Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Quick release
Patent
1994-09-30
1996-11-19
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Quick release
285321, 285316, 285322, F16L 3500
Patent
active
055755100
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a quick-connect fitting for transferring gaseous and/or liquid media, in particular for filling gas cylinders.
The object of this kind of quick-connect fitting is to provide a simple, secure and reliable coupling which can be quickly attached for transferring gaseous and/or liquid media from its source into another area. An important aspect is the ease and reliability with which the quick-connect fitting can be operated even when used with unfavorable (for example, aggressive media) within a wide temperature range and/or with high media pressure.
This kind of quick-connect fitting is already disclosed in the European Patent Specification 0 340 879 A1. This quick-connect fitting comprises a housing with a media inlet and a media outlet; both the inlet and outlet areas contain valves. After the quick-connect device has been applied, these valves and clamping tongs inside the housing are activated in a certain sequence: first, by applying the quick-connect device to a nipple, the outlet valve is opened, then, by moving the control lever further, the clamping tongs are closed and finally the inlet valve is opened. The control lever is directly linked to a sliding sleeve which acts upon the clamping tongs and is linked to a central control valve trunk piston which--together with a seat that is attached to the housing--forms the inlet valve and permits the media entry when the seat is lifted.
The object of this invention is to provide the kind of quick-connect device described above which--with a minimum of parts--will offer a secure and reliable, leak-proof, easy to operate connection.
According to the invention, a quick-connect fitting for transferring gaseous and/or liquid media, in particular for filling gas cylinders, is advantageously provided. The fitting has a housing with an inlet, an outlet for the medium to be transferred and a quick-connect device arranged in the area of the outlet; the device has clamping tongs that can be interlocked with an external complementary gripping profile, a hollow sealing piston that can glide in the housing, and an actuating device for applying the tongs which is linked to the sealing piston by means of a sliding sleeve.
Additional preferred forms of the invention will be described in the claims below.
What distinguishes this new quick-connect invention is the extremely small amount of parts, the low production expenses and the extraordinary simplicity of operating it while at the same time satisfying the highest security requirements.
The preferred gripping profile connected to the clamping tongs for the coupling can consist of an internal thread, an external thread, beads, grooves and other design features which permit an interlocking profile grip. The tong profile can be shaped complementary to an external gripping profile such as a nipple or a threaded connection of a gas bottle valve.
According to the invention, the constructive concept of the quick-connect fitting is simplified especially because the sliding sleeve is directly connected to the sealing piston. This is very advantageous because when operating the quick-connect fitting it is sufficient to move just the sliding sleeve itself relative to the housing without having also to activate the actuating device linked to the sealing piston.
Preferably, the sliding sleeve is connected to the sealing piston in a relatively movable manner in order to enable the sealing piston to have the kind of relative movement which will produce the most optimal sealing conditions. According to the preferred form of the invention, a bolt is provided for linking the sliding sleeve to the sealing piston, which has the dual advantage of being extremely simple to mount and of constituting a very simple and effective constructive solution.
According to a preferred further development of the invention, in order to make possible the connection between the sliding sleeve and the sealing piston in a relatively movable manner, it is advantageously provided that each bolt mounted on the sealing piston will fit into
REFERENCES:
patent: 2536428 (1951-01-01), Dimitri et al.
patent: 2675829 (1954-04-01), Livers et al.
patent: 3425717 (1969-02-01), Bruce
patent: 3474827 (1969-10-01), Rosell et al.
patent: 3779587 (1973-12-01), Racine
patent: 4540201 (1985-09-01), Richardson
patent: 5060982 (1991-10-01), Matsushita
International Search Report, Form PCT/ISA/210, dated Jun. 29, 1993.
Weh Erwin
Weh Wolfgang
Arola Dave W.
Weh FmbH, Verbindungstechnik
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