Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch – Resilient ring
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-17
2004-02-10
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
Resilient ring
C285S039000, C285S308000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688655
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a quick connection-release coupling used as a coupling for connecting a fluid transferring hose or the like and, more particularly, to a quick connection-release coupling capable of being used in a pressure range from low pressure to high pressure.
In the prior art, there is known union joints used as couplings for connecting a fluid transferring hose. In general, the union joint employs a ball-locking system for connecting a female coupling part with a male coupling part. Since the ball used produces a point contact in regard to the female coupling part and the male coupling part, a special processing such as a heat treatment and the like is applied to increase the strength of the ball. Due to this fact, there is a problem that the union joint is expensive. Additionally, since a tool such as a wrench must be used to connect and release the joint, its connection and release operation is troublesome. As a result, there is another problem that it takes much time to perform maintenance work.
On the other hand, there are well known quick connection-release couplings used as couplings for connecting a fluid transferring hose, employing a C-shaped spring ring system shown in FIG.
12
. The coupling includes a female coupling part having a cylindrical adapter
21
and a cap
22
attached thereto, a slit
23
being formed in the inner surface of the cap
22
, and a C-shaped spring ring
24
which is resiliently expandable and retractable being located in the slit
23
. The male coupling part of the quick connection-release coupling which is inserted into the female coupling part has a cylindrical nipple
25
, an annular engagement portion
26
for engaging with the C-shaped spring ring
24
being protruding on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical nipple
25
and extending along the circumferential direction. A releasing jig
28
having a dust-proof cap
27
fixed thereto is slidably attached to the outer circumferential surface of the nipple
25
. Reference numeral
29
denotes an O-ring for sealing, and reference numeral
30
denotes a socket fixed to the nipple
25
.
When attaching the nipple
25
to the adapter
21
, the nipple
25
is inserted into the adapter
21
and the C-shaped spring ring
24
is engaged with the engaging portion
26
, whereby the nipple
25
is locked in the adapter
21
(the state shown in FIG.
12
). When releasing the nipple
25
from the adapter
21
, the releasing jig
28
is moved forward in the arrow direction and the front end portion of the releasing jig
28
inserted through a clearance between the cap
22
and the nipple
25
is pushed against the C-shaped spring ring
24
. The further pushing movement of the releasing jig
28
forces the C-shaped spring ring
24
pushed by the releasing jig
28
radially expand gradually and ride over the top of the engaging portion
26
, thereby releasing the engaged state between the C-shaped spring ring
24
and the engaging portion
26
.
A quick connection-release coupling of the type described above has an advantage that its connection-release operation can be easily performed and a maintenance work time can be shortened because an operator can manually connect and release it without using any tool. The C-shaped spring ring
24
is line contacted with the adapter
21
and the nipple
25
, resulting in that it can be used without performing any special processing such as heat treatment, etc. In addition, since the quick connection-release coupling can have less component parts than the union joint, if compared, it is possible to attain a low cost.
However, since the connection-release work is carried out manually, it is not possible to use either a C-shaped spring ring having a wire diameter exceeding 1.0 mm or a C-shaped spring ring made of high-strength material having a high elastic modulus of 180,000N/mm
2
such as stainless steel material, which particularly makes the releasing operation difficult. Accordingly, although the aforesaid quick connection-release coupling has the superior advantages as described above, it has a problem that it is exclusively used for low-pressure fluid and it cannot be used for high-pressure fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick connection-release coupling capable of being used in a range from low pressure to high pressure without reducing the superior advantages of the aforesaid quick connection-release coupling.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a quick connection-release coupling comprising a female coupling part having a cylindrical adapter, along an inner circumferential surface of which a resiliently expandable and retractable C-shaped spring ring is arranged, and a male coupling part having a cylindrical nipple with an engaging portion protruded on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the engaging portion being capable of being engaged with and disengaged from the C-shaped spring ring, the nipple being connectable to the adapter when pushed into the adapter so as to engage the C-shaped spring ring with the engaging portion, and being detachable from the adapter when the engaged state between the engaging portion and C-shaped spring ring is released by expanding the C-shaped spring by pushing the C-shaped spring, characterized in that a cylindrical releasing jig being movable forward and backward against the engaging portion is threadably arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the nipple, and the engaged state between the engaging portion and C-shaped spring ring can be released when the C-shaped spring ring is expanded by moving the releasing jig forward and by pushing the C-shaped spring ring in the separating operation of the nipple from the adapter.
In accordance with the quick connection-release coupling of the present invention, even if a spring material having a high elastic modulus and a high strength or a thick wire material greater than 1.0 mm in wire diameter, used for high pressure fluid, is employed, a manually turning operation of the releasing jig by an operator enables the engaged state between the engaging portion and the C-shaped spring ring to be easily released because of releasing it using an advancing force by screwing of the releasing jig, thereby allowing the nipple to be detached from the adapter. Accordingly, one coupling can be used in a wide pressure range from low pressure to high pressure.
Since the releasing jig is constructed such that it is threadably fitted, the superior advantages such as a reduction in maintenance operation time and low cost found in the prior art quick connection-release coupling are not deteriorated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4906031 (1990-03-01), Vyse
patent: 5570910 (1996-11-01), Highlen
patent: 6517121 (2003-02-01), Cresswell
patent: 6592151 (2003-07-01), Densel et al.
patent: 2002/0113431 (2002-08-01), LeMay et al.
patent: 2002/0185864 (2002-12-01), LeMay et al.
Browne Lynne H.
Dunwoody Aaron
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Yokohama Hydex Co., Ltd.
LandOfFree
Quick connection-release coupling does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Quick connection-release coupling, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quick connection-release coupling will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3323825