Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Guide and support
Patent
1990-10-15
1992-08-18
Reese, Randolph A.
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Guide and support
2851371, 285101, 285224, F16L 3500
Patent
active
051392879
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a coupling unit for releasably connecting fluid lines in two components that can vary their relative positioning, as specified in the preamble of patent claim 1.
Machines that supply hydraulic fluid to various points during their operation have a plurality of fluid lines that supply and drain off hydraulic fluid to or from the respective points of application. But if the individual components of the machine in which such fluid lines run need to be exchanged during a switch for another mode of operation, for example during machinery conversion, then it is desirable to be able to reliably and quickly disconnect the fluid lines from one another and, if required, join them together in another manner, whereby the intent is to automate the process to the maximal extent possible.
A fundamental problem herein consists of the fact that, when the fluid lines are joined into one line, the bushing on the end of one line must be reliably centered on the connection sleeve on the end of the other line, while the degree of the shearing forces exerted on the joined components may not reach unacceptably high values. In this regard, the previously known coupling designs, wherein the bushing that is rigidly connected to one component comes into direct contact with the connection sleeve that is also rigidly arranged with the other component, is not completely satisfactory.
The invention therefore is assigned the basic task of providing a coupling unit of the type mentioned in the introduction, which simultaneously fulfills both of the mentioned, opposing requirements to a sufficient degree.
The task as defined is accomplished according to the invention by means of a coupling unit as indicated in patent claim 1, and advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are derived from the subclaims.
The basic principle of the invention concerns the quasi-suspended or floating arrangement of the distance plate, which simultaneously assumes the function of adjusting the centering and reducing shear forces. To accomplish this, the distance plate forms a mounting support for the bushing, permitting sufficient movement in an axial and radial direction and also assuring reliable contact with the connecting sleeve in order to establish tight-sealing line connections.
For a more detailed explanation of the invention and the advantages associated with it, reference is now made to the drawings, in which a preferred exemplified embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Shown in the drawings are:
FIG. 1 a coupling unit according to the invention in connection with a first component of a machine, and a second component that can change its relative position, in an axial section along the section line Y-Y in FIG. 2,
FIG. 2 a representation of FIG. 1 in another axial section along the section line Z-Z in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 a view of the coupling unit distance plate or FIG. 1 as seen in the direction indicated by the line X-X in FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 a coupling unit bushing from FIGS. 1 to 3, with its adaptor, in a greatly enlarged representation, and
FIG. 5 a connection piece that is associated with this bushing in a similar representation.
The representations in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively show a machine frame M on the left and a tool W on the right that acts in conjunction with it and which can, if desired, be exchanged for another component. The machine frame M as well as the tool W contain fluid lines to transport hydraulic fluid and/or lubricating oil, which must be connected in pairs to one another by means of a coupling unit, so that the tool W can be supplied from the machinery frame. Such fluid lines are illustrated in the drawing as the fixed channels K in tool W and as mobile flexible tubular lines L on the machine frame M, respectively indicated by arrows. The channels K in tool W continue toward the machine frame M through the connecting sleeves A, each of which is rigidly arranged so as to be centered in an annular space R that is open toward the machine frame. The flexible tubular lines L on the mach
REFERENCES:
patent: 3677577 (1972-07-01), Krauer et al.
patent: 3774636 (1973-11-01), Arita
patent: 4111463 (1978-09-01), McFadden
patent: 4411317 (1983-10-01), Gieswin
patent: 4611831 (1986-09-01), Truchet
patent: 4915419 (1990-04-01), Smith, III
Applied Power Inc.
Chun Heather
Reese Randolph A.
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