A fluid system and a blind-mate fluid fitting is provided. The blind-mate fluid fitting includes a shoulder and fitting portion extending from one side of the shoulder. The fitting portion defines a central fitting axis and is operable to inserted into a fluid port of a component. The fluid port defines a central port axis. The fitting portion includes a sealing portion that is operable to seal against the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at a zero angle and at least one of a plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis.

A hinged connection device includes first and second tubular components around a main axis which respectively include a first male hinge member provided with an end head shaped as a spherical segment and a second female hinge member provided with a complementary seat receiving movably inside the end head of the first member. The first member is configured to be housed at least partially inside the first component and to be assembled to the second component throughout the second member. The second member is configured to be mounted around the second component and assembled to the first component over the first member such that the two tubular components are assembled together by the reciprocal intersection of the two hinge members.

A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing and a valve body that is self-centering and alignable relative to the housing. The valve body may include at least two radial shoulder portions that are configured to engage at least two corresponding radial abutments of the housing to improve self-centering when in a decoupled state. An engagement member, such as a socket, may be provided in the housing to engage a radial shoulder of the valve body with a concave interface to enhance the misalignment compensating and/or self-centering functionality. The engagement member may be free to float radially relative to the housing to further enhance such effects. A compensator that urges an engagement member against a shoulder of the valve body may be provided to compensate for misalignment and/or provide self-centering in both a decoupled and mated state.

A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing and a valve body that is self-centering and alignable relative to the housing. The valve body may include at least two radial shoulder portions that are configured to engage at least two corresponding radial abutments of the housing to improve self-centering when in a decoupled state. An engagement member, such as a socket, may be provided in the housing to engage a radial shoulder of the valve body with a concave interface to enhance the misalignment compensating and/or self-centering functionality. The engagement member may be free to float radially relative to the housing to further enhance such effects. A compensator that urges an engagement member against a shoulder of the valve body may be provided to compensate for misalignment and/or provide self-centering in both a decoupled and mated state.

A ball joint having first and second articulated coupling parts having interconnected liquid ducts. The second coupling part is held pivotably by a spherical front end region between a shape-adapted joint socket on the first coupling part and a joint head on a holding element in the inner cavity of the second coupling part. The holding element interconnects the liquid ducts, and the second coupling part has, on its inner wall delimiting the inner cavity, an annular groove with a ring seal. A first annular shoulder is on the inner wall of the second coupling part, an annular insert part is insertable into the inner cavity of the second coupling part, and the insert part is spaced apart from the first annular shoulder such that the spacing between the first annular shoulder and the front edge of the insert part facing the first annular shoulder forms the annular groove.

A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing and a valve body that is self-centering and alignable relative to the housing. The valve body may include at least two radial shoulder portions or abutments that are configured to engage at least two corresponding radial abutments of the housing to improve self-centering when in a decoupled state. A biasing member may urge the valve body abutments against the corresponding housing abutments to compensate for misalignment and/or provide self-centering in both a decoupled and mated state.

A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing and a valve body that is self-centering and alignable relative to the housing. The valve body may include at least two radial shoulder portions or abutments that are configured to engage at least two corresponding radial abutments of the housing to improve self-centering when in a decoupled state. A biasing member may urge the valve body abutments against the corresponding housing abutments to compensate for misalignment and/or provide self-centering in both a decoupled and mated state.

A flexible annular cartridge for joining and sealing a bell and spigot pipe joint, wherein the outer contour of the cartridge is approximately frustoellipsoidal, the cartridge composed of an annular member having outer and inner surfaces and opposite first and second ends, with a plurality of pipe gripping members positioned on the inner surface; a flexible annular gasket having outer and inner surfaces, opposite first and second ends, and a circumferentially extending sealing lip projecting inwardly from the gasket inner surface, in which the annular member first end engages the flexible annular gasket second end; and a backup ring having a hardness that exceeds the hardness of the gasket, in which the backup ring engages the gasket at the gasket first end. Methods are provided for using the cartridge, as well as a pipe joint that contains the cartridge.

A flexible annular cartridge for joining and sealing a bell and spigot pipe joint, wherein the outer contour of the cartridge is approximately frustoellipsoidal, the cartridge composed of an annular member having outer and inner surfaces and opposite first and second ends, with a plurality of pipe gripping members positioned on the inner surface; a flexible annular gasket having outer and inner surfaces, opposite first and second ends, and a circumferentially extending sealing lip projecting inwardly from the gasket inner surface, in which the annular member first end engages the flexible annular gasket second end; and a backup ring having a hardness that exceeds the hardness of the gasket, in which the backup ring engages the gasket at the gasket first end. Methods are provided for using the cartridge, as well as a pipe joint that contains the cartridge.

An emergency detachable pipe coupling configured to decouple a female coupling member and a male coupling member which are coupled together when an external force makes the male coupling member tilted at a predetermined angle relative to a female coupling member. When the male coupling member is tilted, a pressing surface of the male coupling member presses a to-be-pressed surface of a locking element restraining member of the female coupling member to displace the locking element restraining member to a release position where a locking element becomes displaceable to an unlocking position.