Fluid handling – Systems – Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
Patent
1989-09-27
1991-07-02
Chambers, A. Michael
Fluid handling
Systems
Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
F16L 3728
Patent
active
050278550
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a coupling, in particular a quick-acting coupling for fluid conduits according to the classifying part of claim 1.
Couplings of this type are used in particular to effect the rapid, tight connection of hoses or other flexible fluid conduits.
A coupling of this type is described in Swiss Patent No. CH-A-626 696. This has two sealing members one of which is designed as a spigot valve and the other as a socket valve, each having a coupling section that may be brought by means of a spring into the closed position which presses in each case against a seal ring in a sealing position on an inner conical surface of the sealing member. The seal between the two sealing members is achieved by a further seal ring of resilient material pressed together by the sealing members. In the coupled state, the coupling section can be locked in the release position by means of a locking pin so that, for example, there can be no axial movements beyond its release position in the event of pressure surges. This is intended, in the most unfavourable circumstances, to prevent the valve from shutting down, thereby completely blocking the entire system. The two sealing members are locked together by means of locking balls, which, in the coupled position, each lie in a groove of a sleeve and of the spigot valve. The presence of additional grooves in a sleeve which can be slipped over the connecting part of the spigot and socket valve makes it possible to bring the balls into a non locking position, it being necessary to displace the locking balls when coupling up and uncoupling, a process which could cause problems, for example as a result of soiling or jamming.
Sealing rings wear out relatively rapidly and the resultant leakage causes damage which can only be prevented by frequent, regular maintenance (replacement of the sealing rings). To change the sealing rings the entire coupling has to be dismantled, which is laborious and time-consuming and necessitates lengthy closing down of the plant in question. Resilient sealing rings cannot be used for aggressive fluids or gases, at high, low or widely fluctuating temperatures or where radioactive radiation is present. It has hitherto been impossible to use any couplings of this nature in such situations. A further disadvantage of conventional couplings of this type is their large number of components, rendering them unreliable and expensive.
Further couplings of this type are describe in French Patent No. FR-A-1 288 938 and Swiss Patent no. CH-A-474 010. These have sealing, conical surfaces against which a resilient sealing lip is pressed. Frequent opening and closing of the sealing members causes wear on the resilient lip and/or the conical surface, impairing the tightness of the entire coupling. If these couplings are only infrequently opened, the sealing lip pressed thereto tends to adhere to the opposing surface so that it is generally impossible to release the coupling without damaging it. Moreover, dirt can be pressed between the conical surfaces when the two sealing members are pressed together, also rendering adequate tightness impossible.
It is an object of the invention to provide a maintenance-free coupling of simple design which can also be used with aggressive fluids and over a wide temperature range. In particular, the coupling should be capable of functioning at high, low or widely fluctuating temperatures, in the presence of radioactive radiation, severe ambient conditions as well as underwater.
According to the invention this object is achieved manner set out in the characterizing part of claim 1;
The advantage of the invention lies substantially in the fact that, contrary to prevailing practice, the tightness of the sealing members is effected without resilient sealing rings, conical sealing surfaces or resilient sealing lips, eliminating the need for maintenance and permitting a construction that is simpler than that of conventional couplings, with fewer components that thus requires fewer handling and processing steps during assembly and manufac
REFERENCES:
patent: 2915325 (1959-12-01), Foster
patent: 3234965 (1966-02-01), Anderson
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