Fluid handling – Systems – Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
Patent
1999-01-29
2000-03-14
Shaver, Kevin
Fluid handling
Systems
Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
13761405, E03B 6520
Patent
active
060358947
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a rapid connection coupling for transferring gaseous and/or liquid fluids, especially for filling vehicle fuel tanks.
A reliable, tight and rapidly connected plug-in coupling should be effected with such rapid connection couplings for transferring a fluid from a pressure source, for example a refill cylinder. Simple, problem-free operation of the rapid connection coupling is particularly important, so that problem-free handling is facilitated even under unfavourable conditions, such as dangerous fluids or at high connection pressures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a rapid connection coupling is described in EP-A 0 340 879 of the applicant, wherein the rapid connection coupling has a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, while a plurality of valves are provided in order to ensure reliable sealing of the rapid connection coupling right up to complete production of the connection. These valves are operated in a specific, predetermined sequence after fitting of the rapid connection coupling by turning control lever, wherein the outlet valve is opened at first by pushing the rapid connection coupling on to a connection nipple, then with further movement of a control lever, the jaws serving as locking elements are closed and finally the inlet valve is opened. The control lever engages via an eccentric shaft with the sliding sleeve for actuating the jaws and also with a sealing piston, which also opens up the fluid inlet after completed connection of the plug-in coupling.
Although this provides a particularly reliable connection facility, the connection of this coupling is relatively force-consumptive for large opening sections (e. g. on bus refuelling) in account of the arresting of the check valve against an actuation spring, where in addition to plugging in the coupling, actuation of the control lever is necessary, so that one-handed operation is hardly possible.
Such a rapid connector is further known from WO-A 93/20378 of the applicant, especially for charging of gas cylinders, wherein a rapid connection arrangement is provided in the region of the outlet, in the form of jaws with an engagement profile. A hollow sealing piston sliding in the coupling housing is also described here and is connected through an actuating device coupled to a sliding sleeve for closing or opening the jaws. Putting on the coupling under axial pressure ("pressing on") is also necessary here, whilst due to residual pressure, a reaction may occur on uncoupling.
Accordingly the invention is based on the object of providing a rapid connection coupling of the kind initially described which facilitates reliable and especially simple handling with a simple structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the invention involves a rapid connection coupling for transferring gaseous and/or liquid fluids. The coupling includes a tubular housing, an outer sliding sleeve and a plurality of locking elements. The outer sliding sleeve is slidably mounted relative to the housing and the locking elements are attached to the housing and movable radially. The locking elements have an engagement profile for connection to a correspondingly formed connection nipple. A sealing piston is centrally slidable in the housing for engagement on the connection nipple, and a spring-biased ring piston is axially displaceable in the housing. The spring piston holds the sealing piston in a retracted position and is displaceably seated relative to the sealing piston. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The proposed rapid connection coupling is distinguished by an especially simple operation, since the rapid connection coupling may be put on without force and released without reaction, respectively, from the counter-connection in axial direction. In addition, especially in the preferred embodiment for filling vehicle fuel tanks, escape of the gas during the refuelling operation is reliably avoided when connecting or releasing the rapid connection coupli
REFERENCES:
patent: 3731705 (1973-05-01), Butler
patent: 4074698 (1978-02-01), Hobson et al.
patent: 4222411 (1980-09-01), Herzan et al.
patent: 4303098 (1981-12-01), Shindelar
patent: 4347870 (1982-09-01), Maldavs
patent: 4373551 (1983-02-01), Shindelar
patent: 5095947 (1992-03-01), Weh et al.
Weh Erwin
Weh Wolfgang
Bonderer David A.
Shaver Kevin
Weh GmbH Verbindungstechnik
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