Fluid handling – Systems – Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-02
2003-07-29
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
C251S149200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598620
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a female fitting and the pipe connection in which a male fitting is engaged in said female fitting, the engagement ensuring the opening of a valve provided on at least one of these elements, the valve being of the rotating ball type.
A valve of this type has a closure element of generally spherical shape, made as a horseshoe and comprising millings or piercings so as to position the closure element. This spherical closure element is mounted in a connecting element or male fitting or female fitting with its center coinciding with the axis of the channel for passage of the fluid to be controlled, this spherical closure element, which bears against a seat at the outlet of the channel in the valve chamber comprising a diametrical bore, which can by suitable means be brought into coincidence with the channel for the fluid to ensure opening of the valve or to be oriented substantially 90° to ensure closing of the valve.
A spherical closure element of this type comprises a rotation means such as two balls or a transverse shaft which is arranged to coact with a sleeve having the shape of a hollow shaft and which directs the fluid stream, the sleeve being prolonged at one end by a member such as an arm or a rod which is articulated on the rotation member. A fitting also comprises a cylindrical ring defining at its external end a bearing seat and the sealing in the cylindrical body and against which comes to bear the spherical closure member drivable in translation in the fitting according to the paths determining the conditions of opening and closing of the closure element, the assembly of these elements being enclosed in a concentric cylindrical body.
Such a connection is known from FR 2.521.685 in which the valve comprises a fixed axial sleeve disposed at the rear of the body of the fitting, directed toward the outlet of the connection and traversed by the passage of the connection, this sleeve comprising at its inner end corresponding to the rear of the body, a support for a return spring and at its external end, on the side of the connection region, a radial flange whose two lateral surfaces are tangent to the external surface of the sleeve, a chamber opening into the sector in the spherical region opposite to the active sector being provided in the spherical closure element, this chamber comprising surfaces cooperating in sliding contact with the side surfaces of the flange of the sleeve and the axle for driving in rotation the closure element being carried by the flange of the sleeve and perpendicular to said surfaces.
This type of pipe connection is used in hydraulic fields, in armament and in the field of space. In particular, it is used as a pipe connection for the fueling of vehicles. In the case of racing vehicles or military vehicles, it is desirable that the refueling take place as rapidly as possible and in a sure manner thereby guaranteeing perfect security of the connection.
Thus, in the case of use in automotive competition for example, the emplacement of the connection for refueling with gasoline must be carried out as rapidly as possible and with all security so as to avoid spilling gasoline on the brakes of the vehicle which would cause the vehicle to catch fire.
Present connections must be positioned correctly which is to say that the male fitting, or fueling fitting, must be presented to the female fitting, generally carried on the vehicle in the gas tank of the latter, perfectly along the axis to permit sure emplacement. This is not always easy to carry out on the one hand because of the weight of the material used, in particular when gravity fuelling is used, and on the other hand because of the conditions of use which can be difficult, as the fueling of a racing vehicle, mid-air fueling of an aircraft, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object to overcome this drawback by providing a new type of female fitting and a pipe connection of the type comprising a male fitting engaged in said female fitting, the engagement ensuring the opening of a valve provided on at least one of these fittings being permitted even if the constituent elements of one and the other are not perfectly aligned.
To this end, the invention has as its object a female fitting for a pipe connection adapted to be carried on a receiving structure such as a pipe or a reservoir, of the type comprising a cylindrical body within which is disposed concentrically a sleeve defining the fluid channel and carrying at its external end, articulated in rotation, a spherical closure element having a diametral bore, a cylindrical ring surrounding said sleeve and the spherical closure element being disposed drivably in translation in the cylindrical body against the force of resilient return means, the translatory paths of the ring in the body giving rise to driving in rotation of the spherical closure element between its opening position in which its bore coincides with the fluid channel and its closed position, characterized in that the sleeve and the cylindrical ring of this female fitting are mounted oscillably in the body of said fitting.
Thus, preferably, when the engagement of a male fitting is carried out with this female fitting, the freedom of oscillation of the sleeve and of the cylindrical ring in the body of the female fitting permit the assembly of the elements to assume the same axis to guarantee correct and sure connection, even if this engagement has a defect of alignment.
The internal end of the sleeve of the female fitting, which is to say the end of the sleeve turned toward the pipe or more precisely toward the gas tank in the case of an onboard fitting, has spherical bearing surface that bears against a complementary bearing surface of the internal end of the cylindrical body of the fitting in the manner of a swivel joint whilst the outer end of the cylindrical ring has a peripheral spherical bearing surface that bears against a bearing surface of complementary shape on the external end of the cylindrical body.
In this way, the spherical bearing surfaces of the sleeve and of the external end of the ring permit, by sliding against the complementary bearing surfaces of the cylindrical body, an oscillation of said sleeve and of the ring relative to the principal axis of the female fitting, to permit alignment of these members with those of a male fitting which does not lie on the same axis.
So as to promote sliding of the sleeve relative to the cylindrical body during oscillation, the internal end of the body and the internal end of the sleeve are treated to improve the sliding between said ends, with a treatment such as that known commercial as “Microflon”.
Preferably, at least one of the bearing surfaces of the internal end of the cylindrical body or of the internal end of the sleeve, comprises at least one ball bearing surface. The sliding of said bearing surfaces is thus improved.
As a modification, the bearing surface of the internal end of the cylindrical body comprises wells spaced regularly angularly about said spherical bearing surface and containing each a ball, a well having a central curved surface and a peripheral conical surface. There is thus ensured an automatic re-centering during oscillation.
The cylindrical ring of each fitting defines at its external end, on the side of the connection region, a sealing and bearing seat for the spherical closure element, also called a joint capture cross-piece which serves for the creation of a trapezoidal throat to receive a joint. This sealing and bearing seat provides in the female fitting the peripheral spherical bearing surface.
The resilient return means permitting sliding in translation of the cylindrical ring within the cylindrical body of the female fitting is preferably a spring mounted between the cylindrical ring and the sleeve. Preferably, this resilient return means is disposed between the external end of the cylindrical ring which it maintains in sealed bearing relationship with the cylindrical body and the internal end of the sleeve wh
LandOfFree
Faucet and pipe connection including a spherical valve element does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Faucet and pipe connection including a spherical valve element, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Faucet and pipe connection including a spherical valve element will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3067093