Fluid handling – Systems – Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
Patent
1999-04-19
2000-02-22
Lee, Kevin
Fluid handling
Systems
Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
137614, F16L 3728
Patent
active
060268573
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to a quick coupling pipe fitting that is provided with a safety valve and a pressure relieve valve. In the transmission of fluids it is often necessary to avail of fitting that can be coupled rapidly to connect flexible or rigid pipes, connected themselves to a fluid feed and to users.
The known quick coupling fittings are generally composed of two elements, male and female, attached to corresponding pipes to be connected and coupled to each other by screw or trip means.
According to a currently known technique the female element is made of a structure comprising an interior body with one end inserted in an internally threaded nut for coupling with a feed or users and an exterior body coaxial to said interior body.
The interior body holds a valve element consisting of a fixed axial internal shaft with an enlarged end. Outside of this, concentrically, is coupled, in a way as to leave an interspace connectable afterwards to a feed or to users, a tightness bush that, under the elastic action of a positioning spring and through the engagement of the enlarged end of the shaft, closes tightly frontally said interspace with respect to the passage of fluid in absence of coupling with the male element.
Concentrically and externally to the bush, there is a cleaning unit of said bush composed of a sliding sleeve with its respective positioning spring.
An annular element with spokes is attached to the interior body, between the same and a back portion of the axial shaft, in which annular element a few small diameter holes are created for the passage of fluid. As an alternative, in order to avoid the turbulence associated with the presence of the small diameter holes, such annular element can be provided with at least two passage openings of annular sector shape following one another, spaced by narrow spokes, along the circumference of said annular element.
The male element generally comprises an exterior body provided with means for coupling with the female element on one end, an interior body coaxialiy fixed to said exterior body and an internally threaded nut fixed to the opposite end of said interior body for coupling of the male element to a feed or to users. Within said interior body an axial cavity is defined that is connectable afterwards to a feed or to users and that is closed frontally with a piston stressed by a positioning spring to a position of peripheral engagement with a seal held by the fore end of the interior body.
During coupling between the male element and the female element, the sliding sleeve of the female element is pushed by the interior body of the male element and, during its translation, draws with itself the bush against the strain force of its positioning spring. At the same time the inner axial shaft of the female element forces the piston of the male element to back against the force of the respective positioning spring up to a position of opening the inner cavity of the male element with the consequent definition of a passage opening for the fluid from a feed to users through the fitting. The bush of the female element is positioned at that moment within the seal of the male element in order to guarantee the side tightness of said opening.
If a fitting of this type is used at very high operating fluid pressures it may occur that at the moment of coupling the male element is under pressure and the female element is exhaust. Within the fitting there can be developed such high pressure difference as to compromise the stay of the internal seals in their seating. This occurs, in particular, with said seal of the male element; indeed, since the seating of the seal is usually rather spaced away from the fore end of the male element, it can occur that the seal remains uncovered and exposed to the fluid flow under pressure during the axial translation effected by the piston of the male element to engage with the bush of the female element, especially if the difference in pressure causes a displacement of the bush in an opposite directio
REFERENCES:
patent: 5159955 (1992-11-01), Ekman
patent: 5215122 (1993-06-01), Rogers et al.
patent: 5592970 (1997-01-01), Stucchi et al.
patent: 5918633 (1999-07-01), Zeiber
Lee Kevin
Stucchi s.r.l.
LandOfFree
Quick coupling pipe fitting with safety valve and pressure relie 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 pipe fitting with safety valve and pressure relie, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quick coupling pipe fitting with safety valve and pressure relie will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-513197