An air-to-air coupling 13 (e.g. for receiving a probe in probe-and-drogue refuelling) comprises retaining members 19, 27 for interacting with a further member (e.g. a refuelling probe) to hold the further member in place. An active drive system 39, 21 may drive the holding members and may thereby also actively drive the further member into place. Alternatively the active drive 39, 21 may drive another member such as a locking member 31 to hold the retaining members 19, 27 in position once the further member is in place. The active drive releases the retaining members 19, 27 or moves them out of position to allow the further member to be removed. This allows the further member to be inserted and removed with a lower force than is used to hold it in place. The coupling may also be used for in-air recovery of an unmanned aircraft.

The invention relates to a coupling 10 for transferring fluids, having a valve 30, the valve tappet 32 of which is coupled in terms of movement with a valve sleeve 31, which is pre-tensioned by spring force in the flow direction D of the fluid, and having a locking mechanism 40 for releasably locking the coupling 10 to a tank nipple 50, and a securing mechanism 60 for releasably blocking the closed valve 30, wherein the locking mechanism 40 and the securing mechanism 60 are coupled in terms of movement via a sliding sleeve 70 which is pre-tensioned by spring force against the flow direction D of the fluid, so that in a first control position A of the sliding sleeve 70, the locking mechanism 40 is unlocked and the valve 30 is closed, and in a second control position B of the sliding sleeve 70, the securing mechanism 60 unlocks the valve sleeve 31, so that the valve 30 is unblocked and at least partially opened, and the valve sleeve 31 can be moved subject to pressure against the flow direction D of the fluid, wherein the securing mechanism 60 locks the sliding sleeve and completely opens the valve 30.

The invention relates to a coupling 10 for transferring fluids, having a valve 30, the valve tappet 32 of which is coupled in terms of movement with a valve sleeve 31, which is pre-tensioned by spring force in the flow direction D of the fluid, and having a locking mechanism 40 for releasably locking the coupling 10 to a tank nipple 50, and a securing mechanism 60 for releasably blocking the closed valve 30, wherein the locking mechanism 40 and the securing mechanism 60 are coupled in terms of movement via a sliding sleeve 70 which is pre-tensioned by spring force against the flow direction D of the fluid, so that in a first control position A of the sliding sleeve 70, the locking mechanism 40 is unlocked and the valve 30 is closed, and in a second control position B of the sliding sleeve 70, the securing mechanism 60 unlocks the valve sleeve 31, so that the valve 30 is unblocked and at least partially opened, and the valve sleeve 31 can be moved subject to pressure against the flow direction D of the fluid, wherein the securing mechanism 60 locks the sliding sleeve and completely opens the valve 30.

In accordance with the present disclosure, leak of gas is suppressed when a coupler of a manifold gauge set including a gas hose is detached to a gas inlet/outlet valve of a thermal exchange equipment. To this end, the set includes a core-rod depressor extending from the coupler into the hose, and a depressor-adjustment unit disposed on the hose to adjust a position of the core-rod depressor.

In accordance with the present disclosure, leak of gas is suppressed when a coupler of a manifold gauge set including a gas hose is detached to a gas inlet/outlet valve of a thermal exchange equipment. To this end, the set includes a core-rod depressor extending from the coupler into the hose, and a depressor-adjustment unit disposed on the hose to adjust a position of the core-rod depressor.

A liquid dispenser filling hose for use in filling a liquid dispenser with liquid from a liquid reservoir via a pump, comprising: a distal coupler for coupling the filling hose to the liquid dispenser; and a controller arranged to control the pump. The liquid dispenser may be filled using a method comprising: providing a liquid reservoir, a pump and a controller arranged to control the pump, and a filling hose having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the filling hose being coupled to the liquid reservoir; coupling the distal end of the filling hose via a distal coupler to the liquid dispenser; and transferring liquid from the liquid reservoir via the filling hose to an airless liquid container forming part of the liquid dispenser. A system for filling a liquid dispenser, comprising: the liquid filling hose; and a liquid reservoir and/or liquid supply station is also described.

A liquid dispenser filling hose for use in filling a liquid dispenser with liquid from a liquid reservoir via a pump, comprising: a distal coupler for coupling the filling hose to the liquid dispenser; and a controller arranged to control the pump. The liquid dispenser may be filled using a method comprising: providing a liquid reservoir, a pump and a controller arranged to control the pump, and a filling hose having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the filling hose being coupled to the liquid reservoir; coupling the distal end of the filling hose via a distal coupler to the liquid dispenser; and transferring liquid from the liquid reservoir via the filling hose to an airless liquid container forming part of the liquid dispenser. A system for filling a liquid dispenser, comprising: the liquid filling hose; and a liquid reservoir and/or liquid supply station is also described.

A quick connect fluid connector that is detachably connectable to a fluid system to process a gas into or from the fluid system through the quick connect fluid connector. The quick connect fluid connector includes one or more temperature sensors that can sense the temperature of the gas within the fluid connector during processing. Based on the sensed temperature(s), an alert can be generated to alert a human operator conducting the processing and/or automatically shut-off the processing if the sensed temperature becomes too high. The operator will therefore be alerted if the cylinders are being processed too quickly or if the processing duration could be shortened.

A quick connect fluid connector that is detachably connectable to a fluid system to process a gas into or from the fluid system through the quick connect fluid connector. The quick connect fluid connector includes one or more temperature sensors that can sense the temperature of the gas within the fluid connector during processing. Based on the sensed temperature(s), an alert can be generated to alert a human operator conducting the processing and/or automatically shut-off the processing if the sensed temperature becomes too high. The operator will therefore be alerted if the cylinders are being processed too quickly or if the processing duration could be shortened.

Fluid connectors are described where one or more sensors are provided for sensing a connection state of the fluid connectors. The sensor(s) indicates that the fluid connector of the first fluid system is connected to the second fluid system prior to initiating fluid flow between the first and second fluid systems. The sensor(s) senses movements of one or more elements of the quick connect fluid connectors that are involved in the actual connection of the fluid connectors to the second fluid system. The elements that are sensed can be, for example, one or more cylindrical sleeves of the connector or a piston of the connector. Therefore, the connection state of the fluid connectors can be determined accurately.