first sealing device being a bearing surface against which comes when the male coupling is screwed into said female port, the second part of this first sealing device is crushed and is a seal that can be housed in a groove located at the proximal end of the thread of this male fitting. ,

at least one other part of another second sealing device compatible with another second part of this second second sealing device,

and according to the invention this second first part of this second sealing device is a female metallic geometrical shape formed at the bottom of the thread of the female port and adapted to receive a compatible male metal geometrical shape, located at the distal end another second male connector of another type given and adapted to ensure by contact against each other a metal seal on metal and thus to be connected also on the same female port.

In a preferred embodiment, the female port according to the invention is such that it comprises a Thread adapted to receive any one of the threads of the at least two male connectors of different type and having the same pitch and thread diameter compatible with the same thread of the female port.

In a particular embodiment, the metallic male geometrical shape of the second sealing device is situated at the distal end of the other second male connector, this distal end being either that of the connector itself or that of the tube to be connected. , which passes through and is locked in the male fitting, and through which the gas can flow. In another particular embodiment, this male metal geometrical shape is part of an anchoring piece of the tube at the distal end of the male connector.

Thus, with the same connection, or port, female made on a device or a component, it is possible to come and connect alternatively and / or successively at least two types of connections, or ports, male (certainly the same diameter) without it is more expensive, neither more cumbersome, nor generates an additional risk of leakage, and while being able thus to satisfy customers wanting to use connections of different types.

The result is a new female (fitting) port that can be described as "mixed", which responds well to the problem posed, the advantages of which are evidenced above and which have nothing to do with them. existing female ports (or connectors) having two sealing devices (said primary and secondary, for purposes of possible leakage measurement between these two seals) and intended to receive a single male fitting as described for example in the patent application DE102014010090.

The description and the accompanying figures give an example embodiment of a mixed female port according to the invention, but other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view in axial section of an exemplary embodiment of a female port (connector) according to the invention in which is screwed and connected a male connector of a first type, taken by way of example as being a fitting said SAE.

FIG. 2 is the same view in axial section of the female port (connection) of FIG. 1 but in which is screwed another male coupling of a second type, taken as an example as a connection called MP, schematized without the details of the intermediate parts.

FIG. 3 is a view in axial section of the single and same female port (connector), referred to as mixed, according to the invention, as in FIGS. 1 and 2 and therefore without a male connector screwed in but ready to receive one or the other other of the male connectors of Figures 1 and 2.

According to the representation of these figures a connection, or rather port, female 1 according to the invention, and as shown only in Figure 3, is adapted to receive in a sealed manner, alternatively and / or at choice:

- Or, according to Figure 1, a first connector (or port) male 2 of a first type given to allow the flow of gas through the connection thus made, and said female port 1 having for that a first part 12 of a sealing device compatible with a second part 8 of this sealing device carried by said male connector 2,

- Or, according to Figure 2, a second connection (or port) male 3 of another given type (different from the first type) and said female port 1 having for that another first part 6 of another device sealing compatible with another second portion 7 of the other sealing device carried by the second male connector 3 of another type.

This female port 1 according to FIG. 3 comprises a female thread 4 capable of receiving any one of the threads 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ of the said two male connectors respectively 2.3 and having the same pitch and thread diameter respecting any one of standards recognized and recognized in the field, either SAE, ISO, ASTM or DIN ....

The first part 12 of a first sealing device is a bearing surface 12 (such as conical) against which comes crashing, when screwing the first male connector 2, said SAE, in the said female port 1 following FIG. 1, the second part of this first sealing device, which is an O-ring 8 housed here in a groove 9 located at the proximal end of the thread ₂ of this connection or male port 2 (i.e. located at the base of this thread ₂ is opposite the distal end thereof and against the shoulder 13 ₂ of the head 14 ₂ of the male connector 2): in fact said O-ring 8 is thus firmly sandwiched between firstly the bearing sealing surface 12 of the external orifice of the portion (or port) female 1, on the other hand the groove 9 where the seal is placed, and finally the shoulder 13 ₂ (with or without reinforcement washer or retaining) located on the other side of the groove 9 relative to the thread ₂ of the port (connector) male.

