Pipe joints or couplings – With fluid pressure seal – With external pressure supply
Patent
1982-08-03
1985-07-09
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With fluid pressure seal
With external pressure supply
285101, F16L 1702
Patent
active
045278172
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a quick coupling device for fluid-tight, especially temporary connection to a pipe nipple or the like.
Such a device is previously known and is used for temporary connection of a pressurized fluid conduit, such as a hose, to a pipe nipple or the like, e.g. belonging to an armature, a pressure vessel or the like. The device is especially useful for such coupling in connection with tightness testing or leak detection, wherein a pressurized fluid, e.g. water or air, is to be fed to the armature in question, the pressure vessel or the like during a prescribed, usually rather short time period, so that a large number of objects can be tested per time unit.
However, a drawback involved in the known devices is that an effective sealing between the pipe nipple and the coupling device requires that the actuating force on a piston exceeds the compressive force exerted by the pressurized fluid used in the tightness test. In order to secure the required sealing effect, it may then be necessary to provide the piston with a relatively large piston surface, so that a sufficiently great force is obtained. However, this implies rather large radial dimensions of the device.
Thus, the object of the present invention is to achieve a quick coupling device which, in spite of compact radial dimensions, will secure an effective sealing, even when exposed to comparatively high pressures of the pressurized fluid, whereas the actuating pressure can be maintained at a moderate or low level.
This object is achieved by a device provided with two mutually displacable pistons, one of which is actuated by an actuating fluid (e.g. pressurized air), whereas the other piston, i.e. the coupling piston, is brought into sealing contact by the action of the actuating piston. The force exerted by the pressurized fluid (e.g. water at high pressure) on the coupling piston is totally or partly eliminated in that the pressurized fluid acts on a piston surface turned away from the sealing.
By means of the inventive device the radial dimensions can be kept at a moderate level, and the pressure of the actuating fluid can be relatively low, whereas the pressure of the testing pressurized fluid can be rather high, while maintaining the sealing effect. Further features and advantages will appear from the description below and the claims 2-6.
The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a central section of a quick coupling device connected to a pipe nipple having an external flange.
Thus, to the left on the drawing, there is shown a pipe nipple 1 with an annular flange 2, e.g. belonging to a pressure vessel, which is to be tightness tested by feeding pressurized water at relatively high pressure, e.g. about 15 bar. The tightness test is assumed to be performed in connection with serial production of such pressure vessels. The coupling device 3 itself is permanently connected to a feed hose 4 which communicates with a non-illustrated source of pressurized water.
The device 3 comprises a radially external cylindric casing 5, which is mechanically connectable to the flange 2 of the pipe nipple by means of an edge flange 6 extending radially inwardly and complementary to said flange 2. The edge flange 6 extends about half a turn or somewhat less circumferentially, so that the device can be pushed on transversally to the axis L.sub.1 (from the top on the drawing). In a mounted position, the device can be secured by means of a locking pin 7 which is rotatable about its axis L.sub.2, and at each end thereof it is provided with a hook 8 and 9, respectively, for engagement with the pipe nipple flange 2 and the casing 5, respectively. In the shown position, the locking pin 7 is in a locking position, but after rotating the same half a turn about its axis L.sub.2 and displacing it to the dashed position, the whole device 3 can be released from the pipe nipple 1 by a transverse displacement (upwards on the drawing). Obviously, the mechanical connection and disconnection can be perform
REFERENCES:
patent: 3023030 (1962-02-01), Torres
patent: 4348039 (1982-09-01), Miller
patent: 4375297 (1983-03-01), Persson
Arola Dave W.
Nolek System AB
LandOfFree
Quick coupling device 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 coupling device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quick coupling device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-905907