US 12,474,003 B2
Female fluid connector element and fluid connector comprising such an element
Christophe Durieux, Gilly sur Isere (FR); and Serafim Marques Barroca, Albertville (FR)
Assigned to STAUBLI FAVERGES, Faverges-Seythenex (FR)
Filed by STAUBLI FAVERGES, Faverges-Seythenex (FR)
Filed on Feb. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/164,948.
Claims priority of application No. 2201166 (FR), filed on Feb. 10, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0250908 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 37/23 (2006.01); F16L 17/073 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/23 (2013.01) [F16L 17/073 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A female element for a connector, able to be connected with a complementary nipple for joining two pipes, the female connector element comprising
a body for receiving the nipple, this body being centered on a longitudinal axis and delimiting, within the body, an inner fluid circulation channel which extends between a front face of the female element, oriented towards the nipple during a press-fitting of the female element and the nipple, and a rear face of the female element, oriented towards a pipe to which this female element is connected;
a locking mechanism comprising
a plurality of locking members, movable relative to the body, radial to the longitudinal axis, between an inner position of blocking the nipple in the body and an outer position of releasing the passage of the nipple in the body
a blocking ring mounted around the body and movable between a first position of blocking the locking members in their inner position and a second position in which the blocking ring does not prevent movement of the locking members to their outer position; and
a seal configured to cooperate with the nipple, this seal being housed in the body, around the inner channel, and comprising
a base arranged facing backward to a proximal surface of the body and facing, forward to a distal surface of the body, and
a lip,
wherein
the lip extends parallel to the longitudinal axis and forward, protruding from the base and presenting a free front edge;
the seal presents a peripheral notch which is arranged radially to the longitudinal axis between the base and the lip, which opens onto the front of the seal and a bottom of which is delimited on the back by a connecting portion of the seal connecting the base and the lip;
the seal is configured to come in contact backward against the proximal surface, in alignment with the free front edge of the lip, according to a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
the peripheral notch constitutes a free volume for deformation of the lip during connecting and in a connected configuration of the female element with the nipple.