Connection module and connector

Abstract

A connection module for connecting instrumentation equipment to a fluid container. The connection module includes a jointed tapping connector. A connector includes first and second opposed jaw members. The connector includes a receiving space located substantially between the jaw members for receiving a protruded portion of a corresponding connector. The first jaw member includes a hook portion for hooking onto a formation of the protruded portion. The second jaw member includes a locking member or an opening for slideably receiving a locking member. A connector includes a protruded portion configured to be received in a receiving space between first and second opposed jaws members of a corresponding connector. The protruded portion includes a formation for receiving a hook portion of the first jaw member. The protruded portion also includes an opening or a locking member configured to slideably engage with an opening of the second jaw of the corresponding connector.

1 . A system for connecting a secondary module to a structure having a port, the system comprising: 
 a tapping connector extending along a central axis from a first end portion attachable in fluid communication to the port of the structure and to a second end portion; and    a primary module attachable in fluid communication to the second end portion of the tapping connector, the secondary module being mountable on the primary module in fluid communication with the tapping connector,    whereby the tapping connector second end portion forms at least one joint with the primary module allowing for the primary module to be moved while attached to the second end of the tapping connector one or more of laterally, longitudinally, or rotationally relative to the axis of the tapping connector.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a first and a second said tapping connector, the primary module being attachable in fluid communication to the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector, and the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector forming at least one joint with the primary module allowing for the primary module to be moved while attached to the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector one or more of laterally, longitudinally, or rotationally relative to the axis of each of the first and the second tapping connector.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a collar receivable over the tapping connector second end portion for supporting the primary module on the structure, the collar being attachable to the tapping connector and the primary module being attachable to the collar.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the collar comprises a foot portion supportable on the structure and a boss portion upstanding away from the foot portion, the primary module being attachable to the boss portion of the collar.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a retainer supported within the collar for fastening the collar to the tapping connector.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the tapping connector second end portion has threads and wherein the retainer is a nut which is tightenable onto the threads.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the tapping connector second end portion has a slot and wherein the retainer is a ring which is receivable in the slot.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the tapping connector second end portion forms a ball joint with the primary module, the primary module being rotatable on the ball joint.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the tapping connector second end portion forms a first and a second ball joint with the primary module, the primary module being rotatable on the first and the second ball joint.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the primary module is slideably movable on the on the tapping connection second end portion; and    the tapping connector second end portion forms an interference fit joint with the primary module.    
   
   
       11 . An assembly for connection to a structure having a port, the assembly comprising: 
 a tapping connector extending along a central axis from a first end portion attachable in fluid communication to the port of the structure and to a second end portion;    a primary module attachable in fluid communication to the second end portion of the tapping connector; and    a secondary module mountable on the primary module in fluid communication with the tapping connector,    whereby the tapping connector second end portion forms at least one joint with the primary module allowing for the primary module while attached to the second end of the tapping connector to be moved one or more of laterally, longitudinally, or rotationally relative to the axis of the tapping connector.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  comprising a first and a second said tapping connector, the primary module being attachable in fluid communication to the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector, and the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector forming at least one joint with the primary module allowing for the primary module while attached to the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector to be moved one or more of laterally, longitudinally, or rotationally relative to the axis of each of the first and the second tapping connector.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a collar receivable over the tapping connector second end portion for supporting the primary module on the structure, the collar being attachable to the tapping connector and the primary module.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the collar comprises a foot portion supportable on the structure and a boss portion upstanding away from the foot portion, the primary module being attachable to the boss portion of the collar.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 13  further comprising a retainer supported within the collar, the retainer being manipulable to fasten the collar to the tapping connector.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the tapping connector second end portion has threads and wherein the retainer is a nut which is tightenable onto the threads.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the tapping connector second end portion has a slot and wherein the retainer is a ring which is receivable in the slot.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the tapping connector second end portion forms a ball joint with the primary module, the primary module being rotatable on the ball joint.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the tapping connector second end portion forms a first and a second ball joint with the primary module, the primary module being rotatable on the first and the second ball joint.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the primary module has a proximal end attachable to the tapping connector and a distal end formed as having a slot therein; and    the secondary module is provided as having a hook portion configured to be receivable within the slot for mounting the secondary module on the primary module.    
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a locking member received within an aperture provided in the primary module, the locking member being slideable into a corresponding opening of the secondary module to lock the primary and secondary modules together when the secondary module is mounted on the primary module.  
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the secondary module has an indicator disposed within the opening, a portion of the indicator being displaced from the opening by the sliding of the locking member into the opening to thereby indicate that the locking member has been received in the opening locking the primary and secondary modules together.  
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the locking member has a threaded portion for receiving a threaded tool, whereby rotation of the tool withdraws the locking member into the aperture to thereby unlock the primary and secondary modules.  
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the primary module includes one or more valves, and wherein the locking member when received in the opening locking the primary and secondary modules together is interconnected with the valves such that locking member can be withdrawn into the aperture to unlock the modules only when the valves are closed.  
   
