US 12,235,056 B1
System for blind mate hydraulic connections
Chen An, Secaucus, NJ (US); Zichun Song, Secaucus, NJ (US); Sruti Chigullapalli, Secaucus, NJ (US); Mahesh Kumar Varrey, Secaucus, NJ (US); and Yu Wang, Secaucus, NJ (US)
Assigned to ZT Group Int'l, Inc., Secaucus, NJ (US)
Filed by ZT Group Int'l, Inc., Secaucus, NJ (US)
Filed on Dec. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/088,911.
Int. Cl. F16L 37/00 (2006.01); F16L 37/52 (2006.01); F28F 9/02 (2006.01); H05K 7/20 (2006.01)
CPC F28F 9/0258 (2013.01) [F16L 37/002 (2013.01); F16L 37/52 (2013.01); H05K 7/20772 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a first manifold including a first hydraulic fitting configured to connect to a first hydraulic system and a second hydraulic fitting configured to connect to a second hydraulic system;
a first shell including a first window, the first manifold received within the first shell with the first hydraulic fitting passing through the first window; and
a second shell including a second window, the first shell received within the second shell with the second hydraulic fitting passing through the second window, wherein:
a clearance between the first manifold and the first shell allows the first manifold to rotate within the first shell defining a first rotation with respect to a first axis and a second rotation with respect to a second axis, the second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the first rotation and the second rotation allowing the second hydraulic fitting to align to a third hydraulic fitting associated with the second hydraulic system.
 
13. A method for connecting a first hydraulic system to a second hydraulic system, the method comprising:
providing a device with:
a manifold including a first hydraulic fitting connected to the first hydraulic system within the device and a second hydraulic fitting configured to connect to a third hydraulic fitting associated with the second hydraulic system;
a first shell including a first window, the manifold received within the first shell with the first hydraulic fitting passing through the first window;
a second shell including a second window, the first shell received within the second shell with the second hydraulic fitting passing through the second window; and
a arm including a hook pivotally connected to the device; placing the device into a rack;
pivoting the arm such that the hook engages the rack; further pivoting the arm causing the hook to draw the device into the rack and the second hydraulic fitting to connect to the third hydraulic fitting thereby completing a hydraulic connection between the first hydraulic system and the second hydraulic system.