However, such a seal that can be described as "external", if it is sufficient for medium pressures is between 150 and 700 bar (or even a little more), and with hydrogen flowing in the internal passages 10 _2/11 respectively of the two male connectors and female 2.1 ports and screwed into the other, it does not guarantee a good performance on the one hand the high pressures especially as up to 1000 bar even well above (such as 4000 bar) especially with a gas such as hydrogen and on the other hand at high temperature (above 100 ° C).

Thus the other first part 6 of the other sealing device is a metallic geometric shape (as shown in the figures as a conical surface but which could also be spherical) female 6 made at the bottom of the thread 4 of the female port 1 , opposite to its orifice, and adapted to receive, according to FIG. 2, a metallic geometric shape (as represented in this figure as a conical surface, but which could also be spherical) male 7 (compatible with the geometrical shape female metal 6 to ensure by contact a seal metal to metal) made at the distal end, that is to say located opposite the head 14 ₃ , the other second male connector 3 or the tube to connect that passes through and is locked in this second male fitting, says MP.

Such a seal, which can be described as "internal", by direct contact surface metal surface (or cone on cone) ensures good performance not only in temperature but also in high pressures especially above 700 or 1000 bar (and up to even 4000 bar) even with hydrogen flowing in the internal passages 10 _3f ll respectively two connections or male and female ports 3.1 screwed one in the other.

So :

the first sealing device 12, with an O-ring described above, provides a seal between said female port 1 and a male connector 2 of a first type, such as type SAE, adapted to be connected on this female port 1, under different conditions of use (such as up to a pressure of use with hydrogen of at most 500 or even 700, or even a little more, bar) of those for which

the second metal-on-metal sealing device 6, described above, provides this seal between the said same female port 1 and another male connector 3 of a second given type, such as MP type, able to be connected on the same female port 1, which can then be described as "mixed", especially beyond a working pressure of 700 bar up to at least 1000 bar and above beyond, even with hydrogen.

The different operating conditions between the first 12.8 and second 6.7 sealing devices are those determined by at least one of those related at least to the pressure (as indicated above), but also to the temperature , chemical aggressions and vibrations (or other criteria): the project manager, the customer or the integrator will be able to choose between a type of male connector or another following the conditions of use considered while keeping the same female port 1.

The users of devices or components equipped with such mixed female ports 1 according to the invention, and as shown only in FIG. 3, can thus decide at any time to connect to it the male fitting (or port) of their choice, corresponding to one of the sealing devices compatible with the female port according to the invention without the need for an adapter or having needed to control a specific device or component equipped with female ports according to a single type of corresponding sealing device at his choice (that he can not then change) as it is done to this day.

Claims

1 - female port (1) adapted to receive in sealing manner a male connector (2) of a given type, and to allow the flow of gas through the connection thus produced, and comprising a first portion (12) of a first sealing device compatible with a second part (8) of this first sealing device carried by said male connector (2), which first part of this first sealing device being a bearing surface (12) against which is crushed, when the male connector (2) is screwed into the said female port (1), the second part, which is a seal (8), of this first sealing device, and the said female port ( 1) comprising at least a second first part (6) of a second sealing device compatible with a second part (7) of this second sealing device, characterized in that the second first part (6) of the second device waterproofing is a geometric shape m female head (6) formed at the bottom of the thread (4) of the female port (1) and adapted to receive a compatible male metal geometrical shape (7) located at the distal end of another male connector (3) of another type given and able to ensure by contact against each other a metal seal on metal.

2 - female port (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the first sealing device (12, 8) seal ensures a seal between said female port (1) and a male connector (2) of a given first type able to be connected to it, under conditions uses different from those for which the second sealing device (6,7) metal on metal ensures this seal, between the said same female port (1) and another male connector (3) of a second type given apt to be connected on this same female port (1).

3 - female port (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that the conditions of use between the first (12,8) and second (6,7) sealing devices are those determined by at least one of those related at least pressure, temperature, chemical attack and vibration.

4 - female port (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it comprises a female thread (4) adapted to receive any of the threads (5 ₂ , 5 ₃ ) of said two connectors males (2,3) and having the same pitch and thread diameter.

5 - female port (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the male geometrical shape (7) is formed at the distal end of the tube, which passes through the male connector (2) and by which the gas can circulate, and is locked therein.

6 - female port (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the male metal geometrical shape (7) is part of an anchor tube, which passes through the male connector (2) and through which gas can flow, at the distal end of the male connector (3). 7 - female port (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the male metal shapes (7) and female (6) are conical surfaces.

8 - female port (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the gas is hydrogen.