Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Particular tool-engaging means or with tool
Patent
1998-03-16
2000-10-10
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Particular tool-engaging means or with tool
285307, 285317, 2952501, 2989014, F16L 3500
Patent
active
061293903
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns a quick connect/disconnect coupling between a female connector and a male connector which is insertable into said female connector, e.g. for connection of a high pressure line to a valve block, wherein a male connector to be used with said female connector, comprises a cylindric part which is insertable into the female connector, the envelope surface of which is provided with a circumferential groove with a certain width, said groove accommodating an axially along the male coupling, between the two walls of the groove movable ring, having a thickness which is substantially equal to the depth of the groove, and which female connector comprises a cylindric space for the cylindrical part of the male connector, the envelope surface of said space being provided with at least one groove for accommodation of resiliently out of and into the cylindrical space movable blocking elements cooperating in their blocking position with that edge of the male connector grove being nearest the outer end of the male connector, and being movable out of their blocking position to a releasing position by movement of the ring toward said outer end edge, which movement is possible by pressing the male connector into the female connector until the blocking means are brought into a friction engagement with the peripheral surface of the ring. Also, the invention concerns a method and an apparatus for assembling said coupling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A quick connect/disconnect coupling according to the above is known through EP 0375674 and is provided with a spring steel ring. Such a spring steel ring provides sufficient locking security for normal hydraulic applications, but risk deformation when hydraulic pressure is extremely high. If the locking ring is designed more sturdy in order to withstand higher pressure, it will be much more difficult to mount the ring into its groove inside the female coupling. The cost of producing this kind of connector is mainly depending upon that the assembly may be made rationally and efficiently. Preferably, assembly is automatized without any need for manual skill.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to provide a female connector with locking means which solve the problem of reliability during very large hydraulic pressure. A further object of the invention is to provide a method and a tool for assembly of the coupling, so that the problems of providing a rational and efficient assembly of the coupling may be solved.
THE SOLUTION
For this object, the female connector according to the invention is characterized in that a substantially annular flange is coaxially provided at the outward side of the groove of the female connector, substantially in line with the envelope surface of said space, and that the blocking means comprise at least three in said groove located metal arc segments, each being biased by an elastic element into an inclined position relative to the symmetrical longitudinal axis of the female connector, said inclined position being the blocking position, in which the segments together form a truncated cone, the wide base of which is supported by the outward side of the groove, on the radial outside of the flange.
The method according to the invention is characterized in positioning the elastic element into the groove, inserting a feeding head into the cylindric space of the female connector, feeding one blocking element at a time by means of the feeding head, from the opening end of the female connector past the groove, to a position beyond said groove, whereupon the blocking element is moved in the direction backwards while being tilted into the groove, past the flange.
A feeding head for assembling a female connector according to the invention is characterized in that it is provided with a guide sleeve, which is insertable turnable in the cylindric space of the female connector and acting as a guide for a feeding means which is axially movable inside the guide sleeve and comprising a coaxially arranged s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3731955 (1973-05-01), Borsum et al.
patent: 3744824 (1973-07-01), Roos
patent: 3773360 (1973-11-01), Timbers
patent: 3887222 (1975-06-01), Hammond
patent: 5219189 (1993-06-01), Demoisson et al.
Arola Dave W.
WEO Hydraulic AB
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