   
       25 . A method of connecting an assembly to a structure having a port, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a tapping connector extending along a central axis from a first end portion to a second end portion;    (b) attaching the second end portion of the tapping connector in fluid communication to the port;    (c) attaching a primary module in fluid communication to the second end portion of the tapping connector, whereby the tapping connector second end portion forms at least one joint with the primary module; and    (d) moving the primary module through the joint one or more of laterally, longitudinally, or rotationally relative to the axis of the tapping connector.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the additional step after step (d) of: 
 (e) mounting a secondary module mountable on the primary module in fluid communication with the tapping connector.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein: 
 a first and a second said tapping connector is provided in step (a);    the primary module is attached in step (b) in fluid communication to the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector, the second end portion of each of the first and the second tapping connector forming at least one joint with the primary module; and    the primary module is moved in step (d) through each joint.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the additional step prior to step (c) of 
 receiving a collar receivable over the tapping connector second end portion, the collar supporting the primary module on the structure.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the collar comprises a foot portion supported on the structure and a boss portion upstanding away from the foot portion, the method further comprising the additional step prior to the additional step of  claim 28  of: 
 attaching the primary module to the boss portion of the collar.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the collar has a retainer supported therein, the method further comprising the additional step of: 
 manipulating the retainer after the collar has been received over the tapping connector second end portion to fasten the collar to the tapping connector.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein: 
 the tapping connector second end portion has threads;    the retainer is a nut which is tightened onto the threads.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein: 
 the tapping connector second end portion has a slot; and    the retainer is a ring which is received in the slot.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25  wherein: 
 the tapping connector second end portion forms a ball joint with the primary module in step (c); and    the primary module is rotatable in step (d) on the ball joint.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 25  wherein: 
 the tapping connector second end portion forms a first and a second ball joint with the primary module in step (c); and    the primary module is rotatable in step (d) on the first and the second ball joint.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 26  wherein: 
 a proximal end of primary module is attached to the tapping connector in step (c); and    the secondary module is mounted on the primary module in step (e) by engaging a hook portion of the secondary module with a corresponding slot provided in a distal end of the primary module.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 26  wherein: 
 a locking member received within an aperture provided in the primary module is slideably moved into a corresponding opening of the secondary module to lock the primary and secondary modules together when the secondary module is mounted in step (e) on the primary module.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the secondary module has an indicator disposed within the opening, a portion of the indicator being displaced from the opening by the sliding of the locking member into the opening to thereby indicate that the locking member has been received in the opening locking the primary and secondary modules together.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the locking member has a threaded portion for receiving a threaded tool, the method further comprising the additional steps after step (e) of: 
 (f) engaging the threaded portion of the locking member with the threaded tool; and    (g) rotating the tool to withdraw the locking member into the aperture and thereby unlock the primary and secondary modules.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein: 
 the primary module includes one or more valves, and    the locking member when received in the opening locking the primary and secondary modules together is interconnected with the valves such that locking member can be withdrawn into the aperture to unlock the modules only when the valves are closed.