Maintainable in-line fluid connector

摘要

The in-line fluid connector serves to separate the upstream and downstream portions of flexible or semi-flexible conduit to allow maintenance on the flow system. The connector includes a female valve and sleeve attached to one portion of the conduit and a male housing attached to the other portion of the conduit. An installation tool that is either hand operated or motor driven consists of a pushout rod whose outer diameter fits into the sleeve for pushing the valve out of the female housing and into the sleeve and for positioning seals to straddle the passageways formed in the female portion and seals in the pushout rod to prevent leakage from the upstream and downstream portions. A locking ring secures the female and male portions and a ball screw motor driven actuator may be used to stroke the installation tool.